Speaking in Tongues and Having The Ability to Interpret Them

Francis Drake

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Well we have two gifts mentioned here. Each gift must do separate things, they don't share attributes. I can't raise the dead by my interpretation of tongues, and my discerning of spirits does not provide an overabundant source of food for a season like the gift of faith would.
Again I disagree.
Excluding the miracle gifts, the revelatory gifts constantly overlap.
ie. Sometimes when I've given a prophecy, it's triggered by a vision.
There are times when the Lord has spoken a single word, and wisdom enables me to give that word with lengthy explanation. etc.
We have no more right to put a straight jacket on the gifts than we have on normal conversation.
I say one gift deals with facts, and the other deals with GOD's purpose and will.
All revelatory gifts deal with God's facts, God's purpose and God's will.
How we each define them will probably be different.
Why do we have to define them, why not just use them?
 
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Francis Drake

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At the end of the day if Jesus is glorified and the Holy Spirit is working with us, does it really matter what descriptors we use for the gifts?
Amen.
Next thing you know, IBM will have developed a programme to categorise them accurately.
 
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ARBITER01

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Again I disagree.
Excluding the miracle gifts, the revelatory gifts constantly overlap.
ie. Sometimes when I've given a prophecy, it's triggered by a vision.
There are times when the Lord has spoken a single word, and wisdom enables me to give that word with lengthy explanation. etc.
We have no more right to put a straight jacket on the gifts than we have on normal conversation.

All revelatory gifts deal with God's facts, God's purpose and God's will.

Why do we have to define them, why not just use them?


Again, how we define them will probably be different.

For me, I want to know the particulars about such things, and The Lord is more than willing to show me.
 
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ARBITER01

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Why do we have to define them, why not just use them?

Because we have quite a few people who call themselves Christians, who thought they were prophets, and they were found to be absolutely wrong here recently.

If people would have had a greater understanding of the various gifts, maybe so many people would not have listened to those fools in the first place.

For me personally, I want to know what are the proper uses of the gifts. I don't want to be using what GOD gives me wrongfully and disgrace Him. In that respect, it goes beyond the gifts and into the ministries and offices.

Why should GOD give you anything more if you can't be trusted with what He has already given you? What incentive is it for GOD to give you anything greater when you make a mockery of the simple things He has already given you at the start?
 
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Doctrine does matter in a lot of cases.

Too many people make up some weird definitions of the gifts. I've mentioned it before in posts on here how tongues does not heal and prophecy doesn't raise the dead, etc. Some of the gifts are not easily defined in scripture, and because of that some folks have attached some really oddball definitions to them.

The contrast between the material from the older generations and what is available now is beyond stark. I trust the older generations because they depended on GOD way more than the current crop of Christians do.
A fairly generalised comment. Just like my mother who used to sit in her lounge and give her personal opinion about something, saying everyone in [my home town] thinks that too. What! The whole population of the town has the same opinion as hers?
 
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Maybe I have looked into it more Oscarr.

There's no grey area in the gifts, they are separate in operation.
Whatever. Not worth being in contention about it. Problem is that there is no instruction manual that came with the gifts. We have only the list, but no detailed instructions about how to use them - except tongues and prophecy, and Paul gave those instructions only because the Corinthian church had issues that needed to be corrected.

So, attempting to absolutely define how the gift of the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom operates can only be an educated guess at best. If our friend had a word that there was going to be a war in Yugoslavia and felt to warn the Gospel outreach organisation there, it could well have been a word of knowledge about what is imminent. The leaders of the organisation could have sought God for wisdom on how to proceed, and He could have given them a word of wisdom. I think defining the word of wisdom as prediction of future events is a bit of a stretch, seeing that wisdom speaks of the most advisable or appropriate course of action in a situation.
 
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I disagree.
Whether past, present or future, it can all be revealed by a word of knowledge. In fact, one way that the veracity of words for the future are proved is by declaring hidden facts from the past and present, followed by a word about the future.

