The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: - Vital Christianity
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4. A continuing gift—repeated (ch. 14) A temporary, initial experience—<br />
evidently not repeated (2:1-13).<br />
5. Gift under <strong>the</strong> control <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> speaker No mention <strong>of</strong> control or need for<br />
(14:27-28) control by speaker (2; 10; 11; 19)<br />
6. Not all in <strong>the</strong> group spoke in tongues All in <strong>the</strong> group spoke in tongues<br />
(12:30) (2:4; 10:44-48; 19:6) 87<br />
Tongues is not to be used in <strong>the</strong> church unless an interpreter is present (I Cor. 14:28). In <strong>the</strong><br />
case where <strong>the</strong>re is no interpreter <strong>the</strong> person is to speak (pray) to God. This has been referred to as<br />
“private tongues,” “prayer language” or <strong>the</strong> “devotional use <strong>of</strong> tongues.”<br />
<strong>The</strong> devotional use <strong>of</strong> tongues for personal edification is inferior to prophecy because it is<br />
speaking to God only whereas prophecy is speaking to man as well as God <strong>the</strong>reby pr<strong>of</strong>iting <strong>the</strong><br />
whole body <strong>of</strong> Christ (I Cor. 14:2-4) which is <strong>the</strong> very purpose <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> gifts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Spirit</strong> (I Cor.<br />
12:7; I Pet. 4:10).<br />
“Public” tongues becomes as important as prophecy (for in a real sense it becomes prophecy)<br />
when it is accompanied by interpretation (I Cor. 14:5).<br />
Paul wishes that all would speak in tongues, but even more so, that everyone would prophesy<br />
(I Cor. 14:5).<br />
Tongues should be spoken by only two or three at <strong>the</strong> most in any one service (I Cor. 14:27).<br />
With this guideline Paul guards against <strong>the</strong> situation <strong>of</strong> allowing this gift to dominate a ga<strong>the</strong>ring.<br />
<strong>The</strong> instruction for women to be “silent” in <strong>the</strong> churches is given in <strong>the</strong> context <strong>of</strong> speaking in<br />
tongues. <strong>The</strong> issue here is to show subjection as taught by <strong>the</strong> Law (I Cor. 14:34) and that<br />
everything would be done in an orderly way (I Cor. 14:30). Many biblical scholars believe that<br />
because this instruction to be silent is found in <strong>the</strong> context <strong>of</strong> tongues that this implies that women<br />
are to be “silent” when it comes to speaking in tongues in church.<br />
Tongues was for a sign to unbelieving Jews (I Cor. 1:22; 14:21-22; Is. 28:11).<br />
<strong>The</strong> use <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gift <strong>of</strong> tongues is not to be forbidden because <strong>of</strong> its abuse or misuse. (I Cor.<br />
14:39). <strong>The</strong> position <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Christian and Missionary Alliance taken both in 1907 and again in 1963<br />
seems to illustrate <strong>the</strong> biblical position: “Seek not, forbid not.” 88