Understanding The Word

Part 8 – The Gift of Tongues and The Gift of Tongues Interpretations

These will be the last gifts of this series…..both of these are pretty easy to understand, but  because there seems to be issues in some religions regarding this Gift, I feel the need to explain these both in some more detail…..

I have put these two together because you can’t have one without the other…..let me explain, you are either granted both of these gifts or one or the other, but there has to be an interpreter of said tongues, either yourself or someone else….because without interpretation the tongues (language) gift is pointless.

Having these gifts usually will always accompany other gifts, the other gifts are most likely the gift of prophecy, or gift of healing, but it is rare just to get the Gift of Tongues and not any other gifts.

“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” Acts 19:6

What is the definition of Tongues?

Besides the obvious explanation of it being a muscle in your mouth, I will bypass that definition….

“used in reference to a person’s style of manner of speaking; A spoken language; the power of communication through speech; a tapering flame.

In simple terms, tongues is another word for language….

What is the Gift of Tongues (Language)?

There are 3 types of Tongues that are given by the Holy Spirit…..

1- The Gift of the Language of God and the Angels

This gift is instantly granted to a believer when they get saved.  It is very rarely given at a later time, while you can always gain other gifts over the course of your journey with the Lord, it usually will be other gifts and not this one. (There will be another time we will receive this gift, and it is when we get our glorified bodies.)

People with this gift will most always receive the Tongue interpretation gift also, because people with this gift talk to the Lord and they can understand what the Lord is telling them.  I am not talking about talking with the Holy Spirit….this is different, as the Holy Spirit is in your mind…..people with this gift are literally talking out loud, having a conversation with the Lord. 

It is rare to be granted this gift and not the gift of prophecy as well, as the majority of people with this gift, the Lord will tell them certain things about their family, their life, anything that may be happening or going to happen. (For Example – My great grandmother was in the kitchen and she started speaking in tongues, and immediately came out to the dining area and told her husband and the other family members that one of their sons was just in an accident and where he was.  Sure enough they went to that area and my great uncle was in the ditch, but without her they might not have found him in time, as it was already dark and the ditch was on the side of mountain…..There are many other stories in my family regarding her gift and it always was fascinating to hear.  I am thankful I got to her in my lifetime before she passed.)

It is actually very rare to get the gift of the Language of God….(especially today, because personally I believe we have lost our worshipfulness of God Almighty.)  I am not sure why….because the Holy Spirit talks to us all where we can understand, but for some reason only God knows, He grants certain people His Language.  It is unlike any other language, it has a sound/tone that is otherworldly, (it is why this is used as a worshipful gift) and you know that the person you are hearing (or listening to), is definitely talking to God, there is a reverence in the way they speak and it is so beautiful that you find yourself getting immersed with the peace, calmness, and love that is in the room when this happens.

People who have this gift will rarely have a need for another interpreter, because this gift is usually strictly for the person who was granted this gift by God.  God will use an interpreter when it is a church, assembly (gathering) of His Children…..but it will be highly unlikely that people with this gift are actually preachers, or pastors……

We as saved believers need to be very careful around anyone promoting that they speak in this specific (language) tongue, because usually this is not something you will broadcast; it is not a gift you can call on at will as this first type of gift of language of God is when God wants to communicate with you or thru you at a specific time and place and it is not for show.

Also, if anyone or any religion tells you, that you must speak in tongues in order to be saved…..this is a false teaching/doctrine.  Speaking in tongues is a gift, not a requirement and has nothing to do with your salvation.  The Holy Spirit grants this to certain people for the many purposes of God.

2- The Gift of the Different Languages of the world

The next part of the Gift of Tongues is the most prominent; if you receive this gift….people with this gift can be granted it instantly or can actually grow in this, although you have to be in the right place at the right time….

People with this gift sometimes will be granted an instant knowledge of another cultures’ language and it’s only God’s choice in what that language may be….They may not know how to write or read said language but can speak it and understand it.  (Sometimes they will be granted an understanding of reading and writing it as well.  It all depends on what the Lord wants: As this falls in with the interpretation of tongues/languages)

This gift can also be used when needed, and when wanted, so if you travel, you have this knowledge in you…..so you can call on this gift at will…..

“Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you wither by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 1 Corinthians 14:6

Those that can grow in this gift will be aware after receiving salvation that they will suddenly be drawn to study or to understand different languages and it will be easier and easier to pick up the language pretty quickly after spending time studying….(this is why not everyone can pick up other languages, they were not given the talent at birth and not granted these gifts…..)

You will find that this is the gift used in gatherings of many of the Lord’s children and someone in the gathering starts speaking and are not always really aware of what is going on, they just start speaking….these people will not always understand what they are saying and yet there will always be someone in the same place who either is an interpreter of the language being spoken, or they will be the ones that the person (Lord) is speaking to and they will be able to understand what is being said.