Knowledge is not the same as wisdom. Knowledge is merely information. Wisdom is about function or use of that information.

The best illustration of a word of wisdom is with Solomon when the two women came arguing over which was the mother of the living child as opposed to the dead child.
Solomon could have asked the Lord for a word of knowledge, and perhaps accurately declared that the woman in the red dress is the mother. And the woman in the blue dress, her child is dead.
But that would never have silenced the dead child's mother who would have continued to claim the living child, nor would it have guaranteed to the palace watchers that it was the right answer.

In contrast, wisdom commanded the baby should be cut in half, at the same time knowing that it would never happen. The real mother immediately cried out that the swordsman should stop and let the false mother have the child, thus proving her maternal love for the child. The false mother demanded the baby be cut in half.

That simple word of wisdom instantly revealed the true mother, and everyone in the palace knew it with no doubts.

That's the difference between knowledge and wisdom.

Jesus repeatedly used the word of wisdom to cause the revealing of facts.
That's how I understand it. Couldn't have said it better myself! :amen:
 
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Because we have quite a few people who call themselves Christians, who thought they were prophets, and they were found to be absolutely wrong here recently.

If people would have had a greater understanding of the various gifts, maybe so many people would not have listened to those fools in the first place.

For me personally, I want to know what are the proper uses of the gifts. I don't want to be using what GOD gives me wrongfully and disgrace Him. In that respect, it goes beyond the gifts and into the ministries and offices.

Why should GOD give you anything more if you can't be trusted with what He has already given you? What incentive is it for GOD to give you anything greater when you make a mockery of the simple things He has already given you at the start?
This is why it is best to use the gifts that we have received in fellowship with a good group of mature men, experienced in the prophetic and the Word and who are men of prayer. Then when we use a gift, there are godly men who are well able and qualified to give sound judgment on the veracity and usefulness of the manifestation of the gift.

To be successful in the area of the prophetic, one must have a teachable spirit, and be open to and willing to take correction and advice from experienced, mature men.

Asserting, "You can't correct me, because I got my [gift] directly from the Lord, and He is my only judge" merely demonstrates an unteachable spirit. Often the best guidance from the Holy Spirit comes through mature men of prayer and the Word, who by their experienced practice and maturity have a better discernment of good and evil than the rest of us.
 
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ARBITER01

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Whatever. Not worth being in contention about it. Problem is that there is no instruction manual that came with the gifts. We have only the list, but no detailed instructions about how to use them - except tongues and prophecy, and Paul gave those instructions only because the Corinthian church had issues that needed to be corrected.

So, attempting to absolutely define how the gift of the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom operates can only be an educated guess at best. If our friend had a word that there was going to be a war in Yugoslavia and felt to warn the Gospel outreach organisation there, it could well have been a word of knowledge about what is imminent. The leaders of the organisation could have sought God for wisdom on how to proceed, and He could have given them a word of wisdom. I think defining the word of wisdom as prediction of future events is a bit of a stretch, seeing that wisdom speaks of the most advisable or appropriate course of action in a situation.

My friend, you and I do differ on this subject,...

Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you.


There is nothing that GOD can't reveal to you, and yes, that also includes the gifts that He placed inside you.

The problem is that people don't place The Holy Spirit first, they trust men or themselves.
 
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topher694

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Maybe I have looked into it more Oscarr.

There's no grey area in the gifts, they are separate in operation.
Maybe (or certainly) I have looked into it AND done it more than you.

There is overlap in the gifts. People who can handle the meat of the word understand that.
 
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ARBITER01

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4) A Lying spirit

1Ki 22:22 And The LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so.

2Chr 18:21 And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so.

Jer 23:14-16 In the prophets of Jerusalem also I have seen an horrible thing; they commit adultery, and walk in lies, and they strengthen the hands of evil–doers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them become unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah. Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts concerning the prophets: Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall; for from the prophets of Jerusalem is ungodliness gone forth into all the land. Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Jehovah.

