Tongues of fire

Author: Robert Longman Jr

The Day of Pentecost and the Gift of Tongues

Significance of the Gifts

Ephesians 5:18 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit..."

Introduction to This Series

Is the Biblical Gift of Tongues available to the Church today? What does the Bible teach about the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Is there any Biblical proof that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred in Old Testament times? What is the Baptism of the Spirit? When and where are "tongues" to be used, if they are indeed available in the present Church age? Are there any restrictions placed on the gift of Tongues? Are Tongues actually a prayer, an angelic, or a Heavenly language? Does the use of Tongues bring you closer to God, making you one of the "elite" of the faith? What constitutes 'spirituality', and how does a Christian reach this state? If I don't "speak in tongues" then am I truly Baptized in the Spirit?

So many questions, and so many different answers to each one. Since the rise of the Charismatic Movement everyone seems to have a question about the least of all spiritual gifts, the Gift of Tongues. The Charismatics, seeking ever new experiences, have started to shift into a new Tongues movement called the "Latter Rain" or "Laughing Revival" phenomenon. Oddly enough, these movements are not so much Scripturally based as they are experientially based. Many Christians today want the Church to be like a fast food restaurant: we want to be spiritual as fast as possible, as cheaply as possible. Very few Christians study their Bibles anymore, preferring to listen to the "prophets" of this age over what God has said. Experience has become our god: if it feels good, it must be right. These attitudes are spreading to our children. In a recent Church-wide survey, the nation's churched youth were asked the following questions:

Are Christian youth accountable for their lifestyles?

On surveying churched youth, it was discovered in a three month period:

66% lied to their parents or an older person

36% cheated on an exam

20% attempted to physically harm someone

12% drank enough alcohol to become drunk

Of these youth:

86% said they were well respected among their peers

67% said they attended Sunday School and Church weekly

78% said they were religious

65% said they prayed daily

Is it necessary to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

The churched youth were given the following statement: "Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and Christians, and all other people, pray to the same god, even though they use different names for their god."

21% agreed with the statement

52% disagreed with the statement

27% were unsure

What about God, the Bible, Heaven, Hell, and Salvation?

When told, "The Bible is totally accurate in all of it's teachings", of the churched youth:

71% agreed

10% disagreed

20% were not sure

When told, "All good people, regardless of their relationship with Jesus Christ, will live in Heaven after they die", of the churched youth:

13% agreed

69% disagreed

18% were not sure

(Survey source: Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler, Right From Wrong (Dallas: Word 1994))

Our own uncertainty and laziness in studying what God has to say is slowly filtering down to our children. We seek out "feelings" and experiences above truth, and we will pay the price for it. Since the days of Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8.9-24) men have sought out easy and sensual ways to God. Simon sought to buy the power of God from the Apostles, whereas modern day apostates give an imaginary power away in the name of God. We must get back to the Bible!

This is the first in a series of lessons that deal with the Biblical Gift of Tongues. Tongues is a Divine Gift, pure and holy given from the Heavenly Father to the Church. However "prophets" walk our land who have taken what some consider to be the Gift, and have emphasized it in many instances above salvation in Christ. There are "teaching units" that show believers how to speak in Tongues. There are whole Church denominations that teach that, if you do not speak "The Tongue", you are not fully under God's Grace. Many Charismatics teach that Tongues are a prayer language that, when used, gives you special consideration from the Father. I will not mince words: Such teaching is divisive, contrary to God's Word, and cultic.

One of the biggest problems I've ever encountered in teaching the Spiritual Gifts is the experiential evidence that some of the tongues followers use. You may think, "I've seen it happen, it happened to me, so therefore it must be true". The fact that you've experienced something may be true. On the other hand, what is the proof that what you experienced is from God? Satan is the great deceiver. He can and will do anything to prevent the believer from studying the Bible, even to the point of providing false spiritual experiences. We as believers are also still in this body of sin, and our natural tendency is to move toward the sensual and away from the spiritual. With Satan, the influences of this world, and the influences of our Old Sin Natures, the only true test we can use to determine the spirituality of anything is what does the Bible say?

Which leads to another point that must be made: I believe the Bible to be absolutely inerrant (without error) in all that it affirms as true. The Bible is not a history book, a mathematics text, nor a scientific journal. But anything contained in Scripture that deals with history, math, science, humanities, and so on, is absolutely true if the Bible states it is true. Historic accounts in the Bible are recorded exactly as they occurred. What a person said (though his statement may have been wrong) was recorded exactly as it was said. The Scripture is absolutely without error in it's content.

One final introductory point: Throughout this series I follow a basic method of Scriptural interpretation. That is, When the plain sense of Scripture makes sense, seek no other sense. I accept the Scriptural text at face value in accordance with it's historical, exegetical, topical, and isogogical backgrounds. There are instances when a Scripture text must be taken figuratively rather than literally. In such cases I have always found that the context of the verse clearly indicates a figurative interpretation. In all other instances I try my best to avoid "reading into the context". Let God be God, let His Word be purely interpreted!

The Day of Pentecost

And the Gift of Tongues

Acts1:4-9 "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. "

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit was not offered until after Christ's ascension into Heaven. Jesus told His disciples, ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. Jesus spoke of a new ministry from God for the Church age, a ministry never before offered, even to the Saints of the Old Testament. Again, I have to emphasize this was a new ministry. There was no precedent in human history for what was about to happen to these ragged fishermen. Anytime God sends a new ministry or a new messenger before the people he usually sends some type of miraculous sign. The sign serves to verify the ministry as being from God. A good example is Christ's ministry. Here was the Messiah, and we knew He was the Messiah because of all the miracles He performed via the Holy Spirit (Luke 11.20 compared with Matthew 12.18, 28). These miracles were not performed just for the miracle's sake, but to verify Christ as Messiah before the people. Just as Christ's coming was a new ministry to man, the Baptism of the Spirit was also a new Divine ministry to man. And the Father accompanied this new ministry with it's own set of miraculous signs.

Acts 2:2-4 "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."

The Day of Pentecost was the first day that God confirmed through signs the Baptizing Ministry of the Holy Spirit. Charismatics often recognize this important day in the Church's history without actually examining the Bible text. Some even read their own interpretation into what happened on that Day. Charismatics emphasize that, since the Baptism was evidenced by "speaking in Tongues" on the day of Pentecost, then what was true at the beginning must certainly be true now. Well, if what happened on the Day of Pentecost during the Baptism must happen in our current age, then I must point out the following:

Three, not one, signs were evident to the disciples when they received the Baptism of the Spirit at Pentecost:

"a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind ": In all the time I spent among the Charismatics I never hear nor witnessed this miraculous sign. Why not? If the pattern of the Baptism was established at Pentecost, and this is a part of that pattern, then why has no one heard this sign?

" appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them": Again, in the time I was in and around Charismatics (and yes, I was one at one time) I never witnessed cloven tongues of fire descending and sitting on the Christian receiving the Baptism. Why not? Again, this is a part of that pattern at the first Pentecostal Baptism.

"began to speak with other tongues ": This is the only portion of that original pattern of Baptism that the Charismatic Movement recognizes. The other two elements are ignored, though this manifested sign is promoted as the "proof of the Baptism".

To say "What happened on the Day of Pentecost must be duplicated today" is a somewhat simplistic approach, full of fallacy and fantasy. The reality is that the Baptizing Ministry of the Spirit was new, and as it was new and given to a newly formed Church, God provided certain signs and wonders to point out it's validity. All historical texts of Scripture must be carefully interpreted according to the time they were written. In the Old Testament Israel went into captivity under Babylon for 70 years. The reason they were under this captivity was because they ignored God's Sabbatical Year. Every seven years Israel as a nation was to let the land lie without tilling under a Divine "soil conservation program". Israel ignored God's commands for 490 years, in essence ignoring 70 Sabbatical years. God placed them in captivity for 70 years as punishment (Lev 26.33-36; 2 Chron 36.20-21; Lev 25.3-4). This was reality, and you can only understand the reason for the punishment when you understand what Israel historically did. What can we say was historically true about the Church on the Day of Pentecost?:

The Church was a newly formed Divine institution.

The Church was very small, and desperately needed to evangelize to grow.

The Church was composed of, in most instances, poor and frightened people who were not disposed to witness.

The Church was under threat of real danger. The Church's Leader (Jesus Christ) had been crucified as a threat to the Roman and Jewish ways of life. Those who remained were considered no less of a threat. It could be immediate death if these disciples were found witnessing and evangelizing.

The Church, prior to Pentecost, had no spiritual equipment to enable it to evangelize. Up until now the disciples had relied solely on what Jesus said and did. Now Jesus was gone to be with the Father.

On the Day of Pentecost the Church received it's spiritual equipment (the Holy Spirit) with signs and wonders to impress even on the slowest thinking believer that they were now empowered.

Being made fully aware that they were empowered, these timid believers witnessed of the resurrected Christ boldly. This caused the Church to grow by 3000 people on it's first day.

The signs that announced the Baptism gradually diminished as the Church grew in it's faith. Following the Day of Pentecost The Baptism was evidenced only by the gift of Tongues. The other two signs, the mighty wind and the tongues of fire, were never witnessed again. All recorded history after the Book of Acts (found through the writings of the early Church Fathers) completely ignores the gift of tongues. The Charismatic Movement is quick to point out that the Church was in apostasy from around 150-1900 AD when Tongues was again displayed. This is preposterous! How can something remain dead for 1750 years, resurrect, and then only become the "True Church of Christ" again? Any movement that dies, even Christianity, for 1750 years will stay dead. Though the Church may have moved into apostasy since it's inception, there has always been a faithful remnant that carried the Gospel message to the world. Read Foxes Book of Martyrs, the writings of the Church Fathers, the works of John Calvin, Martin Luther, or Augustine, and tell me with a straight face that these were not Godly men. How about Jonathan Edwards, one of the great all time evangelists? God has been active in His Church ever since Christ said "receive ye the Holy Spirit". And in all that time there were no documented cases of "speaking in Tongues" from the closing of the Book of Acts up until 1900 when the Charismatic Movement came on the scene. This is significant.

The Significance of the Signs

John 15:26 "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:"

John 16:7-8 "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"

Acts 1:4-5,8 "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

Jesus frequently promised throughout His ministry that He would send the Holy Spirit back as a permanent helper for the Church. Though the Holy Spirit was active among mankind prior to Pentecost, His ministry was by no means permanent. Throughout the Old Testament the Spirit came on people when God had a specific mission for these people (i.e. to prophesy, act as King, perform miracles, etc). When the mission was completed the Holy Spirit withdrew from the believer. The Holy Spirit also left the Old Testament believer when he sinned. This is what King David feared when he wrote:

Psalms 51:11 "Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me."

Jesus emphasized the temporal ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament era when He said:

John 20:22 "And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:"

Even though the disciples were all believers (minus Judas), and had been since their calling by Christ, they had not yet received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Since the Spirit wouldn't begin to permanently indwell believers until after the resurrection and ascension of Christ (some 50 days later on Pentecost) Christ blessed the disciples with a temporal indwelling of the Spirit. Jesus' gift at this time was certainly not permanent because, as we saw in Acts 1.8, Christ stated that the Spirit had yet to come:

"ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.."

We could say that the Holy Spirit came to visit these Christians prior to Pentecost, but came to stay after Pentecost. This "coming to stay" or indwelling ministry was actually introduced by part one of the threefold sign we talked about earlier, "a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind ". Part one of the threefold sign impressed on these disciples that the Holy Spirit now had a permanent ministry within the fledgling Church of Christ.

Unlike the temporary Indwelling Ministry of the Spirit in the Old Testament, the Baptism of the Spirit was a brand new ministry never before offered to mankind. Too many Christians misunderstand this ministry of the Spirit, even moreso as the Charismatics twist the Scriptures. The Baptism is a ministry that puts the believer in spiritual union with Christ, and because of it we are recognized by God the Father as joint heirs and adopted children. No believer is ever carried off in ecstasy under the Baptism, but through this Baptism we become, in the eyes of the Father, marked as saved and purified children. This ministry was never offered in the Old Testament because Christ had not yet paid the penalty for sin. He who knew no sin had to first be crucified, resurrected, and ascend unto the Father before the Baptism could be offered. "Baptism" (the Greek baptizo) means "To immerse or dunk under". The newly offered Baptism of the Spirit was announced on the Day of Pentecost by part two of the threefold sign we talked about earlier, " appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them".

If the first two parts of the threefold sign gave evidence of the indwelling and baptism of the Spirit, then what did part three of the threefold sign signify? The Bible plainly tells us what ministry of the Spirit is introduced by the gift of tongues:

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance...

The Filling Ministry of the Spirit was evidenced by Tongues, not the Baptism! Unlike the Baptism and Indwelling Ministries, the Filling was available in the Old Testament era. The Filling empowered the believer so that he or she would be able to exercise a required spiritual gift. Tongues were and are an evidence of the Filling Ministry, not the Baptism. Of course, these disciples on the Day of Pentecost were Baptized by the Spirit prior to the Filling of the Spirit. But the Baptism was introduced with the "tongues of fire", not with the other tongues of mankind.

The "tongues of fire" sign of the newly introduced Baptizing Ministry was prophesied by John the Baptist:

Matthew 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire"...

Luke 3:16 "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire"...

In the phrase, he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire, the English "and" is, in the original text of Scripture, the Greek conjunction KAI. Kai can be translated in several different ways depending on the Greek sentence construction that it's found in. When translated as a simple conjunction it is used to connect two items that are not necessarily related. In such a case, "and" is the best translation. When Kai is used in a transitional sense it connects two paragraphs, showing continuity of the context. In such a case it is translated "and furthermore", or "and in addition". As a conjunction of conclusion Kai can be translated, "in conclusion". But the Greek text of our passage above points to an ascensive use of Kai. The ascensive Kai links two nouns together so that the first noun is further described by the second noun, and in such a construction would be translated "that is to say", or "even". Using this construction the above text would be translated, "he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost EVEN with fire ". John prophesied that the Baptizing Ministry of the Spirit would be introduced with a fire like sign. The disciples, most of whom were disciples of John before they followed Jesus, would remember this prophecy on the Day of Pentecost and recognize the cloven tongues of fire as this long awaited sign. Later when others to whom they preached the Gospel were saved it was not necessary that this "cloven tongues" experience be re-enacted. The tongues of fire, God's calling card for the Baptism, had served it's purpose. Future believers would automatically receive the Baptism at New Birth, and some even were Filled with the Spirit and spoke in other tongues as an evidence of that Filling. As the early Church became increasingly aware that the Holy Spirit was indwelling (and staying) in the bodies of the believers these early ecstasies and signs tapered off. We today walk by faith, not by sight, as Paul told the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 5:1-8 "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

Once the early Church was established it no longer needed spectacular events to prove that the Spirit had come to stay. The real miracle at Pentecost was not the fact that a three-fold sign came on the inhabitants of the upper room, but that three thousand souls were added to the Church that very day through effective evangelism. Let me be quick to point out that I believe all the Spiritual Gifts are still available to the Church today, just as they were available to the early Church. Let me also point out that any operation of these spiritual gifts is not a sign of the Baptism of the Spirit, but is a sign of the Filling of the Spirit.

Conclusion to this Section

Of Tongues of Fire

This is by no means the end of this study, it's just the beginning. I do feel that we need to regroup, pray about what we've read, and quickly summarize what has been discussed up to this point:

You must understand what went on via the three-fold sign on the Day of Pentecost in order to understand the ministries of the Holy Spirit.

On the Day of Pentecost the Bible text clearly states that the gift of Tongues was an evidence of the Filling Ministry of the Spirit. Tongues did not in any way stand as evidence of the Baptizing Ministry.

The only direct sign of the Baptizing Ministry was the "tongues of fire" that rested on each disciple in the upper room. These "tongues of fire" were a unique sign, never again witnessed in recorded Church history. As the tongues of fire were never repeated, yet we know that all believers have received the Baptism since the Church started, we can infer that the Baptism of the Spirit is normally non experiential, that is, no signs are attached to it's application to the believer. The "tongues of fire" convinced the Church leaders that the Baptism had begun. Once the leaders were convinced there was no need to continue with the sign.

There were three distinct ministries of the Holy Spirit displayed in the upper room, each with a distinct sign: The Indwelling of the Spirit (Rushing, mighty wind); The Baptism of the Spirit (Tongues of Fire); and the Filling of the Spirit (spoken other tongues). Neither of the first two ministries (Indwelling, Baptism) signs were ever duplicated throughout Churc history.

Verbs denoting the Filling Ministry

Recorded History of Empowerment in Acts

Parallel walk Through Acts

Introduction to Part II

In This Study

In Part I of this study you were introduced to the fact that the Baptism of the Spirit was not available in Old Testament times. Though this particular ministry was not offered this doesn't mean that the Holy Spirit was inactive during this time. The Holy Spirit has always been very active among mankind, particularly during the dispensational period known as "The Age of Israel". The Spirit was actively "Filling" or empowering God's people. This Filling Ministry of the Spirit was always introduced by very specific terms in our Old Testament texts. These terms will become very important background materiel for our future studies on the Spiritual gifts, particularly as this ministry crosses over into the New Testament Church Age.

Though we've explored and defined the Filling before, I want to give you what I feel is the Bible based definition of the Filling of the Spirit. The Filling is the ministry of God the Holy Spirit to the believer (either Old or New Testament) where He supernaturally empowers that believer. Once empowered, the believer is able to exercise a Gift of God to the edification of the Church. This Ministry is not continuous, nor is it offered to believers who are in carnality and active sin. An immature believer may be just as Filled as the mature believer is, but the immature believer may not have discovered his spiritual Gift at that point. Therefore, the Filling does not mandate the operation a spiritual Gift. It empowers the believer, but never compels him. The Filling doesn't control the believer, but gives him the ability to work in partnership with God to promote God's Plan on the earth. All points of this definition will be clearly illustrated as we get deeper into this study.

In both the Old and New Testaments the context doesn't always read, "He was Filled with the Spirit" when this Ministry was in effect. "Filled" is a common term used for this empowering Ministry, but if we bear in mind that the evidence of the Filling is the operation of one of God's Spiritual Gifts then we can see many other synonyms for this Ministry.

"Came Upon", "Come Upon",

"Came On", and "Come On" all Denote

The Filling Ministry of the Spirit

In many placed in the Old Testament some form of "Come" is used with "on" or "upon" to denote the Filling. We know that these phrases introduce the Filling because there is always some evidence of supernatural empowerment on the believer directly following that term.

1 Samuel 19:20 "And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied."

1 Samuel 19:23 "And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah."

1 Samuel 10:6 " And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man."

1 Samuel 10:10 "And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them."

Numbers 24:2 "And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him."

2 Chronicles 15:1-2 "And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded: And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you."

2 Chronicles 15:8 "And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD."

In all of the above texts some form of "come upon" is used with "The Spirit of God" or "The Spirit of the Lord" to denote the Filling Ministry of the Spirit. There are also other phrases found in the Old Testament to show this Filling:

"Rested Upon", "Rested On",

"Fell Upon", and "Fell On" to

Denote The Filling Ministry of the Spirit

Numbers 11:25-26 "And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease. But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp."

Isaiah 11:1-2 "And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;"

The Hebrew for "Rested" is NUWACH, which means "to fall on or rest on". The King James legitimately translates this verb both ways. When NUWACH is used in conjunction with "Spirit" this refers to the Filling Ministry. The Isaiah passage is particularly interesting because it shows that Jesus, while in His earthly ministry, relied on the Filling ministry of the Spirit to perform the miraculous. Jesus refers to this union with the Spirit in Luke 11.20 and Matthew 12.28.

"Pour", "Pours", or "Poured Out"

to Denote The Filling Ministry of the Spirit

Joel 2:28-29 "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."

This is clearly a Millennial prophecy dealing with the Filling of the Spirit. God said that He would pour out His Spirit on all flesh. The only time there will be a worldwide Filling of the Spirit will be during the Millennial reign of Christ. Though "poured out" is a rare synonym for the Filling, it does occur in Scripture.

"Fill", "Fills", "Filled", and "Filling"

to Denote The Filling Ministry of the Spirit

So far we have looked at synonyms for the Filling Ministry, but let's not forget that derivatives of "Fill" are used to describe that same Ministry.

Exodus 31:1-6 "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;"

Exodus 35:31-35 "And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; And to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work."

Luke 1:15 "For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb."

Luke 1:41-42 "And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb."

Luke 1:67 "And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,"

In Exodus we see that the carpenter Bezaleel and his fellow workers were filled with the Spirit in order that they could build for God. They were responsible for building the Tabernacle, the Ark of Testimony, and the Mercy Seat on the Ark, the Table of Shewbread, the Golden Lampstand, and the Altar of Incense. All of these items were furniture used in the Temple of Israel, and were vital for proper Jewish worship. All the items had to be built to exact specifications and weights, exactly as God prescribed, with the available tools. The Filling gave these craftsmen a supernatural degree of accuracy and talent while building these holy items.

John the Baptist was Filled with the Holy Spirit from birth. He was a Nazarite, one who was specifically sanctified by God from birth to serve Israel (see Numbers 6; Judges 13.5-7, 17; Lamentations 4.7; Amos 2.11-12). John particularly needed the Filling because his mission in life was to announce the coming Messiah (Isaiah 40.3; Matthew 3.3; 11.10; Mark 1.2-3; Luke 3.4). The Filling of the Spirit empowered John to preach and teach about the coming of Jesus.

Elisabeth and Zachariah (John's mother and father) were both Filled with the Spirit so they could testify and prophecy of the coming Jesus. Again, the Filling is followed by Divine empowerment.

If you were to look at all of the terms God used for the Filling Ministry of the Spirit, you'd see the following list of synonyms:

Derivatives of Come:

Came on, came upon, come on, come upon, comes on, comes upon

Derivatives of Rest:

Rested on, rested upon, rests on, rests upon, resting on, resting upon

Derivatives of Fall:

Fell on, fell upon, fallen on, fallen upon

Derivatives of Pour:

Pours out, poured out, pouring out

Derivatives of Fill:

Filled, fills, filling

Derivatives of Clothe:

Clothe, clothed

All of these terms, when combined with a reference to the Holy Spirit, are always followed by the believer being supernaturally empowered to serve God. Please make sure you understand this study up to this point before continuing. Your understanding this terminology will be vitally necessary when we return to our study in Acts.

The Recorded History of

Empowerment in Acts

The problem with any study in Acts is that the Charismatic "past experiences" flavor what the text actually says. The Bible tells us:

1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

We try the spirits by seeing what the Bible, clearly and simply interpreted, says. Experience and feelings are often poor gauges of truth. Many things "feel right" in this life, but are clearly wrong when you look at the Scriptural standard. If any movement creates division in the Church, and leads away from Biblical teaching, this is not of God.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15 "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

The Bible alone is our sole criteria for righteousness and Godly living. Experiences can be, and usually are, deceiving.

