Is it enough to know about the spiritual gifts from a distance, or does it require something of us in practical terms? This is a central question as we delve into what the Bible teaches about prophecy, speaking in tongues and the gifts of the Spirit.
Many Christians have grown up with the understanding that God distributes the gifts of grace once and to one specific person. That you have either been given a specific gift, or you have not. But Andreas Slot-Henriksen teaches here about the palette of spiritual gifts in a way that thoroughly challenges that understanding. For God does not simply give a single gift – He gives us access to a whole wide range of gifts. It is just that not all of them have been unlocked yet.
There is a clear difference between having a gift and using it. Many people are sitting on an unopened present because they either don’t believe it’s for them, or because taking that first step feels like crossing a line. But Paul directly urges us in the Bible to strive for the gifts of grace – and especially the gift of prophecy. This does not fit with the idea that we have been given only what we already use.
Speaking in tongues is a good example of this misunderstanding. Many use the verse from 1 Corinthians chapter 14, which states that ‘two or at most three’ may speak in tongues, as an argument for holding back or even refraining from it altogether. But the very last line of that verse is all too often forgotten: “He speaks to himself and to God!” There is, in fact, a difference between personal speaking in tongues – which builds up one’s own spiritual life – and prophetic speaking in tongues, which is intended to be interpreted for others. And then there is the third form: the actual foreign language we hear about on Pentecost. All three forms are a reality today, but unfortunately it is only the personal form that is taught and practised in most places – simply because people are not discipled in it.
The prophetic word is not something reserved for a select elite within the church. In 1 Corinthians 14:31, it is stated clearly: “For you may all prophesy, but one at a time; so that all may be instructed and all may be exhorted.” Yet it is one of the passages in the Bible that is least often put into practice – not because it is impossible, but because it requires us to lay aside our pride and fear of failure.
The prophetic is not about self-promotion or making dramatic proclamations. It is about bringing love and a word from God to the person you meet. You are not the messenger who must be seen and heard – you are merely an instrument. And that is precisely why it is so important that when you bring a prophetic word, you hold it up against the Bible and allow it to be judged by mature believers, especially when it concerns sensitive and life-changing topics such as relationships, pregnancies or plans for the future.
Prophetic speech is about intuition – an inner feeling, a voice, an image. It is not necessarily dramatic. When you can recall the 10 times table in your own mind, you experience something that is exactly like the way God often speaks. It is not a loud voice from outside. It is a quiet, inner feeling – and that is the starting point when we practise prophesying or interpreting tongues.
Following that inner intuition takes courage. It is easy to find excuses for not acting. But the excuses mean nothing compared to the responsibility we have towards those whom God wants to reach. It’s not fun to step out of your comfort zone, and it can hurt to make a mistake. But God is faithful. He speaks – to you too. And the words He gives you may be exactly what another person needs to hear at that very moment.
To those who feel they never manage to hear anything at all from God: it is not about talent, but about daring to use what you already receive. Even a single word can turn a whole person’s life upside down. Don’t think that it isn’t enough. It is enough if it is from God.
“Quote from the teaching: When we begin to prophesy over people, it is God’s word directly into the heart – and God’s word is mightier than the sword.”
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