The Supernatural Church - The Gifts of the Holy Spirit - Part 3 - The Language Gifts
Notes
Transcript
GREET EVERYONE-
If I have not had a chance to meet you; My name is Scott and I am a follower of Jesus and have the privilege of serving Him as the Lead Pastor among the people of Stonewater Fellowship.
Our Vision:
We Desire see every follower of Jesus well equipped and fully deployed on the mission of Jesus.
What mission? - This questions leads us to articulate His mission for His church in a simple way.
Our Mission:
Is to engage people into a multiplying relationship with Jesus!
INVITATION
1 - New Members Classes Begins Today
2- Baptism Class is coming up
3 - When Gods people pray -
LETS GRAB OUR BIBLES IF YOU HAVE ONE AND
Open it to 1 Corinthians 12 beginning in verse 1 as we will work our way through these three chapters as we continue in our current preaching series “The Super Natural Church”
In this series we have looks at the reason and the purpose of the gifts.
We have look at the prophetic Gifts
This morning we will be walking through the Language Gifts.
Or in some circles known as the gift of Tongues and the Gift of Interpretation.
The reason that we will be navigating these gifts is becasue what we will sen in the passages of text is that are inextricably tied together.
PRAYER OVER SERIES
is and has been that as we Expose What God says in His word about these 7 interesting gifts of the Holy Spirit all of us would come to the scripture and stand on it alone, at face value
and as we do that one of two effects would happen on our intimate life and walk with Jesus.
1- Some of us find our selves boundaries by the scripture - in not only what we believe but also what we do when it comes to these supernatural gifts.
That our growth in understanding from the Scripture alone - and our use of the gifts of Boldness, Prophecy, Tongues the interpretation of Tongues, Healing Gifts and Miraculous gifts as well as the distinguishing gift would be changed.
Changed in what we believe about them and limited to what what we do with them.
And that those beliefs and limitations would be right in line with what the bible says on its face value as written in english for us to understand.
2 - Is that others of us will be set free from teaching that is in error and not based on what the bible says at face value.
Set free from any presuppositions that limit our life in serving Jesus to advance His kingdom.
Set free from any negative effect in adding to the scripture on face value can do by limiting us in experiencing the very power of God.
Set free so that we can in many ways experience the presence of God way as described in the scriptures.
and do so in love and humility and unity that Jesus prayed for, Jesus preached for and Paul and Peter, James and the others wrote about.
PRAYER OVER MESSAGE
My Prayer for this mornings message is that we would hear clearly from the scriptures about what God says about the Language gifts from the spirit and how they come about in our life as the church and in our individual life.
ENGAGEMENT –
Ever been bowling?
Ya know Bowling is kids of a sport that is not all that popular here, I don think.
Up North - Bowling is VERY popular.
When I was a late teen I bowled in a bowling league.
Never really bowled a-lot when I was younger but I got invited and off I went.
Ya know - when you bowl - and you first getting started there is a suggestion that comes from your friends.
For some of us that suggestion can come to us ans sound a lot like someone is making fun of us.
The Suggestion sounds like this:
Hey a Scott - They have these things on the lanes called Bumpers… Maybe you could use them?
If for some reason you do not know what bumpers are in a bowling ally they are these things that Keep your ball form falling into this area called the gutter.
Here is the interesting thing about the gutter. The Ball is guided by the gutter to miss all of the pins.
This renders the ball completely powerless and completely unfruitful. Scoring NO points and here is what is more interesting. When the Ball goes in the gutter all the potential the ball had at one time is removed.
But ya know- When your friends suggest that you use the bumpers… how do we respond?
Naaa, I got this!!
You see the reason we don't want to use the bumpers like the kids do is becasue of our Ego and pride.
WE actually are prideful enough to believe that we don't need the bumpers.
TENSION
The Problem is when we take this pride “no bumpers” into our life with Jesus. What we will end up doing is creating a Jesus of our own mind!
