K Neill Foster -The Third View of Tongues

The scripture passage for our consideration is 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. The manifestations of the Holy Spirit mentioned here are generally called the "nine gifts of the Spirit." Obviously, by what has gone before you know that I believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are more numerous than the nine. At the same time we must clearly observe that this passage enumerates the manifestations of the Holy Spirit and they are divided under nine heads. Many students of the Word also point out that the gifts mentioned here are especially supernatural in their operation.

Raymond Kincheloe makes some helpful observations on the nature of this list:

As far as the individual Christian is concerned, there are nine gifts of the Spirit. These are the divine enablings for Christian service. They are more than natural talents; they are supernatural powers distributed by the sovereign will of the Holy Spirit.

Gifts referring to the intellect (1 Cor, 12:8):

Wisdom

Knowledge

Gifts depending upon special faith (1 Cor. 12: 9-10a)

Faith

Gifts of healings

Working of miracles

Prophecy

Discerning of spirits

Gifts referring to languages (1 Cor. 12:10b):

Tongues

Interpretation of tongues

These divisions are not arbitrary, but they are indicated by the use of the two Greek words for "another," allos and heteros. Alios means "another of the same kind," and this word links wisdom to knowledge, groups the next five together, and links the last two into a related pair. Heteros means "another of a different kind," and this word introduces faith and tongues, showing that each of these begins a new grouping respectively.¹

Personally, I prefer to divide this list of the nine gifts along functional lines, From the functional viewpoint, there are easily discernible groups of revelation gifts, power gifts and utterance gifts.

First let us consider the gifts of revelation.

The word of wisdom

Wisdom means the correct and wise application of knowledge. The facts need not be new, but the application of them will be. The word of wisdom is just that, a word.

It is not a state of continual wisdom. The word of wisdom may possibly reside in a believer who is commonly recognized to be not especially intelligent, though this of course is certainly not a rule. Does not God delight to confound the wisdom of men?

In the early church the word of wisdom may have been possessed by Stephen and Paul. Certainly the wisdom of Stephen could not be resisted, and Paul made it clear he was not coming to the Corinthians with any human wisdom.

The most striking occasion I have ever seen where the word of wisdom was manifested was in Africa. The atmosphere was unusual and unmistakably one of revival.

The Mission chairman said something like this to the couple for whom we were praying. "You wanted to come to D______ before and the committee did not allow it even though you felt it to be God's will. Yes, God wanted you here at D______, but only for these days of convention. This is God's will for you."

The missionary couple who had wanted to be appointed to that city as resident missionaries were overwhelmed. Indeed, the wife cried out in surprise as the word of wisdom was given. Suddenly the plan for their lives fitted together beautifully.

The word of knowledge

We should first of all remind ourselves that this gift is a supernatural one. The knowledge referred to here is not gained by study nor is it the product of human effort. (Though of course we must not forget to study as the Scriptures command us.)

Note also that it is a word of knowledge, not a continual state of knowledge. As with the word of wisdom, this gift also may appear among those of limited mental ability as well as among church leaders and officers.

Moreover, knowledge of the word should not be confused with the word of knowledge. One is the result of long study and devotion to the Bible. The other is a supernatural operation of the Holy Spirit.

In the Old Testament Samuel told Saul where his asses would be found (1 Sam. 9:19, 20). Elisha revealed the location of the Syrian army in the same way, using knowledge given him from God (2 Kings 6:9). And in the New Testament we find Ananias and Sapphira unable to deceive Peter and the early church. By the Spirit of God Peter knew of their deceitful behavior. And God's judgment fell upon them. The word of knowledge may also have been functioning in Paul at Lystra. He saw faith in a crippled man; he knew deep within that the man had faith to be healed. Thus he commanded him to stand upon his feet. And the man leaped and walked.

A friend who is a pastor related this story: On one occasion in an atmosphere of revival God showed him that a certain rebellious young man for whom they were concerned would come screeching up to the house in his car, that he would come through the door without speaking, and that he would take the chair in the corner. But he would then break down and get right with God. As I recall, the pastor also announced to others what was going to happen.

