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GIVING THANKS WELL

By Jay Pearson

For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
(1 Corinthians 14:17)

 

I have a lot of trouble remembering to speak in tongues in my day-to-day ventures, during work or play or any other time for that matter. I want to, but I don’t. I call to memory the words of the Apostle Paul.

Romans 7:15:
For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

My focus on trying to remember to speak in tongues was that it would make me strong spiritually. It would be rest to my soul. It would give me an audience with God. This is all quite true but here is my confession. These are all benefits to me. These are promises and profits to me if I do them with charity.

1 Corinthians 13:1-2:
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

If I speak in tongues to acquire a selfish result, I have missed the mark. As Paul wrote, “Covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way” (1 Cor. 12:31). There is a better way, a more excellent way, than for personal gain.

Speaking in tongues is for worship. Worshipping God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is the divine purpose of speaking in tongues. The profits of such worship are by-products of obedience to God.

John 4:23:
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Wow, I have changed my focus! While I was at work the other day, God and Jesus Christ blessed me by relieving a seemingly impossible stress problem. I was really having a bad day. It seemed as if a light came on in my heart, and surely it did. I was so thankful. I wanted to thank God so much, and I couldn’t think of appropriate words to describe how thankful I was. I just started speaking in tongues and the verse, “giveth thanks well,” came to mind. My heart almost burst with love. I was speaking in tongues, not for me, but to thank God. Wow! It was so easy to speak in tongues and remember to do so. I wasn’t trying to build myself up; I was being thankful and doing the job well. Praise the Lord for his goodness. God gave us the gift of tongues as a way to give back to him. As a by-product, we get wonderful benefits from our loving Father. “Thou verily givest thanks well” (1 Cor. 14:17a); “in the spirit he speaketh mysteries” (1 Cor. 14:2); we are “strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16) and built up “on your most holy faith” (Jude 1:20).

There are many more benefits to speaking in tongues, a gift of the Spirit. It is a weapon of our warfare also. How can you be successful in battle if you never communicate with your commander?

Ephesians 6:13:
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

I’ve taken the focus off me and placed it on God, the Father of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope this sharing of my experience helps you to be more aware of your worship with the Father. This is not a key, a step, an application or a button. It is a sharing of what worked for me. May we be workers together with him daily in going about our individual tasks, praising God and worshiping his Holy Name: Jesus Christ, King of kings and Lord of lords.

1 Corinthians 14:39-40:
Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Psalm 103:2:
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

 

 


From the October 2004 issue of The Vine & Branches