The Truth About Speaking in Tongues and Prophecy | Bobby Schuller | Podcast Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

The Truth About Speaking in Tongues and Prophecy

Shepherd's Grove • Oct 15, 2026 • 26 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this teaching, Pastor Bobby Schuller clears up common misunderstandings surrounding the spiritual gifts of speaking in tongues and prophecy. He emphasizes that spiritual gifts are not forced upon us by God, but require our active yielding and faith—such as opening our mouth to speak when the Holy Spirit gives utterance. Believers are encouraged to seek these gifts to edify others, grow in prayer, and stay sensitive to the Holy Spirit in daily life.

Themes

Spiritual GiftsSpeaking in TonguesProphecyYielding to the Holy SpiritFaith and ObedienceChurch Order

Pastor's Points

1.

1. You have to desire it and want it, asking God for the gift.

2.

2. You have to come to Jesus, the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.

3.

3. Take a deep breath, open your mouth, and let it fly in faith.

Key Points

1.
1. Desire and ask for the gift: You must actively desire the gift of tongues and ask God for it in prayer.
2.
2. Come directly to Jesus: Seek Jesus, who baptizes in the Holy Spirit and imparts spiritual gifts.
3.
3. Take an act of faith: Open your mouth and speak, trusting the Holy Spirit to give you the utterance as you step out in faith.
4.
Operating in spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues requires human partnership; God does not force control over a believer's vocal cords like a puppeteer, but provides the utterance as we actively yield and open our mouths.
5.
Speaking in tongues serves as a spiritual safeguard and grounding discipline that keeps believers humble, passionate, and protected against spiritual complacency or intellectual pride.
6.
Praying in tongues is an effective tool for interceding over specific people, challenges, or moments of worry when we do not know the exact words to pray in our natural language.
7.
Promptings from the Holy Spirit often lead us to address a person's core spiritual need rather than simply answering their literal or surface-level questions, just as Jesus did with Nicodemus.
8.

Sermon Moments

“When you pray in tongues, you are doing it in partnership with the Holy Spirit; He gives the utterance, but you must open your mouth in faith.”

“Nobody has ever received the gift of tongues with a closed mouth—it takes stepping out in active obedience.”

“The enemy tries to convince you that you are making it up when you pray in tongues, but stepping out in faith yields powerful spiritual breakthrough.”

“Like Jesus with Nicodemus, when we are led by the Holy Spirit in conversation, we address what a soul truly needs rather than just replying to the question asked.”

“Prophecy is simply sharing what God puts on your mind to build up, comfort, and encourage someone else.”

“People often elevate the dramatic experience of spiritual gifts and diminish their practical results, but faithful obedience yields long-term fruit.”

“Scripture tells us not to forbid prophecy or tongues, but to shepherd them so that all things are done decently and in order.”

This Week

Ask Jesus directly in prayer for the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit, trusting His promise to give good gifts to those who ask.

Step out in faith when praying in tongues or sharing a prophetic word by intentionally opening your mouth and yielding your speech to the Spirit.

Set aside dedicated time this week to pray in tongues over specific situations, loved ones, or daily worries, trusting God to intercede.

In spiritual conversations, pause and ask the Holy Spirit for utterance before answering, seeking to address deeper spiritual needs rather than just surface-level questions.

Practice listening prayer in small group settings by taking moments of quiet worship to receive an encouraging word, scripture, or image for others.

Use prophetic encouragement simple and clearly to edify, build up, and strengthen fellow believers in their faith walk.

Maintain healthy church boundaries by exercising gentleness, meekness, and order when evaluating spiritual expressions in community.

Remember This

Operating in the gifts of tongues and prophecy is an act of active faith and yielding to the Holy Spirit that produces lasting practical fruit in the believer's life and church community.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.