GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are many, and, are given by the Holy Spirit only to all the people who belong to God by having become children of God by becoming believers of God's Son, Jesus Christ. I will not be dogmatic about the gift of 'speaking in tongues' because even our greatest bible colleges, seminaries, professors, pastors, and ministers are all divided in this matter. Some people believe that 'speaking in tongues' exists today and have the practice of it. Some of them speak in utterances unknown as a human language. Usually, these people have their own churches and colleges. Others believe that it was a gift for the early church only and does not exist today. The purpose of being given the gift of speaking in foreign people's tongues was to be able to tell foreigners the gospel in their own language. In the book of 2 Samuel 23:2 We read : "The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue. In this verse David the singer of the LORD, one of his many roles in his life , is the one speaking. What follows is like a song of praises for God, yet sung in the Spirit of the LORD. The LORD is the author of the words coming from David's tongue, but in his own language. David says that. In the New Testament in the book of Mark chapter 16:17, we read these words spoken by Jesus after he has rebuked the Eleven apostles, Judas having died already, about their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Jesus alive after Jesus had risen....."And all these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues." The arugment here is that new tongues were languages known to men, but not to the speaker himself. But the believers were capacitated by the Holy Spirit to speak these languages unknown to themselves for the purpose of evangelizng or preaching the gospel message to foreigners. The words coming from God through the Spirit as they did in David's case. Then in Acts 2:4 on the Day of Pentecost, when the apostles and others were gathered together in the Upper Room, they were baptized by the Holy Spirit, tongues of fire settling on each of their heads. We read in the verse: All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Again, the argument is that these were tongues or languges spoken by men. But, then, we come to 1 Corinthians Chapter 13, and some consternation arises. In verse one, Paul speaking, he brings up the subject of the 'tongues of angels.' In the verse we read: "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clamoring cymbal." Then Paul goes on to tell us, that the gift of love is the greatest gift of all. Of what use are all the gifts, if we do not love. But, because he spoke of the 'tongues' of angels, some people speak unknown utterances or tongues and claim it to be an angelic tongue known only to God and angels. However, in the same chapter 13:8 still Paul speaking, he says: "Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. verse 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, verse 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. Paul gives a beautiful description of love and then he says, these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. In chapter 14 verse one, Paul continues his teaching of the gifts, especially that of prophecy and tongues. He says: Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 14:2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 14:3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort. 14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 14:5 I would like everyone 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........14:9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue; how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Over and over Paul says these other gifts are preferable over the gift of speaking in tongues. Who knows the languages of angels? He had the gift of tongues because he was an evangelist and brought the word of God to many countries who were ignorant of his spoken language. Therefore, in verses 18 and 19, Paul says: I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousands words in a tongue. Then for the grand finale, verse 20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. And so, I leave you on the subject of tongues with this thought. I have not sought the gift of tongues, angelic or otherwise. Now, if God called me to a country like Israel, God would have to give me the gift of tongues, where; I would not have to crack a single Israelite language book, yet; I would be able to speak and understand them..., that I would know to be the gift of tongues to me. Most important of all, the gift of tongues or of the Spirit are not a requirement for salvation. To be cover by the blood of the Lamb, who is Jesus, is a requirement.
The Spirit does give us gifts though. Lets take a look at them. Romans 12:6 God in his kindness gave each of us different gifts. If your gift is speaking God's word, make sure what you say agrees with the Christian faith. 7 If your gift is serving, then devote yourself to serving. If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. 8 If it is encouraging others, devote your self to encouraging others. If it is sharing (worldly goods), be generous. If it is leadership, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping people in need, help them cheerfully.
There is one gift which is not mentioned here, but that is the gift of listening. In a way, that is the key to fulfilling the other gifts mentioned here. You must listen in the spirit so you can discern the real need of the person you are dealing with, because they might be having trouble in the telling of their actual needs. When you are in need, you have trouble in expessing that need sometimes for various reasons. So listening in the spirit is a gift we must develop. That is a gift we have to have to listen to God. So, it is well worth developing.
In the First book of Corinthians chapter 12, there is another list of gifts of the spirit. They are mostly the same as the one in Romans. There is only one Spirit and the same gives the same gifts. This is a letter the apostle Paul wrote to the Christian people who lived in the city of Corinth.
12: 4 There are different spititual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. 5 There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. 6 There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person.
7 The evidence of the Spirit's presence is given to each person for the common good of everyone. 8 The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. The same Spirit gives another the ability to speak with knowledge. 9 To another person, the same Spirit gives courgeaous faith. To another person the same Spirit gives the ability of to heal. 10 Another can work miracles. Another can speak what God has revealed. another can tell the difference between spirits. (whether the spirits are good or evil) Another can speak different kinds of languages. Another can interpret languages. (this without benefit of going to formal training, there were no seminaries back in Paul's day) 11 There is only one Spirit who does all these things by giving what God wants to give to each person.
