Comunication Gifts
Notes
Transcript
Communication Gifts
(Speaking God’s words)
1. Gift of Tongues (public)
2. Interpretation of Tongues
3. Prophecy
Communication Gifts
(Speaking God’s words)
1. Gift of Tongues (public)
2. Interpretation of Tongues
3. Prophecy
gift of tongues (public)
not praying in tongues in private
a message in tongues
someone would then interpret it
interpretation of tongues
Prophecy
prophecy is not predicting the future the vast majority of the time
it is simply a message from God
these gifts don’t happen a lot in churches, but maybe they should
Prophecy
Prophecy
What is the gift of prophecy?
The gift of prophecy is to speak a message from God in a language known to the speaker
The message can be either forthtelling (giving a message from God) or it can also be foretelling (telling what will happen)
The purpose of the gift of prophecy is found in 1 Corinthians 14:3-4
1 Corinthians 14:3–4 (NASB95)
But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.
One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
Edification means “to build up.”
Exhoration means “to call near” “to urge forward,” “to admonish” and “to appeal.”
The purpose of the gift of prophecy is to strengthen, encourage, comfort, and edify the church. The purpose is not to destroy, discourage, or tear down.
A word of prophecy may at times be confrontational or convicting, but will always be done in a spirit of love and will always be for the ultimate purpose of building up
An example would be found in 2 Samuel 12. After David had committed adultery with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, and then arranged to have Uriah killed, God sent Nathan with a message for David.
The message confronted David regarding what he had done, but it was done in a spirit of love and for the purpose of urging David to confess and repent of his sin.
The message was not to destroy, discourage, or tear down David, but to exhort David (admonish and appeal to David) to confess and repent of his sin.
Paul wrote this regarding a word of prophecy given in a public church setting, but it could also be applied to a one-on-one personal setting,
But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all;
the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
A word of prophecy can be given in a public church setting for the church, which is the context of Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14.
When given in a public service, individuals can then sense the Holy Spirit applying it to their individual lives and situations or to the entire church.
On the other hand, a word of prophecy can also be given for an individual, as in the case of Agabus giving a word of prophecy for Paul in Acts 21:10-11
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ”
A word of prophecy for an individual is not given for the purpose of ruling or directing but rather to confirm what God has already been saying to the individual.
The implication from the wording of Paul’s response to Agabus’ word of prophecy is that Paul already sensed he was ready to be bound and even die in Jerusalem.
Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
By the way, Paul did not disobey the word of prophecy by going to Jerusalem. The word of prophecy didn’t tell him not to go, but rather told him what would happen to him when he went, confirming what he already sensed.
Charles Crabtree said in his book, The Pentecostal Priority, “Thousands have been devastated by the unscriptural practice of giving personal prophecies as directives rather than as confirmations.”
“Personal prophecy must never guide you. Prophecy must confirm what you already know in your heart.”
Re guarding receiving a personal word of prophecy from someone, Jack Hayford gives the following sound advice in his notes in the Spirit-Filled Life Bible.
Lessons from scripture on Prophecying
The Word will not be new to the mind of the one addressed
“And now, behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there,
except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me.
“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
The character of the one giving the word should be weighed.
One of them named Agabus stood up and began to indicate by the Spirit that there would certainly be a great famine all over the world. And this took place in the reign of Claudius.
The prophecy is not to be controlling. Paul did not change his plans
And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!”
The prophecy is in part and does not give us the whole picture
For we know in part and we prophesy in part;
We should prayerfully consider the word as Mary did.
But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart.
do not despise prophetic utterances.
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
What the gift of prophecy is not
Giving a word of prophecy is not you saying in the natural what you think needs to be said.
Also, the gift of prophecy is not knowing end-time events, nor is it ordinary preaching.
It’s God giving you a message by His Holy Spirit to share with the church or even with an individual at specific time and situation.
Giving a word of prophecy is not the same as being called to be a prophet.
Giving a word of prophecy does not make a person a prophet as listed in Ephesians 4:11.
What is listed in Ephesians 4 is a calling, not a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Agabus was a prophet by calling but in the case mentioned previously was being given a word of prophecy regarding Paul.
Difference between word of knowledge and word of prophecy
A word of knowledge is something like: “do you have a problem in your neck?”
and they go “yeah, how did you know that?
It’s no new information, but the surprise should be that God revealed it to you
A prophetic word for an individual might be:
“I just saw this picture of a prison cell. You are on the outside, and the door is opening and you are taking hold of somebody's hand and walking out with them.
I’m wondering if God wants you to be working with folks who are coming out of prison.
and they reply “That is something that I really want to do, but I wasn’t sure if I should take that step.
Biblical Examples of the Gift of Prophecy
As we look through the New Testament, we find several examples of how the gift of prophecy was part of the life of the Early Church.
In Acts 21:8 we read about Philip’s daughters who prophesied
On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.
Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:20 we read
do not despise prophetic utterances.
In 1 Corinthians 14:1 Paul writes,
Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.
