ListenDaily - 26 February 2009; Pausing to reflect...
May we take a one day pause from our discussion on tongues?
I am ever mindful (and if I forget, I am ever reminded!) that there is a wide variety of folks that read this, from many denominational, non-denominational, and never-denominational backgrounds. And so, when talking about traditions, it is a guarantee that my experiences will be quite different than many or most of you. That being said, yesterday was Ash Wednesday and ushered in the season of Lent. For many people, this is a regular part of their lives, for others, not a part at all.
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Revelation 21:1-5 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
I praise God and await that day! Lent has been, traditionally, a time of reflection, and I think that is good. It is good to, on occasion, remember what part we have played in putting Jesus on the cross. And it is good to remember that we know about the cross, but we also know about the empty tomb! Christ died because of my sin, and I should remember that, but I do not have to dwell in the guilt because He arose, victorious over death!
Ash Wednesday: I went home last night, and did what I had earlier asked the congregation to do. I went to the sink to wash my face, I looked in the mirror at the ashes, shaped into a cross on my forehead...I looked up at the cross...then I washed it off. The stain of the ash cross was gone, as the stain of sin on my life is gone because of the cross.
Lent: Consider giving something up for Lent, but replace it with Jesus. Give up a favorite food, and when your stomach growls for it, thank God for all you really do have. Give up lunch, spend lunchtime in prayer. Give up buying lunch, give the money to feed someone. Give up one TV show and read the Bible. Or do something else. I think you will find that in 'giving up', you will receive so much!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What is your tradition concerning Ash Wednesday/Lent?
2. Will you consider giving something up and getting more Jesus?
3. If so, what will you do, and may I share it?
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Prayer is reaching out after the unseen;
fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal.
Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution
that we are ready to sacrifice anything,
even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God."
Andrew Murray
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
ListenDaily - 25 February 2009; What we know so far...
ListenDaily - 25 February 2009; What we know so far...
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
The next mention of tongues comes in the nineteenth chapter of Acts. A lot has happened between these passages, including Saul/Paul's conversion. Interestingly, he brought 'new languages' into the preaching of the Gospel, from his own prior education. Paul was a Hebrew, a Roman citizen, and spoke Greek as well.
"Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all." Acts 19:4-7 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is an interesting passage, that looks a bit different from earlier ones, and yet reflects some similarities as well. Here are twelve, or 'about twelve' men, hearing and accepting Jesus. They are touched by the Holy Spirit, and begin to speak "in tongues and prophesy". Again, there is no clear definition of the tongues, and what they looked or sounded like. The main difference here is the laying on of hands prior to the speaking in tongues Now, this was not the first use of 'laying hands'. Jesus sometimes touched people when healing, and Acts 8 gives an account that contains the statement: " the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands".
Now we have a new question: did the Spirit come during the "laying on of hands" or because of it?
But I digress.
Friends, I am being true to what I stated at the beginning; I am not consulting outside sources, just reading what the Word says, concerning tongues, and will refer to commentaries and such later. What I see thus far is:
- The tongues in Acts 2 seem to be different, they were about human understanding.
- The Book of Acts does not define any other 'speaking in tongues'; mentions it, but without definition.
- The speaking in tongues in the Book of Acts, after Pentecost, is always preceded by; 1) a believer sharing the Gospel, 2) a non-believer hearing and accepting, 3) the presence of the Holy Spirit.
- Thus far, tongues are not promised nor sought.
Please reread that list, I think these are significant statements.
Next, we will move into Paul's letter to the Corinthians, which has the greatest number of tongues references.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does this say to you?
2. What do you think of these findings?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON PREACHING:
To teach in order to lead others to faith is the
task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"If Jesus preached the same message minister's preach today,
He would have never been crucified."
Leonard Ravenhill
"The reason why congregations have been so dead
is because they have dead men preaching to them.
How can dead men beget living children?"
George Whitefield
"Whatever subject I preach,
I do not stop until I reach the Savior,
the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things."
Charles Spurgeon
"You have nothing to do but to save souls.
Therefore spend and be spent in this work.
And go not only to those that need you,
but to those that need you most.
It is not your business to preach so many times,
and to take care of this or that society;
but to save as many souls as you can;
to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.
John Wesley
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
The next mention of tongues comes in the nineteenth chapter of Acts. A lot has happened between these passages, including Saul/Paul's conversion. Interestingly, he brought 'new languages' into the preaching of the Gospel, from his own prior education. Paul was a Hebrew, a Roman citizen, and spoke Greek as well.
"Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all." Acts 19:4-7 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is an interesting passage, that looks a bit different from earlier ones, and yet reflects some similarities as well. Here are twelve, or 'about twelve' men, hearing and accepting Jesus. They are touched by the Holy Spirit, and begin to speak "in tongues and prophesy". Again, there is no clear definition of the tongues, and what they looked or sounded like. The main difference here is the laying on of hands prior to the speaking in tongues Now, this was not the first use of 'laying hands'. Jesus sometimes touched people when healing, and Acts 8 gives an account that contains the statement: " the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands".
Now we have a new question: did the Spirit come during the "laying on of hands" or because of it?
But I digress.
Friends, I am being true to what I stated at the beginning; I am not consulting outside sources, just reading what the Word says, concerning tongues, and will refer to commentaries and such later. What I see thus far is:
- The tongues in Acts 2 seem to be different, they were about human understanding.
- The Book of Acts does not define any other 'speaking in tongues'; mentions it, but without definition.
- The speaking in tongues in the Book of Acts, after Pentecost, is always preceded by; 1) a believer sharing the Gospel, 2) a non-believer hearing and accepting, 3) the presence of the Holy Spirit.
