Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14
There is somehow a lot of controversy surrounding the
gifts of the Holy Spirit but one of the most controversial is that of speaking
in tongues.
I personally received this gift in 1978 and it has been a
constant source of joy and blessing to me. Whenever I am faced with a complex
situation which baffles me, I pray in an unknown tongue directly to the Throne
of God in Heaven. Neither I nor Satan know what I said. Before long my spirit
is flooded with inspiration and my mind becomes fruitful with answers, wisdom
and truth from our Father.
Some churches teach that the Gifts of the Holy Spirit of
God were just needed until the Bible was completed and available and that any
knowledge you receive through tongues is outside of Bible knowledge and
therefore not Godly. This is the controversy and it is wrong.
In Acts 19 when Paul saw certain disciples baptizing
converts he asked if they had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and they
said they had not heard anything about the Holy Spirit. He then baptized them
in the name of Jesus and in the Holy Spirit and they spoke in tongues and
prophesied.
Speaking in tongues has become the accepted sign of the
baptism in the Holy Spirit but in a few instances I have noticed a gift like
discerning of spirits emerging ahead of tongues. Over the 35 years since I
received the Holy Spirit and tongues I have seen every gift of the Spirit
operate through my life when it was required. I could never deny that this is
not Godly because the fruit of the ministry was always so powerful.
One little girl was healed of an inoperable tumour the
size of an orange on her spine. Instantly healed. A women who was raped daily
by 4 members of her family from age of 2 to 16 fell into a trance for 45
minutes - 1 minute for every year of her life - and emerged with her memory and
soul wiped clean of every trauma by Jesus. A man who had ten or more homosexual
acts daily with different men, who had a pregnant wife and wanted Jesus to make
him straight was instantly set free.
These are a few that stand out to me but the Holy Spirit
works without ceasing and in unknown places and I could fill books with the
miracles I have witnessed. Jesus does the work when I do my part which is to
pray in my closet.
When you speak in tongues you speak from your spirit to
God in mighty words of worship and adoration. In John 4 v 24 Jesus says God is
a spirit; they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. I know
no other way to worship God in spirit than through tongues.
We can sing praises all day long with our mouths and all
our heart but when you sing in tongues it transcends this world and you join
the angels in Heaven to worship the Father and Jesus. There is nothing to equal
it.
Read a book called Michael Michael Why Do You Hate Me?
Written by a former New York Jewish Rabbi. He was stuck in a traffic jam and
rolled down his car window and heard this incredible singing. He told his
driver to park the car and went into the church drawn by those hundreds of
Christians singing in tongues. When it stopped a woman he later discovered was
a char lady with poor education, spoke a clear loud message in tongues. Only
one person understood her. Rabbi Michael. She spoke in the High Hebrew only
Rabbi's speak with and said Michael Michael why Do You Hate Me. I am Jesus whom
you are persecuting. A "Damascus Road" moment for the Rabbi who
became a born again Christian and is now a pastor.
Paul said that he spoke in tongues more than anyone and
wished that everyone spoke in tongues because it builds you up in your spirit.
It accelerates your spiritual growth and increases your knowledge of ministry
of the Holy Spirit. Paul also said that people should rather prophesy in the
church or interpret the tongues so that everyone could be edified.
The number of people bringing a message in tongues or
prophesying in the church should be limited to three per meeting. Apparently
the Corinthians were getting carried away in this regard and it left no time
for preaching and meeting ministry needs.
The congregation were able to judge those prophecies and
if they did not witness to the truth they could object. That never happens
today where in some charismatic churches a 65% accuracy in prophecy is 100%
acceptable. To man perhaps but not to God.
Speaking in tongues is a beautiful and powerful gift from
God that must not be abused. It is a language which flows and is never harsh or
gutteral. The enemy in satanic covens also has a form of tongues. It sounds
extremely harsh and ugly and chills the spine. Various cults like the Mormons
also have a form of tongues but it is not a gift of the Holy Spirit.
Use the gifts of God wisely and frequently to His glory
and worship which will open Heaven for spiritual blessings to rain down.
Prayer: Heavenly Father thank You for all the years I
have been able to worship You in spirit and receive Your abundant blessings.
Please fill those who desire it with the Holy Spirit and bless them with
tongues and all the other gifts too. In Jesus' holy name. Amen.