Easter Work
ANOTHER LOOK AT SPEAKING IN TONGUES
1. Introductory study – Andy Raine
2. From “Glossolalia’ by David J. du Plessis
a) A Testimony
b) Speaking “in tongues” is Prayer
c) Interpretation of Tongues
d) Some Questions on “Interpretation”
Introductory study – Andy Raine
1. What is tongues? Tongues = Languages
2. These may be the languages of man or of angels (1 Cor. 13:1)
3. Are these languages that have been learned by the speakers? No.
(Acts 2:4, 6-11, 1 Cor. 14:14)
4. Is speaking in tongues intended to be only for a few? No.
(1 Cor. 14:5, Acts 2:4)
5. What is the point of it?
a) For the individual? 1 Cor. 14: 2, 4. Edifies, speak directly to God.
b) For other? 1 Cor. 14: 39, 21-22. Sign for unbelievers.
6. When should a person expect to speak in tongues?
After baptism of the Spirit. (Acts 2:4, 10: 45-46, 19:6)
Not necessarily immediately afterwards (cf Acts 9: 17-18, 1 Cor. 14: 18, 14)
7. Is praying in tongues an emotional experience? No it is a choice, (1 Cor. 14: 32) the emotional experience is a consequence (1 Cor. 14:4)
8. Whoever has the gift of tongues should pray for the ability to interpret. (1 Cor. 14: 12-15) This is especially relevant in public meetings (1 Cor. 14:16) but it does not suggest we should not use tongues when strangers are present (1 Cor. 14:39, 21-22, 15)
9. Does the speaker understand his tongue? No, not unless the Spirit gives him the interpretation (1 Cor. 14:2, 4, 13-15)
10. What about tongues and interpretation in a meeting?
1 Cor. 6-11, 26-28. This is not to be expected from everyone
(1 Cor. 12: 30, 10-11) N.B. Another person can interpret (1 Cor. 14: 27, 26) or the same person who gave a tongue (1 Cor. 14:13)
11. Is a “message in tongues” generally directed to God or from God?
Usually To God. 1 Cor. 14: 2, 16. Acts 2:11 (BUT 1 Cor. 14:21)
12. So often what we take as an interpretation is a “depth-charge” prophecy! If so we may be missing out on one stage!
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From ‘Glossolalia’ by David J. du Plessis
A Testimony
“I am a physicist doing research work for a large chemical company. I am also a seminary graduate and an Episcopal priest.” Thus begins the testimony of the Rev. William O. Swan, published in “TRINITY MAGAZINE” P.O. Box 2422, Van Nuys, California, at Easter of 1962. He continues his story as follows: “We went into the cathedral for prayers. When I left, I had heard my own lips forming a new language, and I knew they could do it again when I desired.”
“I decided to make speaking in tongues the object of an introspective study. Where does it really come from, in terms of theology, psychology, common sense?….How much imagination is required to make the claims I have read about? To get the answers, I spoke in tongues occasionally throughout the day. I was looking for patterns, repetitive phrases, clues to use for analysis. But the experiment ran into immediate difficulty. That ‘before the altar’ feeling would come upon me within about 45 seconds, and if I persisted for two or three minutes, I would fill with emotion. Since then, when I speak in tongues a simple feeling of love would drench my whole person and appears to leave a permanent stain of love which does not evaporate. In three short days the experimental study was over, with practically all my questions still unanswered. I had discovered most powerfully what everyone else seems to assume: “SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS PRAYER!” The writer of this article was praying with the Rev. Swan when he received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit in St Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, Detroit, Mich.
Speaking in Tongues is Prayer
“For one who speaks in an (unknown) tongue SPEAKS NOT TO MEN BUT TO GOD, for no one understands him, because in the Holy Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things (not obvious to the understanding.)” 1 Cor. 14: 2 (Amp. N.T.) “So too the Holy Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weaknesses; for we know not what prayer to offer, nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads on our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance;” (This I believe is just another way of describing praying in tongues.) “And He who searches the hearts of men knows what is in the mind of the Holy Spirit- because the Spirit intercedes and pleads (before God) on behalf of the saints, according to and in harmony with God’s will.” Romans 8: 26-27 (Amp. N.T.) The Apostle Paul, who spoke with tongues more than all his contemporaries, (1 Cor. 14:18), never makes mention of an instance where it would seem that the church or anyone received a “message in tongues,” or even “in tongues and in interpretation.” He writes: “For if I PRAY in an unknown tongue my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.” 1 Cor. 14:14. Then he says: “I will pray with the Spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also.” (1 Cor. 14:15). In verse 16 he says: “Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit.” (in tongues,) “how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say AMEN at thy giving of thanks” (prayer), “seeing he understandeth not what I sayest?” (in tongues.) It seems quite clear to me that Paul considered ALL speaking in tongues as PRAYER, and always to God…never a “message” to men. Prayer can be giving thanks, making intercession, praise, worship, adoration, and confessing our love, admiration, gratitude, and devotion to God. In this WE ARE TO OFTEN WEAK, but “the spirit helpeth our infirmities.”
Interpretation of Tongues
Now then, if speaking “in tongues” is speaking to God, it is always prayer, and the interpretation will always be in the form of prayer….man speaking to God, AND NOT…..God speaking to man. Even on the day of Pentecost, when unbelievers heard their own languages spoken by those who were speaking in tongues for the first time, they did not hear messages or sermons addressed to them, but they heard them “speak in ….tongues, the wonderful works of God.” Then also in the house of Cornelius: “They heard them talking in unknown languages and extolling and magnifying God.” Acts 10: 46 (Amp. N.T.)