Shortly afterward a car did come to a screeching stop outside the house, the sullen young man did come in, and he did choose the chair in the corner. And then he began to weep brokenly before the Lord.

Such a spiritual manifestation is, to me, a word of knowledge.

Discerning of spirits

This gift is commonly called discerning. But as far as the biblical lists are concerned, there is no such gift as discernment. It is discerning of spirits.

There are four classes of spirits mentioned in the Word of God: the human spirit, the Holy Spirit, angelic spirits, and demonic spirits. The person gifted with the discerning of spirits will often know which spirit is at work. It is probably the most needed gift of all in this day of occult invasion.

The gift is also vitally related to the casting out of demons. Obviously the discerning of spirits was functioning in Philip when in Samaria he was casting out demons who protested with loud voices. Paul seemed also to have had the discerning of spirits in his life. The fortune-telling girl had followed them for days. But one day Paul turned. The enemy was caught like a rat out of his hole. And the demon was driven out.

In my personal introduction to the spiritual gifts, this gift was the first I was privileged to see in operation. I had heard of the ministry of a certain brother and I wanted to invite him to my church, even though I was afraid as well because of the supernatural things which I had heard accompanied his ministry.

After preaching once in our church he said to me, "You have problems in your church, don't you?" Then he named the two individuals involved. They were the most difficult people in the church to handle.

Then I was more afraid - if this man knew that about these people, what did he know about me? My fear, by the way, was a reflection of my own need.

Through the years since then this brother; has consistently demonstrated the gift of discerning of spirits and has ordered his life and ministry in a Christ-adorning way.

Though discerning of spirits directly relates to the ministry of exorcism, it is very helpful in understanding the many intricacies of satanic working. It also has a connection to divine healing since some diseases are demonic in nature (Luke 8:36).

I should also make clear that any believer who believes can cast out demons according to Mark 16:17. Exorcism is possible for all believers. Discerning of spirits is available to some, as God wills.

While space forbids any lengthy discussion of deliverance at this point, the commonly accepted way of identifying satanic working is by the words of oppression, obsession, and possession. According to my understanding, oppression is exterior from the person involved, though it may be physical as well as spiritual (Acts 10:38). Obsession is in the mind, arid it begins when the oppressed person believes the devil's lie. Possession is satanic control of the body. Christ's power to dislodge the enemy is complete.

For the Greek students reading this I should add that I realize that scripturally, people are simply described as "demonized." Nevertheless, in experience, oppression, obsession and possession are counseling terms that can be used to describe the various needs of people and the various stages of satanic control and invasion.

Next we shall consider the gifts of power- namely, faith, gifts of healings, and miracles.

Faith

"To another faith." In Romans Paul declares that God has given to all men "a measure of faith" (Rom. 12:6). This is obviously true and men tend to put their innate faith in many things, such as money, education, politics and religion. But it can also be put in a chair. It is the ability that all men have and it saves no one.

There is also saving faith which brings a man to vibrant life in Christ. But what we have under consideration here is a special gift of faith that enables Christian believers to do exploits.

George Mueller was one of history's great believers. For many years he fed thousands of orphans without soliciting money or food from anyone. By his exercise of faith alone they lived in the miraculous nearly every day.

Hudson Taylor, too, who sent hundreds of missionaries to China, simply believed that God's work done in God's way would never lack God's supply. I find it easy to believe that God gave to these servants a gift of faith.

In Acts 3 Peter is confronted with a mountain of impossibility. He did not lay hands on the lame man. Nor did he whip out his vial of anointing oil. Instead Peter spoke to the mountain of lameness. He commanded it to move! "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." Daring words! With explosive results.

