Man I love to receive gifts, especially when they are a surprise and I had no idea I was getting one! Then of course there are also times when I would desire such and so and low and behold I would receive it. I believe that is the way our heavenly Father works. There are those gifts He places within us that surprise us and then others we desire which we also receive.
And his gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teacher. (Ephesians 4:11)
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28 NIV)
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[b]faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:6-7)
One cluster of gifts which I will call ministerial gifts are used for building the body of Christ. They are for exhortation, edification and correction. Then there are natural talents. We will keep that discussion for another time. The ministerial gifts are for the Body of Christ
For God's gifts and his call are irrevocable. (Romans 11:29)
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Mathew 7:11)
Then there are some gifts that are just given without us asking and at times we do ask. Those gifts are given without repentance! They are deposited within us at birth and are exposed as we grow in this world. That goes the same for our talents. Notice some of these gifts are in our natural makeup! --gifts of administration (which are several) and gifts that help others. Yet they are still given to us through the grace of God!
Then there are gifts such as Salvation, that is free to those who call on the name and profess Jesus as Lord and Savior. And the gift of Faith. It is said that all receive a measure of Faith and it is our choice to grow that faith!
Today I would like to unveil the gift of tongues. Not to be confused with the gift to be used for the Body of Christ at large. The gift of tongues or utterance is available to all believers for the uplifting, encouraging, edification, correction for oneself and intercession for others!
So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.. (Romans 8:26 Amplified)
That scripture clinches it for me. For it is not always easy to pray for the people I love or the people who come to me asking for prayer in my own understanding. Yet I know that by using my prayer language, I will be praying that perfect prayer, for others, for myself, and for those I love.
We will consider some reasons why we as believers should hunger and thirst for the infilling of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of praying in tongues!
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