Prophecy, Tongues, and Interpretation

Topical Discussion Group:

“Gift of Tongues, Interpretation, and Prophecy”

Stoughton Apostolic Church

April 15th, 2025

1 Corinthians 12:10 (NASB 1995) —  “…and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.”

Tongues - The ability to speak in another language, heavenly (1 Cor. 13:1 & 14:2), or human (Acts 2:6)

Speaking in Tongues Privately vs. Publicly ( A possible distinction)

Private

Speaking in tongues is something that believers immersed in the Holy Spirit can do as a way to communicate with God from their spirit and build themselves up. This speaking in tongues does not need interpretation as it is done between the person and God.

1 Corinthians 14:2 (NASB 1995) —  “For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.”

1 Corinthians 14:13-15 (NASB 1995) —  “ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.”

Dr. Andrew Newburg at University of Pennsylvania conducted a study that showed when Christians pray in tongues, brain activity associated with speech is not activated, unlike those of other religions who speak in tongues while meditating.

1 Corinthians 14:4 (NASBN 1995) — “One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.”

Public

When the manifestation of the Spirit is given to speak in tongues for the public edifying of the body of Christ, we are given more specific instructions.

1 Corinthians 14:27-28 (NASB 1995) — If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

Keep your tongues to yourself if you are unsure that either you or another can interpret, if you are indeed going to share a public word via tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:5 (NASB 1995) — Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

Speaking in tongues is less than prophecy, but it is elevated to the same level if the tongue is interpreted. For this reason, interpretation of tongues and prophecy are treated the same in many ways.

1 Corinthians 14:18-19 (NASB 1995) — I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Speaking in tongues privately is of great benefit to you, but speaking in tongues publicly without interpretation is of no value to anyone.

Practical: ASK, BELIEVE, RESPOND

Ask:

Luke 11:9-13 (NASB 1995) —  “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. 11 Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish, will he? 12 Or if he is asked for an egg, he will not give him a scorpion, will he? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

Believe:

Luke 11:13 (NASB 1995) — how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

Acts 1:4 (NASB 1995) — “Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me…”

Holy Spirit and his activity is received by faith. He Himself was Promised, and must be received as a promise, by faith.

Respond:

Faith that says it has, but does not manifest, is no good! The whole of 1 Corinthians 14 is written giving us instructions about speaking in tongues and prophesying because it assumes we have the ability to do so (1 Cor. 14:32).

Acts 2:4 (NASB 1995) — And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.

Holy Spirit gave them utterance, but they had to speak.

It can be offensive to the mind because the spirit is praying and the mind is not (1 Cor. 14:14). Sometimes the mind can try to shut it down, feeling silly or afraid.

Have faith, trust God, and utter what He gives you to utter.

Interpretation of Tongues

It is a gift that can be prayed for to be received. There is no rule saying that one gives a tongue, but it must be another to interpret.

1 Corinthians 14:13 (NASB 1995) —  “Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.”

Functions a lot like prophecy in that it brings the meaning of a tongue to edify and build up the church. Therefore, along with prophecy, it is to be done decently, in order, and to be judged and sometimes discerned.

1 Corinthians 14:27-30 (NASB 1995) — “ If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent.

Practical: You know and feel the anointing of God, recognizing His voice bringing clarity and meaning to the tongue you have heard. You just know spiritually what it means. It is interpreted by the Spirit and not deciphered by the mind.

Prophecy

1 Corinthians 14:1-3 (NASB 1995) —  Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

Earnestly desire this gift. It is for edification (building up), exhortation (encouraging spiritual guidance), and consolation (comfort).

Prophecy is receiving and communicating a word from the Lord. It can be a word that builds up, encourages, or comforts (1 Cor. 14:3), reveals the secrets of the heart, convincing and convicting (1 Cor. 14:31-32), identifies people and their calling (Acts 13:2), predicts (Acts 11:28), etc.

1 Corinthians 14:29-33 (NASB 1995) —  Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

We can seek it and we can all do it!

Hearing and Sharing God’s Voice - Some ways that God speaks

Holy Spirit speaks in a voice that is heard internally (Acts 10:19, Acts 13:2)

Audible voice heard with physical ears (Matt. 17:5)

Trance / ekstasis outside of mind. Spirit possess the mind. (Acts 10:10-11)

Third Heaven trips in body or out (2 Cor. 12:1-2)

Vision with physical eyes (Acts 9:3-7)

Dreams (Acts 2:17)

Inner witness of Spirit testifying to our Spirit. Deep spiritual agreement. (Romans 8:16)

Just knowing or perceiving something. (Matthew 9:4, Acts 8:23)

Seeing something with spiritual eyes e.g seeing someone’s faith ( Acts 14:9)

Angels in a vision (Acts 10:3)

Angels in physical appearance ( Acts 1:10-11)

Dark sayings & parables ( Ps. 78:2, Matthew 13:34)

Imagery and symbolism ( Rev. 1:20)

A lot of this has to be interpreted, translated, and communicated to others.

Practical Considerations when Communicating

1. You prophesy and others judge (diakrino - suggests a thorough examination or evaluation, often requiring wisdom and insight.) In the assembly elders judge the word, in prayer ministry at least two praying. Always record and report.

2. 2 Peter 1:20-21  “no prophecy is of private interpretation.”—  Prophecy will not violate the Scriptures, but can be used to help illuminate the Scriptures as in Peter’s vision of the animals in Acts 10.

3. Prophecy and practitioner are to be evaluated and held accountable, not in a punitive way, but for feedback’s sake and for growth.  If there is no willingness to be tracked and accountable, there should be no access given to the people of God.                        ( 1 Corinthians 14:37-38 (NASB 1995) — If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

4. Rev. 19:10 “The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy” — Prophecy will lead to the connection we have with God through Jesus. Old testament prophecy and old covenant paradigm need to be rejected.

5. Timing Matters - A word spoken in due season, how good it is (Prov. 15:23) Discerning the season is a big deal (Matthew 16:2-4).

6. Be aware of your filters: Pure in heart see God (Matt. 5:8). We can share words that are tainted by our inner condition; pain, trauma, emotional health and EQ, desires and wants, ambition and preferences, theology and outlook, prejudices and bias. Love is the only safe filter. 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NASB 1995) — Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think tongues is so divisive?

2. Have you ever given a tongue publicly in a meeting? Have you seen it done? What was it like? How did it happen?

3. Has speaking in tongues ever benefitted you personally?

4. How do you know if an interpreter is present? What do you do if you feel the need to share a tongue but are not confident there is interpretation available?

5. Why does God use people to speak to his people?

6. Why is prophecy the gift we are to earnestly desire above the others?

7. Have you ever benefitted from a prophetic word?

8. How does God speak to you the most?

9. Why should one prophesy and others judge?

10. What do I do if those judging the prophecy come to a conclusion I disagree with?

11. Why should we make sure to hold prophecy and those prophesying accountable though tracking and reporting?

12. Why is the inner world of the one prophesying a big deal?