“For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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:“ (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)

When a person receives the baptism of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in tongues, they also receive Gifts of the Spirit. There are nine of these gifts, and they are given to every member of the body, scripture says, “severally as he will.” (1 Corinthians 12:11)  God chooses which gifts each person receives according to His omniscience, how the body of Christ will be benefited and likely by each person’s desire to be used.

Some bible topics we can speak on because we have studied the topic, and this of course is needful. Other topics, we can speak more fluently on because we have not only studied, but know from experience. Such is the case with the Gifts of Tongues & Interpretation. I am familiar with these two of the nine gifts of the Spirit because I have operated in both.

Between 35-40 years ago, my husband and I were sitting around the kitchen table with a minister in our local church. We were talking about the Gifts of the Spirit. Brother Pennington was asking us which gifts we would want if we had the choice. I immediately said I would want the gifts of tongues and interpretation. When he asked me why, I said because the thought of receiving a fresh Word for the congregation, straight from the throne of God, for that moment would be such an honor. He looked me straight in the eyes across the table, and simply said, “It’s yours.”

I didn’t feel any different in that moment, but the gifts of Tongues & Interpretation were stirred up, and began to grow in my spirit from that time. Over the next few years, the Lord took me through several seasons of learning. The first time I ever gave a message in tongues was at an Alabama district service. I gave both the message and the interpretation. I don’t remember what the interpretation consisted of, but I do remember the experience was life-altering for me. It was both terrifying and elating. The weight of giving a message from God to a gathered congregation was, and continues to be both a sobering, and overwhelming privilege.

Here are 16 things you need to know about giving a message or interpretation of tongues:

1. Speaking in tongues when you receive the Holy Ghost for the first time, and the Gift of Tongues are not the same thing. Everyone speaks in tongues as the initial sign of receiving the Holy Ghost, but not everyone who has received the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in tongues, has the Gift of Tongues. As with all nine of the Gifts of the Spirit, a person must be filled with the Holy Ghost/Spirit to operate in any of them.

2. The Gifts of Tongues & Interpretation of Tongues are two gifts that work together. A person may have one or both. I operate in both, meaning when I give a message in tongues, the Lord also gives me the interpretation.

3. Tongues & Interpretation of Tongues bring a fresh Word of encouragement from God to a gathered group of believers. It may be a colosseum full, or where two or three are gathered in His name.

4. Immediately before a message in tongues is to go forth, there will usually be a quiet that settles over the congregation. It is a holy hush that precedes, and quietly heralds the Lord’s intention to speak a fresh Word. For this process to work properly, it takes the congregation, musicians and the minister to be sensitive to the Spirit. From personal experience, I will tell you that it’s a very uncomfortable feeling to have a message in tongues, but never have the opening in a service to give it.

5. A message in tongues with no interpretation brings confusion. If a message in tongues goes forth two or three times with no interpretation being spoken, the service should be allowed to move forward. Either it was not a true message in tongues; the person was simply worshipping the Lord in a demonstrative manner, or someone wasn’t being sensitive enough to receive the interpretation. A third option is that the person who should have given the interpretation was in the learning stage, and was either unsure, or too afraid to speak it forth.

6. A person who has any of the Gifts of the Spirit must learn how to operate in their gifting. This is a process, and people must be given the opportunity to learn, grow and mature in their gifting. Making mistakes, and getting it wrong occasionally is expected. If you feel like you have the Gifts of Tongues and/or Interpretion of tongues, you must learn the pattern of how God is unctioning you.

When I am supposed to give a message in tongues, I will feel a physical heaviness in my chest similar to my blood pressure elevating, and my heart will begin to pump harder and harder. This feeling will be followed by an overwhelming urge to speak out in tongues. The longer I wait to speak the message, the more pronounced (and uncomfortable) the physical symptoms become. This will have been preceded by the holy hush we mentioned, which is another level of confirmation that the time is right. *Hopefully, you can imagine and appreciate the level of discomfort a person might endure when the leaders of the service are not sensitive enough to allow for the quieting.

7. The interpretation of a message in tongues is not a translation. The bible is translated from one language to another in written form. A message in tongues is interpreted in a spoken form, filtering the overall meaning of the message through humanity. The length of the interpretation may not correspond to the length of the message.