A Parallel Walk through Acts

Throughout the Book of Acts there are numerous instances of all types of spiritual activity, not just "tongues". In each instance it is the Filling, not the Baptism of the Spirit that empowers the Gift. By paralleling these miraculous instances with other Scripture texts (allowing the Bible to interpret the Bible) we can see what these Gifts were:

Acts 4:8, 31 " Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,..... And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."

Ephesians 4:11 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;"

When under the Filling ministry of the Spirit the disciples were empowered to evangelize, to effectively preach the Gospel of Christ to those around them. This Filling led to many conversions resulting in salvation. Again, this was the FILLING, not the BAPTISM that led to this miraculous occurrence.

Acts 9:17-18 "And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized."

1 Corinthians 12:28 "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."

Saul (who later was known as Paul the Apostle) was quite a character in the early Church. He spent most of his time being directed by the Sanhedrin (Jewish High Court) seeking out and destroying Christians. Saul felt that all Christians were heretics, and honestly believed that he was serving God by destroying them (Acts 9.1-3). While he was traveling down the Damascus Road on the way to more slaughter, Jesus struck him with blindness (Acts 9.4-7). In fact, according to the following Scripture text it seems that cataracts were actually formed on his eyes. Paul then waited in Divinely imposed darkness, without food, for three days (Acts 9.8-9). Jesus led Ananias, a faithful believer, to Paul, and through Ananias God used the Filling Ministry of the Spirit to heal Paul. As before, it was the Filling, not the Baptism of the Spirit, that led to the miraculous operation of Healing in Paul's life. This Healing led to Paul's salvation and, he in turn, benefited the Church as Apostle to the Gentiles (Romans 11.13). No Spiritual Gift is ever given to benefit the user only, but always to benefit the Church of Christ.

Acts 13:8-12 "But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him. And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord."

1 Corinthians 12:28 " And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."

The Gift of Miracles is unique in that it covers areas of ministry where the other Gifts do not go. Any exercise of the supernatural not covered by the other Spiritual Gifts is covered under Miracles. This Gift can invoke the Death Angel, disease can be created or removed, and natural forces of nature can be stopped, started, warped, or changed to suit God's purpose at that moment. While Filled with the Spirit Paul brought supernatural blindness on Elymas, and this act proved that Christ was in deed the true Saviour. All who witnessed this event had their faith strengthened. One of Christ's opponents, the deputy, even became a believer that day. No Spiritual Gift is ever given to benefit the user only, but always to benefit the Church of Christ.

Acts 10:44-48 "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."

During our background study we discovered that fell on or fell upon were terms used to denote the Filling Ministry of the Spirit. It is this Filling Ministry that caused the believers to exercise the Gift of Tongues. Peter reasoned that, since these believers exercised a Spiritual Gift (brought on by the Filling), then it was logical to assume that they had already been Indwelt and Baptized by the Spirit. If they had already been Indwelt and Baptized, then they were certainly Christians worthy of water baptism. The Filling of the Spirit led to the Gift of Tongues. The Gift of Tongues acted as a visible sign to the Jews that the Gentiles were under the same promise of salvation. You cannot be Filled without receiving all of the other Ministries of the Spirit.

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

1 Corinthians 12:10 "To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:"

During our background study we also discovered that came on or came upon are terms used to denote the Filling Ministry of the Spirit. Once more, it was the Filling rather than the Baptism that led to the Gifts of Tongues and Prophecy. One who is Filled with the Spirit will, of course, have already been Baptized. But the Filling is what actually drives the Gifts.

Acts 11:15-17 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?"

In the above text Peter was responding to Jewish believers who questioned the inclusion of the Gentiles into the Church. Peter's response was to note that these Gentile believers were Filled with the Spirit (fell upon is a synonym for the Filling), and as they were so Filled then they logically had to have been Baptized by the Spirit. And if they had already been Baptized, then they naturally must have been Saved.

To Conclude This Section

Every instance of Speaking in Tongues in Acts was a direct result of the Filling of the Spirit. An individual so Filled was, of necessity, previously under the Baptism of the Spirit. So what about today? Is it necessary that the presence of the Spirit be announced by Tongues or some other supernatural occurrence? No, absolutely not. Many of the signs you see in Acts were signs given to build the faith of the early Church. Once the believers understood that the Holy Spirit ministered to them after salvation these "signs" dropped off. Is the Filling Ministry of the Spirit available today? Absolutely! No minister can effectively preach unless Filled with the Spirit. No evangelist can lead others to Christ. No Christian songwriter can develop a beautiful lyric that will stir us to Christian service without the Filling. An effective Christian is a Christian Filled with God's Spirit. And that Filling always leads to building up the Body of Christ, not to the exercise of a Spiritual Gift for the Gift's sake.

Difference in Command Between Baptism/ Filling

Contextual Definition of Spirit Baptism

Comparing Literal Spirit Baptism to Figurative Water Baptism

Introduction to Part 3 of This Study

Many Charismatics teach that the Baptism of the Spirit is a ministry that must be sought after or learned. Though this is not universally true among our Charismatic brethren, the fallacy is widespread enough that it needs to be addressed.

There are numerous Scriptural references to the Baptism of the Spirit and the Spiritual Gifts. These passages all make it plain the neither the Baptism nor the Gifts need be chased. The Baptism of the Spirit is a non experiential Ministry of God given to every believer at the point of salvation. If you haven't received the Baptism you aren't saved! Many believers fail to understand that it is this same Baptism that unites the believer with Christ in the Father's eyes. In essence, the Baptism is automatic, a necessary part of our Christian heritage. It is not something that must be sought out or begged for. We will study this in detail throughout the remainder of this study.

One last note: For the remainder of this study I will use the terms "Baptism" and "Filling" exclusively to describe the Spirit's Ministries of Baptism and Filling. If I digress into teaching about "water Baptism" then I will specify I am talking about "water" as opposed to "Spirit" Baptism.

The Difference in Command

Between Baptism and Filling

Even a cursory glance through the Scripture teaches the believer that the Baptism and Filling are two different ministries with two distinctly different purposes. The believer's position in Baptism is always passive, that is, there is nothing that he or she need do to receive that ministry. The believer's position in the Filling is always active, and there is much he or she must do to reach this state. Let's look at a few scriptural texts and you'll see how plain this is:

Matthew 3:11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"

Mark 1:8 "I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost."

Luke 3:16 "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:"

John 1:33 "And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."

Acts 1:5 "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."

Acts 11:16 "Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost."

In all of the prophecies concerning the Baptism the believer is looked at as the passive participant in the ministry. Words like shall be and shall baptize are freely used to show that the believer is "along for the ride", Jesus Himself is the actual executor of the action. Once a person accepts Jesus Christ as Saviour he becomes a participant in the Baptism by necessity, not at his or her request. To make it even easier to understand John the Baptist always paralleled the action of Water Baptism to Spirit Baptism. John baptized in one medium (water) whereas Jesus would baptize in another medium (the Holy Spirit). Anytime a believer undergoes water baptism it is the baptizer, not the baptizee, who controls the action. No true Christian Baptism allows the believer to baptize himself in water. This is both Biblically as well as historically true. Regardless of the denomination, and regardless as to whether that faith baptizes by immersion or by sprinkling, no believer is ever allowed to perform the rite on himself. The baptizer always performs the rite, while the believer relaxes and passively accepts the ministry. In the same way we never seek out and force Spirit Baptism on ourselves. Once we accept Christ as Saviour Jesus, the Baptizer, sends the Spirit to us to perform that non experiential rite. It is this rite that spiritually unifies us with Christ, much in the same way that water baptism symbolically identifies us with the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:13 "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

The above text makes it crystal clear that the Baptism is a mandatory function contained within God's plan of Salvation. By that one Spirit we are all baptized into one body. There are no exceptions. We have been all made to drink of that Spirit Baptism. This is past tense in both the Greek as well as the English texts. It was an action committed at the point of salvation on us all. That very act of Baptism brings us into union with Christ, and in so doing identifies us as a part of the Body and Bride of Christ. Without that Baptism we are not identified with Christ nor the Church. Being so unidentified, we would be lost.

On the other hand, we are definitely to be active seekers of the Filling:

Ephesians 5:18 "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;"

In the above text the Filling of the Spirit is placed in dichotomy to drunkenness. Both are actions that have similar results, though one is wrong and the other is Godly. When you get intoxicated, it takes an act of will to get to this state. You have to first choose an alcoholic beverage, then imbibe it until you reach a drunken state. While in this state you are controlled by the alcohol, not by your own human spirit. To be Filled with the Spirit you have to actively promote Godliness in your life. It takes an act of will. While under the Filling you are controlled by the Holy Spirit, not by your own human spirit. And while under the Filling you are empowered to use the spiritual Gifts which God has given you for the edification of the Church.

The Greek text even supports the differences between the Baptism and the Filling. The Baptism is always referred to in the indicative mood. This mood stresses a verbal action that is a fact, not something to be sought out. The Filling is referred to in the imperative mood, the mood of command. We're commanded to seek out the Filling, but never commanded to seek out the Baptism.

A Contextual Definition of Spirit Baptism

I don't know how many times I've heard misinformed believers try to describe the Baptism. One of the most interesting but poorest definitions I've ever heard is the "Cup Analogy". I was told that if you took a cup and immersed it in water, this is an illustration of the Baptism. But if you drew the cup out of the water filled to the brim, this would be the Filling. People often use inane illustrations like the Cup Analogy to try an explain things that they don't understand, or to fill in knowledge gaps because of a lack of Bible study. If we'd study our own Bibles rather than listen to the elders like they were oracles of God then we'd all have a clearer understanding of God's Word.

The Greek BAPTIZO (where we get our English "Baptize") means "to immerse, and by immersion to identify". Xenophon, a fourth century BC historian, said that Spartan soldiers BAPTIZO their spears in pig's blood to identify the spear as a weapon of war. BAPTIZO caused the Spartan's to look at their weapons in a new way, and gave them courage to carry the battle to their enemies.

Baptism in the Scripture is used both literally as well as ritually. In ritual baptism the medium (such as water) symbolizes something other than water. When Jesus was baptized in water (Matthew 3.13-17) the water represented the plan of God the Father. By entering the water Jesus symbolized that He was willing to subjugate His will to that of the Father. In John's baptism (Matthew 3.1-11; John 1.25-33; Acts 19.2-4) the water represented the Kingdom of God. All who entered the water symbolized that they believed on the Messiah to come, and would subjugate their wills to the Kingdom of God. In the Church Age baptism (Acts 2.38; 8.36-38; 9.18; 10.47; 16.33) the water represents the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When a believer enters this water he outwardly professes his faith in what Christ did for him.

There are four literal baptisms mentioned in the Bible. In the literal baptisms water isn't necessarily the medium the believer is immersed in. However, just as it was with ritual baptisms, the medium n literal baptism always represents something that the person being immersed is to be identified with. The Baptism of Moses (1 Cor 10.2) is that event when Moses led Israel through the parted Red Sea. The water was a reality, though it represented God's deliverance of His people in their time of need. In the Baptism of Fire (Mat 3.11; 13.25; Luke 3.16; 2 Thes 1.7-9) the fire will literally purge the earth at the end of the Tribulational period. This very real fire also represents the judgment of God on a sinful earth. In the Baptism of the Cross (Mat 20.22; Luke 12.50) the sins of the world were literally poured out on Christ so that He was immersed in them. This was a literal event in the life of Christ, though the pouring out of sin represents the Atonement (or payment of sin) for the whole world. In the fourth literal Baptism, the Baptism of the Spirit, the Holy Spirit is the medium that Christ immerses the believer in at the point of salvation (1 Cor 12.13; Col 2.12; 3.10-11; 1.25-26; John 14.20; Acts 1.5; 2.3; 11.15-17; Eph 1.3-6; 4.5; Heb 2.11; Gal 3.26-28; Rom 6.3-4; Mat 16.18). This is a literal immersion. However it also represents the believer's identification with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without the Baptism of the Spirit man cannot be saved because he has not been identified with the finished work of the Saviour in the eyes of the Father. After this Spirit Baptism we who believed are marked or stamped as "God's Property". This Baptism announces to the Godhead "this person has been saved".

Comparison of the Literal Spirit Baptism

To the Figurative Water Baptism

The rite of water baptism has always been a very established and highly practiced sacrament in the Church. The early Church Apostles understood, I believe, the relationship between the earthly water baptism and the heavenly Spirit Baptism. Most of the "shadows" or practices that God passed down to believers in the Bible imitate the unseen but real ministries of Heaven. I believe that the Scripture shows, through parallels, that water baptism is a real visual sacrament that mirrors the real unseen Heavenly sacrament of Spirit Baptism.

Water Baptism and Local Church Membership	Spirit Baptism and Membership in the Body of Christ
Acts 2:38-39, 41-42 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized [IN WATER] every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized [IN WATER] : and the same day there were added unto them [TO THE CHURCH] about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."	1 Corinthians 12:12-14 " For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many."
Acts 8:12 "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, [IN WATER] both men and women."	Colossians 2:9-12 "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, [SPIRIT BAPTISM] wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."
Acts 8:36-38 "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."	Romans 6:3-11 "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
Acts 16:30-33 "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway."	2 Corinthians 1:20-22 "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."
Acts 19:2-5 "He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."	Ephesians 1:13-15 "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,"
Acts 22:16 "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord."	Acts 10:44-48 "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days."
Water Baptism and Local Church Membership	Spirit Baptism and Membership in the Body of Christ

For everything we do on this earth as a part of the Church there is a reason, and every rite we perform in shadow has a reality in Heaven. In the early Church believers were immediately baptized by immersion in water after their public profession of faith in Christ. Once baptized these new believers were accepted into the local Church. That earthly water baptism identified the believer with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Once so identified, the believer was accepted into this community of saints.

Which brings us to the question, "Why did Christ establish the Local Church?". The Church was established for several reasons:

The local Church, with it's established hierarchy of leadership, functions as a fellowship and classroom for the believer. Under the Pastor the believer is taught the Holy Scriptures so that he can live his life in a Christ like manner. Within the Church fellow believers are to exhort one another to Godly living.

We are still human with human limitations. As the Church grew it became impossible, because of the sheer numbers of believers, for Christians to stay in one group. Local Churches were established so that believers could band together in smaller groups. Each group had it's own Pastor to guide them in Scriptural truth.

The local Church is the earthly shadow of the literal Heavenly Body of Christ (1 Cor 12). Once the believer underwent water baptism he became a member of this shadow Body.

As a member of the Local Church every believer is given a spiritual gift that he can exercise for the benefit of the whole group (1 Cor 12.7-12)

The earthly shadows of water baptism and membership in the Local Church mimic the Heavenly realities of Spirit Baptism and membership in the Body of Christ. In earthly baptism water is the medium the believer is immersed in. Walking into the water symbolizes the act of free will we all used to accept Christ as Saviour. The baptizee places his body under the control of the baptizer (who is symbolic of Christ). The baptizer lowers the believer into the water, the medium itself being symbolic of God the Holy Spirit. Going down into the water symbolizes the burial of Christ, and complete immersion in water symbolizes the believer's identification with Christ's full death on the Cross. The baptizer then lifts the believer out of the water, this symbolizing identification with Christ's resurrection. The rite of water baptism is always performed after the believer has accepted Christ as Saviour. In other words, it is an act that is completed after salvation. In like manner after the believer is saved, perhaps seconds afterward, Jesus baptizes that believer with the Holy Spirit. The believer is completely immersed in the Holy Spirit, and in the Father's eyes is "sealed" or marked as saved. This Spirit Baptism, like it's earthly counterpart, is the rite that unites the believer together with the Saints in the Body of Christ. The Spirit Baptism is not felt or otherwise experienced by the new believer, it is an act witnessed by the Godhead and the Heavenly inhabitants alone. In fact, other than the "tongues of fire" that were evident in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost, no believer has ever witnessed the Baptism of the Spirit. We most certainly have witnessed the Filling, with it's subsequent empowerment (i.e. the activity of Spiritual Gifts being evident). But no one, contrary to the Charismatic teachings, has ever witnessed the Baptism of the Spirit.

"But how do I know that I have been Baptized in the Spirit" is the common question of Charismatics everywhere. Again, this is answered simply: Are you saved? If you are saved, you have been under the ministry of Spirit Baptism. As Jesus told the doubter Thomas:

John 20:25-29 "The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

The Charismatics believe that we need a sign, some visible action on God's part, in order to believe that we have received the Baptism. There was an age, at the very beginning of the Church, when it was necessary to cement the Apostle's faith, when signs and wonders abounded. As the Church foundation grew God saw fit to cease the spectacles. It was time to walk by faith, not by sight. As the scripture also states:

Hebrews 11:1 " Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

2 Corinthians 5:7 "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)"

What was once is not mandated forever. This is what the Charismatics would have us believe: Since it occurred in the early Church, it must be available and true today. But I ask you this, once the foundation was laid, why is it necessary to lay it again? God has built the Church, and continues to build it even today. Even with all of our fighting, divisions, and denominations, God still builds His Church. The foundation, however, was surely laid long ago, and has no need of rebuilding.

Don't get me wrong: I still believe in miracles, because I have seen them. Not in odd tongues, or in shouting, or in jumping pews, or in foolish babbling proclaimed as prophecy. Not too long ago I saw an entire Church assembly come forward and lay hands on a brother who was stricken with cancer. When he went in for his checkup the next day, what the doctors thought was cancer was gone. Which was the miracle, the healing or the Church coming together as One? Actually both events were miraculous. God is still in control and can still mandate miracles. I do want to point out, though, that when we laid hands on this brother no one screamed, shouted, or made a spectacle of themselves. No one started laughing hysterically, no one slapped my brother on his forehead. We all quietly grouped around that brother while one prayed for deliverance. God answered with a miracle.

Can you answer me this? If the Church lost it's power until the Charismatic movement "re-discovered" the Baptism, and if this Baptism was lost from the end of Acts until the 1960's when this movement became popular, then why has the Church shown so much power over the years? Do you believe that the Great Reformers were Spiritless? Can you read the great works of John Calvin, particularly the Institutes of the Christian Religion, and believe that he wasn't empowered? What about Martin Luther, who looked beyond the accepted teachings of his day, studied the Word of God, and posted his Thesis on the Cathedral door? Can you say that he was not empowered? Or Jonathan Edwards, who developed one of the most stirring sermons ever preached called "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God". Edwards actually read the sermon from the pulpit in, some witnesses reported, a dull monotone voice. When he finished the unsaved rushed forward in a great outpouring of repentance unseen in that day. Can you truly say that he was without the Spirit? I can go on and on, and fill page after page with great preachers who were empowered by the Spirit of God before the Charismatic movement ever came on the scene. These men, some even of the Roman Catholic Church, were Godly empowered believers who spoke the truth in love. These men, Augustine, Ignatius, Origen, Whitefield....the list goes on and on, were fully empowered by the Holy Spirit to do God's work. All were Baptized, all were Filled, and all were powerful in Him.

There are events that occur in the Heavens that we mere mortals are never aware of. The angels in Heaven rejoiced (Luke 15.10) when you were saved. Were you aware of that? Then why expect to be aware of the Baptism of the Spirit at the moment of your salvation? The Baptism is non experiential, that is, you didn't feel or experience it yourself. But it happened if you're saved. You were also indwelt, sealed, united with the body of Christ, given a Spiritual Gift, and adopted at the point of salvation. Did you feel these things? No, of course not, but we know that it happened if you are saved. As the Bible says:

Romans 8:8-11 "So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

That kind of puts it in perspective, doesn't it? If you aren't indwelt with the Spirit, then he is none of his. You are either saved, and possess the Holy Spirit, or are lost and do not have the Spirit. But there's no limbo state where you have part of the Spirit and have to seek the rest. The fact that we are Spirit filled people is the link to our salvation:

Romans 8:16 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"

You, the believer, received the Baptism right after you accepted Christ as Saviour, and this Baptism marked you forever as being in union with Christ (Ephesians 1.13). The Baptism isn't a separate event in the life of the believer, but a section of ministries of the Spirit that are vitally necessary for your salvation. To teach that the Baptism is a "second blessing" is to teach that believers have been roaming around only half saved for a thousand years prior to the Charismatic's "New Pentecost". This is not only a misinterpretation of Scripture, but an injustice foisted on the Holy Spirit's work.

What does "Gift of the Holy Spirit" mean?

Experience and Inductive Reasoning VS the Bible

Context of Scripture

What Does The Term

"Gift of The Holy Spirit" Mean?

The term "Gift of the Holy Spirit" is used frequently throughout the New Testament scriptures. Many take this term as referring to the Baptizing Ministry of the Spirit. This is a very narrow definition, as the "Gift of the Spirit" refers to the believer's reception of the Holy Spirit with all of His ministries. Let's look at some scriptural text:

Acts 2:38 "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Acts 10:44-45 "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost."

Acts 11:15-17 "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?"

The Gift of the Spirit refers not to just one ministry, but is synonymous with receiving all the ministries of the Spirit in the Church age. Peter told his audience that those who were saved shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Not might, not would have to continue to seek, but shall receive. Peter preached that the Gift of the Spirit was a part of the "package deal" of salvation. In Acts 10 the Gift of the Spirit is made synonymous with the falling on and pouring out of the Spirit. Previously we saw that these phrases are synonyms with the Filling Ministry of the Spirit. In Acts 11 we again have the synonym for the Filling, fell on, and a direct reference to the Baptism of the Spirit. So in Acts 11 The Gift of the Spirit is used synonymously with both the Filling and Baptizing ministries. Obviously the phrase "Gift of the Spirit" refers to more than just one Ministry. It refers to the full range of ministries given by God's Holy Spirit.

Why does Gift of the Holy Spirit suddenly pop up in the New Testament, though it is found no where in the Old? Look at the following verses:

2 Timothy 1:14 "That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us."

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

1 Corinthians 6:15-19 "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

1 Samuel 16:13-14 "Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him."

Psalms 51:10-11 "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me."

The term Gift of the Holy Spirit is found only in the New Testament because the Spirit's ministries among mankind changed after the resurrection of Christ. In the Old Testament Jesus had not yet died to pay for the sins of the world, He had not yet hung on the Cross to atone for our inherent sinfulness. Believers who were saved in the Old Testament were saved by believing on the coming Messiah. These Old Testament saints were still required to make animal sacrifices and (attempt) to obey the whole of the Mosaic code. Their salvation was not, in fact, complete, by nature of the fact that Christ had not yet come. The Old Testament believer had only a part of the promise of salvation, and as a result only had access to a portion f the ministries of the Spirit. When the Holy Spirit indwelt the Old Testament believer it was a temporary indwelling. If the believer fell out of fellowship the Spirit could (and would) leave him (see 1 Samuel and Psalms, above). Once the Spirit left that believer lost ALL of the Spirit's ministries. The Spirit wasn't a Gift in Old Testament times: rather, He was a temporary institution that could be easily lost anytime that believer failed to follow the Plan of God in his life.

