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                              THE HOLY SPIRIT               Study No.18.

XVII.       The Gift of Tongues

We will first limit ourselves to the actual gifts of tongues and
interpretation of tongues in the public assembly, then we will go
on to consider the subject of speaking in tongues in a general way.

A.    What is the gift of diverse kind of Tongues?

      The gift of tongues Is tile God-given ennoblement to
      communicate in a language one does not know, to be interpreted
      in the assembly that all may understand.

      "...to another diverse kinds of tongues,- to another
      interpretation of tongues. . ." (1 Corinthians 12:10; Also see
      1 Corinthians 14:5)

      Again, this is a "manifestation of the Spirit", (I Corinthians
      12:7), and not human ability.  It has absolutely nothing to do
      with natural linguistic ability, eloquence of speech, or a new
      sanctified way of talking.  Though the Spirit may be involved
      in and produce all these, they are all separate from the
      subject at hand.  The gift of tongues is a supernatural
      manifestation or expression of the Holy Spirit through a
      person's speech organs, It is a direct manifestation of the
      miraculous.

B.    Does this differ from tongues as they are used in the
      believer's private life?

      YES! The Bible clearly reveals three general categories of
      speaking in tongues.  Though the Bible is not written in the
      form of a systematic theology hook, with everything
      well-divided and outlined, as we study it and as we learn from
      observation and experience, certain categories clearly emerge.
      Though the Bible itself does not give outlines, they are
      arrived at by a synthesis of all the Bible's teaching on a
      given subject.  This is a part of "rightly dividing"
      (handling, analysing) the Word of Truth. (2 Timothy 2.-15).

      These three general categories of tongues can clearly be seen
      from the Scripture:

      1.    Tongues spoken at the time the Spirit is received.
            (Acts 2:4-6; 10:45-47; 19:6)

      2.    Tongues for personal communion with God on a continuing
            basis, (1 Corinthians 14:1-4. 15; Jude 20; Romans
            8:26-27; Ephesians 6: 18)

      3.    Tongues given in the assembly to communicate to the
            Body and be a sign to the unbeliever. (I Corinthians
            12:10: 14:5. 21-22)

            It was confusing of these different categories of
            tongues that the Lord sought to correct in the
            Corinthian church.  Apparently, some came and spoke in
            tongues wholesale in the meetings, without
            interpretation being given.  This produced confusion
            and abuse.  Therefore, through Paul, the Lord sorted it
            out for them.

      Also, we should understand that there are three general ways
      the  Bible  uses the word "gift" or "grace".

      I .   God's "gift " of salvation through Christ (Romans 5:1
            5-18; 2 Corinthians 9:15), which includes:

      2.    the "gift" of the       holy Spirit  (Acts 2:38;
            8:20;IO:45), which includes:

      3.    The "gift's" of the Holy Spirit.  (1 Corinthians
            12:1,4,9,28; 14:1; Hebrews 2:4)

      Nowhere is the baptism in the Spirit called the "gift of
      tongues." It is rather the "gift of the Spirit" (which
      includes tongues), Every Spirit-filled believer is to speak
      in tongues, but does not necessarily have the gift of
      tongues as a spiritual manifestation in body ministry.

      Paul teaches that ninety-nine percent of tongues are for
      private and personal use in prayer and praise and
      self-edification.  But there are those whom the Spirit
      prompts to speak out in tongues in the assembly, to be then
      interpreted, to bless the people.

      THE GIFT OF TONGUES IS FOR EDIFYING THE CHURCH, NOT THE
      INDIVIDUAL WHO EXERCISES IT.  SPEAKING IN TONGUES AS A PART
      OF THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO CONTINUE IN THE
      PERSONAL LIFE FOR INDIVIDUAL EDIFICATION, NOT THAT OF THE
      CHURCH.

C.    What are the purposes of tongues and interpretation in the
      assembly?

      1 .   To be a "sign" to the unbeliever. (1 Corinthians
            14:21-22)

      2.    To speak edification, exhortation and comfort to the
            believer. (1 Corinthians 14:3-5) Tongues with
            interpretation are equal to prophecy.

      3.    To lift the congregation into praise or prayer. (1
            Corinthians 14:13-16) Here Paul encourages one who
            speaks in tongues to pray for interpretation.  The
            immediate context that follows is praying and praising
            in tongues.  The implication is that prayer and praise
            in the Spirit could be interpreted and be edifying to
            the Body.

            If a Church has more tongues and interpretations than
            prophecy it is an indication that either it has not
            grown beyond an elementary faith level (1 Corinthians
            14:5, 13), or that there are regularly unbelievers in
            attendance who need this sign. (14: 21-22)

D.    In what ways are tongues a "sign" to unbelievers?

      1.    By the evidence of the supernatural - seeing people
            speak languages they have never learned.  (Acts 2:6-8;
            1 Corinthian 14:21-22)

      2.    By the sense of the supernatural - it charges the
            atmosphere with the sense of God's presence.  This is
            felt even by unbelievers.

