TONGUES and
INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES
By
Len Buttner
(Hamilton,
New Zealand).
1. WHAT IS TONGUES?
1.1 Acts 2:4 - The Spirit kept giving
them ability to speak forth in languages different from their own in words
belonging to dignified and elevated discourse (Wuest).
1.2 All may speak in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:23).
Always, because it is a form of prayer and communion, and God is always
available. (1 Corinthians 14:2).
Clear words - The mind and brain is intensely alive and active, being
quickened by the Spirit, and is wholly occupied in co-operating with Him!
The Spirit kept giving
them clear and loud expression in each tongue in appropriate words
(Amplified
New Testament).
Your speech forming faculties are in full swing, flowing in the Spirit,
quickened, communicating, searching, and exploring Spiritual realms!
More than One Language:
1 Corinthians 12:10, 28 - Divers, different kinds of tongues, v. 28 -
Varieties of tongues.
Eloquence and Articulation - Control and Intonation.
1. And become HOLY GHOST LINGUISTS:
TWO- FOLD = 1. Personal Edification. 2. Public
Exhortation
(1 Corinthians
14:4, 5).
2. CONTRASTS OF TONGUES AND PROPHECY:
2.1 Tongues are
spoken to God.
Prophecy is spoken to teach man.
2.2 Mysteries (or things not understood) are
spoken in tongues.
All things spoken in prophecy are clear.
2.3 Tongues edify the speaker.
Prophecy edifies the speaker and others.
2.4 Tongues enables one to commune with God.
Prophecy speaks to man for edification, exhortation and comfort.
2.5 The prophet is greater than the one who speaks
in tongues unless the
tongues
are interpreted and understood.
2.6 The speaker must pray for the interpretation.
The prophet need not, for his message is in his own tongue.
3. HOW DOES IT COME?
Prompting by the Holy Spirit.
An awareness that God wants to use you in this way.
Bubbling up from within.
Tongues ALL may
speak in Tongues (1 Corinthians 14:23). ALWAYS, because it is
a form of prayer, and Communion with God is always available (1 Corinthians
14:2).
Do all speak with tongues?
(1Corinthians 12:30). No, all do not use tongues
as a gift ministry in the church, but devotionally all may do so, and should
do so!
The context of 1 Corinthians 12:14-31 is balance in the occurrence of
ministries and gifts which is why it may seem contradictory.
Chapter 14, however, explains the correct use of Spiritual Gifts, and the
indications and implications are very clear and strong throughout the chapter
that: All may speak in tongues if they are
willing to!!
* An Awareness that God wants to use you in this way.
* Accessibility and Availability of the Flow of Tongues. John 7:37-39 . . .
Rivers, not a trickle! Ephesians 3:16 - Riches of might (Greek is Dunamai)
in
the inner man!
4. WHAT IS IT FOR?
(James the tongue kindles a fire.)
* Edifying the Church (1 Corinthians 14:2-5).
* A sign to unbelievers (1 Corinthians 14:22).
* God is glorified (1 Corinthians 14:25).
Content of Tongues:
The Seven Ministries Of
Speaking In Tongues:
(1 Corinthians 14:14-17).
1. PRAYER
2. SONG -
Tongues is my love language to the Lord.
3. THANKSGIVING - Declare the wonderful works of God (Acts
2:11).
4. WORSHIP
5. PRAISE
6. MAGNIFICATION (Acts 10:46).
7. INTERCESSION (Romans 8:26-28).
Direction Of Tongues:
(1 Corinthians
14:2; Acts10:46; 1 Corinthians 14:14-17).
All clearly show tongues are a flow from mans spirit to God! Its purpose and
function is to minister to the Lord! Its purpose is not as a message to man!
Acts 2:11 - Even though understood on this one occasion, yet not directed to
man! (Are tongues meant to be understood? Are they a known language? Only
as an exception! Otherwise, why did God provide interpretation?)
* No one understands! (1 Corinthians 14:2).
5. BOUNDARIES:
* Decency and Order two or three in a meeting.
* It is a language, not jabber (Acts 2:4).
* Must be interpreted. Keep silent otherwise. (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).
* God knows the prayer need.
* Gives accurate revelation the role of Tongues.
* The devil does not want you to pray.
* It is beautiful having a heavenly language.
* It flows out of an earthen vessel.
John 14:15 He
shall give you another comforter.
Jesus was the
disciples Helper, Guide and Teacher. The Holy Spirit is to us today our
Partner - He will never leave us nor forsake us. The Holy Spirit abides with
us. He is the Spirit of Truth. You can feel Him. You know when the wind is
blowing.
Manifestations of His Presence.
John 16:12-13: Many things to say to you, when the Spirit of Truth has come. He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority. Whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you things to come.
* Are you
prepared to hear them?
Truth is Victory -) Spirit
Victory is Success -) and
Accomplishment -) Natural
Abundant Life )
Two Main reasons:
1. To reveal Jesus
2. To Empower believers.
The Holy Spirit listens to the Father and the Son.
Gifts: Jesus and the Father.
