This weekend we ended our series on the Holy Spirit by addressing some of the questions that have come up throughout the series. Here is my response to a couple of those questions, with the full video of the Q&A below. The Q&A starts at 17:28.
How much should we depend on “words of prophecy” in normal decision making?
Conservatively speaking, 99.9% of the time, the Holy Spirit leads us through wisdom, not through direct revelation. Take a look at the book of Acts and notice how Paul makes his decisions. He says things like, “It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us” (Acts 15:28–29). Those aren’t the words of someone who has every decision spelled out by God in his Wheaties. Those are the words of someone who the Spirit is guiding through wisdom. For the Apostle Paul, revelation was the unexpected exception, not the rule.
Henry Blackaby, in his classic Bible study—Experiencing God—offers what I have found to be a helpful paradigm. He mentions four aspects to Christian decision-making: (1) Scripture—What does the whole counsel of God say regarding this particular decision? (2) Experiences—What has God been doing in your life? Does this decision resonate with the experiences God has given you? (3) Wise Counsel of Friends—Friends can offer a perspective into your life that you lack, which helps reveal where God is at work. (4) Special instruction by The Holy Spirit (I’m interjecting a little of my own thoughts here; Blackaby calls this 4th category ‘prayer’)—The Spirit does, periodically, intervene in our lives, particularly through words of prophecy from other people. The key here is balance: I don’t want to give this last aspect so much weight that it trumps the other three.
You mentioned that the primary purpose of tongues is not a private prayer language. But doesn’t Paul mention that in tongues we “speak to God?”
As I mentioned last week, I do not believe we should forbid to speak in tongues. Paul makes that clear in 1 Cor 14:39.
I would, however, offer a word of caution to those who do. I often hear people say their private prayer language makes them feel close to God. But this is not the primary purpose of the gift of tongues. God intended the gift of tongues to be a sign of the new frontiers of the gospel. While Paul says that tongues “edify” the one using them, this would be a side-effect of the gift, not its purpose.
And when a person does speak in a tongue, Paul recommends that they ask for interpretation, since it’s not really even that edifying to them unless they understand what is being said (1 Cor 14:13). Think about it: If God’s Spirit fills me to pray, “God, You have loved me, You know me, You care for me”, would it not be more edifying to hear myself say that than to have that come out in syllables I can’t understand?
Some say that Paul wants us to ask for the gift of tongues as evidenced by this statement that we should “desire all the spiritual gifts.” To desire, of course, is not the same as to seek. I desire that God give you all the ability to walk on water. But even though I might desire that, I don’t tell you to seek it. Paul desires that we all have the gift of celibacy. We are not commanded, however, to seek it. Whenever Paul gives instructions about seeking, he doesn’t instruct us to seek the gift of tongues; instead, he directs us towards the gifts that edify others.
If in the middle of your prayer time, you feel something bubble up inside of you, and you want to let it out, I won’t try to stop you. Paul doesn’t forbid it, and neither will I. But you should immediately ask God for interpretation. As Paul says, it is best to pray with both your spirit and your mind.
Pastor,
Grace and peace unto you pastor and your wonderful family as the grace and mercy of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ follows you all the days of your lives. As a student of the Word of God, I am very privilege to continually know Him and the excellency of the knowledge of His Word. I had an opportunity to read the article concerning this past Sunday’s sermon and also what you wrote on the subject of “tongues”. In 1 Cor. 12, the Apostle Paul speaks (by unction of the Holy Spirit) revelatory of the pneumatic, charismatic, or spiritual gifts. I am not “expert” on the charismatic gifts, but I have studied to show myself approved unto God and break bread with a brother on what I learned. Besides reading the bible on the matter, I also read, The Ministry of The Holy Spirit by Lester Sumrall, to further understand the Holy Spirit and the works of the Spirit of God in our lives. 1 Cor. 14 is the chapter to read concerning tongues and prophecy. The purpose of the chapter was God speaking through Paul to bring correction and enlightment to the Corinthian Church on the subject and the abuse of tongue and prophesy in the Church. Basically, the do’s and don’t when tongues and prophecy is concerned. Tongues or Glossia is given (gift) to the believer upon the baptism of the Holy Spirit as an evidence of the Baptism of Fire (Matt. 3:11, Luke 3:16). Does everybody speak in tongues, yes those who are fire baptize. In Acts 2, when the disciples were endued with full indwelling of the Holy Spirit as He came upon them like cloven tongues of Fire, they began to speak and worship God in languages they have not learned. The disciples were unlearned men (?). How could they speak in diverse languages, that even their surrounding heard them worship God in their own dialect. Not Aramaic, Hebrew, Greek, but eighteen different dialects from the different Jews who came to Jerusalem for the Feats of Weeks or Pentecost. As far as praying in tongues, I command you for stating the obvious, for anyone to state that speaking in tongues are demonic or ungodly or to speak otherwise is that what the bible says is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy is to equate any Godly occurrence to demonic activity. THIS IS TRULY A SIN, AS YOU HAVE SAID IT. When it comes to praying in the Spirit, the following scriptures, Eph. 6:18, Jude 20, 1 Cor. 14:15, Rom. 8:26 will definitely enlighten you. The purpose of praying in the spirit is to edify the believer, as well as building them up in their most Holy faith, simply to solidify or empower. There is no such thing as a side-effect when it comes to God, he is a purposeful God. Whenever there is speaking in tongues in the Church openly to the congregation, there must be an interpreter, for their understanding is unfruitful. The Apostle Paul never discourages praying in your natural language whether English or otherwise. He discouraged the use of tongues to show off in the church as to make yourself seem more spiritual then others, then that would not encourage the other believers, but hinder their walk, or even make yourself some great one for other to aspire to, when Christ is the main person we aspire to become. Also, to desire leads us to seek, for if I don’t desire something, there’s no reason to seek after it. Those who desire the gift of speaking in an unknown tongue, as to only ask and they shall receive. Tongues is for unbelievers, as prophesy is for believers, but Paul desire that we prophesy to others so we may edify another. I pray that this piece of bread will nourish you as it did me. I Love you and embrace you with a Holy kiss, and may the eyes of your mind continually be enlighten.