Tongues Kathryn Kuhlman 1 Corinthians Chapter 14

I hope you're having a good day. This is Dave from the podcast and welcome. This is a talk by Catherine on Tongues and using 1 Corinthians 14 and using 1 Corinthians 13 and Acts chapter 2. Let me just say something. Lord help me with this. Thank you. This talk was scheduled before a lot of the last days people joined this channel. And before Brandon Biggs said, go check out this Kathryn Kuhlman talk and this channel, this talk emphasizes a lot, talks a lot about speaking in tongues in public. And Brandon, if you're ever to listen to this or your people here, I just want to let you know that this talk was scheduled to be put up before Brandon mentioned my channel. So it's not me like taking a look at Brandon's channel and saying, what the heck is going on here? Let me dig up a talk on 1 Corinthians 14. No, this one was already ready to go. almost ready to go. It was already scheduled. So let me just say that. It's not directed towards anybody initially. But on the other hand, if a shoe fits, put it on. That's a popular saying where in a church I used to sit under a prophet and she would say that and we would all chuckle. But it's true too. If, you know, the Holy Spirit convicts you of it, or if the shoe fits and it speaks to you, then put it on. Amen. Trust me. I do that too. And I'm blessed to have the people who have rebuked me. And it's always done, my pastor is a saint at this. It's always done meekly and gently and with love. And always erring on the caution side of make sure your heart is right if you're going to do that. And so there may be some of that, Brandon, but I just want to say this is not initially my intention or me digging up something intentional. This was already scheduled to rock and roll late last week. So it is what it is. Check it out. Let me see. I don't want to leave a long message. I really don't. I'm going to mention one thing, though. There's churches that say they believe in speaking in tongues and prophecy, but there is none of the gifts working. And that's a problem. And Catherine forbade speaking in tongues in her healing ministries. in her services and that's like an extreme that's not good um and um the other extreme is uh probably anything goes an atmosphere where anything goes and we don't pay attention to first corinthians 14. um and that's not good that's not biblical that's not paul um One of the things that Catherine brings out here that is so awesome, two things that she brings out in regards to tongues. Paul teaches if there's no interpreter present, then don't teach, don't speak in tongues. But then Catherine, and I won't steal her thunder, her message, but then Catherine points out that some of the talks that we... do, and some of the things that are said in Pentecostal meetings are actually an interpretation of the tongues that have been spoken. It's just not articulated as this is an interpretation. And that's an interesting concept. I really like that. So it's just something maybe to keep our radars out on if they're speaking in tongues. and there's no official um this is an interpretation from the lord you know nobody stands up and says this is what was what was said um then look for an informal um an incognito interpretation of tongues because it might be there um and um i want to say too that the One of the best churches that I've ever seen doing this, and I only went to the church one or two times, was that they set a microphone up. And people could go to the front of the church and give an interpretation. And that's an interesting way of doing things. And go to the church, up to the front of the church and give a prophecy. That's an interesting way to do it. But it doesn't always happen that way. And a lot of times the Spirit will... The Spirit will do what the Spirit will do. You know what I mean? Praise God. And it's wonderful. And we don't want to inhibit the Holy Spirit in any way. And lastly, Catherine Tice has talked back in with the concept of love. Speaking in tongues isn't done out of love. Interpreting or lack of interpreting is not done out of love. then what are we doing? Then we're going to need to back up, back up and get our hearts right. So anyway, I don't want to leave a long message here. So here's Catherine. God bless you guys. Have a great day. Bye -bye. You and I are in a series of heart -to -heart talks. regarding something that has gotten to be very controversial, and yet it should not be so. There are many folks the very first time one speaks regarding the Holy Spirit who become almost frightened, and the first question they'll ask, do you believe in speaking in an unknown tongue? If you're asking that question of me personally, My answer will be yes. And I have to believe in speaking in an unknown tongue because the Bible teaches it. And as I told you in a previous Heart to Heart talk, the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians is the basic chapter regarding the subject of speaking in an unknown tongue. I've come to the conclusion a long time ago that we need... some good old -fashioned teaching when it comes to the person of the Holy Spirit, the work of the Holy Spirit, the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. And that's what we're trying to do in these little heart -to -heart talks. And everything must be based on the Word of God. If I say something and the Word teaches, Contrary to what I say, remember, the Bible is always absolute authority. Before we turn to the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians, I know that the portion of the Word of God that is most familiar to you when it comes to the subject of the speaking in an unknown tongue is in