You see the Bible is the Revelation of God to man. This is God speaking to us about himself. The person of that Revelation is person of Jesus Christ. and the Power of that Revelation is the Spirit.
the bible serves as the bumpers of our knowledge of God, the person of JEsus and the Work of the Holy Spirit.
When We take this “no bumpers” thought into our relationship with Jesus, what we know about God - Better known as our theology, so easily ends up in the gutter.
And Just like that bowling ball when our theology ends up in the gutter our life with Jesus becomes powerless and unfruitful.
This is exactly why the Apostle Paul says at the start of his three chapter dissertation in Spiritual Things in 1 Cor 12 with the Words “I don't want you to be Ignorant or Uninformed.
You see there was this Phenomenon happening in Corinth and apparently else where that was a supernatural manifestation involving language and the Corinthian Church had written a letter asking Paul about this Phenomenon. You and I and the scriptures know this as the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation.
BACKGROUND
Some background on this phenomenon as we get started.
IF we were to open up the text books of academia at the seminaries what we would find as the definition of the Gift of Tongues is: a divinly empowered utterance of words that the speaker doe not know the meaning”
In the New Testament there are 3 times the subject the gift of Tongues is a Topic that the scriptures navigate.
The First of which was this morning in Acts Chapter 2 when there were 120 people in an upper room for a 10 day prayer meeting and on the 10th day the Holy Spirit Enveloped and indwelt all 120 people and one of the things that happened is they began to speak in other known languages that they had never been educated in.
They then used this Gift to speak to other people the might works of God. and ends up - they built up the church and 3000 people were added to their number that very day. This was in Jarusalem - Aroud the time when Lots of Jewish people would be in Jarusalem and this happend among a group of Jewish people.
The 120 Were Jewish and included all of the Apostels and more than likely Luke others along with all of the women that were in the group of disciples.
SO this happens at Pentecost.
About a decade later we get to Acts chapter 10.
If you are familiar with the story - Peter, yes the same Peter that denied Christ, The Same Peter that Spoke to the crowd on the day of Pentecost - This Peter Is in a City named Jappa - A Vision is given to Him by the Holy Spirit - A guy named Cornelius and some men came to visit him in Japa -
Peter ends up taking 6 other people form Japa with Him to a place called Ceaserea to speak to Cornelius Household - non of which are jewish - THey are all gentiles.
Now household back then means Everyone connected to you and your family - In other words your Network -
Peter begins speaking to them, sharing the Gospel and the Holy Spirit fall on these people and Luke Recods for us in Acts 10:44-48
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45 And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
Here is the strange part -
In the next chapter the church leaders in Jerusalem heard that Peter had done the unthinkable and shared the Gospel with the Gentiles!
And they were criticizing him and He was explanation to them what Happened.
Listed to what He says:
15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 If then God gave the same gift to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”
SO Here in acts we have this Phenomenon that has happened at least twice in a decade that is recorded for us in the Scriptures and These two Phenomenon have some very distinctive characteristics.
Here is what we can see fro Acts Chapter 2 about what happened.
The Holy Spirit manifestation into a Gift of Tongues at Pentecost
1- Everyone recieved them -
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
2- Used to Speak to other people
11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
3- No interpretation
4- To be spoken out loud.
8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?
5- Used to advance the Gospel to unbelievers
41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
and if all we had was the record in Acts by which to lean on we would just have these 5 conclusions and that would be all we know and one thing that may happen to us is that we might think that everyone who was filled with the Spirit, Which again is every believer - Had to speak in foreign languages that they never learned before
That is one of the reasons the whole council of Scripture is necessary so we don't think things and trust things and do things that are not accurate.
Sometime about 25 years later - Paul is in Ephesus and He gets a letter from the Church in Corinth that He started and stayed about 18 months building up And this letter reported to Him some concerns and was asking Him about some things.
