Presented by: Pastors, Calvin Bergsma & James Bugg
Video: vimeo.com/gcf/70-principle-8Audio: PDF Notes
▪ Defining & Understanding Spiritual Gifts
▪ The Gifts of Utterance: Tongues and Interpretation, Prophesy ▪ Proper Useage The infilling of the Holy Spirit provides the tools we need for ministry. (John 7:38-39, Acts 1:5)
Summary:
The Samaritans waited more than 50 days for their personal Pentecost (Acts 8:4-17)
The church in Ephesus (Acts 19:1-6) waited longer yet for this power from on high. Just like them, ignorance of this baptism of power can rob believers of this experience. Have you had your Personal Pentecost or are you still waiting for the promised power. In the same way, ignorance of what gifts are available can also rob us from being used in them.
1 Cor. 12:7-11 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
To one there is given through the Spirit the Word of wisdom,
to another the word of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
to another miraculous powers,
to another prophecy,
to another distinguishing between spirits,
to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one,
just as He determines.
All the 9 Spiritual gifts mentioned in this list are super-natural manifestations of the Holy Spirit.
These are all amazing gifts & God encourages us to earnestly desire them.
1 Cor. 12:27-31 Now you are Christ's body, and individually members of it.
And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.
All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they?
All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they?
All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
God wants to point out our need for each other no matter what our gifts & callings may be. Some are Apostles (sent with the Good News) some Pastor or Teach, some Administrate or have a gift of Helping others (using their natural God given talents) empowered by the Holy Spirit to serve.
(Ephesians 4:11, 1 Corinthians 12: 27-28)
THE LOVE SIDEBAR
Chapter 12 of 1st Corinthians ends by emphasizing the motivation for everything “And I show you a still more excellent way.”
1 Co 13:1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
1 Co 14:1-29 (continues the teaching on spiritual gifts)
1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? 7 Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8 For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. 11 If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me.12 So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church. 13 Therefore let one who speaks (to the group) in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. What is the outcome then? 15 I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16 Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 however, (When I Speak) in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.
21 In the Law it is written, "BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME," says the Lord. 22 So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. 26 What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself & to God.
These 9 listed gifts have been categorize by some as;
Let’s start with: Speaking in Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues & Prophesy
James 3, tells us something we already know that the tongue is the most unruly (misbehaving) member of the body can anyone tame it.
“Think before you speak”… (And that’s generally a good thing to do!)
BUT I ASK YOU…
Speaking in tongues is such an instance where the HOLY SPIRIT controls what you say.
The apostle Paul did it a lot saying in 1Cor . 14:18 I thank God I speak in tongues more than you all.
What is this gift and how is it to be used.
Glossolalia or (speaking in tongues) was the most common gift accompanying the HOLY SPIRIT.
This phenomenon was so prevalent in the early church that it was considered by many to be the evidence that someone had receive the Holy Spirit
Acts 10:44-46 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God.
1.) The first thing about tongues is the one doing it… is speaking a language that they did not learn and do not even under stand.
As Paul said in 1Cor.14 : 2 and 14
2.) The language may be a language currently spoken on earth or… maybe one known only in heaven 1Cor 13:1
The Bible states that there are various kinds of tongues
A careful reading of the passages makes it obvious that there are at least two types
An advantage to this type of prayer
Another advantage to praying in tongues (praying in the Spirit) is:
Rom 8: 26-27 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groaning’s too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
Example: I'm sure there been times in my life and I was not in sync with God’s plan for me and maybe I was even resisting Him. But because I prayed in the spirit I am quite sure I prayed that my stubborn heart would change. What the Spirit prayed through me would sound quite different from what I would've prayed with my understanding.
Prayer is most effective when you're asking what you know is God's will.
The 2nd type is the Gift of Tongues which is spoken to the entire church or gathering.
When studying the Scriptures in context it is obvious that this is not what the Bible teaches.
