I was wondering what your thoughts are on prophecy. I belong to a church group that believe we should all be able to prophecy the word of God. They also say that the way to know you have the Holy Spirit is if you speak in tongues.

–AB, Internet, 5/18/05

Dear AB,

Thanks for your good questions. Prophecy and tongues are spiritual gifts sovereignly given to some Christians by God:

"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:... to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of toungues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." (1 Cor. 12:7,10-11)

Notice the last part of these verses: God's Holy Spirit distributes one or more of these gifts to each person as He wills. That is why they are called spiritual gifts (1 Cor. 12:4). You can't earn a gift - it's just given to you. Of course that doesn't mean we shouldn't desire and pray for these gifts--Paul exhorts us to earnestly want these gifts:

So although God doesn't give everyone these gifts, He wants us to earnestly desire them and pray for them.

God chooses to give whatever gifts He wants, to whomever He wants. Those who speak in tongues have been given that gift by God. They shouldn't expect others to manifest this same gift if God hasn't given it to them.

According to the Bible, the way you know you have the Holy Spirit living in you is by placing your faith in Jesus Christ. That's it. The book of Galatians has many references to this:

"Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Gal. 3:2)

"Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" (Gal. 3:5)

"Christ has redeemed us... that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Gal. 3:13-14)

"And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Gal. 4:6)

Another way to know you have the Holy Spirit is by your changed life after you become a Christian. God's indwelling Spirit opens your eyes and changes your heart. Your life now shows the fruit of the Spirit (see Gal. 5:22-23). Note the fruit of the Spirit, which ALL Christians should have, is different than spiritual gifts like prophecy and tongues, which God chooses to give to certain people for His good purposes.

You also know you have the Holy Spirit because God confirms in your heart that you are a child of God by the working of His Spirit inside you:

"...you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God..." (Romans 8:15-16).

We hope this helps, and thank you for emailing us!

Yours in Christ,

Ryan and Lisa Bazler

www.psychologydebunked.com

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