The Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Part 13
of our study of
the Person & Work of the Holy Spirit
Welcome!
Intro
√ Gift of
Helps
√ Gift of Tongues
Gift of Helps
I Co. 12:28 And God
has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third
teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
√ Definition
of the gift
The gift of helps (or ministering = serving) is the
God-given ability to help build and maintain the Church in a supporting role.
√ The
purpose of the gift
To free other members in the church to do what they are
called to do.
Ex. In Jesus’ life
Mt 27:55 And many
women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering
to Him, were there looking on from afar,
In the apostles life
Acts 6:2 Then
the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, "It is not
desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.
Acts 6:3 "Therefore,
brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may
appoint over this business;
Acts 6:4 "but
we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the
word."
√ Using the
gift
Those with the gift of Helps serve the local church by
taking care of the multitude of tasks required to keep a church going.
Ex. Mowing, cleaning,
painting, gardening, shopping, organizing, etc.
Frees up the pastor
to do the work he is called to do.
Prepare sermons, pray, study the word, visitations, personal
ministry, etc.
Frees up the missionary
or evangelist to do what they are
called to do.
Ex. Taking care of
the home front, dealing with tax issues back home, money issues for support,
making sure that they have everything they need to do their job.
Ap. The church cannot
function properly is those with the gift of helps are not using them. Billy Graham can only reach as many people
as those with the gift of helps (and administration etc.) use their gifts.
Everyone is important – everyone who works together for the
KOG shares in the rewards!
Spiritual principle found in Phil. 4:10-20 and demonstrated
in David’s life…
1Sa 30:24 "For
who will heed you in this matter? But as his part is who goes down to the battle, so shall his part be who
stays by the supplies; they shall share alike."
The Gift of Tongues
√ Our text tells us that the spiritual gifts include the gift of Tongues.
I Cor. 12:10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
This one gift, though not one of the greater gifts, has caused more concern, more division, and has been misunderstood more than any other gift.
Ex. Talk about any of the other gifts without any problems, but mention tongues and people get weird!
Let’s get a Biblical basis for our understanding of this gift…
What it is (and isn’t)
Who has it (and who doesn’t)
How it is used (and how it shouldn’t be)
…so that we can deal with it the way God intended and no longer be estranged from the gift of it’s use.
√ Definition of the gift
The God-given ability to speak in a language never before learned by the one using it.
The language can be one that is know, or an unknown one, human or angelic.
1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
√ The purpose of the gift
Sign: A sign to primarily to unbelievers that God is with those who proclaim the Gospel message.
I Co. 14:21 In the law it is written: "With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me," says the Lord.
I Co. 14:22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
Ex. Acts 2:1-13
Note the response of the people;
Drawn
Sign (“how is it…” vs. 7-8)
Opportunity to share the Gospel
Could make a case for tongues being a sign to believers also – ref. Acts 10:44-48 – where Peter and the believers with him recognize that Gentiles can be saved by the sign of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit manifested by tongues.
Means of prayer: the Lord has given us the ability to pray in the spirit when our mind does not know how to pray.
I Co. 14:2 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.
And…
I Co. 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
I Co. 14:15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
This is probably the most frequent use of the gift – as a means to pray when you don’t know how to pray.
Ex. A person caught up in sin – pray for deliverance from the sin, but sometimes we don’t know if they should be delivered from the consequence of their sin.
Channel: God will lead a person to speak in tongues aloud with interpretation as a means of bringing a message to Christians.
I Co. 14:5 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.
I Co. 14:6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?
√ The use of the gift
The Bible gives very specific directions for the proper use of the gift of Tongues in 1 Cor. 14 – for the sake of brevity we won’t read the entire chapter but I’d suggest that you do this week.
I Co. 14:23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in
one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed
or unbelievers, will they not say
that you are out of your mind?
And…
I Co. 14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
I Co. 14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.
I Co. 14:28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
Note that Paul is very clear on the use of tongues in a public assembly – note that
Primarily for times when only believers are present
Only 2 or 3 to share aloud
Only if there is someone present who can interpret
Ap. In our public service on Sunday and Wednesday’s we don’t showcase the gift of tongues because of the presence of unbelievers.
Rather, during a believers meeting – our communion service.
Not a free-for-all where everyone is speaking in a tongue, but rather, in an orderly fashion with no more than a few sharing with interpretation.
√ Brings up a good point – how is a tongue interpreted?
Two ways:
Human understanding – as in our example in Acts 2 where those people gathered in Jerusalem heard the apostles speaking in their own native tongue.
This is an example of tongues used as sign to unbelievers.
God given ability to interpret what the hearer would otherwise have no way of understanding. This would primarily be the method used in a believers meeting.
This is an example of tongues used as a channel through which God ministers to believers.
In both cases the interpretation will be God-directed.
I Co. 14:2 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.
I Co. 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
And…
Acts 2:11b “…we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God."
Basically when the gift of tongues is interpreted it will sound like a Psalm – it is from Man to God.
Contrast to prophecy which is from God to Man.
Ap. For those of us out of a Pentecostal background we see immediately that most of what goes on is not based on Biblical instruction.
Which is probably why most of those from a non-Pentecostal background want nothing to do with the kind of manifestation they see in Pentecostal circles.
So what should we do?
Use every gift that God has given, but make sure we use them per the Biblical instructions so that the Church is edified.
√ Does every Christian receive the gift of tongues?
Important question because there are some in the Body of Christ who say that the gift of tongues is the sole evidence that you are baptized in the Holy Spirit.
While some cults say that you are even saved if you don’t speak in tongues.
Let’s let the Bible dictate our doctrine.
1) Paul clearly states that all do not receive the gift of tongues.
I Co. 12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
I Co. 12:30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
2) In 3 of the 4 examples of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit the manifestation of tongues is mentioned – but 1 time it is not mentioned.
3) Many examples of people being saved (The Eunuch in Acts 8 for example) and no mention of tongues.
Ap. Ask the Lord for the gift and let Him by the Holy Spirit determine whether or not you need it!
Close
√ Use your gift!
Rom. 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith;
And…
I Pet. 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
And…
I Co. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
And…
2 Ti. 1:6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
2 Ti. 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
No time to be wasting!
Eph. 5:14 Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light."
Eph. 5:15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
Eph. 5:16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
√ In conclusion
4) Every believer has at least one spiritual gift.
5) The gifts are given by God to build up the body of Christ.
6) The gifts are given by God as He wills.
7) Every believer has a gift but no believer has all the gifts.
8) Some of the gifts can, and should, be developed over time.
9) Gifts need to be used. They should be rekindled if they are not being used.