Aren’t you thankful that God is still in the “I will pour out of my Spirit” business? (Joel 2:28-29) Today, all around the globe, children, youth, and adults are receiving the promise of the Father (Acts 1:4) and enjoying the enormous benefits that come from this baptism.
Let’s look at the next illustration to teach about these benefits. Once again, I will give a brief, skeletal overview of the illustration. Then, with the Holy Spirit’s help, you can personalize and modify the illustration to become a powerful teaching tool.
The Importance of Praying in Other Tongues
Part 14 – Advance Your Spiritual Progress
“The one who speaks in tongues advances his own spiritual progress …”
1 Corinthians 14:4 (The Passion Translation)
For this illustration, you will need a Bible, a skateboard or scooter, and a Slurpee cup. (For the explanation, I will use a skateboard.) Note: If your community doesn’t have a 7-Eleven, substitute some other cold treat. It could be an ice cone from Dairy Queen (print a picture of the ice cream cone) or a bottle of ice-cold Dr Pepper from a local convenience store.
It is difficult to find a person who hasn’t experienced at one time or another the joy of riding on a skateboard (show skateboard). Put together a sunny day, some good asphalt or concrete, and a skateboard and you will have the makings of a great, fun-filled, incredible memory-making time. Better yet, put together a sunny day, some good asphalt or concrete, a skateboard, AND a Slurpee (show Slurpee cup) from a nearby 7-Eleven and you will have the makings of a really great, really fun-filled, really incredible memory-making time. If you will close your eyes, you can easily imagine what I am describing. (You might walk around and ask about the favorite Slurpee flavors.) In fact, I had better move on with this teaching because some of you are beginning to want a Slurpee right now!
If I wanted to go to the nearby 7-Eleven to get a Slurpee (show Slurpee cup), I would need to put this skateboard (show skateboard) down on the ground (place skateboard on the ground), stand on the skateboard (stand on skateboard), and then begin to move by pushing with one foot while the other remains on the skateboard (demonstrate). Notice this. Each push or action (demonstrate) will move me closer and closer to my desired 7-Eleven Slurpee machine destination. Did you get that? An action on my part is required to advance my progress towards where I want to be. Oh, one more thing. It should also be noted that no action (stand on the skateboard and do nothing) equals no advancement.
According to our scripture verse (open Bible) when I pray in other tongues, I am making it possible to move in the direction that I need to go spiritually. We read, “The one who speaks in tongues advances his own spiritual progress …” It could be said this way, “Each and every word said in my heavenly prayer language powerfully moves me in the direction that God wants me to go.” I purposefully said “each and every word” because, just as with our skateboard, it’s not just one action (push) that will get me to my destination. It is a continual series of actions, right? The same can be said of our praying in the Spirit. It must be day after day.
Let’s not stand still. Let’s start kickin’ into action by daily praying in the Spirit!
