Tongues and Interpretations anyone?

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On Thu, 12 Sep 1996 00:14:21 -0500, you wrote:

>While on the topic of tongues and interpretation,
>I have to mention something.  One night during a service
>I went to in Bloomington, a tongues and interpretation was
>given.  Now everytime one is given, I myself usually can sense
>when one is about to occur, or just feel the spirit of God very
>strongly during one.  Well, when this one was given, I didn't
>feel right.  I didn't sense a presence or, it was just ackward.
>When the interpretation was given, the person said "and God said.."
>Well, I kept quiet about it for a few weeks and then asked about it
>to the person I ws with that night(someone I consider more spiritual
>than I)and they told me, they too didn't feel right during it.

>What do you guys and gals make of this?

...
Well, I think your spirit registered something, and you personally
have to reckon what that means. The Apostle tells us " And the spirits
of the  prophets  are  subject  to the  prophets .  For God is not
[the author] of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the
saints." - 1 Cor 14:32-33

This has been interpretted variously to mean that 1) the unction and
the handling of the inspiration of God can be and is subject to review
by our own spirits, and that 2) we ought to together judge the
operation of the gifts.

I believe both of these statements yeild valuable fruit.

There is no secret that there are interpretations that grossly miss
the mark, and that there are problems in some vessels which are not
overcome in the delivery, thus rendering the pronunciation of the
message to church futile, or without edification. That is, its a dud.

Other times gifts are operated without the USUAL unction and
anoiniting, but are nevertheless valuable, though the spirit and
operation involved is unfamilliar to some of those in attendance.

You MUST be careful in judging the operation of the gifts. For
example, some can reject the operation of God because the vessel  does
not fit a familliar pattern (for example, when certain phrases are
involved that one is not used to hearing). (1 - see footnote)  There
is no Biblical "model" for interpretation, and no particular tongue
required, though some patterns have developed, in our churches and our
culture.  

Worse yet we may judge because of very carnal reasons. For example, an
interpretter who we do not feel is suited to interpret, or a person
who we dont think is spiritual enough. Perhaps someone thinks that
eyes should be closed, or that stumbling in words indicates a lack of
authenticity. I even heard one elder reject a person who prophecied
and loosened his collar while he spoke. He said "It was in the flesh".


When I prophecy, for some reason, the language often does include some
language fragments and style from my good KJV Bible.. I attribute that
to the fact that this is the way that God has communicated
linguistically to my spirit, and is incorporated in my mind from which
God, AND I, will draw the raw materials for verbalization of a
spiritual unction. However, some have ridiculed, and asked "Since when
does God speak old english ?" ... This is, in my mind, ignorant and
dangerous mockery.

I stumble sometimes, and when it happens I am not pleased, but am
aware that sometimes the mind is racing and not completely submitted
to God. Like everything in life it would be easier if we just relaxed
and let God work without thinking about silly things, but WHO can say
that they are a PERFECT vessel ? I personally know NONE, including
"the greats".

Still, sometimes we hear prophecy and interpretation of tongues which
is almost base and simple in language. Is this wrong? Certainly not..
In the end, YOU must judge. Be careful. This is not for the ignorant
or careless.

>Just a side note to the MARC conference one, about 5 minutes
>before the tongues and interpretation I sensed one was about to 
>occur.  Whenit happened, I knew without a doubt, God was talking.
>Is this normal for saints to sense before it happens?

Can't speak for anyone else but is certainly normal for me. 
In addition, I have entered a service and been told by God that there
would be a message, and even who God would use. That has even included
me, as though I was simply hearing a broadcast that ANY saint could
pick up if he was tuned in. 

Does God speak in a non-personal "broadcast" manner sometimes (for
that is what you are talking about) ? I believe he does.

What is truely wonderful is when we later compare notes and find that
we were indeed in a common REAL experince spiritually, and that God
has joined us into something that we can truly share, including and
indeed BY, HIS VOICE.

That is awesome and I feel that it dovetails with some of the calls
for unity that we are hearing on the list here. 

>The reason I am asking is to make sure God is not trying to use
>me for something, and I dont realize it.  

Hehehe. .I think what you mean is that you want to be sure that if God
WERE trying to use you, you would NOT be unprepared.. :)

> If God wants to use me, I wanna be ready.  Someone wanna take this up and help
>explain it to me?

Perhaps I can help. You are proving God. You are hearing His voice.
You are showing yourself available, and ready. You are a part of the
holy convocation. Your spirit is joined to the spirit of the Church.
All that is elemental to glorious operation of the Spiritual gifts.
When you receive untion to be used, you will know it, and your spirit
will fight a battle with the flesh to step out and let yourself be
used. You may stumble, but considering what you say about your
experience, it sounds like you will easily win that battle.

Fly with wings as an eagle Bro Chris!

-mwb


(1) In a meeting a year ago, I interpretted a message in tongues at a
meeting of some pretty heavyweight type preachers. My family was
there. When I did it, I felt strange.. It was not pleasant. I felt
perhaps I was in a wrong spirit, or was in the flesh. I had not felt
totally spiritual all day by any means, and was battling some things,
personally, unrelated to the meeting I was at.

Afterwards I went and talk with Bro Chester Wright who had preached
the meeting and was in the pulpit at the time of the prophecy. I told
him how I felt. He did not say that anything was wrong but did say
that he understood how I fet it was different...

In fact after the message he said "There is someone in here who god
has spoken to, but because it was not delievered in exactly the way
you wanted to hear it, you have withdrawn from receiving it, and are
not allowing God to work in you. You need to realize that God has
spoken in this manner for a reason."  After this, there was a great
surge of the spirit, and people began to seek God.

I really dont know what it was about the delivery or the message that
was strange. It was just a LOT of spiritual pressure occuring at the
same time as the message, and there was not the freedom that I was
accustomed to... Evidently a battle was going on.. So, I felt funny.
When this happens you really feel like an old show.. Since a bunch of
important people are there, you think, "oh my God, my 'career' is
over!"

Later, my wife (unaware of my concerns) told me.. "Your daughter (17
years old), was having a battle for days over dealing with submission.
She was earnestly and fervently seeking God in that moment.  She had
asked God WHAT VOICES she needed to obey and hear, for she was looking
for direction. When she heard your interpretation, it was not what she
wanted to hear.  In fact, GOD was telling her, Listen, this the voice
of your pastor and your father, I have given HIS voice to direct you
while you are in my care"...

When I looked back at the sum of the message, I could see how that God
spoke directly to her. I believe that God spoke to others in the same
way, yet in different circumstances, but by nature of the change in
attitude God was asking for, the message was in the form of rebuke,
yet the text was very loving and gentle. I thought, "no wonder I felt
weird". This lightning struck close to home!