Now enter the Cross of Calvary. Once Christ died (paying for our sins), and resurrected (as guarantee that the death was acceptable to the Father), ANY believer who accepted this payment received the GIFT of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit, with all of His inherent ministries, permanently indwells the believer at salvation. Once we accepted Christ as Saviour the Gift of the Spirit:

Baptizes us, the very action that puts us in spiritual union with Christ (1 Cor 12.13)

The result of this Baptism is the Sealing Ministry, where we are marked by the Spirit as redeemed children of God. (2 Cor 1.21-22; 5.1-5; Eph 1.12-14; 4.30)

Because of this Sealing Ministry we are recognized as Adopted Sons of God (Rom 8.9-16).

We are removed from slavery to sin and are made alive in our human spirits through the Regenerating Ministry of the Spirit (John 3.3-8; Titus 3.3-7; Gal 3.2-3; 1 Cor 6.9-11).

Because we are now spiritually alive, we are forever set apart or Sanctified by the Holy Spirit. This particular ministry is both immediate and progressive: Immediate in the eyes of the Father, but progressive as we grow as Christians (1 Peter 1.2; 2 Thes 2.13).

Finally, the New Testament believer is permanently Indwelt by the Holy Spirit (2 Tim 1.13-14; 1 Cor 3.16).

As a result of this Indwelling the Spirit constantly Prays for us (Romans 8.26-27), and

Gives us extraordinary power under His Filling Ministry so we can effectively function as God's Ambassadors in the devil's world (Eph 5.18; Acts 2.1-21).

The term Gift of the Spirit is applied to all these actions of God's Holy Spirit because they are continually available to the believer in the Church of Christ. These ministries are never lost , and the Spirit never leaves us when we fall out of fellowship. When the believer backslides, his action "grieves the Spirit":

Ephesians 4:30 "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption."

For that precious Spirit now permanently indwells him. By bringing sin into the Temple (the body of the believer) the Spirit is grieved or disturbed. By backsliding we also "quench the Spirit":

1 Thessalonians 5:19 "Quench not the Spirit."

Though the Spirit permanently indwells the believer, deliberate acts of sin prevents the Spirit from working out His ministries through us. We become ineffective for God. Powerless, not because the power is not there (it is there, and waiting to be used), but because we through our sins have forsaken the power of God the Spirit. The believer who remains out of fellowship invites Divine Discipline in his life, even unto the point of the Sin unto Death (1 Cor 5.1-5; 1 John 5.16-18). But that Gift of the Holy Spirit is never removed from us. We have this Gift because of what Jesus did for us!

Experience and Inductive Reasoning

VS Biblical Teachings

I guess the biggest question every believer has to ask himself is, What is greater and more valid: My experiences and My reasoning, or what the Bible teaches? The way you answer this question will ultimately determine if you are carnal or spiritual. The unwise carnal believer allows his experiences to influence how he interprets the Holy Text. We all have a tendency to think, "I've experienced it, I am a Christian, so the experience must be from God". This is not necessarily true. And besides, if experience is enough to live the Christian way of life, then why did God give us the Scriptures? We live in a world at this time owned and governed by Satan:

Ephesians 2:2 "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."

2 Corinthians 4:4 "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."

As the present god of this world Satan controls all experiences and environment around us. He has two very effective tactics: First, prevent as many as possible from being saved by perverting or hindering the Gospel message. And, if this tactic fails, get the Christian chasing after anything other than studying the Bible for himself. An ignorant Christian tied to his base emotions and desire for "experience" is a weak and ineffective Christian. Have Christians who are not in the "experiential movement" respond to those who are in that movement in one of two equally wrong ways: Either remain passive, say nothing at all negative to the wayward brethren, and allow them to "live their lives" as they see fit. Or attack these brethren, placing them on a martyr's cross, and drive them farther away from the Truth of the Bible. I prefer God's path, and that is what does the Bible teach? What the Bible teaches, I so teach to others as I myself obey. The Holy Scriptures are the final and absolute judge on what is and is not the desired Christian way of life:

2 Peter 1:20-21 "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

There's one rule we need to hold dear as we study the Bible, and that is to let Scripture interpret Scripture. We can use reason and logic after we follow this premier rule, but until we obey this we must put our own feeble experiences to the side. All cults have one thing in common: They arrive at their basic truths through inductive reasoning and personal experience alone. Once they have these things firmly established as their "foundation", they then turn to the Scripture for justification for their behavior. Some cults twist the Scripture out of context until they force agreement with their own cultic doctrines. From Mormonism (which doesn't claim to be Christian), to the Christian Scientists (which is more fantasy than either Christian or Scientific), to the Church of God of Prophecy (an offshoot, "we are the only Church" cultic offshoot from the Church of God), all cults start with some experiential vision that the founder had that bestowed special Divine privileges on that group. Cultic members place their visions above the teaching of the Bible. When these teachings contradict the vision, the Scripture is twisted or coaxed until it supports that vision.

God does not lie! If He gives a vision to someone, then that vision will be fully supported by (not forced from) the Holy Scriptures. By twisting the Scripture I can prove that the Godhead is a Trinity, a Duality, or a Singularity with many manifestations. I can prove the multiplicity of God that Deism supports. I can prove man to be either inherently sinful, or inherently good if I twist the Biblical context. The point is, you must let Scripture interpret Scripture, without any preconceived notions, in order to see God's Truth!

Let's be a little clearer here: If you or your friends have had the experience of "Speaking in Tongues", you can only know that this experience is from God if it follows the criteria established in the Scriptures. Non-Christians have long "spoke in tongues" when under the influence of alcohol, a demon, a false god, or just under runaway emotional ecstasy. The following is a quote I discovered at ~rlongman/tongues1.html" \l "pagans"Tongues as a Gift, a Sign, a Practice , a website managed by Robert Longman Jr. (Copyright © 1997. All rights reserved). You might find this interesting:

"The Oracle at Delphi, for instance, started in the 400s BC, when Greece was at its strongest. It continued into the Roman era as if it was a parody of its former self, so the members of the churches of Greece and Asia Minor would have been very familiar with how Delphi worked. It was a shrine of the Greek god Apollo. In response to someone's questions, a priestess would go into a frenzy and start babbling. An attendant priest would then 'translate' the babble into some glittering generalities that could in some way be understood as a specific answer. Some of the best-known aspects of Greek philosophy started from the Oracle's early years (for instance, it bred the saying "Know Yourself"); the great Greek philosophers were very good at finding jewels in waste water. The cult of Dionysus used rhythmic music, whirling dances, alcohol and/or herbal drugs, and magic spells to send peoples' souls out of their body (Gk ek stasis ) and into the presence of whatever deity or sub deity was involved; this too occasionally induced some strange sounds.

African animists, too, have long had ecstatic speech in their religions. But, just as glossolalia among Jews marked one as a prophet, glossolalia caused most African animists to foist onto the speaker the role of religious leader or priest, a heavy spiritual and cultural responsibility to lay upon an unprepared person. Glossolalia and other extraordinary 'spiritual' happenings have not been, and have not really been allowed to be, a thing 'of the people', that could become a part of the otherwise normal life of otherwise ordinary people.

Deep in the gnostic book hoard at Nag Hammadi, archaeologists discovered what may be the earliest, and perhaps one of the strangest, written instances of glossolalia. (Gnosticism arose at the same time as Christianity, and Gnostics were skilled at melding Christian devotions and spirituality to the un-Christian Gnostic framework -- to use a modern term, they tried to 'co-opt' Christianity.) While modern theologians give the unusual contents at Nag Hammadi much more attention than they deserve, a prayer introduction in *The Gospel Of the Egyptians* is a true attention grabber. It reads roughly (very roughly) like this :

Ié ieus éó ou éó óua! O Jesus, bond of Yah's righteousness, O Living Water, O Child of Child, O glorious Name! Really truly, O Eon that is, iiii éééé eeee oo uuuu óóóó aaaaa, really truly éi aaaa óó óó! O One That Is, Seer Of the Ages! Really truly, aee ééé iiii uuuuuu óóóóóóóó, You who are eternally eternal, really truly iéa aió, in the heart, You who Are, You are what You are, ei o ei eios ei!

Even the translated words are very iffy and full of vowels and mixed languages. Like modern glossolalia, it's got a lot of almost words, divine titles, and 'really truly'. It's almost like a parody, it's so garbled, but it was serious in its intent. The ecstatic speech didn't make the bizarre thinking that came in the same book any more true."

If your experience contradicts the Word of God then that experience is godless, a manifestation of the flesh. Our experience and human reasoning always comes second to the self interpreted Word of God.

The Context of Scripture

Improper understanding of the CONTEXT of Scripture often leads to misinterpretation of Bible text. Once you understand context, you will find it easy to let the Bible interpret itself.

The first thing to understand about context is it's extent. Some people regard the context of Scripture as what they're reading at that moment. However, Biblical context is often more extensive than the one verse you're looking at. For instance, let's look at 1 John 2.1-2:

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world."

The Unitarian/ Universalists look at the above verse and reason, "Since Christ paid for the sins of the whole world, then we're all going to Heaven. There is no hell!". This cult doesn't look any farther at other Scriptural support for their belief: they have, in essence, taken this one passage and twisted it out of context for their own purposes. Or, for instance, I can take Deuteronomy 6.4 out of context:

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:"

And prove that the Godhead is singular rather than Triune. The Christian Monotheists take this verse, as well as others, out of context to disprove that "Old Roman Catholic Trinity teaching". Usually they use the flag words "Roman Catholic" in an attempt to show that anything that came out of this system of faith had to have been corrupt. Again, this is a rather narrow and unChristian view. Many great theologians came out of the Roman Catholic Church, and many of these Godly men (such as Augustine) kept Christianity alive throughout the Church's Dark Ages. Though I firmly disagree with many of Romanism's teachings (unity of Church and state, worship of Mary and the saints, genuflection, the literalisation of the Lord's Table, confession of sin to a Priest, forgiveness of sin by a Priest, the Pope's purity, to mention just a few), I believe that many have come to accept Christ as Saviour under that Church. I believe that Christ even enters the Roman Catholic Church to save sinners (just as He enters your respective Denominational Churches). Our experiences and our prejudices should not dictate Truth. The Bible, taken in context, is our only basis for Truth. What about Matthew 16.13?:

"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"

Christ is called the Son of man over 78 times in the Gospels alone. I can take these verses to prove that Jesus wasn't a member of the Godhead, that He was no more than a man as we are. The Way International, Moses David, and other offbeat cults use these verses out of context to teach just that.

1 Corinthians 13:1 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."

Or I could take the above verse, totally ignore Paul's intended point, and misuse it's context to teach that Tongues are some type of "heavenly prayer language". Many Charismatics follow this direction of misinterpretation. Or,

1 Corinthians 3:17 "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

I can take the above verse out of context and teach, as some Legalists do, that you can lose your salvation by partaking of either alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine. Or, if I were a Charismatic wanting to defend the "prayer Tongue" teaching, I could quote:

Mark 3:28-29 "Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation."

And use this verse to warn you against questioning my "tongue". If I'm speaking in a prayer tongue, and this is a gift given by the Holy Spirit, then by questioning my tongue you blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Your very questioning causes you to lose your salvation according to this approach to false doctrine.

In each of the examples I gave above none of what I speculated was true. Each presupposition was false doctrine arrived at because I purposely ignored the CONTEXT of the Scriptural passage. There are five major contexts of Scripture that have to be understood before you can fully understand God's Word and the "Scripture Interpreting Scripture" principle. These are:

The TONAL Context. The Tonal context is usually very clear as you read the scriptural text. Is the writer expressing anger, disgust, happiness, or sadness? What is the emotion or tone that flows through the written context? You should be aware of the tonal context, and whether it changes from paragraph to paragraph. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 3.1-3, Paul expresses disgust and disappointment over the poor spiritual growth shown in the Corinthian Church. They are little more than spiritual babies, saved but totally immature. Paul expresses disdain over the misbegotten pride of these same Corinthians in chapter 4.7-10, and commands that they quit rejecting his teachings in 4.14-18. Paul expresses shock and disappointment over the Church's pride of incest and fornication in chapter 5. The Corinthians were suing one another in court, shaming both Christ and Paul, in chapter 6. The whole tone of the Letter of 1 Corinthians is one of anything but pleasure. The Church was very carnal, which fact Paul repeatedly recognized. IF (and it is) a letter of rebuke throughout it's context, then how can we say that Paul suddenly began to praise these wayward Christians in chapters 12-14? A spiritual gift is always exercised by a mature believer to the glory of God. The Tonal Context of Corinthians shows that these believers were anything but mature, but were carnal, confused, and in a terribly backslidden state. Anything that Paul wrote in chapters 12-14 should be viewed in this light. Rather than take these chapters and excluding what was said before, we should view chapters 12-14 in the tonal context of the entire book up to this point. If you do that you see that Paul wasn't praising the Corinthian's use of the spiritual gifts, but chastising them for their improper use.

The HISTORICAL Context: The historical context of scripture always examines the history behind the writing of the passage of Scripture you're studying. Often a knowledge of the historical context is the only way possible to clearly interpret a scripture. For example:

When Jesus warned against blaspheme toward the Holy Spirit, this warning was made to unsaved Pharisees. These maligners followed Jesus from town to town, clinging onto the outskirts of the crowd, but never really believing He was Messiah. These Pharisees accused Jesus of blaspheme (Mark 2.6-7), keeping bad company and drunkenness (Mark 2.16-17), gluttony (Mark 2.18), breaking the Sabbath to fulfill His gluttony (Mark 2.24), healing on the Sabbath and thus breaking the Law (Mark 3.2), and even conspired with that old heathen Herod to get Christ discredited (Mark 3.6). These Pharisees were so hard hearted that the Gospel message could no longer reach them (Mark 3.5). These are the ones who were warned against blaspheme, not Christians. Often when those who improperly engage in Tongues are warned about their impropriety, they usually respond with a warning that you should not "blaspheme the Holy Spirit". The Historical Context of these scriptural passages clearly teaches that no Christian can commit this act, only an unsaved person.

The EXEGETICAL Context: The King James Bible (Authorized Version), as well as all other translations of the Scripture, is a translation from the original Greek-Hebrew-Aramaic-Chaldean texts. Whenever you translate a word from one language to another you usually lose a lot of the original definition of that word. For instance, in the English Language we only have one word for "Love". In the Koine Greek text (our original New Testament text) there are actually FOUR words for "Love": Stauros {denoting family love}, Eros {denoting sexual love}, Agape {denoting Divine Love}, and Phileos {denoting the love of friends}. Because the original text is so expressive, and the English language is limited in translation, the Bible student needs to refer back to the original language on key words within the English text for a sound interpretation. This method of research is called seeking the Exegetical Context.

1 Corinthians 13:1 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."

This text is central to the Charismatic theory that Tongues are a "Prayer Language" offered to the Christian believer. The key word, perhaps the most important word in the text, that is always ignored is Though. This is the Greek particle [EAN], and is very similar in use to our English "If". The Greeks, however, never just used "If" in a sentence, they always qualified the "If" as to it's factuality. If the particle [EAN] is used with a verb in the Indicative Mood, then it should be translated "If, and it's true...". If the particle [EAN] is used with a verb in the Optative Mood, then it should be translated "I wish it were true, but it isn't.....". If the particle [EAN] is used with a verb in the Subjunctive Mood, as it is in this passage, then it should be translated "If, hypothetically speaking....". Paul isn't speaking of fact here, but is speaking hypothetically only. He is making this hypothetical statement in order to emphasize that no matter what we do, if we do it without Divine Love, it is worthless. This main point is often ignored in the rush to justify a Prayer Tongue, though such behavior is poor exegesis of the Scriptural text.

How can you view the original language text of the Bible? Very simply, actually. Use a conservative Bible Commentary, or purchase the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, and Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. All of these works are numerically keyed to one another, and even a novice can begin studying the original language text of the Scriptures.

The IMMEDIATE Context: The Immediate context of the Scripture is often the most ignored, but the easiest discovered context in Bible study. When you study the Immediate context you look at all the passages around the verse in question for a sign as to it's proper interpretation. The believer must allow Scripture to interpret Scripture, understanding that no verse stands alone by itself. When the Biblical writers were compiling their works under the direction of god the Holy Spirit, the Spirit allowed the text to logically "flow" from one point to another. You'd never read a book from the middle only: you start at the beginning where the context begins, and continue to the end of that context. The Immediate Context may start a few verses before and end a few verses after what you're studying. On the other hand, you may need to read the whole book you're in to get the full context. Here's an example:

1 Corinthians 3:17 "If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

What sin causes God to destroy the believer, to cause premature death, if the believer consistently participates in the sin without repentance? Up to this point Paul was talking about the Judgment Seat of Christ, and suddenly seems to jump into another topic. But if you keep reading you will see what Paul was talking about. In 3.18-23 Paul admonishes the Corinthians to think with the mind of God, not of the flesh. In chapter 4 Paul again seems to break context, and begins discussing Apostolic Authority. In reality he hasn't broken context at all, but wants these carnal believers to understand that what follows is a series of commands that must be obeyed. In 4.16 Paul warns, be ye followers of me. In other words, "Listen to what I'm about to say, because God is behind this statement". In 5.1-2 Paul brings up an illicit affair being committed between a stepmother and her son, and condemns the Corinthians for allowing this to go on unrebuked. The fornicators are to be cast out, for, as Paul stated, (5.9-11) I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators. In Chapter 6 it looks like Paul has again changed context, but he hasn't. He discusses believers carrying believers into human courtrooms and condemns this action because, as was the case with the fornicators in chapter 5, the Church is to be God's Courtroom. If a matter, even the case of fornication, can be settled in Church, the that's where it should be settled. Finally, in 6.15-19, we come to the immediate context of what Paul started to say back in 3.17:

"Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

Every sin that you commit is without, or outside of the body, but fornication (illicit sexual activity with another person) is a sin that has direct impact on your body. Fornication is such an evil act because it takes your body, which was placed in union with Christ, and unites it with an unbeliever for pleasure's sake. This is the sin which will lead unto death if the believer doesn't quickly repent. There is still more to read in order to find the full Immediate Context of 3.17 (in fact, the context continues until 7.40), but we've went far enough to make the point. I've seen Pastors who should know better take a verse out of it's immediate context because they were too lazy to keep reading. If you follow the Immediate Context, and empty your mind of any preconceived notions, the context usually interprets itself. It just takes a little patience, a little time, careful reading, and submission to the Spirit of God within you.

For instance, I've heard legalistic preachers take the text of 1 Peter 3.3:

"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold"..

And preach that women shouldn't go to the hairstylist or wear jewelry. The preacher usually teaches that these things are signs of pride, and not tolerated in a "good Christian woman". He usually ignores the last part of the verse, which reads:

"or of putting on of apparel"

If we take the first part of the verse to mean that women shouldn't groom their hair or wear jewelry, then the last part of the verse should equally be taken that they shouldn't wear clothes, either! This is stupid to say the least. Peter isn't saying that women shouldn't groom themselves. Instead he's pointing out that their primary interest should be in her inner spiritual beauty (3.4-6), not on her outward beauty. Let the Scripture interpret the Scripture. It's the easiest way to avoid theological egg on your face.

The TOPICAL Context: The last context you need to clearly understand is the Topical Context. When you study the Bible topically you look at a certain subject, and then using this subject you find all the places in the Bible where that subject is mentioned. Once you have all of your references written down you begin to compare Scripture with Scripture to seek a proper interpretation of God's Word. Topical contexts of the Bible are best found using some sort of Topical Bible (like Nave's Topical Bible), or an exhaustive concordance (like the Strong's Concordance). In these works Biblical texts are indexed by topic, so it is easy to compare Scripture with Scripture. A good example of this contextual method follows:

Revelation 1:8 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty."

In the above passage it is obvious from the immediate context that the Speaker is God. As God, He takes the title "Alpha and Omega" to describe Himself to John the Revelator. This is a very appropriate name, as God was before the beginning, and will exist forever after the end of time.

Revelation 1:11 "Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea."

Knowing that God has called Himself "Alpha and Omega", we know that in every instance that we see this title we are talking about God. Not John, not an angel, but God. The eternal God commissioned John to write the Book of Revelation, and disperse it to the Churches of his day.

Revelation 21:6-7 "And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

Again, the use of Alpha and Omega, and again it is clearly established that the Alpha and Omega is God. Not "a god", not an angel, but Almighty God Himself. Those who accept Him will be adopted as children of God, as it is He and only He that gives of the water of eternal life.

Revelation 22:13-17 "I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Wait just a minute! In every instance, up to this verse, "Alpha and Omega" is a term used only of God. And yet in this passage the speaker is clearly Jesus. And in the other passages God was the Giver of the water of eternal life, yet in this passage Jesus is clearly stating that He is the Giver of that Life. Is there any discrepancy here? Absolutely not, for Jesus Christ was and is God incarnate. When you look at the topical context of "Alpha and Omega" this becomes brilliantly clear. The cults would have us believe that Jesus was only a great prophet, or a lesser god below God the Father. Yet the topical context of Revelation makes it clear that Jesus is equal to God Almighty in every aspect. He is the Alpha and Omega.

In Conclusion

Understanding the five contexts of Scripture is imperative if you ever want to fully understand God's Word and apply it to your life. Failure to examine even one of these contexts may make the difference between good exegesis and heretical false doctrine. Under the power of the Holy Spirit every believer has the ability to understand, properly exegete, and apply the teachings of the Bible to their lives (John 14.26). Sadly, believers are often too impatient to concentrate on God's Word, and usually enter into Bible study with preconceived notions that filter out the truth. If you approach Bible study with a clear mind, letting Scripture interpret Scripture, the correct interpretation will practically leap off the page. The Bible is God's love letter to man, and none of us have the right to read our own interpretation into it's beautiful text. All things must be proved (1 Thes 5.21) through God's Word, even the Tongues phenomenon. Do not enter the Bible seeking to vindicate your preconceived emotional experiences, enter Bible study looking for what God alone has to say. Only then can we all grow into mature believers for Christ.

