We believe God still works in our lives in incredible ways.
The Holy Spirit is still at work in the lives of believers today. In fact, many of the miracles of the Bible still happen and are documented every day. The healing of diseases, the restoration of broken lives, even prophecies and supernatural occurrences, all these things still happen. The reason these things still take place is because the Holy Spirit is still at work in the lives of believers. (James 5:14-16; John 14:12)
Public Use of Spiritual Gifts in Evangel Services
At Evangel, we believe in the public use of the gifts of the Spirit in a church service - prophecy, tongues, and interpretation. They can be profitable and build people up (1 Corinthians 12:7; 14:3). At the same time, we realize that the gifts must be used properly so that they are beneficial. The apostle Paul issued the same decree when he declared that they should be used decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40).
For the gifts to be beneficial, we follow a pattern that allows for freedom, yet provides boundaries to keep people safe. We believe that God has ordained pastors to lead and oversee the local church (1 Peter 5:2; Hebrews 13:17). That oversight extends into our worship services. In essence, our leadership works to intentionally shepherd our church through the spiritual gifts. Here are some basic guidelines we follow:
Prophecy in Public Worship:
1 Cor. 14:3 (NKJV) But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
1 Cor. 14:24,25 (NKJV) But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
1 Cor. 14:29-33 (NKJV) Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
Our pastors may ask questions for clarification or to sense how it would fit into the service.
If a pastor is on the platform, wait in the front row for them to come to you or acknowledge you. If the congregation is sitting, please sit in the front row and wait for them to approach you.
If a member of the pastoral team deems the word appropriate, they will introduce it and give you an opportunity to present it. They may have you wait for a point later in the service when it will flow the best.
The Pastor will hold the microphone for you as you present to make sure that people can adequately hear the message.
If you receive a message during the sermon, please wait until the prayer time. Then approach a member of the pastoral team. They will determine what should be done.
Message in Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues in Public Worship:
1 Cor. 14:5,12 (NKJV) 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… Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
1. Everything is to be done for the edification of the church. (vs. 5)
2. Don’t be zealous about being used in the gifts so you can look important.(vs. 12)
1 Cor. 14:29-33 (NKJV) Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
3. Instruction for Evangel:
a. If God gives you a message in tongues for the church during the service quietly go to the front row sit and share that you have a message with a member of our pastoral team.
b. Should the message in tongues be determined to be used during the service, the pastor will allow the person onto the stage and the pastor will hold the microphone while the message in tongues is given. The Person giving the message will only speak the message in tongues on the stage and into the microphone. The Pastor will then have the congregation enter into a time of brief prayer and will explain that we are giving the Holy Spirit time to speak to someone’s heart and give them the corresponding interpretation.
c. If someone has the interpretation they should quietly and expeditiously go to the front row and notify a member of the pastoral team. The Pastor will then invite them onto the stage to give the interpretation. Only ifthere is no interpretation given by another person should the person speaking in tongues give the interpretation.
1 Cor. 14:22-25 (NKJV) 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. 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? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
1 Cor. 14:27,28 (NKJV) If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
3. There shouldn’t be more than three public expressions of tongues and interpretations (altar calls) in one meeting. (vs. 27)
1 Cor. 14:39,40 (NKJV) Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.
Bottom line:
Important note:
There is no need for a prophecy or interpretation to be in the King James English. You don’t have to speak in King James English to make a prophecy legitimate. God can talk to us in our modern day vernacular. You don’t need to speak harshly or in a different voice when God speaks through you, this should all be “naturally supernatural.”
Questions about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Does this mean I can’t worship and pray in tongues anymore?
We wholeheartedly encourage you to worship and pray in tongues as the spirit gives utterance. Our format applies only to a prophetic word and message in tongues to the entire congregation. There is a biblical distinction between the use of tongues as a prayer and worship language and a message in tongues. A personal worship and prayer language is for personal edification and exaltation of God, while a message in tongues is for the edification of the entire congregation and primarily a witness to unbelievers. A message in tongues requires interpretation in order for the congregation to be edified.