- Thus far, tongues are not promised nor sought.
Please reread that list, I think these are significant statements.
Next, we will move into Paul's letter to the Corinthians, which has the greatest number of tongues references.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does this say to you?
2. What do you think of these findings?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON PREACHING:
To teach in order to lead others to faith is the
task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"If Jesus preached the same message minister's preach today,
He would have never been crucified."
Leonard Ravenhill
"The reason why congregations have been so dead
is because they have dead men preaching to them.
How can dead men beget living children?"
George Whitefield
"Whatever subject I preach,
I do not stop until I reach the Savior,
the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things."
Charles Spurgeon
"You have nothing to do but to save souls.
Therefore spend and be spent in this work.
And go not only to those that need you,
but to those that need you most.
It is not your business to preach so many times,
and to take care of this or that society;
but to save as many souls as you can;
to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.
John Wesley
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
ListenDaily - 24 February 2009; Backing up to move forward
ListenDaily - 24 February 2009; Backing up to move forward
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
We have already discussed how the presence of the Spirit was manifested in the "speaking in tongues and praising God ". Now let us look back at the preceding verses:
"Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:38-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came..."
Paul wrote in his first letter to the Thessalonians that we should not quench the Spirit, or put out the Spirit's fire, and He lists ways to avoid that pitfall. I wonder if what we are seeing here is the exact opposite. If we have the capability to limit the Spirit, then do we not have the opportunity to create an environment in which the Spirit is welcomed and can readily work? When that happens, we may see tongues and other manifestations of the Spirit's presence.
So the, how did Peter welcome the Spirit?
He preached Christ...crucified and resurrected! And while he did, "the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message...[they began] speaking in tongues and praising God."
We still have some work to do, figuring out what the Scriptures say about 'speaking in tongues', but this much is crystal clear: the Spirit can be ushered in by the sharing of the crucified and resurrected Christ with those who do not yet know Him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do you displayed in your church?
2. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do others see in you?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON PREACHING:
To teach in order to lead others to faith is the
task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"If Jesus preached the same message minister's preach today,
He would have never been crucified."
Leonard Ravenhill
"The reason why congregations have been so dead
is because they have dead men preaching to them.
How can dead men beget living children?"
George Whitefield
"Whatever subject I preach,
I do not stop until I reach the Savior,
the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things."
Charles Spurgeon
"You have nothing to do but to save souls.
Therefore spend and be spent in this work.
And go not only to those that need you,
but to those that need you most.
It is not your business to preach so many times,
and to take care of this or that society;
but to save as many souls as you can;
to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.
John Wesley
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
We have already discussed how the presence of the Spirit was manifested in the "speaking in tongues and praising God ". Now let us look back at the preceding verses:
"Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:38-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came..."
Paul wrote in his first letter to the Thessalonians that we should not quench the Spirit, or put out the Spirit's fire, and He lists ways to avoid that pitfall. I wonder if what we are seeing here is the exact opposite. If we have the capability to limit the Spirit, then do we not have the opportunity to create an environment in which the Spirit is welcomed and can readily work? When that happens, we may see tongues and other manifestations of the Spirit's presence.
So the, how did Peter welcome the Spirit?
He preached Christ...crucified and resurrected! And while he did, "the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message...[they began] speaking in tongues and praising God."
We still have some work to do, figuring out what the Scriptures say about 'speaking in tongues', but this much is crystal clear: the Spirit can be ushered in by the sharing of the crucified and resurrected Christ with those who do not yet know Him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do you displayed in your church?
2. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do others see in you?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON PREACHING:
To teach in order to lead others to faith is the
task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"If Jesus preached the same message minister's preach today,
He would have never been crucified."
Leonard Ravenhill
"The reason why congregations have been so dead
is because they have dead men preaching to them.
How can dead men beget living children?"
George Whitefield
"Whatever subject I preach,
I do not stop until I reach the Savior,
the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things."
Charles Spurgeon
"You have nothing to do but to save souls.
Therefore spend and be spent in this work.
And go not only to those that need you,
but to those that need you most.
It is not your business to preach so many times,
and to take care of this or that society;
but to save as many souls as you can;
to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.
John Wesley
Thursday, February 19, 2009
ListenDaily - 19 February 2009; To see and hear you have to speak!
ListenDaily - 19 February 2009; To see and hear you have to speak!
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:44-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Much of the debate and discussion about tongues and other Spiritual gifts seems to center around details of what they sound like, what they mean, when and where they are appropriate. All good stuff to discuss. But can we pause here, with this passage, to consider another perspective?
Everything we can know about the Father, Son, and Spirit, will never be all there is to know. We cannot understand it all...though we should pursue understanding. While the Scriptures may seem less than clear on some subjects, others are crystal clear. In today's passage, for example, exactly what the 'tongues' were like, we do not know. Were they speaking in a Spirit language, or were they enabled with foreign tongues so that others could understand, like in Acts 2?
I don't know.
This I do know...unbelievers heard and believed. The Holy Spirit came upon them and there was evidence of His presence.
Regardless of our definitions of the Gifts, the believers we know should show some evidence of the Holy Spirit.
If we are believers, we should know the presence of the Spirit, and show evidence of it.
How are we doing with that?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do you displayed in your church?
2. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do others see in you?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS FROM BILLY SUNDAY:
"Trying to run a church without revivals can be done
when you can run a gasoline engine on buttermilk."
"Enthusiasm is as good a thing in
the Church as fire is in a cook stove."
"If you are strangers to prayer you are strangers to power."
