(A continuation from Gifts of the Spirit Part 8)
The Gift of Tongues definition:
A supernatural manifestation of the Holy Ghost, which is a Spirit-inspired utterance where believers speak a language which the speaker is not familiar with or learned. It is controlled by the Spirit.
1 Cor. 14
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Paul is still referring to “tongues unto God”, not the Gift of Tongues (that requires an interpretation)
Many people confuse this verse
With the Gift of tongues but it’s not.
Paul is still thinking back to the first
outpouring of the Holy Ghost in Acts 2
Acts 2: 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
11 …. we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
This was not the “gift of Tongues” but Tongues of Praise unto God… and it was for a sign to the unbelievers.
They said, What meaneth this?
Still yet some are not convinced that 1 Cor. 14:22 isn’t talking about the “Gift of Tongues”
Let’s look at it again and then go right into the next verse:
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
This is the key: if therefore the whole church be come together into one place
If Paul had stated in vs. 22 that this was in a church setting, then you could say that “tongues is for a sign to the unbeliever” is the “Gift of tongues.”
BUT he didn’t.
He said… 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:
Then he said…vs. 23 if therefore the whole church be come together into one place and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
What he is saying is that “tongues” not the GIFT of TONGUES is not for everyone to participate in at the same time when they come to church.
1. It is that prayer language unto God that edifies the personal believer
2. It is for the unbeliever should they hear these utterances as in Acts 2 to persuade them of God moving in a supernatural way.
The reason I’m taking time to make this distinction is this:
Go back to 1 Cor. 12:29 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
There is not a written answer here, but the inference to the answer is “NO”
Not everyone is an Apostle.
Not everyone is a Prophet.
Not everyone is a Teacher. And so on….
Not everyone has the gifts of healing
Not everyone speaks in tongues
Not everyone interprets.
You see, those who do not believe that “Tongues is the initial sign evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost” use this scripture to refute us that do.
They say… see, even Paul said not
everyone would speak in tongues.
But we must understand the distinction…the difference between “Tongues” and the “Gift of Tongues”
This passage was definitely referring to the “Gift of Tongues”
-specifically because immediately
following this, he said “do all interpret?”
All of these that Paul mentioned were listed under the Gifts of the Spirit.
So no… in reference to this scripture, not everyone will have the “GIFT of Tongues” but everyone who is filled with the Spirit will speak in tongues because it is the initial sign evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.
The 2nd reason VS. 22 cannot be referring to the “Gift of Tongues” is this:
Again Paul stated: Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:
Jump down to VS. 26
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
This verse is referring to the Gift of Tongues… and it is used for EDIFYING the body of Christ.
Back to vs. 12
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
Why? for the edifying of the Church.
Back further to vs. 5
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
There it is again: So what is the Gift of Tongues for?
That the Church may receive edifying!
NOW… I know what some of you are thinking.
But Pastor, I’ve heard tongues and
the interpretation that has come is
definitely directed towards sinners.
RIGHT. Are all those that go to Church Christians? NO.
Therefore, is God limited to using the GIFT of TONGUES only to Christians?
Afterall, it is for the edifying of the Church!!
Let me ask you this:
If an interpretation comes forth
directed to a sinner, and they respond
and get saved…
IS not the church edified????
Edification: 1) (the act of) building, building up
2a) the act of one who promotes another’s growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness
Don’t you think a sinner who gets saved
promotes happiness within us?
Don’t you think a sinner who gets saved
helps to build up the church?
Therefore, if a message in tongues
comes forth, and an interpretation is
directed towards a sinner, don’t judge
it to be “not of God” simply because
you think it’s not edifying to the body
of Christ.
It is edifying to the body of Christ!!!!
Let’s move on
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
So here is the regulation of this Gift
Why? So there is no abuse of it.
Again… it’s not the church setting for everyone to come in and speak in tongues.
Doing so brings mass confusion!
1Co 14:33 For God is not [the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
AND…. The Gifts of the Spirit are complimentary to the service itself!
They do not OVERTAKE or OVER-RULE the Service or the Preacher.
1Co 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
The purpose of coming to Church is to learn more about God.
So that we can:
1. Worship Him better
2. Live for Him better
3. Witness for Him better
4. Work for Him better
The purpose for coming to Church is not to speak in tongues..
Therefore the regulation of the Gift
IF used in Church….
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
The regulations:
1. by two or at the most three in any given service.
Why? Because the gifts are not the
primary focus of the service.
They are complimentary
2. and that by course
One at a time, not all together.
Scenario: you begin to feel God starting to use you in this gift… and just before you give out a message in tongues, someone else does…
What do you do? YOU wait for the interpretation, and then proceed to speak forth the message in tongues.
3. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church
Does it mean you missed God?
Were you “out of order?”
Yes and No.
Yes, you could have mistaken it for
the Tongues we have labeled “God’s
prayer language.”
No, you were obedient to God in
giving forth the message, but someone
else was not obedient in giving the
interpretation.
So what can you do in this situation?
Can a believer have both gifts?
Gift of Tongues, and the Gift of Interpretation?
1Co 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue pray that he may interpret.
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Answer: YES
But back to the 3rd regulation:
If there is no interpretation, keep quiet. Do not give out another message in tongues.
Can a believer have both gifts?
Gift of Tongues, and the Gift of Interpretation?
1Co 14:13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue pray that he may interpret.
1Co 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
(Continued on in Gifts of the Spirit Part 10)