In 1 Corinthians 14:39, Paul encourages the believers in Corinth regarding prophecy by writing,
Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
We also find examples of personal prophecy in the life of the Early Church. Some examples are:
Agabus prophesying to Paul what awaited him in Jerusalem,
In 1 Timothy 1:18, Paul encourages Timothy to not forget the prophecies that were given over him,
This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight,
Paul reminding Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:14,
Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.
Examples of the Gift of Prophecy Today
An example of the gift of prophecy in operation today would be a person, under the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit, speaking out a message of edification, exhortation, or comfort at an appropriate time in a public service
Another example, especially in churches with large sanctuaries, or perhaps where there have been issues with unscriptural messages being given by individuals, would be the policy of having the person go to one of the pastors or designated leaders and sharing the gist of their word of prophecy to the pastor or designated leader for approval and then going to a microphone to give it so everyone can hear it, or having the leader share it form a microphone on their behalf.
In some cases the person may write it down and show it to one of those designated for approval and then go to a microphone to share it if it has been approved.
An Example of a personal word of prophecy today would be someone saying they have, or feel they may have “a word from the Lord” for someone.
Again, remember a “word from the Lord” is not meant to be directive but rather to confirm what the Lord has already been saying to the individual.
How to be used in the gift of Prophecy
Being used in the gift of prophecy starts by being open to being used.
If God desires to use you, you will sense it and you will sense God giving you some words.
You generally will not get all the words, but only a few words or phrases.
At that point, use “the ten-second test.”
Just hold steady for ten seconds.
If the words or phrases are still there, and the time in the service is appropriate, speak them out.
As I mentioned previously, you will get a few words or phrases.
As you speak them out, God will give you more words and phrases until the message is complete.
Also, as we previously mentioned, in cases where the church policy is to first clear the message with a pastor or church leader, then the whole message may be given.
Also, remember that the word of prophecy in a church setting, and even in a private setting, is to be given at an appropriate time.
In a church setting, the appropriate time is not during the middle of a sermon or during someone’s solo.
An appropriate time is during a pause in the worship time, during a transition time in the service, etc...
A word of prophecy does not need to be given at the very moment someone senses God desiring to use them.
If it’s God, it will still be there at the appropriate time.
Some have mistakenly spoken out at inappropriate times and felt they had to give it right then. NO>
In order for the gifts to operate decently and in order, not causing confusion, Paul wrote to the Corinthianse in 1 Corinthians 14:40
But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
“Many assume that those who exercise an utterance gift (a word of prophecy or message in tongues) cannot control themselves and are forced to speak.”
This is not true
and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;
for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
“The idea that people who give an utterance of the Spirit (a word of prophecy or a message in tongues) always speak spontaneously or must blurt it out when they feel the impulse is not biblical.”
Wait for an appropriate time in the service.
If you have a “prophetic word” for someone, in the same way, wait for the appropriate time and place to share it with them.
It may be right at the moment you receive it or it may be later and should be in a normal, conversational way.
For example, if you are in a grocery store and God spoke to you about someone you saw in one of the aisles, how would you use that gift?
Hopefully you wouldn’t close your eyes, shake, lift your voice, ans start to say, “Thus Saith the Lord...”
That would totally freak people out
Rather, you might approach that person in a humble tone and introduce yourself.
Then explain what happened to you as you walked down the aisle.
Explain how you believe the Holy Spirit prompted you to say something.
Present your message in a sensitive way, aware of your surroundings, and in touch with the person’s reactions and response.
Message in Tongues
Message in Tongues
What is the gift of a message in tongues?
A message in tongues is a message from God in a language that the speaker of the message does not know
When you speak in tongues, you speak words that do not originate in the human mind;
they come from your spirit through the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit gives the language while you submit your vocal cords for articulation
An illustration of the words not originating in the human mind would be the experience a woman shared upon receiving the baptism in the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues:
“Analytical by nature, she was extremely curious about what was involved in speaking in tongues. Her first awareness was that the ‘unknown words and phrases’ did not originate in her mind but from ‘somewhere’ in her inner being.
the unction to speak flowed upward to her vocal cords, not downward from her mind.
To push the analysis still further, she picked up a magazine and began to read even as she continued speaking in tongues.
Her mind operated on one level: her inner spirit on another
While this illustration deals with a person speaking in tongues in their personal prayer time, the principle is the same when someone gives a public message in tongues.
The message does not originate with the speaker and in the human mind, but is a message from God through a human vessel in a language the speaker does not know.
Three things a message in tongues does
first, a message in tongues edifies the giver of the message in tongues
One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
second a message in tongues edifies the church when the message is interpreted
Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
third, a message in tongues is a sign to the unbeliever
So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe.
What the Gift of a message in tongues is not
a message in tongues is not someone knowing another language
it also is not someone speaking in their prayer language
It can be the same language, but the difference is a Spirit-filled believer can speak in their prayer language whenever they choose,
but a message in tongues can only be given when the Holy Spirit desires to use someone in this gift
It is in this area that people get confused and misinterpret and misapply Scripture.
They mistakenly interpret what happened in Acts 2 as being the same as what Paul is writing about in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14.
