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4.1 Expressions of inspiration
To this group are belonging:
• a. spiritual languages;
• b. explanation of spiritual languages;
• c. prophecy.
This group has a special feature. These gifts work through inspiration. The Holy Spirit inspires. These expressions are given to us for us to participate in the speaking of God. I speak by the spiritual influence of the Holy Spirit.
These expressions have a twofold character.
He that inspires as well as the one being inspired is active in the process of realising there is inspiration.
An example will clarify this.
An artist is dependent of inspiration to make his piece of art. At school we learned that perspiration is a big part of inspiration.
The artist can get to inspiration when he ‘gets the spirit’. At this point then this inspiration overwhelms him. He is ‘passive’ in a certain way.
But it is also very well possible that he works towards inspiration. He starts working with the focus on his project, uses his tools and starts working. Inspiration can also often develop in this way.
So it is possible that he:
a) gets inspiration
or
b) works towards inspiration.
With the expressions of inspiration of the Holy Spirit we can see the same thing happening.
a) the person, that is baptized in the Holy Spirit, receives inspiration by the initiative of God. The Lord insists! All the believer has to do then is to give into it.
b) the person, that is baptized in the Holy Spirit, takes the initiative, in communication with the Lord, to work towards inspiration.
He talks to the Lord and he believes in the active working of the Holy Spirit in him. He allows ‘streams of living water’ to flow out of him through faith. He opens his mouth and speaks, for the Holy Spirit to accomplish the expression of inspiration.
It will become more clear when we discuss the different expressions of inspiration.
This second aspect of inspiration often feels less good to us. We might be frightened to ‘belittle’ the Holy Spirit in this way.
Therefore a few things that Paul said beforehand:
“…I will pray with my spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:15);
“…I will sing with my spirit”;
“…prophesying in proportion to our faith” (Romans 12:6).
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