Why this Format?
We have found several benefits by operating in the gifts in this manner:
It provides for times of quiet or free worship in a service that are not interrupted by the expression of a gift.
It encourages more people to be used in the gifts. Many people feel uncomfortable “interrupting” a service, not sure when is a good time. By having our pastors introduce the gifts, more people can be used by the Spirit.
It has been received positively by the unchurched and the uninformed (those who have not encountered the gifts in their church experience). Instead of them feeling like we are crazy or weird like the apostle Paul alluded to (1 Cor. 14:23), they feel our church is a safe environment, that we do not just let anyone take over the service.
It is “decent and in order” instead of chaotic and interruptive, just as the Bible says a church service should be.
It provides a framework to stop someone who is intentionally trying to interrupt the flow of the church service or give a false message. We must be aware that in these last days, “spiritual” people will come into the church to mislead and use it (1 John 4:1; Acts 20:29; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1). This pattern helps protect the flock God has entrusted to us.
QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR FORMAT
For many people who have grown up in Pentecostal or charismatic churches, this pattern diverts from their tradition where someone just expressed a gift whenever they felt prompted. Our model may be different from yours. We are not saying it is perfect. But it is how we feel the Lord wants us to order our church services. Below are some common questions people have:
What if I can’t control my gift? Shouldn’t I be allowed to express it when it comes?
According to the Bible, “the spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32). In other words, you are able to control if you will or will not speak.
Shouldn’t the Holy Spirit decide when to give a gift instead of the pastor? Aren’t you controlling the gifts instead of letting the Spirit freely flow?
The truth is, while the Holy Spirit nudges people to be used in the gifts, He never decides when to yield to the nudging—the person does. We have asked those who operate in the gifts this question, “What do you do when we are in the middle of worship and you feel the Holy Spirit urging you to give a message in tongues/prophesy?” Their answers are something like this, “I wait for a break in the service. Then I give it.”
Notice, the person does not give the message immediately when (s)he feels the Spirit’s prompting. The Spirit does not force them to give it in the middle of a song. The person restrains it and waits for what (s)he feels is an appropriate time. Then they give it. In other words, the giver of the gift decides when is an appropriate time to express what the Holy Spirit has laid on their heart. In reality, the person decides the moment of when to give a gift.
What our model does is change which person decides when the best time for a message is to be given. Instead of giving control to any person in the congregation to make the decision when the service should be interrupted, we are allowing our pastoral leadership to decide when the service should be interrupted taking the burden off of the person and following the biblical order of church pastors (elders) administrating the ministry of the church.
I have never seen the gifts in operation like this before? Is this something new? Is it okay to do so?
For years, charismatic groups like Times Square Church, Brooklyn Tabernacle, and many Assemblies of God churches have used a format where the pastoral leadership decides when is the best time for the congregational use of spiritual gifts. While a “give it when your prompted approach” may work in smaller churches where you know every person who is at the service, it is becoming more common for larger churches to use a leadership-guided protocol to promote an orderly flow of the gifts while protecting their congregations and ensuring the gift his widely heard in a large space.
It should be noted that the apostle Paul gave boundaries about the amount and the administration of the gifts in a service. He did not want the gifts to be forbidden. At the same time, he was against chaos and a free-for-all atmosphere. He wanted everything to be done in a decent, orderly way that edified those who were present (1 Cor. 14:26-40). In other words, he was saying, “you are free to drive your car, just keep it on the road.”
ABOUT THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
Didn’t the gifts of the Spirit die out after the first century?