"We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:44-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Much of the debate and discussion about tongues and other Spiritual gifts seems to center around details of what they sound like, what they mean, when and where they are appropriate. All good stuff to discuss. But can we pause here, with this passage, to consider another perspective?
Everything we can know about the Father, Son, and Spirit, will never be all there is to know. We cannot understand it all...though we should pursue understanding. While the Scriptures may seem less than clear on some subjects, others are crystal clear. In today's passage, for example, exactly what the 'tongues' were like, we do not know. Were they speaking in a Spirit language, or were they enabled with foreign tongues so that others could understand, like in Acts 2?
I don't know.
This I do know...unbelievers heard and believed. The Holy Spirit came upon them and there was evidence of His presence.
Regardless of our definitions of the Gifts, the believers we know should show some evidence of the Holy Spirit.
If we are believers, we should know the presence of the Spirit, and show evidence of it.
How are we doing with that?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do you displayed in your church?
2. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do others see in you?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS FROM BILLY SUNDAY:
"Trying to run a church without revivals can be done
when you can run a gasoline engine on buttermilk."
"Enthusiasm is as good a thing in
the Church as fire is in a cook stove."
"If you are strangers to prayer you are strangers to power."
"We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
ListenDaily - 18 February 2009; To see and hear you have to speak!
ListenDaily - 18 February 2009; To see and hear you have to speak!
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:44-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This short passage is filled with information...and raises some questions.
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message." So then, the evidence of the Spirit here is upon those who, before speaking...heard.
"The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles." A sub-lesson from our topic, and an important one for believers at all times, anyone can receive Christ; the Spirit and His gifts are available to all.
"...the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God." So...what is the evidence of the Spirit here? The speaking in tongues? The praises to God? Or both? Are these Spiritual tongues or is this an understanding of other languages?
To me, what stands out here is the order of events.
The Gospel was given.
The Gospel was received.
The Holy Spirit was given.
There was evidence of the Spirit.
The evidence was with the new believers, witnessed by all, recognized by those who had already believed.
So then, if we were to experience something like this today, what would it look like? As those who have already believed, our role would be the giving of the Gospel and the recognition of the results. It is the responsibility of the hearers of the Word to accept, and it is God's decision how to evidence His Spirit.
The question is, are we doing our part? Are we preaching the Truth and looking for evidence of the Spirit?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. What is the purpose of tongues in this passage?
3. Are we, as individuals, doing our part? Are our churches?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS FROM BILLY SUNDAY:
"Trying to run a church without revivals can be done
when you can run a gasoline engine on buttermilk."
"Enthusiasm is as good a thing in
the Church as fire is in a cook stove."
"If you are strangers to prayer you are strangers to power."
"We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:44-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This short passage is filled with information...and raises some questions.
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message." So then, the evidence of the Spirit here is upon those who, before speaking...heard.
"The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles." A sub-lesson from our topic, and an important one for believers at all times, anyone can receive Christ; the Spirit and His gifts are available to all.
"...the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God." So...what is the evidence of the Spirit here? The speaking in tongues? The praises to God? Or both? Are these Spiritual tongues or is this an understanding of other languages?
To me, what stands out here is the order of events.
The Gospel was given.
The Gospel was received.
The Holy Spirit was given.
There was evidence of the Spirit.
The evidence was with the new believers, witnessed by all, recognized by those who had already believed.
So then, if we were to experience something like this today, what would it look like? As those who have already believed, our role would be the giving of the Gospel and the recognition of the results. It is the responsibility of the hearers of the Word to accept, and it is God's decision how to evidence His Spirit.
The question is, are we doing our part? Are we preaching the Truth and looking for evidence of the Spirit?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. What is the purpose of tongues in this passage?
3. Are we, as individuals, doing our part? Are our churches?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS FROM BILLY SUNDAY:
"Trying to run a church without revivals can be done
when you can run a gasoline engine on buttermilk."
"Enthusiasm is as good a thing in
the Church as fire is in a cook stove."
"If you are strangers to prayer you are strangers to power."
"We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
ListenDaily - 17 February 2009; He who has ears, let him hear!
ListenDaily - 17 February 2009; He who has ears, let him hear!
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Acts 2: 5-11(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Yesterday's passage in Mark, is the only mention of speaking in tongues in the Gospels. Moving forward through the New Testament, we come to the second chapter of Acts. As a reminder, I am not using any commentaries at this point, just reading the Scriptures and seeing what they say to us in our language. We will look at some other perspectives, and the Greek terms before we finish this study.
"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them...there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?...we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
God's role here, in he Holy Spirit, was to fill the apostles and allow this miracle to occur.
The speakers preached! The hearers heard the Gospel!
Now, was the miracle here a changing of the speakers' tongues, or of the hearers' ears? We really do not know...and I have to ask...does it matter? The important thing was that the Good News of Jesus Christ be understood, and that language not be a barrier.
As I have alluded to previously, this Pentecostal experience was not what we typically view as 'speaking in tongues', yet it is a passage often referred to in that subject.
What I do not want to miss here is that God made it important to cross over the human language barrier, once created by Him. Remember the Tower of Babel? At that time, God used language to scatter men; here He uses it to bring them together, and, more importantly, to Him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. How do different languages help/hurt the spreading of the Gospel today?
3. How does God overcome language differences in and through the church today?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Acts 2: 5-11(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Yesterday's passage in Mark, is the only mention of speaking in tongues in the Gospels. Moving forward through the New Testament, we come to the second chapter of Acts. As a reminder, I am not using any commentaries at this point, just reading the Scriptures and seeing what they say to us in our language. We will look at some other perspectives, and the Greek terms before we finish this study.
"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them...there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?...we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
God's role here, in he Holy Spirit, was to fill the apostles and allow this miracle to occur.
