LEAD THE WAY
Continuing Ed
SPIRITUAL GIFTS, PROPHECY AND TONGUES
CONNECT
Connect through care, prayer and loving accountability for previous “I will …” statements
DISCOVER
Spiritual Gifts
1 Corinthians 12:1-31 (NIV)
1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.
7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.
15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
Why does Paul use the image of a body to describe the church?
How are spiritual gifts to function within the body?
Why doesn’t the Spirit give all the gifts to one individual?
This is what MicroChurches can do best! Because we are small everyone get so play and use their gifts in ministering to the body. There’s no better way to discover and develop a spiritual gift than to use it in one another ministry.
Whatever you do as a leader, don’t try to function in all the gifts of the Spirit for your MicroChurch. The point is for the Body to use all their gifts for the building up of the Body. Your job as the leader is to give permission and facilitate this Body ministry.
Help your MicroChurch discover and develop their spiritual gifts. Follow The Way - FILLING - Use It has a Discovery Bible Study on the spiritual gifts and an online Gifts Test.
Here are the definitions of the 22 spiritual gifts that make up the Gifts Test. (Adapted from the Gifts Test.)
Spiritual Gifts - Kingdom Power Tools
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES
There are at least four ways of looking at spiritual gifts.
1. Ceased Gifts
Some say that the “miraculous” spiritual gifts passed away when the Gospels and Letters were finally written down and collected into the New Testament. The passage that they use to prove this is the same passage that others use to disprove it.
1 Corinthians 13:8-12 (ESV)
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
This question hinges on the word perfect. What does it refer to? If it is the Bible, then spiritual gifts have passed away. But if it refers to the return of Jesus and the new heaven and earth, then the gifts are still around and still absolutely necessary. Why would we need spiritual gifts any less today than back in New Testament times?
The most natural reading of the text would suggest that the perfect is the perfection of Jesus’ return. That’s when we will see Jesus face to face. That’s when we will know fully even as we are fully known. That doesn’t mean the Bible isn’t perfect. It is, but our reading and understanding of the Bible in this life is far from perfect.
Spiritual gifts, then, haven’t ceased, but continue today until the return of Christ.
2. Permanent Gifts
Others say that God gives gifts to believers and you pretty much keep your gift or cluster of gifts for a whole lifetime. That doesn’t mean you can’t grow into your gift as you exercise it, but it does mean the gift is a permanent possession.
3. Situational Gifts
Others would say that spiritual gifts are more situational. The Spirit is sovereign over the distribution of the gifts at all times and not just at conversion. Depending on the situation and the availability of a believer, the Spirit can tap anyone on the shoulder and say, “I want to do some work through you and here’s a power tool for the job.”
4. Permanent AND Situational Gifts
This is a combination of 2. and 3. This reflects both Biblical teaching and personal testimony. Keep reading …
OUR POSITION
Some points to consider:
THE GIFT is the Holy Spirit.
Acts 1:4-5 (NIV)
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for THE GIFT my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (emphasis added).
For a deeper dive into our relationship with the Holy Spirit, see THE HOLY SPIRIT: With, In, and ON.
The gift of the Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit are a sign that the last days (from Joel’s prophecy quoted by Peter in Acts 2), the age to come and the Kingdom of God has already come upon the believer. The Spirit’s presence makes the Future present in our lives. The Spirit’s power makes the power of the Kingdom come to our lives. The power of the Holy Spirit, then, is Kingdom power and the gifts of the Spirit are Kingdom power tools.
In Paul’s passage on spiritual gifts, he calls the church the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27). Paul’s teaching is clear. It is through the various gifts of the Spirit that the church continues the Kingdom ministry of Jesus as His visible and tangible body in the world. That’s how believers practically are little “Jesuses”.
Through these Kingdom power tools, the church experiences and expresses the Kingdom of God and sends Satan’s kingdom packing. For example, the gift of leadership calls the troops to battle, the gift of administration mobilizes the troops to action, the gift of discernment recognizes where the battle is taking place and the gifts of healing and mercy and pastoring and teaching set the captives free.