To reap the full benefits of the gifts, or perhaps even one tremendous gift God has given to us by the Holy Spirit, we must first be saved by the blood of Jesus, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and be given over 100% to his leading, trusting and obeying without question. We must be His slaves as John MacArthur tells in his book, SLAVE. A slave is ever ready to be commanded by his master, and his life is driven by his master. If a slave wanted to do something for his own pleasure, like getting married, or going into town for a little something, or visiting a friend slave, HE HAD TO HAVE THE PERMISSION OF HIS MASTER, EVEN TO THE CHOICE OF SPOUSE. Not easy being a slave to God in America, where individualism is hammered into us day after day. You are to do for yourself as an individual, or you must be a member of a team, acting as one, part of teamwork. Slavery is not popular. But, to be a true follower of Christ, slaves we must be. We are not to be slaves to other men, only to God. We follow his laws and edicts, not the popular world views. Men say adultery is ok. God says, "No!" Men say homosexuality is ok, God says, "No!" Men say it is ok to steal from the poor. God says, "No!" In fact God says, "To steal from the poor, the orphan and the widow, is to steal from Him!' Anyway, you get the picture. To be a slave of God is to live life the way He wants us to, not the way the TV, the commericial world, and the Evil one tells us is the way to go for happiness. Or, that we deserve to be happy no matter whom we hurt. Or, we cannot live another moment without satisfying our desires, again no matter whom we trample over or hurt. It is not hard to understand what God wants. What is hard is complying, because complying means sacrifice and self-denial, and obedience to Him only.
Therefore, call on God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit for help. This is what the Holy Spirit does best. It is what he was sent for.
Shalom, Chapitag
The Spirit does give us gifts though. Lets take a look at them. Romans 12:6 God in his kindness gave each of us different gifts. If your gift is speaking God's word, make sure what you say agrees with the Christian faith. 7 If your gift is serving, then devote yourself to serving. If it is teaching, devote yourself to teaching. 8 If it is encouraging others, devote your self to encouraging others. If it is sharing (worldly goods), be generous. If it is leadership, lead enthusiastically. If it is helping people in need, help them cheerfully.
There is one gift which is not mentioned here, but that is the gift of listening. In a way, that is the key to fulfilling the other gifts mentioned here. You must listen in the spirit so you can discern the real need of the person you are dealing with, because they might be having trouble in the telling of their actual needs. When you are in need, you have trouble in expessing that need sometimes for various reasons. So listening in the spirit is a gift we must develop. That is a gift we have to have to listen to God. So, it is well worth developing.
In the First book of Corinthians chapter 12, there is another list of gifts of the spirit. They are mostly the same as the one in Romans. There is only one Spirit and the same gives the same gifts. This is a letter the apostle Paul wrote to the Christian people who lived in the city of Corinth.
12: 4 There are different spititual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. 5 There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. 6 There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person.
7 The evidence of the Spirit's presence is given to each person for the common good of everyone. 8 The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. The same Spirit gives another the ability to speak with knowledge. 9 To another person, the same Spirit gives courgeaous faith. To another person the same Spirit gives the ability of to heal. 10 Another can work miracles. Another can speak what God has revealed. another can tell the difference between spirits. (whether the spirits are good or evil) Another can speak different kinds of languages. Another can interpret languages. (this without benefit of going to formal training, there were no seminaries back in Paul's day) 11 There is only one Spirit who does all these things by giving what God wants to give to each person.
To reap the full benefits of the gifts, or perhaps even one tremendous gift God has given to us by the Holy Spirit, we must first be saved by the blood of Jesus, indwelt by the Holy Spirit and be given over 100% to his leading, trusting and obeying without question. We must be His slaves as John MacArthur tells in his book, SLAVE. A slave is ever ready to be commanded by his master, and his life is driven by his master. If a slave wanted to do something for his own pleasure, like getting married, or going into town for a little something, or visiting a friend slave, HE HAD TO HAVE THE PERMISSION OF HIS MASTER, EVEN TO THE CHOICE OF SPOUSE. Not easy being a slave to God in America, where individualism is hammered into us day after day. You are to do for yourself as an individual, or you must be a member of a team, acting as one, part of teamwork. Slavery is not popular. But, to be a true follower of Christ, slaves we must be. We are not to be slaves to other men, only to God. We follow his laws and edicts, not the popular world views. Men say adultery is ok. God says, "No!" Men say homosexuality is ok, God says, "No!" Men say it is ok to steal from the poor. God says, "No!" In fact God says, "To steal from the poor, the orphan and the widow, is to steal from Him!' Anyway, you get the picture. To be a slave of God is to live life the way He wants us to, not the way the TV, the commericial world, and the Evil one tells us is the way to go for happiness. Or, that we deserve to be happy no matter whom we hurt. Or, we cannot live another moment without satisfying our desires, again no matter whom we trample over or hurt. It is not hard to understand what God wants. What is hard is complying, because complying means sacrifice and self-denial, and obedience to Him only.
Therefore, call on God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit for help. This is what the Holy Spirit does best. It is what he was sent for.
Shalom, Chapitag