The speakers preached! The hearers heard the Gospel!
Now, was the miracle here a changing of the speakers' tongues, or of the hearers' ears? We really do not know...and I have to ask...does it matter? The important thing was that the Good News of Jesus Christ be understood, and that language not be a barrier.
As I have alluded to previously, this Pentecostal experience was not what we typically view as 'speaking in tongues', yet it is a passage often referred to in that subject.
What I do not want to miss here is that God made it important to cross over the human language barrier, once created by Him. Remember the Tower of Babel? At that time, God used language to scatter men; here He uses it to bring them together, and, more importantly, to Him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. How do different languages help/hurt the spreading of the Gospel today?
3. How does God overcome language differences in and through the church today?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
Monday, February 16, 2009
ListenDaily - 16 February 2009; WDJS?
ListenDaily - 16 February 2009; WDJS? (What did Jesus say?)
Speaking in tongues...What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." Mark 16:15-18 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is an intriguing passage, some debate that it should not be included. There is a note in most Bibles referring to that debate. And the idea of snake handling is one that puts most people off.
Me too.
But let us look at what Jesus is really saying here; are these promises or commandments or what?
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." This is a commandment. Period.
"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." This is a promise and a certainty.
" And these signs will accompany..." The word 'accompany' here is an important one to note. Jesus did not say 'all believers will...', rather He said that these signs would go along with the new church. And the book of Acts gives examples of these things. Acts 28 documents Paul being attacked by a snake and suffering no ill effects. Note also that Paul did not go after the snake to prove anything, rather that God protected him from the unsolicited snake attack.
I also have to wonder this; when Jesus said "...they will speak in new tongues..." is it implicit that He meant 'tongues' only as we have come to think about them? Remember, the 'tongues' at Pentecost were not a spiritual language, but languages that enabled all human listeners to understand the Good News being preached, without interpretation.
Maybe Jesus meant one, maybe the other, maybe both. I do not know. One thing I do know; the multitude of letters I have received on this topic have revealed divisions in churches over this 'speaking in tongue'. And Jesus said "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Period.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. Have you ever seen a difference between someone's teaching and the Scriptures?
3. What do you do about that?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
Speaking in tongues...What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." Mark 16:15-18 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is an intriguing passage, some debate that it should not be included. There is a note in most Bibles referring to that debate. And the idea of snake handling is one that puts most people off.
Me too.
But let us look at what Jesus is really saying here; are these promises or commandments or what?
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." This is a commandment. Period.
"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." This is a promise and a certainty.
" And these signs will accompany..." The word 'accompany' here is an important one to note. Jesus did not say 'all believers will...', rather He said that these signs would go along with the new church. And the book of Acts gives examples of these things. Acts 28 documents Paul being attacked by a snake and suffering no ill effects. Note also that Paul did not go after the snake to prove anything, rather that God protected him from the unsolicited snake attack.
I also have to wonder this; when Jesus said "...they will speak in new tongues..." is it implicit that He meant 'tongues' only as we have come to think about them? Remember, the 'tongues' at Pentecost were not a spiritual language, but languages that enabled all human listeners to understand the Good News being preached, without interpretation.
Maybe Jesus meant one, maybe the other, maybe both. I do not know. One thing I do know; the multitude of letters I have received on this topic have revealed divisions in churches over this 'speaking in tongue'. And Jesus said "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Period.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. Have you ever seen a difference between someone's teaching and the Scriptures?
3. What do you do about that?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
Friday, February 13, 2009
ListenDaily - 13 February 2009; Sometimes the church gets in the way...
Speaking in tongues...What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
I received the following note from a dear friend, in response to the last reading. I am not attaching a name, but this is such an important message I feel I must share it:
"Jim, the gifts of tongues has always confused me, but I will share this one thing. My grandmother used to go to the barn for what she called, "Intercessory prayer." On two occasions she spoke in tongues in the barn.
When she witnessed this to her church, they promptly removed her name from the membership roll. She didn't care because as she told them, "You can't remove my name from the Lamb's Book of Life." When I read it in the Bible, I didn't feel she was wrong, because she never spoke this in the church, and without looking it up, doesn't it say that speaking in tongues in the church is edifying yourself and not the church?
This part I will only share with you. I'm very uncomfortable whenever I have the occasion to be in a church that speaks in tongues. I was told by one of their members that I was probably under conviction. I DO know the difference between being under conviction and being just plain leery.
If I've confused you, now you know how I feel. LOL!"
In the first paragraph we see a church denying the gift, and unbelievably, punishing someone for sharing how God had blessed her...removed her name from the rolls?!?! In the second paragraph, we see a church not necessarily, but almost necessarily, requiring that believers speak in tongues, or that there is something wrong if you do not.
Friends, the gift of tongues is documented in Scriptures:
"(Jesus) said to them, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,..they will speak in new tongues..." From Mark 16:15-18
And it is clear that not everyone has the gift:
"Do all speak in tongues?" From 1 Corinthians 12
Certainly the church must discern the Scriptures, and discern what gifts people are blessed with. And certainly there are areas of Scripture that are not as obvious in meaning as others. But so often, 'the church' has a blatant disregard for obvious Scriptural teaching. In just the last year I have seen these things happen:
When asked to pray for a pastor's daughter, and inquiring if he would like someone to come in and anoint and lay hands on the girl, we were told, "We don't do that at our church." Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. From James 5
Someone else asked me not to use the words 'born again', because their church did not 'use that language'. "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. " Jesus' language from John 3. (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Friends, it is not a matter what you and I think about any any Scripture. And it is not a matter of what any pastor or teacher or professor thinks about any passage of Scripture. There is Truth. What matters is not one's opinion, but that we wholeheartedly seek the Truth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. Have you ever seen a difference between someone's teaching and the Scriptures?
