Psalm 81:10 English Standard Version (ESV) I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

At the end of yesterday’s blog, there is an image of God speaking through this open empty mouth. We would have nothing to say but the Lord using the moment would take over control of our speech.

Acts 2:4-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. ⁵ Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

The classic meaning of speaking in tongues is that the speaker is taken over by the Spirit to speak in a language that is not their own. If the Spirit was to give utterance in their native tongue because the audience ready to receive that utterance only spoke the native tongue, is that not the Spirit still speaking?

1 Corinthians 14:6 English Standard Version (ESV) Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?

Paul warned earlier in this chapter not to speak in tongues without someone present to interpret. The message must be understood to benefit the church. The Spirit with all wisdom will utter the Word of God with understanding, even if the native tongue is to be used.

V4a “The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself,” of what benefit does the church receive in that? Paul is very clear that the purpose of Spirit utterances, no matter the language, is to benefit the church.

You have questions and rightly so.

1 Corinthians 12:14-15 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁴ For the body does not consist of one member but of many. ¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body.

During my years training within a charismatic administration I noticed an abundance of desire within that body to be the mouth. People don’t mind being the hand, it is a power potion, sort of like playing power forward on a basketball team. How to act as a foot seems less intuitive.

They never lacked someone willing to offer a “Thus saith the Lord.” Sadly at times it was misplaced judgment. Knowing the intimate details of a person’s life does not give us the right to use scripture in a public setting to offer chastening and correction. That is only judgment.

Abuses aside, it is the Lord who decides where we fit within the body of Christ. We do not get to choose our role because it is easily seen. That is vanity run amuck.

1 Corinthians 12:18 English Standard Version (ESV) But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose.

Yesterday it was said to hear a Word and repeat it. That does not have to be prefaced with a “Thus saith the Lord.” The Spirit within each of us recognizes His Word when heard. What it does within the hearer is according to the will of God. If we try and add our own understanding that may frustrate the efforts of the Holy Spirit. Allow the Spirit to work the Word in everyone’s personal situation and not our own. If their understanding is not perfect, the Holy Spirit will render truth in the moment.

Psalm 81:10 English Standard Version (ESV) I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.