BELIEVERS AND TONGUES

MEMORY VERSE: And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.Mark 16:17

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Exodus 9-12

Mark 16:17 says, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;” What are tongues? The word for ‘tongues’ is the same word as that for ‘languages’, and it means the ability to speak in a language you have never learned. It may be an angelic language (1 Corinthians 13:1) which presumably is not recognizable or it may be a recognizable human language (as at Pentecost). The gift of tongues has brought many great blessings to many people. Not all Christians speak in tongues nor is it necessarily a sign of being filled with the Spirit. It is possible to be filled with the Spirit and not speak in tongues. Nevertheless, for many, both in the New Testament and in Christian experience, it accompanies an experience of the Holy Spirit and may be the first experience of the more obviously supernatural activity of the Spirit.

Speaking in tongues is a form of prayer (one of the many different forms of prayer found in the New Testament). Paul says, “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries” (1 Corinthians 14:2). Every one of us is limited by language. There are times we experience frustration in that we cannot truly express what we really feel when we talk to people. We feel things in our spirit but we don’t know how to put them into words. This is often true also in our relationship with God. This is where the gift of tongues can be a great help. It enables us to express to God what we really feel in our spirits without going through the process of translating it into our native language.

There are three areas in which we will find the gift of tongues very useful. Firstly, in the area of praise and worship. In our praise and worship of God we can often find language limiting. We long to express our love, worship and praise of God, particularly when we are filled with the Spirit. The gift of tongues enables us to do this without the imitation of human language. Secondly, it can be a great help when praying under pressure. There are times in our lives when it is hard to know exactly how to pray. It can be because we are burdened by many pressures, anxieties or griefs. A brother was in a staff meeting in church, some years ago, when he received a message that his mother had a heart attack and was in hospital. Whilst in the taxi, he desperately wanted to pray but felt too shock to form any sentence. He didn't know where to start and what to say, so he began to pray in tongues and the situation was brought under the control of God. Lastly, the gift of tongues can be a help when praying for other people. It is hard to pray for others- especially if you have not seen them or heard from them for some time. The gift of tongues can be a real help when praying or interceding for pastors, church members, our singles, the unemployed, people looking for the fruit of the womb, students, people who are yet to give their lives to Christ and so on. Also, the gift of tongues is a gateway for one to receive other gifts of the spirit. If you have the gifts of tongues, pray in tongues daily as it awakens other gifts of God that are lying dormant in you.

CONFESSIONS: Father, i thank you for the gifts of the Spirit in my life.

ACTION: Set out time to pray in tongues daily.

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.

HOW TO ASK ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL

MEMORY VERSE: And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 1 John 5:14

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 119:89-104, Proverbs 31:9, 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8 

If you want God to answer your prayers, there are certain conditions you must meet. One of them is you must ask according to His will. 1 John 5:14 says this: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:” One of the reasons why God does not respond to some of the prayers offered today is because it is not according to His will. Sister, it is not in God’s will that your mother-in-law should die. God is not a murderer! Therefore, if you are praying that God should kill her, i can assure you that God will not answer that prayer. The will of God for her is to accept Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savoir - if she is yet to do so and you two live in peace. Ezekiel 18:32 says this: “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” It is also not in God’s will that something terrible should happen to that traffic warden who gave you a parking ticket. The traffic warden was doing his job. If you had parked properly, you would not have been served with a parking fine. Moreover, God will not kill him or her for you because He is not a traffic warden killer! 

How does one ask according to God’s will? Firstly, pray in tongues. Paul said, “For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful” (1 Corinthians 14:14). You see, when it comes to prayer, everyone one of us has an infirmity. The infirmity/weakness is “we know not what we should pray for as we ought” (Romans 8:26-27). How does the Spirit of God help us to overcome this infirmity? He takes over and makes intercession through us, praying according to the will of God. Therefore, when you pray in tongues, it is not you praying but the spirit of God making intercession through you. The next time you wake up in the middle of the night with a burden to pray and you do not know what to pray for, just start praying in tongues. One of the advantages of praying in tongues is that you can do it anywhere - whilst driving your children home, whilst having picnic with your friend, whilst waiting in a queue, in a courtroom, exam room, bathroom, just name it. You do not even need to close your eyes when praying in tongues. Another advantage of praying in tongues is that no one knows what you are praying about; even the demons do not know it. 

Secondly, pray in accordance with God’s word. The only place where you will find God’s will is inside His word i.e. the bible. The great revelation of the will of God is the Word of God. Moreover, the Word of God is packed from the beginning to end with divine promises. These promises of God are the will of God. This is how to pray in accordance with the word of God. When you find a promise that relates to your situation and meets your need, that promise is God’s will for you.  God never promised anything that was not His will; anything else would be inconsistent. Suppose a particular challenge keeps re-occurring. Nahum 1:9 says this: “What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.” You go to God and say, “Father, Your word says 'affliction shall not rise up the second time,' please let this challenge never re-occurred again.” As you pray earnestly and in tongues, God will see to it that the challenge never re-occurs again.   

HINT: What you are doing when you pray in accordance with the scripture is you are saying to God “do as You have said” 

NOTE: One of the greatest hindrances to prayer is unforgiveness. Forgive first before going to God with your requests.  

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Bro Samuel | Reaching the world for Jesus.