John 14: Jesus said,
And He will glorify
Me.
And how to make Jesus your personal friend.
Acts 2:4 - As
the Spirit gave them utterance.
The Bible says
They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and it means that
whatever follows goes with whatever preceded it.
And they began to speak
with other tongues. God has freely provided.
If you do not speak in tongues it is an absence of knowledge (Acts 10:44-46
and Acts 19:1-6). While
Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell. The Holy
Spirit was poured out:
For they heard them speak
with tongues and magnify God.
EIGHT (8) BENEFITS OF PRAYING IN TONGUES:
1. Assurance that youve been baptised in
the Holy Spirit.
2. Tongues will make you strong:
He who speaks in a
tongue edifies
himself (1 Corinthians 14:4). Edify Spiritually strong - Hold a lot of Gods
power.
3. Tongues makes
you spiritually sensitive:
* Helps you become aware of spiritual events and occurrences.
* Helps increase your sensitivity to the workings of the Holy Spirit.
* Helps you to discern the moves of the Holy Spirit.
4. Tongues will build your faith.
Jude 20 - Stirs up our faith
But you,
beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the
Holy Spirit. Makes your faith come alive. Stimulates your ability to trust
Him.
5. Tongues helps
to clean up your mouth. The tongue is the wildest member
of your body. Tongues for ice cream. Brings Life and Death Blessing or
Cursing. Maturity = Control over the conduct of your mouth. Unbelief = Bad
cursing. James 3:8 The
tongue no man can tame.
6. Tongues bring a spiritual
refreshing (Isaiah 28:11). Read Smith
Wigglesworth Take Holiday. Everyday What do you mean? I pray in
Tongues. Praying in Tongues everyday keeps you Fresh, Strong, Happy
and Invigorated.
7. Tongues
gives you power to be a witness:
But you shall
receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be witness to
me in Jerusalem in all Judea and Samaria to the ends of the earth (Acts
1:8). Mark 16: 15-17: They will speak with new tongues - not a foreign
language.
8. A Prayer Language. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterances
(Acts 2:4). One word is a good start. Your prayer language should grow. Your
tongue will grow as you keep using it. Your language matures. Stir up the
gift of God (2 Timothy 1:6). Prayer in your native language keeps your
mind strong and sound.
OUR INFIRMITIES:
Romans 8: 26-27: The
Spirit itself makes intercession for us. He makes intercession
for the saints according to the will of God. Get a revelation of this
Scripture in your life.
Come alive inside of you theres nothing you cannot overcome.
No matter how bad it looks in the natural. He will bring you through to
Victory. Not only infirmities, but crises with your
marriage or children. When you dont know what to do, the Holy Spirit
helps you with that kind of infirmity. The Holy Spirit illuminates Scripture.
Praying in Tongues helps these things. He helps you when making major
decisions in your life. Pray in
Tongues - until you get a direct answer.
INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES:
The
Importance and Value:
The importance and value of public tongues and interpretation has been
underestimated! The sound of tongues in the Body of Christ testifies to the
resurrection, ascension, coronation and life of Jesus (Acts 2:33; Exodus
28:33-35): the hem (skirts) of the high priests garments represent the Body
of Christ (the anointing flows from the Head (Christ) down through the beard
(the five fold ministries) to the rest of the Body of Christ, the hem (Psalm
133). When the tongues of the bells ring,
you know the high priest (Jesus) is alive!
Public Tongues quickens and inspires
supernaturally with an intense spiritual awareness of life, power and reality!
Nature and
Purpose:
Interpretation is not Translation!
Luke 24:27 - Interpretation is explaining fully the meaning, intent and
purpose of the Spirit as expressed in the tongue, and is coloured by the
personality of the person interpreting: flowery or plain language, brief or
detailed in speech. This accounts for different duration of the tongues
spoken and the interpretation given!
What is the Thrust, Direction and Content of
Interpretation?
1 Corinthians 14:13-17 teaches
clearly that interpretation should be identical in nature and content to the
specific nature and content of the tongue spoken!
It follows that tongues of:
* PRAYER should be interpreted as PRAYER.
* SONG should be interpreted as SONG.
* THANKSGIVING should be interpreted as THANKSGIVING.
* WORSHIP should be interpreted as WORSHIP.
* PRAISE should be interpreted as PRAISE.
* MAGNIFICATION should be interpreted as MAGNIFICATION.
* INTERCESSION should be interpreted as INTERCESSION.
The content and direction of
interpretation should be similar to the tongues it interprets
Seven Functions of Tongues and Interpretation:
If Tongues is
ministry to the Lord (1 Corinthians 14:2), Interpretation should also be
ministry to the Lord! And it should consist of at least seven distinct flows!
These seven ministries of Tongues and Interpretation are all dynamically
directional towards God. Six of them are powerful, inspirational flows capable
of glorifying and exalting God and therefore have the potential to quicken,
inspire, liberate and set free the church in a special and unique manner! This
paves the way for other gift flows because faith and revelation is quickened
by the six ministries (possible exception: intercession). This is in line with
a basic principle God has taught us:
Acts 13:2 - Ministry to the Lord is a
priority and brings about the special revelation of the Spirit of the purposes
of God for the body of Christ!
