Follow Me Session 25 Tongues/Interpretation & Intercession Session 16 from May 27 th Empowered by the Holy Spirit This is what some believers do: They pray for supernatural rain from God, and when it pours they run back to the place they came from. We say we want God to move. We beg Him to. We pray with boldness to remove the cloak of complacency from our hearts and that the windows of heaven will be opened up. We pray for God to display His glory and power to us and through us. We anxiously await his wonders in our everyday living, not wanting to settle for dutiful religion. But if His showing up comes unexpectedly, causing us a bit of discomfort, drawing us out of the familiar ruts where we pace ourselves to the safe, steady rhythm of our spiritual disciplines, we become unsettled and out of sorts. We duck for cover instead of abandoning ourselves to the outpouring of His spirit that He has released. -Pricilla Schirer Example of referee (we don t write the rules we simply apply them as kingdom kids) (nondenominational; identity is important, labels are not) In our pursuit of the Holy Spirit, we don t disengage our minds but rather renew our minds. Walking by faith is not about ignoring facts or emptying our minds of facts but rather renewing your mind to what Gods facts are. The manifestations of the Spirit are exactly that: His gifts that He gives. If you want the gifts, you need to know the Giver. It goes back to relationship. As a disciple of Christ following Him, you should desire all that the Holy Spirit has for you. Manifestations of the Spirit are not given as experiences in and of themselves, but to empower you for daily living and to overcome in life. If these experiences are producing Kingdom fruit and Body edification, the formula or manifestation should not be disdained. As long as we are developing in love, it is appropriate to eagerly desire spiritual gifts. Kingdom fruit and Body edification. Did it draw people to the Christ of the Bible? Did it bring people under the authority of God s Word? Did it produce repentance from sin unto holiness? Did it result in a love for the lost? Did it edify the Body? Tongues and Interpretation Acts and 1 Corinthians are the only two new testament books that clearly mention these gifts. Acts 2 Pentecost outpouring and birth of the church. Acts 8,10, 19 were all evangelistic settings. I Cor. 12 & 14 were within the local church context. (Mark 16 debatable) Baptism in the Spirit What does this phrase mean? (see session 16)
Doctrine 10: We believe all the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit explained in the New Testament and witnessed in the early Church are available and in operation in the Body of Christ today. Jesus declared in Acts 1:8 that we need to be empowered to be His witnesses to the world. This empowerment may be accompanied by many outward manifestations and signs that Jesus said would follow those who believe. Where is the common ground? When we are born again, we are born of the Spirit and He takes up residence in us. I would describe this as the spirit within. Then the Holy Spirit gifts, empowers, anoints, fills us. I would call this the spirit upon. Acts 2 Pentecost released an empowerment for ministry that was not formerly there on such a widespread platform. This was not just for a specific few that Christ appointed but for the entire family of God who would believe. (Acts 2:39) Acts 2 Pentecost was a fulfillment of a new dispensation or period of Grace for the birthing of the church age. Acts 2 Pentecost was the empowering of the Holy Spirit from the old covenant to the new covenant roles. Acts 2 Pentecost was only one of many fillings of the Holy Spirit that we will see in Acts for the Apostles. (we don t teach at Catalyst that being filled with the spirit = s tongues) When you are born of the spirit, you will also be empowered by the spirit for Kingdom ministry. A disciple should adopt this sacred responsibility as part of your discipleship journey to discover, grow, and share Christ with this empowerment from God. Tongues (glossa)-tongue, a language, tongues. The gift of tongues is simply the Spirit-empowered, divine enablement to speak, worship, give thanks, or pray in a language unknown to the speaker. 1. known languages 2. tongue with interpretation (equivalent to prophesy) 3. prayer language-speaking mysteries in prayer to God Bible-believing teachers differ in their views on these gifts. While you may not agree with other believers on this subject, we can all respect our differing viewpoints based on Scripture. 3 types of tongues 1. Known Languages
The word translated tongues (Gk. glōssa, plural) can also be translated languages, and that is the sense that it has in this verse. In this case the other languages were understood by various people present in Jerusalem, but in 1 Corinthians 14 Paul expects that no one present in the church at Corinth will understand the languages being spoken in tongues (see 1 Cor. 14: 2). This is clearly a miracle of speaking, not of hearing, for the disciples began to speak in other tongues. As the Spirit gave them utterance indicates that the Holy Spirit was directing the syllables they spoke. Speaking in tongues in this way also seems to be the phenomenon experienced by those at Cornelius s house (Acts 10: 45 46) and the disciples of John at Ephesus (19: 6). Acts 2:1-13 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God. 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, What does this mean? 13 But others mocking said, They are filled with new wine. We have to be careful attributing acts 2 experience as the litmus test for all other experiences. This outpouring was bigger than just tongues of fire. The tongues here were known languages and as far as we can tell, the other places of outpouring were not known languages. Paul said prayer language is communion with God and our minds cannot comprehend. (Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, preaching, teaching, prophesy, tongues, repentance, salvation, unity, godly fear, miracles, healings, peace that surpasses intellect, godly wisdom, visions, dreams, divine protection, etc.) 2. Tongue with interpretation (equivalent to prophesy) The normally unintelligible nature of tongues makes their interpretation necessary if the gathered community is to be edified by them. Interpretation(diermēneuō)- translate, interpret, explain. The gift of interpretation is the divine enablement to make known to the body of Christ the message of one who is speaking in tongues.
People with this gift Respond to a message spoken in tongues by giving on interpretation Glorify God and demonstrate his power through this miraculous manifestation Edify the body of Christ by interpreting a timely message from God Understand an unlearned language & communicate that message to the body of Christ I Corinthians 14:12-13 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. I Corinthians 14:17-19 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 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. I Corinthians 14:26-33; 39-40 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. 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. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order. 3. Prayer Language Paul described tongues as one of the least important gifts in a corporate setting and yet he also said he desired that they all speak in tongues as he did. Speech in a language the speaker does not know, and that sometimes does not follow the patterns of any known human language. Paul sees this gift as a means of expressing prayer or praise to God in which the speaker s human spirit is praying even though the speaker does not understand the meaning. I Corinthians 14:1-5
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 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. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. (I Cor. 12:30 that not all will speak) I Corinthians 14:14-15 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 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. 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. Acts 19:1-7 And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. 2 And he said to them, Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? And they said, No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit. 3 And he said, Into what then were you baptized? They said, Into John s baptism. 4 And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus. 5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. 7 There were about twelve men in all. Intercession: To plead on behalf of someone, intercede The gift of intercession is the divine enablement to consistently pray on behalf of and for others, seeing frequent and specific results. People with this gift Feel compelled to earnestly pray on behalf of someone or some cause Have a daily awareness of the spiritual battles being waged and pray Are convinced God moves in direct response to prayer Pray in response to the leading of the Spirit, whether or not they understand the leading
Exercise authority and power for the protection of others and the equipping of them to serve Cautions Should avoid feeling that their gift is not valued, by remembering that interceding for others is their ministry and spiritual contribution to the body of Christ Should avoid using prayer as an escape from fulfilling responsibilities Need to avoid a holier than thou attitude sometimes caused by extended times of prayer Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God Jude 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, John 17:1-26 Take aways: 1. Ask the Holy Spirit what He has for you as far as His gifts are concerned. 2. Have you ever asked God for a prayer language? 3. How are you allowing the Holy Spirit to use your life in edifying the Body of Christ and producing Kingdom fruit? I Corinthians 14:39-40 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.