Some people think the gifts died out after the Lord gave the last book of the New Testament or shortly thereafter. This thought comes from taking 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 out of context: “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”
However, the above passage is referring to when we get to heaven, not to the completion of the canon of Scripture. It is referring to a time when we are in the presence of Christ. We have seen Him face to face and have a perfect revelation of Him. When that happens, we will not need prophesies or messages in tongues because we will know Him perfectly. Note that the verses also talk about knowledge. Do we need knowledge today? Most definitely yes! We need to grow in the knowledge of Christ and His ways. The need for knowledge did not die out with the apostles. And neither did the gifts of the Spirit.
Throughout church history there were sprinklings of the gifts, but for the most part the church lost sight of Spirit empowerment until the 1900’s. That was not Christ’s desire. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He does not change. He wanted to continually empower His church to do even greater works than He did—greater in the sense of more of them (John 14:12; Acts 1:8). Healing is part of the atonement (Matthew 8:16-17; Isaiah 53:4-5). God still wants to heal, just as He still wants to forgive sin. The church of today still needs edification, encouragement, and comfort—which are the functions of a prophetic word (1 Corinthians 14:3). Truly we can see that the gifts were meant to be a vibrant part of the church’s life until Jesus comes again to take them to heaven.
What are tongues and interpretation?
In the Bible, the word for tongues actually means languages. When Christians “speak in tongues”, it means they speak in a language they do not know (Acts 2:4-11). It is not gibberish. Actually, the Holy Spirit who lives inside of believers speaks through them (Romans 8:26-27).
Tongues and interpretation are when God wants to share a message with people. The gift of tongues is when the Holy Spirit gives a believer a message from God in an unknown language. It should always be accompanied by the gift of interpretation of tongues so that the hearers can understand what has been said (1 Corinthians 14:5- 13). The Holy Spirit will give the same person or another person the understanding of what was spoken and (s)he will speak the interpretation. It is not a direct translation, but an interpretation. It should always strengthen, encourage, and comfort believers.
Is there a difference between a message in tongues and the believer’s personal prayer language he receives at Holy Spirit baptism?
The apostle Paul makes a distinction between the private exercise of tongues and its manifestation in a worship service. All believers are candidates for the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the physical sign of speaking in other tongues (Acts 2:39). Paul desired everyone to be Spirit baptized and speak in tongues because a believer is edified by praying in his prayer language (1 Corinthians 14:4-5).
On the other hand, only a limited number of Christ followers are enabled to exercise the gift in the assembly of believers as a means of building up the church (1 Corinthians 12:30). Being used to give a message in tongues does not make a person more spiritual than others (the same is true for giving a prophecy). We do not “earn” a gift by our spiritual merits. The Holy Spirit sovereignly distributes the gifts to people according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:11). But just because one has not been used to give a message in tongues yet, it does not mean (s)he should never be open to the Lord wanting to use him/her in the future. We should always be open to the Spirit’s promptings.
Since tongues is our personal prayer language, believers who have been Spirit baptized should use it regularly. Paul personally spent a lot of time praying and singing in tongues (1 Cor. 14:15-18). We should use our prayer language for worship and intercession. It’s very useful for those times you are troubled or confused and do not know what to pray or just can’t find the words to express yourself to God. When we pray in tongues, it builds us up (Jude 1:20). The Holy Spirit knows exactly what we need, and He intercedes for us as we pray in tongues (Romans 8:26-27). So use your prayer language often!
Is a church service the only place the gifts can be used?
No, they can be used in many places outside of a church service—in your home with family members, at work with colleagues, or on campus with classmates. God can use you anywhere out in public like a store, a restaurant, a bus, or a street corner to give a word of wisdom or knowledge, to pray for healing or miracles or to share a prophesy or tongues and interpretation. The gifts can also be utilized in many ministry settings— small groups, Bible Study, or a corporate prayer meeting. They can be used anywhere with believers or unbelievers.
Are prophecy, tongues, and interpretation the only gifts of the Spirit?
