Thoughts on Comments – Part 9

I will be commenting on the comments from my previous series (here: https://copytestprove.com/thoughts-on-a-conversation-with-a-stranger-part-1/), and (of course, because it is my job) will link to a Bible scripture and/or tell of a specific corresponding situation. These are comments from Part 7 of the series (here: https://copytestprove.com/thoughts-on-a-conversation-with-a-stranger-part-7/ )

I speak English, conversational Japanese (it comes and goes because I don’t live there or have many people to practice with), bits and pieces of lots of languages.

I believe success in learning languages has a lot to do with survival. If you HAVE to speak a certain language in order to survive, you’ll pick it up real quick. 😆

But I think for me, personally, it’s a manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit that the Apostle Paul talked about in 1 Corinthians 12. One of the gifts is the gift of tongues.

A lot of churches (especially Pentecostal ones) believe that the gift of tongues is the only manifestation of the Spirit, and also that it has to be the unintelligible kinds. But the first verse of the next chapter (1 Corinthians 13), starts with, ‘Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels…’

So I believe one of my gifts of the Spirit is the gift of tongues of men. Also I don’t speak it all fluently. I mainly learn ‘hello,’ ‘goodbye,’ and ‘thank you,’ and that helps a lot of people know that at least I’m interesting in their culture and background, and then they’re more interested in listening to what I have to say, which helps in the ministry. 😉

I think I also have the gift of interpretation of tongues. I once watched a Hindi film with someone who spoke Urdu (close enough), he was doing a running translation but got distracted doing something else. And I took over seemlessly. He was very shocked when he realised. I think I was surprised too. How did I know what they were saying? I don’t know.

But the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit was for the sake of preaching the Gospel. And Galatians 5:22-23 tells us about the fruit of the Spirit. So the long and short of it is that if it doesn’t bring those things mentioned, it may be the wrong spirit… *who knows?*

Notes:

In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul specifically outlines nine distinct manifestations of the Spirit:

• Message of Wisdom: Supernaturally applying spiritual truth to specific situations.
• Message of Knowledge: Revealing deep understanding or insight into God’s will.
• Faith: Extraordinary trust and confidence granted by the Spirit, particularly in the face of adversity.
• Gifts of Healing: Supernatural restoration of physical, emotional, or spiritual wholeness.
• Working of Miracles: Divine interventions that go beyond the regular course of nature.
• Prophecy: Speaking forth God’s message to encourage, edify, and comfort the church.
• Discerning of Spirits: The ability to distinguish between divine, human, and demonic influences.
• Speaking in Tongues: Speaking supernaturally in a language the speaker has never learned.
• Interpretation of Tongues: Understanding and translating the message spoken in tongues for the congregation.

Rather than creating a hierarchy, Paul stresses that all gifts are equally important and come from the same Spirit. He concludes the chapter by encouraging believers to “eagerly desire the greater gifts” while stating that he will reveal the most excellent way to use them: the way of love (which leads directly into the famous “Love is patient” passage of 1 Corinthians 13).

In Galatians 5:22-23, the Apostle Paul lists nine tangible, God-honoring characteristics produced by the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. These traits—love, joy, peace, forbearance (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control

For more reading on the Holy Spirit: https://copytestprove.com/holy-spirit/