3. What do you do about that?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
I received the following note from a dear friend, in response to the last reading. I am not attaching a name, but this is such an important message I feel I must share it:
"Jim, the gifts of tongues has always confused me, but I will share this one thing. My grandmother used to go to the barn for what she called, "Intercessory prayer." On two occasions she spoke in tongues in the barn.
When she witnessed this to her church, they promptly removed her name from the membership roll. She didn't care because as she told them, "You can't remove my name from the Lamb's Book of Life." When I read it in the Bible, I didn't feel she was wrong, because she never spoke this in the church, and without looking it up, doesn't it say that speaking in tongues in the church is edifying yourself and not the church?
This part I will only share with you. I'm very uncomfortable whenever I have the occasion to be in a church that speaks in tongues. I was told by one of their members that I was probably under conviction. I DO know the difference between being under conviction and being just plain leery.
If I've confused you, now you know how I feel. LOL!"
In the first paragraph we see a church denying the gift, and unbelievably, punishing someone for sharing how God had blessed her...removed her name from the rolls?!?! In the second paragraph, we see a church not necessarily, but almost necessarily, requiring that believers speak in tongues, or that there is something wrong if you do not.
Friends, the gift of tongues is documented in Scriptures:
"(Jesus) said to them, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,..they will speak in new tongues..." From Mark 16:15-18
And it is clear that not everyone has the gift:
"Do all speak in tongues?" From 1 Corinthians 12
Certainly the church must discern the Scriptures, and discern what gifts people are blessed with. And certainly there are areas of Scripture that are not as obvious in meaning as others. But so often, 'the church' has a blatant disregard for obvious Scriptural teaching. In just the last year I have seen these things happen:
When asked to pray for a pastor's daughter, and inquiring if he would like someone to come in and anoint and lay hands on the girl, we were told, "We don't do that at our church." Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. From James 5
Someone else asked me not to use the words 'born again', because their church did not 'use that language'. "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. " Jesus' language from John 3. (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Friends, it is not a matter what you and I think about any any Scripture. And it is not a matter of what any pastor or teacher or professor thinks about any passage of Scripture. There is Truth. What matters is not one's opinion, but that we wholeheartedly seek the Truth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. Have you ever seen a difference between someone's teaching and the Scriptures?
3. What do you do about that?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
ListenDaily - 11 February 2009; What does the Word say? p.2
ListenDaily - 11 February 2009; What does the Word say? p.2
It is vital, in our search for the truth about speaking in tongues, that we know what the Scriptures say. Yesterday we looked at a variety of passages, today we will look at a series of verses from 1 Corinthians, chapters 12-14. As with yesterday's Scriptures, look for the place or role of the speaker, the hearer, and God in these instances, and see what else God shows you while reading.
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom...to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues...are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way. I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal...Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled...
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand[l] say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord.
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. From 1 Corinthians 12-14
(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. What did you learn today?
3. What will you do with that?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
It is vital, in our search for the truth about speaking in tongues, that we know what the Scriptures say. Yesterday we looked at a variety of passages, today we will look at a series of verses from 1 Corinthians, chapters 12-14. As with yesterday's Scriptures, look for the place or role of the speaker, the hearer, and God in these instances, and see what else God shows you while reading.
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom...to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues...are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way. I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal...Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled...
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand[l] say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me," says the Lord.
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. From 1 Corinthians 12-14
(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. What did you learn today?
3. What will you do with that?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
ListenDaily - 10 February 2009; What does the Word say?
ListenDaily - 10 February 2009; What does the Word say?
There are less Scriptural references to speaking in tongues than you might imagine, though that does not, in any way, lessen the impact of this gift. Oh, the word 'tongue' or 'tongues' appears many times, but I am not including instances where the actual, anatomical tongue is referenced.
So, as we move on, please look over these passages. I am, with intent, not looking at any commentaries or articles in these first few days. I am going to stick strictly to the Scriptures, and attempt to write without considering any previous bias; I will ask that you read the same way. So then, the next step is to read over these passages, and ask God to open us to His truth. Below is the first half (or so), tomorrow we will look at the 1 Corinthians passages. From there, we will begin dissecting them. For today, while reading, look for the place or role of the speaker, the hearer, and God in these instances, and see what else God shows you while reading.
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." Mark 16:15-18
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Acts 2: 1-11
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." Acts 10:44-47
Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. Acts 19:4-7
(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. What did you learn today?
3. What will you do with that?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
There are less Scriptural references to speaking in tongues than you might imagine, though that does not, in any way, lessen the impact of this gift. Oh, the word 'tongue' or 'tongues' appears many times, but I am not including instances where the actual, anatomical tongue is referenced.
So, as we move on, please look over these passages. I am, with intent, not looking at any commentaries or articles in these first few days. I am going to stick strictly to the Scriptures, and attempt to write without considering any previous bias; I will ask that you read the same way. So then, the next step is to read over these passages, and ask God to open us to His truth. Below is the first half (or so), tomorrow we will look at the 1 Corinthians passages. From there, we will begin dissecting them. For today, while reading, look for the place or role of the speaker, the hearer, and God in these instances, and see what else God shows you while reading.
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." Mark 16:15-18
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Acts 2: 1-11
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." Acts 10:44-47
Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all. Acts 19:4-7
(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. What did you learn today?
3. What will you do with that?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
Monday, February 9, 2009
ListenDaily - 09 February 2009; Who are you?
ListenDaily - 09 February 2009; Who are you?