Ezek 12:24 For there shall not again be every vain vision, nor slippery divination, within the house of Israel.

A noun meaning a lie, vanity without cause. This word is used of a lying witness (Deu 19:18); of false prophets (Jer 5:31; Jer 20:6; Jer 29:9); of telling lies (Lev 19:12; Jer 37:14); and of a liar (Prov 17:4). In other cases, it describes something done in vain (1Sa 25:21; Psa 33:17); or an action without cause (Psa 38:19; Psa 119:78, Psa 119:86).

Lies, vanity, actions without cause, deception, and superstition. The particular stronghold is over all religious type activities. Displays incorrect usage of the gifts of The Holy Spirit in services, outside of services etc. Displays outward control over situations, forcefulness, and stubbornness. Can also manifest itself as Godly, as always right and righteous, and gifted.
 
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My friend, you and I do differ on this subject,...

Joh 16:12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.
Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak: and he shall declare unto you the things that are to come.
Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.
Joh 16:15 All things whatsoever the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he taketh of mine, and shall declare it unto you.


There is nothing that GOD can't reveal to you, and yes, that also includes the gifts that He placed inside you.

The problem is that people don't place The Holy Spirit first, they trust men or themselves.
We have to take into account that nine out of every ten impressions and mental images come from the world, flesh or the devil. The only reliable foundation for the truth is God's written Word.

Impressions, sensory 'feelings", etc, are the least reliable ways of knowing what the Holy Spirit is saying to us.

Prophecy is the second to least reliable way.

Preaching and literature are further up the reliability list, as long as they are checked with Scripture.
 
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ARBITER01

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We have to take into account that nine out of every ten impressions and mental images come from the world, flesh or the devil. The only reliable foundation for the truth is God's written Word.

Impressions, sensory 'feelings", etc, are the least reliable ways of knowing what the Holy Spirit is saying to us.

Prophecy is the second to least reliable way.

Preaching and literature are further up the reliability list, as long as they are checked with Scripture.

Again, we differ Oscarr,...

Rom 8:12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:
Rom 8:13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the spirit ye mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.


This is one of the goals in Christianity, to be a son of GOD, meaning, no longer a babe in Christ.

We are to follow Jesus, we are to be led by The Spirit of GOD,.... there is no mention of GOD only speaking from the bible, or of it being in between GOD and us.

That is quite the safe place to hide under Oscarr, but it is not how Jesus did things.
 
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Again, we differ Oscarr,...

Rom 8:12 So then, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh:
Rom 8:13 for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the spirit ye mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.


This is one of the goals in Christianity, to be a son of GOD, meaning, no longer a babe in Christ.

We are to follow Jesus, we are to be led by The Spirit of GOD,.... there is no mention of GOD only speaking from the bible, or of it being in between GOD and us.

That is quite the safe place to hide under Oscarr, but it is not how Jesus did things.
Jesus told the story about the rich man in hell pleading with Abraham to allow Lazarus to rise from the dead to go to his brothers to warn them not to come to the horrible place he was. Abraham told him that his brothers had the Law and the Prophets [ie: The Old Testament Scriptures] and if they didn't believe them, then they wouldn't believe even if someone rose from the dead.

We know (well, I think that most believers do), that Satan can counterfeit anything, and mimic the Holy Spirit, and even appear as a vision of Jesus or Mary to deceive people, possibly even the elect. So, how do we know that the voice in our heads is really the Holy Spirit? Without reference to the written Scriptures, we have no basis for knowing.

Satan can quite easily generate positive, peaceful feelings along with the voice, and give the right jargon and be so close to the genuine, that only one well-versed in the Scriptures and in constant fellowship with the Lord through prayer, is able to tell the difference. The devil is a master at lulling someone into a false sense of peace and security while feeding him codswallop guidance that will result in serious problems and even disaster for the person and those around him.

