The Holy Spirit – The Voice Gifts!

The Holy Spirit – The Voice Gifts!

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 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. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (I Corinthians 12:7-11).

The gifts of the Holy Spirit that manifest the VOICE of God are threefold:

1)     Tongues

2)     Interpretation

3)     Prophecy

Different Kinds of Tongues!

God’s gift of tongues is offered for three reasons:

1)     To Edify a Believer in the Lord!

2)     To Convey a Message to an Unbeliever!

3)     To Edify a Whole Congregation with God’s Message!

Personal Edification – “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church” (I Corinthians 14:4). Tongues are given to a believer as a sign of the infilling of the Holy Spirit to consecrate and edify them with prayer language.

What do they say?

How are they edified?

The answer is found in the second reason from above – To Convey a Message to an Unbeliever!

Edification of Unbelievers with A Message – “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language…’ we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God’” (Acts 2:1-5, 11).

When the Holy Spirit came upon the believers and apostles waiting in the upper room, they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit of God gave them utterance.

What did they say? “We hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God! (2:11).

A believer that speaks in tongues speaks of the mysteries and the wonderful works of God!

That message on the Day of Pentecost was understood by all people (supernaturally divided into many tongues/dialects) who came from various regions to witness what happened with the apostles. Tongues were not dialects, but the dialects were split from the tongues so that the people could supernaturally, without human interpretation, understand “the wonderful works of God!”

The simple fact that a believer is filled with the Holy Spirit and speaks in tongues is to magnify God in their prayer language. This Magnification of God is for Edification! Edification through Magnification, and Magnification is by the Tongues!

A Message from God for Unbelievers – “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” (I Corinthians 14:22).

A businessman was seated next to a man of God traveling in business class on the flight. The businessman was coming from an African region and dressed in exceptional clothing. Suddenly, the man of God was filled with the Holy Spirit and broke out speaking in tongues! A few minutes later, when the man of God opened his eyes, he saw the African man crying next to him.

The man of God apologized to the African man: “I am sorry to disturb you, but for a few minutes, I did not know where I was while I was praying!”

The African man, with tears in his eyes, replied: “No apologies needed because YOU SPOKE MOST ELOQUENTLY IN MY LANGUAGE THAT IS SIGNIFICANT ONLY TO MY REGION IN AFRICA!”

The man of God was intrigued: “What did I speak? What did I say?”

“You spoke of the WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD!”

Before the flight came to an end, the African Leader gave his heart to Jesus!

Tongues are also present where God is at work among unbelievers - Conrenilius’ Household was an example: “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God” (Acts 10:44-46).

The apostles were given a clear indication that God was expanding His church among the Gentiles, and they, too, were included in the New Covenant through the blood of Christ!

Seek God to enhance you with the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of tongues for your own personal edification!

Understand God when He explains Himself directly to an unbeliever by interpreting the message spoken in tongues!

Third, tongues are given for the edification of a whole assembly of believers with the interpretation of tongues!

The Interpretation of Tongues!

Edification of the Assembly of Believers – “Therefore, let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 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. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say ‘Amen’ at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified” (I Corinthians 14:13-17).

“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!”

Interpretation is needed for the edification of believers assembling. I would rather give a message with clarity (if I know the meaning in the Spirit) than speak with other tongues and wait for interpretation.

Prophecy!

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 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. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 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 Corinthians 14:1-5).

“He who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men!”

“He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church!”

Prophecy is given for the edification, exhortation, and comfort of a believer!

A man in the Prayer Center walked up to me and said, “You are addicted to peanuts; it will cost you!” – Exhortation!

Hema’s message to a believer: “You are great in your walk with God, but you have to handle two things – There is a deep-rooted anger problem along with pride that you carry in your inner soul that will eventually destroy you!” – Edification!

“This sickness is not to death, but the glory of God will be manifested in you; be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might, for the Lord your God is with you!” – Comfort!

