THE DAY GOD TOLD ME, ‘STOP PRAYING IN TONGUES’

Dear Folks,

Like many Pentecostals, I was a tongue talking, chewing and praying Christian. That is a good thing. I have read and experienced the benefits of praying in tongues. I believe and still believe there is nothing as powerful and potent as praying in tongues. So let me clarify from start, THIS POST IS NOT AGAINST PRAYING IN TONGUES.

So imagine my amazement, when years ago I heard ‘stop praying in tongues’, I mustn’t be hearing well. No! I must be hearing crazy. Stop what? But then, the hearing lingers in my spirit. I knew it was God but then I didn’t understand it. How can God say, ‘stop praying in tongues’? I began to remember scriptures, I said common, how about Romans 8:26, Jude 1:20, Acts 2:4, Mark 16:17. But then I argued with the WORD HIMSELF. I wanted to begin to banish the devil, but I knew it wasn’t the devil.

Herein was the dilemma. It wasn’t a problem that He said. It was why he would say it. I was stunned at the oddity of it. Notice He wasn’t telling me PRAYING IN TONGUES WAS WRONG, He said to stop.

There and then he led me to these two verses 1Cor. 14:14-15 ‘FOR IF I PRAY IN AN UNKNOWN TONGUE, MY SPIRIT PRAYETH, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS UNFRUITFUL. WHAT IS IT THEN? I WILL PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT, AND I WILL PRAY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO: I WILL SING WITH THE SPIRIT, AND I WILL SING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO’. 

Now I saw, what God was saying, yes my spirit may have been growing, my understanding – my mind wasn’t; it was unfruitful – the Greek word for unfruitful is ‘akarpos’ – meaning barren, not bearing fruit, and unproductive. My soul had zero connection to God. I was not connecting with God in my soul (mind). Yes you worship God in Spirit – but understanding comes in your soul, my soul was barren and unproductive when it comes to prayer.

I didn’t get it but God wanted to have the whole of me. He wanted me to know Him – to be able to express my love to Him in words. To grow my understanding also. SPIRITUAL MEN ARE THOSE WHO HAVE A SPIRIT AND SOUL CONNECTION TO GOD.

Tracking back, let me inform you that prior to that, I did all my prayers in tongues. I didn’t even say a word in understanding. I had problem in stringing words together in understanding in public prayer. I was an executive in a campus fellowship, and I would be stammering words in understanding in prayer, because what I didn’t do in secret I couldn’t do in public. I bet, God got tired of me and He wanted to get me out of it.

Last week, I wrote about SPIRITUAL SNAG and a friend reached out to me – she could relate with it. I told her to pray more but in understanding because I deciphered the problem was with her soul - her soul wasn’t connecting with God, her spirit was saved. So I said stop praying in tongues for two weeks, she said she was going to die --- I laughed, the truth is IT GETS TO A TIME THAT YOUR SOUL FOR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING GETS TIRED AND DISCONNECTED – THAT IS WHY YOU NEED RENEWAL BY THE WORD, AND PRAYERS IN UNDERSTANDING. 

Paul said, ‘WHAT IS IT THEN? I WILL PRAY WITH THE SPIRIT, AND I WILL PRAY WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO: I WILL SING WITH THE SPIRIT, AND I WILL SING WITH THE UNDERSTANDING ALSO’. 1 Cor 14:15. Like Paul of old, I want to encourage you to pray in tongues, but neglect not praying in understanding.

The Pauline prayers are in truth one of the most potent and powerful prayers for the believer, and yet they were not written in tongues, or do we think it was an interpretation of Paul’s tongues. It therefore shows that the Apostles prayed in understanding and we should to. 

Let’s get out of this mental belief that believers don’t have to pray in understanding. Yes I pray more in tongues than understanding, but dear folks I don’t ever neglect PRAYING IN UNDERSTANDING and you shouldn’t. Let your understanding be carried along in your spiritual journey. 

So back to my story, God didn’t let me pray in tongues for like a month. Then He allowed me, no more restraint, and this time I was trained and ready to do both. I had to stop the tongue converse, to get my soul and understanding going. Let me round off with Christ words in Mark 12:30, 33;

‘AND THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND, AND WITH ALL THY STRENGTH: THIS IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT’. Mark 12:30

‘AND TO LOVE HIM WITH ALL THE HEART, AND WITH ALL THE UNDERSTANDING, AND WITH ALL THE SOUL, AND WITH ALL THE STRENGTH, AND TO LOVE HIS NEIGHBOUR AS HIMSELF, IS MORE THAN ALL WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES’. Mark 12:33

You see even your soul is important.