3- The Gift of Natures Tongue

Do you realize that there are some people who are granted a gift to communicate with animals?  Most people don’t even think about this, but in fact this gift, is a gift that helps you understand and teach animals easily. 

How can this Glorify God?  This gift once again shows the power of God….God created all things, and animals communicate with each other; does it not show the power of God, when we humans can show that we can communicate with animals? Does it not show when people with this gift can talk about the Lord and the animals listen?

People are awed by saved believers who have this gift because the animals react to these people with love and attention that is unusual in their behavior with others. Just as animals know good and evil humans, they can know who can understand them and who can’t.

Sometimes people with this gift can actually know what their animals want or need not only by the sounds they make or the way they act, but can almost hear the thoughts in their mind. Anyone who has a pet can usually tell they have different sounds they make but not all understand them. This is a part of this gift.  This gift can include any animal on earth….and we will all have this gift when we get to heaven for the animals will be able to communicate with us and we with them during the Millennium kingdom.

How exciting that will be to be able to talk with all of your pets from over the years in heaven?  (Of course you might not like what they have to say…Ha)

Do you also realize that every creature on this earth knows God?  They know the name of God….people who have this gift can read the bible aloud outside, or pray aloud and it will become quiet, as nature is listening…..Sometimes the birds and squirrels (and other animals) come closer to them.  All animals know who created them and they know the majesty of God, and we are to even preach to them…..How amazing God is that even the animals will worship Him in their way once we get to heaven. People with this gift often have a commanding presence when around animals and they will be able to command even wild animals to behave….

There are actually a lot of people who have a portion of this gift, for we love animals and want to understand them….if only we would put more time in understanding the Lord…how much He would grant us even more closeness with our pets and the animals of the world….

The Gift of Tongues Interpretations

This gift is pretty self- explanatory,  it is the interpretation of someone who is speaking in tongues (another language) or the same person who was granted the gift of tongues to interpret themselves.

Understanding, writing, and reading all fall under interpretation of tongues.

People with the gift are always where they need to be in order to interpret the language for other people, the Church, etc.  Usually people with the gift are also granted a gift of Knowledge, as sometimes people with this gift may not even know said language but understands it from the Holy Spirit and will therefore let the Holy Spirit interpret thru them. 

Both of these gifts are used for the Edifying of the church, which means witnessing to others and teaching others what it is God wants us to know in that given moment.  We all must be wise to know when someone is interpreting tongues, if it goes along with the bible or not….

“I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.” 1 Corinthians 14:5

I think it is important to note what Paul says…..

“Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret, For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy gibing of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.” 1 Corinthians 14:13-19

 “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting, And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.” Acts 2: 2-6

“If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there com in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?” 1 Corinthians 14:23

“Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.” 1 Corinthians 14:22

In conclusion of the Spiritual Gifts

This has been a journey for me as well, even though I was aware of these gifts, it wasn’t until I spent time with the Lord and talking with Him that He began to teach me more about these gifts and about his reasoning behind them.

You see, all of these gifts are granted to us to help/ witness to unbelievers and show them God’s power, mercy, glory, and love.  We glorify God when we use our gifts…..but…..it is so much more than this.

God wants to give His children gifts because He loves us, and these gifts help us just as much as they help others.  The bigger picture that the Lord began to show me through all of these gifts…..is that they bring us closer to Him, to understanding Him, to want Him to be our King forever and forever.

As we grow in the Lord, He slowly brings us to more knowledge and understanding in His power….Only if you want to grow in Him, and be with Him, do you begin to realize that the all of the gifts are granted to you over time…..

While we all (saved believers) are granted certain gifts instantly, we can and will be granted more and more as we want to be closer to the Lord…..

This is why it is so very important to not stagnate your own growth….I’ve done this myself, as we all have thru-out our lives. We get caught up in the world and worries, but all of it will eventually bring us back to the Lord and we will get closer and closer every time. 

These gifts are preparing us for meeting the Lord face to face….Are you ready?

“These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” 1 Timothy 4:11-16

All of these Gifts are for the crowns of glory we will place one day at the feet of Jesus. They are a part of the works we do on this earth. Don’t let your gifts go to waste…..

If you aren’t sure what gift the lord granted you with, ask Him….you may not notice it at first but in time you will realize that you have a precious gift that can be used to glorify the Lord.  Love is the most precious of all gifts because without Love, we are nothing and if we don’t even know and understand God’s Love how can we ever love the things He has created and given us.

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and thought I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me nothing.  Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity (love) envieth not; charity (love) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.  Charity (love) never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail;, whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

(The Greek word AGAPE was used in these verses, and this Word is used for both Charity and Love.)

I hope you have enjoyed this series as much as I have, and found it to be informative and helped you grow in your own journey with the Lord…..