Paul's Letter to Corinth

Historical and Tonal Contexts of 1 Corinthians

Studying the Gifts 1 Corinthians 12.1-3

Paul's Letter To Corinth

Anytime those within the Charismatic Movement discuss their ideology, they always head directly to 1 Corinthians chapters 12 through 14. Any Charismatic led study always focuses on these texts, along with other texts from Joel and Ezekiel. We need to look at Paul's letter to Corinth, but we need to look at it in context and without prejudice. As I stated before, all Scripture must be interpreted via Scripture, not by our own opinions and desires. With that in mind, let's look at the context of the Book of 1 Corinthians.

The Historical and Tonal Contexts

Of 1st Corinthians

Corinth was a predominantly Greek city located between Central Greece and Peloponnese. Because there were two great harbors in Corinth, the city became one of the great trade centers of the ancient world. Any brisk commercial center always attracts different cultures, and Corinth was no exception. People from all parts of the world came to this "melting pot", bringing with them their false gods and goddesses. The temple of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was prominent there. The Aphrodite system of worship employed priestesses (actually street whores) who helped anyone worship their goddess through sexual hedonism. Of course you had to pay for this service, but regardless it was one of the great attractions of the city.

As worship of Aphrodite became more prevalent, hedonism became to norm in Corinth. Depravity and pleasure were what every person (either man or woman) sought, and had fulfilled, in that great city. Sailors and travelers looked forward to their pleasure in Corinth, and city merchants were only too happy to oblige. In the middle of all this hedonism God, through the Apostle Paul, placed one a Church to lead these people out of darkness and into the Light of Christ. The fields were ripe for the harvest of salvation, a salvation that was supposed to be preached by the Corinthian believers. Sadly, they choked at the task.

It's not the environment that ruins a believer's life, it's his relationship with the Almighty God. The Corinthian believers had become used to the hedony all around them. The Church was in the City, which was good. But the City had infiltrated the Church, and this was very, very bad. The hedonism and carnality of the Corinthian believers was evident in many ways:

1 Corinthians 1:10-14 "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;"

First, these believers had their priorities all wrong. Rather than studying God's Word and applying it to their lives, they broke up into religious sects specializing in false religious pride. Those who were saved under Christ's preaching felt that they had a better salvation than those saved under Paul's. Those who were saved under Paul felt that they were better than those saved under the flamboyant preacher Apollos. In reality, all were equally saved by the Unlimited Atonement of Christ. The message of the Cross was completely forgotten under overwhelming elitist pride which led to divisions in the Church. As the Church divided it became ineffective in promoting spiritual growth in it's members:

1 Corinthians 3:1-4 "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?"

Paul's letter to the Corinthians was not written to spiritual giants, but believers who were carnal, even as unto babes. Carnal is the Greek SARKIKOS, which means "Fleshly, soulish, without spirituality, as like unbelievers". Babes is the Greek NEPIOS, which means "Infants, children not having learned the simplest functions of speech, a beginner in the faith, a novice". These believers had become so saturated with the City that Paul said they were acting just like unregenerate heathen. There's nothing wrong with being a babe in Christ immediately following your salvation, but these people remained in this baby state far beyond what God considered normal. All Christians, when first saved, are babes in Christ:

John 3:3-5 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

In the process of physical birth the newborn baby is unable to do anything for himself. He can't even breath on his own at first, the doctor shocks the child into breathing by a small slap on the rear. This child is then bathed, hand fed, cleaned up, and basically tended every minute of the day for the next few years. In the same way a newborn Christian is a spiritual baby. He's spoon-fed doctrine from God's Word by pastors and teachers until he is able to start studying the Bible on his own. As he grows spiritually, he begins to exegete passages and apply them to his life. This is spiritual growth.

The Corinthians rejected God's Word in their lives and sought hedonism over Truth. This kept them in a state of Spiritual Babyhood. In a time when they should have been applying doctrine to their lives while leading others to Christ, they were chasing the shadows of Satan. This hedonism even crept into the Assembly of the Church:

1 Corinthians 5:1-11 "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat."

The Corinthian believers were not only aware that one of the congregation was having incestuous relationships with his stepmother, but were proud of it. This was a sin so heinous that not even the unsaved Gentiles of Aphrodite would engage in it. These people had went into depth that not even the most hedonistic in Corinth would consider! Others in the Congregation had even visited Aphrodite's Temple, and joined in in the sexual activities. This is obvious from:

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

1 Corinthians 6:15-19 "Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

The Corinthians failed to understand that as believers we are in spiritual union with Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. As such, we are to avoid physical union with whores. These believers felt that, since their society justified worship of Aphrodite, then it was certainly right for the Church to engage in the same practices. The same rationalization is followed by the introduction of homosexuality and feminism in our Churches today. Because society allows homosexuality, then surely it's right for the Church to allow unrepentant homosexuals to join our Churches. Because feminism is all powerful, surely it's fine to ordain women as pastors over Churches. Actually, no, it's not. God establishes right and wrong, moral and immoral, not society. Corinth, like many of our Churches today, need to understand that.

Outside of their spiritual pride, divisions, and sexual arrogance, the two thirds of the Church had rejected Paul as their spiritual leader. Paul founded the Church at Corinth, supervised their needs as their rightful Apostle. In arrogance they rejected him for the more flamboyant Apollos:

1 Corinthians 4:14-21 "I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?"

Paul was fully able to come to Corinth with the rod of discipline from God, though he preferred that they repent and follow his example in Christ. These people had rejected God's appointed leader for another, because the other satisfied their hedonistic tendencies. The list doesn't stop here, though, for the Corinthians had rejected settling their disputes in the Church, but had begun to sue one another in the heathenistic courts of the City:

1 Corinthians 6:1-8 "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren."

Their very actions brought shame on the Church of Christ in the midst of a City they were supposed to be evangelizing. The City mocked Christ and the Church because of these great babies. The Corinthians cared nothing for one another:

1 Corinthians 8:1-13 "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. But if any man love God, the same is known of him. As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend."

As long as each man pleased himself in Corinth, he cared little for how his action effected his brother in Christ. Hedonism and self pleasure were all that were cared about. If I feel good doing it, what do I care about my brother? This loveless state showed the Church at Corinth to be little better than the society it was supposed to evangelize.

1 Corinthians 9:9-15 "For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ. Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar? Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void."

Their loveless and carnal state extended even to indifference in support of missionaries. Though Paul founded Corinth, though he slaved over their spiritual needs, these believers felt that they were a world unto themselves. They refused to support Paul and the other missionaries of that day. The Corinthians felt that their own well-being superseded the Will of God and the proclamation of the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 10:7-12 "Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."

1 Corinthians 10:20-22 "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?"

This self-centered attitude led the Corinthians into idolatry, fornication, making light of the Cross of Christ, and murmuring against the ordained leadership of the Church. Some of the strongest warnings in the Bible are found in the book of Corinthians. As these believers moved farther from Biblical truth they began to act in roles that were less than Godly. The men rejected their leadership roles in the Church and in their marital relationships (1 Corinthians 11:3), allowed their outward appearances to fail (1 Corinthians 11:4, 7-9, 14), and as they diminished in leadership women began to take over the assembly (1 Corinthians 11:5-6, 10-13, 15). Paul rebuked both men and women, and commanded that they return to their God designed roles within the assembly.

The Corinthians even perverted the Lord's Table, changing it into a time of riotous eating and drinking rather than a time for quiet reflection on what Jesus did for them:

1 Corinthians 11:17-22 "Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not."

The Lord's Table became, to the Corinthians, a time to "party". Like hogs at the trough they stuffed themselves, eating and drinking to excess while others were left without. It was "first come, first served", and devil take the last. The text above seems to even indicate that they were getting intoxicated on alcohol while in the midst of the supper (I refer to the text, "and another is drunken.")! The Church had gone so far into apostasy that God began to systematically kill these believers under the sin unto death (1 Corinthians 11:27-30). This was far from a spiritual group of believers.

So far the tonal and historical contexts of chapters 1-11 have been anything but congratulatory. Paul is less than pleased with the Corinthian believers. He founded their Church, spoon-fed them the Word of God, and sent them a worthy Pastor. The Church rejected what Paul gave, rejected the Word of God, and rejected the Spirit of God in their lives. A newborn Christian is clean from the taint of the world. These Corinthians immersed themselves in the world, rolled around in it's filth, accepted every pleasure that their City had to offer, and rejected God's Will in their lives. They perverted every good and decent thing that God gave them, and were rapidly dying off under the sin unto death. The tone that Paul uses with them is displeasure, rebuke, anger, sarcasm, and sadness over their spiritual debauchery. I don't know how anyone in their right spiritual mind could read and study the first eleven chapters of 1 Corinthians and then approach chapters 12-14 as if Paul was giving approval over their use of the spiritual gifts. These people were not mature believers using spiritual gifts to up-build the Church. These were spoiled, backslidden, fornicating Children of God, each caring more for himself than for their other brethren. We cannot study chapters 12-14 and believe that these believers were doing God's Will with the spiritual gifts. Based on the tonal and historical contexts up to this point, I believe these people were using pseudo gifts, imitations of Satan, within their fellowship. The entire letter (including chapters 12-14) was a rebuke, a stern warning from Paul under the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit. The Corinthians certainly understood the tone of the letter, as Paul states in his second letter:

2 Corinthians 7:9-12 "For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you."

The Corinthians were thoroughly rebuked by the first epistle, and knew it. They repented of all that they were doing before and were commended by Paul in his second epistle. As we enter into our study of 1 Corinthians 12-14 and recognize that the Corinthians "spoke in tongues", let's not say "The early Church did it, and so should we". Rather than that let's look beyond this silly pandering for experientiality and understand that the Corinthians were 100% wrong in everything they were doing. Chapters 12-14 addresses other errors the Corinthians were guilty of, not an example for us to live by. When you understand this your mind will be clear enough to actually study the Spiritual Gifts.

Studying The Gifts

1 Corinthians 12.1-3

"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. (AGNOEO = NOT ACQUAINTED WITH, UNFAMILIAR WITH, HAVING NO UNDERSTANDING OF. WHERE WE GET OUR ENGLISH WORD "AGNOSTIC") Ye know that ye were Gentiles, (ETHNOS = GENTILES. HERE USED TO DESCRIBE THEIR PREVIOUSLY UNSAVED STATE) carried away unto these dumb idols, (EIDOLON = IMAGES, FORMS, OR APPEARANCES, IMAGES OF FALSE GODS) even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, (GNORIZO = TO KNOW OR PERCEIVE, UNDERSTAND INTIMATELY) that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: (ANATHEMA= THE STRONGEST VOW OF CURSING FOUND IN THE GREEK LANGUAGE. MEANS TO CURSE FROM THE PRESENCE OF GOD) and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, (KURIOS = LORD, GOD.A TITLE OF DEITY) but by the Holy Ghost."

Knowing as we do the historical background of Corinthians, it's no surprise to see that Paul starts this chapter by implying that these believers are ignorant (AGNOEO) of the spiritual gifts. These believers knew that they had spiritual gifts, they knew that these gifts were promised to the Church, but they had no idea how to utilize what they possessed. The massive carnality evident in the Corinthian Church had stifled their spiritual growth, kept them in a state of perpetual babyhood. Paul writes now to correct their immaturity, and to put them on the right path of maturity and togetherness so necessary for Church survival.

These Corinthians, prior to their salvation, were heavily influenced by both idolatry and demonism. Idolatry is a natural byproduct of demonism, as Paul so aptly taught in:

1Corinthians 10:19-21 "What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."

In warning the Corinthians against idolatry Paul made it plain that any sacrifice given to idols is devil worship under another name. Idolatry is forbidden in Scripture (Exodus 20:3-4; Deu 6:14-15), not only because it is a slap in God's face, but also because it is very destructive. The believer is placed in union with Christ at the moment of new birth. When he turns to idolatry he is committing spiritual adultery, shunning Jesus Christ for the pleasures of Satanism (Jer 3:8-10; Ezek 16:23-43). Idolatry begins in the mind of the believer from the first moment he backslides into sin, and it's pull becomes ever stronger the longer he stays out of fellowship (Ezekiel 14:7). Idolatry in either the believer or unbeliever causes one to disassociate himself from reality, bringing with it madness, depravity, perversions, and hedony. If the disease spreads far enough into society, God will destroy that entire nation to prevent it's infection throughout the world (Jer 50:37-38; 7:17-20; Ezek 23:37-49; 6:4-7; Isa 21:9). The danger in idolatry is not just in worshipping the inanimate object, but because demons can and do function through these icons (Zech 10:2). If you don't believe this, go into any large bookstore and look in the "occult" section. There are row upon rows of books that deal with white magic, black magic, incantations, tarot, ouija, voodooism, and so on. Satan has used idolatry to ensnare and destroy more of humanity than any other gambit he's played. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Germany, Medo-Persia, Rome, Sodom, and Gomorra, to name a few, are nations that have suffered either extinction or massive destruction because of idolatry. Germany, following a madman and a fascist idolatrous religion called Nazism, suffered massive destruction in our recent history. Medo-Persia, which once controlled the entire civilized world, is no more than a third world country today. Such are the ravages of idolatry.

The Corinthians were not immune to this trap of idolatry. In fact, no believer is, unless he places his trust in God and studies His Word. Prior to their salvation the Corinthians were following the idol Aphrodite (The goddess of love). They frequented her temples, and worshipped via sexual fornication with the temple prostitutes. They walked as the Gentiles walked, and so became enmeshed in demonism.

After salvation these believers were freed from this Satanic trap, but rejected the Word of God over a period of time. This created a "vacuum" in their spiritual lives, a vacuum that was eventually filled with Aphrodite's sensual form of idolatry. Paul makes it plain that he knows many of these believers had returned to this wanton practice (see 6:16-20). They were carried away unto these dumb idols. "Carried Away" is the Greek APAGO, which means to carry away to execution and death. The verb is in the Present Tense, which denotes habitual action in present time. APAGO is also in the Passive Voice, which shows that the people were inactive in their carrying away. In other words, they were not walking away arm in arm with idolatry, but were literally being picked up and carried off under the idol's power. This is very frightening, for it depicts that what the Corinthians started of their own free will has now taken their lives over. APAGO is also a Greek Participle, further emphasizing it's repeated action in present time. Literally the text can be translated, "You yourselves were being carried away to death by these dumb idols". Idolatry is an insidious trap. It requires an act of will to enter into it, but once in, the idolater often finds himself powerless to stop himself. This was the condition that the Corinthians found themselves in.

In such a condition it is difficult to determine whether one is saved or not. This is why Paul gave the Corinthians a test to help them determine their spiritual status. Any within the Church who denied Jesus Christ (calling Him Anathema) were obviously without the Spirit of God and thereby unsaved. Any who could accept Jesus as God (call Him KURIOS) were obviously saved, because such an understanding of Christ can only come through those who possessed the Holy Spirit. Once those who were reading this section could agree on the Lordship of Christ this cleared away all dangerous self doubt, and allowed them to focus clearly on the teaching that was to follow.

There's one more thing I want you to understand before we continue this study: Satan has a counterfeit for everything that is of God. He has a counterfeit doctrine:

1 Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

He has a counterfeit Communion Table:

1 Corinthians10:20-21 "But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils."

He has counterfeit ministers:

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works."

He has a counterfeit gospel message:

2 Corinthians 11:3-4 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."

He has counterfeit divine power:

2 Thesselonians 2:8-10 "And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved."

He has counterfeit gods and goddesses:

2 Thesselonians 2:3-4 "Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."

And he has a counterfeit spirituality:

Galatians 3:2-3 "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?"

Those who are snared by Satan's counterfeit religions under idolatry eventually fall prey to all of Satan's tactics. Such people eventually enter into irrevocable delusion (2 Thes 2:7-12). The Corinthians, though they had not yet reached this state, were not far from it. When they "spoke in tongues" it's very probable that they were using counterfeit gifts rather than Gifts of the Spirit. We've already seen instances where pagans spoke in "tongues", and it's not inconceivable that these carnal Corinthians were involved in the same thing.

Dividing the Gifts

A Detailed Look at the Gifts

Prophecy, Ministry, Evangelism, Pastor Teacher, Healing

1 Corinthians 12

Dividing The Gifts

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 "Now there are diversities (DIAIRESIS = DISTINCTIONS BETWEEN, VARIETIES IN) of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, (DIAKONIA = SERVICE, ATTENDANCE, WAITING ON) but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, (ENERGEMA = WORKING, ENERGY) but it is the same God which worketh all in all."

We've already fully discussed the historical background of 1 Corinthians, and found the Corinthians believers to be completely carnal and immature. In an effort to get these believers back on track, Paul begins to discuss the Spiritual Gifts that are available to the mature believer.

Paul begins by noting that the Spiritual Gifts are broken down into categories. God didn't give the Body of Christ, the Church, just one spiritual Gift. The Body is many parted with each part having a different function. Just as the human body has many parts, each with it's own distinct purpose and function, the Church has DIAIRESIS., or many different functioning parts (1 Corinthians 12.12, 14-26).

Romans 12:3-5 "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, (THE CHURCH) and all members have not the same office: (THE GIFTS AND POSITIONS HELD IN THE CHURCH) So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

Hebrews 10:23-25 "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day (SECOND COMING OF JESUS) approaching."

The Church isn't a clubhouse for the Saints. The Church was established by God as a vitally necessary formation of all believers so that we can carry out God's Plan and Purpose here on earth. Though we're never commanded to do anything under our own feeble powers, God has given us two tools that we can use to serve Him. We are to use the power of God the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives, and we are to work through our local Body of Christ (the Church) while on this earth. Both tools must be used if the believer is to be effective for God in the devil's world.

Paul told the Romans that the believer is to think "soberly", not proudly of himself. The abilities that we have are from the Lord, the spiritual Gifts we possess are from our Father. We are "many members in one Body", and as we each are cogs in that Body we must work together with our brethren toward the common goal of serving God. No believer is a power unto himself, and none of us can stand firm in this evil world apart from our local Church. When any believer begins to feel that he's an island unto himself, then he's lost sight of the Divine purpose of the Church. I may have the gifts of teaching and exhortation, but no believer possesses all of the gifts of the Spirit. No spiritual Gift was ever given to edify or build up the recipient of that Gift, but all were meant to edify the Body of Christ. Just as the human body needs nourishment from all the food groups, each of us needs a sampling of all the Gifts available to the Body. If a person eats starchy foods to the exclusion of all else then his body will turn on itself and seek to draw the necessary nutrients out of it's very tissues. If a believer cuts himself off from his local Church he'll never reach his maximum potential for God. The Corinthians never quite grasped this concept (1 Cor 3.4-10; 6.1-8). They destroyed their own spiritual growth by breaking up their local Church into divisive groups. You must join and work within your local Body in order to satisfy your spiritual needs.

1Corinthians 12:24-27 "For our comely (BEAUTIFUL) parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."

The spiritual maturity of each individual believer is directly related to how he functions in the local Church, and how he functions in the local Church is an indicator of that believer's spiritual maturity. The spiritual Gifts were given by God to the Church so that the Church as a whole would grow without division or schisms. The Corinthians were not using their spiritual Gifts as is evident by the divisions in the Body. These believers were "high minded", separating into their own little groups for pride's sake. There was no concern one for another as God commands us. Every believer has both a right to exercise his Gift as well as a duty to insure that it's operation benefits the Church. When believers fail to reach maturity so they can exercise their Gifts within the Body they rob the Church.

How many spiritual Gifts are available to the Body of Christ? Depending on which theologian you ask, the number could be anywhere between eight and twenty-four. However, if you compare the three "spiritual Gifts lists" found in scripture, I think you'll agree that the number is more realistically sixteen. Let's look at these "lists":

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

Romans 12:6-8 "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness."

Ephesians 4:11-12 "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:"

As you can see by comparing the lists, not all Gifts are in all three lists. Some are listed only in two lists, whereas some are mentioned only once (like Tongues). Before we list all of these gifts I want to note 1 Corinthians 12.5-6 again. In that text Paul categorizes the Gifts as either DIAKONIA, or Administrative Gifts, or ENERGEMA, Operational or Working Gifts. The DIAKONIA are those Gifts necessary for the earthly leadership of the Church. Yes, Jesus is the ultimate Head of the Church, but the Church is broken down (for practical reasons) into local assemblies. Each local assembly has some God Appointed Leaders to physically manage that Church. These Leaders always possess DIAKONIA Gifts. The Operational Gifts, ENERGEMA, are those Gifts given to the followers of Christ in the local Church. These gifts operationally sustain the Body by providing spiritual sustenance to it's members. The following is a breakdown of all the Spiritual Gifts:

DIAKONIA GIFTS	ENERGEMA GIFTS
Ruling (also called Eldership) Apostleship	Prophecy (Preaching) Ministry (Helps) Evangelism (Exhortation) Pastoral-Teaching Healing Working of Miracles Discerning of Spirits Giving Mercifulness Wisdom Knowledge Faith Tongues Interpretation of Tongues

The ENERGEMA can also be broken down into two categories, Characteristic and Non-Characteristic Gifts. The Characteristic Gifts are those gifts which are Divine amplifications of some trait found in mankind. The Non-Characteristic Gifts are those which find no parallel in nature, but are purely supernatural. These categories of ENERGEMA are:

CHARACTERISTIC GIFTS	NON-CHARACTERISTIC GIFTS
Evangelism (Exhortation) Ministry (Helps) Pastoral - Teaching Giving Mercifulness Faith Wisdom Knowledge	Prophecy (Preaching) Healing Working of Miracles Discerning of Spirits Tongues Interpretation of Tongues

There are a total of sixteen spiritual Gifts available and dispensed throughout the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit. As these Gifts often supplement or compliment one another, the Spirit usually dispenses them in pairs. This is illustrated in 1 Timothy 3.2, where we read:

"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;"

According to Paul those who possess the Leadership Gift must also possess the Gift of Teaching. This would make it necessary for the Holy Spirit to give at least two Gifts to God's chosen leader over the local Church. This is further amplified by:

1 Corinthians 12:11 "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

Severally is a key word in this verse. The Spirit doesn't give just one Spiritual Gift to each believer, but two or more as He sees fit. Hypothetically we could suppose that God would give the Leader of the local Church the Gifts of Prophecy (so he could preach the Word), Ministry (so he could aid his flock), Evangelism (so he could lead others to Christ), Mercifulness, Wisdom, and Knowledge. Though his primary Gift would be Leadership, the secondary Gifts given would help him to fulfill his calling. If another believer in that Body were called to be an Evangelist, we could hypothetically say that he would possess secondary Gifts as needed to help him fulfill his office. Each member of the Body definitely has an assigned primary Gift, and the Scripture alludes us to believe that that member also possesses secondary Gifts as deemed necessary by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12.19-24).

Having said this, there are certain general characteristics the Bible ascribes to the Gifts. These are:

No one Gift is more important than the other. All assigned Gifts are equally important in the Body of Christ.

1Corinthians 12:14-18 "For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him."