In Chapter 7 of first Corinthians He begins with: “Now concerning the things about which you wrote”
SO we get to Chapter 12 and He Begins with “Now concerning Spiritual Gifts”
The Corinthian Church must have had some interesting things going on with in tis assembly and they asked Paul about “Spiritual Things” and Again it is extremely reasonable to think that Paul Responds form a place of not only divine inspiration but also personal experience.
And AS a reminder - When He writes them he says “I don't want you to be ignorant” another word is Uniformed.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
There is a Variety of Gifts, Service and Activities BUT all of them come form the Same Spirit - The Same Master - Same God - who Empowers them all!
These gifts, and Service and Activities are called manifestation of the Spirit and they have but one overarching purpose. The Common Good -
Loved ones we must remember that under all circumstances Every manifestation of the Spirit is given for the Common Good
VV8-11 He then goes through the list.
And in this list are two gifts of language - The Gift of various kinds of Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues.
And Watch was He says in verses 10 - To another “Various kinds of tongues” meaning tongues that are not consistently the same
10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
and Verse 11 loved ones is so important to grasp onto and make the defining identity when we think and speak about Spiritual Gifts.
Spiritual gifts are empowered by WHO?
They Belong to WHO?
Well they belong to the Holy Spirit who, Verse 11 says “Apportions to each one individually as He wills”
Some of your versions are going to Say
11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
11 and all these doth work the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each severally as he intendeth.
11 One Spirit, the same Spirit, does all these things, and the Spirit decides what to give each person.
Apportions - Distributing, Dividing to each person.
WE make three interesting assumptions when we think about these gifts.
ONE - That they are permanently given. Like the spirit cant take one away and give a different gift. Of Course He can - He is God and you are the instrument the Bond slave of Christ. If He wants to Give a gift of healing one day and a gift of knowledge the next -He can!
Therefore i think it is very presumptions to claim them - Like using the words “I have the gift of…”
TWO Assumption - They are ours to possess. - They are the Spirits - He empowers them all distributing them as HE wills. and they are really not for us.
THREE assumption - They are there at some level for OUR benefit. You see loved ones - If we pray and we lay hands on someone and we anoint them with oil and the Elders pray - And God distributes a Gift of divine Holy Ghost empowered healing who does that distribution go to?
They are distributed and empowered for the common Good.
Lets think about this Just for a second. and take them one at a time -
Utterance of Wisdom - is that for me or anyone to say “I have the gift of wisdom or He has the gift of wisdom go see him?” No but rather the gift is for the one who needs wisdom.
Same with knowledge - IS that for someone to appear smart or is that given to someone who needs to know something? Fath is give ot the one who needs faith.
Healing for the Sick person who needs healing -
Miracles to the person who needs something miraculous to happen in their life.
Prophecy to the person who needs building up encouragement or consolation.
Distinguishing between Spirit is to the one who needs to know more about the spiritual world.
All of these Distributed and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God - all for the common good and the building up of the Church - Adding to the Church - Strengthening the Church
Then we get to the various kinds of Tongues - and the interpretation.
There are two things we can see going on here with these two Gifts -
1- The Tongue Paul has experienced and is telling the Church in Corinth about is not the same manifestation that happened at Pentecost. This one has opposite Characteristics.
2 - interpretation is intertwined with it.
1st Difference we can see is this - Not everyone receives this manifestation in - Corinth But at pentecost everyone got it.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
Paul asks these rhetorical questions Right after spending some 15 verses talking about each having different gifts and the unity of those gifts in the Body of Christ the Church and how they are supposed to be used in unity.
So the Implied answer to all these questions is NO - NO Not all have gifts of healing - Not all speak with tongues. and so forth.
So this leaves us with a couple of more questions?
What is this thing in corinth?
How does Pauls experaince with it tell them and us how it is to be used?
Look to chapter 14.
