DON'T LET THE DEVIL STEAL YOUR GIFTS There seems to be two areas where the devil has been able to bring in great division in the church. One is the area of healing and the other is the area of the operation of the Gifts of the Spirit. In both cases if we do not receive healing or are not functioning in the gifts of the Spirit it actually is a blow to our 'spiritual ego'. In other words, if we believe we are mature and 'good' Christians and yet we don't get healed, or don't speak in tongues then in order to protect our egos, we must assume that the gifts, or healing is not for today. To accept it is for today, and not see it manifest in our own lives is very challenging. Of course, our old foe, the devil, will get in there with every type of accusation and condemnation he can to further drive you from the truth. Whole denominations have adopted the doctrine that healing and signs and wonders and all the gifts of the Spirit have passed away. Their 'explanation' is that since the church has been established the gifts are no longer needed. It is a sad lie some have bought into. On the other hand, I feel that some 'leaders' have to adopt this doctrine because they never see any of the gifts in their own ministry, which of course calls into question their ministry. That is a topic for another dicussion, but suffice to say that a VERY large percentage of so-called church leaders are NOT leaders at all. They were never ordained of God and are merely heirlings, who chose ministry instead of teaching school as a vocation. Rest assured my friends, the gifts of the Spirit and signs and wonders and healings and deliverance is very much for today. We are just as in need of being set free as any other generation to ever walk the face of the earth. Our LORD came to destroy the works of the devil, and He did, however we have to co-operate with Him if we are to see it happen in our lives. By saying the gifts etc. are not for now has just removed you from a place of blessing and that is sad indeed. Why do I say it is sad? Because the LORD Jesus paid an unbelievable price in order for us to receive the fullness of what His sacrifice paid for. To say it was only for the early church is absolutely disgusting and demonstrates a clear lack of understanding of what our LORD has done. He was the One whose body was broken for us, it was His death that has forgiven our sins, so we may come into right standing again with God. To deny the gifts is to deny what the LORD has done, and in my opinion anyone who would willingly do that, is not truly a Christian. So before you go any further, accept the fact that healing is for today, the gifts of the Spirit are for today, signs and wonders are for today. But above all a Holy, devoted. totally committed relationship with Jesus is the ONLY way any of these things will come into your life. Don't go off chasing healing.........chase the Healer. Don't go off chasing the gifts of the Spirit........chase the Spirit. Don't tell the LORD what you don't believe, instead invite Him to prove everything He says in His Word is true and is just as alive today, as the day it was first spoken. Get to know what the LORD says about these things in His Word. Invite the Holy Spirit to show you the Truth of His Word. Don't let any 'friends' or church 'leaders' teach you something which is contrary to what the Word of God says.

Tongues One of the most misunderstood and improperly taught gifts of the Spirit is the gift of Tongues. People who teach it is not for today, or is not for everybody are simply wrong in their teaching. They have not received the gift and therefore assume it can't really be for today. Well, friend, it absolutely IS for today, and it is for you, and it will help you grow in the things of the Spirit. Different Types of Tongues Some confusion comes when people (who don't know what they are talking about) are ignorant of the fact that there are three distinct 'types' of tongues. They are always trying to make prayer tongues fit either the description of the 'tongues of fire' which fell on the Day of Pentecost in the first church, or they try and make them fit the tongues which are a form of prophecy. All of which are spoken of in Corinthians at some length. I presume there was the same problems back then also. No wonder, people are not different and it is the same devil trying to deceive us all. What worked to cause confusion 2.000 years ago, still works today. PRAYER TONGUES: This is the gift given to individual believers as a means of being built up in the Spirit. It is also referred to as a 'heavenly prayer language'. Scripture says: 1Co 14:2  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. 1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 1Co 14:4  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 1Co 14:5  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. Don't let anyone tell you that praying in an unknown language is not for you, and it is better to prophesy based on this scripture. This scripture says that we speak unto God and that it edifieth (builds up) ourselves. Obviously being built up by speaking to God is a good idea and is a valuable gift of the Spirit. What this scripture is talking about with the reference to being better to prophesy is during an assembling of ourselves together. What Paul is saying, is in church, there is no benefit of speaking loudly in your prayer language tongue (which is meant to be between you and God, and is for your building up), but there is a tongue, which can be interpreted which is a form of prophesy. Confused? Don't be, as here is an example of two different type of tongues. One is speaking aloud in a group in a language you don't understand, and then waiting for the Holy Spirit to give the interpretation, either through you, or more likely, through someone else in the assembly. The interpreted tongue will be a Word from God which will be understood by all present. However, your prayer tongue is a matter between you and God and is meant for your own prayer time, or praying silently to God. I always use my prayer language when faced with a situation requiring prayer. I very seldom rely on my own understanding of the situation and offer a prayer from my 'mind'. Rather I give place to the Holy Spirit to pray through me, knowing when I do this, I will be praying according to God's perfect will, and not my 'thinking'. TONGUES WITH INTERPRETATION This tongue is a form of prophecy and is one way the LORD speaks directly and clearly to us. Scriputre says: 1Co 14:26  How is it then, 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. 