Similarly Peter spoke the word of faith to Aeneas, "Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: rise and make thy bed." When Dorcas died, there was no anointing oil or laying on of hands. (Though both procedures are biblical and proper as the Holy Spirit leads.) But there was the spoken command: "Tabitha, arise." She opened her eyes. and when she saw Peter she sat up.

I believe that Latin Americans could teach us a great deal about faith. In 1969-70 the Jimenez brothers. Eugenio and Raimundo, conducted, along with other evangelists, Campañas de Fe (Campaigns of Faith) throughout the major cities of Colombia. God used these brothers in a remarkable way; their procedures were very simple. They secured public places and then preached a dual message - the forgiveness of sins and the healing of the body. Traditionally Roman Catholic Colombians had no trouble receiving and experiencing the miraculous. On very few occasions did the evangelists touch the people or lay hands on them. But there were many miracles. And the impact on the nation - incalculable.

For example, in the city of Medellin, a beautiful city of one million people, as many as 10,000 gathered outside the bull ring to hear Raimundo Jimenez. Afterward in nearly every barrio of the great city evangelicals were on the move. A campaign of faith had pried the city open. And for years it had been a very difficult city for evangelical work.

I should perhaps explain that evangelistic campaigns including an emphasis on divine healing have much more respectability and prestige in Latin America than North America where more conservative forms of evangelicalism are predominant.

Should we not remind ourselves that the gift of faith is one of God's most powerful gifts? We should covet it earnestly in His will.

Gifts of healings

The second gift of power is doubly pluralized, gifts of healings. Matthew lists many kinds of sicknesses (4:23, 24), and we may assume that not every gift of healing will be the same. That would be contrary to God's dealing in many other areas. There may be as many gifts of healing as there are kinds of sicknesses.

Perhaps this is the place to say also that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are intended to adorn the doctrine of Christ. Many abuses have taken place, especially in the ministry of healing, and no doubt this will continue, but we should not let abuses rob us of the multiplied gifts of healings that God intends for His church.

Sometimes in the Scripture there is a merging of the gifts. For example, when Peter spoke the healing words to the man at the gate of the beautiful temple, there was a manifestation of faith, healing, and the miraculous. It follows in that event that as many as three gifts may have been functioning at the same time.

We should also distinguish between the healing ministry of any believer and a gift of healing as a special ministry. "These signs shall follow them that believe... in my name they shall lay hands upon the sick and they shall recover." Any believer may pray effectively for the sick, but God gives to some of His children, as He wills, special powers of healing.

The gifts of miracles

Miracles are recorded in the lives of many biblical characters, and the majority of the miracles have no connection with healing. However, no treatment of the gift of miracles can avoid reference to healing. I am inclined to view a miracle, when it refers to healing, as an instantaneous act of God. Whereas healings in general, which are not necessarily a manifestation of the gift of miracles, may take a period of time to be consummated even though they are miraculous.

The Holy Spirit also uses a miracle to initiate a testimony or to give visible credentials to God's servants.

The following is not intended as a claim to the gift of miracles. But it is an illustration of the usefulness of a miracle. I was once called to minister in a church which was about to slide into what might be called "charismatic error." In view of this tendency everyone there was very anxious to come to the altar to pray. Accordingly I delivered night by night the basic material of this book, but without giving a single invitation because I felt teaching was needed.

And one night there was a confirming miracle. The Lord had given us the promise, "Tomorrow I will do wonders among you." The service of that "tomorrow" passed without any specific answer to prayer.

But after the service, through the front door of that isolated frontier church came a new convert called Ray. He was five months old in the Lord, and suffering very much. The doctors had placed steel pins in one knee so that he was able to use it again but could not bend it. But now he had fallen, his other knee had suffered serious injury, and the medical authorities wanted to pin that leg as well.

Not wanting to be entirely immobile, Ray told them no. He decided he would pray. He had already asked for prayer and we had said, "Certainly, as the Lord leads."

We sensed the moment had arrived. As Ray came through the door his pain was obvious. And an elder and I both moved toward the pastor. "Let's pray for Ray now."

