Gifts of The Holy Spirit
God's
plan for His people is to equip them so that they can perform
the ministry unto which He has called them to. Through the gifts
one can demonstrate the reality of God to the world and minister
to one another in building up the Body of Christ.
The Apostle Paul found it necessary to tell the Corinthians,
"now concerning the spiritual gifts I would not have you
ignorant…" This emphasis is needed even today, for many have
misunderstood the gifts of the Spirit. Many falsely believe that
'gifts' mean God's anointing on their talents! So we have today,
believers who claim to have the gift of singing, the gift of
playing instrument etc! It is God's plan that we understand and
experience the spiritual gifts in the local church.
THE NATURE OF GIFTS.
· God is the source of gifts
· It has to be operated according to His desire.
· They are SPIRITUAL GIFTS. They are different in nature,
purpose and operation. Each gift displays or manifests the Holy
Spirit in the believer.
· In using the gifts Jesus is exalted as the Lord. A genuine
'gift' will exalt the Lord Jesus and not the individual.
· There is a great unity of purpose in the Godhead in the
operation of the gifts in the church.
· Gifts operate for the Body of Christ. The Apostle Paul
explains the operation of the gifts in the Body in I Corinthians
12:12-31. THE GIFTS OPERATE FOR THE BODY AND NOT FOR THE
INDIVIDUAL.
· The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts, as He desires.
"Earnestly desire" as Paul says but it is not up to us to decide
which gift we or others should operate. First we have to
surrender ourselves to Him then He will bestow the gift for the
occasion that God might be glorified. Gifts cannot be earned or
merited, therefore gifts are not signs of spiritual maturity.
THE PURPOSE OF GIFTS.
Gifts are tools and not toys to experiment and play. Gifts are
to glorify God and not the vessel.
· Gifts supernaturally equip the church to show the power of
God. Christians are to function as Christ's Body in the earth.
Jesus promised that supernatural signs would follow. Gifts are
not the end but the means to the end. We are not to follow after
them.
· Gifts establish strong foundations in our lives. Gifts are the
'extra something' for the edification and the growth of the
Body. Where the gifts are operated in the right order, the life
of the believers are balanced and established on strong
foundation.
· They bring encouragement and vision to the Church. The gifts
lift the believer into the realm of God's thinking and bring
encouragement and edification to the Body.
· They bring deliverance and healing to the whole man. Through
gifts, God brings release and healing to the mind and body.
Gifts can release us from our fears and anxieties. It can
deliver us from satanic oppression.
Understanding the Nature of Spiritual Gifts
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§ They are spiritual gifts: “Now concerning spiritual gifts…But
the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man ”(1Co
12:1, 7). The gifts display or manifest the Holy Spirit in the
believer. They are not to be confused with the fruit of the Holy
Spirit which shows the character of God in the lives of
believer.
§ In using gifts Jesus is exalted as the Lord: A genuine gift
will exalt the Lord Jesus and not the individual.
§ God is the center: There is a great unity of purpose in the
Godhead in the operation of the gifts in the church.
o God the Father plans and oversees these operation
o The Lord Jesus Christ ministers to the people in their needs.
He came to the earth to redeem, heal and deliver mankind
o The Holy Spirit’s task is to make Jesus ministry effective in
our lives and also to bring forth those things which Jesus wants
to do in the earth.
§ Gifts operate for the Body of Christ
“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit,
dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is
one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one
body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one
Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or
Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to
drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of
the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall
say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it
therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where
were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the
smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in
the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one
member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet
but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no
need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of
you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be
more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which
we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more
abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant
comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath
tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to
that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the
body; but that the members should have the same care one for
another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer
with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with
it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily
prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracle, then gifts of
healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all
apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of
miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with
tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts:
and yet show I unto you a more excellent way.” (1Co 12:11-31)
In these verses Apostle Paul explains the operation of the Body
of Christ. When the gifts are in operation then the Body
functions. We have been placed in the Body that we may function
as members. The gifts operate for the Body and not for the
individual users.
