Spiritual Gifts Part 10 "Tongues and Interpretation"
Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 2 viewsNotes
Transcript
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
Introduction
Introduction
Danny and Vicki Ward’s 55th anniversary
(I’ll be away this weekend, Bro. Stuart will speak Sunday morning only.)
(Read Scripture)
If you have any questions please get them to me.
There may be folks who we fellowship with that handle tongues and interpretation differently than we do. That is their sovereign right. I would follow the example of Bro. Branham and continue to treat them just the same. This is a non-salvation issue, we don’t intend to elevate it and make divisions.
We should always respect the gifts. That is getting harder as we go along because the devil has made such a mockery of gifts, especially tongues, but we should still respect it, even if we don’t agree with it. We don’t want to blaspheme the Holy Ghost. If the presence of the Lord is there, don’t harden yourself to that.
What is the gift of tongues?
Now, we know that there’s two different kinds of tongues mentioned in the Bible. One of them is a language, that it’s a dialect of the earth. Now, the other is an unknown tongue. 59-1220E — Identified With Christ
Now, tongues of angels is when a man’s praying to him and God, alone. But when he’s speaking a language, it’s to be interpreted in the church, for edification of the church. 61-0112 — Questions And Answers
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
Paul identifies the tongue of angels as an unknown tongue.
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
What if someone spoke in tongues, in the proper order, but no one interpreted it?
And he might have a real gift of speaking in tongues, but he hasn’t got the gift of tongues, a language.
(Motive and objective)
But if he’s sweet and humble with, say, “Well, maybe the Lord didn’t want to use me in His service. But yet I…He just blesses my soul. He wants to edify me, to know that I’m close to Him when I speak in tongues.
So I’ll walk out in the apple orchard, ‘O God!’ And the power begins to fall on me and I start speaking in tongues. I come in refreshed, you see.” “Oh, You see, You’re speaking to me, Lord, You’re just keeping me lined up by speaking in tongues.”
“And, Lord, today I ought to have spoke to that man. Forgive me for it, Lord. I passed over something I oughtn’t to. Father, please forgive me.” And, directly, away it goes speaking in tongues. “Ah, whew, feel better about it now!”
You see, that’s all right. See, your gift is not to be used in the church, but it’s to edify you. 61-0112 — Questions And Answers
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
The Pentecostals taught that the evidence of the Holy Ghost was speaking in unknown tongues.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Bro. Branham taught this was not the case.
5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
There was not one word minced. So your version of Pentecost has already been condemned, because you’ll have to put your version of Pentecost in Babel, ’cause you can’t put it in Acts 2 and 4. 60-0807 - Debate On Tongues
If you’ve ever been in a place where many different languages are spoken you would recognize the significance of it.
Bro. Branham taught that the baptism of the Holy Ghost was like the door to the room. Once you get in the room all the gifts are there, but no one is more an evidence than another. It’s all the Holy Ghost, but these gifts can even fall on the unconverted.
Two types of tongues, one is for personal edification only, the other is a gift to edify the body.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
Interpretation
Interpretation is exactly what it s sounds like. It is understanding what someone is saying when they are speaking in tongues and repeating it in a language everyone can understand.
In the interpretation of tongues, many people interpret tongues by an extraordinary expression of them feeling to say such a thing. That is not interpretation.
Interpretation is when they are speaking in an unknown tongue, you are hearing them in English, and just repeating over what they are saying. 61-0723E — God Being Misunderstood
And if you are speaking in an unknown tongue, and interpreting, you are hearing in the language that you were born in, because that’s the only way you can interpret what they’re saying, because the Holy Spirit has interpreted it to you and you’re just speaking for the Holy Spirit. 61-0723E — God Being Misunderstood
(Bro. Ryan)
Certainly, I believe it’s of God.” But he was speaking in tongues, but I couldn’t say what he was saying ’cause I don’t know. But, and the presence of the Spirit was there.
So if the presence of the Spirit is there, and this person’s just saying one word, over and over and over, and this other one jumps up and tries to give an interpretation, yet he don’t know what he’s saying.
If this man is not giving the interpretation, he’s prophesying; the spirit of prophecy is upon him and he’s prophesying, not giving an interpretation.