VS1 - WE are to desire spiritual gifts But some more than others -
VS2- We get a clear understanding what this Corinth Tone is and Another difference from the tongue at Pentecost.
2nd Difference - The Tongue at Pentecost was People Speaking the Mysteries of God to Other people.
The Corinth Tongue is Prayer. and IT Is not Understandable, Look at what He says in Verse 2
2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
VS4 - The one who speaks in a tongue Build-himself up - Remember what build up means - Adding to or strengthening!
BUT what we will discover is it does have meaning
Vs 5 - Paul then brings in the interlinking gift of interpretation.
Remember - All of the gifts are for the common good and building up of the church - Except Tongues
Paul has now laid down the boundary that Tongues is not understood and therefore Cannot build up the church unless there is an interpreter.
Why doe we need and Interpreter?
Who cares if no one understands?
Why not just let the unintelligible words be spoken all over the place?
Watch the word picture that Paul uses. And He is talking about something spoken that is not understandable.
Beginning in Verse 7
7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
You see Paul says that Tongues by it self build up the believer but not the church and he admonishes us to Strive to build up the church.
Interesting though in verse 10
In the middle of giving the church the clear definition and the boundaries that this phenomenon should be used under. He has just said that is it not understandable - Given reason for Interpreter - But watch vs 10 No Language or Tongue is without meaning.
So when we over hear someone praying in Tongues - The utterances coming out of their mouth, even though you and they do not understand their meaning The Scripture says They DO!
SO And Interpretation is required if the church is going to be built up -
Watch the warning here -
Here is the danger if you will - when we get beyond the boundaries of the scripture with out an interpreter. It ushers in division.
11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
Foreigner meaning stranger - Meaning a person I do not know!
Ever had a language barrier with someone? IF that is not over come you cannot have a relationship with them and know them.
Verses 13-19 Paul then Gives other reasons why the gift of Interpretation needs to come with the gift of Tongues.
Look at Verse 16
16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.
This is right after Paul talks through Praying and singing with Spirit AND mind! Praying in Spirit only Paul feels unfruitful becasue He cannot build up others.
Paul then share his heart in his desire to build up others.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Paul then gives the consequences of people all speaking in Tongues in the assembly. - Watch - IF that happens and we dont pu boundries arround the excersize the gift when it comes - Biblical Boundries -
Watch - IT pushes people away from the Gosepl - It pushes people away from the Body of CHrist - The living realiry of Jesus on earth today is the church and if an unbeliever walks in and all of us are excersiziong this phenomonial gift - That had meaning - Speaking to God.
THey wont know were peaking to God they wont uderstand what is being said - WE might all be built up in it somehow BUt the gospel will not be advanced. The Church will not be built up - JEsus will not be glorified.
Look at the Text loved ones -
23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
3rd Difference - Must be used with the biblical boundaries or it will have a potentially negative effect on people who hear ti and they will not be built up - And the Church will not be built up. Where as the Manifestation At Pentecost and in Ceaserea was to be used specifically to advance the gospel as a foreign language other people could understand.
SO how is this suppose to work?
How is this suppose to be a part of the life of Some brothers and bring unity and advance the Gospel.
1st of all we are to mature in our thinking as Paul reminded us in verse 10 Not thinking like little children -
Like ever thought why Paul wrote that?
What is the ONE central characteristic in the thinking of Children? Children are selfish - It is all about them. Mature thinking is thinking of others first. One of the characteristics of thinking that is mature thinking is that the world does not revolve around us.
This is why Paul begins Vs 26 by saying
26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
ALL things - Everyone say ALL THINGS!
Everything we do is for the Building up of the believer and the church!
Here is what the scripture lays down for us will all of the background that Paul has already laid out for us.
This is how this can work in the assembly!
27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
4th Difference - Interpretation Required if spoken out loud.
SO as an Elder and lead Pastor among the people of Stonewater Here is how I navigate these boundaries laid down by Paul. And what I hope shearing this does is bring understanding for some and freedom for others.
