The Gifts of the Spirit
The Spiritual Gifts are a subject that I don’t hear talked about much, and I have done much studying of the Word and praying for discernment of God’s will and direction for us on this area of biblical doctrine, so I offer some thoughts on the subject for you to study.
There are many Gifts of the Spirit, and I think Paul does the best job of explaining what they are in 1 Corinthians 12 through 14. All three chapters are devoted to discussing the Gifts. Parts of these passages are also used by a lot of people to support the claims that speaking in tongues is not relevant to Christians today. Most churches believe in the Gifts and might even talk about them, and they don’t have a problem with any of the Gifts except speaking in tongues. Because of that, I’m going to spend a little time on that particular gift.
I want to stress right at the start here, that Paul says three times in this section of his letter, to desire and to covet the gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor 12:31, 14:1 and 14:39).
In chapter 12 he points out that there are diversities of gifts and that we should not discount the importance of any of the gifts no matter which is greater; they are all important and none should be tossed aside as unimportant.
Paul stresses that prophecy is second only to an Apostle (someone with all the gifts of the Spirit). It is the best gift and should be coveted! He talks about speaking in tongues but also shows us that it is the least of the gifts, unless it is accompanied by interpretation. Again, I stress that we cannot discard a gift because it is not the greatest! Paul concludes this entire argument by summing up with: 1 Cor 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. We shouldn’t discount tongues because it is the least, and we should not forbid it, and we should desire it! 1 Cor 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
I’m going to present some arguments on the subject of tongues. I simply want to share as much as I can with you since I know this subject is very controversial and misunderstood. The main point of this chapter, though, is simply what Paul was stressing: To covet and desire the gifts, all of them!
The question of tongues:
There is so much confusion in the world today about speaking in tongues. The subject of speaking in tongues is not talked about in many churches. There is a lot of teaching out there that tongues are not relevant today, not necessary, not important, so you don’t need to worry about it. People seem to be afraid of it. However, all of this confusion is not because tongues is not of God. The Bible is very plain that tongues is definitely of God. Take a look at the following scriptures:
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues , and magnify God.
Acts 19:6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues , and prophesied.
1 Cor 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues
Isa 28:11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people
It is an honor and a privilege to be filled and blessed with the anointing of the Holy Ghost through tongues or prophecy or healing, or anything at all because it is from God Himself! I have to ask; why in the world would anyone not want to speak in tongues? It is a wonderful, precious gift from God. It is the ultimate worship. A vessel in total submission to God is perfect worship. Speaking in tongues is also a tremendous increase to personal faith. Paul says it’s for edification of ourselves, and it truly does build faith when you speak in a tongue unknown to you by the power of the Holy Ghost. How could it not?
So why is it so tough of a question? So many do not seek it or want it and they explain it away because they don’t understand it? Because it’s not popular? Some say it’s either not relevant to Christians today or it’s just a gift given to only a few so it’s really not something that we care about. It’s just those other people’s thing. But that’s not true. Tongues is just as relevant today as it was when the Holy Ghost was first poured out, just as are the other gifts. In order to have any of the gifts, we have to seek the infilling of the Holy Ghost and be filled with the Spirit and submit to it so that He can use you in that way! I have to ask; how would you hear tongues and interpretation if no one spoke in tongues? How could you prophecy if you don’t submit yourself to the Holy Ghost and allow Him to speak through you? I have heard tongues and interpretation and prophecy with my own ears, and I have witnessed the healing of people by the power of the Holy Ghost with my own eyes. The power of God is just as evident today as it was when Jesus and the Apostles walked the earth.
Is tongues necessary for salvation?
This is a very controversial subject and while some teach that tongues is not even relevant, some teach that it is necessary and is the actual evidence of the Holy Spirit, saying that if you haven’t spoken in tongues, you have not received the Holy Ghost. Don’t get me wrong though; there is no way I will ever tell you that if you have never spoken in tongues, you are not saved and do not have the Holy Ghost. I cannot and will not say that. Paul says that it’s for edification of ourselves, as I said above. 1 Cor 14:4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Here’s the argument for the thinking that it is the evidence of the Spirit:
I'm going to present the argument here that some churches use to say that tongues is actually necessary for salvation. I'd like to state, for the record, that I do not agree with this doctrine, but I want to present both sides of the discussion in order to point out what the scriptures say and to give you enough information to decide for yourself.
Why did the people of Samaria (Acts 8), when they heard the Gospel, believed and were baptized, but did not receive the Holy Ghost if, when you repent and believe you receive the Holy Ghost automatically? They did not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until Peter and John came and laid hands on them!
Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. 14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Now here’s the really, really big question… How did they know they had not received the Holy Ghost??? If speaking in tongues is only a gift given to some, then they would not have known any different. They would have assumed that they just didn’t get that gift, right? But that’s not so. They knew they had not received the Holy Ghost! And when Simon saw that by laying on of hands that they received the Holy Ghost, he wanted that power (verses 18-21). How did he see that it did something? The obvious answer is that they were speaking in tongues and prophesying and magnifying God just as is documented in the other examples shown to us in the book of Acts.
Here is another similar example where they had not received the Holy Ghost:
Acts 19:1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
There are many people who teach that you receive the Holy Ghost instantly when you repent, or some teach that you receive the Holy Ghost instantly when you are baptized, but we can see in Acts 8 and 19 that they had not received the Holy Ghost when they believed and repented, and even when they had been baptized. It was another thing that happened to them that was a separate and unique part of being born again. It didn’t always happen in the same order, but it always happened! In Acts 10 they received the Holy Ghost upon hearing the Gospel preached and then were baptized later.