So therefore, dear Christian, to you who said that, “Could that be the Holy Spirit?” It could be the Holy Spirit using two offices. One, blessing a soul in speaking in tongues; and another one, prophesying, not have to be interpreting what he’s saying. But yet he said it.
The Holy Spirit come upon him in prophecy just the same time that this one was speaking in tongues, and he thought it was an interpretation, what difference does it make? It’s the Spirit of God giving a message to the church.
But interpretation, it’s got to understand in English and repeat back exactly what the person said, that’s the gift of interpretation. 61-0723E — God Being Misunderstood
That’s why, the church today, they hardly respect speaking in tongues when somebody speaks, because they’ve heard so much bogus and carry-on, till they don’t know what is right and wrong in it.
Interpretations that’s just merely illusions, somebody just saying something because he feels led. That’s not interpretation.
Interpretation; not somebody stand and speak in tongues, another one get up in a few minutes and interpret what he said.
When one is speaking, the other is interpreting right there, saying word by word, same expression, everything the same.
This man might be prophesying, but it isn’t interpretation. Some of them, this kind of a voice giving something, this back here giving something else.
And some say ten words, another say fifty words behind it, for an interpretation.
Interpret means “to say, word-by-word.” If it’s a Word of God, it’s got to come, word by word; line upon line, line upon line. That’s the way the Word has got to come. 62-0121M — And Thy Seed Shall Possess The Gate Of His Enemy
Now, but, you see, many times in our churches, we permit people just to raise up even when you’re preaching, and speak in tongues, and making an altar call, somebody speak in tongues, and somebody to, and give interpretations.
Merely, one of them, I believe, I believe the person is genuinely speaking in tongues. But I believe the other is, more or less, prophesying, ’cause, some will speak in tongues, maybe for five minutes, and the other one give four words of interpretation.
See? It has to be at the same sound, the same raise and fall of voice. 63-0608 — Conferences
Order in the Church
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
Tongues are a sign to the unbeliever.
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Then there is all this talk about the glossalalia — it is supposed to be the evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Ghost, and people are thinking that we are in the midst of a great revival.
The revival is over. America had her last chance in 1957. Now the tongues are God’s sign of impending disaster, even as they were when they appeared upon the wall at Belshazzar’s feast. CAB-09 — 9 - The Laodicean Church Age
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Church Order that Bro. Branham set in his own tabernacle:
Those with gifts are to meet in a separate service prior to the regular service, in their own room.
Now, come together in the church, off in a room to yourself, because you have a private ministry. It’s not an openly ministry, it’s one that’s to help the church. See?
It’s something to help the church, but it isn’t to be done in the main congregation, only the way I’m going to tell you it is to be done. 63-1226 — Church Order
The interpretation had to be something specific, not written in the Scripture, and had to be witnessed by two or three.
When these people meet together, let them who have wisdom first come.
Because, you see, if one speaks in tongues and gives an interpretation according to Scripture, that cannot be received unless it be witnessed by two or three people, two or three more witnesses, see, has to witness to that, that they believe it to be the Word of the Lord. 63-1226 — Church Order
It was then to be laid on the platform and read by the pastor to the congregation before the service starts.
Now, then if someone writes a message that’s been given in tongues or given in prophecy, and laid upon the platform, it must be read by the pastor before the service starts, of “THUS SAITH THE LORD” from these people who spoke and interpreted.
And if that comes to pass exactly the way the interpretation said, we raise our hands and give thanks to God for His Spirit among us. If it doesn’t come to pass, then don’t do it anymore till that evil spirit’s out of you. God don’t lie, He’s always truth. 63-1226 — Church Order
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
Do you get to set your own standard?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Paul then goes into the mystery of the resurrection.
Conclusion.
Conclusion.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
I would rather have a church that knows nothing about any spiritual gift, and just be so in love with each other and with Christ, I’d rather have that than every spiritual gift operating in the church.
Where there is gifts, they’ll fail. Where there is gifts, they’ll bring confusion. Where there is gifts, they can be questioned. But where there is love, it is perfect.
That’s right. And if you had perfect love you’d have perfect gifts. That’s right. So work first with love. That brings fellowship, and fellowship brings gifts. 55-1009 — The Way To Have Fellowship
But whatever you do, friend, lay aside everything else till you get perfect Love. 60-0515M — The Rejected King