*
Tongues with
Interpretation is chiefly my love ministry to the
Lord!
If the nature
of interpretation was to be simply exhortation, edification and comfort (the
definition of prophecy), why would God duplicate a gift?
Excellence in Spiritual Gifts is attained by those who speak in Tongues -
exercising Interpretation as well - either of their own or others utterance
in tongues (1 Corinthians 14:12, 13, 27). One reason we have not reached this
excellence is lack of sound vision of Gods full purpose in this wonderful
pair of gifts! Notice that no one who speaks in Tongues is excluded from the
exciting potential of Interpretation! (1 Corinthians 14:13).
* Interpretation is
Great and Special!
Prophecy is singled out as special, and is greater than speaking in tongues,
but if interpreted is of equal value! (1 Corinthians 14:1,
5). (Prophecy is singled out because it blesses all!
Shotgun effect. So, likewise Interpretation!
Other gifts are often more like a rifle shot).
N.B. The effect of Interpretation is equal in
value, but not one and the same in nature, purpose or content!!
In 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, Paul lists the Nine Spiritual Gifts.
Two of those Nine Gifts, i.e. Gift of Diverse (many) kinds
of Tongues and the Gift of Interpretation of Tongues, are married and
function as one. When there comes forth Tongues in a meeting, there
should always come an Interpretation after it. When these two gifts manifest
together they have the same effect as the Gift of Prophecy.
The Vocal Gifts
are - Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues, and Prophecy. God uses these to
communicate to people. They are also known as Utterance Gifts.
TONGUES FOR PUBLIC ASSEMBLY:
When the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation manifest in a meeting, they:
* Often come without warning.
* Somebody in the meeting, or Leadership team, will speak out.
* It will be an unknown language.
* If we are discerning in the Spirit we will sense these gifts are present.
* If you are sensing a tongue, it does not necessarily mean you are to give
it.
* Remain still When unction comes you will have a strong knowing.
* It will feel like its boiling up from within you; like water boiling on
the stove.
* As the heat gets hotter it will bubble up and overflow.
* An unction will just keep coming up in you
stronger and stronger until you
cant hold it back.
* Boom! What happened? - God used you to manifest the Gift of Tongues.
* Now those in the congregation are supposed to wait for someone to give the
interpretation.
* The same person could give the Interpretation, or someone clear
across the
room.
* When a public Tongue comes, there is to be an interpretation,
event, time so
that everyone in the room can understand (1
Corinthians 14:27-28).
* If you have a new person in the meeting, you do not leave him
asking, What
in theworld
was that?
* If
an unbeliever comes into the church - and they hear someone speaking in
Tongues
- wont they think you are crazy!
* No, Tongues are a sign to those who are not saved, as well as to
those who
have
not received the fullness of the Holy Spirit yet! (1 Corinthians 14:22).
* Tongues are a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that
believe not.
* I have seen some churches embarrassed about the Gift of Tongues
and
Interpretation.
* Tongues are a sign to the visitors.
* Religion gets upset about Tongues. In 1 Corinthians 14:39, Paul
said:
Therefore brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy and do not forbid to speak
with Tongues.
ENCOURAGEMENT TO INSPIRE:
* What if there is no interpretation? There is a person in the meeting who
received the
Interpretation . . . but is holding back. They grieve the Spirit of God. Someone else
will give it.
* The gift will flow if the congregation is fluent in Spiritual things - and
no fear among
them.
If I reach out to God I will usually get the gist of it.
* There could be a series of Tongues in the meeting.
* Fear can cause us to top flowing. Everyone thinks you crazy youre nuts!
* Quieten your mind down so your spirit can have freedom to do what it needs
to do.
* Are you afraid of making a mistake to speak it out?
* What if my Tongue and Interpretation is not right?
* We will not embarrass you we will help you. The Spirit of God will make
the
adjustments.
* When it comes just give it. We need to hear the Holy Spirit speak.
Lets hear the
Holy Spirit talk to us. You can usually sense when the Spirit of God is going to
move.
INTERPRETING YOUR PERSONAL PRAYER LANGUAGE:
1 Corinthians 14:13
Wherefore let him that
speaks in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
Interpret what??? What he prays in an unknown tongue?
This verse does not pertain to the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation for
public assembly, but about interpreting your own prayer language.
How do you receive an interpretation of your personal prayer language?
Through the operation of the Gift of Interpretation.
Make time for the interpretation. Let the Lord speak to you in great detail
about what you are praying about! While praying in Tongues you could instantly
understand as the Holy Spirit starts interpreting your personal language.
Example: Oral Roberts out walking across a cow pasture praying in tongues
Build a university - 22 major buildings - 250 million dollars -10,000
students . . .
Please feel free to contact Len Buttner at:
butternz@xtra.co.nz
or
The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry
E-Mail: gfm@xtra.co.nz Website: www.gospel.org.nz