The next gift I want to talk about in the list is tongues. The literal interpretation of this is "and to another, workings of powers, and to another, prophecy, and to another, discerning of spirits, and to another, kinds of languages, and to another, interpretation of languages." (1 Cor 12:10)
The Greek word is glossa and it is used 50 times in the New Testament which means the listener/reader would be familiar with the word and its meaning. The meaning of glossa is a tongue or a language specifically one not naturally acquired meaning of course that it is aquired supernaturally. You will note that the literal translation is languages, not tongues.
There is a lot of argument about what is genuine tongues/language and too many people throw the baby out with the bathwater, rather than try to understand what is really meant and is happening. One can be too familiar with tongues/ languages and in some case not familiar enough.
For example, I started going to one house meeting and the evening followed the same pattern every week. Singing, tongues always given by women, interpretation always given by women and the occasional prophecy always given by a man. Then the pastor preached. About what I am not really sure.
In another meeting, someone, a man I seem to remember, spoke in a language. A Chinese lady present said he had spoken in perfect Mandarin and gave the interpretation. The man admitted he had no idea what he was saying.
In another meeting, I have heard someone speak in what appeared to be tongues and gave the interpretation in English.
I also know that many people speak in tongues as a means of worship in their own private time with the Lord. No interpretation was needed.
It is no use putting the supernatural into little boxes and say "there you are, that is how it works." The Spirit gives severally as he wills so it is not for us to say that so and so is right or wrong. We need to discern before passing judgment.
I was in another meeting and a man gave a message in tongues and its interpretation. When he finished I was convinced it was not from the Lord. At the next meeting, he admitted he had made it up for himself.
When you are in a foreign country and do not know the language, what a marvelous way for God to reach people by giving you the ability supernaturally to give a message in the language of the people.
Acts 2 is an interesting one so let me take you through it.
Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave the ability to them to speak. Languages here is the Greek word glossa. In other words languages.
Acts 2:6 But this sound occurring, the multitude came together and were confounded, because they each heard them speaking in his own dialect. The word dialect in Greek is different. it is dialektos. This encompasses not only language but dialects that were part of a language so it was more specific.
Note that there were only 12 disciples and thousands of hearers. So how did they each hear what was being said in their own language and dialect? A good question.
Acts 2:7-8 And all were amazed and marveled, saying to one another, Behold, are not all these, those speaking, Galileans? This was significant because Galilee was not a place of learning. Galileans were by and large men of the land as in farmers and fishermen. They were not supposed to be experts in a language other than their own. And how do we hear each in our own dialect in which we were born.....If that is not a miracle I don't know what is.
Acts 2:13 But ridiculing, others said, They are full of sweet wine. Some were amazed at what was happening, but...Nothing new. They ridiculed then and they ridicule today.
Act 2:14 But standing up with the Eleven, Peter lifted up his voice and spoke out to them, Men, Jews, and all those living in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words:
They spoke to thousands of people in their own language and dialects. Now the question is "How could 12 people talk in thousands of languages and dialects? The fact is they could not. What I believed happened was this. They spoke in their own language and the Holy Spirit translated it to each listener in their own language or dialect. Which meant Peter said what he said in his own language and the Holy Spirit interpreted what he was saying and the person understood. Here then was the first and classic case of speaking in tongues and interpretation.
Note the listeners were all Jews (Acts 2:22 Men, Israelites, hear these words so they would be conversant with what was said which was from the Old Testament because wherever Jews lived they were taught the teachings and events from the Old Testament.
Acts 2:36-38 Then assuredly, let all the house of Israel acknowledge that God made Him both Lord and Christ, this same Jesus whom you crucified. And hearing, they were stabbed in the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men, brothers, What shall we do? And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized, each of you in the name of Jesus Christ to remission of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I have put this in as an aside to show what can happen when you have powerful supernatural preaching. The message was first to repent. Then to be baptized (by immersion) and note in the name of Jesus Christ, and then to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. NOTE: No mention of accepting Jesus into your heart.
In those days with many of the religions of the time, you were not considered a valid member until you had been baptized by immersion in water. For that reason to be baptised after repentance would have been quite normal.
Acts 2:41 Then truly the ones gladly welcoming His Word were baptized. And about three thousand souls were added that day and they would have been all men. The response was immediate and conclusive. They were baptised by immersion. I wonder how many have started their church with 3,000?
If that doesn't convince you that God can do it and will, then you need to get a real appreciation to the limitless ability of God.