The Corinthians thought that if they possessed the "less spectacular Gifts" then they were less important to God in the Church. I always think about my own body when I see someone who is handicapped and wonder what part of it I could do without. Could I lose a finger or a toe without harming or changing the quality of my life? Absolutely not! Our handicapped brethren have learned to live without certain things which I take for granted, but I dare say that all of them wish that they could be without their limitations. Paul illustrates the same thing in the above text. If the whole Body of Christ wanted the "Eye Gifts", then the Body would be crippled from it's other natural functions. The Body would definitely suffer under such limitations, with the end result being poor spiritual maturity within it's individual members. The Corinthians involved themselves is this silly state. They all wanted to speak in Tongues because they felt that Gift was visible and flamboyant. I don't believe for one moment that they were all utilizing Tongues, for the Spirit gives the Gifts as He determines necessary to the Body. Some Corinthians no doubt practiced Tongues, whereas others practiced a counterfeit from Satan's world order. All were speaking Tongues, either real or pseudo, and the hazard was that they were completely ignoring the other Spiritual Gifts. This crippled that Body, and led to the text which we are now studying.

The Gifts are not to be confused with normal human talent.

Talent is "an attribute or characteristic among mankind which is inherited at birth through the gene pool of the parents, or learned through remedial training". Spiritual Gifts are "extraordinary or amplified power given to a believer through God the Holy Spirit so that the Body of Christ can be edified or built up". A spiritual Gift is never to be connected with ordinary human talent. This is an insult to God the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual Gifts are never given to an individual believer so that he can edify or glorify himself.

1 Corinthians 12:7 "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."

Withal is the old English for "with all", or "along side of everyone else". The believer who exercises the Gift is edified, certainly, but this exercise must also edify the entire Body or the Gift is being improperly used. The Charismatic idea that Tongues are given to believers as a "personal prayer language" is totally unfounded in Scripture, and directly contradicted by the above text. You may have Tongues, and you may exercise that Gift in the Body. But if you fail to exercise the Gift to edify the Body then you sin against God by rejecting His plainly stated decree.

All believers possess at least two spiritual Gifts, one primary and the other supporting the first.

We've already studied the ramifications of 1 Corinthians 12.11, so you should see the clarity of this point. All believers have spiritual Gifts. Why don't all believers exercise their Gifts? Because many in the Church today are spiritually immature and carnal, redundant, in and out of fellowship on a daily basis. Many of the things that God gives His children are given provisionally. The power of the Spirit is given to believers who are mature and able to use that power for God's glory. God protects even the carnal believer from harming himself by restricting his power within the Plan of God. Our Father heard the cries of Israel in bondage to Egypt, and freed them from captivity (Exo 3.6-8). He promised Israel a land flowing with milk and honey, a bountiful land called Canaan. His promises were provisionally applied to believing Israel, not to the unbelieving portion of that great nation. When the Exodus generation continued to reject God's Plans for it, God condemned them to slow extermination in the wilderness (Lev 14.20-35). Only two believers from the Exodus generation, Joshua and Caleb, would ever sit foot on the Promised Land. The same principals apply to the believer and the Spiritual Gifts. We have been promised at least two Gifts. By staying in fellowship and growing as believers we can claim these Gifts in our own lifetime. If we backslide and reject God's best for us, we delay our ability to exercise these Gifts. If we continue to stay out of fellowship then we can even enter into the Sin unto Death (1 John 5.16-17; Psa 118.17-18; Jere 9.15-16; 44.12; 1 Cor 11.30-31; Acts 5.1-10; 1 Chron 10.13-14). Though the Gifts may be yours, you must grow before you can go!

Spiritual Gifts are never given according to the relative merit of the believer.

At the point of salvation all believers are "babes in Christ", none of us any better than the other. God the Holy Spirit doesn't look at one person and say, "This one is such a good person that I'm going to give him the Gift of Leadership, or the Gift of Teaching". There are none of us intrinsically good in God's sight. We are all filthy sinners prior to salvation (Romans 3.9-18), and at salvation have done nothing worthy of merit other than accept Jesus Christ as Saviour. The Spirit bestows the Gifts as He sees fit (1 Corinthians 12.11), not based on our poor track record of merit. As all Gifts are equally important in the Body, your Gift is just as important as mine to the smooth function of the Church.

The Spiritual Gifts that you receive from God the Holy Spirit are forever marked out for you.

Romans 11:29 "For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance."

You retain your Gifts, though your ability to exercise the same is based on your reaching a level of maturity satisfactory with the Father. Israel was promised Canaan by God, a contract that He stood ready to honor. Because the first generation in the Exodus rejected God and remained in immaturity they never claimed that promise. This was not God's fault, it was solely theirs. Christians all have Spiritual Gifts, but sadly, few ever claim the Promise. Doctor John Maxwell, the Wesleyan Minister and Christian INJOY founder, teaches a 20-80 principle in the Local Church. One of the tenets of this principle is that 20% of those who attend Church do 80% of the work in the Church. What this means is that, as Doctor Maxwell has discovered, only one fifth of the members of any local Church ever develop in maturity to the point where they can effectively serve God. This has been made abundantly clear to me over the years as I have served in various leadership positions in the Church. It is like pulling teeth to get believers to step forward with the Gifts of Teaching, Ministry, Giving, Discernment, or Evangelism. The Holy Spirit sets these Gifts in the Church: the Scripture teaches it, and I believe it. All believers possess spiritual Gifts as necessary for the operation of the Church. Again, this is Scriptural. But few believers ever claim the Promise, for they never seek maturity in their walk with Christ.

The mature believer can unselfishly ask God for additional Gifts as is necessary to edify the Body of Christ.

In Corinth there were so many selfish and carnal believers that there was a lack of mature believers with operating Gifts. This definitely limited that Body from functioning as God intended. Many Corinthians who sought Gifts ignored their own Primary Gift in an attempt to "Speak in Tongues". This led Paul to state:

1 Corinthians 14:12-13 "Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret."

And also:

1Corinthians 12:31 "But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way."

Whenever the Church is crippled by carnality those who are mature in Christ must take up the slack. If these mature believers ask God for additional Spiritual Gifts so that the Church can function, the Spirit will grant these requests as He sees fit. Remember, God alone determines how the Gifts are dispersed (1 Corinthians 12.11). In a recent article I read from a Feminist/Christian, the author related that the idea of men only in the pulpit was preposterous, old fashioned, and that the Biblical writers were really reflecting the prejudices of their time by ignoring women as candidates for ordination. She concluded by stating "If there is no man in the Church that will preach, then God will raise up a woman to preach". The point that my sister missed was, God will raise up His Minister to preach as He sees fit. And if no Minister is available for the pulpit, the mature believers should pray and ask that the Holy Spirit fill this void. (As to my views on women in the Pulpit, this will not be addressed here. See the Broken Rib series for that discussion.)

The Spiritual Gift is always controlled and under control by the mature believer.

1 Corinthians 14:27-32 "If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets."

The immature and carnal believer has no ability to exercise his Gift, but the mature believer has exercise and control over his. The believer who teaches does not knowingly teach false doctrine while exercising his Gift, or else the Gift becomes inactive under sin. If a believer tries to use his Gift to edify himself alone then this selfishness (sin) causes him to lose the Filling, and thus the operation of that Gift. The mature believer operates his Gift with knowledge that it must edify the Body. The mature believer chooses the right moment to exercise his Gift, and knows when the Gift must be restrained. All things must be done to the edification of the Church (1 Corinthians 14.26).

Consider this: I have been given numerous Gifts by the Holy Spirit. One of these is the ability to teach, another to preach. While I sit in the congregation on Sunday morning, hearing the Pastor's sermon, I have no authority under God to suddenly jump up and add my two cents worth to the sermon. God sends me some of the best sermon seeds while I sit under the authority of another of His Ministers. Yet I must keep quiet, store the thought, and let the seed grow until such time as He allows me to Minister. The Bible teaches:

1 Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."

So I must be still until it is my time to serve. If what I or you do causes confusion, quenches growth and edification, then it is not of God. Some Charismatics would have us believe that holding your tongue is the same as quenching the Spirit. Not so! We are commanded to hold our tongues (1 Corinthians 14.27-31, 37-40) to prevent confusion. This is the essence of Christian maturity.

The Spiritual Gifts are always used in Love to edify (build up) the Body of Christ.

1 Cor:13:1-2 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, 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 though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."

The Charismatics center their attention on the first eleven words of this text yet miss the whole point. No matter what Gift you possess, if you aren't using it to edify the body of Christ, then you aren't doing God's Will. Your position in the Plan of God is useless, your rewards in Heaven are being dumped. The end aim or goal of all Spiritual Gifts is to edify the Body. When this goal is missed then this action, your alleged "Gift", was in essence useless. Anything less than edification of the Church is trash in God's eyes.

Having looked at these general points about the Gifts, let's look at each Gift in detail. Perhaps by understanding what each Gift does you can understand how to use it in the Body of Christ.

A Detailed Look at The Gifts:

The Gift of Prophecy

In the Old Testament dispensation (up until the Day of Pentecost) the one who possessed the Gift of Prophecy had the ability to foresee and foretell the future. In the New Testament early Church the canon of Scripture was closed (Revelation 22.18) the Gift of Prophecy came to be found in the form that we today call "Preaching". As Vincent states:

"Prophecy - in the New Testament, as in the Old, the prominent idea is not prediction, but the inspired delivery of warning, exhortation, instruction, judging, and making manifest the secrets of the heart.."

In the Old Testament there was a distinction made between the one who held the "Office" of the Prophet and the one who possessed the "Gift" of Prophecy. Those who possessed the Gift received and lost the Gift as God decreed, but the one who held the Office had no other vocation other than as God's Prophet. Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, and Ezekiel all held the Office. King David, Solomon, and King Saul all possessed the Gift of Prophecy, though they were not normally prophets.

The Biblical test as to whether one possessed the original Prophetic Gift is whether that person was 100% correct 100% of the time (Deuteronomy 18). If a person prophesied even one error then in the Old Testament dispensation he was considered a false prophet and was stoned to death. What the Father says always comes true, and the Prophet only repeated what the Father told him. True prophecy also inspired man to follow after God while forsaking all other gods (Deuteronomy 13). The false prophet always led others to false gods or subtly blasphemed the True Father. If the prophet also failed to acknowledge the Bible, God's Word, as true, then this was also a sign that he was false (1 Corinthians 14.37-38). The false prophet always says what the people want to hear rather than what God wants said (Jeremiah 23.9-29). False prophets steal their messages from others, pretend to have the authority of God, and glorify themselves rather than the Almighty (Jeremiah 23.30-32). They rely on their own wisdom, and lead others to rely on this false wisdom which indeed becomes a trap on the day of trial (Ezekiel 12.21-14.11). They grieve the righteous, encourage the wicked proclaim peace and shallow optimism when this is but a figment of the imagination. The false prophet never rebukes the people in God's name for their sinful ways but rationalizes these failures as "mere mistakes".

The Gift of Ministry

Ministry, the Greek DIAKONIA (from where we get our word "Deacon") means "To serve, service, help, or wait on others". One with the Gift of Ministry has the ability to help others succeed in their walks with God. The Minister always helps or aids others to a supernatural degree. A Minister would be enabled to counsel others in despair, aid in repairs or physical comfort of others. In other words, this is a multi-functional Gift which promotes the edification of others within the Body. It can be used to help those in pain or suffering, and bring happiness and comfort.

The Gift of Evangelism

Evangelism, also called "exhortation", is the Greek word PARAKLESIS. This word literally translated means "To call alongside of". The evangelist has the Divine ability to implore, speak in oration to, challenge, entreat, or bring comfort to others through public or private communication. Evangelism, like prophecy, can be held as a Gift or as an Office. Those with the Office of Evangelist devote their lives to serving God with their Gift in exhortation. The Evangelist can effectively challenge the Body of Christ toward righteous living and spiritual maturity. He can, through spirited communication, lead men to repent of their sins and turn to Jesus Christ as Saviour. Though all believers are called to be witnesses for Christ, the Evangelist (of either Office or Gift) is always an effective witness, pointing the way to the risen Saviour.

The Gift of the Pastor-Teacher

Though the King James text lists this as two Gifts, the Greek construction in Ephesians 4.11-12 [POIMEN KAI DIDASKALOS] shows this to be the same Gift. The Ascensive KAI in the verse would render the translation, "Pastor, even Teacher". Pastor, or POIMEN, is "One who shepherds or guides the flock", and DIDASKALOS, is "An instructor or teacher". Literally this Gift denotes one who "Guides the flock of God through instruction".

The Pastor-Teacher has the Divine ability to glean instruction from the Word of God and present the same to the Church for their spiritual edification. The Pastor-Teacher is a critical and important asset in the believer's momentum to spiritual maturity. The Pastor-Teacher is empowered to spend much of his time in studying the Word of God, assimilating it's doctrines, interpreting texts, and categorizing the materials gathered for later submission to the Flock. The Gift carries certain restrictions with it: Women possessing the Gift were not allowed to use the Gift in authority over the men of the congregation (1 Cor 14.34-35; Eph 5.22-24; 1 Tim 2.11-15). The reason for this is outlined in the series The Broken Rib, so I will not go into it here. Suffice it to say that this restriction had nothing to do with a woman's inability to teach, or some presupposed inferiority of the female as opposed to the male. This is just not true! But I will not digress here. Please feel free to break into the other study at your own leisure.

The Gift of Healing

The Gift of Healing gives the Body of Christ the Divine ability to shunt off or reverse the effects of physical sickness. This Gift was usually exercised through the elders of the Church:

James 5:14-15 "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."

The Gift was limited to curing sickness through God's Will. It did not necessarily carry with it a mandate that God would heal if it was outside of His Will.

A Detailed Look at The Gifts:

Healing, Miracles, Wisdom and Knowledge, Faith

Ruling, Apostleship, Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues

Continuation from last Study

It must also be made clear that the Gift of Healing (as with all the Spiritual Gifts) will not override the Will of God. God often uses sickness among believers to punish sin (1 Cor 11.29-30), and to test the believer in order to strengthen him (James 1.2-5). If a believer repents of his habitual sinning then he is often pulled out from under the curse of the sickness, and believers under God induced trials leave the test when they have grown as God intended.

The Gift of Miracles

"Miracles" is the Greek word DUNAMIS, which means "dynamic and inherent power". This Gift is the power of God exercised through members of the Church in order to change, modify, or redirect the forces of nature so as to edify that Body while glorifying God. Using Miracles our Lord Jesus raised the dead (John 11.43), fed over five hundred with a little food (John 6.11), allowed Him to walk on water, heal those who were cursed with serious birth defects...in other words, all that Jesus did, He did through this wonderful Gift. Jesus acknowledged that during His earthly ministry all that He did, He did through the empowering Holy Spirit (Luke 11.13-20), and through this Gift.

Miracles is not to be confused with the Gift of Healing, though both Gifts are equally "miraculous". The Gift of Healing was exercised through several members of the Body, whereas Miracles is exercised through one person. Healing historically was used to remove natural, non genetic illnesses from the Body of Christ whereas Miracles is equally effective against all types of illnesses and disease. In Acts 3.1-10 Peter used Miracles to heal a man who was born lame, an obvious birth defect. Miracles literally twists the very fabric and laws of nature as we know them in order to work the Will of God.

Miracles, as with all other Gifts, must work in cooperation with the Plan of God. Miracles will not reverse the effects of God's good judgment. If contrary to His Plan, or detrimental to the Body, Miracles will be inoperative.

The Gifts of Wisdom and Knowledge

"Knowledge" comes from the Greek GNOSIS, and means "to learn by science or experience". Knowledge is therefore the Gift of Learning given to certain members in the Body, and always to those who possess the leadership Gift of the Pastor. The Gift gives the believer the ability to seek out the deeper truths found in God's Word. Knowledge is usually accompanied by the Gift of Wisdom.

Wisdom gives the believer the ability to apply what he has learned within the Body of Christ toward it's edification. An example would be as follows: The Pastor uses Knowledge to seek out the deeper truths of God's Word, and Wisdom in applying these truths while preaching his sermon on Sunday.

These Gifts are not exclusively given to Pastors, but can be used as primary or secondary Gifts with any believer. A believer with the Gift of Giving could also possess Wisdom, thus allowing him to more effectively give to the edification of the Body. I pray that the elders/ deacons in the Church all possess Knowledge and Wisdom in God's fullness, though I have met many who were called deacons who had no concept of either Gift.

The Gift of Faith

The Greek PISTIS, translated "Faith", literally means "moral conviction, reliance in, constancy in profession, assurance, belief in God". Though all Christians possess faith (John 11.25-26, 40; 3.16-18), and though all are commanded to have faith (1 John 5.4-14), the spiritual Gift of Faith is an amplification of the norm. The Gift gives that believer the ability, without doubting, to do great things for God. The Gift of Faith is as necessary for the preservation of the Body as the state of faith is to the preservation of fellowship in the individual believer.

The Gift of Ruling

"Ruling" comes from the Greek Episkope, and means "one who rules, supervises, or inspects". The Gift of Ruling is given in the local Church to the one who holds the office of Head Elder, Shepherd, or Pastor. This man acts as the head or ruler over the business of the local Church while that Church is in assembly. Each local Church has, historically, one EPISKOPE. As the old saying goes, everything that lives has but one head. If it has two heads, it's a freak. There is no support in Scripture for a plurality of Elders ruling the Church of Christ. Nor is there any support in Scripture for the viewpoint that deacons are rulers or co-rulers within the Body. The office of Deacon was established in apostolic times as servants or helpers to the EPISKOPE and the flock. The deacons always carry out administrative chores for the Pastor so he is able to study the Word, teach it's precepts, and through this process feed the Flock (Acts 6.1-7; 1 Timothy 3.8-13). The Pastor, as the EPISKOPE, retains final authority in the local Church, and is the sole establisher of policy and administrative action.

Though all believers receive their spiritual Gifts at new birth, the one who possesses the Gift of EPISKOPE may not assume the office until he possesses an established degree of maturity. The EPISKOPE must:

Have a good reputation among believer and unbeliever alike.

Have only one wife; he must not be a bigamist.

He must not be drawn to alcohol or alcoholic products. This also rules out mind altering drugs.

He must have a well behaved family. If he has not ruled his family well, he certainly can't rule the Church of Christ.

He must not have a quick temper, nor be a brawler.

He must not be concerned about money. If he's in the job for the money, he's not ready.

He must possess the Gift of Teaching.

He must be good-natured, and kind.

He must be a mature believer, having been in the faith for some time before he assumes the office.

He must be a man! The day that a woman can Biblically be "The Husband of One Wife" is the day I agree that it's fine for women to assume this office over a local Church.

These are not requirements I made up, but can be found in 1 Timothy 3.1-7. Though all Gifts are important in the Body, the EPISKOPE is particularly critical. If someone fills the position without the proper qualifications the whole Body will suffer from prolonged spiritual inactivity and failure to grow. If the right man fills this position the Church will grow and prosper through assimilation of God's Word even in the worst of times.

The Gift of Apostleship

APOSTOLOS means "one who is the messenger or ambassador of God". The Apostles were used by God as His spokesmen, conveying His Word to the people. In addition to God using His apostles to speak to us, He also used these believers to establish local Churches, and then guide these early Church assemblies. The Apostolos were the ultimate heads of the Church on earth, second only to our Lord Jesus Christ. Apostolos ruled vast congregations (like Paul, who ruled the Churches at Ephesus, Corinth, Rome, and Crete), whereas the EPISKOPOS ruled the local Church they were assigned to. Apostles were specifically commanded by Jesus to reach into unchurched territories and found new Churches. Without their drive the Church would not have become as widespread as it is today.

Eph:2:19-20 "Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;"

Historically the one who possessed Apostolos Gifts was commissioned to the Office by Jesus Christ Himself. This limits the Gift so that it no longer exists in it's original form, as Apostles were not only commissioned by Christ, but also witnessed the risen Savior. The Gift may exist today in a modified form, as those called to the Mission field establish new Churches just as the early Apostles did. Again, though, this is just supposition, as I know of no Scriptural text that conveys the possibility of Apostles within our present Church Age.

The Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues

Acts:2:4-8 "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. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?"

In this well known text on Tongues we can learn a great deal about the Gift, a great deal often not emphasized by the Charismatics:

1. Tongues are not a learned Gift. Those who were in the upper room spoke with Tongues as as the Spirit gave them utterance. The visitors that witnessed this event recognized that all those who spoke were Galilaeans, people who generally spoke Koine Greek dialects. The visitors were from out of town and spoke in a variety of languages, many languages not only unknown but unheard of by those from Galilee. Yet the Galilaeans spoke in all the various languages and dialects while preaching the Gospel of Christ. This was a true miracle from God!

2. Tongues are not a Heavenly language. The visitors who heard the Galilaeans understood what was being said in their own native tongues, as they said, hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born. Charismatics like to quote 1 Corinthians 13.1 as proof that Tongues are a prayer language:

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal."

This was far from what Paul was teaching, though. He was speaking hypothetically to make a teaching point. Though is the Greek EAN, which is always used in hypothetical statement. Literally rendered, this would be "Hypothetically speaking, IF I spoke with...". The point of the text is not that Tongues is a prayer language, but that Love is the greatest motivator within the Church. In Acts Tongues was clearly an earthly language not necessarily understood by the operator of the Gift, but clearly understood by the receiver of the Gift. God used Tongues to reverse, howbeit temporarily, the barriers of language that He put in place at the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11.9). He did this so that the unbeliever could clearly hear the Gospel message.

3. Tongues are not given to believers as a personal prayer language. Again, Charismatics make a great deal of fuss over 1 Corinthians 14.13-15, where we read:

"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 will 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."

If I've ever seen Scripture twisted out of context to suit one's own purpose, such an interpretation of this text certainly fits the bill. It's probably true that the carnal Corinthians were praying in some Satanic counterfeit that they though was "Tongues". However, the entire text in question isn't a praise or commendation, or even a recognition that they were praying in Tongues. Paul says that believers are to pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also, that is, Pray in a language that you understand. Prayer, by it's very nature, is an act of communion or discourse between the believer and his Heavenly Father. If you don't understand what you're saying then how in the world can you be talking with your Father? Proper prayer is like proper communication with your peers: you must talk legibly and understandably, or else you just aren't communicating. "Praying in Tongues" is neither praying nor communicating with God. You must pray with understanding!

4. Tongues are never to be exercised without the Gift of Interpretation, or someone present who speaks the language that you are speaking:

1 Corinthians 14:13: "Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret."

1 Corinthians 14:27-32 "If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets."

All Spiritual Gifts, even Tongues, were given to edify the Body of Christ. Speaking gibberish in the congregation doesn't edify anyone, though it does make visitors to your Church think you're all idiots or mentally challenged (1 Corinthians 14.23). However, if Tongues are both spoken and interpreted the unbeliever will hear the Gospel message (just as in Acts) and perhaps accept Jesus as their Savior (1 Corinthians 14.24-25).

