Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).
This Scripture is frequently seen in the light of God providing us the things we have need of, and this is rightly so if what we are asking is in line with His will. But another truth carried in here is that God gives us what to desire for – “He grants the desires of our hearts”. And one of the ways He does this is to tell us directly in His Word the particular desires He wants us to have. We can be sure of this: if our hearts’ desires match His, we will not be counted among those who ask and receive not because they ask amiss (James 4:3). Rather, His Word will be abiding in us, and if we choose to also abide in Him, we will ask for whatever we wish and it will be done for us (John 15:7). Let’s look at a few more desires the Lord wills that we have.
Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1). It is worth noting that we were asked not to desire to become prophets, but rather to prophesy. As the Scripture teaches, all may prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:31), but all are not prophets (1 Corinthians 12:29). To prophesy is to speak to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3). God so desires for all His children to prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:31; 1 Corinthians 14:1), that the church, His body, will be edified. Such a word/prophecy may come through a dream, vision, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, or inspiration as you meditate on the Word of God or wait on Him in prayer. The reason God tells us to desire this is because He wants to give us that grace to prophesy since everyone who asks receives (Matthew 7:8), and in here, He specifically tells us what to desire and consequently ask for.
Another important desire God wants us to have is found in 1 Corinthians 14:13: “Therefore let the one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret”. For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries (1 Corinthians 14:2). Even so, God does not want all the tongues you speak to remain a mystery unto you. His desire is for you to be let in on the mysteries/divine secrets you are speaking. This is for your benefit and that of others too. As you begin to interpret the tongues you speak, you will begin to understand the mystery of God’s will for your personal life, and your eyes will be opened to see the exact things you have to do to fulfill your destiny. As you pray for others in tongues and interpret, you will receive words for them that will strengthen, encourage and comfort them. As the Scripture says, the one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in a tongue unless he interprets (1 Corinthians 14:5). That is, tongues, when it is interpreted, is put on the same level as prophecy.
Even so, you cannot pray to interpret the tongues you speak if you do not pray in one. In Jude 20, the Scripture says “but you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit”. It is the will of God that all, not some, will be built up in their faith by praying in the Holy Ghost. To pray in the Holy Spirit is also to pray in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance (Acts 2:4), as it is written “For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the Holy Spirit within me] prays (1 Corinthians 14:14; Amplified Bible). And “One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself” (1 Corinthians 14:4)– that is by praying in tongues you achieve the benefits of Jude 20. We find in Scripture that people could pray in other tongues only when they got filled with the Holy Spirit/ the Holy Spirit fell on them (e.g. Acts 2:4; Acts 10:44-46). When we confessed Jesus as Lord and got born again, God gave us His Holy Spirit to live inside of us (1 Corinthians 6:19; 2 Corinthians 1:22). Even so, to receive the Holy Spirit at salvation is not to be necessarily filled with Him. But when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we receive power and become bold and effective witness of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8; Acts 4:31), and are also empowered to speak with other tongues.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in other tongues should not be an option for you, but an absolute necessity if you will walk in all that God has in store for you. If you do not pray in other tongues, simply ask the Lord to fill you with His Spirit that you will speak in tongues; believe that you receive and thank Him. And once you start praying in the Holy Ghost, take it a notch higher: Ask God for the grace to interpret (1 Corinthians 14:13). This is His will too.
To be continued…
Kwadwo Omari
© 2015
Finally, a blog. loooooooonnnng overdue. Thumbs up Bro.
@ Ofeibea: :). “Tenk u”.