What is the interpretation of tongues?

Full Question:

What is actually the interpretation of tongues? I know it is a spiritual gift and I also have the gift of different tongues. But I don't know much about the interpretation of tongues. What can I do to receive that gift? Can you help me please?

Answer:

This is an interesting question and I hope that an answer for this question will help all those who are truly desiring to receive this gift of interpretation of tongues.

First of all, I want you to be aware a very basic and important thing related to spiritual gifts. It's the misunderstanding of the term 'spiritual gift' as 'spiritual reward'. People usually think that spiritual gifts are a reward from God for accepting and doing the will of God like repenting, baptizing and so on, while it is not. A gift means, 'something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation.' A spiritual gift also is not a reward, it is spiritually something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation.

Interpretation is a spiritual gift that enable or help the members of a church to interpret what a person speak in tongues. The tongues is a gift given by the Holy Spirit to guide or to control the tongue of an anointed man making him speak in foreign languages unknown to him. It can be or cannot be a language exist or existed in the face of earth. The gift which Holy Spirit given to the church to interpret or to understand the meaning or content of such type of tongue is called interpretation of tongues.

There are not many relations between the gift of different tongues and the gift of interpretation of tongues. Both are them are in fact two different spiritual gifts which is also used for two different purposes. But, gift of different tongues is considered as an essential requirement for receiving the gift of interpretation of tongues.

According to me, there are only two ways to receive the interpretation of tongues. One is to eagerly desire and to pray as apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:12,13. Paul is saying this to people who speaks in a tongue and if you need the gift of interpretation of tongues and do not have the gift of different tongues, let you first pray for the gift of different tongues. Once if you are gifted with the gift of speaking in tongues, you can start praying for the interpretation of tongues.

The next way and the best way to receive the interpretation of tongues is to start sharing gospel. By sharing gospel to the people of this world and by leading them to Christ by helping them to grow more in Christ, will make many spiritual gifts an essential requirement for that person. At this time, it's God's responsibility to supply all the essential requirement for those who work for the expansion of His kingdom and God is always faithful in giving that, even without a single word of prayer. But for that you should start sharing gospel. And let me tell you, the purpose of all spiritual gifts is to use them for the expansion of the kingdom of God and if you work you or the expansion of the kingdom of God, surely God will gift you all necessary and sufficient gifts for this great purpose.

Many people used to worry a lot about the functioning of the gifts of interpretation of tongues. Let me tell you, you don't have to worry about that. Once you get that gift, as it is written Holy Spirit will surely guide you in all truth to operate the gift in the exact way it is need to be operated. But somethings which I want you to understand is that, this gift is not operated by faith. Even after you received that gift of interpretation of tongues, you cannot operate it as you wish and it completely depends on when God wants you to operate it. But once if you receive the interpretation of what somebody's or your own tongue(rarely), you should talk to the person or the people what interpretation you get.

The gift of interpretation of tongues is used for the edification of the church which means for the members of the church and so you should use the interpretation with wisdom and knowledge to edify the church. I hope and believe that Holy Spirit will advice anyone to use that gift as any other gift, if they submit themselves to the Holy Spirit.

May God bless you to share His wonderful gospel to the world and to receive all essential gift of spirits to thrive in every areas of your work for God. God bless you and reward you.