Recipe for Success: Praying in Tongues (Jude 20; Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 3:10-14; 14:14-15; Ephesians 2:20; 6:18; Colossians 2:7)

Jude 20 speaks of "building up" ourselves on our most holy faith, praying in the holy Spirit.

BUILDING UP

The word translated "building up", is a fascinating study. It is a compound word, that uses the imagery of constructing a house or building, in a metaphorical sense, but the prefix of the word brings a force to the root, that goes beyond merely building a house. The prefix contains the meaning of 'building to the extreme', until the structure is not only complete, but is unrivaled, a superstructure, fulfilling its intended purpose, fully functional to its ultimate potential. In every use of the word, [of which the NT enlists its imagery 5 times], there is always a present tense employed, that 'expresses continuous; on-going; ever increasing action'.

Speaking to us both individually and corporately, this word gives us instruction and means to completely; to the fullest extent; not only make our lives count for significance, but impact our world to the ultimate purpose for which they are intended. If we want on-going; continuous growth; into the superstructure we are to function as, we need to heed the admonition of scripture, both corporately and individually.

THE RECIPE

Like ingredients in a cake, or some other culinary delight, you may produce something of quality, but the intended flavor and complete design for the kitchen creation, is only fully realized when you follow the recipe exactly,.... no substitutes!

Scripture contains 5 uses of this word under discussion:

ACTS 20:32 - Paul, in his farewell address to the Ephesian church leaders, said he was committing them to God, and to the word of His grace, that was able to "build them up", into the superstructure; continuously; constantly growing, to fulfill their purpose, obtaining and walking in their inheritance, in Christ. It's only the word in us; spoken and lived through us, that impacts our lives, bringing deliverance to us, and the world we live in.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:10-14 - Not only do we need to individually embrace the word, in our personal lives, but we need to receive the revelation and instruction from those leaders that God, our Father has placed over us, to cause us to become everything we are intended to be, in Christ.

EPHESIANS 2:20 - The fullest and most complete growth of the corporate church is dependent on Apostolic and Prophetic guidance and instruction both in vision and revelation, to lead and establish the body, to its fullest extent, in the plan of Christ. Individual church bodies, through the insecurity and inexperience of leadership, flounder in their pride, resisting the preordained pattern God has established, in Christ, the head of the church.

IF IT AIN'T BROKE...

The age old adage is "if it ain't broke ..don't try to fix it", and conversely, Einstein is credited with saying, "insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results", again, Kenneth E Hagin used to use the example of travelling down the same road, for hours; days; weeks; months; years, etc...and that a twelve year old child with one eye and half sense ought to know...long before that extent...that they were on the wrong road. If leadership is not experiencing dynamic growth and sustained development of the body...you're on the wrong road! Change, get with the program and into God's best!

COLOSSIANS 2:7 - Speaks of us being rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith, our river banks overflowing with thanksgiving. Notice that we are built up, or ever increasing, IN HIM. It is only those things that are spiritually sourced and originate, in Christ, that cause fundamentally stable growth and increase in our lives. God is a God of increase. Lack; poverty; shortage; sickness; disease, and anything that detracts or takes away from your life, does not come from Him, and should not only not be embraced, but should be resisted as an enemy of all that is good, and the best, for us.

JUDE 20 - The last use of this powerful word, expresses the need to pray in the Holy Spirit, a synonymous term for praying in other tongues. Even as Ephesians 6:18, properly translated, speaks of "praying always in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication", as 1 Corinthians 14:14 says, "if I pray in tongues, my spirit prays..." and I will pray with the spirit and with my understanding. (14:15)....yes, there will be those, who have neither the experience nor knowledge, who will, as many of old, through ignorance or religious tradition, resist the Holy Spirit, denying the incredible value and necessity of praying in tongues, despite the fact, that statistically, there are close to 1 BILLION born again Believers around the world, who revel in this fellowship with the Father on a daily basis. Again, as the saying goes, "a person with an experience is never at the mercy of a person with a theory".

It is vital, to enjoy the full impact and benefit of ALL that God has, and intends for us to walk in, to embrace this vital aspect of our faith, and to daily pray in the spirit, speaking in other languages, to our own personal development, and corporately, for the body, to be all that Christ intends for us to be, as He makes His home in us.

This is God's recipe for success, that will produce God's results!

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours.