THE SPIRITUAL GIFT OF SPEAKING IN TONGUES

PROCLAMATION

“… When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.  Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.  If anyone speaks in a tongue, two or at the most three should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.  If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.”  1 Corinthians 14:26-28 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth.  In this chapter Paul addresses them with regard to how they should conduct themselves during the worship services regarding speaking in tongues and prophecy. (1 Corinthians 14:1-3)  Both of these gifts should be done so that the church may be edified. (1 Corinthians 14:4-5)  Paul states that speaking in tongues is not helpful if no one understands it and if there is no one present to interpret it. (1 Corinthians 14:6-18)  He says that speaking in tongues is a sign for unbelievers, in their own language, while prophecy is for believers. (1 Corinthians 14:20-22)  Speaking in tongues should be done by one person at a time and someone must be present to interpret it.  He ends the chapter by saying that everything during the worship service must be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40)

 

APPLICATION

These words are presented as Paul presented his discussion regarding Spiritual Gifts, that you would not be uninformed. (1 Corinthians 12:1)  Speaking in tongues has been taken out of context in many worship services.  Some speakers utter short phrases, “speaking in tongues” during their presentations from the pulpit.  Some churches even require speaking in tongues as a condition of membership.  Speaking in tongues first occurred on the day of Pentecost, so that everyone in the crowd heard the disciples speaking in their own language. (Acts 2:1-11)  Speaking in tongues is a gift from The Holy Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) which is to be used to help non-believers hear The Word of God in their own language.  The speaker has not studied or learned this foreign language but speaks it by the power of God.  The gift of tongues is for the benefit of the hearer who speaks and understands the foreign language.  Let us not claim to have this gift in order to impress men.

USE WHAT THE LORD GOD HAS GIVEN YOU

Proclamation:

“When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a miracle,’ then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,’ and it will become a snake.’  So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as The Lord commanded.  Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake.”  Exodus 7:8-10 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of God which were written by Moses under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Moses told Aaron, his brother, everything that The Lord God had spoken to him.  Then they called the elders of the Israelites together and explained everything to them.  Moses, now eighty years old, performed the signs before them which The Lord God had told him to perform and they believed him. (Exodus 4:27-31)  Afterwards, Moses and Aaron went to the Pharaoh and told him that The Lord God of Israel said, “Let My people go.”  But The Lord God had hardened Pharaoh’s heart and he would not let the people go.  In fact, he made thing harder for them by commanding that they make their quota of bricks without straw being provided for them. (Exodus 5:1-13)  Moses spoke to The Lord God and said that he had made things worse for the people (Exodus 5:22-23) and God gave him a message for the people (Exodus 6:1-8) but the people would not listen to Moses. (Exodus 6:9)  So Moses and Aaron went back to Pharaoh and Moses performed the signs as God had told him to do, yet Pharaoh would not listen to them. (Exodus 7:1-25)

Application:

The staff of Moses became a snake and consumed the staffs of Pharaoh’s officials. (Exodus 7:10-12)  Later Moses used his staff to turn the Nile River into blood. (Exodus 7:20-21)  Moses believed and he used his staff to perform miracles.  Sometimes we feel that because we don’t have much that we can’t do very much.  However, The Lord God has given each of us a gift (1 Corinthians 7:7, 2 Timothy 1:6, and Peter 4:10)  The Holy Spirit of God has given every man a gift (1 Corinthians 12:7-12) so that we can work within the body of Christ.  We just need to use what we have been given to do what The Lord God has for us to do.  If, by chance, you are unaware of your gift, pray and ask God to reveal it to you, and to give you the courage to use it to His glory.

RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT EARNED IT IS A GIFT FROM GOD THAT IS CREDITED TO US

Proclamation:

“This is why ‘it was credited to him as righteousness.’  The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness, for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.  He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”  Romans 4:22-25 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the believers in Rome.  Paul was telling them about Abraham, the father of the faithful.  He reminded them that the scripture says that Abraham believed that God would keep His promise and because of his faith in God he was credited with righteousness. (Romans 4:18-25)  Paul told them that those who had faith in God would also be credited with righteousness and their sins would be forgiven just as King David had said. (Romans 4:6-8 and Psalm 32:1-2)  

Application:

Because of our sinful human nature, alone at our best our “righteousness” is but as filthy rags in His sight. (Isaiah 64:6)  It is by the grace of God that we are saved, it is His gift to us, and we did not do anything to earn it. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  If we believe and have faith in God, then we too will be credited with righteousness.  Our faith will be tested, but if we hold on to our belief we will be rewarded.  The testing of our faith leads to the development of perseverance, which helps us mature as Christians. (James 1:2-4)  Because Christ died for our sins, believers can live and be credited with righteousness. (Romans 4:25 and 1 Peter 2:24)

MONEY CAN'T BUY THIS

Proclamation:

“When Simon saw that The Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said ‘Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive The Holy Spirit.’  Peter answered: ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!’”  Acts 8:18-20

Explanation:

These words were recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent traveling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Simon was a well-known user of sorcery and when he saw what the apostles could do, he also wanted that power.  However, when Peter pointed out the sin in his heart and told him to repent, there is no record that he repented of his sin.  He just asked Peter to pray that he would not have to pay the consequences for his sin. (Acts 8:24)

Application:

Unfortunately there are people who join the church for the wrong reasons.  They join because of what they see and they are seeking personal glory.  Some join the church because they want to avoid the consequences of their sins and to avoid going to hell.  They do not truly believe The Word of God and their thoughts, words and actions reflect their unbelief.  We all commit sins daily, consciously and unconsciously, intentionally and unintentionally. (1 John 5:17)  If what we think, say, or do does not give God glory then it is a sin.  We should all pray and ask The Lord God to forgive us for our sinful thoughts, words, and actions.  As believers, we will be forgiven of our sins if we ask Him. (1 John 1:9)  However, the ungodly non-believers will not survive the judgment of The Lord. (Psalm 1:5-6)  Those who do not believe are lost in their sins and they will spend eternity in the fire of hell. (Revelation 20:15)  Salvation cannot be bought with money, or with anything else.  It is a gift from God and by the grace of God to those who believe. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  If we are to spend eternity with The Lord God in heaven, we need to make sure that our name is recorded in The Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:27)

MAY GOD BLESS YOU WITH JOY AND PEACE

Proclamation:

"May The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of The Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the believers in the church in Rome.  Paul was praying for God's blessings upon them.  He wanted them to receive God’s joy, peace, and hope, by the power of The Holy Spirit.

Application:

Just like every other good and perfect gift come from The Lord, (James 1:17) joy is a gift from God.  Jesus said "If you obey My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have obeyed My Father's commands and remain in His love.  I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." (John 15:10-11)  Jesus also said "... and no one will take away your joy." (John 16:22)  As the song says, "... This joy that I have, the world didn't give it, and the world can't take it away."  Only with the help of God can we count everything that happens in this life as joy. (James 1:2)  And, the only real peace is God's perfect peace. (Isaiah 26:3)  The only way to be blessed with the gifts of joy and peace, is to believe and obey The Word of God, because both of them are gifts from God through The Holy Spirit.