Interpretation of Tongues

"For to one is given by the Spirit ... the interpretation of tongues" - 1st Corinthians 8a, 10e

There would be little need for this gift if the gift of tongues was unintended for public use.

When a message is given in tongues an interpretation is to be provided. In fact, if no one else steps up, the tongues speaker is to ask God to give him or her that interpretation.¹

It should be noted this is not the translation but the Interpretation of Tongues. It will not, necessariliary, be word for word and should not be expected as such.

Like any of the other verbal gifts of the Holy Spirit, there will be an urge to express an inner stirring. The whole interpretation may not be given at once and is not required to begin. Speak what is given and quit when there is nothing more to express.

God's NOT going to waggle your tongue for you - you always have the choice to respond or not. Feel the internal urge, like you have something to say though you may not know what it is, and say what you are given when there is opportunity.

We make it more complicated than it has to be [grin].

- fritz


^{1 - 1st Corinthians 14:13}

Spiritual Gift of Tongues (Part 2 of 2)

"For to one is given by the Spirit ... divers kinds of tongues" - 1st Corinthians 13:8a, 10d

Tongues is a hot topic in some churches. Godly people believe those who speak in tongues are of the devil and others, just as godly, believe only those who speak in tongues are saved - both sides saying they believe the Bible.

Tongues is a prophetic utterance in a human or angelic¹ language unknown by the speaker and sometimes to the hearers.

Its primary purpose is individual spiritual growth² but there are two (2) more I should mention.

1. The Bible says tongues are a sign to non-believers³ that this group of people is different, and not afraid to be so. They may be thought of as strange or crazy, but when everything "normal" fails one often inquires about the unique.

God excels at taking those who have tried the world's ways and found them wanting.

2. There's also another purpose and here, in combination with the gift of Interpretation of tongues, is its place in church services.⁴ It is encouraging when the church gathers and experiences an act of God. I have seen it, it's awesome!

Much of what we do in church is of human origin - our liturgy, our programs, our efforts as we express our love to God. It's awesome to experience God's response.

Sure we'll get it wrong sometimes and use God's gifts ineffectively but that's to be expected. A wise pastor will teach, direct in right ways, and encourage his people to step out in God's giftings.

Paul's admonition still stands

"Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues." - 1st Corinthians 14:39

- fritz

^{1 - 1st Corinthians 13:1
2 - 1st Corinthians 14:4
3 - 1st Corinthians 14:22
4 - 1st Corinthians 14:5}

Spiritual Gift of Tongues (Part 1 of 2)

"For to one is given by the Spirit ... divers kinds of tongues" - 1st Corinthians 13:8a, 10d

This gift has always been a little controversial so the apostle Paul goes into great detail in later in his letter.

Tongues is the prophetic utterance in a human or angelic ¹ language unknown by the speaker ² and sometimes the hearers.

Not engaging the speaker's language, it doesn't affect the speakers thinking unless it is interpreted² - so what is its purpose?

Paul lists several, but primarily as a tool to strengthen the participant's inner man.³

Originating from the speaker's human spirit (inner man) it is a direct prayer link between the speaker and God⁴ unhindered by the person's preferences and paradigms.

We dare not discount the importance of that; how and what we think affects our spiritual growth! If everything must be filtered through our thought processes much won't make it through!

This is so important Jesus' own brother wrote

"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost keep yourselves in the love of God" - Jude 1:20-21a

Who can have this gift? As a manifestation of the Holy Spirit all in Christ have the equal access as any other spiritual gift.

We are admonished to seek the "best" gifts.⁵ Which is best? The one you need at the time, of course!

Do you need to be built up in your faith and kept in the love of God?

- fritz

^{1 - 1st Corinthians 13:1
2 - 1st Corinthians 14:14
3 - 1st Corinthians 14:4a
4 - 1st Corinthians 14:2
5 - 1st Corinthians 12:31}

Discerning of Spirits

"For to one is given by the Spirit ... to another discerning of spirits" - 1st Corinthians 12:9a, 10c

At least part of "Discerning of Spirits" is our need to know if our internal promptings arise from God's Holy Spirit or our own human spirit.

In prayer we need to ask for the Holy Spirit to intervene, showing us with an overwhelming peace the source of our stirrings. This, too, is a gift of God, essential for today.

- fritz

The Gift of Prophesy

"For to one is given by the Spirit ... prophecy" - 1st Corinthians 12:9a, 10b

This is not the same gift as in the Old Testament.

Back then prophecy was reserved just for special holy men. When normal people wanted to hear from God they would go to a prophet and ask him to pray and to speak for God.

Everyone in Christ can now prophesy!

"For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted." - 1st Corinthians 14:31

Prophesy now has three main purposes -

"But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." - 1st Corinthians 14:3

I heard a preacher, long ago in Ferguson, Kentucky, say this verse means prophecy is to

Build up,
Stir up, and
Cheer up.

So how is that different from modern day preaching?

Preaching is a prepared (hopefully) lesson from the mind and heart of a preacher but prophesy, like other gifts of the Holy Spirit, is given at the moment to an individual specifically for a circumstance often unknown by the speaker.

It, too, is accompanied by a strong urge to speak, which is hard to shake but can be ignored by the one called on by God to give it.

A wise pastor will encourage his flock to begin speaking these urgings, understanding when mistakes are made, and without condemnation teach how to recognize God's wonderful gift of Prophesy.

