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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.
We have encountered the other spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:8-10) in the Old
Testament and the gospels (Note: an example of interpretation is Daniel figuring
out the handwriting on the wall). But tongues is new.
3. Speaking in tongues is for all of us. "Now I should like all of you to speak in tongues" (1
Cor 14:5).
B. What is the gift of tongues?
1. A definition: Speaking in tongues is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit where one speaks
an unintelligible utterance or a language which he does not know, and which he does not
understand.
a) It is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit.
*
There are many different languages in the world (1 Cor 14:10). 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. 1 Cor 12:4,10.
a) Every gift from God is good and desirable.
b) Tongues was a common experience in the apostolic Church.
2. Tongues is important as a gift of prayer.
a) Prayer is one of the most basic components of the life of a Christian. We all want to
experience prayer in a more powerful way.
b) Tongues connects us directly to God. 1 Cor 14:2.
c) Tongues allows us to pray with our spirit and not merely with our mind. 1 Cor 14:14.
3. Tongues is important because it helps build up the body of Christ.
a) It is an important ministry in the Church, a ministry designated by God Himself. 1
Cor 12:28.
b) Ministries in the Church are designed to build up the body. Eph 4:11-12.
D. What is the value of tongues for us personally?
1. Tongues gives us a new dimension in prayer. It can revolutionize our prayer life.
a) It gives us a greater awareness of God's presence.
1 Cor 14:2,14.
b) We pray more profoundly, even without realizing it. 1 Cor 14:2 "he utters mysteries in
spirit".
c) When we are no longer able to express ourselves as we encounter the overwhelming
glory and majesty of God, the Spirit itself helps us in our prayer. Rom 8:26.
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.
2. Tongues builds us up, edifies us. 1 Cor 14:4a.
3. Tongues has a transforming effect on one's spiritual life.
a) Tongues is often the gateway to the charismatic dimension. It gives us a spiritual
breakthrough. We enter into a new spiritual realm.
b) Many experience a deeper faith and a deeper working of God in one's life.
E. Some pastoral notes.
1. Tongues is important, but we need to see it in its proper place.
a) The baptism in the Holy Spirit, with its manifestation of tongues, is not needed for
salvation. Salvation comes through the cross of Christ.
b) Many Christians experience the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives without
experiencing the gift of tongues.
*
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.
3. Given the above, still tongues is important and desirable, since it results in further
blessings and more power for the Christian life.
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
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.
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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.