Paul says: “I would that YE ALL spake with tongues, but rather that prophesized: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh in tongues, EXCEPT HE INTERPRET, THAT THE CHRUCH MAY RECEIVE EDIFYING.” 1 Cor. 14:5. Thus, tongues followed by interpretation EDIFIES THE CHURCH, and so also: “He that prophesieth edifieth the church.” 1 Cor. 14: 4. Prophecy is edifying to the church, and tongues plus interpretation edifies the church. Indeed, both are edifying, but it does not say that “tongues plus interpretation is prophecy.” Interpretation must be prayer, for speaking in tongues is speaking to God, and prophesying is speaking – “to men for their upbuilding and constructive spiritual progress and encouragement and consolation.” 1 Cor. 14:3 (Amp. N.T.) All too often we hear of “a message in tongues.” There is no such term, or suggestion in the New Testament. It should rather be “a prayer in tongues” or perhaps “an utterance in tongues.” “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue EDIFIETH HIMSELF.” v. 4. Naturally, because speaking to God in PRAYER, no matter where or when or how, will always edify, comfort or encourage the one who prays. The more edified anyone is the more hope there is of being used of the Spirit to edify others or the church. Since speaking in tongues is prayer, it does not mean that what follows “an utterance in tongues” must be interpretation. It could very well be an ANSWER to the prayer just uttered by the Spirit, for prayer….real prayer should be a dialogue between “Father and child,” and our Father speaks to His children in prophecy.
Some Questions on “Interpretation”
I have prayed with multitudes that came to seek the BAPTISM in the Holy Spirit from the mighty BAPTIZER, the Lord Jesus Christ. He said: “Those who believe…will speak in new languages.” Mark 16:17 (Amp. N.T.) Even after 40 years of experience I never cease to thrill when I pray with those who encounter Christ as their BAPTIZER (John 1: 33-34) and hear them begin to speak “new tongues,” or “other tongues,” “unknown tongues,” or “divers kinds of tongues,” as the Spirit gives utterance. Yes, indeed, they speak, but it is the SPIRIT that gives utterance. HE forms the words on their lips as they speak by faith in HIM, to magnify God. Then someone will ask: “While I was speaking in tongues it seemed I received a strange understanding of what I was saying to God in tongues. Was that interpretation?” Yes, the Holy Spirit quickened your understanding to know what HE was saying to God in an unknown tongue through your spirit. Someone else asks: “As I was speaking in tongues it seemed I received through my understanding some new revelations and some answers to my problems. Was that interpretation?” No, that was NOT INTERPRETATION. That was answer to your prayer. That was the dialogue between you and the Father. You speak to HIM in tongues and HE speaks to you through your understanding. Any revelation that comes to you personally through your understanding is never interpretation, for speaking in tongues is speaking to God. The Father does not speak to you in tongues, you speak to HIM in tongues. Then again comes another question: “While I was speaking in tongues, I received a message for the Church (or for someone), was that interpretation?” No, that was not interpretation. That was prophecy, and you should learn to speak out such revelations, very calmly, reverently and confidently. It may be the answer to the prayer in the Spirit that you have prayed for others, or for the church. Do not get excited and shout or scream out the words. Lately I have often been asked: “How can I know what is ‘interpretation’ and what is ‘prophecy’?” Interpretation of tongues is always addressed to God and ends in HIM. Prophecy is addressed to the people, for edification, exhortation and comfort.
Some Practical Misunderstandings
Recently a Minister said to me: “I have some real problems in regard to ‘interpretation of tongues’ in my church. Someone will speak in a tongue and it sounds like a prayer repeated two and tree times. Then another will begin to interpret, but there is no repetition in the repetition. In fact the interpretation usually lasts much longer than the tongue. Those who listen carefully feel that they cannot accept this as true interpretation.” I think they were right. Why should everything that follows an utterance in tongues necessarily be interpretation? Suppose you heard someone pray in your own language: “Lord, bless Thy people, they need edification. O Lord, Thy people need exhortation today. Dear Lord, speak a word of comfort to Thy people.” Would you be surprised if this prayer is followed by a rather lengthy word of prophecy that is truly edifying and comforting? No, not at all. Then why not accept for your guidance the Scriptural principle that “speaking in tongues is prayer” and what follows may often be the answer to the prayer and not the interpretation of the prayer. Then my friend asked further: “How is it that sometimes a person will commence to speak with tongues, just a few sentences, and then he proceeds to interpret himself, but he gives a long “message” and does not revert back to tongues again, was that interpretation? No, that was prayer followed by prophecy. Prayer can lead to the most wonderful answers and experiences. No matter who speaks in tongues, or how long and short the utterance, I always accept it all as PRAYER. If the “speaker in tongues” or someone else follows with something like, THUS SAITH THE LORD, or perhaps – “yea, my people,” I just conclude that was prayer in tongues followed by prophecy. Since prophecy is MOST EDIFYING, I believe we get much more of this manifestation that we give HIM credit for. However, when the “speaker in tongues” or someone else follows with words like: “O Lord our God, how great Thou art,” and then continues in that strain, speaking to God, I know that is pure interpretation.
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