The gifts of the Spirit: Part 1

 

The Gifts of the Spirit: Part 1

1 Corinthians 12 

               Back in the day, 1974, the gifts of the Spirit were the talk o’ the town. Everybody wanted to speak in tongues, having no idea what the Biblical gift was. Gibberish was the order of the day. But a closer examination of Acts 2 and 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 reveals that speaking in tongues was actually speaking in known languages and that should have settled the matter once and for all; but it didn’t. Charismatics preferred to ignore Scripture and do what they wanted. Speaking in gibberish was just fine with them. Interpretation? Never heard of it. It was common to visit a local congregation that had a strong charismatic influence in it where many people spoke in gibberish at once. It seems charismatics wanted to pitch their tents in 1 Cor. 12 and again, ignore chapter 14.

               So, let’s go to chapter 14 and see what it has to say concerning the gift of tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

 ² 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.

 ³ On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

 ⁴ The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

 ⁵ 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. 1 Corinthians 14:5 θέλω δὲ πάντας ὑμᾶς λαλεῖν γλώσσαις, μᾶλλον δὲ ἵνα προφητεύητε· μείζων δὲ ὁ προφητεύων ἢ ὁ λαλῶν γλώσσαις ἐκτὸς εἰ μὴ διερμηνεύῃ, ἵνα ἡ ἐκκλησία οἰκοδομὴν λάβῃ. (1 Cor. 14:5 BGT). Paul wished that they all spoke in tongues, knowing that they couldn’t, not all have that gift. He was saying this with a taste of sarcasm. This is what they wanted for themselves, not what the Spirit wanted for them. ⁷ To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

 ⁸ For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,

 ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

 ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

 ¹¹ All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.  (1 Cor. 12:7-11 ESV) So, do we want what we want, or do we want what the Spirit wants? That question is irrelevant being that the Spirit is going to have His way regardless of what we want.

               Read on; 

 ⁶ 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 Cor. 14:1-6 ESV)

 

⁷ If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?

 ⁸ And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?

 ⁹ So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.

 ¹⁰ There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,

 ¹¹ but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.

 ¹² So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

 ¹³ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.

 ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.

 ¹⁵ What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also (the interpretation); I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also (the interpretation).

 ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving (tongues gives thanks and honor to God, declaring His wondrous works. Acts 2) when he does not know what you are saying?

 ¹⁷ For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.

 ¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

 ¹⁹ Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

 ²⁰ Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

 ²¹ In the Law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."

 ²² Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

 ²³ If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

 ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,

 ²⁵ the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

 ²⁶ What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.

 ²⁷ If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.

 ²⁸ But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. This is NOT about a “prayer language,” it is still a known language.

 ²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.

 ³⁰ If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.

 ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged,

 ³² and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.

 ³³ For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

 (1 Cor. 14:7-33 ESV)

               That is very clear. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

               And, furthermore, the word of God forbids anyone from forbidding anyone from speaking in tongues. Did you know that? Here it is; ³⁹ So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

 ⁴⁰ But all things should be done decently and in order.

 (1 Cor. 14:39-40 ESV) The verb “forbid” is preceded by the particle “not,” μὴ κωλύετε (1 Cor. 14:39 BGT), indicating that the Corinthians, at least some of them, forbade speaking in tongues. It is a negated present imperative. Sound familiar? That form of the verb lets us know that at the time some in the church were forbidding speaking in tongues. Nothing has changed, it still applies today.

So, mainline denominations, do you still forbid your gifted members from speaking in tongues? And you, charismatic and Pentecostals leaders, do you allow and encourage your folks to speak in tongues all at once? If indeed it is the genuine gift of tongues, known languages.