"1. Lead in lengthy sessions of corporate praying and singing in tongues. True Christian leaders will confidently, passionately and continually lead people in fervent and supernatural prayer. Lack of a powerful prayer emphasis on Sunday mornings is an indicator of a lack of a powerful prayer discipline throughout the week. When we are burning in intercession throughout the week, there is an explosion that simply must come on Sunday mornings and any other time the saints meet together. Nurturing an atmosphere where everybody is praying in tongues and singing in the Spirit simply cannot disappoint. How easy would it be, in the midst of worship, to spend 15 or 20 minutes pacing around the room, lying out at the altar or finding a place to pray in tongues with a zealous spirit? I recommend integrating this into every church service, understanding that the wind of the Holy Spirit may blow the program for the rest of the day well of course. In fact, it would be valuable to bring the worship team down off the platform on occasion during this part of the service so they can be free to let the groans and cries of their heart out. Often, worship team members find a comfort spot behind their instrument or microphone. You'd be sadly surprised at how many people who have been entrusted to lead us into the holy of holies don't operate from a burning, overwhelming spirit of prayer. "When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in other tongues and prophesied" (Acts 19:6)." -- John Burton
The scene from Acts 19 is not from a church service. It has no relevance to the point he is trying to make. Look at what he is recommending though! This is pure chaos. The chapter the key verse is from displays the correct order of church service and Paul clearly tries to dissuade people from pursuing tongues. In the end he capitulates but limits the amount of tongue speakers to 2-3 in a service. Here Burton wishes to interrupt worshipping God Almighty so we can wander around the sanctuary muttering in tongues under our breath. This is the traditional false teaching regarding tongues. The public manifestation of the gift was always known foreign languages. Yes there are verses about a private prayer language where the Spirit intercedes for us when we do not know what to pray but Burton misses the "private" part. I might add here there is no such thing as singing in the spirit. This has been made up by Charismania by hijacking the following verse:
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, - Ephesians 5:19 (ESV)
A spiritual song does not mean singing in tongues. If it did, it would say so. God is not vague. In fact, the word song there more properly breaks down as "ode", which is a short poem. Paul is encouraging us to recite poetry ABOUT spiritual matters. Not to mention the bible is very clear about the expression of tongues in church:
If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. -- 1Corinthians 14:27-28 (ESV)
Burton is advocating for everyone to be "praying and singing" in tongues at the same time without any interpretation. While that may replicate Azusa it wouldn't represent any biblical instruction at all.
"2. Embrace a vibrant prophetic culture. Invite people to submit prophetic words during the service. In order to stay right on track with the order of service and to ensure the focus of the day isn't threatened, definitely do not promote a prophetic culture. Unfortunately, too many pastors have embraced that advice by eliminating or rejecting prophetic ministry on Sundays. I've always believed one of the best ways to promote an absolutely electric church service is by allowing God to speak. When people are trained in the prophetic and are also given an outlet to reveal what God is desiring to communicate through them, the supernatural energy in the room spikes. I often wonder how many sermons have been delivered and how many church services have been conducted in such a way that God's plan for the day was entirely missed. As we effectively equip people in prophetic ministry and facilitate an environment that affirms and promotes prophetic expression, God will blow through the saints and the atmosphere will shake under the weight of God's rhema word. We need the groans of God to roar through the saints and to prophetically shatter the building, just as they did at Azusa. "Follow after love and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy" (1 Cor. 14:1)." -- John Burton
The next abused gift is prophecy. It is true that 14:1 states that all should desire prophecy but it most certainly does not say that all may prophesy. This is one of the major heresies of the modern Charismaniacal movement. Prophecy is hearing directly from God and informing His people what the Lord has said. There is no "preparing" people for such a ministry. You either hear from God or you do not. The modern day false prophet brigade however claims that a good prophet has about a 65% accuracy record! The 35% of the time they claim they have a word from God they are actually lying! In the Old Testament days they would be stoned to death. Today we are to mark them and avoid them. The Charismaniacal church has turned prophesy into clairvoyance. By the way, the bible is the final revealed will of God. He did not forget to include something that He now is giving to Bob from your local church. All prophecy must be reflective back to the word of God. Lastly on this point, not everyone can prophesy. It is a gift given and apportioned by the Holy Spirit alone. The bible is explicitly clear that not everyone prophesies.