Beware of confusion with the gift of prophecy!

An example from a few years ago - A friend of mine who was one of the pillars of Bethel Ministries was a member of a local church. It was a sizable congregation of about 400 people, but the Pastor, a precious godly man and a powerful teacher of the Word, was new to the baptism in the Holy Spirit. In fact, he received the Holy Spirit and was immediately sent out of his denomination because of it. He was still young and learning with the new excitement of the Holy Spirit filling him. In that church, one Sunday morning, a lady in the congregation stood up and delivered a message that sounded like a prophecy: “God is very displeased with you. In fact, God is speaking death to this congregation!”

When the pastor was perplexed and shaken, not knowing what to do, my friend, the elder in the church, walked boldly over to her and said, “My dear lady, you are completely out of line. You are not edifying, exhorting, and comforting, but speaking doom and gloom over this very young congregation. Shut up, and sit down, or take your leave!”

The lady left the congregation immediately. It was not the lady who operated in the gift of prophecy, but my friend who had the discerning of the spirits that stepped in and set the congregants free from being frozen in fear that day!

The gift of prophecy is a powerful tool God gives His servant to edify and set people free when it is not misused. Let me share a powerful personal example.

A few years ago, when I was traveling to Port of Spain, Trinidad, I was seated next to a beautiful young lady in first class on an American Airlines flight. There was a problem – a huge problem. She was seated to my left on the aisle seat while I was on the window seat. The young lady was sneezing several times and splashed over the left side of my arm. I was perplexed and getting a little annoyed. On top of it, she liked me so much that she offered me Skittles that she enjoyed, but I hated.

I turned my face completely to the window and had my own “pity party” to blame myself for traveling that day when I should have traveled the day before, but I couldn’t because I forgot my passport. While I was in my own mode of misery, I heard the voice of the Lord telling me to turn, look at her, and speak to her. I ignored it once, but the voice of God was very clear and firm!

I turned, and to my surprise, these words came out of my mouth:

“Young lady, I should have taken this flight yesterday, but I am seated with you in this flight by the grace of God. I am going to Port of Spain, Trinidad, on business for a few days. But you, on the other hand, are going to land in Port of Spain, and then catch a flight to Barbados, to spend a whole week in sin and lust before you get back to Detroit, where you are coming from!”

The lady was shocked, shaken, and started crying.

“How did you know all these things about me?”

“It is true what you said. I am a flight attendant on vacation for a week to spend aimlessly in lust and perversion in Barbados!”

“My mother has been praying for my salvation from my young age, and I have rejected God who had mercy upon me to have you seated next to me to open my eyes to Him!”

Then she did something I did not expect!

She reached over and grabbed my hand and asked me to lead her in prayer. While the other flight attendants watched, I led her to the Lord. It was not my attitude but God’s mercy that saved her that day!

She said, “As soon as I land in Trinidad, I will call my mother and tell her, ‘Mom, you are getting your daughter back. I am coming home to God and to you!”

Then I said to her: “Now, please give me some Skittles!”

Gifts of tongues, interpretation, and prophecy are God’s gifts to edify a believer, speak to an unbeliever, and edify a congregation!

These are holy and sacred gifts given for the preservation and salvation of people whom God wants to reach.

God the Father is the Giver of Gifts!

The Holy Spirit is the Administrator and the Distributor of the Gifts!

Submission to the Cross of Christ keeps us in Obedience to using the Gifts as directed solely by the Lord!

Love God, the Giver of gifts, more than the gifts themselves.

Prayer

“Heavenly Father, I love You and adore You. I thank You, Lord, for Your matchless mercies in saving me by the precious blood of Your Son, Jesus, on the cross. I am Yours and Yours alone, my God, as I yield all that You have given me, into Your hands to direct me to become the person You have desired for me to become, and function in the office You have placed me in. In the Precious and Wonderful Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen! Amen!!”

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John Jeyaseelan

http://www.globalprayercenter.net