Each of us should understand
§ Each one has a function in the Body of Christ, through the
operation of the gifts. All are to be involved, each one
expecting to operate in the gifts.
“And Moses went up unto God, and the LORD called unto him out of
the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob,
and tell the children of Israel; Ye have seen what I did unto
the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought
you unto myself. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed,
and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto
me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be
unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the
words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” (Exo
19:3-6 ).
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to
profit withal.” (1Co 12:7).
As we minister, God will minister through you.
§ Each is important. All are significant in the local church
§ Each is different. We should not expect the same function as
someone else.
“For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that
is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought
to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to
every man the measure of faith.” (Rom 12:3)
“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the
members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is
Christ. For the body is not one member, but many. (1Co 12:12,14
)
§ Each should accept others. We should realize that without
others contribution we are incomplete. We can not say one of the
gift is better than the rest. The best gift is the one that is
most needed at any particular time. For example if a person is
sick, the gift we need is healing and not prophecy, although
prophecy is good.
§ The gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit as He desires.
“But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit,
dividing to every man severally as he will.” (1Co 12:11)
“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather
that ye may prophesy. (1Co 14:1).
Though we are to earnestly desire for spiritual gifts, it is not
up to us to decide which gift we or others should operate. First
we have to surrender then He will give the gift for the occasion
that God might be glorified.
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same
one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any
man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth:
that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to
whom be praise and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1Pe
4:10-11 ).
Gifts cannot be earned or merited therefore gifts are not a sign
of spiritual maturity.
What are gifts for
Gifts are tools and not toys to be experimented or played with.
Gifts are to glorify God and not the vessel.
§ They supernaturally equip the church to show the power of God.
Christians are to function as Christ’s Body in the earth. Jesus
promised that supernatural signs would follow. We should expect
it even today. This is a part of His salvation.
“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at
the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto
us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both
with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of
the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?” (Heb 2:3-4).
God warns men not to neglect such a great salvation. So also the
church is not to neglect this salvation and her responsibility
to use all that God has given her to reveal that salvation.
“And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name
shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing,
it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and
they shall recover.” (Mar 16:17-18).
Gifts are not the end but the means to God’s end. Signs will
follow and not that we should follow after them.
§ They establish strong foundation in our lives.
“For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some
spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;” (Rom 1:11).
The gifts are something extra to our faith, for the edification
and the growth of the Body.
§ Where the gifts are in operation in the right order, the life
of the believers shall be balanced and established on strong
foundation.
§ The bring encouragement and vision to the church.
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to
profit withal.” (1Co 12:7).
They are not for personal benefit but for others, for the
edification and encouragement of the Body of Christ.
“Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts,
seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.” (1Co
14:12)
“…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.” (1Co
14:26).
The gifts will lift the believer into the realm of God’s
thinking and bring encouragement and edification.
§ They bring deliverance and healing to the whole man. Through
gifts God brings release and healings to the mind and body. The
gifts can release us form fears and anxieties, it can deliver us
from satanic oppression, so that,
‘the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your
whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (1Th 5:23).
God does not desire us to in any bondage or sickness. These
gifts were not just for the Corinthian church, Paul instructs
the believers to make full use of their gifts.
The word of knowledge
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This a supernatural gift or revelation of facts that are
normally unknown or beyond the reach of the natural mind. The
Holy Spirit is able to supernaturally make known to us at a
particular time for a specific purpose, events that are in the
past and the present. It the Lord providing you information,
insight, and understanding about something of the past and the
present. A good example would be the Lord Jesus meeting with the
woman at the well in the Gostpel of John.
“Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” The
woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her,
“You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18 for you have had
five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your
husband; in that you spoke truly.” (John 4:16-19)
This is a clear operation of the gift of the word of knowledge.
