THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT – Lesson Seven
PROPHECY, DISCERNING OF SPIRITS, DIVERS KINDS OF TONGUES AND INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES
Prophecy – This Gift empowers those on whom it is bestowed to “interpret the divine will and purpose in inspired preaching and teaching” (1 Corinthians 14:3, AMP) and to “give inspired testimony” (1 Corinthians 14:24, AMP).
There is also “demonstrative prophecy.” Acts 21:10-11 – 10After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ”
Purpose of Prophecy: 1 Corinthians 14:3 – But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
Discerning of Spirits – Spirit-filled believers who have been given this Gift have the ability to know whether utterances or supernatural manifestations are of the Holy Spirit or not. Example: Acts 16:16-18 – 16Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.
Application: While believers who have the Gift of Discerning of Spirits are able to readily detect false spirits, every believer is instructed to be on the alert for false spirits. Note 1 John 4:1-3 – Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
Divers Kinds of Tongues – With this Gift, spirit-filled believers are able to speak in languages which they have never learnt. See Acts 2:1-13. [V.6-11 – 6When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. 7Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs–we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”]
Purpose of this Gift: 1 Corinthians 14:2, 4 – 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Interpretation of Tongues – Those with this Gift have the ability to reveal what has been spoken by those with the Gift of Divers Kinds of Tongues, including the “interpreter,” without having learnt the languages.
Purpose of the Gift: 1 Corinthians 14:5 – I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
General Application: Let us earnestly seek the Lord to be filled with the Spirit, to operate in the Gifts of the Spirit and to produce the Fruit of the Spirit, thus glorifying Him.