Week 36: Last Week we read about the gift of Prophecy.

A Study on the Holy Ghost

̶ Week 36 of 36 ̶

By David Wilson

Tongues and Interpretation

Tongues and Interpretation equals prophecy. In the church today we must have these two gifts in operation. But, much of the time all that the church concentrates on is tongues and interpretation, when there are seven more gifts of the spirit that are just as important or more important than tongues and interpretation. One reason for this is because tongues is the physical evidence of the receiving of the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

One of the problems in the Corinthian church was the overuse of the gift of tongues in their services when they came together as a body. Since speaking in tongues is the initial physical evidence of the baptism in the Holy Ghost (as the examples in the book of Acts indicate), it is easy to reach out in faith and claim the gift of tongues. Because our ear goes out to God as we speak in tongues, and we are blessed and edified, it then becomes easy to respond in tongues every time one feels the moving of the spirit. This meant that in Corinth, tongues were exercised so often in their meetings that the other gifts were neglected. At times, so many would be speaking in tongues that confusion would take over a service.

It’s fine to feel the moving of the spirit and speak in tongues. But this does not mean that every person who speaks in tongues is giving a message. Speaking in tongues edifies the person speaking, just as when we pray in the spirit and speak in tongues in prayer. It is the Holy Ghost praying to God for our needs and for us.

But a message in tongues is when the Holy Ghost speaks through someone and tells them what He hears straight from the throne of God. There is a difference in a message from God and someone speaking in tongues. Most important is that a message be interpreted. Interpretation is when the Holy Ghost begins to deal with your heart to tell the people what He wants them to know. When God first began to deal with me to interpret, I would receive the first few words of the message. I would hold back and ask God, “Lord is this really you, or is it just me?” My heart would race, the spirit would well up inside of me, and I would feel like I would explode. Sometimes I would yield and sometimes not. It’s a good thing that the Lord is longsuffering toward us. All I can say is this, the more we yield, the easier it becomes. Most of all, do not be afraid to trust God, for he always knows what he is doing. Our place is to simply be a yielded vessel to be used. The Word encourages us to pray always. Pray with the mind and heart, and pray in the Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues as the Holy Ghost prays through us.

1 Corinthians 14:14-15

¹⁴For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

¹⁵What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Let him who has the gift of interpretation consider the importance of his or her gift. The speaker in tongues is dependent upon the interpreter for the completion of his message. If the latter fails the message in tongues has been given in vain and the scriptures disobeyed. The responsibility for this failure rests upon the interpreter if he or she has quenched the spirit. Also the quality of the message in tongues will be judged by the interpretation, for the interpretation is all that is understandable to the hearers. The message must be for edification, exhortation or to comfort. The spirit-filled Christians that are present will be able to sense whether this has been accomplished.

(Next week we will read some words in conclusion.

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