5. Tongues, as with all Spiritual Gifts, are to be exercised at the appropriate time within the Congregation: Just as we read above, "And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets", which means we do have control over when the Gift is operated. We are to use that control to insure that our Gifts only edify the Body, never bringing confusion into the Church. Can you imagine what the Church would be like on Sunday morning if all the Teachers stood up and began simultaneously teaching? It would be a madhouse, and certainly not pleasing to God. The same goes for Tongues. I have been in Churches where it was acceptable for someone to stand up in the middle of the sermon and begin shouting gibberish. I often want, when I see this happen, to stand up myself and say, "Wait a minute, Brother Minister. I have a better sermon to preach than the one you're slaughtering right now". And then launch into my own sermon. How fast do you think the deacons would (rightly) escort me from the Church? Then if that's wrong, it's just as wrong for some neophyte to begin screaming gibberish just because "he feels led". Poppycock!

Control of your Spiritual Gift shows Christian maturity. Lack of control shows the vestiges of babyhood, selfishness, and self glorification perverting your Christian walk. I may have the Gift of Helps and sing for the Church. But if I sing incessantly, refusing to stop to allow the Pastor to perform his duty, then I use my Gift against rather than for the Church. It's that simple.

6. The Gift of Tongues is not used as a sign to witness the Baptizing Ministry of the Spirit. In fact, as we studied earlier, Tongues are evidence of the Filling, not the Baptism. The Charismatics emphasize each instance of tongues in the Book of Acts as "A Sign of the Baptism", and point out that this manifestation should be going on in the Church today. As we earlier showed, Tongues were always an evidence of the newly offered Filling Ministry of the Spirit. Why were Tongues used to emphasize this Gift in Acts and not in our present Church Age. Again, because this was a new ministry available only to the Church. Once the Filling Ministry was introduced and believers began to understand that this was permanently offered in the Church Age, God ceased the Sign. The Baptism itself was only introduced one time, in the Upper Room, and with a visible manifestation of "Tongues of Fire" (Acts 2.3). Paul even alludes to the fact that Tongues had already ceased to be a "signpost" or advertisement of the Filling in:

1 Corinthians 12.29-30 "Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?"

Each of these short sentences contain the Greek negative particle ME. The particle ME is always used when a question is asked where the expected response is "No!". Literally translated, the sentences would read:

"All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not possess the gifts of healing, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret (tongues), do they?"

The text emphasizes the main truth of Spiritual Gifts: All members of the Body do not possess nor exercise the same Spiritual Gifts. If we did, then we wouldn't be a Body, but we'd be a entity with only one function. Tongues are included in the same sentence structure as are the gifts of Apostleship, Prophecy (Preaching), Teaching, Healing, and Miracles. If you believe that all believers possess Tongues, and use Tongues as a "prayer language", then your premise is just as misguided as if you believed that all members of the Body were Teachers, or Preachers. There is no functional need for all members to possess the same Gift, not of Preaching, nor of Tongues. If Tongues are still a sign, then they must be possessed by all Christians. And if they are possessed by all Christians, then this is contrary to what Paul wrote in our 1 Corinthians 12 text.

Leaving this sub-study on Tongues for a moment, there is another point that needs to be made about the Spiritual Gifts:

Romans 12:6-8 "Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness."

Paul places each of the Spiritual Gifts above in the locative case. This locative case, as Dr Weuss points out (Weuss, "Word Studies in the Greek New Testament", Volume 1, pg 213, copyright 1955, Wm B Eerdmans Publishing Company), causes the translation to better read:

"Having therefore gifts differing according to the grace given us, whether (that of) prophecy, (prophesy) according to the proportion of faith, or serving, exercise that gift within the sphere of service, or teaching, within the sphere of teaching, or he who exhorts, within the sphere of exhortation, the one who distributes of his earthly possessions, in the sphere of an unostentatious simplicity, the one who is placed in a position of authority, with intense eagerness and effort, the one who shows mercy, with a hilarious abandon.."

The believer is exhorted to exercise the Gifts that he has been given, and not to stray into "another man's field". One of the biggest problems that face our Church today is that believers just don't understand the division of the Spiritual Gifts. Not too long ago I was in a leadership conference under Dr Ken Marler. One of his remarks was, "In every Church there's always the Pastor, and several others who want to be the Pastor". This is so true. Too often those who do not possess the Spiritual Gift want to "fill in" for the one who does hold the Gift. In the human body hands are used for one thing, the feet for another. Each part of the body is vitally necessary for, if not survival, at least for comfort and success in life. When the hands or the feet try to switch places there's always discomfort and trouble. A popular notion in our Churches today is to form governing committees. These committees, often formed of believers who have neither Gift nor idea of ruling, dictate policy and make decrees that the Pastor of that Church has to try and conform to. Our Churches are weak in many instances because we have stripped the Pastor of his God-given authority and leadership. Pastors should lead, Teachers should teach, Evangelists should evangelize: whatever your Gift, you should concentrate on exercising your Gift rather than directing how another will use his. Through proper use and division of the Spiritual Gifts the Body will flourish as God intended.

Returning To 1 Corinthians 12

1 Corinthians 12:7: "But the manifestation (PHANEROSIS = THAT WHICH MAKES MANIFEST OR VISIBLE, SEEN) of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal (HAMA = AS A GROUP, AT THE SAME TIME WITH ALL OTHERS)."

This text is so clear in it's teaching that I often wonder how anyone could misinterpret it. PHANEROSIS describes the Spiritual Gifts as they are being operated within the Body of Christ. At the point of salvation God the Holy Spirit gives every believer a spiritual Gift. The fact that you received one isn't evident, though, until you actually operate the Gift. Your Gift should only become visible, or operative, in the Church when it benefits the whole Church. As Scripture is true and cannot be broken (John 10.35), anyone who says that they were given a Gift just for their own benefit or private use is patently out of line. All Gifts, even Tongues, must be operated to benefit the whole Assembly. Those who believe that there are "exceptions" to this rule should read Paul's closing statement in the Gifts context:

1 Corinthians 14:36-38 "What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant."

To ignore even one verse of Scripture is ignorance, and an open door to carnality. And yes, I know that the following verse reads:

1 Corinthians 14:39-40 "Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order."

To which I reply, you are absolutely correct. IF Tongues are exercised properly, and IF Tongues edify the Body, then they are to be considered with the same care and validity as the other Gifts. Paul never said to forbid the operation of Tongues. What he forbade was all purported exercise of Spiritual Gifts that not only failed to edify the Body, but brought downright confusion into it's midst. The Gifts are for the Body, not just for the operator of the same.

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; (SPIRITUAL GIFT OF WISDOM) to another the word of knowledge (SPIRITUAL GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE) by the same Spirit; To another faith (SPIRITUAL GIFT OF FAITH) by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing (SPIRITUAL GIFT OF HEALING) by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles (SPIRITUAL GIFT OF MIRACLES); to another prophecy (SPIRITUAL GIFT OF PREACHING); to another discerning of spirits (SPIRITUAL GIFT OF DISCERNMENT); to another divers kinds of tongues (SPIRITUAL GIFT OF TONGUES); to another the interpretation of tongues (SPIRITUAL GIFT OF INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES): But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

The Body of Christ is a true body in the sense that each believer functions as one part of this living organism. When you were saved God the Holy Spirit decided what part of the Body you would function as, and gave you the appropriate Gifts needed to fulfill your function. What your function was wasn't determined by your self perceived importance or self-righteousness. Your function was determined by the Spirit, who creatively wove you into the Assembly of the Saints. Each local Church is in the process of formation as a mini body of Christ, each fully sufficient insofar as it's equipping of Spiritual Gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit."

Romans 12:4-5 "For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

The Apostle makes it plain that the local Church is not just a clubhouse for religious people. It's not a building, nor a fellowship hall: the Church is a living organism. Though a Baptist by doctrinal decision, I believe that all denominations within traditional Christianity (accept Jesus Christ as Saviour to be saved!) are equally valid parts of the universal Body of Christ. I was talking to a man the other day who told me that the Baptists and Methodists have a running "feud" over who is doctrinally right. I told him that this was the first I had ever heard of such a thing. His next statement, though inappropriate, emphasized exactly the wrong attitude that believers have today. He said, "You Baptists have the right to believe the way you want, we'll continue to believe God's way". How foolish! Baptist or Methodist, if saved by faith in Christ we are all parts of the same Body. When we get into denominational competition we lose sight of the goal which is serving our Saviour. When we forget, as Christians, to work together with our fellow members in the Body, then the local Church suffers. Unconfessed sin in our lives cripples us in serving God, and to that degree removes our ability to function as a part of the Body.

I am convinced that the greatest sin in any Church Body is "individuality", that is, concern for self to the exclusion of concern for other members. What the Corinthians (and our modern Churches) needed to learn was that the Church isn't just some entertainment facility where we 'go out with the boys' once a week. The Church isn't just somewhere we go to when we're in trouble, or a place to show off during the holidays. The members of the Body are members of a Divinely constructed entity. Believer, it's time to wake up!

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body"

The non experiential ministry of Spirit Baptism brought each one of us into the Body of Christ. This Baptism isn't optional, nor is it a second "blessing". The wording are we all makes it very plain that this is a mandatory action that the Spirit bestows on us all. When you accepted Christ as your Saviour the Holy Spirit automatically entered you into union with the Body of Christ. If you forsake your local Church you are in disobedience to God, and rob your Church of your assigned Gifts. Your Gifts were given to you so that you could edify your local Church assembly. By refusing to attend Church you rob other believers of the benefits of your assigned Gift. Refusing to attend Church is a sin before God:

Hebrews 10:24-27 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."

God punishes believers who fall into sin, even the heinous sin of forsaking your local Church. A common complaint I hear from those who forsake Church is that they don't want to go because "there are so many hypocrites there". First, God never gave us an option as to whether or not we should go to Church. We have certain Spiritual Gifts and therefore have a duty to go. By not going to Church you are introducing unrepentant sin into your life. Second, have you ever considered that perhaps the reason there are so many hypocrites is because you have failed to attend your Church and exercise your Gifts. When you stay away from Church you cripple the Body to some degree. You may be the very reason that the hypocrites exist!

"..have been all made to drink into one Spirit"

Drink is the Greek word POTIZO, which means "To imbibe or be saturated with". We all equally partook of the Baptizing Ministry. This is not a special dispensation or a special act of grace available to the "elite" members of the Church. There are no elite among the Saints. The Charismatics would have us believe that all tongues speakers are closer to God than non-tongues-speakers. They believe that those who haven't spoken in tongues aren't complete in their Christianity. The word of God teaches otherwise. There is no elitism among the Saints. No saint possesses any Gift greater than the other: all Gifts are equally important to the operation of the Church. Paul stated this plainly, if you would but read:

1 Corinthians 12:14-23 "For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness."

The Body of Christ: All Gifts are Important

The AGAPE or Love Principle

The Body of Christ

All Gifts Are Important

As we learned before, there are no special members in the Body of Christ; the Word of God specifically teaches against the false doctrine of "Elitism". The Gifts given to the Body, whether they be "Head" or "Foot" Gifts, are all important to the upbuilding of that Body. The least beautiful members (the Foot Gifts) are just as important as the most beautiful and flamboyant Gifts (the Head Gifts), because a deficiency in either Gift has the effect of crippling the whole Body structure. As Paul stated, if the whole Body were an eye Gift, then how in the world can the Body hear? Both hearing and seeing are equally important to the Church.

It's also important for us to remember that we all hold our Gifts and our positions in the Body according to the will of God (1 Corinthians 12.18). The Gifts are not learned or genetically inborn talents, nor are they rewards to us from God because we are better than other members. No believer has merit before God; we are all sinners under the saving Grace of God:

Romans 3:10-12 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

The Body of Christ is both established and built by the Will of God. Since we have all that we own based upon that Will, we have no cause to glory: we are what God has made us to be.

1 Corinthians 12.24-26 "...For our comely (<<- Beautiful) parts hath no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: that there should be no schism (<= Divisions) in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored; all the members rejoice with it..."

The Greek for "Tempered" here is SUGKERANNUMI, defined as "To commingle, combine, or mix together". God is portrayed by Paul as being a metal worker, blending various alloys of metal together, heating them to the perfect temperature, until a perfect metal structure is built. God's work in forming the Body of Christ isn't helter skelter, but is an exacting scientific labor perfect in it's accomplishment. When a sword is made by a master blacksmith the metal used to form the weapon must be alloyed together in just the right proportions. Temperatures used to heat (and cool) the metals must be exact. Failure to properly mix the alloys, or to improperly heat (or cool) the metals will cause a weapon too brittle or too soft to use. The proper alloy and the proper temperatures, on the other hand, create a weapon that is hard enough to hold it's edge for long periods of time, but isn't so hard that it shatters on impact with another sword. God is constantly blending the right amount of Gifts and Positions in the local Church Body. He also adds just the right amount of heat (called Trials in James 1.2-12) so that the alloy of Gifts in the Body blends perfectly, if we bear up under the tempering. The results of the tempering is that the Church becomes a living organism for God, able to meet any of Satan's attacks without faltering. One thing stands out above this analogy, though: we aren't inanimate objects like metals, steel, and iron. We have our free-will, which is sacrosanct with God. God gives us our Gifts but we can willingly (sinfully) refuse to attend our local Church. We can refuse to come under the tempering process of God, and in our refusal can cripple the Church of God. God can always find others to take our places, but just the same we slow down the process of the building of the Body while we bring Divine judgment upon ourselves. This is what the Corinthian Church was doing; this is what many of us are doing today. And this is the problem that Paul addresses (and warns against) in the Book of 1 Corinthians.

Colossians 2.10, 19 "...And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power..... The head from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together increaseth with the increase of God..."

Ephesians 2.20-22 "...And built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself, being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.."

We're tempered by God the Holy Spirit who mixes the Body together by setting members in the Body as He desires. But that tempering always depends on us. If we establish divisions or sects among the brethren (SCHISMS is the Greek SCHISMA, meaning "Divisions or sects leading to confusion") we hinder that tempering just as the Corinthians hindered theirs. On the other hand when we attend our local Body and exercise our Spiritual Gifts, going through the tempering process of God, then our Gifts bring the whole Body together in unity of purpose and strength. The trials of this life are best weathered within the Body of Christ.

Paul states in the latter part of our Corinthian text the model of our fellowship in the Body. We should "have the same care one for another", suffering if one member suffers, rejoicing if one member rejoices. In the human body when you get a headache your whole body suffers: the same should be true of the Body of Christ. If we were to understand how important that Body is to us; if we were to realize God's standard of perfection is realized only in the Body- then we would attend the Body and exercise our Gifts as we ought to. Our ignorance of the importance of the Body, and our devotion to it, causes us more harm than any of the myriad other sins that we might commit. When we ignore our own spiritual Gifts to seek out another more spectacular one; when we emphasize one Gift (Tongues) to the exclusion of others; when we let selfishness and self edification rule our actions in the Body; when we allow laziness or sinfulness to keep us from attending the Body; when we refuse to seek out maturity so that we can operate our spiritual Gifts to the edification of the Body; when we do any of these things, we cripple the Church as well as ourselves. The Charismatics are the best examples of what this type of crippling can do. Brownsville and the Toronto Blessing aside, I have personally witnessed the effects of selfishness within the Body. On a whim I attended a Charismatic Church in Biloxi, Mississippi. I was totally shocked at the spiritual ignorance of the whole flock! When I attended their "Sunday School" the 'Teacher' read his lesson from a book (not the Bible). He then asked another woman who, he said, had the spiritual Gift of "Being able to find things in the Bible" (there is no such Gift) to tell him where a certain passage of scripture was. Of course, she couldn't tell us where the passage was, but she could badly paraphrase the text. The Sunday Service was awful; it was so spiritually cold in that Church that you felt like you were in a refrigerator. On another occasion I attended another well known Charismatic Group in Morehead City, North Carolina. The guest speaker talked about the Spiritual Gifts, which I thought was good. But toward the end of the message he began emphasizing the Gift of Tongues, teaching that they were necessary for the "completion of your salvation". At the end of that service all those in attendance were invited to come forward, so that they could be 'taught' how to speak in Tongues. My brethren, there is no such thing! Tongues are not a learned Gift, just as no Spiritual Gift is learned. YOU CANNOT TRAIN TO OBTAIN A SPIRITUAL GIFT: you either have it, or you don't. And God the Spirit decides the issue with finality. Don't think that I don't know what I'm talking about when I warn against Charasmania. I was saved (yes, I am saved, having accepted Jesus Christ as my Saviour) in a "Church of God of Prophecy". In this Church, just as in all the Charismatic Churches, you're looked upon as a second class Christian until you speak in "Tongues". I did eventually achieve a breakthrough, making myself "Speak in Tongues" in front of the congregation so that I could finally complete my salvation. But in the three years that I was with this group I never learned any significant Bible Doctrine that I could apply to my life. For three years I neither matured nor digressed. What finally caused me to leave the Church was the false doctrines that they taught about salvation (you can lose your salvation by sinning). I went to talk to the Pastor about it before I left the Church: my mind wasn't really made up, and if he could have answered my questions about their doctrines I might still be there today. But the Pastor went fishing the day that I made an appointment to see him. Instead, He left the assistant Pastor to talk to me. Since he couldn't and wouldn't answer my questions I left the Church, and have been growing in the Lord ever since. I don't condemn them, I feel sorry for them. Just as I feel sorry for all of the Churches throughout the world under the spell of Charasmania. But should we feel sorrier for the Charasmania Churches, or for those who reject all of the spiritual Gifts as valid for the Church today? Both doctrines are equally damaging, both Church Bodies are just as crippled. The balance, that is, the true doctrine concerning the spiritual Gifts, is to be found in the scriptures.

1 Corinthians 12.27-30 "...Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the Church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?..."

Though we've covered this before, I feel we need to look at it one more time. In the above text Paul begins a rather interesting sequence of questioning. The King James Version doesn't fully bring out the emphasis of the original Greek construction. With each of his questions Paul uses the negative Greek particle ME. When the negative ME is used in the interrogative construction, it poses a question that demands a negative or "No!" answer from it's audience. The best translation of this text, putting the proper emphasis on the ME is:

",,,All are not apostles, are they? (of course not!) All are not teachers, are they? (of course not!) Not all are workers of miracles, are they? (No!) Not all have the Gifts of healing, do they? (No way!) Surely, all don't speak with tongues and interpreter do they? (surely not!)..."

The proper translation of the text emphasizes what Paul has been bringing out all throughout 1 Corinthians 12: the Gifts are blended in the Body of Christ by the Holy Spirit of God for the edification of the saints. This very blending insures that not all believers in the Body possess the same Gift (not even Tongues, as the Charismatics would have us to believe). The Gifts are tools that were given to the Body for it's edification. To say that any one Gift is possessed by all believers in the Body is to emphasize your own ignorance as to the blending of the Gifts, the edification of the body, and the purpose of the assembly of the saints. The Gifts and positions that each member of the local Church holds works together to help the whole Body stand healthy and strong in the Devil's world. No one Gift is so important that it's solely necessary for the survival of the Body. On the other hand, no Gift is so unimportant that it's no longer needed to, in some way, sustain the Body. ALL of the Gifts are necessary for the function of the local Church, but only when they work together in the Church to edify the Body. Rather than emphasize one Gift (Tongues) the Corinthians (and we today) need to emphasize ALL of the Gifts as they are divided by the Spirit to the saints. Any other approach is Biblically unsound, and directly contrary to the teachings of the Apostle Paul.

Before going into 1 Corinthians 13 (1 Corinthians 12.31 actually, according to context, belongs in 1 Corinthians 13. We will study it there) there are several points that I want to re-emphasize. I know that you've heard some of these points again and again. For those of you who understand these points, bear with me. I know it gets tedious: it's tedious for me to keep repeating myself. But if every time I move on without re-emphasizing what's already been covered, Charismatics (and fringe Charismatic Groups) jump back in with an argument that's already been covered. So I have to keep re-emphasizing. So let me emphasize these points yet once more:

The Holy Spirit distributes Gifts to every member of the Body of Christ. These Gifts are given to the believer at the point of his salvation, and are given based on the will of the Spirit; not on the merit of the believer. There is no "elitism" in the Body: all of us were sinners, are sinners, and will never have merit in God's eyes apart from Grace.

There is no common spiritual Gift exercised by the all of the members of the Body of Christ, either as a sign or for any reason. Tongues were used as a secondary sign of the entrance of the new ministry of the Baptism of the Spirit, but only in the earliest formation of the Church. By the time of the Corinthian Church's formation Tongues were no longer used as a sign of the Baptism, though all believers still received that ministry. It has been over nineteen hundred years since Tongues were used as a sign of anything other than the Filling of the Spirit.

All of the spiritual Gifts (even Tongues) are exercised by believers empowered under the Filling Ministry of the Holy Spirit. You receive the Filling Ministry of the Spirit automatically once you're in fellowship with God. Sin quenches the Filling of the Spirit, and the quenching of the Filling naturally quenches the operation of the spiritual Gift of the believer. Repentance and confession of your sin (1 John 1.8-9) removes this quenching, so that you are once again under the Filling and can operate your spiritual Gift for the edification of the Body.

All believers automatically receive the Baptizing Ministry of the Spirit at the point of salvation. The Baptism brings you into union with Christ: that is, it enters you into the universal Body of Christ. If you haven't received the Baptism then you aren't saved. If you are saved, then you have received the Baptism. The Baptism, though God initially introduced it to the Church as experiential, is now non experiential. That is, there is no sign or portent that "clues you" to the fact that you've received it. Since it was a newly introduced ministry at the time of the formation of the Church, God used Tongues as a secondary sign to signify it's entrance. But after it was introduced to the satisfaction of the early believers the secondary sign of Tongues was ceased by God. Tongues still exist as a valid Gift for the Church today, not as a sign of the Baptism, but as a missionary tool to witness of the Grace of God to "other tongued" unbelievers.

All Gifts are given for the purpose of edifying the Body of Christ. Gifts were never given by God to edify one member of the Body only. There is no scriptural teaching that allows a "personal prayer Tongue" for any believer (we will argue this further in I Corinthians 14), as such doctrine is contrary to the edification teachings of 1 Corinthians 12. Tongues were given as an evangelistic/ missionary tool to benefit the whole Body, not just a part of the Body.

