By The Spirit V

Acts 16:¹⁸ “This went on day after day until Paul got so exasperated that he turned and said to the demon within her, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And instantly it left her.” (emphasis added).

Today, we will start off by concluding on the story in Acts 16. What do you think would have happened if Paul and the others did not discern the source of the girl’s manifestations? Like we said yesterday, it is not every time that God requires us to address such manifestations. However, the gift of discernment of spirits helps you to be spiritually aware. The Bible says, after the girl had followed Paul, Luke, and the others around for days, Paul got so exasperated and cast the demon out of her. That was the end of her manifesting and the end of her divination. This, of course, meant no money for her masters and they in turn caused a lot of problems for Paul and the others. The point is, the gift of discerning of spirits helps you know the source of a manifestation. Not every one that speaks in tongues is speaking by the Holy Spirit. You need the gift of discerning of spirits and God wants to give you this gift.

1Cor.12:³¹ “But earnestly desire the best gifts…” 1 Cor. 12:¹⁰ “…to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.” (NKJV, emphasis added). The eight gift is the Diversity of Tongues [different kinds of tongues]. There are two main types of the gifts of tongues in scriptures. First is the gift of other tongues, like Paul was saying in 1 Cor.14:² “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” (KJV, emphasis added). Since this type is spoken to God and not to men, interpretation is not required.  If you are talking to God, it becomes like a prayer language that you communicate to God with. The gift that 1 Cor.12:10 speaks about is different kinds of tongues and not the gift of other tongues. But that is not the gift referred to in the above scripture.

There are two types of diversities of tongues; the first type is to witness to unbelievers. You are speaking diverse kinds of tongues, but the unbeliever is hearing it in his or her own mother tongue. That was what was happening in Acts 2. The other kind of diverse kinds of tongues is the one that is spoken and requires an interpretation. It is usually spoken in a public gathering. Paul was saying to the church in Corinth, if you are speaking diverse kinds of tongues in a public gathering, then let there be an interpreter. If there is no interpreter, then what is the value of speaking in diverse kinds of tongues in a public gathering? Paul did not say do not speak in tongues. The ninth is the Interpretation of Tongues. A lot of us have been in meetings where one person speaks in tongues and another person interprets the tongues. Interpretation of tongues like every other gift of the Holy Spirit requires fine-tuning. When God gives diverse kinds of tongues, interpretation happens. The gifts of the Holy Spirit is for you today, do you want it?

Prayer: Father, saturate my life with Your gifts and empower me to fan to flame every gift of the Holy Spirit that has become dormant in my life, in Jesus Name. Amen!