      3.    By the witness of hearing a foreign language they may
            know God gives them a sign by speaking to them in their
            native tongue (or another tongue they have learned).
            He may speak that which applies personally, unveiling
            the heart of the unbeliever.  This was the great sign
            at Pentecost.  They heard people speak supernaturally
            in their own native tongues.  The sign led to the
            salvation of two thousand Jews who were obedient.

      Even though tongues are a sign, unbelievers do not always
      accept it, especially if practiced without due order (all
      speaking at the same time -1 Corinthians  14:23).  They will
      say, "ye are mad." Actually, many sceptics and critics
      respond this way even when tongues are practiced in the
      proper manner.  Many today liken tongues to gibberish that
      is spoken in an emotional or psychological frenzy.  This is
      the very thing one proud group said on the day of Pentecost.
      (Acts 2:31) This is exactly what God said men would say.

F.    REGULATION OF THE GIFT OF TONGUES.

      It is the Lord's expressed desire that ALL should speak with
      tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:5).
      This makes it clear that though there may be many who do not
      speak, with tongues it is not God's design or fault.  "I
      would ye all spoke with tongues" is His clear pronouncement.

      The Lord says we can and ought to control the Gift of
      Tongues.

      There is an unfortunate reluctance in some quarters to
      accept gracious Scripture safeguards.  The Gift is ours,
      when we have received it, and we may use it or misuse it
      like any natural gift conversation for instance.  It is not
      the less authentic because it can be misused.

      Obviously we may speak, or not speak in tongues at own will,
      since the Lord has placed upon us the responsibility for the
      restraint as well as the due operation of the Gift.  Read 1
      Corinthians 14: 23, and see that though we can all speak at
      once in other tongues, we must not.

      In verse 27, we learn that the number of message in one
      meeting is limited to three, "two or at the most three" and
      those not together, but one after another in decent order
      that is "by course The words "two and three" refer to
      different speakers, not to two or three fragments of the one
      message by the same speaker.

      ..... In verse 28 we are prohibited from speaking with
      tongues at all if there is no person present with the Gift
      of Interpretation.  Obviously we can and ought to control
      the Gifts.  Any confusion in the use of them arises not from
      God, but from man's neglect of God's Word.

      For God is not the Author of confusion, but of peace ... man
      is the author of the gifts, and upon human rests the
      responsibility for their regulation, When a man giving a
      fourth message, in a meeting says he cannot help it, and
      that the Spirit compelled him, he is deceiving himself.  God
      does not break His own word.  Such a man should be lovingly
      but firmly corrected.

      The very occasion of these chapters to the Corinthians was
      the fact that believers were making a disorderly use of a
      perfectly authentic and blessedly desirable Gift.  It is
      only where there is no life, that there is no danger of
      disorderly.  If there is life, there must inevitably be
      disorder to deal with, and to regulate.  The wrong way to
      deal with disorder is to slay the life; though that is the
      easiest way, and the way taken by the churches generally.

      This does not mean that we must not forbid disorderly
      speaking with tongue, but that we must not forbid speaking
      with tongues entirely.

      To say that the Gifts of the Spirit were limited to Corinth,
      or the early Apostolic Church is to admit the vicious
      principle of Bible Criticism.  There is just as much
      Scripture authority for saying that the Cross was limited to
      Corinth, and the early church, as that tongues were.

      "FORBID NOT TO SPEAK WITH TONGUES", are as truly the Words
      of the Lord as, "If ye love me, keep my commandments".

      Edification is always the test of the Gift's proper
      employment.

      Let all things be done unto edifying (v26) and decency and
      order are its only safeguard (v4O) and the temptation to
      display is very strong in these vocal gifts, especially this
      marvellous arresting gift of tongues, we ought to be the
      more anxious to guard and regulate it according to God's
      very exact instructions.

      There is a notion abroad that tongues are a kind, of
      gibberish,incoherent, and non-intelligible noises. No!
      Tongues were, and are languages. They are mostly unknown to
      the hearers and always to the speakers, but they might  on
      occasion  be known to the hearer as at Pentecost, where the
      tongues are unknown as they were spoken, and known as they
      were heard.  That proved the miracle, and the same thing
      occurs today.

      We must expect religious people to express bewilderment and
      disapproval , and even mark us when we speak in tongues.

      "They were all amazed".  What meaneth this? "These men are
      full of new wine". (Acts 2:5, and 12-14).  But like Peter we
      can confidently rise, and give them if they will listen to
      Scriptural, and vindication.  Speaking with tongues is a
      glorious exercise, and a blessed Gift of our gracious Lord's
      bestowal.

      Let us not forget that Peter claimed that speaking in
      tongues was the direct fulfilment of Joel's prophecy of the
      outpouring of the Spirit. Joel 2:28-29

      What meaneth this speaking WITH MIRACULOUS TONGUES?

      This said  Peter in reply, "is that which was spoken by the
      prophet Joel!;;; In the last days saith God I will pour out
      my Spirit...."

      Have you recognised yourself in the fulfilment of Joel's
      glorious prophecy?