Your Greatness is Assured!

FA

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

Twitter: @fisayospeaks

Facebook: Fisayo.Adeniyi

Whatsapp: +234-909-0518-35

 fisayoadeniyi@gmail.com

 

 +kehinde awoniyi +'Jide Adeyemi +Bamisaye Adeniran +deola kayode +PROF Akinola Babs +Babajide Ipaye +Gary Coxe +Edidiong Akang +Oluwatunmise Ajani +Nwamaka Ajaegbu +Caleb Odofin +emmanuel adewale +Omolola Faleye +Francis Oghuma

SPIRITUAL SNAG - OF SPIRIT AND RULES

Dear Folks,

Some years ago, I experienced a barrier in my spiritual walk. It was like I was walking endlessly in an arid land. No spring, no water, no avalanche. Praying in tongues was no longer refreshing, bible reading became a real struggle. Folks, I was only 2 years in the Christian walk, yet I was in a snag. I couldn’t understand it. And I had no clue how to get out of it.

I don’t know whether you have been in a spiritual snag before, if you have or you are in one right now. Praise God, that only means you are human and much more, you are sincere. But God doesn’t want us in snags. He wants us progressing, increasing in knowledge, and refreshed at all times.

In the midst of my experience, grew an awakening to the person of the Holy Spirit. I wanted to know why I was in a snag, and much more, I wanted to get out of it – I discovered it was because of my rules and routines. I got bored! I got tired! Yes, I was spiritual but I was also human. And every human get tired of routine. So I learnt of new ways to do spiritual things.  In Isaiah 29:13, ‘the Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. THEIR WORSHIP OF ME IS BASED ON MERELY HUMAN RULES THEY HAVE BEEN TAUGHT’. (Emphasis mine). Absolute truism!

Sometimes we get into a snag like I did, because of rules, either self-imposed or taught. So, I tossed the rules (you must do the same), because my relationship and fellowship with God is a life I am called to live and not rules I must obey. The moment I did, the shackles were broken, freedom came, and instead of pressure I had joy. Learn to live and walk by the Spirit. Follow His leading, even in fellowship. So I junked my boring routines and rules and I followed the Spirit.

I learnt to write a Psalm. I thought if David wrote one, then I could.

I sang new songs to God - Yes, my voice will not pass any earthly test, but in the heavens and to my Father, it was sonorous.

I began to fellowship with other believers. Truly Iron sharpens Iron. I listened and I learned.

I wrote Him many poems. To right about Him, you must think deeply about Him. That made Him real to me. I connected with Him in my soul and mind.

I began to dance without music. It brought some needed energy to my paleness in fellowship.

I began to meditate while walking. I couldn’t limit God to my room and I shouldn’t box him up in a flat. He is everywhere!

I began to pray everywhere. I didn’t have to face the yellow painted wall every time.

I want to encourage you to let the Spirit lead you endlessly to new frontiers and greater heights. The answer many times is not in the complicated and complex, it is in simple things. 

Remember, ‘For even young people tire and drop out, young folks in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don't get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind’. Isaiah 40:31 (The Message).

Get fresh strength as you depend on the Spirit and not rules.

Your Greatness is Assured!

FA

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

Twitter: @fisayospeaks

Facebook: Fisayo.Adeniyi

Whatsapp: +234-909-0518-35

fisayoadeniyi@gmail.com

 

 

 +kehinde awoniyi +'Jide Adeyemi +Bamisaye Adeniran +deola kayode +PROF Akinola Babs +Babajide Ipaye +Gary Coxe +Edidiong Akang +Oluwatunmise Ajani +Nwamaka Ajaegbu +Caleb Odofin +emmanuel adewale +Omolola Faleye +Francis Oghuma 

SHARPEN YOUR SKILL 3

One of the things you are solely responsible for is the development of your gifts, talents and skills. You must take charge of the development of these areas of your life. The skill may have been given by God, or you may have acquired it, but the growth, maturity and increase of the gift and ability is your responsibility.

Today, I want to write about ways we can whet the edge, what we must do to sharpen the skill and to ensure that the ax head (ability, skills, talents and gifts) do not become blunt. If you must stay ahead of the pack, then you must keep the following principles close to your heart:

1.       STAY INFORMED: Information is the bedrock of the society we live in; you must seek to know. Get all the information you can get concerning your area of interest. Don’t ever get to a point, where you begin to think that you know all you need to know about a thing. There are always things to learn. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 8:2, ‘Those who think they know something really don't know as they ought to know’ (GNB).

