DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRITPART 9- Continuation of spiritual gifts“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.”‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭12:4-6‬, 7-11Distinguishing between spirits- discerning of spirits. The Spirit-given ability to properly discern evil spirits and to distinguish whether or not an utterance is of the Holy Spirit. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”‭‭I John‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The Bible warns us that toward the end of the age false teachers, “the spirit of error”, “We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”‭‭I John‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭and deceiving spirits will greatly increase, this gift will be extremely important. There is another kind of practical discernment (as I call it) that only comes through studying God’s Word, training our flesh to respond to the Spirit and putting the Word to use in our lives, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Heb ‭5:14‬

‭This kind of practical discernment comes through discipline and application, putting on His righteousness, and as Scripture tells us, avoiding the snares and pitfalls of the enemy. These discern what is good and what is evil, what honors God and what dishonors Him through continual training in righteousness and obedience. Through discernment, we should not be ignorant of his ways. However, much of the church lacks practical discernment because they are lazy, apathetic, complacent and immature in the ways of the Lord.

Many are being deceived because they lack discernment of the signs of the times and are unwilling to listen to the voice of one calling in the wilderness. Jesus said of the end time deception, “men’s hearts will fail them for fear”. Speaking in different kinds of tongues and interpretation of tongues. I wrote a whole daily on speaking in tongues in Doctrine of the Holy Spirit part 6.

There is a gift of tongues as a personal prayer language that I believe all may ask for. I have prayed in tongues for 28 years now and it greatly enriches my life. However, in the congregation I keep myself quieted, praying lowly as unto the Lord to not being about confusion in the minds of those who do not understand.

Paul explains it well,“He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? “For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.

There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 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. Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

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.I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”‭‭I Corinthians‬ ‭14:4-6, 8-15, 18-19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I will mention that the gift of speaking in tongues within the congregation must be regulated. The speaker may never be “in ecstasy” or “out of control”. Interpretation of tongues must accompany the public gift of tongues. The interpretation will communicate the content and meaning of the utterance to the congregation. It may contain a revelation, knowledge, prophecy or teaching for the assembly. Remember, these gifts are to edify the church body “when you come together” not yourself. God bless dear saint!#runyourrace

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