In the question above, we alluded to other gifts. The more accurate term for what we commonly call “the gifts of the Spirit” is “the manifestation of the Spirit” that Paul talked about in 1 Corinthians 12: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.” - 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NIV)
Paul taught that the Lord “manifests” or reveals Himself to people in nine special ways. These nine gifts can be grouped into three categories:
1) The manifestation of God’s KNOWLEDGE through the gifts of:
Wisdom—God places on your mind how to do something, how to solve a problem (e.g.—Acts 6:1-6).
Knowledge—God gives you knowledge of what is going on around you that you would not have any way of otherwise knowing (e.g.—Acts 5:1-11).
Discernment of spirits—God reveals what spirit is at work, godly or demonic (e.g.—Acts 16:16-18).
2) The manifestation of God’s POWER through the gifts of:
Faith—a manifestation of God’s power that enables the believer to believe for something that otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to believe for (e.g.—Acts 3:4-16).
Healing—A revelation of God’s power to heal sickness and disease (e.g.—Acts 19:11-12).
Miracles—A manifestation of God’s power to supersede the laws of nature. (e.g.—Matthew 14:13-33).
3) The manifestation of God’s MESSAGE through the gifts of:
Prophecy—God reveals a message through a yielded believer given in the language of the speaker and the hearers (e.g.—Acts 27:10, 21-25).
Tongues—God reveals a message through a yielded believer given in a language previously unlearned by the speaker and many or all of the hearers. This gift is only used in public when accompanied by the gift of interpretation. (e.g.—Acts 2:4-11; Daniel 5:5-8, 25-29).
Interpretation—God reveals a message through a yielded believer by showing the meaning in a language the hearers understand (e.g.—1 Corinthians 14:27; Daniel 5:5-8, 25-29).
*Paul gave guidelines and restrictions on how these message gifts should be used so that the church service would be done decently and in order. Read about them in 1 Corinthians 14.
For the gifts to be beneficial, we follow a pattern that allows for freedom, yet provides boundaries to keep people safe. We believe that God has ordained pastors to lead and oversee the local church (1 Peter 5:2; Hebrews 13:17). That oversight extends into our worship services. In essence, our leadership works to intentionally shepherd our church through the spiritual gifts. Here are some basic guidelines we follow:
Prophecy in Public Worship:
1 Cor. 14:3 (NKJV) But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
1 Cor. 14:24,25 (NKJV) But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
1 Cor. 14:29-33 (NKJV) Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
- All prophecy must be for edification, exhortation, and comfort. (vs. 3,24,25)
- God can give a prophetic word through any believer for the purpose of encouraging and teaching His people. (vs. 31)
- Instruction for Evangel:
Our pastors may ask questions for clarification or to sense how it would fit into the service.
If a pastor is on the platform, wait in the front row for them to come to you or acknowledge you. If the congregation is sitting, please sit in the front row and wait for them to approach you.
If a member of the pastoral team deems the word appropriate, they will introduce it and give you an opportunity to present it. They may have you wait for a point later in the service when it will flow the best.
The Pastor will hold the microphone for you as you present to make sure that people can adequately hear the message.
If you receive a message during the sermon, please wait until the prayer time. Then approach a member of the pastoral team. They will determine what should be done.
Message in Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues in Public Worship:
1 Cor. 14:5,12 (NKJV) 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… Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.
1. Everything is to be done for the edification of the church. (vs. 5)
2. Don’t be zealous about being used in the gifts so you can look important.(vs. 12)
1 Cor. 14:29-33 (NKJV) Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
3. Instruction for Evangel:
a. If God gives you a message in tongues for the church during the service quietly go to the front row sit and share that you have a message with a member of our pastoral team.
b. Should the message in tongues be determined to be used during the service, the pastor will allow the person onto the stage and the pastor will hold the microphone while the message in tongues is given. The Person giving the message will only speak the message in tongues on the stage and into the microphone. The Pastor will then have the congregation enter into a time of brief prayer and will explain that we are giving the Holy Spirit time to speak to someone’s heart and give them the corresponding interpretation.
c. If someone has the interpretation they should quietly and expeditiously go to the front row and notify a member of the pastoral team. The Pastor will then invite them onto the stage to give the interpretation. Only ifthere is no interpretation given by another person should the person speaking in tongues give the interpretation.