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
....to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Last Friday, I asked for prayer to help me decide whether or not to delve further into the subject of speaking in, and the interpretation of, tongues. I thank you for the prayers, and the emails, 100% of which requested that we go on. As if I needed further affirmation, as I sat down to write, I received an email from the Barna Group (barna.org) entitled: "Spiritual Gifts that Christians Say They Have". George Barna is a noted expert in church statistics and trends.
As we move into this topic, there is some really important information he provides that we should consider. For example, the geographical location in which you live has a direct relationship to your beliefs about Spiritual gifts:
"Awareness of spiritual gifts was most common among self-described Christians who live in the South (75%) and West (71%),
and least common among those living in the Midwest (63%) and Northeast (58%)." *
Another determination is the 'what-kind-of-a-Christian-are-you' factor. This does not refer to denomination, but rather some specific beliefs. I usually avoid labels, but sometimes they do lend understanding:
"Born again Christians" were defined as people who said they had made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that was still important in their life today and who also indicated they believed that when they die they will go to Heaven because they had confessed their sins and had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as "born again."
"Evangelicals" meet the born again criteria (described above) plus seven other conditions. Those include saying their faith is very important in their life today; believing they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs about Christ with non-Christians; believing that Satan exists; believing that eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not works; believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; asserting that the Bible is accurate in all that it teaches; and describing God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today. Being classified as an evangelical is not dependent upon church attendance or the denominational affiliation of the church attended. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as "evangelical."
"Nominal Christians" were defined as individuals who described themselves as Christian but did not meet the born again criteria (outlined above)." *
Among these 'types' of believers (I really hate saying that!) Barna says there are these types of differences, in reference to Spiritual gifts:
"99% of evangelicals have heard of spiritual gifts...74% among non-evangelical born again Christians and 58% among notional Christians.
Similarly, there was a large gap between Protestants (75%) and Catholics (54%) in awareness. Even within the Protestant community there was a noteworthy gap between those who attend a mainline church (68% awareness) and those who attend a Protestant congregation not associated with a mainline denomination (78%)." *
I will say it again...I REALLY DO NOT LIKE LABELS.
But...I would ask you to look over the descriptions of "Born Again", "Evangelical", and "Notional" and see where you find yourself, in a category or somewhere between. I will continue to eschew labelling myself, for I believe they are only self-describing. However, so that you may know the perspective from which this is always written, I personally adhere to these of Barna's statements:
I have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important.
When I die I will go to Heaven because I have confessed my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior
Faith is very important in my life today.
I have a personal responsibility to share Christ with non-Christians.
Satan exists.
Eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not works. (But I would add that works are a responsibility of the saved.)
Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
The Bible is accurate in all that it teaches.
God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today.
You should ask yourself what you believe. You should ask your Sunday School teacher, Bible study leader, and pastor what they believe as well. There is room for discussion, but you should know from what perspective your teacher is teaching!
* Quotes are from: http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=326
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. Have you ever examined your own beliefs?
3. Do you know your pastor's perspective? If not, will you ask?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our semiaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
....to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Last Friday, I asked for prayer to help me decide whether or not to delve further into the subject of speaking in, and the interpretation of, tongues. I thank you for the prayers, and the emails, 100% of which requested that we go on. As if I needed further affirmation, as I sat down to write, I received an email from the Barna Group (barna.org) entitled: "Spiritual Gifts that Christians Say They Have". George Barna is a noted expert in church statistics and trends.
As we move into this topic, there is some really important information he provides that we should consider. For example, the geographical location in which you live has a direct relationship to your beliefs about Spiritual gifts:
"Awareness of spiritual gifts was most common among self-described Christians who live in the South (75%) and West (71%),
and least common among those living in the Midwest (63%) and Northeast (58%)." *
Another determination is the 'what-kind-of-a-Christian-are-you' factor. This does not refer to denomination, but rather some specific beliefs. I usually avoid labels, but sometimes they do lend understanding:
"Born again Christians" were defined as people who said they had made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that was still important in their life today and who also indicated they believed that when they die they will go to Heaven because they had confessed their sins and had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as "born again."
"Evangelicals" meet the born again criteria (described above) plus seven other conditions. Those include saying their faith is very important in their life today; believing they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs about Christ with non-Christians; believing that Satan exists; believing that eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not works; believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; asserting that the Bible is accurate in all that it teaches; and describing God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today. Being classified as an evangelical is not dependent upon church attendance or the denominational affiliation of the church attended. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as "evangelical."
"Nominal Christians" were defined as individuals who described themselves as Christian but did not meet the born again criteria (outlined above)." *
Among these 'types' of believers (I really hate saying that!) Barna says there are these types of differences, in reference to Spiritual gifts:
"99% of evangelicals have heard of spiritual gifts...74% among non-evangelical born again Christians and 58% among notional Christians.
Similarly, there was a large gap between Protestants (75%) and Catholics (54%) in awareness. Even within the Protestant community there was a noteworthy gap between those who attend a mainline church (68% awareness) and those who attend a Protestant congregation not associated with a mainline denomination (78%)." *
I will say it again...I REALLY DO NOT LIKE LABELS.
But...I would ask you to look over the descriptions of "Born Again", "Evangelical", and "Notional" and see where you find yourself, in a category or somewhere between. I will continue to eschew labelling myself, for I believe they are only self-describing. However, so that you may know the perspective from which this is always written, I personally adhere to these of Barna's statements:
I have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important.
When I die I will go to Heaven because I have confessed my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior
Faith is very important in my life today.
I have a personal responsibility to share Christ with non-Christians.
Satan exists.
Eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not works. (But I would add that works are a responsibility of the saved.)
Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
The Bible is accurate in all that it teaches.
God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today.
You should ask yourself what you believe. You should ask your Sunday School teacher, Bible study leader, and pastor what they believe as well. There is room for discussion, but you should know from what perspective your teacher is teaching!
* Quotes are from: http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=326
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. Have you ever examined your own beliefs?
3. Do you know your pastor's perspective? If not, will you ask?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our semiaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
Friday, February 6, 2009
ListenDaily - 06 February 2009; What next? Please pray for guidance...
ListenDaily - 06 February 2009; What next? Please pray for guidance...
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
....to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
I sit here this morning, pausing...wondering if, due to the responses and questions I have received, if we need to take a turn into a study of speaking and interpreting tongues.
As I pause I pray...and receiving no clear indication one way or the other, I will continue in the direction which God has led me, and pray over the weekend, which way to go on Monday.
So let us look at more of Paul's teaching on gifts, including tongues:
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing...and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. From 1 Cor. 12-13
As I pray, and ask you to pray with me, whether or not to dig further into the subject of 'speaking in tongues', let us consider three of the things Paul teaches us here:
1) No one has all of the gifts.
2) But the Spiritual gifts should be present in the church, for God put them there.
3) Without love for God first, and love for others immediately following, all gifts are useless.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
1) No one has all of the gifts.
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
2) But the Spiritual gifts should be present in the church, for God put them there.
And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing...and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
3) Without love for God first, and love for others immediately following, all gifts are useless. One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29-31
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on 'speaking in tongues'?
2. What does your church teach, concerning Gifts of the Spirit?
3. Will you pray for me, that I will see God's plan for the next phase of this study?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"No matter how just your words may be,
you ruin everything when you speak with anger."
John Chrysostom
"An honest man speaks the truth, though it may give offence;
a vain man, in order that it may."
William Hazlitt
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"Speak when you are angry and you will
make the best speech you will ever regret."
Ambrose Bierce
"God is not silent. It is the nature of God to speak.
The second person of the Holy Trinity is called "The Word."
A.W. Tozer
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
....to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
I sit here this morning, pausing...wondering if, due to the responses and questions I have received, if we need to take a turn into a study of speaking and interpreting tongues.
As I pause I pray...and receiving no clear indication one way or the other, I will continue in the direction which God has led me, and pray over the weekend, which way to go on Monday.
So let us look at more of Paul's teaching on gifts, including tongues:
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing...and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. From 1 Cor. 12-13
As I pray, and ask you to pray with me, whether or not to dig further into the subject of 'speaking in tongues', let us consider three of the things Paul teaches us here:
1) No one has all of the gifts.
2) But the Spiritual gifts should be present in the church, for God put them there.
3) Without love for God first, and love for others immediately following, all gifts are useless.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
1) No one has all of the gifts.
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
2) But the Spiritual gifts should be present in the church, for God put them there.
And now I will show you the most excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing...and now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
3) Without love for God first, and love for others immediately following, all gifts are useless. One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:29-31
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on 'speaking in tongues'?
2. What does your church teach, concerning Gifts of the Spirit?
3. Will you pray for me, that I will see God's plan for the next phase of this study?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"No matter how just your words may be,
you ruin everything when you speak with anger."
John Chrysostom
"An honest man speaks the truth, though it may give offence;
a vain man, in order that it may."
William Hazlitt
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"Speak when you are angry and you will
make the best speech you will ever regret."
Ambrose Bierce
"God is not silent. It is the nature of God to speak.
The second person of the Holy Trinity is called "The Word."
A.W. Tozer
Thursday, February 5, 2009
ListenDaily - 05 February 2009; What did you say!?!?
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
....to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Speaking in tongues...this gift of the Spirit, and its relative, interpretation, have been the cause of much controversy in some parts of the Body, and totally ignored in others. I have seen churches that look down upon those that do not, and have seen churches that look down upon those that do.
And yet...
And yet this gift is given.
We will take a few days to look at this topic. I feel the need to reflect on the 2nd chapter of Acts (v.1-12) to begin, in order to define what 'speaking in tongues' is, and what it is not.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
Look at these phrases specifically:
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them...
...God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven...heard them speaking in his own language...
...we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
Most often, when we hear about, or talk about speaking in tongues, the idea seems to be some sort of speech that sounds like gibberish to most people listening. And we most often refer to this passage. Yet what we plainly see here is that, at least in this circumstance, this language was used so that everyone listening could hear about the wonders of God."
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on 'speaking in tongues'?
2. Have you ever experienced it, personally or second-handed?
3. How does the passage from Acts 2 compare to your notion of 'speaking in tongues'?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"No matter how just your words may be,
you ruin everything when you speak with anger."
John Chrysostom
"An honest man speaks the truth, though it may give offence;
a vain man, in order that it may."
William Hazlitt
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"Speak when you are angry and you will
make the best speech you will ever regret."
Ambrose Bierce
"God is not silent. It is the nature of God to speak.
The second person of the Holy Trinity is called "The Word."
A.W. Tozer
....to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Speaking in tongues...this gift of the Spirit, and its relative, interpretation, have been the cause of much controversy in some parts of the Body, and totally ignored in others. I have seen churches that look down upon those that do not, and have seen churches that look down upon those that do.
And yet...
And yet this gift is given.
We will take a few days to look at this topic. I feel the need to reflect on the 2nd chapter of Acts (v.1-12) to begin, in order to define what 'speaking in tongues' is, and what it is not.
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
Look at these phrases specifically:
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them...
...God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven...heard them speaking in his own language...