Spiritual gifts are descriptions of how the Spirit works in people. The Spirit doesn’t give you a spiritual gift and then walk away so you have to exercise it on your own independently of Him. A spiritual gift is just a description of how the Spirit actually works in a person. For example, the gift of teaching is simply the Spirit using a believer as a teacher. A spiritual gift, then, isn’t so much a thing or a possession. It’s the presence and power of the Holy Spirit at work in and through someone. This stresses the need to not just to grow in the use of your gift, but to grow in your relationship with the Holy Spirit. After all, HE IS THE GIFT. Think of it like a corded power drill. It only works plugged in.
Some gifts are given permanently (constitutional gifts). Some people are teachers because they have been given the gift of teaching. It doesn’t come and go. It’s how the Holy Spirit uses them throughout their lifetime. It’s their speciality.
All gifts can be given situationally (situational gifts). There’s nothing stopping the Holy Spirit from giving any gift at any time to any believer for ministry in the moment. I take that back. Actually, something or someone can stop Him. We can. We should never say, “I’m sorry. I can’t do that. That’s not my gift.” Ultimately, the gift is the Spirit and since the Spirit has all the gifts and since you have the Holy Spirit, or better yet, the Spirit has you, you are as good of a candidate for a gift as anyone else, especially if you are the only one around! It’s better to say, “Here I am. Use me!”
The Bible’s teaching on the gifts stresses that everyone gets to play. Everyone gets a gift or a cluster of gifts for a lifetime of ministry. And anyone can get any gift at any time for situational ministry. So get off the bench and into the game!
We can make a distinction between roles, gifts and ministries.
For example, it is every believer’s role or responsibility to be a witness for Jesus. You don’t have to be particularly “gifted” to be a witness. As you shine your good deeds and simply tell people about Jesus, the Holy Spirit will use you as a witness.
Some people are given the gift of evangelism. This may be a permanent or situational gifting. But with this gifting comes added power and impact to their witness.
Then there are those who are given the gift of evangelism who are called to be evangelists within a ministry. Their spiritual speciality becomes their ministry. Even, then, evangelists don’t just do evangelism or all the evangelism. They are also called to train up the body to be witnesses for Jesus.
Ephesians 4:11-12 (NIV)
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the EVANGELISTS, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (emphasis added).
A spiritual gift, then, is a Spirit-empowered ability and calling. It’s our Spirit-directed and Spirit-enabled ministry description.
The Way believes that all the spiritual gifts are available and valuable for today. However, we do not believe that the gift of tongues is the mark of a Spirit-empowered Christian. Instead, the Spirit-empowered Christian is characterized by power to be a witness for Jesus (Acts 1:8), along with whatever gifts the Spirit chooses to give—whether permanently or situationally for particular moments of ministry (1 Corinthians 12:1–11, 27–31).
The gifts of the Spirit must function along with the fruit of the Spirit, especially love (See 1 Corinthians 13).
Help your MicroChurch discover and develop their spiritual gifts. Follow The Way - FILLING - Use It has a Discovery Bible Study on the spiritual gifts and an online Gifts Test.
Which leads to the laying on of hands …
Laying On of Hands
Regularly lay hands on each other and pray for empowering of the Holy Spirit and the activation of spiritual gifts. (See THE HOLY SPIRIT AND HIS GIFTS in The Way’s Theological Distinctives.)
Pray that the Holy Spirit would come upon you to empower you to live and witness for Jesus boldly.
That’s why the Gathering Guide for The Way MicroChurches includes this question:
What do you need the Holy Spirit to empower you for?
Guidelines for Prophecy
God speaks primarily through His Word—the Bible. So if you want a word from the Lord, read your Bible.
But as you read your Bible, you will discover that God also speaks to us by His Spirit through a still, small voice, dreams and visions, angels, and the gifts of prophecy, tongues, and interpretation. So how can we grow in practicing and testing prophetic words? Let’s take a look.
