A New Experience, Communal Speaking in Tongues
I Corinthians 14:5 and 26, I
would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater
is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret,
that the church may receive edifying…How is it brethren? When ye come together,
every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a
revelation, hath an interpretation.
Let all things be done unto
edifying...
I Corinthians 2:14, But
the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned.
We were right in the middle of a service at Brooklyn Tabernacle
Church when a word came forth in tongues.
Pastor Jim Cymbala stopped everything and we listened.
It was clear, rhythmic and loud and so was the interpretation from
another person that immediately followed.
I will never forget it as long as I
live.
Let me set the scene for you, the church, which by the way was
an old theater, was packed with choir directors, worship leaders, song writers,
and some fortunate choir members like Mark and myself in addition to the members
of BTC. The interpretation was, “I
inhabit the praise of my children, I desire the praise of my children, I long
for the praise of my children.” (Psalm 22:3).
I knew a percentage of the congregation was Hispanic, but that
didn’t sound like Spanish to me.
Mark just laughed at me and told me it was tongues.
The atmosphere in the church was charged with the Holy Spirit. What was even more shocking was that
there were individuals that morning who heard nothing, just a prolonged silence,
including our choir director!
Thought: Are there experiences the Lord knows we are not
prepared to hear yet because we cannot take them into our heart or
spirit?
Action: Be open to new knowledge of the Triune Godhead.
I Corinthians 14:5 and 26, I
would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater
is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret,
that the church may receive edifying…How is it brethren? When ye come together,
every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a
revelation, hath an interpretation.
Let all things be done unto
edifying...
I Corinthians 2:14, But
the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are
foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned.
We were right in the middle of a service at Brooklyn Tabernacle
Church when a word came forth in tongues.
Pastor Jim Cymbala stopped everything and we listened.
It was clear, rhythmic and loud and so was the interpretation from
another person that immediately followed.
I will never forget it as long as I
live.
Let me set the scene for you, the church, which by the way was
an old theater, was packed with choir directors, worship leaders, song writers,
and some fortunate choir members like Mark and myself in addition to the members
of BTC. The interpretation was, “I
inhabit the praise of my children, I desire the praise of my children, I long
for the praise of my children.” (Psalm 22:3).
I knew a percentage of the congregation was Hispanic, but that
didn’t sound like Spanish to me.
Mark just laughed at me and told me it was tongues.
The atmosphere in the church was charged with the Holy Spirit. What was even more shocking was that
there were individuals that morning who heard nothing, just a prolonged silence,
including our choir director!
Thought: Are there experiences the Lord knows we are not
prepared to hear yet because we cannot take them into our heart or
spirit?
Action: Be open to new knowledge of the Triune Godhead.