There is a guy in my office who works in the video editing department, I remember five years ago when an uneventful happening necessitated his move into that department, he knew nothing about video editing, but his craving for excellence led him to purchase many video tutorials, and he spent endless hours on the internet surfing for information to make him better. Today he stands tall amongst his peers, and he has bettered those he met in the field.

Truly knowledge puffs up, but you can’t allow yourself to be puffed up to your damnation. You are made for eminently bigger things. Stay informed! Attend conferences, read books, watch seminar and tutorial videos, buy audio messages. Do all you can to be informed! Don’t let ignorance kill you.

Break the addiction to television programs and series that consume too much time, and get back the habit of reading for the sake of personal growth. Subscribe to major news magazines in order to stay current and be able to interpret your work in the context of contemporary society.

We live in a world of loads of information, yet too little or no benefit. The problem may be because we do not seek any specific information. Next time you hold your tablet, smart phones and gadgets, make sure you are searching and surfing for things that will benefit and further improve you. Solomon, that old sage and prophet said, ‘Get wisdom, get understanding…’ Proverb 4:5.

STAY FRESH:

Stay on the edge; don’t ever get to a point of contentment, for contentment is the true bane of greatness. You must therefore be on the lookout for fresh ideas, new ways and methods of doing things. A man is limited who believes there are no new methods to doing the things he does. Don’t have a close mind, stay open and be receptive to new ideas.

Do not be a yesterday’s man, you are made for today, you are made for something bigger than what you have achieved. Paul said, ‘My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead.’ (CEV, Philippians 3:13). This was a great achiever speaking, you never rest on your oars, you keep on keeping on. Remember, those who do the things that count never stop to count them.

If you will sharpen your edge, then you must stay fresh. You must be a man hungry for more; someone who is on to something greater. Renowned brands in the world like Milo, KFC, Apple, HP etc. always seek to reinvent their product, they don’t stay content with their present output level and efficiency; they seek for more. You need to challenge yourself; you need to ensure you give more. Stay fresh, always, always reinvent yourself.

“If the iron be blunt, and one do not whet the edge, then must he apply more strength; but wisdom is profitable to give success.”

                                                                                      Eccelestiates 10:10(Darby Bible Translation)

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

Twitter: @fisayospeaks

Facebook: Fisayo.Adeniyi

Whatsapp: +234-805-8432-300

fisayoadeniyi@gmail.com

+Bamisaye Adeniran Bolarinwa +Olamide Adeola +Gbolahan Adeola +kuku Lucy +Paul Ojegbade +emmanuel adewale +Adekunle Alashi +Edidiong Akang +Emmanuel Afolabi +Jo Ann Freeboom +Jerome John Tobi. +Francis Oghuma +Femi Nuga +OLUDE MORGAN John 

SHARPEN YOUR SKILL II

“If someone's ax is blunt—the edge isn't sharpened— then more strength will be needed. Putting wisdom to work will bring success.”

                                                                                                                                     Ecclesiastes 10:10 (ISV)

Wisdom is profiting to them that have it. Sometimes you don’t need to exert more energy; you only need to use better skills, methods and strategy. What excess energy may not achieve, wisdom will.

 Wisdom is defined as the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise. In the days of the industrial revolution, all that mattered was the force and might of labour. But with the advent of the computer, that has since changed.

A man may therefore discover he is useless in his field because he hasn’t learned new methods of doing things. Do note that old ways are not suppressed by new ways if the new are not better. Men are on the lookout for easier, faster, better and more efficient ways of doing things. An architect trained in the 1960’s is useless today if he doesn’t know how to use AutoCAD or ArchiCAD. Nobody draws a plan with pencil, paper and cartographic pen anymore. There are better and more efficient methods of doing things. Don’t be left behind; you must seek to know and master the next new thing in your field.

Solomon of old called it blunt ax. And his advice for improvement is not to throw away the ax, but to sharpen it. You do not need to change your skill or field of expertise, you only need to stay on the edge, and sharpen your edge. It is my firm belief that if we are the best in any field, then success will surely come to us. 

Today, you must make a commitment to learn new things, to improve yourself; you must keep abreast of information in your field. Don’t be left behind. Put wisdom to work – gain more knowledge, practice good knowledge. Constantly improve yourself.  Learn new methods of doing old things.

"Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings…" (Proverbs 22:29, NIV). It is time to serve before kings. Your problem may not be as a result of a spiritual attack. It may be that you are suffering from bluntness of ax. Get down to the business of sharpening you skills and surely, before long, you will stand and serve in the presence of kings and not mere men. Get ready to break forth, it is your time!