The three of us placed our hands upon his knee and prayed simply. Our eyes were closed but his were wide open. Were we massaging his knee or something? he wondered.

No. He just felt the Lord taking corrective measures in his knee. He felt things going back into place. It was a remarkable healing.

Not surprisingly, the church listened to all I had to say, was corrected, and went on to experience spiritual gifts and to maintain spiritual equilibrium as well. A miracle had confirmed a ministry.

I have a friend, formerly a missionary to Peru, who has had many miraculous experiences. In impossible circumstances and against all odds, he was granted an audience with Pope Paul. The conversation was beneficial but afterward he had one regret - he had not given a vibrant witness for Christ. So he prayed for another chance. And while bishops and other VIP's were unable to see the pontiff, the evangelical pastor was ushered in again for a private audience. The second time he was able to speak effectively about his relationship to Christ. Certainly miraculous events in the life of an evangelical pastor!

During his missionary career this same friend boarded a plane on his way to a special campaign. There was only one seat left, so he sat down beside Peru's Roman Catholic man of the year - who was on his way to speak in the same city. However, the man of the year was uncertain about his speech. Solicitously, perhaps mischievously, the missionary offered him a message. The Peruvian was agreeable so the missionary gave him the outline for an evangelistic message on Mary the Mother of Jesus.

Later the Protestant missionary listened to his own evangelistic message being delivered to a mass rally by the Roman Catholic man of the year. A miracle? I think so.

In Corrie ten Boom's best-selling book, The Hiding Place, she describes a bottle of medicine that was the prisoners' only source of relief in a Nazi prison camp. It did not run dry, no matter how often it was used, until help from another source arrived. Then and only then did the bottle go dry. And the incident is but one of the many miracles in Miss ten Boom's life.

I could cite many other incidents, but let it suffice to say that the day of miracles is not past. Moreover, miracles are a manifestation of the Holy Spirit that can properly be coveted earnestly in God's will.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are the power-oriented equipment of the church. They are not by any means the evidence of spirituality and disciplined Christianity.

Prophecy

Though the word of wisdom and the word of knowledge might both be considered in part utterance gifts, there can be no doubt that prophecy is an utterance gift. This gift, that Paul declares should be sought above all others, can be defined in two ways.

First of all, there is the meaning of the words "to tell," "to tell forth," and even "to forthtell." There is also the scriptural definition "... he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, exhortation, and comfort" (1 Cor. 14:3).

Then in the Old Testament there is the reference to prophesying with musical instruments (1 Chron. 25:3). In that case prophesying did not need to be verbal.

But in these pages we will focus on the New Testament teaching about prophecy. To begin with, prophecy should in no case be considered as a material addition to the Bible. "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of prophecy of this book, If any man shall add un to these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book" (Rev. 22:18). This warning no doubt refers specifically to the book of Revelation; but Revelation, we must remember, is part of the whole Bible.

It also needs to be made clear that prophecy is not teaching, though it can be a source of learning. "For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted" (1 Cor. 14:31).

In passing we must also note that 1 Corinthians 12:28 distinguishes between prophecy and teaching. "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles. . . . "

Preaching is intended to be prophetic as indicated by the very meaning of the word - to tell forth. It would be too much to suggest that all preaching has the prophetic quality, but some definitely does. And all of us have heard it. Unctionized preaching is a form of prophecy, perhaps the dominant form.

Prophecy also may be an utterance type of spiritual manifestation. In fact, Paul often associated it with tongues because of its similarity. Prophecy, however, will be an utterance in the vernacular of the people to whom it is directed. 'Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination]" (1 Tim. 4:14, Amplified New Testament). That was Paul's word on prophecy to Timothy.

There is also the possibility that prophecy will spill over into the future. Those who resist this possibility must explain why it was that Agabus, in a New Testament context, prophesied repeatedly about Paul's future.

In October of 1972 God was pleased to send revival to the evangelical church in Bobo-Dioulasso, Upper Volta. Some time later we learned through an oblique reference made during a time of sharing that a prophecy had been given and it had announced the visitation of God beforehand.

