Is Speaking in Tongues of the Devil?

[Ezekiel 33]

Hey Zeke, I'm answering you but just using VW's post to do it.

Well we get the 'idea' that he can't understand them from the scriptures you quoted there. It isn't just some arbitrary point of view about tongues pulled out of thin air. 'No man understands him' (of course it can be argued that is 'man' and not the devil) and 'howbeit in the spirit he speaks mysteries' as you quoted. Well, a mystery is a mystery. And I can reasonably deduct that it is a mystery to all but God. As a matter of fact, if you study 'Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words', and I am quoting this from memory, so cut me some slack if it isn't exact, but he says the word 'mystery' is 'that which is out of the range of unassisted natural apprehension and can be made known only by divine intervention', or in other words by revelation of the Holy Spirit. He assists us in our apprehension of the mystery. I don't think the Holy Spirit is assisting the devil in comprehension of what is being spoken.

Of course then it could be argued that the devil(s) doesn't need assistance because he can understand it (from Zeke's point of view). But let's look at what the purpose of tongues bypassing our understanding would accomplish. One thing it accomplishes since it bypasses our understanding and intellect is that it bypasses our unbelief. If we don't know what we're praying, then we can't get overwhelmed by the mystery of what we're praying, and add unbelief to it because it's beyond our faith level at the moment. That's on our level. On the devil's level, it would be so that he doesn't know the plans of God in our behalf and come up with counter measures in order to thwart what God is doing in answer to "who cares if he understands your prayers".

To further the concept, we are ambassadors for Christ. I won't do it here but when you study the whole concept of what an ambassador for a country is, then certain details as 'secret communication' between the ambassador and his home country come to light. What can be more destructive to the devil than God showing us the devil's plan which He knows, and praying the perfect prayers beyond our own understanding and the devil's to thwart those plans.

Anyway, there's more there, but you get the idea. I think there is more to support that the devil doesn't understand from what the scripture says in 1 Cor. 14 than it does that he does understand. Especially when one realized we are in 'warfare' with an enemy and then you begin to liken that to natural warfare, where one just doesn't reveal their plans to the enemy. God is the supreme military strategist.

I understand what you both are saying, and I see your points. And you may be perfectly correct in your deductions. It may be that angels don't understand everything that the Father speaks or speaks through our mouths by His Spirit. I cannot say that I have found any scripture that confirms or denies it.

I guess a question I would have about the "Mystery" would be "Is it a mystery only to the natural man, or to the supernatural also?"

I do have this hope-One day we will know all of these things and laugh together about all these discussions that we had on the old earth.

For me, I don't feel comfortable stating something as a biblical fact if I don't see it clearly spelled out in scripture. I just can't do it. Not condemning someone who does, it's just not for me.

On another note, in VW's post he spoke of how satan or other devils are not standing around in our space on a constant basis listening in on our conversations with the Father. I totally agree.
I think there are many in the church today who don't realize that most of us have never had an actual encounter with satan himself. He is definitely not omnipotent, and unless you are turning the world upside down like the early church did he probably isn't even paying any attention to you. I am sure that he sends others into areas where there are signs of Life though, to harass and try to stop or slow down the work being done for furthering the Kingdom.

[Nikos]

. . .
For me, I don't feel comfortable stating something as a biblical fact if I don't see it clearly spelled out in scripture. I just can't do it. Not condemning someone who does, it's just not for me.

On another note, in VW's post he spoke of how satan or other devils are not standing around in our space on a constant basis listening in on our conversations with the Father. I totally agree.
I think there are many in the church today who don't realize that most of us have never had an actual encounter with satan himself. He is definitely not omnipotent, and unless you are turning the world upside down like the early church did he probably isn't even paying any attention to you. I am sure that he sends others into areas where there are signs of Life though, to harass and try to stop or slow down the work being done for furthering the Kingdom.

I thought you had to have scripture for everything. Yet there is not a shred of scripture to back the above. It is not there. So you are just guessing and using human reason. Sounds to me like you have contradicted yourself.

[Ezekiel 33]

I thought you had to have scripture for everything. Yet there is not a shred of scripture to back the above. It is not there. So you are just guessing and using human reason. Sounds to me like you have contradicted yourself.

Which part of above are you referring to and what is the context that you are referring to, my little friend?

If you are talking about satan not being omnipotent, then read the book of Daniel and you will see that an angel is only in one place at a time.

[Nikos]

Which part of above are you referring to and what is the context that you are referring to, my little friend?

If you are talking about satan not being omnipotent, then read the book of Daniel and you will see that an angel is only in one place at a time.

Dear Mr Big Boy! You have no way to prove that an angel is only in one place at any given time. The only way you could know that is for you to be omnipresent and then you would know. So you assume that it is true. Thus you have no way to prove that most of the church has not had an encounter with Satan. You could not prove that unless you were somehow omnipresent.

Now I know you are a bigboy in your huge circle of friends, but it takes more than being a bigboy to prove that. So maybe you are just a littleshot like me.

BTW, I have probably read the book of Daniel more than you have read John 3:16.

[Colonel]

Even if the devil understands tongues on a word for word basis, he doesnt necessarily understand the content of it in a meaningful way.

John 3:8 The*wind*blows*wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

Tongues are spoken in the Spirit so they work the same way, the devil may analyze every last syllable but he doesnt get it. He can hear that wind blow but he cant tell where it is coming from or where it is going. That makes it a mystery.

[fuego]

For me, I don't feel comfortable stating something as a biblical fact if I don't see it clearly spelled out in scripture. I just can't do it. Not condemning someone who does, it's just not for me.

Do you state it as a Biblical fact that he can understand tongues when you teach, because there is no support for that either.

Anyway, I don't teach it as a Biblical fact per se. I used to, until the likes of people like you started speaking up.

What I do now is address that some do not believe that he can't understand tongues because of this and this, and then lay out my case for why I believe he can't. Either way, Christians need to pray in tongues a lot more than they do. To me it's the crown jewel gifting of the NT, the Holy Spirit coming to fill you up and providing a language whereby you can pray the mind, will, purposes, mysteries of God etc, beyond your own understanding, and doing it with ease. One can never do too much of that.

[Nikos]

Even if the devil understands tongues on a word for word basis, he doesnt necessarily understand the content of it in a meaningful way.

John 3:8 The*wind*blows*wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

Tongues are spoken in the Spirit so they work the same way, the devil may analyze every last syllable but he doesnt get it. He can hear that wind blow but he cant tell where it is coming from or where it is going. That makes it a mystery.

John 3:8 is clearly not speaking about the devil. Read it again.

[Ezekiel 33]

Do you state it as a Biblical fact that he can understand tongues when you teach, because there is no support for that either.

Anyway, I don't teach it as a Biblical fact per se. I used to, until the likes of people like you started speaking up.

What I do now is address that some do not believe that he can't understand tongues because of this and this, and then lay out my case for why I believe he can't. Either way, Christians need to pray in tongues a lot more than they do. To me it's the crown jewel gifting of the NT, the Holy Spirit coming to fill you up and providing a language whereby you can pray the mind, will, purposes, mysteries of God etc, beyond your own understanding, and doing it with ease. One can never do too much of that.

I don't even mention anything about the devil when ministering it. But I do cringe when I hear someone tell them as a matter of fact that the devil cannot understand it because we don't know that for sure.

[fuego]

Even if the devil understands tongues on a word for word basis, he doesnt necessarily understand the content of it in a meaningful way.

John 3:8 The*wind*blows*wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

Tongues are spoken in the Spirit so they work the same way, the devil may analyze every last syllable but he doesnt get it. He can hear that wind blow but he cant tell where it is coming from or where it is going. That makes it a mystery.

Good point. Not to mention he is a spiritually 'dead' being so to speak. He lost his 'light' when he sinned. Like you said, he doesn't 'get it' necessarily because of the darkness that is in him. That is if he does 'understand' what is actually being said.

[Ezekiel 33]

Dear Mr Big Boy! You have no way to prove that an angel is only in one place at any given time. The only way you could know that is for you to be omnipresent and then you would know. So you assume that it is true. Thus you have no way to prove that most of the church has not had an encounter with Satan. You could not prove that unless you were somehow omnipresent.

Now I know you are a bigboy in your huge circle of friends, but it takes more than being a bigboy to prove that. So maybe you are just a littleshot like me.

BTW, I have probably read the book of Daniel more than you have read John 3:16.

Sorry brother Nikos, I was trying to keep it light hearted and the "my little friend" comment was only meant as humor. I address some of my friends like that when we are having a light hearted conversation.

Personally, I believe that in Daniel's encounters with angels we can see that they are not omnipresent. They have to travel.

Daniel 9:20-22New King James Version (NKJV)
The Seventy-Weeks Prophecy

20 Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy mountain of my God, 21 yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. 22 And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand.

Daniel 10:12-14New King James Version (NKJV)

12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

There are two witnesses right there for you brother.