There are many many times I am praying and something happens to the words in my mind or on my lips. Words and sounds and syllables begin to come out and I have no clue what they mean and its not as if I can identify them as Spanish.
SO it is me talking to God Prayer.
Additionally - I never claim a gift as a possession of mine. I never say I have the Gift of tongues. Because, the Spirit distributes them as HE wills.
This is why we will never open a Small group to learn how to pray in tongues - Its not a skill set to learn it is a gift of the spirit that is to be used for the common good.
And I pray that there is an interpretation and I pray for clarity from God that there is an interpretation.
How will I know there is one - I don't know - I have never had it confirmed there is an interpretation, becasue again it is a gift of the spirit and He may or may not provide someone to interpret - So I put these boundaries around my self - Unless there is clear and unmistakable affirmation that God has provided an interpretation. I keep it to my self, under my breath.
I think that I am so cautious and wanting all things to be done to build up - Everyone say ALL THINGS-
I believer there would have to be one of two things - This overwhelming sense that there is an interpretation coming with it - OR a big beam of light shining through the ceiling and big letters on the back wall “this is your interpreter”
And listen loved ones - I pray it happens one day -
I pray God answers those prayers! But until He does - You will have to be real close next to me to hear this manifestation from me.
This is the 5th Difference in Corinth and Pentecost - Pentecost - No one was to be silent - Everyone spoke - Corinth -Limited use or Silence silence is to be.
Lastly - and loved ones this is so important - This is from God - This is not Paul giving these guidelines out of His own contextual teaching. He is not speaking these things becasue the Church in Corinth is a out of control in these things - They are out of Control in a lot of other areas but not these things - Paul is answering them about his becasue they asked. And Jesus wasn't Available. Jesu had sent Paul to them to make disciples from among them .
But watch what Paul says -
37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
These boundaries are a command of the LORD - Of the Command of JESUS - These are the Boundaries of this Gift and these boundaries are from Jesus.
HE want you to have spiritual gifts, He sent the Holy Spirit to give them to you and in that list of the gifts that the Holy SPirit will distribute are these two language based gifts - Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues and they go together if they are out loud.
Look at what Paul says in vs 39
39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.
Paul says desire Spiritual gifts and excel in building up the church.
Maybe your here and your prayer life is silent - Here is what I mean - There is a seemingly lack of intimacy of your prayers like especially those prayers in your quiet prayers.
Here is my Suggestion - Don’t pray for the gift of tongues - Pray for deeper connection with God - Pray that your prayers have a seance of Intimacy woth God. And watch what He does - One of those things might be in the form of this gift which is the one you very well might need to be built up and to experience God in new and powerful ways.
THE GOSPEL CONNECTION - WORSHIP TEAM AND PRAYER TEAM
The Gospel Changes everything - God sent Jesus into this world- As God Himself in the flesh and He lived a perfect life and died the death that we so easily deserved. And When He did that all of the wrath of God that was against us as rebels against God was satisfied. To verify the veracity that forgiveness was available through Him and that the wrath was satisfied and that Eternal life with Him was possible- God raised Jesus completely and totally from the dead.
When Jesus ascended into Heaven after Launching this world altering culture shifting body of Christi His bride aka the Church He sent the Holy Spirit so that His promise to be with us as we go and make disciples would be true. Not only is the Holy Spirit with us but the Holy Spirit Empowers us to Abide in Christ - Be in intimate relationship with Him - live out His command of making disciples - Making apprentices of Jesus- Gifting us with Supernatural Gifts becasue we are a supernatural church -
Loved ones He does not give these gifts so we can be a supernatural church He gives us these gifts becasue we are a supernatural church - A n assembly of the called out ones recipients of the Grace of God - Save By grace through faith. Regenerated by the power of the Holy Sprit - Transformed by being brought from Death to life.
PRAYER TEAM