SPIRITUAL GIFTS - GIFTS OF INSPIRATION

As I spoke last week on the Spiritual Gifts of Knowledge, Wisdom, and Discerning Spirits, I truly believe that while some are given these gifts at a deeper level, we all still have spiritual responsibilities to have godly knowledge, godly wisdom, and godly discernment. Spiritual Gifts are extraordinary abilities to build up and empower the church. And while some are given these Spiritual gifts, we all have the spiritual responsibility to develop knowledge, wisdom, discernment, faith, exhortation, mercy and generosity. Some gifts like the Spiritual Gifts of Inspiration, do not have a responsibility for all believers, but believers that have these gifts must use them responsibly.

Let us Pray!

Gifts of Inspiration

1 Corinthians 12:10 ~ 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.

The gifts that confuse people, Christian and non-Christians alike, the most are the three gifts of inspiration. Since the first church there have been times when these were misused or improperly used and includes some misunderstanding of these gifts. This has resulted in misuse by both pastors and laymen and have also caused those that have these gifts to be afraid of use them. These gifts, however, if we have a proper understanding of them and are used properly, can be a blessing to both the individuals whom the gift was bestowed on as well as the whole church.

I. GIFTS OF PROPHECY

A. Understanding. The Greek word Paul uses here “prophecy” prophēteia

means a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; esp. by foretelling future events. This gift is a manifestation of God, divine revelation without any use or form of human knowledge.

B. Use.

1. Upbuilding, exhortation, encouragement, comfort —

1 Corinthians 14:3 – On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.

1 Corinthians 13:2 – And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

2. Not Predictive. God’s Word is closed and gives us what we need to know about future events.

Matthew 24:36 – “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

2 Peter 1:19-21 – And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

3. Instruction and Testing.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-21 – Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.

1 Timothy 1:18 – This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare,

1 Timothy 4:14 – Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

4. Convict Outsiders or Unbelievers—

1 Corinthians 14:23–25 – 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? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

II. GIFT OF TONGUES

A. Understanding. Some believe this gift is to used when God speaks to men, some believe it is for men to speak to God. It is a supernatural gift, supernatural language whose utterance is never learned by the speaker. Isaiah and Jesus both prophesied these would occur

1 Corinthians 14:2 – 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.

Isaiah 28:11-12 - For by people of strange lips and with a foreign tongue the Lord will speak to this people, to whom he has said, “This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose”; yet they would not hear.

Mark 16:17 – And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

1 Corinthians 14:22 – Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

B. Use and Restrictions

1. Christian believers —

1 Corinthians 14:23–33 – 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? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you. 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. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 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,

2. It is not baptism of the Holy Spirit – or being filled with the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:4-7 – And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

Here the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit and given the knowledge and ability to speak human languages they did not learn in order to promote the Gospel Message to all the corners of the earth.

The Spiritual Gift of Tongues is used to help the church but only when the gift is interpreted

1 Corinthians 14:26-27 – 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.

If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret.

If there is no interpretation then Speaking in tongues should only be used for personal devotion and prayer

1 Corinthians 14:28 – But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

3. Paul says we should not prohibit people speak in tongues but everything must be done in love and for the building of the body of Christ –

1 Cor. 14:39-40 – So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order.

1 Corinthians 13:1 – If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

III. GIFT OF INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES

A. Understanding. The Spiritual Gift of Interpretation is to explain the meaning of what is spoken in tongues which occurs in public or church, for the empowerment and building up of the church

1 Cor. 14:5 – Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

v27-28 – If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

B. Use and Restrictions. The one speaking should pray that there be an interpretation

1 Corinthians 14:13-17 – Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 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? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.

Paul gets specific here - only one person should interpret the message or the tongue at any one time. At no time should there be more than three messages given in tongue in any one service even if interpretations are there.

1 Corinthians 14:27 – If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

c. Warnings from Paul

1 Corinthians 14:4 – The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

1 Corinthians 14:18-19 – I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

How is your understanding of the Gifts of Inspiration clearer or better? What is God calling you to do with this knowledge?

Let us pray!

How do you balance spiritual gifts with having spiritual responsibility, especially with knowledge, wisdom and discernment?

Why are we called to use our spiritual gifts responsibly?

How does the Greek definition of the word propheteria change your concept of the gift of prophecy?

Why do you think Paul calls us all to propheteria at some level?

How does propheteria incorporate instruction and teaching?

What is you understanding of the gift of tongues – is for God to talk to man or man to talk to God?

Why do you think Paul says we should prohibit the speaking of tongues?

Paul’s first recommendation is that the speaker interpret his speech, why do you think Paul said this?

Paul gave us warnings about these gifts, how should we take heed to his warnings?