The Bible continually gives testimony of its inherent truth. This is true concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit. There is an apparent discrepancy between the gifts manifested through Jesus and those manifested through the Church. This apparent discrepancy, however, results in an amazing testimony of the truth of God's word.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul listed the gifts of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 12:7-11). Included in this list of the gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit are: wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing of spirits, tongues and the interpretation of tongues. The first seven of these gifts can be seen in the ministry of Messiah Jesus as recorded in the gospels. However, there is no indication that He exercised the gift of tongues and, therefore, there was no interpretation of tongues. Yet, these gifts were manifested immediately through the Church beginning on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4). Why were gifts manifested through the Church which were not manifested by the Lord? The answer to this question is very interesting and a bold confirmation of the truth of the Scriptures.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are, simply stated, the works of God.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are, simply stated, the works of God. They are the manifestations of an omnipotent, omniscient and omni-sovereign God over His universe. Messiah Jesus was and is the overt manifestation or "Word of God". He said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner" (John 5:19). Therefore, the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in Messiah Jesus were just those things that God does and, indeed, had done through His prophets in previous generations including wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy and the distinguishing of spirits.

In Scripture, the number "seven" takes on a special meaning. With the study of the Scripture, it becomes evident that this number is something of a sign of the hand of God and the completeness of His work. The seven days of creation is an example of this fact. God sanctified the seventh day, the seventh month, the seventh year and the year following the seven times seven (49th) year. The "seven Spirits of God" are spoken of by John (Revelation 5:6). Therefore, we conclude that the seven distinct gifts or manifestations of the Holy Spirit seen in the ministry of Jesus follow this same pattern and point to the essential completeness of God's manifestation through Messiah Jesus.

Again, from the Scripture, it is evident that it is God's plan to manifest the same things through Jesus acting in the midst of His body, the Church, as was manifested through Him directly in His personal ministry. Therefore, we would expect to see the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit discussed above manifested in the Church. However, in the body, we see two additional gifts: tongues and the interpretation of tongues. Did the Church receive something beyond what was received by Messiah Jesus?

Paul said that the one who speaks in a tongue speaks to God.

The purpose of tongues is to help us; we who are redeemed human beings and filled with the Holy Spirit, yet, who still live in the flesh. The gift of tongues is given to help us commune with, intercede before and to worship God. Paul said that the one who speaks in a tongue speaks to God. He speaks mysteries to God and is edified by doing so (I Corinthians 14:2,4). Also, Paul wrote concerning intercession, "And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God" (Romans 8:26,27). Tongues can be manifested through the individual in private intercession and worship before God. In this case, interpretation is not needed. When, however, tongues are manifested as a part of a body worship service, they must be interpreted so that the whole body is edified and so the whole service precedes in an orderly fashion which glorifies God.

Why was the gift of tongues not manifested through Messiah Jesus in His personal ministry? We believe that His communion with the Holy One was unique and complete because He was uniquely the only begotten Son of the Father and was unstained by the world. Thus, He did not need help as you and I do in communing with and worshipping God. In addition, He received the Holy Spirit without measure (John 3:34).

Therefore, we believe that the issue of the gifts of the Holy Spirit testifies wonderfully of the inherent truth of the Bible. We see the completeness of God manifested through the "seven" gifts of the Holy Spirit in the ministry of Messiah Jesus. In the Church, on the other hand, made up of regenerated humans who still bear the marks of sin in the flesh, an additional gift, tongues, is given to help us function in the capacity for which we are called. Interpretation of tongues is given for the use of this additional gift when it is manifested in congregational worship for the sake of order and the general edification of the body. Again, the wisdom and glory of God is confirmed in the Bible.