1. Discerning of spirits is the ability to discern the spirit world and detect the true source of circumstances or people's motives. It helps distinguish what is of God versus other spirits. 2. There are different kinds of tongues, including tongues as languages known to humans and tongues as the languages of angels. Tongues can be spoken, used in prayer, or used in singing. 3. The interpretation of tongues involves interpreting what was said in tongues so that the church understands and is edified. Tongues are for the speaker's personal edification while prophecy that is interpreted edifies the whole church.

1. Discerning of Spirits
Different Kinds of
Tongues &
Interpretation of
Tongues
1 Corinthians 12
People of the Spirit
Jack Hayford
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2. Big Idea
Now concerning spiritual gifts,
brethren, I do not want you to
be ignorant:
1 Corinthians 12:1 (NKJV) 2

3. Word Wealth
Discerning (diakrisis) is the cognate of the
verb translated “judge” in 1 Corinthians
14:29. It has to do with differentiating or
properly judging “spirits.” Scholars disagree
as to what Paul means by “spirits.” The most
common consensus is that it refers to the
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4. Word Wealth
various spirits of the vast spiritual realm.
Hence, “discerning of spirits” has to do with
properly judging what is of the Spirit of God
and what is of other spirits. It is a divine aid
in fulfilling the command of 1 John 4:1,
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test
the spirits, whether they are of God.”
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5. Discerning of spirits
Discerning of spirits is the ability
to discern the spirit world, and
especially to detect the true
source of circumstances or
motives of people.
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6. What is a spirit?
Mark 1:27…They were all amazed, so that
they debated among themselves, saying,
“What is this? A new teaching with
authority! He commands even the
unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
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7. What is a spirit?
John 4:24…God is spirit, and
those who worship Him must
worship in spirit and truth.
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8. What is a spirit?
Romans 8:16…The Spirit
Himself testifies with our
spirit that we are children of
God,
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9. What is a spirit?
Ephesians 2:2…in which you formerly
walked according to the course of this
world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, of the spirit that is now
working in the sons of disobedience.
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10. What is a spirit?
Hebrews 1:13–14…But to which of the angels
has He ever said, “Sit at my right hand, until i
make your enemies a footstool for your
feet”? Are they not all ministering spirits,
sent out to render service for the sake of
those who will inherit salvation?
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11. Jack Hayford
Because “spirits” is somewhat ambiguous, this
manifestation may also allow for a certain
sensitivity to the nature or state of the human
spirit itself.
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12. Why this gift?
2 Corinthians 11:12–15…But what I am doing
I will continue to do, so that I may cut off
opportunity from those who desire an
opportunity to be regarded just as we are in
the matter about which they are boasting.
For such men are false apostles, deceitful
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13. Why this gift?
workers, disguising themselves as apostles of
Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises
himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is
not surprising if his servants also disguise
themselves as servants of righteousness,
whose end will be according to their deeds.
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14. Why this gift?
2 Thessalonians 2:9–10…that is, the one
whose coming is in accord with the activity of
Satan, with all power and signs and false
wonders, and with all the deception of
wickedness for those who perish, because
they did not receive the love of the truth so
as to be saved.
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15. Why this gift?
Matthew 24:3;11…As He was sitting on the
Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him
privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these
things happen, and what will be the sign of
Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
“Many false prophets will arise and will
mislead many.
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16. Why this gift?
1 Corinthians 14:29…Let two
or three prophets speak, and
let the others pass judgment.
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17. Jack Hayford
In the exercise of the gift of discernment, we
are dealing with an insight into the
invisible—with an ability to ‘divide between’
the human and the hellish (the flesh and the
devil) and often with the ability to determine
the source or root of a problem as it stems
from the spiritual realm.
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18. Jesus and discerning of spirits
Unclean spirit possession…Mark 1:21-28
Sensed with his spirit…Mark 2:6-8
Cast out demons…Matthew 8:16
Spirit of sickness…Luke 13:10-17
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19. Different Kinds of Tongues & the
Interpretation of Tongues
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20. Glossia
Day of Pentecost
Tongues of Men
Tongues of Angels
Different Kinds of Tongues
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21. Vocalizations
Speak with tongues
Pray in tongues
Pray with the spirit/Spirit
Sing with the spirit/Spirit
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22. Direction
1 Corinthians 14:2…For one who
speaks in a tongue does not speak to
men but to God; for no one
understands, but in his spirit he
speaks mysteries.
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23. Edification
1 Corinthians 14:4…One who
speaks in a tongue edifies
himself; but one who prophesies
edifies the church.
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24. Pro and Con
1 Corinthians 14:5…Now I wish that you all spoke
in tongues, but even more that you would
prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than
one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets,
so that the church may receive edifying.
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25. Jack Hayford
According to 1 Corinthians 14:5, an interpreted
“tongue” has value and purpose just as does the
prophetic word. It is likely because of this truth
that so many interpreted tongues are
churchward, while “private” or “devoted” tongues
are only addressed to God.
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26. Most desirable
1 Corinthians 14:13…Therefore
let one who speaks in a tongue
pray that he may interpret.
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27. If you don’t know
1 Corinthians 14:28…but if there is
no interpreter, he must keep silent in
the church; and let him speak to
himself and to God.
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28. Tongues and the Unbeliever
1 Corinthians 14:22…So then tongues are
for a sign, not to those who believe but
to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign,
not to unbelievers but to those who
believe.
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29. Tongues and the Unbeliever
1 Corinthians 14:23…Therefore if the
whole church assembles together
and all speak in tongues, and
ungifted men or unbelievers enter,
will they not say that you are mad?
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30. Order
1 Corinthians 14:27…If anyone
speaks in a tongue, it should be by
two or at the most three, and each
in turn, and one must interpret;
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31. Interpretation of Tongues
The interpretation of tongues may be given
by a person other than the one speaking in
tongues, but the burden for the
interpretation must rest with the one who
speaks in tongues. Although the Greek word
for “interpretation” (hermeneia) can mean
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32. Interpretation of Tongues
“translation,” it also means “to put into
words.” Here, therefore, it likely means to
put the content of the tongue into words
which the congregation understands, as
opposed to giving a literal translation.
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33. Finally
1 Corinthians 14:1a…Pursue
love, yet desire earnestly
spiritual gifts,
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