THE GIFT OF PROPHECY: TONGUES TO PROPHECY 2

05/12/2024

"What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." (1 Corinthians 14:15)

If you study the entire 1 Corinthians 14, you would find that God is impressing on the church a system of tongues to prophecy. The scripture says, "For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries" (1 Corinthians 14:2). The word, "speaks in a tongue" in this verse refers to uttering words in God's language through the enablement of the Holy Spirit. 

Contrary to what has been said in some quarters, speaking in tongues is not a gift of the Holy Spirit that is selective. Every believer in Christ ought to be able to speak in tongues. Mark 16:17 says, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues..." As a matter of fact, if you are born again and do not speak in tongues, you are short-changing yourself. Every single person in the Body of Christ ought to be able to speak in tongues.

In addition to speaking in tongues, all of us ought to be able to prophesy. 1 Corinthians 14:3-4  NIV says, "But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church." 

So what does it mean to prophesy and why is it important? Prophesying is the process of rendering understandable to the mind,  the mysteries that are spoken in tongues. It is always important to render the tongues spoken understandable so that the necessary action can be taken. 1 Corinthians 14:11 says, "Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me." In other words, the communication that you ought to receive from heaven to know what exact steps to take about a situation would be lost in translation based on the absence of an interpretation. 

So how do I convert tongues to prophecy? You may ask. By praying or singing in tongues long enough. "What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." (1 Corinthians 14:15). Every time you pray or sing in tongues, your spirit is tuning into God's voice like one would tune the dial on a radio. 

The conversion process from tongues to prophecy is explained in 1 Corinthians 2:10-13. When you speak or sing in tongues, your spirit by the help of the Holy Spirit starts searching to pull out the solution or answer. The Bible says, "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God." (1 Corinthians 2:10-12). 

After a while, if you keep praying or singing in tongues, the answers start to bubble up in languages you can understand. Again the Bible says, "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1 Corinthians 2:12-13).

As we continue to grow in Christ, it becomes the standard practice that we don't stop praying or singing in tongues until words of prophecy come forth. This way, the mind of God is known so that our ministry to the Lord is perfect and accurate. 

Hallelujah!

Faith-Filled Confession

I give glory to the name of the Lord, recognizing that He is with me everywhere I go. His answers are always with me so that I am not confused or perplexed by any circumstances, obstacles, or situations. God in me is a wellspring of life from which I draw by speaking in tongues and prophesying. In the name of Jesus. Amen

One-Year Bible Reading Plan: 2 Kings 6-8; John 4:31-54