Acts 2:17-18 quoting Joel 2:28-29 (NIV)
17 In the last days, God says,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.
18 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
and they will prophesy.1 Corinthians 14:1-3
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to people but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement and comfort.
1 Corinthians 14:26
What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these be done to build each other up.
1 Corinthians 14:29 (NLT)
Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NIV-1984)
19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
Practicing the Prophetic
Take turns focusing on one person. Ask the Lord how He would build up, encourage, and comfort them (1 Corinthians 14:3). This question may help you get started: “What do you sense the Holy Spirit is saying to the person we’re praying for?” Then sit quietly and listen. You may receive a thought, picture, passage, or even a physical sensation (such as pain in your body).
When sharing, avoid overly authoritative language like “Thus says the Lord.” Instead, offer impressions humbly and invite discernment. For example: “I had a thought/picture/passage/pain that might be from the Lord. Does this resonate with you? What do the rest of you think?”
If nothing comes, that’s okay—prayerful listening is part of learning. Don’t force it. Remember, faith is spelled T-R-Y.
If something comes to mind, share it—not to impress others, but to love well and build others up.
When something is shared, it’s important to test it. As a leader, be an equal-opportunity tester—you can’t invite discernment for one person’s word and not another’s. It’s wise to lead your community in weighing all impressions together.
Some words carry more weight than others. Simple encouragements can be received and briefly assessed, but words that give direction or call for significant life change require careful and prayerful testing.
How?
Testing the Prophetic
Use this 3C Test for prophetic words, interpretations of tongues, or any leading you sense from the Spirit.
1. Consistent
Is this “word” consistent with the Word?
The Written Word — the Bible
A prophetic impression doesn’t need to quote a verse directly, but it must align with the overall teaching and character of Scripture. Any word that doesn’t pass this test must be rejected.
The Living Word — Jesus Christ
Is this something Jesus would say—and would He say it this way?
2. Constructive
Is this “word” constructive for the person?
Upbuilding
Prophetic words are given for the upbuilding, encouragement and comfort of others (1 Corinthians 14:3). In other words, the purpose of prophecy is to strengthen people.
This doesn’t mean the Spirit won’t give a word of correction to you or through you for someone else. But such words must be handled with great care. Satan condemns; the Spirit lovingly convicts. So be sure to share correction in a constructive way—building up, not tearing down.
If you’re unsure how to share a corrective word, confidentially seek wisdom from a trusted brother or sister.
The Fruit of the Spirit
Do I see the fruit of the Spirit in both the content of this word and the manner in which it is shared?
3. Confirmed
Is this “word” confirmed by the body?
Testing
Invite others to help discern whether a prophetic word is from the Lord. Especially when a word involves significant decisions or life changes, seek wisdom from mature believers and allow time for confirmation.
Testing a word isn’t unbelief—it’s obedience. God commands us to let others evaluate what is said (1 Corinthians 14:29) and to test everything (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
Quoting Deuteronomy 19:15, Paul writes: On the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter shall be confirmed (2 Corinthians 13:1).
Receiving and Rejecting
If a prophetic word is confirmed, you can move forward with confidence. If it is not confirmed, hold it loosely and wait—confirmation may come.
Conclusion
If a “word” proves consistent with God’s Word, constructive for the person, and confirmed by the body, you can be confident it is from the Lord. If it doesn’t pass these tests, you can be sure it is not.
Practicing and Testing the Prophetic Bookmark
Guidelines for Tongues
1 Corinthians 12:27-30 (NIV)
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts.
1 Corinthians 14:1-5
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to people but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding, encouragement and comfort. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
1 Corinthians 14:12-19
12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
1 Corinthians 14:26-33
26 What should you do then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a song, has a lesson, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all these be done to build each other up. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the gatherings of God’s holy people.
Once again, The Way believes that all the spiritual gifts are available and valuable for today. However, we do not believe that the gift of tongues is the mark of a Spirit-empowered Christian.
