Weapons for the Believer 5.8
and 5.9 – The Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues
According to Paul, there are
weapons of warfare.
2
Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV)
For
though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For
the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to
destroy strongholds.
We are considering ten
weapons that the Believer has at their disposal. We looked at the first four in
previous posts. If you haven’t read them I encourage you to do so.
The next weapons are
referred to as The Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Word of Wisdom, Word of
Knowledge, Faith, Gifts of Healing, Working of Miracles, Prophecy, Discerning
of Spirits,
Different Kinds of Tongues,
and Interpretation of Tongues.
When our faith intersects
with the Spirit’s power, there is nothing that cannot be accomplished in those
moments. I do not believe these are given permanently as some teach. I do not
believe that some “posses” these gifts, but instead are given in the moment
when needed. Consequently any or all of these may manifest in each Believer as
the Spirit chooses.
There are nine gifts list by
Paul in 1 Corinthians 12. Traditionally these have been divided into three
groups: The Power Gifts, The Revelation Gifts, and The Speaking Gifts.
The Power Gifts: Faith
(or special faith, as some have described it)
Gifts of
Healing (the only plural gift)
Working
of Miracles
The Revelation Gifts: Word
of Wisdom
Word of
Knowledge
Discerning
of Spirits
The Speaking Gifts: Prophecy
Tongues
Interpretation
of Tongues
Today we will look at the final
two of these in more detail: Tongues, and the Interpretation of Tongues. You
don’t see these gifts in operation much in the local church. At one time during
the height of the Charismatic Renewal these gifts were seen in just about every
service. I’m not sure what changed. I think because of some abuse of the gifts
people became leery of them. Others considered them “uncouth” for the church. They
are still as much a part of the ministry of the Holy Spirit as when Paul penned
1 Corinthians.
In essence, the combination
of the two gifts, Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues, is equivalent to
Prophecy. When one speaks in an unknown tongue in a public gathering only the
one speaking is blessed unless someone interprets. When someone interprets the
word given by the Holy Spirit through tongues it will bring edification,
exhortation, and comfort.
Tongues are not used to
“wage war” with the enemy. Because it is a language that only the Holy Spirit
knows the devil or other evil spirit has no idea what you’re saying. The Gift
of Tongues is for ministry to the Body of Christ, or can be used by the Holy
Spirit as a sign to the unbeliever.
1
Corinthians 14:1-6 (ESV) Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts,
especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to
men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the
Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their
upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue
builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want
you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies
is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so
that the church may be built up.
Now,
brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I
bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
1
Corinthians 14:22 (ESV) Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for
unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
There is much confusion
about tongues, primarily because the mainstream protestant, evangelical
churches do not give place to them in their doctrine. Most will not
categorically deny they exist, because they are mentioned in the New Testament
many times. As I stated at the beginning, I believe it is because there has
been much abuse of these, and other, Gifts of the Holy Spirit; mostly through
ignorance. Others will place them on the back burner of their faith because of
these words from Paul.
1
Corinthians 14:13-19 (ESV) Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray
that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind
is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray
with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my
mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in
the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not
know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the
other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more
than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with
my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
“I would rather speak five
words with my mind …” That seals it for most. Why would we do something that is
unfruitful? I have a different question. If Paul “spoke in tongues more than
all of us” apparently he felt this activity worth his time. That should provoke
us to find out more about this Gift that Jesus gave us after He ascended to
Heaven. It must be pretty important. Why would Jesus send something that is of
no value? He wouldn’t. That’s my point.
Before you throw the last
two Gifts of the Holy Spirit out with yesterday’s news take some time to read
through Acts and 1 Corinthians. It could open up a new world for you!
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