#6-Speaking in Tongues/Interpreting Tongues
Acts 10:44-46, “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came down on all those who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in other tongues and declaring the greatness of God.” Not everyone will have this gift, as it says that not every member of the body will have the same function. Speaking in tongues is the Holy Spirit speaking through us–it is our Heavenly Language; remember we are temples, we are vessels where the Holy Spirit dwells.
When I was in High School, I remember being in church one Sunday, and the Holy Spirit filled the church and everyone was crying, praising the Lord, being spiritually healed, receiving word from the Lord; and there was a person who was speaking in tongues, and the woman standing close by was able to interpret what the Holy Spirit was speaking through this person. This was the only time that I have ever encountered something like this. I never knew that speaking in tongues could be interpreted, until that moment.
1 Corinthians 14:21-25, “It is written in the law, I will speak to this people by people of other tongues and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to me, says the Lord. Speaking in other tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all. The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, ‘God is really among you.‘” his is why not every member has the same gift, because we all need to have a diversity of gifts as the church, so that unbelievers may believe, and God gets all the glory.
#7-Prophecy
In the Bible there are many people that God uses to deliver His message to the people. A good example would be prophecies of the end times–times that we are in right now. Another example would be before the first arrival of Jesus–there were many prophetic words that the Virgin Mary would give birth to a son and name him Immanuel (‘God with us’). Another example would be when Zechariah saw a vision from the Lord, in which the Lord’s Angel Gabriel prophesied to Zechariah what the Lord has spoken over him, which was that Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, would have a son in his old age, but because of Zechariah’s lack of faith, as punishment Zechariah had become mute and could not speak until this miracle took place (Luke 1:11-22).
Luke 1:57-64, “Now the time had come for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. When they came to circumcise the child on the eighth day, they were going to name him Zechariah, after his father. But his mother responded, ‘No. He will be called John.’ Then they said to her, ‘None of your relatives has that name.’ So they motioned to his father to find out what he wanted him to be called. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And they were all amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue set free, and he began to speak, praising God.” There is power in having faith! There is NOTHING that is impossible for God. He created everything, you don’t think that He has the solution for everything He created?? He made everything! There is power in having faith. If God said it, BELIEVE IT! Just because whatever God said would happen doesn’t come during the time table that you want doesn’t mean that it won’t ever happen for you! God knows His creation, He knows exactly what we need, when we need it, even when we don’t know what we need or when we need it. God’s got it! One day you are going to look back at all the seeds you have sown, and you are going to see that the seasons that you have been through, the seasons of depression, the seasons of hardships were all to prepare and shape you for the purpose that God has for your life! There is a reason for God’s will. The word ‘will’ literally means desire. The fact that God desires something for the people He has created, shows how much love is in His character! He will not leave you hanging. Trust in Him. God knows why you haven’t received the blessing yet, if you receive it outside of His timing you would be destroying yourself. You would not have that protection over you and you would have to sustain yourself. Wait for God’s timing. Mediate and study His word, be renewed and transformed in your mind daily, so that YOU may discern the perfect will of God. God already knows His will. We need to discern His perfect will for us. (Romans 12:2). Remember that these gifts that we have are to serve others. In Romans 12:3, “For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.” Let’s think less of ourselves, and more in humble service to others.
Luke 1:67-80, when Zechariah prophesied over his own son, John the Baptist. “Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, just as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets in ancient times; salvation from our enemies and from the hand of those who hate us. He has dealt mercifully with our fathers and remembered his holy covenant–the oath that he swore to our father Abraham. He has given us privilege, since we have been rescued from the hand of our enemies, to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness in his presence all our days. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins. Because of our God’s merciful compassion, the dawn from on high will visit us to shine on those who live in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. The child grew up and became spiritually strong, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.”
Part 3 of 3 Complete.
