The Gift of Tongues - Sunday opening message - Pastor Gilman
Last week we talked about Paul… and established a timeline so that we could better understand why Paul, then Saul was not at the crucifixion, the resurrection, where he was during the 40 days before the assentation and why he was not one of the original 12 Apostles…
Today we will tackle question #1 which was:
1.- What is the reality today, for us, about speaking in tongues… We know what Luke identified for us at Pentecost but how does that contrast with the writings of Paul.
2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans? 8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?
Let’s pray,
Lord we thank you for this opportunity this morning to gather together and to study and share your word . We pray that you keep all those who could not be here this morning in your care. Bless this humble gathering today . Let it add the joy of serving you to our lives…
We ask it in Jesus name,
Amen
Authorized (King James) Version
14 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me. 12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 19 yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25 and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
We will begin with first Corinthians chapter 14. as Paul concludes this three chapter series on the gifts of the holy spirit and in chapter 14 verse 1 he sort of combines both the 13th and the 12th chapter. The 13th chapter of course is devoted to love and he declares following after love and is the desire fo spiritual gifts. Now in chapter 12 he closed it by saying covet earnestly the best gifts.
Paul is saying desire spiritual gifts but rather that you may prophesy .. Now he's going to compare the gift of tongues with the gift of prophecy and as he compares the two gifts for the use within the church the gift of prophecy is definitely a superior gift…
so Paul said desire spiritual gifts but rather than tongues actually desire the gift of prophecy for he that speaks in an unknown tongue the galacia speaketh not unto men but unto god for no man understands him… how be it in the spirit he speaks divine mysteries the gift of tongues is the gift whereby God enables us to communicate to him in the spirit bypassing the narrow channel of our intellect
So often we find that words are inadequate to express our feelings that rise from the spirit as we are grateful to god for his goodness his blessings, those things that he has done for us….
So the spirit helps our infirmities and the infirmity of human language and the infirmity or the weakness of our intellect and emotions and we can commune to God in the spirit
God is a spirit they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth, writing to the roman
church Paul said for the spirit also helps our infirmities or weaknesses for we don't always know how to pray as we ought but the spirit will make intercession through us with groanings which cannot
be uttered because it knows what is the mind of the father… So it's a great gift for a person's own devotional life in worshiping God in praying and in his communication with God so he that speaks in an unknown tongue.. isn't really speaking unto men but unto God for no man understands him.. how be it in the spirit he is speaking…… divine mysteries are beautiful secrets in a sense it is interesting that in the book of Acts when the holy spirit came upon the church
Tthey were all speaking in the glacialia ,the unknown tongues that is perhaps unknown to this person that is speaking however though it was unknown to the person that was speaking they were known dialects by the many people who had gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost and they marveled because they heard all of them speaking in their various dialects as they were glorifying God and declaring God's marvelous works…
So those that did understand, from all over the known world, understood and was graced by the presence of the Holy Spirit..
Everyone understood the worship of God as the chosen few were glorifying God as they were declaring God's marvelous works…
So it would follow he that speaks in an unknown tongue isn't really speaking to man through the
assistance of the holy spirit he is speaking unto God.
Paul continues to say “ but he that prophesieth speaks unto men to edification to exhortation and to comfort so the gift of prophecy is that of speaking forth under the anointing the word of God to the people of God..As we do here as we glorify God and express thankfulness for all of his blessings in our lives we “Prophesy” and in turn we help all of our brothers and sisters as we build them up and encourage them in the way of the Lord…
So the gift of prophecy is to be used in the church to edify the church to build up the church and to add comfort for the sake of all and the church as one body in Christ…
now he that speaks in an unknown tongue is edified himself..
But those that prophesy edify the church…. Now it follows then that when we are gathered together
Like this ,we need to be more interested in the edifying of the whole church than personal edification…
so if i would speak in an unknown tongue, I might be edified but the church wouldn't be edified and thus it would be out of place. For me to do that when we are gathered together the purpose is to seek the edification of the whole church the whole body and thus prophecy is a preferable gift to be operated
in any public assembly such as this then the gift of tongues…..
now Paul said “I would that you all spoke with tongues..” he's not demeaning the gift but we are told to covet earnestly the best gifts there is no better gift to assist you in your prayer life and in your communication with God than the gift of tongues. in your own personal devotional life…
Paul says..’but rather if i had a preference i would rather that you prophesied for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues
than the gift of tongues except he said he interpret that the church might receive
the edifying… now the gift of the interpretation is an accompaniment to gift to tongues…..
and the purpose is that if the gift of tongues is exercised in a public assembly someone would get up and
speak in tongues… we wouldn't understand what they were saying unless someone with the companion gift of interpretation could then give to us an interpretation of what was said in tongues… This is provided that the speaking in tongues was not self-induced hysteria and was truly inspired by God’s hand and that the interpretation of such was not other than God inspired.. If these things are truly God inspired than we have no inclination but to be thankful for his gifts to us.. If not it amounts to chaos and attention seeking behavior which is not a spiritual activity nor would it have anything to do with the Holy Spirit descending upon us…As a witness to this we may not be sure which is which but to be sure God knows and he despises pretenders and hypocrites… So we must seek his gifts and his presence in our lives in the real and honest sense of the word.. There is no gain to fooling our brothers and sisters.. And it may be to their detriment.. What a horrible thing that would be !
Paul and Jesus prized communication to others second only to love… This was manifest in the manner of Christ when he spoke to the multitudes he spoke in a manner that could be understood by all… And Paul as well.. Speak in a manner that is understood.. a manner that will edify the church..The body of Christ…
if there is no interpretation then the tongues are just meaningless sounds to us…. they don't help us they don't edify us they don't speak to us it's just noise as far as we're concerned… so unless there is an interpreter that through the interpretation the whole church might be edified..
now brethren if i come unto you speaking with tongues what shall i profit you except i shall speak to you either by revelation or by knowledge or by prophesying
or by doctrine… you cannot really be edified through my just speaking in tongues ….Iif i speak to you
by prophecy or if i speak to you doctrine teach you the word of god or if i exercise the gift of word of knowledge these things are all a blessing they build you up in your walk with the lord and our desire should always be for the building up of the whole body when we are gathered together in public worship….. Paul goes on to give an example of using instruments like the piano ,pipe, harp and trumpet..
. 23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
Paul makes his point many times more but I think we understand how important communication was to Paul and also to Jesus. Jesus sought to communicate through the use of parables, references to the ot as he was preaching to a overriding population of Jews. It is even thought that he would appear differently to different people… He taught the people and he taught his disciples, later to become apostles which would build churches that would reach into the heart of the known world; Rome.. Building the Church was a mission given to Paul by God and therefore we can see the example of our Lord and of his faith servant Paul and understand for ourselves, not just the nature of speaking in tongues but the important of communicating to all who will listen our revelations and knowledge of God’s way…
Next week we will begin with Acts of the Apostles, chapter 3…
At the temple, Peter and John healed a man lame since birth. Peter testified that the man was healed by faith in the name of Jesus Christ. He preached that Christ would return in “the times of restitution of all things.” He taught that Moses and all the prophets prophesied of the ministry of Christ.
Dear Lord in Heaven,
We ask this morning that your words resonate in us and that going forward your light will shine through us for all to see.. Help us Lord to be better communicators of your word as this blessed word is reveled to us…
We ask these things in Jesus’ name,
Amen
Comments
Post a Comment