They are not the same thing
All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
In this passage, Paul is dealing with congregational tongues, giving a public message in tongues, not with the initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 2, when people were baptized in the Holy Spirit, they began speaking in other tongues
this was the initial physical evidence that they had received the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
This was their own, personal “prayer language” and they could speak in this language whenever they desired now that they were baptized in the Holy Spirit
This is not what Paul is describing in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14.
Here Paul is describing the gift of giving a message in tongues.
A message in tongues cannot be done whenever a person desires
A message in tongues can only be given when the Holy Spirit prompts someone to be used in this gift and is to be given at an appropriate time and place
In fact, not everyone will be used to give a message in tongues.
This is what Paul is saying when writing to the Corinthians regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit
All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?
This was asked in the context of Paul telling the Corinthians that God uses different people in different gifts.
Not everyone will be used to give a public message in tongues.
However, everyone who is baptized in the Holy Spirit will speak in tongues personally
Biblical examples of the gift of a message in tongues
The clearest references of messages in tongues in the Bible are found in 1 Corinthians chapters 12 and 14.
Here Paul is instructing the church in Corinth about what this gift is and how it is to properly function in the church.
No where does Paul say this gift is not to function in the church or to cease functioning in the church.
If this gift was not to function in the church, why did Paul take the time to teach the proper use of the gift of tongues in the church?
Some erroneously interpret 1 Corinthians 13:8 to mean that this gift is not for today
Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.
Paul also, however, goes on to tell us when this gift will cease a couple of verses later
but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
The context of this portion of Scripture and what Paul is saying is that now we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when that which is perfect, meaning Jesus, has returned for us, there will be no need for messages in tongues or the other gifts of the Holy Spirit.
He will be right there with us
We will be able to communicate with Him face-to-face
Until Jesus returns for us, we need the gifts of the Holy Spirit
including messages in tongues
Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues.
Examples Today of the Gift of a Message in Tongues
Proper examples today of a message in tongues would be when in a service someone speaks out in an unknown language at an appropriate time
-Example-
How to be used to give a message in tongues
Being used to give a message in tongues starts by being open to being used.
If you sense the Holy Spirit nudging you to be used in this gift, then use the “ten second test”
Wait tens seconds
If the nudging is still there and it’s an appropriate time in the service, speak it out.
If the times is not right, wait for an appropriate time and then speak it out
Interpretation of Tongues
Interpretation of Tongues
What is the Gift of Interpretation of Tongues?
The gift of interpretation of tongues is an interpretation of the message in tongues that has just been given into the language of those gathered.
Notice the wording
It’s an interpretation, not a translation
It is not a word-for-word translation, but an interpretation
This explains why sometimes the interpretation and the message in tongues are not the same length
sometimes the message in tongues may be longer than the interpretation or vice versa
It’s not a word-for-word translation, but rather an interpretation
An illustration of this difference in length between a message and its interpretation would be when Daniel interpreted God’s handwriting on the wall to Belshazzar
Daniel used three sentences to interpret the meaning of the four words God wrote on the wall
“Then the hand was sent from Him and this inscription was written out.
“Now this is the inscription that was written out: ‘MENĒ, MENĒ, TEKĒL, UPHARSIN.’
“This is the interpretation of the message: ‘MENĒ’—God has numbered your kingdom and put an end to it.
“ ‘TEKĒL’—you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.
“ ‘PERĒS’—your kingdom has been divided and given over to the Medes and Persians.”
What the gift of the interpretation of tongues is not
The gift of the interpretation of tongues is not guessing what the message was,
neither is the gift knowing another language
It also is not planning out ahead of time with the one who gave the message in tongues
It’s God giving an individual and interpretation of the message in tongues in a language those gathered understand but where the individual does not know the language the message in tongues was given in.
Biblical examples of the Gift of Interpretation of Tongues
In 1 Corinthians 14 we find references to the operation of the gift of the interpretation of tongues and its importance
without this gift, a message in tongues will not benefit or edify the church.
No one will understand what was said through the message in tongues.
Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?
For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.
What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret;
These verses all illustrate the operation of the gift of the interpretation of tongues in the Early Church and the importance of this gift
How to be used in the Gift of Interpretation of Tongues
When a message in tongues has been given, be open to being used.
If you sense God perhaps wanting to use you, you will sense God giving you a few words.
You generally will not get all the words at this point, only a few
Then use the “ten-second test”
Wait ten seconds to see if the prompting and words are still there
If they are, then begin to speak them
As you speak the words, more words will be given to you until the interpretation is complete.
If it’s a large church and the policy is to go to a designated person, then first share with them the gist of the interpretation, and if approved, then go to a microphone and give the interpretation
Follow the protocol of your church’s leadership.
Hands on Altar Call
Number people off into two groups (ones and twos)
Ones start out as the givers
find an open spot
stand there with your hand up and eyes closed
Twos go up to a One with their hand up and tap their shoulder without saying anything
Ones, you are going to prophecy:
get a sliver of how God sees this person and you are going to speak that into them
If you’re nervous pray “Lord, you love me, and you love this person. What do you have for them? What are you doing in their lives?”
You only have a minute. After you’re done and/or time’s up, Two’s take over
Two then stands with their eyes closed and hand raised
One go find someone else and tap their shoulder
Repeat