Tongues and Interpretation of Tongues in Worship
October 2nd, 2008 by Carl Thomas.I know that most of the people that read this blog are in Spirit filled churches but some may not. Sometimes when the anointing drops in a service it takes people by surprise.
For those that have only heard a prophecy on TBN or by the big name prophets, let me share a secret with you. Very few genuine, weighty, accurate prophecies are spoken by the seasoned prophets in a poetic, eloquent cantor. As a matter of fact, I am more likely to put faith in the words of a person who bursts forth in speaking with a stammer and great humility than the finely crafted oratory of a wordsmith.
When I first got saved, I attended a church that had one guy in the whole church who would prophesy. He was viewed as the super-spiritual one. When I was sent out from that church, he was still the only one that brought prophetic words.
Part of my passion is to see people function in their giftings. And I feel all should be able to get a word from God because all are called to hear from God.
In the service a few months ago the anointing entered the room, then Serge, my worship leader, began to pray in tongues. That is not that odd. But this time I knew it was a prophetic tongue. I was hoping there would be an interpretation. A little later I saw the anointing come over Khamille, another singer (and now Serg’s wife). I was encouraging her to speak the word but to my knowledge she had never brought a prophetic message in song. I do not believe she thought she was interpreting a tongue. She was just overcome with the Spirit of the Lord.
In the audio you hear her yield for a second, then get nervous. A minute later, she begins to yield again. This brought forth a word of encouragement from the Lord. At the end of the recording you hear a thud. That was Khamille hitting the ground. She stayed there for a pretty long time.
I really feel like this was the Word of the Lord for us. It really agreed with everyone who heard it and the anointing dropped like a ton of bricks while it was happening.
Part of what the Church needs to be is a safe place for people to discover and practice their gifts. I let people I know operate in gifts they have not mastered yet. I am not afraid what might happen. If Khamille got it wrong, I would speak on the mic what I think the Lord was actually saying. It’s not that big of a deal.
Are the people in your ministry used to seeing people develop their gifts? Do people gossip or freak out when someone gets it wrong? Or do they understand this is part of the process?
I believe Khamille got it right and I am posting this purely for educational purposes. I hate to write this but I will not be entertaining any comments questioning the modern gift of prophecy, tongues, or the validity of the message. You will have to drink hateraid somewhere else.
Possibly Related Posts
- Is Tongues Biblical? - with 4 comments
- School of the Prophets - with 10 comments
- The Biblical Case For Tongues - with 1 comments
Carl,
I really like your attitude and agree wholehearedly with the shepherding quality of the approach. Would that all God’s people were prophets (or interpreters, or…). To get them there, patience, kindness, and encouragement when they mess up is absolutely necessary. God bless your efforts.
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2008 at 12:45 pm
thanks pastor, that means alot.
[Reply]
I admire your willingness to allow people you trust to develop their gifts despite the fact that things might get “messy” from time to time. I think you’re on the right track.
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Isn’t that what a Pastor does?
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:34 pm
It depends on who you ask. Most churches today either avoid the area of spiritual gifts because they do seem messy and they want to keep people comfortable or they overemphasize it without any stucture or discernment from leadership. Sadly, I think very few pastors do what you are doing… which is what a pastor should do. Should do and does are two different things.
[Reply]
In a totally non-spiritual sense the really cool thing was the way that it was all in rhythm and beat with the music. Maybe everybody else isn’t as rhythmically challenged as I am but the “order” part of “decency and in order” came to mind.
In the little association that I have had with Sergio and Khamille it is obvious that their hearts are in the right place. So you as their pastor, who “knows” his leaders, it takes a little of the “risk” out of allowing them to learn how to operate in their gifts. (That’s not to say that good intentions don’t cause problems sometimes) The real test comes when somebody you don’t “know” is speaking to your flock as if they are God.
I have been in services where Pastors have spoken right through an interpretation because they discerned that it wasn’t from God. Even though my spirit confirmed it to me it was still a little awkward. The other extreme is when you are a part of a church where the only interpretation comes from the Pastor (every time). Maybe they are that “super spiritual” or maybe they were afraid to “risk” that somebody else is capable of hearing from God.
