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Gifts
of the Holy Spirit 10
The Interpretation of Tongues
by Pastor John Hamel
We have now come to
the third and final Utterance Gift.
You
will remember that the three Utterance Gifts say something.
This final Gift is called the
Interpretation of Tongues.
By definition the
Interpretation of Tongues is a supernatural utterance inspired by the Holy
Spirit, which interprets an unknown Tongue.
“Wherefore let him
that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he
may interpret.” (1Corinthians 14:13)
Here the Apostle
Paul tells us that we should pray, asking the Holy Spirit to enable us to
interpret our Tongues. He is referring to the Believer interpreting
what they pray out in other Tongues
during their private or corporate prayer times.
Tongues
for Private & Public Ministry Differ
There is another
type of Interpretation of Tongues as well.
This is the public
Interpretation of Tongues for use in public services.
Everyone can
pray and interpret their own Tongues in
private. However, not everyone can pray and interpret their own Tongues or another’s Tongues in public
services. This is a separate and a unique form of the Gift that is
not possessed by every Believer.
Let’s read what the
Apostle Paul said. “Have all the
gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?” (1 Corinthians 12:30)
Here Paul could
only be referring to the public Gift of Tongues and Interpretation, because
the Baptism with the Holy Spirit and the speaking with other Tongues is promised to every Believer.
"In
that last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying,
If any man thirst let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me,
as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living
water. But this spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him
should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was
not yet glorified." (John 7:37-39)
"But
ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." (Acts 1:8)
We
see clearly from these verses of Scripture that the private Gift of Tongues
is indeed promised to every Born Again believer.
However,
the
public Gift of Tongues and Interpretation for use in assemblies is not promised to every
Believer.
It is the public Gift of Tongues and Interpretation that
Paul referred to when he asked, “Do all speak with tongues? Do all
interpret?”
Of course, all do not possess the public Gift of Tongues
and Interpretation which is for use in assemblies.
Therefore, the implied answer to Paul’s question
is, “No. All do not possess the public Gift of Tongues and
Interpretation for use in assemblies.”
However,
Jesus and Paul both said that all can possess the private use of Tongues and
Interpretation for private and corporate prayer.
So we see that
there are indeed two separate manifestations of the Gift of Tongues and
Interpretation.
Whether you possess the public Gift as well as the
private Gift, or only the private Gift, interpretation basically operates
the same way. Let’s look at how that happens.
Privately
& Publicly Interpreting Other Tongues
It is not the
easiest job in the world to explain how Spiritual Gifts operate but it is
doable.
Although the Interpretation of Tongues is the ability to
translate into a known tongue something that has been spoken in an unknown
Tongue, it does not just end there.
There are different ways for
interpretations to come.
I will describe my experiences, which are
similar to the experiences of many.
I have had times when
I, or someone else, would speak forth in an unknown Tongue, publicly or
privately. I would then see something, on the inside of my spirit.
Something like a still picture, possibly even a moving picture. In the
pre-DVD era, one highly respected Prophetess of God, Sister Jeanne
Wilkerson, referred to this as seeing “Video
prophecies.”
I would then simply describe
aloud what I was seeing in my
spirit in a way that was in line with Scripture, would honor God and edify the
hearers. This is one way an interpretation can come.
Other
times, one or
two words will come to me. As I am obedient to speak those words forth
by faith, not knowing where they are leading me, the rest of the
interpretation always follows.
This took a little getting used to, but
after a time or two I realized that the Holy Spirit will always be there to
meet me if I will just step out and speak by faith the few words He has
already given.
Perhaps this method
of Interpretation may sound a little scary to you, but the Holy Spirit will never
leave you hanging. He won’t embarrass you. If you will
step out in faith and speak what few words He has already given you, He will
take you on. He will honor your faith and He will give you the rest of
the interpretation.
Stepping out to
interpret Tongues by faith in this way is very pleasing to Him.
"But
without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek
Him." (Hebrews 11:6)
Then there are
times when I actually just know down in my spirit what the “gist” of the
interpretation is.
Sometimes it is a Scripture verse.
Sometimes
it is a subject or a theme, such as love, faith or obedience.
Sometimes it is healing or standing strong, etc.
When this is the
case, I will then begin to explain aloud that subject which I am knowing inwardly. The Holy Spirit always helps me
to present it in a Scriptural and an encouraging, uplifting manner.