Example: ask the person next to you what they ate for supper last night
(There was a lot of noise and valid communication but it was personal)
In the same way in our meetings as we gather together to worship (as they had on the first Pentecost) and each one was privately praying or worshiping. There might be a murmur in the room as everyone communed with God.
But everyone’s focus would be on God. (There is an audience of one.)
It would be appropriate for those praying or worshiping to speak English or Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Another one of the Gifts of the Spirit would be needed.
The gift of interpretation of tongues is the supernatural ability to interpret a message given in tongues.
There are some denominations that teach that the Gifts of the Spirit were only for the First century church and use the verse 1 Cor.13:8-12 as proof. It is ironic that if the writing of the NT was the perfect why would the subsequent chapter teach on the use of the Gifts.
Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 1Cor.14:39
THE GIFT OF PROPHECY
Since the beginning of time our Judeo-Christian faith has been punctuated with prophetic messages.
One of the strongest objective evidences of Biblical inspiration is the phenomenon of fulfilled prophecy. The Bible is essentially unique among the religious books of mankind in this respect. Some of them contain a few vague forecasts, but nothing comparable to the vast number of specific prophecies found in the Bible.
It’s comforting to think that “though God is spirit”: He still speaks directly into our world through human vessels… to verbalize or write down His thoughts & directions for us.
The word prophecy conjures up many different images:
Gypsies and crystal balls and characters like this. (But we’re dealing with the real thing)
Read 1 Cor. 14:20-33
New Testament Prophecy is: When inspired by the Holy Spirit - one delivers an impromptu word to a gathering of believers.
.John 3.34 "For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit."
In the New Testament those using the gift of prophecy should not start with saying, “Thus saith the Lord”. As many of the Old Testament prophets did.
In the Old Testament the penalty for an inaccurate prophecy was death.
Just Like the gift of interpretation of tongues… it should not be presented in the first person (as the direct oracles of God) but rather… as what we believe the Holy Spirit saying. (1 Cor.13:1 we prophesied in part)
Eze.13:1-7 Then the word of the LORD came to me saying, “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who prophesy, and say to those who prophesy from their own inspiration, 'Listen to the word of the LORD! 'Thus says the Lord GOD, "Woe to the foolish prophets who are following their own spirit and have seen nothing. "O Israel, your prophets have been like foxes among ruins. "You have not gone up into the breaches, nor did you build the wall around the house of Israel to stand in the battle on the day of the LORD. "They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, 'The LORD declares,' when the LORD has not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word. "Did you not see a false vision and speak a lying divination when you said, 'The LORD declares,' but it is not I who have spoken?"'"
Just because something said is true… does not validate it is prophecy
Acts 16: 16 – 18 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.
I knew a man by the name of Demos Shacariun who founded the full gospel businessman's fellowship. He related an experienced an amazing example of this type of prophesies. In the late 1890s in a little of Village and Kara Kala Armenia which is at the base of Mount Ararat, there his Grandfather had a farm. In the village lived a man they called the boy prophet, who since he received the baptism of the Spirit at age 11 spent many hours praying and fasting.
This is an amazing story of how God used a prophetic word to assist his people.
In my own life my father a pastor who started Maranatha Ministries in the early 70’s suddenly died at the age of 49.
After his death the family and church leaders became aware of some prophetic words that predated his passing. These prophecies were of great comfort to those who remain.
The majority of prophecy is encouragement exhortation (words from God’s Spirit to give immediate correction or council). Not primarily foretelling what is to come.
Anything that has tremendous power should be handled with great care in respect.
The gifts of the Spirit are not a reward for holy living
It is no wonder that some would rather stay as far away from the gift of prophecy and tongues with interpretation as possible.
Do not Quench Holy Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything.
Hold on to the good. (1 Thes. 5:19-21)
Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
1 Co.14:39
This dynamite power is available I encourage you to desire a spiritual gifts
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