The word of wisdom
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This a supernatural revelation by the Spirit of God of a tiny
portion of God’s total wisdom concerning the divine purpose in
the mind and will of God. It is operated only under God’s
control. This wisdom is not gained through study, experience,
maturity, neither is it a substitute for studying God’s word. It
is God or the Lord Jesus Christ providing to you direction or
wise counsel or divine understanding of the future. God gave
Joseph a message of wisdom, and Joseph told Pharaoh to store up
twenty percent of the harvest during the plenteous years for the
upcoming famine years (Gen. 41:33-36). When God gives a person
direction, and tells him what to do, then it is “a message of
wisdom.” Any message that points to the future it falls into the
category of the word of wisdom.
It is important to realize and keep in mind that a message of
knowledge and a message of wisdom are manifestations of Holy
Spirit, and are not part of the natural human mind. They are not
superior knowledge, insight, awareness, or wisdom, which comes
from the ability of the mind. Many unsaved people have great
knowledge and wisdom, but these are not manifestations of Holy
Spirit. Neither is it giving knowledge or wise advice to someone
else, for many unsaved people give wise counsel to others.
A message of knowledge and a message of wisdom are God
“speaking” to us to guide and help us. It is inconceivable that
He would not do that for each and every Christian. Surely He
would not give guidance to one Christian and not to another.
Every Christian can, and needs to, manifest Holy Spirit in these
two ways to live a rich and successful Christian life. No doubt
most Christians have heard from God via the manifestations
without even realizing it. God gives a message of knowledge or
wisdom in such a clear and powerful way that it cannot be
missed, because usually God speaks in a “gentle whisper” or “a
still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12-NIV, KJV).
An example of the Lord giving a very clear and powerful message
of knowledge and wisdom was when the Lord wanted Peter to go to
the Gentiles and present the Christian message to them. The Lord
gave Peter a vision and audible revelation (Acts 10:11-13).
However, in our experience, the whisper of God can be so gentle,
so quiet, that often we cannot distinguish it from our own
thoughts. This is especially true in these modern times when
there is probably music or television in the background, and we
are so busy and distracted that we are not really paying
attention to Him. The Lord “provides” the information or
direction, but sometimes we do not recognize it for what it is.
Many times it is only after the fact that we recognize that the
“thought” we had was actually a revelation from the Lord.
In the above examples the Lord gave the revelation at just the
right time, and the effect of the believer acting on the
revelation he received was that people were helped and blessed.
This is a good example of how the manifestations work for the
“common good” (1 Co. 12:7). It is often when there is a tangible
blessing in the Body of Christ that people recognize that the
Lord is at work in those Christians who walk by the power of
Holy Spirit.
Discerning of spirits
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This is God or the Lord Jesus Christ revealing to you
information about the presence or non-presence of spirits
(including both Holy Spirit or demons), and some times including
the identity of demons present, whether or not you may cast them
out, and providing the power to do it. It gives us the ability
to judge, whether people or situations are motivated by satanic,
human or divine spirit. This is not the natural human judgement
of people and circumstances based on what we are taught at home
and our culture. Neither is this our Christian judgement of good
and evil which becomes more and more sensitive as we grow in
Christian life through fellowship and study of God’s word
(Heb5:13,14). There is the discerning of spirits through the
evil powers, which is called ‘spiritism’. This is stirctly
forbidden in the Word of God. We have dealt with this matter in
the chapter on ‘renouncing the past’.
The manifestation of discerning of spirits is necessary if men
and women of God are going to deal effectively with the
spiritual realities of this fallen world. There are many
“spirits” in this world, including angels and the Holy Spirit.
Nevertheless, because of the spiritual battle that rages around
all of us, the most important aspect of discerning of spirits is
dealing with the demonic forces of this world. “For we wrestle
not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12),
“Our Adversary, the Devil, walks about as a roaring lion,
seeking people to devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). God has not left us
helpless in that situation, but has empowered us to deal with
him. The manifestation of discerning of spirits is more than
just recognizing them, it also involves entering into battle
against them and casting them out. Recognizing demons,
protecting the believers, and casting them out is all part of
“discerning of spirits.”
By use of this gift alone can the church confidently remain free
from deception. This gift is not fault finding or suspicion,
neither is it thought reading or psychoanalysis. It is not
discerning of people or behaviour, but it is discerning of
spirits.