1Co 14:27  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 1Co 14:28  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. This scripture is making the distnction between 'praying in tongues' and speaking in tongues. The first is a matter between you and God, the second is a matter between God and all assembled and perhaps even beyond those assembled. If you are in an assembly and someone is 'moved by the Spirit' to utter aloud in tongues, there should be someone present who can interpret the tongue and say what it means in a language understood by those present. If there is no interpretation, it is likely you were not meant to speak aloud. Of course, it could be that whoever is being given the interpretation is too shy to utter the interpretation, and that I am sure happens on mnay occassions. Most of us are more 'self-concious' than we are God-concious, and we also fear making a fool of ourselves in front of everyone else. My best advice? If you feel a strong unction to speak aloud in tongues.....do it! Then wait for the interpretation, and hopefully, the person in a leadership role will have the maturity and wisdom to know what is going on. TONGUES UNDERSTOOD BY THE HEARERS This is what the disciples experienced on the Day of Pentecost when cloven tongues of fire rested upon them. They then went into the market place and preached the gospel in languages they did not normally speak. Hence, the gospel was being understood by those in attendance, regardless of which language they spoke. Scripture says: Act 2:4  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Act 2:5  And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Act 2:6  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. Act 2:7  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? Act 2:8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? This is not your everyday, Prayer Tongue or your Tongues with Interpretation, it was a time when the Holy Spirit speaking through men, was able to communicate to other men of completely different languages. I have read accounts of this still happening today in different circumstance, where a believer in an unusual or difficult situation was able to communicate to another person in a language they did not speak.

Receiving Tongues.....My Own Testimony   You will find that much is written on the topic of the gift of tongues, and you will find a great deal of it is confusing and is simply wrong. A lot of 'opinion' is written on the subject by people who have not actually received the gift and are applying their own interpretation as to what scripture says on the matter. On the other side of the coin, there is a group who feel that if you are not praying in a tongue you are simply missing it altogether. Their motives may be correct, if they are simply trying to encourage you to ask for the gift so that you can be built up in the Spirit. They are however, in error if they are brow beating you into believing you MUST receive the gift and that you MUST receive right now. I am not going to speculate on how you, or any other believer will receive the gift, nor will I speculate on when you will receive the gift. I will leave that matter between you and the Holy Spirit, since it is He would imparts the gift. What I am offering here, is my own testimony of how I received the gift and you may find it helpful. I can say with absolute certainty that this is my experience with the gift, and what I am offering is not speculation or interpretation. I had known the LORD for several years when I was introduced into a small fellowhsip who simply loved the LORD. Worship time was always blessed when we came together and was a good experience in general. At this time I knew nothing of the gifts of the Spirit and frankly did not think I needed the gift of tongues, as I considered myself quite capable of talking (some would say I am simply a motor mouth). At one of our meetings I was asked if I would like to receive the gift of tongues, and not wanting to pass up something the LORD would want me to have I agreed to be prayed for. I had several brothers and sisters lay hands on me and prayed. After a time, they all felt that I had received the gift, but frankly I felt no different whatsoever. One of the sisters explained that it was the Holy Spirit that gives the utterance, but He still requires us to provide the voluntary use of our tongue. To get me started, she suggested that when I was home alone, I try speaking in any language other than English to see what would happen. Since I felt quite self concious trying to get the gift to work in front of everyone I thought it a good idea to try again later, in private. That night at home, I sat at the kitchen table with everyone else in bed. I began to speak in what little high school French I could remember, I counted the numbers and most of the simple phrases I could remember, and before I knew it, I was speaking in a language I had never heard before! I was delighted.....like a kid in a candy store......I spoke in this new language......laughed.....and spoke again. For how long, I do not remember, but I remember the next morning jumnping out of bed and trying again, and to my great delight it was still there! From that moment on I always rely on my heavenly prayer language when I am praying, either just by myself and simply 'talking with God' or if the situation dictates I need pray for someone or a certain situation. It takes 'my' intellect out of the loop and inserts Gods wisdom into the situation, and I KNOW that is a much better way to pray. When you get the gift, I encourage you to excercise it whenever you can until it is simply second nature to you. There are times while praying in tongues when I have received a greater understanding of our LORD, other times I know something good has been accomplished in the Spirit. In closing just let me assure you that the gift of tongues is for today...........it is for all believers.........it is given by the Holy Spirit, so you must ask Him and wait upon Him. While all the gifts are wonderful and worthy to receive, always seek the Giver and not the gift. Bless His Holy Name. Jim Taylor aka A Simple Layman