the 2nd chapter of Acts. We read that on the day of Pentecost, the Spirit appeared in the form of fire, in the shape of tongues upon the heads of the assembled people. And then we read that they were all filled with the Spirit, and they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them. Alright, go on then in the history and the Acts of the Apostles once more to the 10th chapter where we find the wonderful story of Peter in the house of Cornelius. When there the spirits fell, it is said that they received the gift of tongues. Now go a little further and in the 19th chapter the account of Paul's coming to Ephesus and finding there a group of disciples, he asked them the question, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said, Nay, we did not so much as hear whether the Holy Spirit was given. Sure, they'd been baptized into John's baptism, but when Paul expounded the truth and led them beyond the preaching of Apollos, They were filled with the Spirit. The Spirit came upon them, and they received the gift of tongues. There can be no question whatsoever that this was a definite experience and a positive gift. All right? Now, let's go back, if you will, please, to the 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians. And notice what the apostle teaches. In verse 2, we read these words. For he that speaketh in a tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God. In verse 28, we read these words. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church. and let him speak to himself and to God. Now this is the first great truth to be remembered, that the gift of tongues was for addressing God. It was not for the addressing of men. It was never given in order that men might preach. To put it simply, in our everyday language, it was given to men that they might praise. These voices, these tongues, were the utterances of glorious praise and gladness. Adoration. Tongues were given that they were to be used in addressing God. Notice another thing. And again I go to the second verse. He that speaketh in a tongue's... speaketh not unto men, but unto God. For no man understandeth. I go to verse 5. I would, Paul says, I would have you all speak with tongues, but rather that ye should prophesy. And greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues except he interpret. Mark that. The tongues need interpretation in order to be understood. Take verse 9. So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue, speech easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye will be speaking into the air. The Bible teaches that if one speaks in an unknown tongue in a public service, he is out of order unless there also be the interpretation. We have now two great principles in looking at this gift of tongues. First of all, they were to be addressed to God. Secondly, definitely they were incomprehensible to men. No one could understand them. Outsiders could not understand. He goes a little further and says that even the one who is speaking, could not themselves understand. Now that 14th verse, now that's the reason I tell you that this 14th chapter of 1 Corinthians is the basic chapter on tongues. I read from the Word. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. If a man had the gift of tongues, he can use it in addressing God, but he does not understand it himself. What he is saying, he does not understand. Now, in the next place, notice this. The apostle is teaching that there must be interpretation if tongues be used. And he distinctly says that. Wherefore, let him that speaketh in a tongue pray that he may interpret. Once more, in gathering out the central statements, I go to verse 28. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church. and let him speak to himself and to God. That gathers up the great teaching. Ponder it well. The gift of tongues was a gift of the Spirit. First of all, it is to be used in addressing God and not men. Secondly, it will be quite incomprehensible to the men who do hear. As a matter of fact, the one so gifted will be born up in an ecstasy and will utter things not understood by himself or herself. Further, if used in public, the gift of tongues demands interpretation. It's just like that. We must get back to the scripture. And if this gift is used other than is taught in the scripture, then that one misuses something that is very precious. These things are sacred. We cannot just use them at will as we desire. All demonstrations of the Spirit must be according to the Word of God. Otherwise, they are out of order. If at a public assembly, in a place of worship, in your church, there is one who speaks in an unknown tongue, and there is no... interpretation, that one is out of order. And it's just that simple. Notice carefully that in that gift of Pentecost, there was the mingling of two things. And the supreme wonder is that what then was uttered was understood. But it led to inquiry. When they heard this, they were amazed and they said, What meaneth this? When they heard those who were speaking in an unknown tongue, in that upper room, the crowd gathered around, the curious gathered around and said, What meaneth this? Note two things. First of all, They were conscious in their own languages of a company of men praising God. Sounding in high ecstasy, the praise is the most high. But they were led to inquire, What does this mean? An interpretation immediately followed. Peter, standing up, said, Be this known unto you, this is that which hath been spoken by the prophet Joel. Then he began on quoting from the Old Testament. Oh, this is glorious. Don't stop with just Acts 2 -4. See what follows. Read the whole thing. There's so many today who are just taking a portion of God's Word. you know most people see what they want to see most people read what they want to read most people do what they want to do when they came out and said what meaneth this the interpretation immediately followed Peter standing up said, Be this known unto you, this is that which hath been spoken by the prophet Joel. And then he went right on quoting. Then he began again the second division of his discourse. Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God unto you, he has shed forth this, which ye see and hear. The gift of tongues was a miracle in which men heard in their own language the praises of God. And the inquiry resulted from it because it was a sign puzzling them. What meaneth this? And Peter answered in just two brief sentences and it covered the whole ground. This is that. which hath been spoken by the prophet Joel. He hath poured forth this. Oh, that's wonderful. To me that's very thrilling. Bear one other thing in mind. This gift of tongues was possessed by Paul. Paul had the gift of tongues. Indeed, he says he spake with tongues more than, any of them. It was a real gift. Recall to mind that Paul himself said of an occasion upon which he was caught up in the third heaven, heard unspeakable words that it was not lawful for him to utter. It was a great spiritual vision of high ecstasy. This is all so thrilling. Believe me. Thousands of you are missing out on something that is so wonderful. And it is a part of your inheritance. This, what I'm talking about, is literally a gift that Jesus gave to his church. And if you are a part of his church, If you have been born into this wonderful body of Christ, then this is what I am talking about. This, of which Paul is speaking, is a gift to you. It's yours. And lo, these many years you have refused a gift that is so glorious. Oh, I wish I could do something to make this clear to you. I wish I had the ability. I can only pray that the Holy Spirit shall put this hunger into your heart. Glance at the first three verses of this glorious chapter, the 14th chapter, 1 Corinthians. The supreme matter is follow a... or love. Three of the gifts are in view. Prophecy, the gift of tongues, and the gift of interpretation. The supreme matter is love. Why do we want this gift? Why? Why do we want to be possessed of this gift of the Spirit? whether it's prophecy of tongues or the interpretation of tongues. Let us answer the question in the loneliness of our own souls. If there is any other desire than love, it is false. Love is the most excellent way, and love must control truth. these gifts. And it's just like that. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not love, I am become a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Let's get a little more personal. In the past months, an increasing number of our people, clergy and laity alike, have come into this glorious New Testament experience. Even as I'm speaking to you now, there are ministers listening to me who just recently have come into this experience. There are members of your churches who have just recently come into the experience of which I'm speaking. And in describing their experience, it is most interesting to hear what they have to say. I do not believe that these experiences are identical. Just like the healing for the physical body. Not all receive their physical healing in the same way when it comes to the new birth experience. Some receive the new birth experience alone in their own homes. Some in answering an altar call. You see, you just can't say how God is going to do a certain thing. God is bigger than all of our theology. I don't mean to be sacrilegious, but I do not know how better to express it than to just say you can't fence God in. You just can't fence the Holy Spirit in. You cannot just command the Holy Spirit and demand him to do it a certain way. Someone will say, I'll not fall under the power, and lo and behold, Before the words are even gotten out of their mouth, down they go under the power of God. In experiencing this wonderful gift of the Holy Spirit, there have been those who have said there has been a new joy in their Christian faith. Another will say they have found a deeper and more constant awareness of the Spirit's indwelling presence. Or perhaps another will say they have found a new freedom to witness to other people what Jesus means to them. And the baptism of the Holy Spirit is given for one purpose, and that purpose is to witness, to serve. And still another may say that they have a keener sense of the Spirit's guidance in their life. And all will agree that it has awakened a greater interest in the studying of the Bible. The Holy Spirit makes the Bible come alive. The Holy Spirit gives life. Now, why is this happening so suddenly? Why haven't we heard about it before, if it's such a marvelous blessing? I imagine that people raised the same kind of question when Martin Luther began to uncover truths of Scripture which had long been neglected. It's the kind of question to which we can give no final answer. Perhaps we have simply neglected part of the... Biblical revelation for speaking in tongues is clearly set forth in Scripture as a blessing and an endowment from God. It was widely manifested in the church for several centuries after the apostles and was present with some of the saints in the Middle Ages. The manifestation of... Tongues was present in Wesley's revival in the Quaker movement, and most recently in the Pentecostal movement of the past 50 years. Perhaps we've neglected this aspect of the biblical revelation, but perhaps it goes even deeper. Perhaps this is simply God's time. This is God's power. This is the Holy Spirit's power.