Anything that claims to be a spiritual Gift isn't a true Gift if it doesn't edify the Body of Christ. God established the spiritual Gifts for the sole purpose of edifying the Body, not to tear it down, bring confusion, or create divisions in the Body. Anything that disrupts, creates schisms, or brings confusion in the Body is not of God, for God is not an author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14.33). If the carnal and immature Corinthians were all speaking "Tongues", and this was bringing confusion to the Body; and if God isn't the author of confusion; then what they were exercising wasn't a spiritual Gift at all. What they were involved in was a Satanic or a psychological counterfeit.

Experience is never a test of a Gift's genuiness. Satan himself is portrayed as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11.14-15), and his disciples are false ministers of light. God is never the author of confusion, Satan is. If any alleged Gift causes confusion in the Body of Christ then it most likely originated from Satanic oppression. Christians have been deceived by Satan many times throughout history, and continue to be deceived by him today. In the early Church the Apostle Peter himself wouldn't preach or witness to Gentiles because he considered them unclean. Only when God made it clear that the Gentiles who believed were just as saved as Jewish believers did Peter and the early Church accept them as believers (Acts 10.9-28, 34-48). After this many of the Jewish believers taught the false doctrine that all believers had to be circumcised to be saved (Acts 15.1-6). The Apostles, after much debate, testified against this Satanic doctrine, and returned salvation to belief in Jesus Christ alone (Acts 15.7-35). Revelation 1-3 teaches us about several early Christian Churches that were deceived by Satan in one way or another. Another sect of Christianity even today believes that they are ruled by an infallible man (the Pope); that certain saints should be prayed to; that praying to the Virgin Mary is better than praying to Jesus, because "the Lord will certainly do what His mother tells Him"; that a lost person can be prayed out of hell by a living saved person's prayers and donations to the Church; that the Holy Communion actually becomes the flesh and blood of Jesus after consecration; that the ordinance of water baptism is a major key to salvation; that confession of sin must be made to God's human representative on earth, and not directly to the Father; that a dying sinner may receive a special dispensation from the Church on his deathbed and go to heaven because of this dispensation (not because of his belief in Jesus); and that salvation can only be obtained through attendance of this one particular Church. Of course, I'm taking about the Roman Catholic Church. But how can we condemn this religious organization, certainly Satanically oppressed, when many of the Churches in Protestant Christianity teach doctrines just as false and harmful? In the early 1900's a small group of Protestant believers gathered together, and worked themselves up into an emotional ecstasy seeking the "blessings of God". While in their ecstasies they all began to "Speak in Tongues", lo and behold, just like the early Church did. When they received this experience they went to the scriptures and looked for Biblical confirmation of what they had experienced. That's where believers always mess up. Experience is not, I repeat, IT IS NOT the test of validity in Christianity. Satan can cause you to have "experiences" if you release the control of your will to the flesh. Just because you and all your friends have "spoken in Tongues to receive the Baptism", this does not mean that your experience is true or Christian. You must first turn to the scriptures as to what true Christian modus operandi is. If you can study the scriptures with a clear unprejudiced mind, and the scriptures teach that what you had was a true Christian experience, then you can continue in what you do with confidence. But if the scriptures cast a shadow of doubt over your experience, if they teach against it in any way at any point, then you're involved in a Satanic counterfeit. Don't approach the scriptures thinking; "I experienced it; I know it's true; so let me find scriptural confirmation for what I felt". The whole Charismatic movement is based on this false presupposition, and the whole Movement suffers because of it.

1 Corinthians 12.31-13.3 "...But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet I show unto you a more excellent way. 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 though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains; and have not charity, 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, it profiteth me nothing..."

Paul starts out this section by encouraging the Corinthians to covet or desire only the "best" gifts. "Best" is the Greek KREISSON (Also spelled KREITTON), the comparative of AGATHOS, meaning "'Benevolently good". KREISSON should be translated "more beneficial, better in degree of service or edification to the Body". Paul spent the majority of chapter twelve teaching us that all gifts are equally important to the Body of Christ. No one Gift is more important than the other. If this is true, then why does Paul now tell us to desire the more beneficial Gifts? To understand this statement you again have to look at the situation at Corinth. God the Holy Spirit divides sixteen spiritual Gifts among the members of a local Church. These Gifts, when exercised together, edify the Body to the glory of God. But the believers at Corinth were ignoring the Spirit's divisions of Gifts, and were all seeking to exercise one Gift, the Gift of Tongues. This was contrary to the Spirit's will and division of the Gifts, and broke down rather than edified the Body of Christ. By telling the Corinthians to desire the more beneficial Gifts, Paul was telling them to repent from seeking one Gift enmasse, and to exercise the Gifts that God divided to them to use. They were to seek out and use their OWN Gifts, not to seek the Gifts of another. By doing this the Body of Christ would be edified. The Body is never edified when only one Gift is emphasized, but when all Gifts are used by the members who possess them. This is the emphasis that Paul makes when he tells us to seek only the KREISSON, or more beneficial Gifts.

"And yet I show unto you a more excellent way..." Among the Corinthian believers, as with many Charismatic types today, the spiritual Gifts are emphasized without regard as TO THE GOAL of the Gifts. Everybody wants a Gift and wants to exercise a Gift because it makes us seem important and impressive. But the Gifts were never given to puff up our ego. The Gifts are given to edify the Body of Christ, given to the Body by a LOVING God. We should want to exercise our Gifts to the edification of the Body because we LOVE the members of that Body. The spiritual Gifts were given to us in love, and we are to exercise them because we love the Church. The overall goal of the Gifts is therefore Love. This is the point of I Corinthians 13.

"THOUGH I speak with the tongues of men, and of angels...." The Charismatics, just as the Corinthians of Paul's day, often ignored the main theme of Paul's message and pick out any scripture that seems to support their false doctrines. The theme of 1 Corinthians 13 is that, even though we may have and exercise spiritual Gifts, if we don't exercise them in love toward the brethren (not just to selfishly satisfy our egos), then these Gifts serve no purpose in the Body of Christ. But Charismatics ignore the entire theme of chapter thirteen, preferring to emphasize the first eleven words of the text. The conception of the Charismatics is that, since Paul said that he spoke with the Tongues of men AND OF ANGELS, that the Gift of Tongues is an expression of both angelic and earthly languages through the believer possessing this Gift. First, such a conclusion is a show of blatant disregard for the main theme of the chapter. Second, this conclusion is based on only a skin deep look at the translation and at the context of the scriptures. The word "Though" in the above text is the Greek EAN + the subjunctive mood verb. EAN + the subjunctive is used in Greek constructions where a HYPOTHETICAL SITUATION is being stressed. It is a writer's device, in this particular context, used to get the much greater point across. Paul's words could be better translated (bringing out the emphasis of the EAN + subjunctive mood):

"... Hypothetically speaking, if I speak in angelic and earthly languages, but do so without love, my words are useless musical noises such as a percussion instrument or a set of chimes..."

There is no proof that Tongues are an expression of angelic languages within this context. In fact by looking at other scriptural texts we can see that Tongues, every time they were exercised, were exercised as an EARTHLY LANGUAGE unknown by the speaker using the Gift of Tongues, but understood by those whom the Gift was exercised upon. We've been in the Book of Acts before, but it doesn't hurt to return there once again to see exactly what is the nature of this Gift of Tongues.

Acts 2.4-8 "...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 THE 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. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, behold, ARE NOT ALL THESE THAT SPEAK GALILEANS? AND HOW HEAR WE EVERY MAN IN OUR OWN TONGUE, WHEREIN WE WERE BORN?..."

In the first occurrence of the Gift of Tongues in the early Church, Tongues were known earthly languages, unknown to the speaker possessing the Gift but known to the hearer. The crowd at the day of Pentecost "marveled" or were astonished because these Galileans (all speaking by birth Koine Greek) were speaking the languages of these visiting Jews. The Jews visiting Jerusalem were born and grew up speaking Parthian, Median, Elamitian, Mesopotanian, Judean, Cappadocean, Pontian, Asian, Phrygian, Pamphylian, Egyptian, Libian, Cyrenian, Roman (Italian and Koine Greek), Cretian, and Arabian (see Acts 2.9-11). There were, in all, sixteen different earthly languages spoken by those using Tongues; all of these not learned or known by the speakers, but understood clearly by those who were being evangelized. There was no angelic or heavenly languages expressed.

There's no reason to believe that the "Tongues" exercised in Acts 2 are any different from the normal output of the Gift anytime it's exercised. In Acts 10.46-47 the Gentiles, who had a different earthly language that they usually spoke from the Apostles, when speaking in Tongues caused the Apostles to say:

Acts 10.46-47 "...For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Answered Peter, can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?..."

First, the audience couldn't have understood that the Gentiles were magnifying God unless they understood what was being said. Second, if the Gentiles were speaking in the language that they normally spoke to magnify God, then this would not be a miraculous enough sign for the Jewish believers to accept the Gentiles as having received the Baptism. The Jews had, for hundreds of years, recognized Gentiles as dogs and unbelievers. They particularly disliked the Roman Gentiles (which these Gentiles were), for Rome was the present conqueror of Israel. Because of this hatred and prejudice between the Jews and the Gentiles, there was no way that Peter would lightly accept the word of a Roman that he was saved. Only by a miraculous sign (the Gift of Tongues) would Peter be convinced that these Gentiles had every right to be baptized in water and received into the local Church. The sign of Tongues exercised by the Gentiles was recognized by Peter as the same sign he received on the day of Pentecost. These Gentiles, under the Filling of the Spirit and the operation of Tongues, spoke an earthly language that praised God. Peter (as well as the others) knew that the Gentiles had no way of knowing this language (perhaps it was Hebrew) outside of the miraculous power of God. But the language was understood by the Apostles so that the immediate water baptism of these Gentiles was authorized.

If the Biblical Gift of Tongues was an expression of angelic languages, then we would certainly see this demonstrated somewhere in the historical Book of Acts, or taught elsewhere in the scripture. Yet in every context where Tongues is given in the book of Acts (and throughout the whole Bible) Tongues are an earthly language unknown to the speaker, but known to the evangelized. The only place where an "angelic" tongue is discussed is in a hypothetical statement in 1 Corinthians 13.1: here because of it's very hypothetical nature it is not to be taken as a fact (such as the Charismatics do). Tongues are never an expression of heavenly/ angelic languages.

The AGAPE or Love Principle

Paul in chapter thirteen isn't trying to establish the nature of Tongues as being angelic. Rather, Paul's intent is to make it plain that ANY GIFT is useless if it isn't exercised with the end goal of love. "Charity" Greek AGAPE, which is God's ideal of love. Agape love isn't expressed in just exercising a spiritual Gift. The spiritual Gifts must be exercised in agape love so that the Body, through love, is edified. Any spiritual Gift exercised outside of agape love doesn't edify the Body, and if it doesn't edify the Body then that Gift is useless. Agape love isn't found in the "human good" actions of people. Martyrdom alone (1 Corinthians 13.3) isn't an expression of agape love. In police forces all over the world the thing that makes it hard to investigate a murder is the number of "red herrings" that come in and confess to the crime. For any murder in a big city there's at least one (and usually several) people who come in to confess to having committed it, though these people never did do the crime. People accept martyrdom today (as they did in the ancient world) to get publicity, fame, and recognition in the world. Paul says that, even if he gave himself up to martyrdom, but didn't do it with the motivation of agape love (to edify the Body of Christ), then this act of martyrdom is worthless in the eyes of God.

1 Corinthians 13.4-8a "...Charity sufferth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity 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 never faileth..."

Paul gives a point by point guide to true agape love (which was lacking in Corinth, and lacks in many of our Churches today). Agape love is:

Long-suffering and forbearing. It always acts with useful kindness, not with jealous motivation.

It is never characterized by jealousy or envy. Agape love and jealousy cannot abide together in the same house. Popular writers and television authors portray jealousy as a sometimes beneficial emotion. God says different. Agape love is useful, but jealousy and envy motivated actions are always useless in the edification of the Body.

Agape love never brags about it's accomplishments, nor makes itself superior above other believers. Charismatics should pay strict attention to this particular portion of text the next time they teach that believers "without the Tongues experience" are incomplete in their Christianity. Such a statement doesn't originate from agape love, but from a false sense of spiritual pride. Pentecostals do the same thing when they proudly brag about how they've kept themselves "pure from the world". Such bragging never comes from agape love, and such believers are more worldly than they think!

Agape love never acts in an ungodly manner toward other believers. When we malign or belittle other believers, this is a sign that we've got agape love in a box on the back shelf of our spiritual lives.

Agape love never plots against other people, whether they are believers or unbelievers. The object of agape love is to build up others, not to tear them down.

Agape love doesn't become easily irritated or exasperated with other believers in the flock. It bears with the weaknesses of the younger believers, and seeks to help these less mature to a greater state of spiritual maturity. It doesn't allow frustration or negative emotional outbursts to destroy the flock of God.

Agape love doesn't take an inventory of evil, keeping track of wrongs done to it. There is no "list of revenge" kept by the follower of Agape love. This believer allows God to repay the evil done to him, rather than stepping out as a vigilante making repayment himself.

Agape love isn't glad when it observes an injustice or an immoral act, even if this act comes on one of it's enemies. Agape love is only satisfied with the truth and with edification of the Body.

Agape love endures or puts up with all things. It is an expression of a relaxed mental attitude on the part of the agape love believer toward others around him.

Agape love confides and trusts in others in the Body. It knows that the Body of Christ is a living organism, and that we all must work together for the protection of the whole. It understands the importance of EVERY member to it's spiritual well being.

Agape love bears the burdens of others, being a confidant when needed by other members. It never tells the secrets that others have confided in it, nor does it display the secrets of others like some malicious kid with a new toy. Agape always asks itself, "How will my brother feel if I do this?", and then refuses to act in a way as to undermine trust in itself, causing others to lose confidence in it.

Agape love is a standard of God, and as a standard of God it will never pass away

1 John 4.7-8..."Beloved, let us agape love one another, for agape love is of God; and everyone that agape-loves is born of God, and knoweth God. He that does not agape love, knows not God; for God is agape-love"...(KJV translation with Greek manuscript emphasis)

Agape love is something that will never pass away, because it's so intricately interwoven into the nature of God. Many people make love out to be God, and this isn't true. But God IS agape love, that is, this is a character trait that is inseparable from what makes God God. The love of God, agape love, is characterized by a burning desire to do the highest good for it's object outside of emotional influences. "Doing the highest good" for others is often painful, both to the giver and the recipient of agape love. The earthly father despises paddling or restricting his child when he misbehaves. But regardless of his feelings (or the feelings of the child) he punishes that child for his sins because he loves him. Parents who allow emotions to guide the disciplining of their children have no capacity for love; either parental or agape love. Jesus taught the far reaching scope of agape love in:

Luke 6.27-35 "...But I say unto you which hear; love (<<= AGAPE) your enemies, do good to them which hate you. Bless them which curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him which smiteth thee on the one cheek, offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also, Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketii away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love them which love them. And if ye tend to them of who ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies,, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil..."

Agape is a type of love unseated in the emotion, such a love that allows us to do good to our enemies regardless as to how we feel about them. Emotional love (called PHILEOS, or friendship love, in the Greek) doesn't pervert agape love. You can exercise phileos-love and agape love at the same time; you just cannot allow phileos-love control now you exercise agape love toward all. Agape love is tough love; tough on the giver and often tough on the receiver. It "tells it like it is" insofar as it always seeks to do the highest good for others. Jesus never said we had to like our enemies; He didn't even say that we had to exercise phileos-love toward them. But we are commanded to always exercise agape love toward everyone, even our enemies, regardless as to how we feel about the objects of our love.

I've often been asked by other Christians, "Why doesn't our Church grow and prosper? I feel like there's something lacking among the congregation, But I don't know what it is!". I really believe what's lacking among the believers in America today is, for the most part, a lack of agape love. Agape love doesn't require emotional involvement, but it does take up a lot of the believer's time. When one member of the Body has to be away from his family, and none of the congregation are willing to see to the needs of his wife and children while he's away; this is a lack of agape love. When one member is sick, and needs the moral support of the other members, and none will come; this is a lack of agape love. When the Ruler of a Church, or the subordinate Pastor-Teachers in that Church teach a lie rather than the hard truth; this is a lack of agape love. When one member is out of line, and into sin, and none will rebuke and correct this member; this is a lack of agape love. When the members of the Body put their own needs selfishly before those of the other members, and when only a handful in the congregation care enough to reach spiritual maturity and exercise their spiritual Gifts; this all is a serious lack of agape love. Lack of agape love was the root of sin that led to the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthian Church. And lack of agape love is, I believe, what seriously hinders the Church in America today.

Continuing the AGAPE Love Principle

1 Corinthians 14: Using the Gifts

The Doctrine of Prayer

Continuing The Agape Love Principle

1 Corinthians 13.8b-13 "...But whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part, but then shall I know even as I also am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity (<- AGAPE), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (<<= AGAPE)..."

Paul, in the last part of this chapter, contrasts the eternality of agape love to the finiteness of the spiritual Gifts. The Gifts were given by God to edify the Body of Christ on earth. Once this Body is no longer on earth, and becomes the Bride of Christ in the heavens, these spiritual Gifts will be discarded as useless. The Gifts are an aid to weak and mortal man. Once we put on immortality, that is, once "that which is perfect" is come, the Gifts no longer serve a purpose. What purpose would there be to possess the Gift of prophecy, when we will forever be in the throne room of the Creator of all time? Why would we need the Gift of the Pastor-Teacher, since in heaven we'll learn at the feet of the Living Christ? What need will we have of the Gifts of Healing or Miracles, being there will be no more sickness, pain, tears, or suffering? Why have the Gift of Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues since there's no communication barrier in heaven?

Text From 13:8	Text From 13:11
"when I was a child I spake as a child.." "I understood as a child.." "I thought as a child.."	"whether there be tongues, they shall cease.." "whether there be knowledge, it shall pass away.." "whether there be prophecies, they shall fail.."

"but when I became a man I put away childish things.."

By comparing 1 Corinthians 13.8 with 13.11, we see that Paul makes an obvious parallel between the spiritual Gifts and the growth of a child. Spiritual Gifts are given to believers while we are here on earth, this being comparable to the childhood stage of human development. Once we reach full maturity the childish language (Tongues), childish understanding (Knowledge), and childish thought patterns (Prophecy) are removed from our lives. We grow, and as we grow we gradually leave these things behind. After we reach adulthood we may often look back nostalgically on our childhood: but only the most psychotic person ever seeks to return to that early stage of life. Once we reach the perfect, our glorification in heaven, these "childish things" called spiritual Gifts will be put away forever. This isn't to downplay the spiritual Gifts: it's very important for a child to have a healthy childhood. Children deprived of their childhood are often incomplete adults in life. But the balance that Paul wants the Corinthians (and us) to understand is that the spiritual Gifts, though important, are not as important as what powers those Gifts, agape love. For as Paul says, "Charity (<= Agape love) never faileth". Parents give children toys so that they can learn from them, learning patience, co-ordination, and other motor and psychological skills that they'll carry with them into their adult lives. All toys teach, even if they just teach the child how to relax and leave fun with himself and others. But the giving of the toy has a goal, and that goal is to develop something in the child that will stay with him. God gives us the spiritual Gifts so that, through exercising these Gifts, we can learn how to live in and express agape love toward others in the Body. The agape love that we develop now will never leave us, for we'll carry it to heaven to use it there. It is because of the importance that God places on agape love that we should never emphasize the Gift apart from the goal. This is what the Corinthians were (wrongly) doing. They wanted the Gifts for the Gift's sake. This is what the Charismatics of today are doing, desiring the spectacular without regard to edifying the Body. The Gifts do help in the development of faith and hope, but, as Paul said:

"...And now abideth faith, hope, and charity (<= Agape love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity (<- Agape love)..."

The question you have to ask yourself is, "Where am I placing the emphasis?". To reject all spiritual Gifts is to reject the teaching aid that God has given us. To want spiritual Gifts selfishly, or to use them because they inflate our egos is to reject the purpose of the Gifts, and to negate their effectiveness in teaching agape love. The balance lies somewhere in the middle. We should seek out and use our own spiritual Gifts to edify the Body, using these Gifts to teach self and others agape love. To go to either extreme damages the believer more than he will know in this lifetime; but he may pay the price of his apathy or selfishness by loss of reward in heaven!

1 Corinthians 14

Using The Gifts

1 Corinthians 14.1-4 "...Follow after charity (<<- Agape love), and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophecy. For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God, for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the Spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue edifieth himself, but he that prophesieth edifieth the Church... "

Paul has just spent the last two chapters teaching us that, for any spiritual Gift to be effective, it must be used to the edification of the Body (see again 1 Corinthians 13.1-3). God gave the spiritual Gifts for the expressed purpose of edification (1 Corinthians 12.24-25; 12.7). As Paul taught us these things in the last two chapters, it's impossible for him to now make an about face and start teaching that the Gifts are to be used for individual edification. The main purpose of the Gifts hasn't changed, and Paul's message hasn't changed: the Gifts must be used for the edification complex of the WHOLE Body of Christ.

"...For he that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God..."

The Charismatics often turn, without consideration of context, to chapter fourteen to prove that Tongues are a "personal prayer language" that enables the believer to get closer to God. This is far from the truth; in fact, this is a rejection of all the previous context regarding Tongues and the spiritual Gifts. Paul wasn't saying that in the normal operation of Tongues only God knows what you're saying. Paul was saying, based on the previous contexts we've studied, that IN THE WAY THAT THE CORINTHIANS were using Tongues, only God knew what they were saying. There's a great deal of difference between the first and second interpretations. The Corinthians in Paul's day were mis-using the Gift of Tongues (if they were using them at all) much like the Charismatics of today. They were speaking in Tongues when there was no evangelistic necessity to use this Gift. There are two outlets by which Tongues may be interpreted. The First outlet is the "Natural" interpretation of Tongues. The natural interpretation is seen throughout the Book of Acts (particularly Acts 2) where the early believers, through the Gift of Tongues, were able to witness to others who possessed a different language than they did. When the Corinthians were using "Tongues" in their congregation there were no unbelievers present who could understand the languages that they spoke. The second outlet is the "Supernatural" interpretation of Tongues. Under the supernatural interpretation God the Holy Spirit gives another believer in the congregation the Gift of Interpretation of Tongues. Then when a brother speaks in Tongues (which is an earthly language unknown to the speaker) the brother with the Gift of Interpretation speaks afterwards, making the message spoken clear to all present. The Corinthian believers spoke in Tongues with neither Natural nor Supernatural means of interpretation present. Because of this Paul says, in essence, "Only God knows what you're saying". This wasn't praise nor even recognition of a valid use of the Gift. Based on how much emphasis Paul placed on edifying the Body through the Gifts earlier, this is a rebuke. At the very least, it's a recognition of a misuse of Tongues among the Corinthians. So let's not make it into anything else. He who speaks in Tongues without an interpreter present speaks mysteries (MUSTERION - Secret things), and this speaking of secret things edifies only the ego of the speaker, not the congregation.