While I think it is only realistic to admit the futuristic and utterance possibilities of prophecy, it is wise to place most emphasis on the preaching ministry. That is by far the most important and was, without doubt, the reason Paul stressed prophecy so strongly.

Other facts relating to prophecy are made clear in 1 Corinthians 14. Prophecy is equated with tongues and interpretation (14:5). It also edifies the church (v. 4), is for them that believe (v. 22), and reveals the secrets of the heart (v. 25).

The apostle further specifies that in a church service all may prophesy if they wish. This is in contrast to tongues where only three are allowed to participate and then only when interpretation is available (v. 31).

Also, prophecy is subject to the prophets; in no case is the prophet forced to speak the message publicly.

In a recent series of meetings in a church in Idaho there was a large response to my message on how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. While we were praying for the people with the laying on of hands, the pastor received a prophecy. Since it was a word of warning to certain parents there present, he took the couple aside and shared the matter with them. I was struck with the choice the pastor made, subjecting the prophecy to his own will and delivering it discretely at a more appropriate time.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:20 St. Paul further elaborates on prophecy, indicating that it must not be despised and perhaps implying that in charismatic congregations frequent manifestations may cause some to despise the gift. In verse 21 Paul's exhortation is to prove all things. False prophets there obviously are. And if there are false prophets, then of course there is false prophecy. It is hardly accidental that the word of caution comes exactly here.

It is commonly understood that prophets whose predictions do not come true are false prophets, while those whose predictions do come true are genuine. But another criterion must be added. Prophets whose words come true but draw the people's hearts away from God are also false (Deut. 13:1-3).

The tests then for prophecy are several. First, does the verbal content agree in all points with the Scripture? Second, even if the content is biblical, what is the spirit like? Is it jarring? Abrasive? If so, then something is still wrong regardless of the content.

Larry Christenson makes an interesting note at this point:

A neighboring pastor told us about an experience which he once had with the discernment of spirits. Two strange women came to his church one day, and in the course of the meeting stood up and prophesied. The words were scriptural, and yet he felt like a whole battery of fire alarms started to go off inside him. He leaned over to an older pastor who was sitting next to him, and said, "What is it about those women?" The older pastor answered, "The words are true, but the spirit is false." ²

Trying the spirit would be the final test. "Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world" (1 John 4:1-3).

We will go into this more in the chapter on testing tongues, but I must insert here that trying the spirits involves four possible responses: Only a constant affirmative yes denotes the spirit to be of God; but a reluctant affirmation, evasive silence, or an open denial that the Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh all mean that the spirit is not of God.

Moreover, scripture does not say, "Try the prophets." It says, "Try the spirits."

Tongues

Since I shall treat the gift of tongues separately in various ways, we will not go into a biblical description of it here. It is because Paul dealt with it correctively in the Corinthian church that there is more biblical material.

Suffice it to say that I do certainly believe and have seen that there is a beautiful, wholesome, scriptural, Christ-adorning gift of tongues. I well remember hearing for the first time singing in tongues from the lips of a teen-ager. It was a lilting, flowing melody that brought a rush of tears to my eyes.

Interpretation of tongues

The gift of interpreting tongues is a potentially vital part of the spiritual life of one who speaks in tongues; otherwise he who speaks in tongues can have no public ministry with tongues. The command is specific. He that speaks in tongues is to pray that he will interpret (1 Cor. 14: 13), and the implication is that it probably is God's will that he should also interpret.

It is commonly agreed by those who write on these matters that interpretation of tongues should not be considered translation. Those who are unable to speak in tongues sometimes have the ability to interpret, or vice versa.

The interpretation will follow the tongues utterance and will be in the vernacular of the people involved.

Not all interpret, Paul makes clear, but those who speak in tongues should pray that they will interpret.

The Third View of Tongues

Supernatural Gifts

CHAPTER 11