1 Corinthians 14:1-5 English Standard Version

Prophecy and Tongues

1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

The basic training in that charismatic church focused on trying to discover which spiritual gifts we had in order to serve the church. The method used to test me to see if I had the gift of tongues was flawed as far as I was concerned. What did I know, I still did not know what I did not know. Their training fostered a bit of unbelief in that gift altogether.

When I fell asleep that night I woke up the next morning speaking in tongues. I was no longer in control of my own voice. When I realized that I became fearful and then it stopped.

Mark 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

The meaning of that passage became painfully clear to me. My unbelief needed to be corrected. Just because I did not demonstrate that gift did not mean it wasn’t real.

So if I do not get to pick and choose which gifts are granted, how was I to discover them?

When we were offered the Henry Blackaby course Experiencing God it showed me how to deepen my own personal relationship with God and discover my special place in His Kingdom. His Word came alive in me.

What that meant and how to use it to serve the church was another matter. There was still much to learn.