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“For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” (1 Corinthians 14:2 NKJV)
Among the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in the book of 1 Cor. 12:4-11, three can be classified as Inspirational or Vocal Gifts because they primarily operate or manifest through the speech organs of the believers.
Having examined one of the Vocal Gifts (the gift of prophecy) in the last piece, we shall explore the other two: Different Kinds of Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues.
First, Different Kinds of Tongues.
This is not the Holy Spirit speaking with tongues, but the believers speaking in a tongue or language unlearnt as the Holy Spirit gives them utterance.
While the Holy Spirit supplies the divine utterance or transmits the language to your spirit, you must open your mouth to speak. That was the experience of the early Disciples of Christ on the Day of Pentecost.
Acts 2:1-4 – NKJV
1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The gift of tongues is the supernatural ability to speak in a foreign tongue or language not previously learned, studied, or known by believers.
Although your mind or understanding is unfruitful when this gift is in operation, you speak to God and mysteries in the spirit.
Apostle Paul states, “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” (1 Cor. 14:2 NKJV).
“For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.” (1 Cor. 14:14 NKJV).
Speaking with new tongues is one of the most obvious first signs of baptism with the Holy Spirit. The Scripture testifies that when the 120 Disciples of Christ in the upper room were baptized or filled with the Holy Spirit, they “began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:4 NKJV).
Speaking with new and unlearned tongues is also one of the miraculous signs that the Lord Jesus Christ promised will follow the believers.
Mark 16:17-18 – NKJV
17 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
However, speaking with new and unlearned tongues as one of the first apparent signs or evidence of baptism with the Holy Spirit differs from the gift of different kinds of tongues. The Bible mentions two kinds of tongues: the tongues of men and angels (1 Cor. 13:1).
The Holy Spirit can inspire and empower a believer to speak in a tongue or language known to his audience, but the speaker has no knowledge or ability to speak on his own. This is what happened on the Day of Pentecost when the disciples spoke with the tongues of men.
The Scripture testifies that the multitude of devout men that gathered to them from every nation under heaven each heard them speak the wonderful works of God in their native language without them having the gift of interpretation of tongues.
Therefore, they were all amazed and said to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? “And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?” (Acts 2:7-8 NKJV).
However, when a believer speaks in an unknown tongue (the tongue of angels or the heavenly language), no man can understand or interpret without having the gift of interpretation of tongues.
Paul testifies, “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.” (1 Cor. 14:2 KJV).
When the Holy Spirit gives you the supernatural ability to speak in an unknown tongue that no man can understand or interpret, it is for your edification, spiritual refreshment, victory in spiritual warfare, effectiveness in intercession and supplication, and for you to worship and pray in the Spirit.
This kind of tongue often becomes your personal or private prayer language that you can use whenever you want or desire (1 Cor. 14:4, Jude 1:20, Rom. 8:26-27, 1 Cor. 14:14-15, John 4:24, Eph. 6:18).
But when a believer’s supernatural or inspired tongue is understood and interpreted through the gift of the interpretation of tongues, it becomes a prophecy to edify, strengthen, exhort, encourage, instruct, or correct the Church. Therefore, Paul encourages those who speak in tongues to pray that they may interpret (1 Cor. 14:5-15).
Second, the Interpretation of Tongues.
This is not a supernatural ability to translate every tongue or language you hear, or that is spoken to you. Instead, it is a supernatural ability given to the believers by the Holy Spirit to understand, interpret, or reveal the meaning of a divine message delivered in an unknown tongue for the edification of the Church.
It is important to note that the gift is not a “translation of tongues” but an “interpretation of tongues.” Therefore, it is not a word-to-word translation of what is said in an unknown tongue but an interpretation or revelation of its meaning to edify the Church.
While the message in tongues may be long, the interpretation may be short, or vice versa. In every case, the interpretation is always inspirational, supernatural, and spontaneous; the interpreter never learns or studies it.
Sometimes, the believer speaking in an unknown tongue can also give his audience meaning in a known language. In that case, there is supernatural verbalization and subsequent supernatural interpretation of the tongues.
The purpose of this dynamic gift is not to seek to understand or interpret what every believer is saying when praying privately to God in unknown tongues.
It is only for understanding and interpreting prophecies or divine messages proclaimed in unknown tongues so that the Church can be edified, strengthened, exhorted, and comforted.
Beloved, while the Scripture encourages speaking in tongues in public meetings, you must control the volume and speak moderately to God without interpretation.
To avoid disorder or confusion in the Church, the Bible allows a maximum of three utterances in tongues with interpretation (1 Cor. 14:26-33).
Learn more about the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the next piece.
Prayer:
My Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for blessing me with the gift of different kinds of tongues and the interpretation of tongues. I receive divine wisdom for maximum use of these gifts for my edification and that of the Church, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
OUR mandate is to preserve the faith of the Apostolic Generation.
Eniyekpemi Fidelis Oyinpreyebi.
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