Tongues: Beyond the Upper Room [Paperback]

I *thought* I knew about "tongues" (e.g., "languages") from all my Bible study (having read the whole Bible -and from reading many other books -see my other book reviews), but I found I was wrong or unclear on several points. Bro. Kenneth W. Hagin (the son) was kind enough to compile the notes of his father (the late Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin), helping me on these points. For example:

* I thought that tongues were involuntary (like the heart beating -it just happens, and you don't have much control over it). In other words, I thought that The Holy Spirit just came over you and did the speaking, Himself.

However Hagin points out that scripture says that the person speaks: "For if I [MYSELF!] pray in an unknown tongue, MY SPIRIT [not the Holy Ghost] prayeth..." (1st Cor. 14:14, KJV, comments in brackets) "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and [all of them -themselves, not the Holy Spirit] began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them." (Acts 2:4, NIV, comments in brackets)

Rev. Hagin admits that he struggled in this area -and wondered if he himself had to pray in tongues -even when he didn't really feel anointed or anything, and since he seems credible -and offers sound Bible logic, his personal experiences make things clear.

* Some folk think that all "tongues" are known languages, but Hagin addresses this: 1st Cor. 14:2 "For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries." The language is UNKNOWN -no man understands it!

* Since many think that tongues have ceased, Hagin gives us a way to answer their claim: He points out that when some think that "that which is perfect is come" (1st Cor. 13:1), Hagin points out that it can't have come yet, since "whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away," -but knowledge has not yet vanished away. Therefore, Hagin logically concludes that "that which is in part [such as tongues] shall be done away" in the future, when Jesus returns, but, like knowledge, it has not been done away with yet.

Some people think "that which is perfect" refers to the Bible, but, since the Bible is complete -and knowledge has not yet vanished away, the Bible can not be what is referred to here.

* Hagin says that "in the spirit" must refer to "tongues" in Eph. 6:18, since that's what this phrase means in 1st Cor. 14:2 "IN THE SPIRIT he speaketh mysteries," i.e., unknown tongues.

* He also addresses the claim that not all can speak in tongues -as implied by 1st Cor 12:19-30. Here, he points out that these are "ministry" gifts, such as the "ministry" gift of tongues in v. 30. However, he expects ALL to have the "spiritual" gift of tongues, as outlined in 1st Cor 12:1 "Now concerning SPIRITUAL gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant..."

The difference between "ministry" tongues and "spiritual" tongues is an important distinction that Hagin makes -which I did not catch in my reading before that. "Follow after charity, and desire SPIRITUAL gifts..." 1st Cor. 14:1, which is not a reasonable request to us unless it's possible for us to all get these gifts.

* He points out "getting saved" and "getting filled" with the Holy Ghost are two different experiences -that is, you don't get 100% filled when you get saved. If that were so, then how come these believers weren't filled: "2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost...6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied." (Acts 19:2,6)

So, when he says a person must get saved FIRST and THEN be filled with the Holy Spirit, he is on solid ground with scripture. (In fact, for an unsaved person to seek a "filling" might be dangerous and get them filled with a demon! -And he gives a scary example to show why this scripture should be followed.)

* Rev. Hagin makes a good case that it is possible to be partly filled with the Holy Ghost -and that we should seek to be 100% filled:
Acts 2:4 "And they were all FILLED with the Holy Ghost..."
Eph. 5:18 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be FILLED with THE SPIRIT;" (Not just, like, 2-thirds filled or something...?)

* Hagin points out a distinction (which I'd previously MISSED!) between "rivers" of water (Spirit) to minister to *others* and a "well" of water, for your *own* drinking: "the water that I shall give him shall be in him a WELL of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14) does not appear to be the same as the: "38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow RIVERS of living water. 39 (But this spake he of the Spirit... John 7:38-39)

He also points out the MANY USES of tongues:

* GIVING PRAISE TO GOD: "For they heard them speak with TONGUES, and MAGNIFY God..." Acts 10:46
* SIGN FOR THE UNBELIEVING: 1st Cor. 14:22
* GIVING THANKS TO GOD: "For if I pray in an UNKNOWN TONGUE, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful...For thou verily GIVEST THANKS WELL, but the other is not edified." 1st Cor. 14:14-17
* EDIFYING & BUILDING YOURSELF UP: 1st Cor. 14:4; Jude 1:20 (The Jude passage uses "in the spirit," but the Corinthian passage explicitly mentions tongues: "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue EDIFIETH himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.")
* REFRESHING / RENEWING: Isaiah 28:11-12 "11 For with stammering lips and ANOTHER TONGUE will he speak to this people. 12 To whom he said, This is the REST wherewith ye may cause the WEARY TO REST; and this is the REFRESHING: yet they would not hear."

There is so much more in this book, both in Bible truth -and in actual examples (stories he tells), but, for the sake of space, I can't mention everything here. LONG STORY SHORT: I learned a lot about the scope and nature of tongues in Hagin's book -stuff I previously didn't fully know.

PS: some commenters made me think -- and I have these further comments:

I must add, though, that I personally believe that even though we *ARE* supposed to try to speak in tongues (since the that which is perfect obviously has not come and thus the gifts are NOT ceased as yet), what we may think is tongues is not necessarily always genuine, but even if not, God knows our heart. By less than genuine, I mean that in Bible days, you had people speaking in one language and others hearing in a different language -whether the Holy Spirit worked on the ears of the people (like when Peter spoke in ONE language, and they ALL heard in different ones, the Spirit did NOT cause Peter to speak in a different language, rather He worked on the listeners' ears) -- or the opposite, when the speaker DOES speak in a different language -- Bottom line: I see almost NO cases of people now-a-days hearing a speaker speak in a language NOT his/her native tongue (like in Bible days), but occasional report do exist: like Roland Buck in "The Man Who Talked With Angels," by Sharon White, his daughter -where he spoke Mandarin Chinese -which he did NOT know!!. In other words, have faith that God DOES still do miracles, tongues, etc. (He's the same yesterday, today, and *FOREVER*, and He changes not), but don't believe everything is necessarily a miracle.

Regarding my 'genuine' comment above, I may not have emphasised it enough, but I think that *most* 'tongues' are really just nonsense, invented by the peoples' minds, but that said, I do believe God can and does us both "real" tongues and also other miracles nowdays. If a person's hearing something in their native tongue, then it's a miracle, and if it's edifying God, and bringing glory to Jesus, then it's a HOLY, Divine miracle from God --but there are indeed demonic tongues - beware! God also uses "non-miraclulous" things as well -so long as it gets the job done.

Gordon Wayne Watts, Lakeland, Florida

I recommend this book to those who want to know more about the infilling of the Holy Spirit.

Keneth E Higgin is thorough in his explanation of the operation of the Spirit of God in our daily lives today.

It explains how the purpose of praying in the Spirit with clear examples of the power of tongues in daily life situations. It will enhance your prayer life.

This book is a thorough study on the subject from someone who has so many years of experience. Even though I've been listening to Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin for more that 20 years, this book reveals information on the subject of tongues that I've never heard before! It is a must have for anyone who wants to take their spiritual life to another level!

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 9 reviews  4.2 out of 5 stars