3.4. BE SPIRIT-FILLED - OFFER SUPERNATURAL WORSHIP

Unlike the drunkard who does foolish things under the influence, the Spirit-filled worshiper supernaturally magnifies God. When this first happened on the day of Pentecost, the great crowd who gathered were utterly amazed (Acts 2:7 ). Among the crowd were God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven (Acts 2:5 ). They were bewildered because each one heard them speaking in his own language (Acts 2:8 ). And the ones doing it were Galileans. They asked each other:

Acts 2:8 "And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?"

Showing just how supernatural this really was, a geographical cross-section of the crowd is given:

Acts 2:9-11 ""Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 "Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 "Cretans and Arabs; we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.""

The crowd, described as "amazed and perplexed", asked one another: 'What does this mean?"' (Acts 2:5-12 ). Down through the years, I have experienced this same amazement, at different times, when praying with groups of people that they might receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit as the 120 did on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4 ). I have witnessed languages being given that were unknown to the user, and that language being a known one to one or more of the hearers. I have heard German being spoken by the Spirit, also African languages, High Dutch, and fluent English being spoken by a Dutch lady who had no ability in English whatsoever.

Speaking supernaturally by the Holy Spirit was however made fun of by some. Some of the crowd jested: "They have had too much wine" (Acts 2:13 ). All that drunkenness can do is to rob a person of the ability to co-ordinate speech. Spirit-filled people, on the other hand, speak supernaturally in real languages of "men and angels" (1 Corinthians 13:1 ). Paul explains that:

1 Corinthians 14:2 "For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries."

By this wonderful gift those who are Spirit-filled, are able to offer God perfect worship. What a privilege! Even more wonderful, is that pure worship is not limited to speaking. There can be, as with Paul, "singing with my spirit" and "singing with my mind" (1 Corinthians 14:15 ). This supernatural singing can be with unknown tongues or in a known tongue. There can be singing in an unknown tongue, which can be followed by singing the interpretation. One of the highlights of worship at the Church is the singing of supernatural songs by the whole congregation, wave after wave of glory fills the place as the Lord is supernaturally glorified.

All this has given birth in our day, to supernatural Scripture songs, born out of obedience to Ephesians 5:19. These songs are the result of saints singing and making melody in their hearts to the Lord. This singing in the Spirit that we enjoy today, was the common practice of the early Christians. Writing in North Africa around 200 A.D., Tertullian described the Christian love feast as a time when "each is invited to sing to God in the presence of others, from what he knows of the holy Scriptures, or from his own heart". Freshness of spiritual, spontaneous supernatural song continues to be a feature of the gathering of Spirit-filled saints. There is an outflowing of,

Ephesians 5:20 "giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,"