Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues, Helps, Administration 1 Cor 12:9-11
Speaking in different kinds of tongues:
- This can be both known languages and unknown languages (heavenly languages)
- With some segments of the Christian church speaking in tongues is extremely important.
- Some will even tie this gift to salvation but this is not supported in the text.
- But Paul tells us that this just a gift like all the others and that it’s still a part of the body.
- 1 Cor 12: 5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
- Known languages
- The sudden and spontaneous ability to speak a known language you didn’t previously know.
- God will grant this gift in a moment of emergency or at a moment of salvation.
- This tends to not be an ongoing gift but a spontaneous gift.
- Unknown languages
- Sometimes called heavenly language
- Although, they may actually be languages from remote people groups.
- This tends to be an ongoing gift, that people will always carry with them after an initial experience.
- Most people tend to only have one tongue language.
- There are generally two manifestations of tongues.
- Private prayer language
- A public word given for the building up of the body.
- Private prayer language, praying silently or under your breath in a whisper in tongues.
- This is often referred to as praying in the Spirit
- Because it is your Spirit connecting with God’s Spirit
- This is often a really significant way for people to connect with God.
- Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express
- Doesn’t even have to be words.
- Can be groanings
- 1 Cor 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 spirt…4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church
- There is a self-edification that happens when praying tongues.
- The word edify means: to instruct or improve (someone) morally or intellectually.
- So while praying in tongues God is instructing or improving our spirit so to speak.
- Public tongues: This is where someone would give a word to the whole church in a different tongue.
- 1 Cor 14 tells us that this should only happen if there is somebody with the interpretation otherwise it’s pointless.
- This gift can be a service and gift to the whole church.
- A public tongue can also be used to bring the Presence and change the atmosphere.
- No interpretation in needed because you can feel the change in the atmosphere
- Its intention was not to be understood but to be felt.
- This must be communicated to the church
- Waring tongue
- Tongues can help in deliverance and stubborn healings
- When doing a deliverance, I will often ask the people around me to pray in tongues and that will agitate the demon.
Interpretation of tongues:
- Now sometimes the person giving the word will have their own interpretation of the tongue.
- Other times someone else will have this gift of interpretation and interpret the tongue.
- People with the gift of public tongues may not have the gift of interpretation.
- Sometimes the person with the interpretation will know the tongue is coming before the tongue is given.
- In 1 Cor 14:1-25 Paul goes on a long teaching about the need for interpretation.
- Clearly there was a problem with the church in Corinth.
- But people today still make this mistake.
- Prophecy for conviction: 1 Cor 14:22-25
- Prophecy brings conviction for unbelievers, tongues do not.
- Tongues are a “sign” that they are unbelievers.
Then in verse 28 Paul talks again about gifts but he also adds functions or offices
28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
- The gifts enable the office.
- Paul adds two more that he clearly calls gifts. Helps and administration.
- NASU 1 Cor 12:28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, [various] kinds of tongues.
- In the Greek it’s the word for, “the ability to help”
- This is a supernatural Holy Spirit enabled ability to help.
- This is a supernatural gift, things happen quickly and powerfully
- Perhaps Acts 6:1-6 is an example of people with this gift.
- But often times people who don’t have this gift “settle” for it, because there is less fear etc.
- For those who truly have this gift bless you, we need you.
- You may still have another of the gifts on the list.
- For those who truly have this gift bless you, we need you.
Administration:
- It’s often translated as administration but it’s the Greek word for, “ability to lead or govern.”
- The NLT has, “those who have the gift of leadership,”
- This is a perfect translation
- MEV just has, “governments”
- Several translations have “governors” or “governing”
- The NLT has, “those who have the gift of leadership,”
- This gift is far more about leading than how we understand administration
- This is a super natural Holy Spirit enabled gift to lead.
- In the OT think of maybe Joseph
- We must think about this gift and the gift of helps as being equally super natural as the gift of miracles.
- Also, often times people with this gift, money multiplies under their care.
- The church needs people with this level of leadership giftings.