Growth Interpretation of Tongues - misunderstood and underused

[Papa Zoom]

We are all baptized into Christ at the moment we believe and this by the power of the Spirit and it has nothing to do with the speaking in tongues.
I read a lot of misguided statements regarding tongues. We are ALL baptized by One Spirit into Christ. Tongues or not. It's one gift of many.

 

[Papa Zoom]

The purpose for speaking in tongues was purely evangelical. It was a tool given to the apostles so they would be able to out to communities that speak other languages and witness to them. Today, we really have no use for this in our local churches as there are plenty of Christians who speak the various different languages.

You are correct that those who are blessed with this gift should also be able to interpret what they are saying in the other tongue(s). I have also come across people in the past that "speak in tongues" and call it their "spirit language", yet do not interpret what they are saying. Also, I have met people who will mumble something incomprehensible while another person is praying, mostly because they have seen other people doing it.

Really, the original purpose of speaking in tongues has gone away since there are Christians in many different countries speaking many different languages. There may be rare cases where speaking in tongues may be necessary, but those are few and far between.

This post is right on. Particularly instructive is the first paragraph. I've always understood it this way.

 

[Papa Zoom]

My college professor wrote this book. https://www.amazon.com/Book-Acts-Wa...8&qid=1503760510&sr=8-2&keywords=dunnett+acts If I can dig it out. My views were largely shaped in this class. An excellent study some 30 years ago.

 

[JLB]

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Great scripture, what is your point?


JLB

 

[JLB]

This post is right on. Particularly instructive is the first paragraph. I've always understood it this way.

The post you are referring contained no scripture.


JLB

 

[K2CHRIST]

if it is a gift i figure if i need it God will give it to me

Many Christian see it like Ezra, above wrote.

But if that thinking is correct, why did Paul give the instruction "desire the gift". In fact wasn't it because we tend to shy away from them that Paul had to instruct the people to desire the gifts?

Paul also wrote "Now I wish that all spoke in tongues". So if we are reading what Paul wrote and understanding what he wanted to accomplish with his writing, we surely have to understand that Paul (the man the God used to write so very much of the New Testament) desired that we should have the gifts of the Spirit. And he obviously understood that God gave them to people because they desired them. They were not so much a gift the God just gives, but they are a gift that is to be desired.

Or perhaps they could be thought of as gifts that we do have, at least we have access to, but we have to want to open them. That is to say, that God sends His Holy Spirit, and He has the gifts, but do we want to accept them? God is not usually One who forces Himself on us. He gives us a choice to accept His Son, so don't we have a choice to accept the gifts of the Spirit? So what are we going to choose?

If truly a Christian, we accept the Son, should we not also choose the gifts the Spirit has for us?

In fact, if we were focusing on the Giver of the gifts, wouldn't we desire and accept the gifts He and Paul desire us to have?

[QUOTE="sometimes others focus more on the gift than the giver of the gift.the free gift..

1 John 2:25(KJV)

25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.[/QUOTE]

In fact, if we were focusing on the Giver of the gifts, wouldn't we desire and accept the gifts He and Paul desire us to have? And Christianity is not only about the promise of eternal life is it? Did not Jesus promise to never leave us? And did He not also tell us about the promise of sending His Holy Spirit?

So are we missing out on all that God has for us because we do not desire the gifts as instructed?

 

[K2CHRIST]

We are all baptized into Christ at the moment we believe and this by the power of the Spirit and it has nothing to do with the speaking in tongues.
I read a lot of misguided statements regarding tongues. We are ALL baptized by One Spirit into Christ. Tongues or not. It's one gift of many.

We can be a believer and not have the gifts of the Spirit. I hope I did lead anyone to think that can not be the case

But why does that happen?

Well first, I think it is reasonable to think it is because we don't desire the gifts that the Spirit has for them. So Paul told us to desire the gifts. That means that some don't desire them and thus don't have them. And it also means they should take that approach but should desire the gifts. We should want what God has for us, but we also have freedom in Jesus Christ

So we might say that the gifts themselves are not "Foundational", but certainly having the Holy Spirit, who also has the gifts which edify (grow and educate us) is Foundational. And so to grow spiritually, we need a better understanding of what having the Holy Spirit means. You will need the gifts of the Spirit to teach you about that. That is why Paul told us they edify us. Edify means to teach in religious areas.

 

[Edward]

In other words speaking in tongues is associated with the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Interesting. I spoke in tongues one time only that was definitely not of my own accord. I wondered if this was my baptism of the Holy Spirit but wasn't sure. There was no other fanfare or anything, He just interrupted my prayer, in tongues, so I let him finish and that was it. I didn't even feel a presence.

