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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?