1 Cor. 14:22-25 (NKJV) 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. 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? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
- The public expression of tongues is given as a sign to unbelievers so they’ll be convinced and convicted that God is really speaking to them and so the secrets of their hearts be revealed causing them to fall on their face and worship God, reporting to everyone, “God is truly among you.” (vs. 22-25)
- Tongues and interpretation is NOT the same as prophecy. Prophecy is for believers (and unbelievers)…the public expression of tongues is primarily used as an sign (alarm) to get the unbeliever’s attention, so God can speak to their hearts and call them to salvation….it is a supernatural Altar Call. (vs. 22-25)
1 Cor. 14:27,28 (NKJV) If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
3. There shouldn’t be more than three public expressions of tongues and interpretations (altar calls) in one meeting. (vs. 27)
1 Cor. 14:39,40 (NKJV) Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.
Bottom line:
- Everyone should desire earnestly to prophecy (and for all the gifts)
- We shouldn’t forbid speaking in tongues
- Everything should be done decently and in order
Important note:
There is no need for a prophecy or interpretation to be in the King James English. You don’t have to speak in King James English to make a prophecy legitimate. God can talk to us in our modern day vernacular. You don’t need to speak harshly or in a different voice when God speaks through you, this should all be “naturally supernatural.”
Questions about the Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Does this mean I can’t worship and pray in tongues anymore?
We wholeheartedly encourage you to worship and pray in tongues as the spirit gives utterance. Our format applies only to a prophetic word and message in tongues to the entire congregation. There is a biblical distinction between the use of tongues as a prayer and worship language and a message in tongues. A personal worship and prayer language is for personal edification and exaltation of God, while a message in tongues is for the edification of the entire congregation and primarily a witness to unbelievers. A message in tongues requires interpretation in order for the congregation to be edified.
Why this Format?
We have found several benefits by operating in the gifts in this manner:
It provides for times of quiet or free worship in a service that are not interrupted by the expression of a gift.
It encourages more people to be used in the gifts. Many people feel uncomfortable “interrupting” a service, not sure when is a good time. By having our pastors introduce the gifts, more people can be used by the Spirit.
It has been received positively by the unchurched and the uninformed (those who have not encountered the gifts in their church experience). Instead of them feeling like we are crazy or weird like the apostle Paul alluded to (1 Cor. 14:23), they feel our church is a safe environment, that we do not just let anyone take over the service.
It is “decent and in order” instead of chaotic and interruptive, just as the Bible says a church service should be.
It provides a framework to stop someone who is intentionally trying to interrupt the flow of the church service or give a false message. We must be aware that in these last days, “spiritual” people will come into the church to mislead and use it (1 John 4:1; Acts 20:29; 2 Cor. 11:13-15; 2 Peter 2:1). This pattern helps protect the flock God has entrusted to us.
QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR FORMAT
For many people who have grown up in Pentecostal or charismatic churches, this pattern diverts from their tradition where someone just expressed a gift whenever they felt prompted. Our model may be different from yours. We are not saying it is perfect. But it is how we feel the Lord wants us to order our church services. Below are some common questions people have:
What if I can’t control my gift? Shouldn’t I be allowed to express it when it comes?
According to the Bible, “the spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32). In other words, you are able to control if you will or will not speak.
Shouldn’t the Holy Spirit decide when to give a gift instead of the pastor? Aren’t you controlling the gifts instead of letting the Spirit freely flow?