He can also send along very plausible looking religious people who walk the walk and talk the talk, to deceive people. All we have to do is to read John Bunyan's Pilgrims Progress to see how Christian was easily deceived by Mr Worldly Wiseman, and Mr Talkative who gave very believable and plausible opinions and guidance, and sometimes needed direct intervention to get him back on the right path again.

The reality is that things are not always what they appear to be, and Jesus said that our enemies are often those of our own household, ie: the ones we respect the most at home and at church. We see it in the mega-churches where a big-name preacher gives great claims of blessing, wealth, signs and wonders, and draws away tens of thousands of disciples to himself, and yet at the end of it it is all just words with no substance. Not everyone who says, "God has told me [this]" or "God has told me [that]" is actually hearing His voice. He could be hearing from another god, but not the God of the Bible.

John had very good reasons to say, "Believe not every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are of God or not." He knew, like Paul (1 Corinthians 14) that every voice has significance in one way or another. But John knew that not every voice comes from God, and to accept voices, no matter how plausible they sound, or what peaceful and positive feelings that come with it, without testing what is said by the written Scripture, is foolish and dangerous. Listening to the wrong voice can make shipwreck of one's own soul and many others around the deceived person.
 
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topher694

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I have seen first hand how a prophetic word can deliver a word of knowledge which brings emotional healing that then brings physical healing. I'll give an example, it doesn't come from me, but another minister, however it is a true story that perfectly illustrates this:

The minster is praying for a young woman and gets a word for her, the word is simply, "I (God) hate mommies and daddies"... The minster struggles with God about releasing the word because to the minster it makes no sense and seems to maybe even violate scripture. However the unction is so strong he finally relents and trusts God. He tells the girl, "God says He hates mommies and daddies". The girl breaks down crying. Turns out she had been sexually abused by someone close to her and this person would say it was a game called... you guessed it... mommies and daddies.

That was a word of knowledge delivered via prophecy. She knew this minister could not have possibly known this deep hidden secret. Just hearing those words that she knew came directly from God brought her tremendous emotional and spiritual healing. Also, many times physical ailments are connected to emotional/spiritual wounds, and that is what happened here, this girl was also healed of a chronic physical condition as well.

So the truth is this girl wouldn't have been healed if that prophetic word hadn't been spoken. So was what happened truly a prophecy? Was it a word of knowledge? A healing? Or, perhaps instead of trying to dissect and define and depower what happened (milk), one should look at the result; recognize the work of the Holy Spirit; glorify God, and not worry too much about which gift did what, but rather trust the gifts were in operation and be looking and ready for the next opportunity to minister to someone (meat).
 
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ARBITER01

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5. THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE

A. DEFINITION - The gift of the word of knowledge is a spiritual revelation of divine knowledge from GOD into the believer’s spirit by The Holy Spirit. It is a “word” of knowledge not the gift of knowledge. It is a supernatural revelation of past happenings or of things existing or events taking place in the present moment for a specific purpose.

B. APPLICATION - This gift deals with GOD’s infinite knowledge of current and past facts. It can tell the whereabouts, conditions, etc, of things when it was impossible for the believer to have known otherwise. It will be a divine enlightenment of facts which the believer had never seen or their ears had never heard.

C. METHODS - It is in operation during revelation unto a believer by audible voice from GOD within our spirit, by similitude’s (a temporary spiritual picture or vision from GOD, with an accompanying understanding), or by vocal utterance of The Holy Spirit through our spirit in human languages. This gift is always operated by the will of The Holy Spirit, and cannot be activated by the believer's will or personal faith.
 
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Francis Drake

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That's how I understand it. Couldn't have said it better myself! :amen:
Despite our differences, iron sharpens iron Oscarr, and that also applies with our differences with Arbiter.
It's a pleasure to argue!:clap:
 
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