Acts 10 is also a great study because if we study the whole account, we see some interesting facts about Cornelius! Acts 10:2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. So we see that Cornelius was devout, and feared God (his whole house) and he prayed to God always! But, he did not have the Holy Ghost. In today’s belief system, if a person believes in God, is an upright and devout person, fearing God and praying constantly, then almost anyone who has been taught today’s Christianity would say that they are saved and have the Holy Ghost. Yes? Definitely! But, that’s very clearly not true in this example. Only after Peter came and preached to them did they receive the Holy Ghost. Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
The teaching here is that every single person who received the Holy Ghost spoke in tongues. Some records don’t specifically say, but arguably we have to ask if it’s really necessary to re-iterate every time? The record of Paul doesn’t say he spoke in tongues. So that proves that not all did, right? But Paul says, 1 Cor 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all. Tongues is a wonderful, beautiful thing that is directly from God and is given to every single person who obeys the utterance when it is given to them. Jesus said that “them that believe” would speak with new tongues (Mark 16:17).
That’s pretty much the basis for the thought that tongues is the evidence of the Spirit.
Once again, I stress that I am not telling anyone they don’t have the Holy Ghost just because they haven’t spoken in an unknown tongue. I can’t and won’t try to make that judgment call. It’s not my place for one thing, and most importantly, it’s not specifically spelled out for us in these passages, but it is spelled out for us in other places. We can never take passages that aren't absolutely clear and ignore other passages that are specific! We have to take the entire bible together as a whole to discern truth!
The other side of the argument about tongues being the evidence of the Spirit.
When we look at Mark 16:17-18, it does say that people who believe will speak with tongues, but it also says that they will cast out devils and heal the sick, etc. The only people endowed with all the gifts are Apostles. As Paul points out in 1 Cor 12, only some are Apostles, some prophets, some healers, some miracle workers, some speak with tongues…
One thing that is common between all the times people were filled with the Spirit, is that they spoke in tongues. In chapter 19 they spoke in tongues and prophesied. In chapter 10 they spoke in tongues and magnified God. Does that mean that they all spoke in tongues and they all prophesied, or that they all spoke in tongues and all magnified God? Or, does it mean that some of them spoke in tongues, some of them prophesied, and some of them magnified God? How can we state that everyone must speak in tongues as the evidence of the Spirit based on these passages when we have to make assumptions to do so? I don’t see how we can do that, especially since I have not found one place anywhere in the bible that says this is the case.
Here's the important fact! Paul very specifically points out the truth for us!. 1 Cor 12:29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
Paul is clearly stating that not all speak with tongues. Some churches teach that Paul is not talking about the tongues that come with the Holy Ghost, and that it’s a different type of tongues that he’s talking about here, that this type that not all speak is one of the gifts, but the type that is the evidence of the Holy Spirit is for everyone. I can find no biblical proof of this line of thinking. My question is: If this is the case, why didn’t Paul mention it anywhere in any of his letters? Why isn’t it mentioned in any of the other epistles? Nowhere in the bible does it talk about tongues as if there's two different types of tongues. I can’t teach a doctrine that I can’t back up scripturally, so I cannot teach that tongues spoken when you receive the Holy Spirit is different than when you speak in tongues in church, or that it's an absolute necessity for salvation. I have to just trust Paul in that he knew what he was talking about and that he was inspired by God Himself when he wrote to the Corinthians, as we know that he was.
Let’s not trample on a gift from God though. It should be sought after and desired! Don’t forget that it’s still important and should not be just discarded as irrelevant! It should be sought after just as earnestly as the other gifts!
1 Cor 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts:
1 Cor 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts,
1 Cor 14:39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
Covet and desire the Gifts! However, we should never seek the Gifts of the Spirit without first seeking the will of God and the infilling of the Holy Ghost like we have never known it before. I can tell you that God will fill you fuller of His Spirit than you thought possible if you seek Him with all your heart and let Him have His way with you. It’s not the happiness or glory of man that we receive these gifts for, it’s for the glory of God and for us to use to do His work. When we realize that the power that comes with the Holy Ghost is for God to use for His purpose through us, God will really start to use us. Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Jesus said that power would come with the Holy Ghost and immediately goes on to explain that the power will be used so that we would be witnesses over the entire earth. Speaking in tongues is one of the gifts and, as such, carries power with it.
Here's how I feel: Our salvation is the most important thing of our entire existence. If I asked the question, "What do I absolutely have to do?", I would rather err on the side of doing more than I absolutely have to, as opposed to err on the side of hoping that I've done all that is necessary. It's way, way too important to just hope that some man’s doctrine is right without pursuing God and His truth with all that I have.
The bible tells us, Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. How are we going to battle the rulers of darkness of this world without all the power Holy Ghost in us? I urge you to seek Him and His gifts earnestly!
I definitely felt the Holy Spirit in my life before I spoke in tongues for the first time. I prayed and talked with God and felt His presence and knew He was with me. He was calling me to Him and guiding me in the right direction, but I was not filled with the Spirit like I am today. The thing is, I kept searching and He kept guiding me. If I hadn't kept searching, I do not believe I would be where I am today with God. If you feel the presence of the Holy Ghost in your life but have never been filled to bursting with the Holy Ghost (and you'll know what I mean), please allow Him to guide you and never stop seeking Him and His gifts!
Let’s not let the devil or the things of the world distract us from becoming and doing what God wants with our lives! Let’s obey the hunger for truth that God puts in our hearts when we diligently seek Him. Let’s give God the sacrifice of praise with our lips for it is pleasing to our Lord! (Hebrews 13:15-16)