But according to what you say...it's a reasonable assumption for me to be able to say that I have had the baptism of the Holy Spirit, right?

 

[Edward]

But if that thinking is correct, why did Paul give the instruction "desire the gift". In fact wasn't it because we tend to shy away from them that Paul had to instruct the people to desire the gifts?

You beat me to it. I was to say this same thing. I was desiring it very much when it happened and the days before. I think this opened the door for it to happen.

 

[K2CHRIST]

I hope I am not getting too side tracked with trying to convince people to desire the gifts. There is another point I want to make about interpretation of tongues. Consider this verse:

1 Cor 14:5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

We have been focusing on wishing that all would speak in tongues. Obviously all do not wish that. However this thread is on interpretation of tongues and it's misunderstood value.

So notice in the above verse that Paul writes "unless he interprets". The gift of interpretation can be as great a prophesy!!!

We don't know what we are saying in tongues unless we ask the Lord to explain and interpret what the Spirit is bring through our spirit! What if the Spirit is using us to speak prophecy in tongues? It could be. You don't know until you hear the interpretation. So Paul had to allow for that possibility! Paul had to add, "unless he interprets"

So now, at least in the assemblies where Christians do desire the gifts, we tend to find people speaking in tongues. Maybe it is not done so much in the regular service, because some churches desire the gifts but not in their regular service, but certainly some where and in some small group. And we Christians need to grow spiritually. That is to say we need edification. So if we can get those speaking in tongue to start desiring the gift of interpretation, it can be like adding prophesy if the Spirit wants prophesy spoken in tongues.

So while tongues edifies (teaches) the church, prophesy and interpretation edifies the church in general!!!

And consider this: You are part of that church. So don't you get taught if we have interpretation? Of course you do!

Now continue that thinking. What if you pray in tongues at home. Could knowing what you are praying also perhaps give you personal prophesy, or teaching, or a word of wisdom, or a word of knowledge, or build your faith, or more? Yeah, it certainly could. So we need to desire the gift of interpretation, not only at church but at home also!!

Most Christians that have the gift of tongues, do most of their praying in tongues at home, or in the car, or the bathroom. And while I think that we need to see the gifts more in all churches (and we don't because we don't desire them) I also see that we need to have them at home and for our personal walk with the Lord.

Paul was specifically writing to the church at Corinth and bring a correction to that church, which also must apply to us since God has it in Bible He uses to teach us with. However, if we only think it is for when we are in that box building we call our church, are we not just thinking inside the box. Look back at the OP. The Lord wants us thinking outside the box. He is a personal God. The gifts are for you personally!

 

[K2CHRIST]

Interesting. I spoke in tongues one time only that was definitely not of my own accord. I wondered if this was my baptism of the Holy Spirit but wasn't sure. There was no other fanfare or anything, He just interrupted my prayer, in tongues, so I let him finish and that was it. I didn't even feel a presence.

But according to what you say...it's a reasonable assumption for me to be able to say that I have had the baptism of the Holy Spirit, right?

God does that. He at times will come upon us and bring that which that causes us to speak. But if He did that, wasn't it important? I doubt you usually see God imposing something on you. He gave us a freewill, and we have freedom in Christ. You mention you just allowed Him to go on, so you could have shut it down. And that is important to understand.

It does not sound like you at that time were desiring the gifts, but perhaps somewhere in the possibly forgotten by you past, you did desire them for a moment. God would not have forgotten that, even if you have, and then would not God need to, for a moment, give you what you desired. In John we see that if we abide in His word and His word abides in us, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you. So we might not know when it will be given to us, but it will.

I don't know that is the case, but you might want to ask the Lord why He did that, and listen for His small voice by faith. I think the answer could be important to you personally.

 

[K2CHRIST]

You beat me to it. I was to say this same thing. I was desiring it very much when it happened and the days before. I think this opened the door for it to happen.

Actually I didn't beat you to it. I missed this post and responded to you prior post. But I think in the response you will see I suspected you had asked the Lord for it. I just was not sure when.

 

[K2CHRIST]

The gifts of God edify us!! They teach and grow us!

So I know that God does not tend to impose Himself on us. I see that because many are not desiring the gifts, and having the gifts I have learned they are something that should be desired indeed! I have also seen that God wants you to have them!! So He tells you to desire them and if you listen He gives them to you. It's almost the carrot on a string approach, but sadly it doesn't always work because we don't really desire the carrot.

That makes sense to me. A carrot can help your eye site. It can give you understanding. But I like sweets. That is to say, I love it when God tells me who good I am, and how He loves me, and important I am to Him, but when it comes to teaching and reproving me; well that is something that is good for me but I don't desire it so much.