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
It is a little odd when the Pastor is the only one getting the interpretation and the word is the same ever time. Makes you wonder why God would be repeating Himself.
I have had others speak up and I have had to correct them. Most of the time it is a word of warning that is off base. “God says that if my people don’t do this I will do that.” I just don’t allow that type of word.
And it is not that hard to bring correction. Unless the word is flat out unbiblical, you just say, “That word may be for an individual here but I don’t think it was for the group as a whole.” And be done with it.
[Reply]
Thanks for sharing this audio. I could feel the anointing just listening to it! Really lifted my spirit. Great example, not just of tongues and interpretation, but of worshipping in the Spirit. Great to be able to hear and get a little taste of the way God is moving with you. Agree with you totally that we need all the gifts that the Spirit has distributed to his body and not just the ones given to the leaders - we are all learning to go deeper in the Spirit and we all prophesy in part.
[Reply]
Whoa, now that is anointed! We have a prophetic worship team. Most of the ppl on our worship team are prophetic. I think that is what you have there!
We don’t have ppl like popcorn popping up and prophesying, we actually hand over the mic. Only to ppl who have been tested. And only after they brief the pastor. Although if you can see and sense the anointing of God on someone, they get the mic too. But that is awesome if something goes in the flow.
The reason behind what we have done is that the prophesy does not ruin the anointing and flow that God is in if the word is not in the flow of what is going on. Like a a word on war when we are doing celebration.
We have a bunch of new believers, we just offer ourselves available for questions later. Until then we let her rip :).
As for getting it wrong, we all do, it is a learning process and we offer prophetic classes, after you take a prayer class in journaling where you learn to hear God for yourself and the instructor can discern it in the journal. Quite revealing I might say :).
When I took my first prophetic class, I was not prepared for the anointing that came on me. I made a mess. But God told me that is what babies do. No big deal. But it was in class.
Blessings!
[Reply]
Great thoughts. I think you would appreciate the way the moving of the spirit is handled in my church as well. A pastor should pastor - keeping things safe, and yet accomodating the movement of the Spirit and training up a body of believers who are yielded to that moving.
On a side note, I noticed the resources you have in your bookstore and I think you might enjoy my blog about seeing the nations in revival.
Thanks for a fresh perspective on the Spirit!
[Reply]
A wonderful post! The powerful anointing came right through my speakers!
I’m finally part of a church where the pastor discerns and encourages the giftings in others. He is willing to take the risk and does not let his own ego get in the way. Our desire is to see our worship team regularly flow the way yours does.
Thanks for sharing!
[Reply]
Yes, a wonderful post. Thank you for it.
It really is nice to see a Pastor allowing the church to grow, even if mistakes are made. That’s what I found in healing … just because God gifts us, it doesn’t make us pros right out of the gate, and it doesn’t mean we can always calm the flesh and let God flow. It takes time. It takes mistakes. And there’s definitely growth during that time and through those mistakes, when allowed to flex those Spiritual muscles and work them.
After reading what I’ve read, and listening to this, and the sermons, I’m excited to see your flock grow. I know I’ve been growing since I started reading and listening, and I pray that the Revival you’re bringing to Delray Beach lands right here in Baltimore.
[Reply]
Wow, I almost forgot how anointed this was!
[Reply]
As Serge started speaking in tongues I felt so much of the anointing and bursted into tears, which is quite unusual for me to happen so instantly. And the Holy Spirit in me confirmed the interpretation fully. Wow. Guys, this is so precious! I love it. I wanna see the youth of our youth club to be changed like this. But at present our services are so formal informal… And I don’t feel the freedom to express the gifts of the spirit. Hmm…. well. I’m there for a purpose and things will change. God changes me, He changes others and eventually we’ll be changed as a church….
Tom
[Reply]
I keep listening to this over and over. The Lord’s presence comes over me every time.
[Reply]
I second Tom’s comment. I haven’t heard an anointed and prophetic flow of music like that in months!
You’ve got some gifted people underneath your roof!
[Reply]