The truth is, while the Holy Spirit nudges people to be used in the gifts, He never decides when to yield to the nudging—the person does. We have asked those who operate in the gifts this question, “What do you do when we are in the middle of worship and you feel the Holy Spirit urging you to give a message in tongues/prophesy?” Their answers are something like this, “I wait for a break in the service. Then I give it.”
Notice, the person does not give the message immediately when (s)he feels the Spirit’s prompting. The Spirit does not force them to give it in the middle of a song. The person restrains it and waits for what (s)he feels is an appropriate time. Then they give it. In other words, the giver of the gift decides when is an appropriate time to express what the Holy Spirit has laid on their heart. In reality, the person decides the moment of when to give a gift.
What our model does is change which person decides when the best time for a message is to be given. Instead of giving control to any person in the congregation to make the decision when the service should be interrupted, we are allowing our pastoral leadership to decide when the service should be interrupted taking the burden off of the person and following the biblical order of church pastors (elders) administrating the ministry of the church.
I have never seen the gifts in operation like this before? Is this something new? Is it okay to do so?
For years, charismatic groups like Times Square Church, Brooklyn Tabernacle, and many Assemblies of God churches have used a format where the pastoral leadership decides when is the best time for the congregational use of spiritual gifts. While a “give it when your prompted approach” may work in smaller churches where you know every person who is at the service, it is becoming more common for larger churches to use a leadership-guided protocol to promote an orderly flow of the gifts while protecting their congregations and ensuring the gift his widely heard in a large space.
It should be noted that the apostle Paul gave boundaries about the amount and the administration of the gifts in a service. He did not want the gifts to be forbidden. At the same time, he was against chaos and a free-for-all atmosphere. He wanted everything to be done in a decent, orderly way that edified those who were present (1 Cor. 14:26-40). In other words, he was saying, “you are free to drive your car, just keep it on the road.”
ABOUT THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT
Didn’t the gifts of the Spirit die out after the first century?
Some people think the gifts died out after the Lord gave the last book of the New Testament or shortly thereafter. This thought comes from taking 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 out of context: “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”
However, the above passage is referring to when we get to heaven, not to the completion of the canon of Scripture. It is referring to a time when we are in the presence of Christ. We have seen Him face to face and have a perfect revelation of Him. When that happens, we will not need prophesies or messages in tongues because we will know Him perfectly. Note that the verses also talk about knowledge. Do we need knowledge today? Most definitely yes! We need to grow in the knowledge of Christ and His ways. The need for knowledge did not die out with the apostles. And neither did the gifts of the Spirit.
Throughout church history there were sprinklings of the gifts, but for the most part the church lost sight of Spirit empowerment until the 1900’s. That was not Christ’s desire. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He does not change. He wanted to continually empower His church to do even greater works than He did—greater in the sense of more of them (John 14:12; Acts 1:8). Healing is part of the atonement (Matthew 8:16-17; Isaiah 53:4-5). God still wants to heal, just as He still wants to forgive sin. The church of today still needs edification, encouragement, and comfort—which are the functions of a prophetic word (1 Corinthians 14:3). Truly we can see that the gifts were meant to be a vibrant part of the church’s life until Jesus comes again to take them to heaven.
What are tongues and interpretation?
In the Bible, the word for tongues actually means languages. When Christians “speak in tongues”, it means they speak in a language they do not know (Acts 2:4-11). It is not gibberish. Actually, the Holy Spirit who lives inside of believers speaks through them (Romans 8:26-27).
Tongues and interpretation are when God wants to share a message with people. The gift of tongues is when the Holy Spirit gives a believer a message from God in an unknown language. It should always be accompanied by the gift of interpretation of tongues so that the hearers can understand what has been said (1 Corinthians 14:5- 13). The Holy Spirit will give the same person or another person the understanding of what was spoken and (s)he will speak the interpretation. It is not a direct translation, but an interpretation. It should always strengthen, encourage, and comfort believers.
Is there a difference between a message in tongues and the believer’s personal prayer language he receives at Holy Spirit baptism?