And letting God just control me mouth and speaking is perhaps too much for me to turn over to Him, and more so if I don't even know what is being said. That is just weird! But that is what we need!! We need to give Him control of our lives. It's the best thing for us. So are we going to desire to give Him control of our tongue even if we don't know what is being said? And are we going to talk to Him about it and listen to His still small voice to find out what He was doing?

If we do, He will teach us.

 

[JLB]

Interesting. I spoke in tongues one time only that was definitely not of my own accord. I wondered if this was my baptism of the Holy Spirit but wasn't sure. There was no other fanfare or anything, He just interrupted my prayer, in tongues, so I let him finish and that was it. I didn't even feel a presence.

But according to what you say...it's a reasonable assumption for me to be able to say that I have had the baptism of the Holy Spirit, right?

Very possible.


JLB

 

[reba]

Act 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
Act 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
Act 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Great scripture, what is your point?


JLB

Have you personally seen the tongues of fire? According to Scripture the tongues of fire are in step with being filled with the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues .. Have you experienced the tongues of fire? I have not nor have i seen them...

 

[K2CHRIST]

Have you personally seen the tongues of fire? According to Scripture the tongues of fire are in step with being filled with the Holy Ghost and speaking in tongues .. Have you experienced the tongues of fire? I have not nor have i seen them...

John mentioned that there was One that would come after Him who would baptize with the Spirit and with fire.

When I got the gift of tongues I prayed for it three times each two days apart. In the middle of the night I awoke to a strong presence of the Lord. Then suddenly I seem to get a small bug in the back of my throat. I think most people at some time have had a small fly in their throat and had to swallow it. That is what seem to happen to me, except when I swallowed it went down like it was on fire. And when it got to my chest my whole chest went on fire. It felt something like a strong case of heart burn, but of course not exactly. It was spiritual, but I had not understood that when I first began to swallow.

And ever since then, that fire inside will often come upon me. I don't have to feel that fire to speak in tongues, but usually if I spend much time speaking in tongues that fire starts to build inside me. Also, it sometime will come upon me causing me to speak in tongues. Yet sometimes I feel it and it just seems to mean the Holy Spirit is up to something.

Once in a room where we had small groups ( two or three people) divided up and praying for other people, suddenly I felt the fire come on me. It seem to be coming from behind me, so I turn to look and right as I turned I saw a person being prayed for go down in the spirit while being prayed for. I had to laugh because I knew the person doing the praying. I had just recently trained her in the ministry, and I knew she had never had that happen to her before. She looked down in amazement at the person on the floor, then caught me looking at her and she wound up with the biggest smile on her face. When I had trained her the Lord had me tell her that she was very good at this, which she didn't believe at all. She asked me why I told her that, and was as shaky as anyone I had ever seen. So just a month or so later God knocks our the person she was praying for and she could not have been more surprised. And I got to see it because God let me know it was happening with the baptism of fire.

I guess none of that qualifies as seeing the fire, but I sure feel it a lot.

 

[reba]

In keeping with the Word of God it says what it says...
My family is full of personal experiences.. they are great...
When we imply we are baptized in the Holy Spirit by the evidence of tongues .. With the implication those who do not speak in tongues are not yet we are short of the Scriptures in Acts 2;3 .. i will cry foul ... Which is what has happened in this thread..

 

[Edward]

Actually I didn't beat you to it. I missed this post and responded to you prior post. But I think in the response you will see I suspected you had asked the Lord for it. I just was not sure when.

I had been asking for it. I just wasn't thinking about it or asking for it right when it happened. But it was the same time period that I was heavily desiring it and asking for it and studying it because I was...sorta feeling left out. I heard so many people talking about it and I hadn't got it. But then I did, that once. He prolly gave it to me so I would shut up about it, lol. Like a little kid, daddy can I pleeease have a lolli-pop?

 

[Papa Zoom]

The post you are referring contained no scripture.


JLB

It's not required in this forum.

 

[Papa Zoom]

We can be a believer and not have the gifts of the Spirit. I hope I did lead anyone to think that can not be the case

But why does that happen?

Well first, I think it is reasonable to think it is because we don't desire the gifts that the Spirit has for them. So Paul told us to desire the gifts. That means that some don't desire them and thus don't have them. And it also means they should take that approach but should desire the gifts. We should want what God has for us, but we also have freedom in Jesus Christ

So we might say that the gifts themselves are not "Foundational", but certainly having the Holy Spirit, who also has the gifts which edify (grow and educate us) is Foundational. And so to grow spiritually, we need a better understanding of what having the Holy Spirit means. You will need the gifts of the Spirit to teach you about that. That is why Paul told us they edify us. Edify means to teach in religious areas.

All Christians have the Holy Spirit and we're all given gifts.