So What Should I Do

1 Corinthians 14:14-15 (KJV) - For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prays, 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.

 The Apostle Paul carefully laid out the argument that praying in the Spirit was unfruitful to our understanding and to those that are around us.  Many have attempted to use this argument to quench the Spirit and the wonderful gift that God has given his people of speaking in tongues.  But in verse 15 Paul asks a very important question.  “So what shall I do?”  Should I stop speaking in an unknown tongue?  Should I stand in church and speak in an unknown tongue without interpretation?  Should I devise a doctrine that tells the world this gift is over and we don’t need it anymore?  What should I do? 
     Paul has a very clear answer.  “I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind.”  In verse 32 of this same chapter it states “And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.”  Let no one tell you that they can’t control what is happening to them when the Spirit is moving on them.  God does not force us to speak in tongues we must yield to the Spirit.  You don’t have to shout, dance, run, roll, or jump when the Spirit moves on you.  There is nothing wrong with those things in their place at the right time but remember these are not gifts of the Spirit they are fleshly reactions to the power of the Spirit.  When they are used improperly they bring confusion to the House of God but when we refuse to allow the Holy Spirit to operate His gifts through us we allow the body of Christ to suffer and we rob ourselves of the power that these gifts bring to our lives.  Paul had made up his mind, “I will pray, in the spirit as well as with my understanding."  Don’t rob yourself of the power that God has for you.  In Acts 1:8 we are told, “But you shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses…”  When we try to fly with one wing we can’t even get off the ground.  When we try to serve God without all that He has given us we rob ourselves of the victory He has assured us.  It is time to soar on wings as eagles.