Fire & Wind: A Summer of Renewal // Gift of Tongues
Fire & Wind: A Summer of Renewal //
Gift of Tongues
Pastor Charlie Weir
4 Core Statement of Evangelicalism
• The Bible is the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God and is the highest authority for what I believe and how I act.
• Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
• Salvation is a free gift for anyone who will receive it.
• Sharing the Good News with others is a critical aspect of my faith and crucial to others discovering the love of Jesus.
Pentecostalism believes that the Holy Spirit is active today and gifts the Body of Christ for ministry and mission.
I Corinthians 14:18-19 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church, I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
3 distinct contexts inform Paul’s words: Historic, Personal & the Corinthian Church
Historic Context: Acts 2:1-4 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Joel 2:28-29 28 “And afterward (in the last days), I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
Corinthian Context: 1 Corinthians 14:6-12 6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
There is a public purpose and a personal application for the Spiritual Gift of Tongues
The personal gift of tongues provides for powerful, intimate and informative prayer.
Intimate Prayer
Romans 8:26,27 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
When the Spirit prays on our behalf He always knows how to pray on our behalf!
Luke 11:9-13 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”