Gifts of the Spirit 5

MISSIONARY: Eph. 3:6-8

Eph. 3:6 to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel,

Eph. 3:7 of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.

Eph. 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,

Eph. 3:9 and to enlighten all people as to what the plan of the mystery is which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things;

minister = διάκονος

preach = εὐαγγελίσασθαι euaggelisasthai  εὐαγγελίζω (εὖ, ἄγγελος)  Verb aor mid infin  to proclaim good news, a message

verse 8 indicates that he is to preach this message to gentiles (while verse 9 expands this to all people)

These verses were not enough for me to define “missionary”

(evangelist or apostle do this just fine)

I wanted more scriptural support for this gift:

Matthew 28: 18-20 great commission (which is for everyone)

Acts 13:2-3 “set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them”  (the Damascus Appointing)

Acts 22:21 “go for I will send you far away to the gentiles (which we see echoed in Eph 3)

Rom 10:15 “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

1 Cor 9:19-23 “For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.”

Here we see a glimpse of the missionary.  An ability to relate to other cultures in order to share the gospel.

we already have gifts of pastor, teacher, evangelist

but when you give someone (that already has one or more of these gifts) 

the added spiritual ability to relate effectively into other cultures, there is the missionary.

TONGUES and INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES  1 Cor 12, 1 Cor 14

1Cor. 12:10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

γλῶσσα, glōssa, n.  [root of: 1186, 2280, 2303]. tongue; language (a spoken sound)

Rev. 5:9 And they *sang a ^anew song, saying,   “^bWorthy are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were ^cslaughtered, and You ^dpurchased people for God with Your blood from ^eevery tribe, language, people, and nation.

every occurrence of glossa in new testament, when translated as tongue or language includes the implication that some one else understands it.

(either man, God, or both)

tongue also shows up (glossa) to mean our physical tongue

Mark 7:33 And Jesus ^atook him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers in his ears, and after ^aspitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva;

Mark 7:35 And his ears were opened, and the ¹impediment of his tongue was ²removed, and he began speaking plainly.

Luke 1:64 ^aAnd at once his mouth was opened and his tongue freed, and he began speaking in praise of God.

another greek word for language shows up in the pentecost account:

διαλέκτῳ (6x)  διάλεκτος (6x)

[NIV Greek]

1365   [1258]   διάλεκτος, dialektos, n.  [1328 + 3306]. language, dialect, a communication code whether written or oral; in the NT this always refers to known languages commonly spoken in the ancient world

Acts 1:19 And it became known to all the residents of Jerusalem; as a result that field was called Hakeldama in ^atheir own language, that is, Field of Blood.)

Acts 2:6 And when ^athis sound occurred, the crowd came together and they were bewildered, because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own ¹language.

Acts 2:8 “And how is it that we each hear them in our own ¹language ²to which we were born?

note that narrative occurrences for dialektos usages also indicate every time that it is understandable

I say narrative because there is one occurrence of glossa that does not imply 

the understanding of another person or translation for that purpose

1Cor. 13:1 ¶ If I speak with the ^atongues of mankind and of ^bangels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a ^cclanging cymbal.

1Cor. 13:2 If I have the gift of ^aprophecy and know all ^bmysteries and all ^cknowledge, and if I have ^dall faith so as to ^eremove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.

1Cor. 13:3 And if I ^agive away all my possessions to charity, and if I ^bsurrender my body so that I may ¹glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.

this passage is not about tongues, it is about the superior value of love. that it’s value is so superior that without it, everything else a man could have or even do is worthless.

to this point, Paul writes hyperbolically to exaggerate his point.  He does not claim to speak with tongues of man and angels, does not claim to have gift of prophecy or know all mysteries and all things, does not claim to have all faith to move mountains, and does not claim to have given all possessions and certainly cant claim to have surrendered his body (since he would be dead and unable to write the passage in the first place.

now we come to the detailed passage for tongues 

1 Cor 14.

this letter is a corrective letter to the church in corinth (one of the things they were doing wrong was making a big deal of speaking in tongues …

multiple people all speaking gibberish at the same time, no one understood what anyone was saying, no one interpreting, and no one realizing that you were attempting to “use” this gift in the wrong way for the wrong reasons

1Cor. 14:1 ¶ Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

1Cor. 14:2 For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

speaks to God, not people (vertical not horizontal)

also consider that, since it is a spiritual gift to speak a language that the speaker does not know, the speaker may not know what he is saying.
(there is no indication that the speakers in pentecost – Acts 2 knew what they were saying even though the hearers understood perfectly)

1Cor. 14:3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation.

prophecy is speaking revelation of GOD in acceptable language for present company (also the speaker understands what he is saying)

1Cor. 14:4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

speaking in a language no one understands might encourage the speaker, but speaking in understandable language helps everyone around him.

1Cor. 14:5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification.

I would prefer you all just spoke in known language (that is much better than an unknown language) plus, speaking in an unknown language requires an interpreter so that others may benefit (otherwise there is no point to speaking that way in public)

he then explains the uselessness of an uninterpretable language being spoken in public

1Cor. 14:6 ¶ But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophecy, or of teaching?

1Cor. 14:7 Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp?

1Cor. 14:8 For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?