- fritz

The Working of Miracles

"For to one is given by the Spirit ... the working of miracles" - 1st Corinthians 12:8a, 10a

Maybe an oxymoron, but miracles were considered a common occurrence in the early church. So much so, the apostle Paul uses it to settle a controversy; telling the Galatians

"Does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you through your own efforts or through believing what you heard?" - Galatians 3:5(GODS WORD)

A miracle from God is just what you need, just when you need it. It may not be flashy or spectacular but it is a miracle and a gift of God's Holy Spirit none the less.

- fritz

The Gifts of Healing

"For to one is given by the Spirit ... the gifts of healing" - 1st Corinthians 12:8a, 9b

I am told by those with experience that the plural of the word "Gifts" is significant; that different people have more success praying for different ailments.

Why would one have more success with one ailment than another? I don't know, but I think it has something to do with God's desire for his people work together, depending upon each other instead of living isolated.

The Holy Spirit chooses various individuals to have consistent success in healing prayer.

How do you know if you are one of these? Start praying and see.

A wise pastor will network in the community and local church to find those who get results in this arena then encourage, cultivate, and see they get exercised.

- fritz

The Gift of Faith

For to one is given by the Spirit ... faith" - 1st Corinthians 12:7a, 9a

Faith has the distinction of being both a Gift and Fruit of the Holy Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, - Galatians 5:22

The difference? Fruit is grown, starting small and increasing over a period of time. A gift doesn't grow, it is either fully there or not.

Faith, the gift, is a deep sense that, in spite of doubts of mind and logic, a particular desire shall be accomplished and/or an impossible obstacle shall be removed. It's described by the Apostle Paul's in his "Love" Chapter,

"though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains ..." - 1st Corinthians 13:2a

There is, usually, a sense of excitement with it, and a decision has to be made to either hold on to it until the desire is accomplished, or let go of it.

If you hold on it will be an amazing ride full of wonder at God's greatness; and when it's done the fruit of faith will have grown a lot!

- fritz

The Word Of Knowledge

For to one is given by the Spirit ... the word of knowledge ..." - 1st Corinthians 12:8

God works through ordinary people who, simply, believe in Christ and yield to his leading. He does his work through what are called "Gifts" of and by the Holy Spirit.

One such gift of the Spirit is the word of knowledge.

We see it demonstrated in the Old Testament life of Daniel when he was required to tell the contents of the King's dream to avoid death.

We see it in the life of Jesus when he spoke to the woman at the well, telling her she had previously had five (5) husbands.

God, who knows all, imparts to us a snippet of knowledge we need to accomplish a task. Sometimes it is to minister to another, but often to help us in our need. When given it is usually an idea accompanied with a nagging feeling which is hard to shake, but can be ignored.

These should not be ignored but embraced as a gifts from God.

- fritz

The Word of Wisdom

For the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; - 1st Corinthians 12:7-8

Sometimes we have difficulty hearing from God; we're just too emotionally involved to get clear direction. We need a word of wisdom untainted by our interpretation or desire.

God speaks this word not by a special holy man but by an ordinary brother or sister in Christ, dropping it into his or her heart and mind, often out of context.

In the one there will be a little heat involved - an unshakable urge to say something to a specific person either known or unknown. In the other there is usually surprise and often a puzzlement.

As part of the Body of Christ we must be willing to give these words just as a hand must be willing to move at the impulse from the brain. We must also be open to receive these words from others, recognizing their true source even though given from ordinary people.

- fritz

"Practice Makes Perfect"

"For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; .. the word of knowledge ... faith ... gifts of healing ... the working of miracles ... prophecy ... discerning of spirits ... divers kinds of tongues ... the interpretation of tongues.

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. - 1st Corinthians 12:8-12

The Apostle Paul draws the analogy of the differing gifts of the Holy Spirit as being like different body parts and, indeed, we are different parts of Christ's body, the way he functions in the earth today.

Just as we could hardly expect a person to be a good ball player without practice, we can't honestly expect the body parts of Christ to function together without "practice", either.

This is where churches find their fulfillment. The local church must be willing to provide a safe place to "practice" without fear of rejection, otherwise it is just taking up space. As we practice we get it wrong sometimes, this is to be expected and should be allowed; a good pastor will help by coaching and encouraging. The more we practice the better we get.

Churches are not the body of Christ, believers are. Churches are to be the safe place believers practice and exercise so they become really good at it on the field.

- fritz

The True Host (Body of Christ)

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. - 1st Corinthians 12:27

God works through symbols - a piece of bread, a drop of oil, some sprinkled water, but it is the reality which is holy, the symbol is only a poor representation.

We who have placed our faith in Christ are, individually, a part his body and have a part in touching one another with and for Christ. The gifts of the Holy Spirit work in that endeavor, helping us do our part.

- fritz

What Does God's Face Look Like?

"[A]s many as received [Jesus], to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born ... of God. And the Word was made flesh ..." - John 1:12-14

"God has a face and it looks like your face and my face. If people want to know what he looks like they will be looking at you and me ... People are looking at you and me to see if the word of God has any flesh on it."

- Fr. Desmond Gooneskera, Rector, St. Cuthbert Episcopal Church, December 26, 2010

The Apostle Paul put it this way,

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. - 1st Corinthians 12:27

- fritz

Living "In the Flesh" by Faith

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

Being "in the flesh" is not a bad thing if we mean, as the Bible periodically does, the physical body, indeed, that's why God gave us bodies in the first place.

Our individual bodies are intended for Christ's use:

"[T]he body is ... for the Lord; and the Lord for the body." - 1st Corinthians 6:13b

When we give ourselves to Christ our physical bodies become part of his, like my arm is to me.

Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. - 1st Corinthians 12:27

-fritz