8. An anointed message in tongues will never contradict the written Word of God. Never.

9. A person giving a message in tongues will usually speak out very forcefully. This message, as well as the interpretation, are backed by the unction of the Spirit. It is a flowing from the God of all glory, and as such, will be noticeably powerful. This is an added confirmation to those listening. Many times, they realize the person giving the message or interpretation would never speak out so forcefully on their own.

10. As for giving an interpretation of a message in tongues, I can only speak from my experience. I never receive the whole interpretation until I begin speaking the message in tongues. As I’m speaking the message in tongues, the Lord will drop a phrase into my mind. After the message in tongues, I will begin speaking that phrase in English so that everyone can hear and understand what I’m saying. I will not receive any more of the interpretation until I am speaking the initial phrase. This is an incredible test of faith that a person must press through, and trust that God will drop the remainder of the interpretation into their mind as they continue speaking. This is the pattern that God uses to flow through me in these two gifts.

11. Giving a message in tongues, or interpreting a message in tongues is not the gift of prophecy. Prophecy foretells the future. Tongues and Interpretation is for an immediate edification and comfort. It is the Spirit of the Lord drawing the  congregation close in an intimate, Spirit-breathed embrace.

12. Following the message and/or interpretation of tongues, the speaker will experience a release that is simultaneously spiritual, emotional and physical. Spiritual because you have allowed the Holy Spirit of God to flow through you. Emotional because of the anointed word that was spoken, and physical because a human body can only handle this degree of Spirit flow for so long. After giving a message and interpretation of tongues, it is very common to praise demonstratively, cry openly, and even tremble and shake as your body reacclimates to a more normal flow of the Spirit.

13. A person does not have to hold any kind of office or position in the church to have, and operate in these giftings.

14. As with all nine of the Gifts of the Spirit, Tongues & Interpretation must be handled with care, and flowed in with order. There should be a level of trust and respect within a congregation for its members to be used in the Gifts, as well as an allowance for the learning process which is sometimes messy. Just because a person stumbles or hesitates when giving a message or interpretation, doesn’t mean they’re wrong, or not anointed. It usually means they are simply learning how to flow in the gifting.

15. Scripture tells us to covet (desire) the “best gifts.” This doesn’t mean that some gifts are lesser in value. It is an instruction to desire to operate in the gifting that will bring the most edification, and build up the body of believers at that time.

The following passage asks whether all speak in tongues, and whether all interpret. It is referring specifically to the Gifts of Tongues & the Interpretation of Tongues. It is NOT referring to the initial filling of the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in tongues. 1 Corinthians 12 is focused on teaching the nine Gifts of the Spirit, not the baptism of the Holy Ghost, which anyone operating in these gifts would have previously received.

After receiving the infilling of the Holy Ghost, we are to desire to operate in the “best” of the nine Gifts of the Spirit. The best gifts are the ones that will benefit the congregation the most at that time.If you have the Gift of Tongues, desire to also have the Gift of Interpretation of Tongues, so that both gifts may have free course to flow and edify.

“Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.“ (1 Corinthians 12:29-31)

16. Keeping order is very important when operating in the Gifts of the Spirit. When you give a message in tongues, assuming you do not have the interpretation, you are to speak the message two, or three times at the most, and then be silent if there is not interpretation forthcoming. Continuing to give the message with no interpretation will cause confusion. You may continue to worship and pray in tongues quietly.

If you have the interpretation, give it immediately after the message in tongues goes forth. Waiting to give the message causes undue stress on your counterpart, and confusion in the congregation.

If another person begins to give either a message or an interpretation at the same time as you,  one of you must submit to the other. Be the one who submits. The Gifts are not for show, or to bring attention to any one person other than the Spirit of God. Again, from experience, I can tell you that to pull back, and allow someone else to give the message or interpretation while the anointing is upon you is extremely difficult. However, proper order and submission is more important than having our voice heard.

IN SUMMARY

If you have received the Holy Ghost, evidenced by speaking in tongues, you are a candidate to flow in the Gifts of the Spirit. Perhaps you have been in a church service, recognized the holy hush, and felt that weight in your chest. Maybe you have felt other telltale signs, unfamiliar to me, that you suspect are drawing you to give a message or interpretation of tongues.

I realize it can be extremely frightening to step out in faith, and probably even out of character, to speak boldly in a church service. Remember that the Gifts of the Spirit are for the edifying of the body. This is a God-ordained process, and it is a privilege to participate in it. You can do hard things. Bring your flesh, and mind, under subjection to the Spirit. God will literally be right there, flowing through you to bless the church family.

Blessings In Jesus’ Name!

-Pat