There
are also times when I hear God's
voice speak to me and I simply speak forth what I have heard.
Many times the
interpretation that I give forth has no revelation or prediction in it. It
is simply to edify, comfort and encourage the hearer or the hearers.
But then there
are also times when the Holy Spirit's interpretation results in a Word
of Knowledge, a Word of
Wisdom or a prophetic word being given to an individual, individuals or
an entire congregation.
Just keep this in
mind. Interpreting Tongues, publicly or privately, is a whole lot
simpler than describing how to interpret Tongues, publicly or
privately.
Some individuals
are gifted by God to both speak and interpret Tongues publicly.
Some
individuals are gifted only to speak Tongues out publicly but they are
unable to interpret publicly.
These individuals should always be sure
that there is an interpreter present before they speak in a public
Tongue. If no interpreter is present, the Tongue should not be given.
“But if there be no
interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to
himself, and to God.” (1 Corinthians 14:28)
If one speaks
publicly in Tongues and no one interprets it for them, there is no
condemnation for making a mistake. But keep in mind, it is best to not speak
out again until an interpreter is known to be present.
However, speaking
in Tongues in one's private prayer time is quite another matter
altogether. One may speak and pray in Tongues at will and ask the Lord for the
interpretation.
"Wherefore
let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret."
(1 Corinthians 14:13)
If it is God's will at that time,
He will surely give the interpretation to you. If it is not, He will simply
not do so.
Interestingly, I
have discovered that whatever or whomever continues to come to mind while
I’m privately praying in Tongues is usually for what or for whom I am
praying. I then simply focus in on that.
Interpretation of
Tongues can indeed come in the form of what consistently comes up out of
your spirit and into your
mind while you are praying. Once you get settled down in prayer and get
into the Spirit, this becomes a common occurrence.
Keep in mind, just
like the Gift of Prophecy, there are two kinds of Tongues and
Interpretation.
One can simply be for edification, exhortation and
comfort of the Saints, containing no revelation or prediction.
The
other can contain revelation or prediction, pointing towards things that
will happen in the future.
By picking up your
Bible and simply reading First Corinthians chapter fourteen, you can learn
much about both kinds of Tongues and Interpretation.
Two
Five-Dollar Bills Equal One Ten-Dollar Bill
Finally, the
Interpretation of Tongues is equivalent to the Gift of
Prophecy. This
is because an interpreted Tongue has now become inspired utterance in a
known tongue - which is exactly what Prophecy is.
It has been often
stated, “Tongues plus Interpretation equals Prophecy.”
Think of it this
way.
Pretend Speaking in
Tongues is one five-dollar bill.
Pretend the
Interpretation of those Tongues is another five-dollar bill.
Pretend Prophecy is
a ten-dollar bill.
Tongues,
one five-dollar bill, plus Interpretation, another five-dollar bill, equals
Prophecy, a ten-dollar bill.
Tongues
plus Interpretation equals Prophecy even as two five-dollar bills
equal one ten-dollar bill. Although they are
totally different, the end result is exactly the same.
We have come to the
end of our abbreviated study on the nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit and their
three categories.
In closing this series, I would like to remind you
of something that I said to you way back in the
Introduction.
It would be good
for you to memorize the name of each of the nine Spiritual Gifts as well as
their definitions.
This was the first thing I did when I discovered them well over 30 years
ago.
Soon you will
recognize which of the Gifts the Holy Spirit has imparted to you.
The Holy Spirit’s Gifts operate best through those who recognize
and understand them most.
Please keep in mind
that each of these nine Gifts is a Supernatural Gift. They operate by the
supernatural power of God. They have nothing to do with man’s natural
abilities in either origin or operation.
Please also keep in mind that you cannot turn your Gifts on and off at
will. The Holy Spirit decides when and how your Gifts will
operate.
Manifestations,
demonstrations and operations of the Holy Spirit come according to His will,
not man's will.
"But
all these worketh that one and selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as He will." (1 Corinthians 12:11)
The best thing one can do is to spend time worshipping God,
praying in other Tongues and reading His
Word.
This always leads to greater manifestations of
the nine Spiritual Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Be Blessed … John and Barbara Hamel
How
to Be Born Again (Receive Christ as Your Savior)
How
to Receive The Holy Spirit & Power
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