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CFC Tongues Workshop
CFC Tongues Workshop
TONGUES WORKSHOP
This workshop is available to all members of CFC, and is particularly recommended for
preparing CLP team members for the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
The workshop's goal is to teach the participants about the gift of tongues, and to help them yield
to tongues. On a more general level, the workshop can lead the participants to a deeper experience of the workings of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
CFC clusters are encouraged to regularly schedule this Tongues Workshop for their members.
Chapter Heads can also arrange for this workshop for smaller groups of participants whenever
deemed necessary.
Schedule
30 minutes
15 minutes
60 minutes
5 minutes
45 minutes
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It is possible to add a WORKSHOP FOR BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT to the above. The
procedure for this is attached.
3. Speaking in tongues is for all of us. "Now I should like all of you to speak in tongues" (1
Cor 14:5). Now I should like all of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. One who
prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be built
up.
Acts 2:4, 10:45-46, 19:6. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in
different tongues,* as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. d
accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on
the Gentiles also,46for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God. Then Peter
responded,
And when Paul laid [his] hands on them, the holy Spirit came upon them,
and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.b
There are many different languages in the world (1 Cor 14:10). It happens that there
are many different languages in the world, and none is meaningless; In fact, there are over
6,000 languages and dialects. Some of them sound like gibberish. Some are
merely grunts.
Actual sentences can sound like baby talk. A Filipino example: A conversation
between an elevator operator and a passenger. "Bababa ba?" (Is this going
down?). "Bababa" (Yes, it is going down).
It is
b) Being addressed to God, there is no need for people to understand what is being said.
God understands.
C. Why is tongues important?
1. Tongues is important because it is a gift of the Spirit.
c) Tongues allows us to pray with our spirit and not merely with our mind. 1 Cor 14:14.
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b) Ministries in the Church are designed to build up the body. Eph 4:11-12.
And he gave
some as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors and teachers, i12to equip
the holy ones for the work of ministry,* for building up the body of Christ,
We pray more profoundly, even without realizing it. 1 Cor 14:2 "he utters mysteries in
spirit".For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to human beings but to God, for no one listens;
he utters mysteries in spirit.
d) We are able to intercede for what we need to live according to God's will, even when
we may not know what this is. Rom 8:27. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the
intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to Gods will. t
Consider the apostles and disciples sent on mission by Jesus and performing signs
and wonders, all prior to Pentecost and their receiving the gift of tongues.
There are more important things. 1 Cor 14:18-19. I give thanks to God that I speak in
tongues more than any of you,19but in the church I would rather speak five words with my mind,
so as to instruct others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
3. Given the above, still tongues is important and desirable, since it results in further
blessings and more power for the Christian life.
F. How do we receive the gift of tongues?
1. If we are to receive the gift of tongues, we should first of all desire it.
a) God will never force anything on us, even if He knows it is for our good.
b) Paul advises us: "Pursue love, but strive eagerly for the spiritual gifts" (1 Cor 14:1).
Pursue love, but strive eagerly for the spiritual gifts, above all that you may prophesy. a
[For] if I pray
b) Antidote: Trust in God. God will not do anything to us which will not be beneficial
for us.
2. Doubt.
a) Doubt regarding the desirability and usefulness of the gift.
b) Antidote: In faith, accept that any gift from God is good and desirable.
3. Feeling of unworthiness.
a) Being a sinner, or just being a baby in Christ, we may think that the gift is reserved
for those more worthy.
b) Antidote: Know that the gift is not based on one's worth or on good works. Rather, it
is a free gift of God for every Christian who desires and asks for it.
4. Pride.
a) Thinking that we do not need this gift, that we are already doing well in our Christian
life without it.
b) Antidote: Humble yourself, realizing how far you still are from the righteousness and
holiness of God, and how utterly dependent you are on His grace and His gifts.
5. Wrong expectations or attitudes.
a) An attitude of waiting on God for something to happen without doing our part. One
may even just sit there with mouth closed and arms crossed, saying that if God wants
to give the gift, then He will.
*
Reality: God does not force us. We need to cooperate. Open your mouth and
speak out.
Proper attitude: Just relax. This way the gift will flow more easily.
Proper attitude: Know that while there are things we believe in because we
understand, in our life of faith there are things we have to believe in even before
we can understand.
H. Conclusion.
1. God loves us so much that He wants to pour upon us His bountiful grace and gifts.
2. One important gift is the gift of speaking in tongues. This gift is important for personal
edification, for building up our community in CFC, and for opening us up for greater
empowerment for our mission.
3. God wants to give you the gift of tongues. Desire it as well and accept His gift.
The music ministry continues to play songs, followed by loud praise and tongues.
Shorter songs are preferable (don't repeat verses as we normally would) to give more
opportunity for praising. A joyful noise of guitars, tambourines and other instruments
should accompany the times of praising.
3. The team members move around the crowd to pray with and encourage those who are not
yet praying in tongues.
4. The leader may intersperse the singing with short but vibrant prayers of praise in order to
encourage the participants to enter more deeply into the throne room of God and give
Him praise.
5. When all have received the gift of tongues, or after some time even when not all have
spoken in tongues, the leader ends the worship time with a prayer of thanksgiving to God
and a prayer for continuing empowerment for the participants.
6. Close with an exhortation.
*
They should use the gift of tongues regularly--in personal prayer, in household
meetings, in prayer assemblies and in other CFC activities whenever appropriate.
They should continue to trust God for this gift, and look forward to how it will open
up a new exciting dimension in their prayer life.
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