Spiritual Gifts Part 3

 

I’m Duane Matz and welcome to Today’s Living Word.

1Co 12:7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

 

We’ve been talking about spiritual gifts spoken of in 1 Cor 12, and as we look at them let us not forget their purpose. They are given to exhibit the presence of the Holy Spirit in the congregation and are used to profit all who are present.

 

One of the gifts mentioned here is that of “speaking in different tongues.” This supernatural phenomenon brings up more questions than answers. It’s first occurrence mentioned in the Bible is found in  Ac 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

 

Consider the miracle here. Your tongue taken over by the Holy Spirit of God! Jas 3:8 reminds us that “no man can tame the tongue.”….. but you know what, God can, and He proved it on this day of Pentecost.  

 

There were many different language groups present in the audience that day and they all heard the wonderful works of God spoken in their native tongue! There was “profit for all.”

 

Then there was the breakout of tongue speaking in the Gentile house of Cornelius’ Upon hearing the gospel, the Holy Spirit “fell” on the Gentiles and they spoke in tongues “magnifying God.” We aren’t told what languages were spoken, but someone there understood it, because the words they used “magnified God.”

 

This gift of tongues was also evident in the church at Corinth, and Paul uses an entire chapter (14) to talk about its proper use in the church setting.

 

The first point he makes is that whatever is said in tongues must be understood. Without understanding it is just a bunch of noise to our human ears.

 

1Co 14:2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks (uninterpreted) mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies (in understandable language)  speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself (builds up his own faith)  but he who prophesies edifies the church. (builds up their faith) 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

 

Paul encourages speaking in tongues noting the value of self-edification, but he would rather speak words of “thus saith the Lord” (prophecy) in the church setting for the purpose of building up the faith of others.

 

All I can say about this gift is don’t get all caught up in trying to understand it, if you have this gift you have it, use it with great Holy Spirit led discretion, if you  don’t have this gift, don’t worry about it….not all will speak in tongues. “ ((1 Cor 12:30) As we shall see, there are bigger fish to fry.

 

I’m Duane Matz and that’s Today’s Living Word.