The Holy Spirit (Part 3)

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Thursday February 7, 2008

As mentioned last time, any believer can be filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues, but there is also a gift of tongues; a gift of speaking other human languages that were never learned by the speaker. (1 Corinthians 12:10,28-30)

An example of this is the disciples on the day of Pentecost:

Acts 2:6-8 (NIV)
6. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8. Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?

According to the Bible, regular everyday speaking in tongues cannot be understood by ANY human being:

1 Corinthians 14:2 (NIV)
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.

When we pray in tongues, it is our spirit praying, and the mind is not part of the function:

1 Corinthians 14:14 (NIV)
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

The main purpose of speaking in tongues is to give thanks to God well:

1 Corinthians 14:14-17 (NIV)
14. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16. If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17. You may be giving thanks well (Greek: kalos: well) [enough], but the other man is not edified.

According to the passage above, when you are speaking in tongues you are "praising God with your spirit" and "giving thanks well." (Remember, the word "enough" isn't in the original Greek) This is the only place in the New Testament that tells us how to praise God well! That makes speaking in tongues an important part of praise and worship.

Parts of 1st Corinthians 14 have been misinterpreted in the past to say that speaking in tongues should not be allowed in church:

1 Corinthians 14:18,19 (NIV)
18. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Paul doesn't tell them NOT to speak in tongues; the context is "words TO INSTRUCT OTHERS!" The early church in Corinth was going overboard with spiritual gifts (as many are even prone to do today) and they were even PREACHING AND TEACHING in tongues! You were thought to be carnal or unspiritual if you didn't claim to understand what was being preached. That, of course, is ridiculous, as Paul says! But that has nothing to do with speaking in tongues during WORSHIP!

Paul made sure the Corinthians understood this by reiterating at the end of the chapter that they should NOT forbid speaking in tongues:

1 Corinthians 14:39 (NIV)
Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

How could you forbid speaking in tongues if you couldn't hear someone doing it? Verses 21 and 22 tell us there SHOULD be speaking in tongues in church; especially when unbelievers are present, since tongues are "a sign for unbelievers!"

1 Corinthians 14:21,22 (NIV)
21. In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord. 22. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

How could tongues be a sign for unbelievers if it is never done in public?

If we shouldn't speak in tongues to teach, then what is the correct context for speaking in tongues in a church setting? WORSHIP AND PRAYER!

1 Corinthians 14:15 (NIV)
15. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind.

When do people sing with their minds? In worship. That's where we should be singing with our spirits as well! As previously stated, when you speak in tongues you "praise God with your spirit" and "give thanks well." Should that not be allowed in church?

We will all come out of church more edified if we speak and sing in tongues:

1 Corinthians 14:4a (NIV)
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself...

PRAYER
Thank You Father for the Holy Spirit within and the Holy Spirit upon us. Thank You for our wonderful salvation that gives us access to so many wonderful gifts and promises. Help me to remember the great blessings I have received and not take them for granted.
In Jesus' Name, Amen.

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