I've tried to emphasize contexts all throughout this study because a proper understanding of the Biblical context is so important to the study of chapter fourteen. The Charismatics read 1 Corinthians 14 out of context. They disregard the tonal and historical contexts of the Book, and ignore the specific teaching of edification and agape love in chapters 12-13. The prominent approach of the Charismatics to chapter fourteen is, "Paul says that it's all right to do it. He just established rules that were to be followed if we do use our Prayer Languages". This approach is out of keeping with the Biblical context. Paul does establish that Tongues have value, but only if accompanied by the Gift of Interpretation (or by natural interpretation). Tongues without interpretation are only self gratifying, not Body edifying. In such cases Tongues are extremely misused and wrong.

1 Corinthians 14.5 "...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 might receive edifying..."

Again we have a much de-emphasized text on Tongues. The Charismatics look at the first eight words of this text, but ignore the remainder of the context. Paul says that he "would", or THELO, that the Corinthians all spoke in Tongues. THELO means "To wish or desire". Based on our previous contexts it's easy to see that Paul is implying several things here:

Based on 1 Corinthians 12.30 we've seen that not all believers in the same local Body can possess the same spiritual Gift. But obviously ALL of the Corinthians were speaking in Tongues, or were actively pursuing this Gift for their own. Paul says "I WISH YOU WERE all speaking in Tongues (but you aren't)". Since all of the Corinthians couldn't possibly be speaking in Tongues, then many of them must have been under some psychological or Satanic counterfeit of that Gift. By emphasizing that he wished that they all were speaking Tongues, Paul implies that he wishes that they all were involved in Tongues, rather than in some Satanic/psychological substitute.

Paul also implies that he wishes the Corinthians were all mature enough to where they could exercise SOME spiritual Gift, no matter what it was. Because of carnality (1 Corinthians 3.1-10) and spiritual immaturity the majority of the Corinthians had never reached the point where they COULD use the spiritual Gifts that they possessed. If all of these believers used the Gift of Tongues (which, again, is impossible), at least the Church at Corinth would be edified to some degree. But only a few among them possessed Tongues, whereas the others indulged their egos by using imitation Gifts. By their selfishness, carnality, and false spiritual pride the Church at Corinth was digging itself a hole that was going to take some time to get out of.

Paul also implies by his THELO that he has nothing against the Gift of Tongues. The point of this chapter isn't to downgrade any spiritual Gift. All Gifts are equally important to the Body of Christ (as we saw in chapter twelve). But Tongues, as with all spiritual Gifts, are equally divided among the Body for the edification of that Body. The Corinthians are being exhorted to use their own spiritual Gifts, rather than seeking out and imitating one Gift because it looks spectacular or inflates your ego. I'm sure that many Charismatics have accused me of being prejudiced against Tongues, and some have even went so far as to accuse me of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (a pat phrase that the misguided use when they want to scare another believer into their way of thinking). Paul perhaps expected this same type of response from the carnal Corinthians. Because of this he makes it clear that he's not against Tongues, but he is against abuses of Tongues and mass imitation of one spiritual Gift. Such a thing doesn't edify the Body, but it only tears it down.

"...But rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophecieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpreter.."

"Rather" is the Greek MALLON, which means "To a greater degree, more, better". Paul in this text continues to speak hypothetically: that is; he states in effect "It's all right to use the Gift of Tongues, but if you were all to use only one Gift (though you cannot, because the Gifts aren't divided that way), then it would be MUCH BETTER for you all to Prophesy than to speak in Tongues". Whenever we discuss the spiritual Gifts the conclusion is always: What edifies the Body of Christ the most? It certainly doesn't edify the Body for the whole Church to be exercising the Gift of Tongues. Can you imagine it? Everybody in the Church speaking a foreign language, but nobody understanding what the other person (or himself) is saving! It's like the Tower of Babel all over again. This certainly doesn't edify the Body. So Paul says, "If you must all use only one Gift, use a Gift that at least edifies the Body: Prophecy". To have everyone prophesying still doesn't edify the Body (because use of only one Gift is against the concept of the Body - 1 Corinthians 12), but it edifies it more than all members speaking something that only God understands. THE GIFTS ARE NOT GIVEN TO EDIFY GOD! They are GIVEN TO EDIFY THE CHURCH! If only God understands what you're saying, and only God knows what you're doing, then God isn't pleased! The Gifts are given to edify the Church, and if the Church as a Body matures, then the Body edifies God. That is God's desire and plan for the Church and it's Gifts. But the Corinthians were using one Gift, Tongues, to edify themselves rather than the Body. Since the Body wasn't edified, the Body didn't mature, and God wasn't edified. So Paul states that if they feel that they must use only one Gift, then use one that will at least partially edify the Church (Prophesy). By edifying the Church rather than staying on the road of self glorification Corinth will at least attain some level of maturity, though not as much as if each member learned and used his own designated Gifts.

By looking at the sentence structure of verse 5 we also see another interesting thing. Though Tongues and Prophesy are both valid spiritual Gifts, Tongues is inferior to Prophesy unless it is accompanied by the Gift of Interpretation. The value of all Gifts is based on their ability to edify the Body. Tongues by itself in the Body is valueless because it cannot edify the Body: no one can understand it. But if the Gift is accompanied by Interpretation (either natural or supernatural) then Tongues becomes just as valuable as Prophesy because it can edify the Church to some degree. In order to edify the Church to the greatest degree we shouldn't just be exercising Tongues and Interpretation; or Prophesy; but we should be following God's game plan of exercising ALL AVAILABLE GIFTS within the Body. The greater the edification of the Body, the greater the level of maturity among us all. This is the central theme of 1 Corinthians 12-14.

1 Corinthians 14.6-11 "... Now brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophecy, or by doctrine? And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to battle? So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me..."

Again Paul emphasizes that the Gift of Tongues have no benefit to the Body of Christ unless this Gift is interpreted. The Gift that doesn't benefit the Body is worthless in itself! Paul introduces two illustrations from everyday life, both having to do with musical instruments. In the first illustration Paul points out that musical instruments, though they make naturally beautiful noises, are less beautiful and not understandable if the player fails to use musical discipline. To be a true musician, one who brings true beautiful music out of his instrument, he must first understand how to "read" music. Once he understands the reading of music he must diligently practice everyday, striving to perfect his skills with his chosen instrument. Owning an instrument doesn't make you a musician. Only by diligent practice and discipline to your art can you ever hope to truly "make music". The spiritual Gifts are like musical instruments. You might already possess your Gift, but possession of the Gift doesn't make you mature. Only by discipline in the study of the Scriptures will you ever mature, and your continued discipline will make you mature enough to where you can exercise your Gift properly in the Body. If you attempt to exercise your Gift before you're mature enough to do so, you're just like the person who buys an instrument and thinks he's a musician: you annoy everyone else, but only inflate your own ego.

In the second illustration Paul uses a trumpet to illustrate his point. In the early days of warfare trumpets were used to signal the troops of intended battle movements. There were no walkie-talkies or land-air telephones, so generals relied heavily on their trumpeters to signal their armies as to what they were supposed to do next. The trumpeters as well as the troops all understood that a certain rhythm was a signal for a certain movement; and in practice "war games" the men went over and over these same rhythms until everyone understood instinctively what each series of notes meant. The trumpeters, the generals, and the armies all used discipline to the point where they all acted as one body in response to the sounds of the trumpets. If the trumpets only made one tune, or the trumpeters had no discipline nor knowledge of their instruments, then how would the army know how to respond in the face of attack? They wouldn't know, and the armies would suffer vast defeats and casualties, even to the point of losing the war, if there were no distinction in the trumpet's call. In the same way Tongues (as with all spiritual Gifts) are useless (and even damaging) to the Body of Christ unless they are used by mature, disciplined believers. Tongues never edify the Body of Christ by just being exercised: they must be used in such a way that they are beneficial. It might seem discordantly musical to walk into a building where everyone is speaking a different language, but if no one knows what the other is saying, then this musical chant/ mantra is only a bunch of noise. NO GIFT IS GOOD JUST BECAUSE IT IS PRESENT! Anything that doesn't edify the Body of Christ, whether it be Gift or not, is destructive of the Body and useless in the eyes of God. Tongues without Interpretation are useless, and Tongues with interpretation spoken all at once is just as bad. You're just wasting your breath, and everybody else's time. Or as Paul put it: "...For ye shall speak in the air..."

Fellowship in the body of Christ is based on the ability of the members to communicate with one another. If the exercise of the Gift of Tongues causes one member to Consider his brother a barbarian (BARBAROS - "One who speaks gibberish or nonsense"), if the mis-exercise of a Gift causes an adverse impact on the fellowship of the Members in the Body, then this valueless Gift should be left inactive until you know how to use it. You only speak into the air, and destroy that sacred Body of which you're a part. DISCIPLINE is the key word: Discipline to the study of the scriptures, Discipline to the concept of brotherly Agape love, Discipline in your spiritual growth. Anything less is less than God's Design.

1 Corinthians 14.12-15 "... Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an [unknown] tongue pray that he may interpreter For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will 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..."

Again we come to a text that has been badly misinterpreted by the Charismatic Movement. Nearly every Charismatic that I meet tells me that "Tongues also have a function in the Church as a 'personal prayer language' between the believer and God." My first question is always, "Where did you find such a doctrine?". The second is always, "But why do you think you need a personal prayer tongue?". In answer to my first question the misled brother always shows me this passage as proof that there is a personal prayer tongue in the scriptures. As usual, this type of believer always reads into the text something that supports his own personal experience, rather than seeking out and applying the pure teaching of the Scripture. Let me answer the first misguided claim, then I'll explain why NO BELIEVER needs a personal prayer tongue before God.

The text starts out with Paul commanding us to "seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church". This isn't just a personal desire on Paul's part, but is a direct command from God (1 Corinthians 14.36-37). "May excel" in the Greek is in the Present Tense of duration, showing repeated or habitual action. The verb is also in the Active Voice, showing that the believers at Corinth THEMSELVES should keep on seeking to excel in edifying the Body of which they are a part. And finally the verb is in the Subjunctive Mood, showing that the action of edification is based on their own volition. The Corinthians (like the Charismatics) can choose to obey or disobey God in this commandment. If they disobey and refuse to edify the Body then they are in sin; I don't care whether they think they're exercising a spiritual Gift or not. Exercise of the Gift isn't what God emphasizes: He emphasizes EDIFICATION of the Church above all else. The Corinthians and all believers are commanded to "keep on seeking to excel in edifying the Body", not just to inflate their own egos through false use of alleged spiritual Gifts.

Because edification of the Body is the end goal of all the spiritual Gifts, Paul commands in verse 13 that those who truly do speak in Tongues (not 'unknown' Tongues. This is an addition of the KJV translators, and has no place in the Text. This is why I have been placing this word in []. All Tongues are known earthly languages, as we've emphasized again and again) must also pray for the Gift of Interpretation. "Pray" in the Greek is a Present Tense (of duration) verb in the Imperative Mood. The Imperative Mood stressed that the believers at Corinth are COMMANDED to pray for the Gift of Interpretation. Tongues without interpretation are useless to the Body of Christ because they do nothing to edify that Body. The Present Tense again shows that the believer is commanded to "keep on Praying" for the Gift of Interpretation. Until the believer (or another believer in the Body) receives Interpretation, Tongues are useless and not to be used in the Body. In fact, they aren't to be used anywhere, either in the Body or out of the Body. Uninterpreted Tongues neither edify the believer exercising the Gift, nor those around him. This is what Paul emphasizes in verse 14.

In verse 14 Paul states that "If he prays in a tongue, his spirit prays but his understanding is unfruitful". "If" is the Greek EAN, and it's used with a verb in the subjunctive mood. Earlier we saw that EAN + Subjunctive Mood gives a third class conditional statement in the Greek. In other words, it speaks only of a hypothetical statement. Paul isn't saying that he can or does pray in Tongues, nor is he even saying that it's possible. He merely states that EVEN IF HE COULD USE TONGUES TO PRAY, then this use of Tongues wouldn't edify him anymore than it would edify the other members of the Body. His "spirit" would be praying, but his understanding would be unfruitful. In other words, He wouldn't be saying a thing that he could understand! Much is made also of "my Spirit prayeth". Charismatics have built up the false doctrine that when you use Tongues to pray, the Holy Spirit of God prays through you; you yourself aren't even praying. Though "spirit" in this text is the Greek PNEUMA, and the Holy Spirit is also referred to as PNEUMA, it's plain in the context that the Holy Spirit isn't the one who is praying here. Paul says, "MY spirit prays", not "the HOLY SPIRIT prays". Though the Holy Spirit of God indwells every Church Age believer, that Spirit doesn't belong to us: HE IS GOD AND BELONGS TO NO ONE. No where in scripture is the Spirit ever referred to as the possession of the believer, but here Paul says that it is MY (his) spirit that prays. He refers not to the Holy Spirit, but to his human spirit that would (if it were possible) be praying.

Romans 8.26 "...Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered..."

The Spirit of God does make intercessory prayer for all believers daily, but not through the workings of any "prayer Tongue". This intercessory prayer is made with "groanings that cannot be uttered". "groanings" is the Greek STENAGMOS, which means "a sigh, something uttered below the breath so as to be unintelligible". "Cannot be uttered" is the Greek ALALETOS, which means "something not spoken". So the true intercessory prayer of the Spirit for believers is "unspoken unintelligible sighs; something intelligible to God but unheard by the believer." This rules out the Spirit using "prayer Tongues" to pray for believers, because though Tongues may be unintelligible, they are definitely spoken and heard. The Spirit's intercession is unspoken, and being unspoken it is unheard. The only proof of a prayer Tongue is in the minds of misguided believers, not in the teachings of Scripture. As there was no need of a "personal prayer Tongue" for the believer, God never gave such a thing. Prayer is an act of conversation between the believer and God, very much like a dialogue between a Father and his child. In prayer God desires our communication, our thanksgiving, and our requests for spiritual and material needs. He wants US to talk to him, not some unintelligible gibberish. To help you understand more about true Biblical Prayer, the following short outline on the "Doctrine of Prayer" is supplied. I hope you'll study it!

The Doctrine of Prayer

Prayer is addressed to the Father only: Matthew 6.9-13

Prayer is always in the name of the Son: John 14.13-14

Prayer must be made in the power (under the Filling) of the Spirit of God: Ephesians 6.18

Christ as our High Priest prays for us : Hebrews 7.25

The Spirit of God prays for us, though we cannot hear it : Romans 8.26-27

We pray for ourselves : Hebrews 4.16

Proper prayer contains the following ingredients:

Confession of outstanding sins in our lives: 1 John 1.9

Thanksgiving for what God has already given us: Ephesians 5.20; 1 Thessalonians 5.18

Intercessory prayer on behalf of others: Ephesians 6.18

Petition for your own needs, both spiritual and physical: Hebrews 4.16

Prayer must be used in faith: Matthew 18.19; Matthew 21.22; Mark 11.24; John 15.7

The principles of prayer are:

Prayer is most effective for the mature believer: John 15.7 ;1 John 5.14

You must be Filled with the Spirit when you pray: Ephesians 6.18

If you are in carnality, your prayers are ineffective: Psalms 66.18

Prayer must be made with full recognition of God's principles of grace: Hebrews 4.16

Categories of prayer and petition are:

Sometimes what you pray for (the petition) is answered though your desires are not fulfilled: 1 Samuel 8.19-20; 1 Samuel 8.5-9

Sometimes your petition isn't answered but the desires of your heart are satisfied: Genesis 17.18; Genesis 18.23-33; 2 Corinthians 12.7-10

In the best type of prayer, both your petition and the desires of your heart are answered: Judges 16.28; 1 Kings 18.36-37

In the worst type of prayer, neither your petition nor the desires of your heart are answered

Prayers are often not answered (neither desire nor petition) because:

You pray outside of the Filling of the Spirit: 1 Peter 2.5,9; Ephesians 6.18

You pray with disobedience to God in your heart: 1 John 3.22

You pray with carnality in your life: Psalm 66.18

You pray, asking for things selfishly rather than in order to glorify God: James 4.2-3

Lack of compassion toward others, either the downtrodden or apathy to the Body of Christ: Proverbs 21.13

A lack of domestic tranquility between the husband and wife causes unanswered prayer: 1 Peter 3.7

Self-righteousness or pride in the life causes unanswered prayer: Job 35.12-13

Prayer outside of the clear or unexpressed will of God will never be answered: 1 John 5.14

Faithlessness on the part of the believer, or a faithless prayer, will never be answered, for doubt of God is sin: Matthew 21.22; Mark 11.24; Romans 14.23

Having seen God's ideal of proper prayer, it's much easier to understand Paul's next statement:

1 Corinthians 14.15 "...What is it then? I will 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..."

Prayer is a dialogue between the Father (God) and His children (the Believers). Because of this we are commanded to both pray and praise God in our human spirits in such a way that both WE AND GOD understand what's being said. There is no Biblical basis for a personal prayer Tongue. There never has been and never will be. Such a thing would neither edify the believer speaking gibberish, nor would it edify the Church. As Paul said elsewhere in scripture:

Romans 15.1-2 "...We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let everyone of us please his neighbor (<- the Other Believers in the Body) for his good to edification..."

We aren't in the Body of Christ to please ourselves, just like the hand on the human body doesn't seek it's own pleasure. Our goal is to please others in the Body, to seek, it's fullest edification. And again Paul said:

Romans 14.19 "...Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another ... "

If we're to follow after the things that make peace and edification in the Body then WE MUST avoid false doctrines (prayer Tongues) and mis-uses of the spiritual Gifts. The Corinthian Church wasn't doing this, and their Body was suffering because of it. If you use Tongues in the Church they MUST BE INTERPRETED, or not used at all. The Corinthian Pattern is the same pattern that the modern day Charismatics copy, and neither pattern is prescribed by God in the Scriptures. Both Corinthian and Charismatic seek their own edification rather than the edification of the Body, and by doing so unwittingly harm themselves in the process. As Paul said again:

1 Thessalonians 5.11 "...Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do..."

And again:

Ephesians 4.11-12 "...And He gave some apostles, and some prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ..."

All spiritual Gifts were given with the idea of edifying or building up the Body of Christ, not just the individual believer. When you begin to use some alleged Gift to edify yourself then you lose touch with God's Plan and with reality. The Church has it's Gifts so that it might, as a whole, be edified. Nothing else, regardless as to what your "experiences" are, is truly from God.

1 Corinthians 14.16-19 "...Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say amen at the giving 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..."

"Bless" is the Greek EULOGEO which means, "To make a benediction". Speaking uninterpreted Tongues in the congregation not only fails to edify the believers, but it also fails to edify unbelievers as well. When you make a benediction (actually, probably means "to preach or evangelize") in the Church in gibberish, the unlearned (the visiting heathen. See verses 23-24 in comparison to this text) doesn't understand a thing you're saying. How can the Gospel of Salvation be preached to visiting unbelievers at your Church if they don't understand you; or worst, if they think you're a bunch of crazy people? When unbelievers visit your Church the foremost thing in your mind should be to witness to them, so that they might accept Christ as Saviour and become a part of the Body. This person might be saved, and might receive a spiritual Gift that your Church especially needs. But if you give them a false impression by your false doctrines and mis-uses of the Gifts, then neither you nor the unbeliever benefits.

Paul goes on to say that the Corinthians give their benediction "well". This isn't to be taken as an apostolic compliment (as it seems in the KJV). "Well" is the Greek KALUS, which means "Prettily, in a pretty manner". It is pretty to hear other languages spoken, even if you don't understand them. I think the most beautiful language I know is French, particularly spoken by a French woman. But I don't understand a word of it, though I'm mesmerized by it's sounds. This is what Paul was speaking of. It wasn't right what the Corinthians were doing, it wasn't even good by God's standards. But I'm sure it was hypnotically beautiful to go into the Corinthian congregation, and hear everyone there speak in a different tongue all at once. Though it might have been pretty, it wasn't right, because it didn't edify the Body of Christ. Paul certainly wasn't praising the Corinthians, but he was bringing charges of failure to edify against them. The Corinthians weren't edifying themselves, nor the Body, nor even the visiting unbelievers. They only thought that they were doing right, and this is the saddest thing of all

In the latter part of the text Paul says "I thank my God I speak with tongues more than ye all". Again, Paul wasn't against the Gift of Tongues. He probably used the Gift more than the Corinthians ever would. But Paul used the Gift properly, whereas the Corinthians misused it (if they were using it at all). As an Apostle Paul was responsible for establishing new Church bodies. I'm certain that he often went into areas where nobody spoke his language, and God used the Gift of Tongues to overcome this linguistic barrier. Tongues has a very real and valid use in the Church, though not as the Charismatics portray it.

As this series draws to a close (and it must close, for all doctrinal points should have been thoroughly covered), I want to leave you with two things to consider. First, I'm sure that some of you have been asking if I think that Tongues are still a viable Gift in the Church today. As a sign of the Baptism, I have to say "absolutely not". But as an evangelistic tool to witness the Gospel (as in Acts 2), I say, "absolutely". Our God is still the God of miracles. I believe that, if it were needed to witness of the glorious Grace of the Cross, then God would activate the Gift in whoever He desired to accomplish that goal. Are true Tongues a common Gift in our present age? Absolutely not! When you consider our great technology and ability to spread the Gospel worldwide, when you consider how great the Church has grown, in nearly every instance the Gift of Tongues has been replaced by other means today. We send missionaries into foreign countries linguistically equipped to preach the Gospel. We translate the Bible into thousands of languages through institutions like Wycliff, American Bible Society, Gideons, International Bible Society, and numerous denominational Church affiliated translators. Is there a great need for this Gift in our Church today? No, because of these very aforementioned reasons.

1 Corinthians 14:21-24 "In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 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. If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:"

Tongues were never meant to be the play toy of the Christian, but were an evangelistic tool to bridge the communication barrier so that the unbeliever could hear the Gospel. Uninterpreted Tongues are even useless in this capacity, as they only lead the visitor to your Church to assume that you're all quite mad. Christ is not glorified in this. Christ is only glorified when the Church is edified, and when the lost are witnessed to.

1 Corinthians 14:26-31 "How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let he other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

All things must be done in the Church with edification in mind. All things should be done decently and in order. For as the Bible says:

1 Corinthians 14:33 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."

If you are using Tongues, or some semblance of Tongues in your Church services, and it is leading to confusion rather than edification, then this is not of God. If not of God, then who do you think it is from? Think on it carefully, my brethren. Your spiritual growth is at stake!

This article can be downloaded from http://www.bibleteacher.org

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