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

Twitter: @fisayospeaks

Facebook: Fisayo.Adeniyi

Whatsapp: +234-805-8432-300

fisayoadeniyi@gmail.com

+Gbemi Akande +Oluwayomi Segun +Imisioluwa Olalekan Owonikoko +Bamisaye Adeniran Bolarinwa +emmanuel adewale +Adekunle Alashi +Edidiong Akang +kuku Lucy +Olusola Akinsola +Akinola Babatunde 

SHARPEN YOUR SKILL

“Using a dull ax requires great strength, so sharpen the blade. That's the value of wisdom; it helps you succeed.”

                                                                                                                                             Ecclesiastes 10:10(NLT)

I know you are good at what you do. But I will like to say:  if you are not the best in the world, then you have lots of room for improvement. Even champions fine tune their skills. It may interest you to know, that it is much easier to become a champion, than to remain one. That is clear even from the game of football – only a few winners of the European Champions league have been able to retain their trophy.

Are you working on what you have? Are you improving yourself? No skill in its raw state will make you a world champion; every talent needs to be worked on. It is natural does not mean its gains will come naturally. You must commit time, effort and resources to it. Manny Pacquiao had to train, Messi trains, Givenchy puts in time for finesse, Obama practices his speeches. You also, need to commit to sharpening your skill.

Crude oil serves no purpose until it is refined. Palm oil needs to be processed. Silver must of a necessity go through the refiner’s pot. Gold must passed through fire. The better the process, the more refined the product. Are you undergoing the process of sharpening?

Refuse to stay just as you are. Be diligent about self development. Whatever you are now can still be improved upon.

Studies tell us that the average person only uses 11% of his brain. Think about how much more potential we all could be tapping into. Maybe you’re an accountant. That’s good, but don’t settle there. Why don’t you go get your ICAN, ACCA or CPA license? There’s a new skill you can develop. That gift will make more room for you. Maybe you’re an engineer, a mechanic, a plumber. That’s great, but what steps are you taking to improve? 

I believe in this day and age, if you are at the same skill level today as you were five years ago, you’re at a disadvantage.

We live in an ever changing social system. And a man will soon lose his relevance, who does not commit to self improvement. The only way to stay relevant, is to become more.

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

Twitter: @fisayospeaks

Facebook: Fisayo.Adeniyi

Whatsapp: +234-805-8432-300

fisayoadeniyi@gmail.com

+Fisayo Ajisola +Bamisaye Adeniran Bolarinwa +emmanuel adewale +Imisioluwa Olalekan Owonikoko +Alayande Abayomi +Christian Love +john paul toluwase +Ibrahim Paramole +Paul-Kayode Joash +Paul Clayton Smith +Edidiong Akang +ekundayo olusegun +Emmanuel Afolabi 

BETWEEN CHOICES

“We are our choices”

-          J.P. Sartre

One of the underlying principles that govern the world is choice. Every man on earth is daily presented with choices. Without fail, we all make choices. And our choices - more than anything else - have the power to affect the outcome of our lives. We are all products of our choices.

Whatever anyone becomes in life, is the resultant effect of choices they made. We all must be careful of what decisions we are making today. We must make choices today, in the light of our tomorrow.

A man in Ilorin, Nigeria who wants to get to Lagos will not choose the Ilorin-Offa road. That road takes him farther away from his desired destination. Are you making choices today that will take you to, or away from your destiny? Our choices have the power to make or mar us. Life always offers us alternatives, and we must always choose. Even in not making a choice, we choose.

There was once a man who was gifted with so much supernatural power. He was a fearless man, a one man army, a deliverer of his people. By his strength and force, he could defeat a nation, a people. He made a choice to be ravished by the love of foreign women (strange women and ungodly women). That was the beginning of his end. Samson’s death came by the hands and tricks of Delilah. Now you may call it love…but the discerning call it choice.

Never make decisions without considering your purpose and the future. Let all your decisions be guided by the power of foresight. Your life is genuinely yours and you don’t have a spare. Value it and guard yourself with all diligence.

 “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live”

                                                                                                                                        -  Deuteronomy 30:19

Be sure to make informed choices; those who don’t, end up being deformed in life.

Fisayo Adeniyi

Pursuing Purpose...

Twitter: @fisayospeaks

Facebook: Fisayo.Adeniyi

Whatsapp: +234-805-8432-300

fisayoadeniyi@gmail.com

+Allen Taylor +Imisioluwa Olalekan Owonikoko +ekundayo olusegun +Peter Ayeni +Adekunle Alashi +Promise Alade +Bamisaye Adeniran Bolarinwa +Jide Ogunsanya +Olusola Samuel +Olusola Akinsola +kuku Lucy +Edidiong Akang