The Lord Jesus discerned the spirit of Peter when He turned, and
said unto Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan”. (Matt 16:23).
Other examples where this gift was employed is found in Acts
8:9-24; Luke 9:51-56;
The gift of faith
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This is not human faith that is based on experience of the five
senses. Neither is it the same as ‘the saving faith’ which is
exercised to be saved. ‘Saving faith’ is a gift of God, “So then
faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. “ (Rom
10:17 KJVR). This faith grows, we receive baptism by water,
baptism of the Holy Spirit by this faith, we receive answers to
our prayers, receive healing in our body, meet financial need
through this faith. “Therefore I say unto ou, What things soever
ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye
shall have them. “ (Mar 11:24 KJVR). The gift of faith is not
the same as the ‘fruit of faith’. Fruit of faith is a character
that grows as we walk with the Lord. We must distinguish between
faith as it is commonly used in the Bible and the “manifestation
of faith.” All of us have “faith” (trust) in a large number of
things. In fact, ordinary life would be impossible without
trust. A person would not sit down if he did not trust the chair
would hold him.. God asks us to trust that Jesus has been raised
from the dead because the Bible, history, and life give plenty
of evidence for it.
The gift of faith is not the same as the ‘fruit of faith’. Fruit
of faith is a character that grows as we walk with the Lord. We
must distinguish between faith as it is commonly used in the
Bible and the “gift of faith.” All of us have “faith” (trust) in
a large number of things. In fact, ordinary life would be
impossible without trust. A person would not sit down if he did
not trust the chair would hold him. People plan their entire
evening based upon faith (trust). God asks us to trust that
Jesus has been raised from the dead because the Bible, history,
and life give plenty of evidence for it.
In contrast to ordinary faith, the gift of faith is necessary to
accomplish the special tasks that God, by revelation, asks us to
do. For example, Jesus said that a person with faith could tell
a mountain to be cast into the ocean and it would be done (Mark
11:23). Well, all of us have seen mountains, and we know that we
do not have the human power to move them, so doing that requires
the power of God. We need God to make that kind of miracle
available to us by first giving us the revelation to do it. When
He does, then the faith we must have in order to get the job
done is “the manifestation of faith.”
Moses brought water out of a rock by the manifestation of faith
(Exod. 17:5, 6), Gideon defeated the Midianites by the
manifestation of faith (Judg. 6:16), Elijah multiplied the oil
and bread by the manifestation of faith (1 Kings 17:14-16), and
the other great miracles of the Bible were done by the
manifestation of faith. When it comes to miracles and gifts of
healings, we need the gift of faith because we cannot heal the
sick or do miracles by our human power. God must give us a
message of knowledge and a message of wisdom, letting us know
that it is His will for us to heal someone or do a miracle, and
then we must have the faith to do it.
Daniel was in the lions den, he received a miracle as a result
of faith. God gave him special faith. He did not do anything,
his faith was passive rather than active, but he received a
miracle.
Gifts of Healings and
Working of Miracles
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We cover these two manifestations together because they are
similar in many ways. The “gifts [plural] of healings [plural]”
is so called because God does multiple healings, and each of
them is a gift, done out of His grace or mercy. Gifts of
healings and working of miracles are manifestations of Holy
Spirit because it takes a believer to do them by the power of
God that he has been given. It is very important to realize that
it is people, empowered by Holy Spirit within, who do healings
and miracles. On rare occasions God heals or does a miracle
without human agency, but that is not “the manifestation” of
gifts of healings or miracles because the gift of Holy Spirit
inside a believer was not employed.
To do a healing or miracle, several manifestations come into
action. First, the person needs a message of knowledge and/or a
message of wisdom to know what the situation is and what to do
about it. Second, he needs the manifestation of faith to bring
to pass the healing or miracle. Third, he must represent Christ
on earth and, via the power of God, bring to pass the miracle as
God supplies the energy for it. Notice how Peter raised Tabitha.
“Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his
knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said,
“Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat
up.” (Acts 9:40)
Peter spoke the miracle into being. First, Peter prayed. Then,
when he had revelation from the Lord to go ahead, he raised her
from the dead by the power of God. Once Peter received the
revelation to raise Tabitha, he performed the miracle. We
believe that there would be more miracles and healings in
Christendom today if Christians would step out in faith and do
what the Lord tells them to do. Too often we are waiting for God
to do what He has given us the spiritual power to do.
Some of the means of divine healing:
§ By calling the elders and anointing with oil and praying James
5:14
§ The table of the Lord I Co. 11:27-34
§ Laying hands by those who believe. All believers have this
privilege to believe God’s word and to pray for the sick.
The manifestations of gifts of healings and working of miracles
are often interwoven. There are certainly miracles that are not
healings, such as when Moses parted the sea so the Israelites
could escape Egypt. Also, there are healings that are not
miracles, when, although the natural power of the body to heal
itself is augmented by the healing power of God, the healing is
not instantaneous. However, there are many miracles of healing
in the Bible, such as the instantaneous healing of Bartimaeus,
who was blind (Mark 10:46-52). Also, casting out a demon can be
a miracle (Mark 9:39).
Prophecy
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The gift of prophecy is speaking, writing, or otherwise
communicating a message from God. ‘Prophecy’ means to flow
forth, it carries a thought to bubble forth like a fountain, to
let drop, to lift up, to tumble, to spring forth. God or the
Lord Jesus gives a message of knowledge or a message of wisdom
via the Holy Spirit born inside him, and when he gives that
message to someone else it is prophecy. The revelation that is
spoken as prophecy can come in the moment, coming almost word by
word as the speaker says them, something we call “inspirational
prophecy.” It can also come as a complete revelation given to
the speaker before it is spoken as prophecy, and it can come as
a combination, with some revelation coming beforehand and some
coming as the prophecy is spoken. In the Old Testament, when a
person had Holy Spirit, he or she almost always prophesied. That
is why Joel said that when Holy Spirit was poured out on all
believers, they would prophesy (Joel 2:28), and why Peter, in
his teaching on the Day of Pentecost, referenced Joel. “…I [God]
will pour out my Spirit [spirit] on all people. Your sons and
daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your
old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and
women, I will pour out my Spirit [spirit] in those days, and
they will prophesy.” (Acts 2:17, 18). God says His servants will
prophesy, so there should be little argument about it. The gift
of prophecy is to strengthen, encourage and comfort people (I
Co. 14:3). It can reveal the secrets of people’s hearts so that
they can be closer to God (I Co. 14:24 and 25).
The scripture makes it clear that ‘all’ may prophecy (I Co 14:1,
31, 24); children may (Joel 2:28); even women may prophecy (I Co
11:5).
Prophecy can originate from three sources;
§ Human spirit – “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of
Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out
of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; (Eze 13:2 )
§ Evil spirit – “And he said, I will go out, and be a lying
spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the LORD said, Thou
shalt entice him, and thou shalt also prevail: go out, and do
even so.” (2Ch 18:21)
§ Holy Spirit – “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the
Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work
whereunto I have called them.” (Act 13:2)
In simple words, the gift of prophesy there is no revelation;
whereas the office of the a prophet there is the element of
revelation.
In the Old Testament prophecy there is essentially a foretelling
but prophecy in the New Testament is different. It shifts from
this and prophecy has no foretelling!
Some think to prophecy means to preach. It is not so. There can
be an element of prophecy in preaching. ‘Preach’ means to
proclaim, to announce, to cry out or to tell. The purpose of
preaching is different. Word of God does not tell that men would
be saved by the foolishness of prophesying but the foolishness
of preaching. (I Cor 1:18-21). On the day of Pentecost, tongues
arrested the onlookers to a place of hearing, but the word was
essential to save them.
The office of the prophet and the gift of prophecy differ. (I
Cor 14:39; 12:28; 14:31). Prophesying does not make one a
prophet. A prophet is a gift of God and in him there are other
gifts in operation, like the word of wisdom, knowledge,
discerning of spirits. There is a misuse of this gift in today’s
Christianity and many consider those who prophesy to be
prophets! This has brought in much confusion in the life of
believers. Many who are called prophets today do not quailify to
the office of the prophet. They only have the simple gift of
prophecy. If it is used as the Word of God tells it will be a
great blessing.
Some seeing the prophetic ministry in others desire to do so,
hence foretells instead of forth telling! By this act he gets
into even more trouble, at times even loosing what he has. It is
good to stay with the simple gift of prophesying.
For many this gift is about foretelling, but we must remember
that in it there is no prediction but speaking unto men for the
edification, exhortation and comfort. (I Cor 14:26) The best
time to exercise this gift is in worship. (Acts 13:1-4)
Many Christians do not prophesy, not because they do not have
the spiritual ability. The presence of Holy Spirit inside a
Christian gives him the ability to prophesy. If a Christian does
not prophesy, either he has not been sufficiently instructed, or
he does not have the faith to step out on what he has been
given, or he does not want to prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:24
states that the whole church can prophesy, and 1 Corinthians
14:39 says “covet to prophesy.” There is a reason why each
Christian should covet to prophesy. Bringing God’s messages to
His people is not only a tremendous privilege, it is essential
for the well-being of the Church. A study of the Bible,
especially the Old Testament, reveals how valuable the prophets
were in the spiritual wholeness of the people of Israel. Not
only can every Christian prophesy, as the Scripture says, but we
should want to.
Diverse kinds of tongues
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The word ‘diverse’ is in italics, signifying it is not in the
original. ‘Tongues’ is speaking a language of men or angels
supernaturally without any natural learning. He does not
understand it. It is one of the great blessings that God has
given to the Christian Church, and He desires that every
Christian speak in tongues. “I would like every one of you to
speak in tongues… “ (1 Co 14:5a). The fact that God says He
wants each Christian to speak in tongues should end the
discussion about each person getting only one “gift” of Holy
Spirit.
Speaking in tongues has nothing to do with linguistic ability.
It has nothing to do with the mind or intellect. It is a vocal
miracle! Tongues and interpretation are distinctive of this
dispensation. We see all other gifts in operation in the Old
Testament. Speaking in tongues is primarily a devotional gift,
such as praying in the spirit, singing in the spirit, praise and
worship.
Interpretation of Tongues
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The interpretation of tongues is interpreting, or giving the sum
and substance, in one’s own language that which he has just
spoken in tongues. The interpretation of tongues, like speaking
in tongues itself, is given by the Lord. No one understands what
he is saying in a tongue, so no one could give an interpretation
of what he is saying. The interpretation comes from the Lord
Jesus Christ, just as the tongue does. The manifestation of
interpretation of tongues works just like speaking in tongues
and prophecy do—the words come from the Lord Jesus Christ to the
individual via the gift of holy spirit inside him. When a person
speaks in tongues in the assembly of saints, he should interpret
so that the people in the meeting may be edified.
Tongues could be an expression through the spirit towards God ,
such as an expression of adoration, worship, hope, faith,
exalting the Lord. It is not just a message to people as in
prophecy. “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,
but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is
greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so
that the church may be edified.” (1 Co 14:5). The interpretation
of tongues is to be done by the one who spoke in tongues, just
as 1 Corinthians 14:5 says. Furthermore, because speaking in
tongues is praise and prayer to God, the interpretation will
also be to God. That is the big difference between prophecy and
the interpretation of tongues. Prophecy is a message to the
people (1 Cor. 14:3), while interpretation of tongues is to God
(or the Lord Jesus Christ), but is heard by the congregation,
who are then edified by it.
Every Christian can talk with the Lord and receive revelation,
every Christian can and should have faith and do some of the
works of Jesus, every Christian should enter into the spiritual
battle and deal with demons, every Christian should prophesy,
speak in tongues, and interpret. It is by manifesting Holy
Spirit that Christians can walk in the power that Jesus Christ
gave to the Church. We must trust God to boldly manifest Holy
Spirit in our daily lives