In the New Testament, the gift of tongues often accompanied the empowering of the Holy Spirit—but not in every case. Paul even said, “I would like every one of you to speak in tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:5), yet this falls short of saying that everyone will speak in tongues. In fact, Paul rhetorically asks, “Do all speak in tongues?” (1 Corinthians 12:30), with the implied answer being no.
Therefore, while the gift of tongues is still available and valuable today, it is not the defining mark of a Spirit-empowered believer.
Instead, the Spirit-empowered Christian is characterized by power to be a witness for Jesus (Acts 1:8), along with whatever gifts the Spirit chooses to give—whether permanently or situationally for particular moments of ministry (1 Corinthians 12:1–11, 27–31). And all the gifts of the Spirit must function together with the fruit of the Spirit, especially love (1 Corinthians 13).
Of course, we can desire and ask for the gift of tongues. We just don’t require it.
Once again, we need to make a distinction between speaking in tongues and praying or singing in tongues. When a tongue is spoken in the context of a MicroChurch that needs an interpretation. Praying and singing in tongues doesn’t necessarily need an interpretation.
If you are discussing tongues, feel free to ask someone to give a demonstration. Some people may never have heard a tongue. If you are demonstrating the gift that doesn’t necessarily need an interpretation.
You can certainly pray for the gift of tongues and you can pray over those who wish to receive this gift. And it’s okay to explore and experiment with this gift. For example, since the gift of tongues is in control of the person with the gift (it's not out of control ecstatic utterance), when someone is seeking the gift they may need to try it on for size. In other words, they may need to open their mouth and try saying something. If something comes and continues, that’s probably the gift. If something comes but doesn’t continue, well, maybe not. Once again, it’s okay to explore and experiment. And why can’t we ask for this gift more than once? Just don’t manipulate or manufacture it. And never make anyone feel second class for not speaking in tongues, including yourself. The gift of tongues is just one of the many good gifts the Spirit gives as He wills. We need to celebrate any and every gift the Spirit gives.
If a tongue in prayer or song is heard by the group, that doesn’t necessarily need an interpretation. However, it might be best for that person moving forward to pray or sing in their tongue silently or under their breath. The point is you don’t want the gift of tongues in prayer and song to call attention to itself.
There may be times when you ask everyone to pray and praise out loud altogether. People may want to speak in English or Spanish or in a tongue. The idea is everyone is praying at the same time and if there are tongues, once again, those don’t necessarily need an interpretation.
If a tongue is spoken, however with the intention that the whole group listens, that needs an interpretation. Pause the group, pray and ask the Lord to give your group an interpretation. The person who gave the tongue or another may give the interpretation. Often this interpretation is not a word for word sort of thing, but a general sense or drift. In other words, the interpretation may take less or more time to say than the tongue itself. This interpretation is to be tested by the same 3C Test used for the gift of prophecy.
If an interpretation doesn’t come, throw a “towel” to the person who gave the tongue! They may feel rather exposed. Say, “Thanks for that tongue. Thanks for taking that chance. There isn’t an interpretation AT THIS TIME. One may come though, but at this time we’ll need to move on. And if later anyone gets a sense of interpretation about that tongue, just let us know.”
LIVE / LEAD
What did you discover in this training session?
What is your “I will …” statement flowing from this training?
Lead The Way
Continuing Ed
Praying Paul’s Prayers (Lead)
Replicate (Lead)
Disciple-Making Movements (MicroChurch)
Financial Giving (MicroChurch)
Our Meal and His Supper (Worship)
Baptism (Worship)
Hermeneutics (Discovery)
Mature Community (Community)
Welcoming New People (Community)
Spiritual Gifts, Prophecy and Tongues (Community)
Doing the Stuff - 1 (Mission-Part 1)
Doing the Stuff - 2 (Mission-Part 1)
Doing the Stuff - 3 (Mission-Part 1)
A Guide for Guides (Mission-Part 2)