The Baptism with the Holy Spirit - part 3
THE GIFTS CONCERNING TONGUES
Text: 1 Corinthians 12:10 August 27, 2000
By: Pastor Rick MacDonald
ILLUSTRATION: Dwight L. Moody once demonstrated the principle like this: "Tell me," he said to his audience, "how can I get the air out of the tumbler I have in my hand?" One man said, "Suck it out with a pump." But the evangelist replied, "That would create a vacuum and shatter it." Finally after many suggestions, moody picked up a pitcher and quietly filled the glass with water. "There," he said, "all the air is now removed." He then explained that victory for the child of God does not come by working hard to eliminate sinful habits, but rather by allowing the Holy Spirit to take full possession.
There is debate as to what is the initial evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit. For most it is the gift of tongues. There have been incidents where other gifts have been manifest first, but it is definitely more the exception than the rule. So lets look at the rule, lets examine the gift of tongues.
INTRODUCTION:
The gift of tongues and its companion gift of interpretation are often misunderstood and misapplied, and it’s no surprise they are often called “the least of the gifts.”
That phrase is used with such frequency—usually to demean speaking in tongues—that we might be inclined to presume the words “the least of the gifts” must be somewhere in the Bible. But they aren’t.
None of the precious gifts of God’s Spirit—tongues included—should ever be deemed “less that the rest.” The gifts are all from Him—the sovereign Spirit, who distributes them at His will(v. 11). Their source should forever preclude us from placing a diminishing value on any of the gifts, as though the order of their listing indicated divine preference. (If that were true, “faith, hope and love” are listed in the wrong order in 1 Corinthians 13:13 because the last on the list is named “the greatest.”)
Nevertheless, there are biblical grounds for designating “the best gifts” (v. 31). The “best gift,” quite simply, is the one most suited to a given situation. When the apostle Paul exhorts us to “earnestly desire the best,” he isn’t setting up a competition, but he is urging us to be open to the full and free working of the Holy Spirit.
In the atmosphere of love (1 Cor. 13), the diversity of the Spirit’s gifts (1 Cor. 12) will edify the church when used in orderliness as submitted to the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 14). So where do tongues and interpretation fit in?
I. VARIOUS KINDS OF TONGUES
A. Earthly tongues: Acts 2:1-8
Missionary experiences
B. Tongues as a personal prayer language:
1. 1 Corinthians 14:4
a. Tongues used in prayer are to build us up, encourage us.
b. Tongues used in a public setting, should be interpreted, and in then considered to be prophecy - which edifies the church
2. Ephesians 6:18
a. Praying in the Spirit, a phrase that clarifies Romans 8:26-27.
b. In 1 Cor. 14:14-15 Paul clearly shows that such praying may include prayer “in a tongue,” not known to the person praying
3. Romans 8:26-27
1. We regularly face things we don’t know how to pray about (26)
2. The Holy Spirit will dramatically assist us in prayer in these times (27)
Illustration: A city dweller moved to a farm and bought a cow. Shortly after he did, the cow went dry. When he reported this fact to a neighbor farmer, the farmer expressed surprise. The city man said he was surprised too. "I can’t understand it either, for if ever a person was considerate of an animal, I was of that cow. If I didn’t need any milk, I didn’t milk her. If I only needed a quart, I only took a quart." The farmer tried to explain that the only way to keep milk flowing is not to take as little as possible from the cow, but to take as much as possible. That’s also true of the Christian life—those who only turn to God in need miss the power and fruitfulness that flows from a daily in filling of His Spirit.
II. TONGUES AND INTERPRETATION
A. THE REALM: It’s a spiritual realm explaining the essence of the gift.
1. The essence of this manifestation of the Holy Spirit is to get our attention in a supernatural way (1 Corinthians 14:5)
a. This is not to be compared as an equivalence to scripture, but as a direct message to our immediate circumstances. (See 2 Tim.
b. There may be reference to scripture, and these messages will always align with biblical truth and will usually draw our attention to a place in God’s Word to more fully feed on His intent for us for that moment.
B. THE REGULATIONS
1. They are to be commonly expected - 1 Corinthians 14:26
a. Nothing suggests a meeting to be “more spiritual” because tongues and interpretation occurred.
b. Nothing suggests this is a requirement, because the distribution of gifts is not ours to dictate -1 Corinthians 12:11
c. There are times we feel the need to prompt our leaders to “stir-up” this gift and other gifts - 2 Timothy 1:6
d. We are to keep our hearts open to his readiness to manifest Himself through the gifts - 1 Corinthians 12:7
2. They are to be controlled - 1 Corinthians 14:27-33
a. The number of messages in tongues should not exceed three. (v. 27)
b. A tongue should never be brought forth unless an interpretation is sure to be forth coming. (v. 28)
c. Messages given by this means are subject to evaluation and correction in light of scripture. (v. 29)
d. No one has the right to say “God made me do it.” (v. 30-32)
e. The exercise in a meeting should blend in - not confuse. (v. 33)
f. It should submit to the basic beauty of the gathering. (1 Cor. 14:40)
3. They are to be allowed
a. Paul says we shouldn’t prohibit tongues - 1 Corinthians 14:39
b. We are not to despise prophecies - 1 Thessalonians 5:20
C. THE RELEASE
1. Conviction - These gifts should never be allowed in an arena where the leader isn’t convinced of their importance to the body. Too often they’re explained away
2. Instruction - 1 Corinthians 12:1
a. Just as this message is used to encourage with understanding, so also we should teach wherever the saints are gathered together.
3. Administration - All the issues under Regulations are the guidelines for proper administration of the gifts wherever believers gather together.
Conclusion:
Tongues and interpretation may be last on the list of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, but they are not to be minimized as “least.” The believer and the assembly that learns to welcome them will inevitably be edified and blessed by these precious gifts - which are but another expression of God’s bounty toward us all.
Illustration: Centuries ago a king called to his side his most trusted herald. He handed him a letter and commanded him to read it throughout the entire empire. The king longed to improve the level of living for his people and to promote great happiness in the homes of the land.
In the letter the king offered special benefits to each subject. The one stipulation said that to collect the benefits each person needed to appear at the nearest village square on the day the king’s representative came to that village. All the benefits the king promised would be received only through a personal appearance before the king’s representative.
So also, it can be said, that all the benefits and blessings God has for us to experience come through His Holy Spirit. All God has for us is made a reality through the Holy Spirit. The indwelling Spirit enables and equips us to live Christ’s own life through us. By His grace and His gifts we are prepared to fulfill His purpose for us.