The apostle Paul makes a distinction between the private exercise of tongues and its manifestation in a worship service. All believers are candidates for the baptism of the Holy Spirit with the physical sign of speaking in other tongues (Acts 2:39). Paul desired everyone to be Spirit baptized and speak in tongues because a believer is edified by praying in his prayer language (1 Corinthians 14:4-5).
On the other hand, only a limited number of Christ followers are enabled to exercise the gift in the assembly of believers as a means of building up the church (1 Corinthians 12:30). Being used to give a message in tongues does not make a person more spiritual than others (the same is true for giving a prophecy). We do not “earn” a gift by our spiritual merits. The Holy Spirit sovereignly distributes the gifts to people according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:11). But just because one has not been used to give a message in tongues yet, it does not mean (s)he should never be open to the Lord wanting to use him/her in the future. We should always be open to the Spirit’s promptings.
Since tongues is our personal prayer language, believers who have been Spirit baptized should use it regularly. Paul personally spent a lot of time praying and singing in tongues (1 Cor. 14:15-18). We should use our prayer language for worship and intercession. It’s very useful for those times you are troubled or confused and do not know what to pray or just can’t find the words to express yourself to God. When we pray in tongues, it builds us up (Jude 1:20). The Holy Spirit knows exactly what we need, and He intercedes for us as we pray in tongues (Romans 8:26-27). So use your prayer language often!
Is a church service the only place the gifts can be used?
No, they can be used in many places outside of a church service—in your home with family members, at work with colleagues, or on campus with classmates. God can use you anywhere out in public like a store, a restaurant, a bus, or a street corner to give a word of wisdom or knowledge, to pray for healing or miracles or to share a prophesy or tongues and interpretation. The gifts can also be utilized in many ministry settings— small groups, Bible Study, or a corporate prayer meeting. They can be used anywhere with believers or unbelievers.
Are prophecy, tongues, and interpretation the only gifts of the Spirit?
In the question above, we alluded to other gifts. The more accurate term for what we commonly call “the gifts of the Spirit” is “the manifestation of the Spirit” that Paul talked about in 1 Corinthians 12: “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.” - 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NIV)
Paul taught that the Lord “manifests” or reveals Himself to people in nine special ways. These nine gifts can be grouped into three categories:
1) The manifestation of God’s KNOWLEDGE through the gifts of:
Wisdom—God places on your mind how to do something, how to solve a problem (e.g.—Acts 6:1-6).
Knowledge—God gives you knowledge of what is going on around you that you would not have any way of otherwise knowing (e.g.—Acts 5:1-11).
Discernment of spirits—God reveals what spirit is at work, godly or demonic (e.g.—Acts 16:16-18).
2) The manifestation of God’s POWER through the gifts of:
Faith—a manifestation of God’s power that enables the believer to believe for something that otherwise he wouldn’t have been able to believe for (e.g.—Acts 3:4-16).
Healing—A revelation of God’s power to heal sickness and disease (e.g.—Acts 19:11-12).
Miracles—A manifestation of God’s power to supersede the laws of nature. (e.g.—Matthew 14:13-33).
3) The manifestation of God’s MESSAGE through the gifts of:
Prophecy—God reveals a message through a yielded believer given in the language of the speaker and the hearers (e.g.—Acts 27:10, 21-25).
Tongues—God reveals a message through a yielded believer given in a language previously unlearned by the speaker and many or all of the hearers. This gift is only used in public when accompanied by the gift of interpretation. (e.g.—Acts 2:4-11; Daniel 5:5-8, 25-29).
Interpretation—God reveals a message through a yielded believer by showing the meaning in a language the hearers understand (e.g.—1 Corinthians 14:27; Daniel 5:5-8, 25-29).
*Paul gave guidelines and restrictions on how these message gifts should be used so that the church service would be done decently and in order. Read about them in 1 Corinthians 14.