1 Corinthians 14
Verse 1, “Pursue love and desire spiritual(matters)”
Tongues and their interpretation are both demonstrations of the Holy Spirit that dwells within us.
1 Corinthians 12 v 7 “But the manifestation(working, demonstration) of the spirit is given to each one for the profit(benefit) of all.”
This verse is extremely clear. The nine demonstrations of the Spirit that follow in verses 8 to 10, can flow through each one of us who have received the gift of the Holy Spirit. Why? – for the profit(benefit) of all. They are not to exhibit how spiritual we are, but simply to bless others.
1 Corinthians chapter 12 v 11, clarifies further, “But one and the same Spirit works all these things,(manifestations) distributing to each one individually as He wills.”
These nine workings of the Spirit flow through us as and when the Father wills, dependant upon the situations we face as we endeavour to bless other people.
Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues and New testament prophecy are to be evidenced wherever the Church(the Ekklesia, the called out ones) meets to praise the Father, receive instruction in the scriptures and fellowship together. The remaining six usually flow both inside those meetings and externally also.
It is important to note that when we speak in tongues in our private praise and prayer language we start and stop as we, by the Father’s grace, will. Kinds of tongues and their ensuing interpretation are at the behest of our Heavenly Father and are always preceded by a prompt from the Holy Spirit.
So what is the significance of Tongues and their interpretation to the church? When a spirit-filled believer receives a prompt from the Holy Spirit or is asked by whoever is coordinating the meeting to speak in tongues and interpret; that person will speak in tongues, as the Spirit gives the utterance, and then bring forth the Interpretation of those tongues, again as the Spirit gives the utterance, in a language known to those present at the meeting. It is a message from our Heavenly Father to bless us.
Please note that our Heavenly Father desires us to bring forth an interpretation not a translation of the tongues spoken. As with all spiritual matters we must look to the scriptures to ascertain their operation and their benefits to others.
1 Corinthians 14 contains most of the information we require to understand and implement the demonstrations of the Spirit known as Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues.
1 Corinthians 14 v 1, “Pursue love, and desire spiritual(gifts has been added and must be deleted) but especially that you may prophesy.”
The Greek word for spiritual is pneumatikos and can be translated spiritual matters/things. The foundation for all pneumatikos is that love is to be our motivation. We are to pursue(enthusiastically seek), to keep love in the forefront of our minds as we desire the things of the spirit and especially that we may prophesy.
Verse 2, “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no man understands(him has been added); however in the spirit he speaks mysteries.”
In the church, there is no benefit to others if I stand up and speak in tongues. Sure, I am speaking to the Father but no one else is benefiting. Is that loving to my brothers and sisters in Christ?
Verse 3, “But he who prophesies speaks edification( a building up in the renewed mind to those present) and exhortation(encouragement) and comfort(words soothing to the mind) to men.”
This is new testament prophesy, it does not prophesy of things to come, it is simply words of edification, encouragement and comfort in a known language to those present at the meeting.
Verse 4, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.”
It is all about loving others not greedily being edified ourselves.
Verse 5, “I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied, for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.”
Hallelujah! Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues are equal to new testament prophesy because they both edify the church. That implies that the Interpretation of Tongues edifies those present at the meeting in their renewed minds by way of exhortation and comfort. Verse 5 also states that it is the Father’s will that the person bringing forth the message in tongues should also speak out the Interpretation of that message.
When Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues are brought forth, as and when our Father wills, in a meeting, not only are those present edified, encouraged and comforted, but they also witness the demonstration of the Holy Spirit.
Today, we have concentrated on the importance of love and edification as we demonstrate the Holy Spirit. Can I encourage you to meditate upon the verses shared and to ask the Holy Spirit to teach you the fullness of their meaning? He is, after all, the expert in such matters.
In Part 2 we will focus on the “How” of Tongues and the Interpretation of Tongues and the spiritual consequences that follow the demonstration of the spirit that is within us. Until then.
Have a glorious day!