THE GIFT OF INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES!

Last Sunday, we looked at “THE GIFT OF DIVERSE KINDS OF TONGUES!” In studying these gifts of the Holy Spirit, we have come to the end of the list – the gift of interpretation of tongues.  

Therefore, today we want to look at “THE GIFT OF INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES!”

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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: 11 But all these worketh that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Cor. 12:7-11).

What is the gift of interpretation of tongues? “The gift of interpretation of tongues” is a specific gift among the 9 gifts of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:10.

The gift of interpretation of tongues is not a skill you acquire by language interpretation. It is not learned but imparted by the Holy Spirit.

It is the supernatural showing forth by the Holy Spirit the meaning of an utterance in unknown tongues.

“The gift of the interpretation of tongues” is the least gift of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is because it depends upon another gift, “the gift of diverse kinds of tongues” in order to operate.

The interpretation of tongues is a gift dependent on someone else first speaking in diverse kinds of tongues. It does not operate on its own unless the gift of diverse kinds of tongues has been in operation (1 Cor. 14:5).

Here is the point: Unlike most spiritual gifts, the interpretation of tongues must involve the work of another person.

However, it is possible for someone to have the ability to both speak in tongues and interpret (1 Cor. 14:13).

Paul provided specific guidelines for the usage of speaking in tongues and their interpretation for the church at Corinth (1 Cor. 14:26-28).

The goal Paul gave was that, "All things should be done decently and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40). This involved making sure the audience could understand what was being spoken through those with the gift of interpretation.

What is the purpose of the gift of interpretation of tongues? The purpose of the gift of interpretation of tongues is to render the gift of tongues understandable to the hearers so that the whole church congregation, as well as the one who gave the utterance in an unknown tongue, may know what has been said, and may be edified thereby (1 Cor. 14:5).

What of the place of the Gift of Interpretation of Tongues in your private prayer life? One of the most important things in prayer is to interpret your tongues, as the Holy Spirit wills, in your private prayer life.

In private prayer, it is not necessary that everything we utter in other tongues be clear to our understanding, because Paul said, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful” (1 Cor. 14:14).

Therefore, it is not necessary that everything you pray in tongues be clear to your understanding or be interpreted because you are not talking to yourself, you are talking to God.

What you pray in tongues is clear to God and that is sufficient (1 Cor. 14:2). Yet, in some occasions God may desire that we interpret our prayers.

Apostle Paul suggests this in 1 Corinthians 14:13 saying, “Wherefore, let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.”

God knows what we are praying about because when we are praying in other tongues we are talking to Him. But sometimes, He wants us to know what we are praying about too.

What of the gift of the Interpretation of Tongues in public ministry? In ministering publicly in tongues in any one service, only two or three people at the most should participate (1 Cor. 14:27). One of the persons giving the message in tongues may also interpret it himself.

Realize that interpretation of tongues is not translation of tongues. This is because the interpretation does not depend on the length of the message given in tongues.

A translation is a word-for-word understanding of what is being said and this might not be possible due to a few factors.

Tongues is a perfect language, and sometimes what is being said in tongues could not be said any better than that.

So an interpretation would be the main understanding of what is being communicated. Interpretation gets your mind up to speed and renews it enough to take out some stops that might be hindering your transformation into the image of Christ.

Another difference that interpretation will bring is that the length of interpretation might not equal the length of speaking in tongues.

Your interpretation might be longer or shorter based on the ability of English to communicate the thought.

So it is important not to add to or subtract from anything that comes forth in your interpretation, just let it flow.

The interpretation is simply showing forth supernaturally by the Spirit of God the meaning of what was said in tongues, and it may not take as many words to declare what was said.

For instance, someone may speak a short utterance in tongues and another will speak at length in interpretation. It may take longer to give the interpretation, in order to show the meaning clearly.

Every believer can interpret his own prayers in his prayer life (1 Cor. 14:5). Similarly, every believer should be able to interpret his prayers in tongues (1 Cor. 14:13), as the Holy Spirit wills, even though he may never interpret tongues publicly (1 Cor. 14:27-28). 

God wants us to be able to interpret our prayers because the Bible says, “…let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit (by the Holy Spirit that dwells in my spirit-man) prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful” (1 Cor. 14:13-14).

If you could interpret your own prayers, your understanding would no longer be unfruitful. It will help you to know what you are praying about.

Therefore, you can interpret your prayers in other tongues. Pray in tongues a few words; then pray out the interpretation.

We make a great mistake by thinking that tongues and interpretation of tongues is just a gift for use in public only. It isn’t. In fact, the main use of tongues and interpretation of tongues is for the believer’s private use.

Every believer should be praying in tongues and interpreting with his understanding; it is praying the interpretation of what the believer is praying about in tongues, so that he can understand it. Then his understanding will become fruitful.

Beloved, praying in tongues and interpreting your tongues regularly will do you plenty of good.

Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit!

• Your friend: I. I. Madubunyi (Senior Pastor)                                Sept. 30^th, 2018!

Promise of God: “You are complete in Him” (Col 2:10).