1Cor. 14:9 So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be talking to the air.

1Cor. 14:10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning.

1Cor. 14:11 So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible to me.

in summary, if what you are speaking does not make sense to anyone else, then it does not make sense to be speaking at all.

(does it make sense to not make any sense ?  it makes far more sense to make sense)  LOL

1Cor. 14:12 So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church.

you should be desiring to edify those around you (not yourselves)

1Cor. 14:13 ¶ Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret.

1Cor. 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.

mind is unproductive because even the speaker does not know what he is saying

1Cor. 14:15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also.

1Cor. 14:16 For otherwise, if you bless God in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the outsider know to say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying?

1Cor. 14:17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.

1Cor. 14:18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all;

Paul has the gift of tongues, he says it right here , settled !

1Cor. 14:19 nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

when I am around others, 5 intelligible words is worth more than 10,000 words in some supposed language no one can understand

1Cor. 14:20 ¶ Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature.

1Cor. 14:21 In the Law it is written: “BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME,” says the Lord.

1Cor. 14:22 So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe.

1Cor. 14:23 Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane?

strange tongues are a sign for non-believers , prophecy (speaking of God or for God in intelligible language) is for believers

and back in verse 20 he states that insisting on speaking unintelligible things with people around you is childish !  its immature and selfish

Here then is a spiritually mature way to handle gifts:

1Cor. 14:26 ¶ What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification.

1Cor. 14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret;

1Cor. 14:28 but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God.

1Cor. 14:29 Have two or three prophets speak, and have the others pass judgment.

1Cor. 14:30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent.

1Cor. 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted;

1Cor. 14:32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;

1Cor. 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. ¶ As in all the churches of the saints,

1Cor. 14:34 the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says.

1Cor. 14:35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.

1Cor. 14:36 Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?

1Cor. 14:37 ¶ If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.

1Cor. 14:38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

1Cor. 14:39 ¶ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

1Cor. 14:40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way.

in conventional understanding, we have then three types of tongues evidenced in the scripture

1. the public speaker does not know what he is saying (since it is a language he has never spoken) and the listener directly understands its meaning (acts 2)
2. the public speaker does not know what he is saying and the interpreter makes it understandable to the other listeners (verse 27)
3. the private speaker does not know what he is saying and is in a place of solitude with only God understanding what is being said. (verse 14)

now here is something to consider: look back in Acts.  What is being spoken by the men speaking in tongues ?

Acts 2:11 “we hear them speaking in our own ¹tongues of the mighty deeds of God.”

they were speaking the praises of God in different languages, praising God – 

the direction was more upward to God (God just gave bystanders the ability to understand)

it can also be prayer (also directed upward)

1Cor. 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive.

1Cor. 14:15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also.

1Cor. 14:16 For otherwise, if you bless God in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the outsider know to say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying?

1Cor. 14:17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified.

1Cor. 14:2 For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

speaks to God, not people (vertical not horizontal)

1Cor. 14:3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation.

1Cor. 14:4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

Paul does not say don’t do this at all, but offers constructive contexts for tongues

1Cor. 14:5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification.

edifying oneself is not bad (we read scripture to build ourselves up, dont we?)
praising God in the Spirit (including praising or praying in tongues is good for self edification)

but in a public context, 5 words of understandable language is better for the body than  10,000 words of what sounds like gibberish to everyone else

VOLUNTARY POVERTY: supernatural ability to surrender possessions and comforts for the good of others

1Cor. 13:3 And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.

bearing in mind, this passage is part of Paul’s set of hyperbolic examples of things being done without love being worth nothing 

ACTS 2:44-45

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

this is not voluntary poverty, this is everyone sharing so that everyones needs were met (no one is actually doing without because this is people selling what they dont need)   they had all things in common, food, shelter , clothes, etc

ACTS 4:34-37

There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35 and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. 36 Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, 37 sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.

while this certainly indicates selling and sharing, it does not indicate voluntary poverty

2 CORINTHIANS 6:10

as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

(yet this context implies that is is the “we” who this applies to and the greater context of chapters 5-6 indicates that the “we” is anyone and everyone who is ministering to another in the name of the Lord (sometimes the “we” seems to refer to the Apostles , other times in same context it is the entirety of the body of Christ)

2 CORINTHIANS 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

what riches did Jesus surrender for our sake ?

Phil. 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

Phil. 2:6 who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

Phil. 2:7 but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of men.

Phil. 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross.

Paul encourages this of all believers (and it is not an example of voluntary poverty)

voluntary poverty then (willing sacrifice of self for others) is something resulting from the expression of agape love

and is expected of all of us (if this is a spiritual gift, it is a gift on the same level as love, charity, hospitality, mercy, evangelism, the likes of these are expected of all of us, not just some)

I also came across a gift of deliverance 

this turned out to be a listing of verses where demons had been cast out

focusing on Jesus giving His authority over demons first to the 12, then to the 72 others

Luke 9:10, Matt 10:1

in Luke 10:1 He appoints 72 others and sends them out

Luke 10:17-19 “even the demons are subject to us in Your Name”

this is not a spiritual gift in the sense of the others we have covered (this is the authority of the Name of Jesus given to every believer)