...we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
Most often, when we hear about, or talk about speaking in tongues, the idea seems to be some sort of speech that sounds like gibberish to most people listening. And we most often refer to this passage. Yet what we plainly see here is that, at least in this circumstance, this language was used so that everyone listening could hear about the wonders of God."
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What are your thoughts on 'speaking in tongues'?
2. Have you ever experienced it, personally or second-handed?
3. How does the passage from Acts 2 compare to your notion of 'speaking in tongues'?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"No matter how just your words may be,
you ruin everything when you speak with anger."
John Chrysostom
"An honest man speaks the truth, though it may give offence;
a vain man, in order that it may."
William Hazlitt
"God has given us two ears, but one tongue,
to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak.
God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips,
to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue."
Thomas Watson
"Speak when you are angry and you will
make the best speech you will ever regret."
Ambrose Bierce
"God is not silent. It is the nature of God to speak.
The second person of the Holy Trinity is called "The Word."
A.W. Tozer
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
ListenDaily - 04 February 2009; "Who told you to do that?"
ListenDaily - 04 February 2009; "Who told you to do that?"
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
To one there is given...to another distinguishing between spirits,...
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
We are all prompted, at times, to do, go, say, or in some other way act. We must discern as to whether this urging is from God, man, or Satan.
To some, are given this gift, this revelation of discernment. This is a Holy Spirit revealed truth which affirms or denies the urging. This is a gift which I hope we would all seek at the appropriate times. However, if we do not have it, may we seek out those who do, or find it through prayer, Scripture, and affirmation of Christian brothers and sisters.
Friends, this is a short, but vital message. Too often we get a prompting and react, because on the surface it seems right. Often it has to do with church work, and so we assume it must be from God, but church work is not always God's work. The Apostle Paul was prevented, by the Holy Spirit, from preaching in Asia. (Acts 16:6)
Friends, we must make every effort to affirm things we are called to do and say. We may pray for the gift of discernment, but we must remember also, that God provides other ways to discern His will.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What do you think of this perspective?
2. How do you discern God's will?
3. Why do we not see more manifestations of the gifts?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum."
A.W.Tozer
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
To one there is given...to another distinguishing between spirits,...
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
We are all prompted, at times, to do, go, say, or in some other way act. We must discern as to whether this urging is from God, man, or Satan.
To some, are given this gift, this revelation of discernment. This is a Holy Spirit revealed truth which affirms or denies the urging. This is a gift which I hope we would all seek at the appropriate times. However, if we do not have it, may we seek out those who do, or find it through prayer, Scripture, and affirmation of Christian brothers and sisters.
Friends, this is a short, but vital message. Too often we get a prompting and react, because on the surface it seems right. Often it has to do with church work, and so we assume it must be from God, but church work is not always God's work. The Apostle Paul was prevented, by the Holy Spirit, from preaching in Asia. (Acts 16:6)
Friends, we must make every effort to affirm things we are called to do and say. We may pray for the gift of discernment, but we must remember also, that God provides other ways to discern His will.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What do you think of this perspective?
2. How do you discern God's will?
3. Why do we not see more manifestations of the gifts?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum."
A.W.Tozer
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
ListenDaily - 03 February 2009; "To another, prophecy"
ListenDaily - 03 February 2009; "To another, prophecy"
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
To one there is given...to another prophecy...
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"to another prophecy..."
The word 'prophecy' has widely come to be known as a sort of foretelling, the sharing of events before they happen. Although some prophetic events in Scripture were of this nature, prophecy is not limited to knowing, or telling, the future. Prophecy, is insight from God, whether about past, present, or future events.
Even though we hear so much talk about "prophecies being fulfilled', the Old and New Testament examples of prophecy bear out that prophesy has other purposes as well.
In the New Testament, the gift of prophesy is referred to as Godly insight for current events ( see Matt.26:67-68, John 4:16-19). It certainly can involve future events. (Acts 21:10-11) Prophesy is understood withing the limits of our minds, and to the level God would have us understand, but always points toward ultimate truth. (1 Cor.13:9).
Some question whether or not God uses prophets today, the argument often being that Scripture has taken the place as the mouthpiece for God.
One thing is certain; a prophet is subject to God and His Word. Anything that anyone ever speaks, whether prophesying or sermonizing, must be compared to God's Word. "If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored." (1 Cor. 14:37-38)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you think there are prophets in the world today?
2. Is this view of prophecy different from your earlier understanding?
3. Why do we not see more manifestations of the gifts?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum."
A.W.Tozer
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
To one there is given...to another prophecy...
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"to another prophecy..."
The word 'prophecy' has widely come to be known as a sort of foretelling, the sharing of events before they happen. Although some prophetic events in Scripture were of this nature, prophecy is not limited to knowing, or telling, the future. Prophecy, is insight from God, whether about past, present, or future events.
Even though we hear so much talk about "prophecies being fulfilled', the Old and New Testament examples of prophecy bear out that prophesy has other purposes as well.
In the New Testament, the gift of prophesy is referred to as Godly insight for current events ( see Matt.26:67-68, John 4:16-19). It certainly can involve future events. (Acts 21:10-11) Prophesy is understood withing the limits of our minds, and to the level God would have us understand, but always points toward ultimate truth. (1 Cor.13:9).
Some question whether or not God uses prophets today, the argument often being that Scripture has taken the place as the mouthpiece for God.
One thing is certain; a prophet is subject to God and His Word. Anything that anyone ever speaks, whether prophesying or sermonizing, must be compared to God's Word. "If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored." (1 Cor. 14:37-38)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you think there are prophets in the world today?
2. Is this view of prophecy different from your earlier understanding?
3. Why do we not see more manifestations of the gifts?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum."
A.W.Tozer
Monday, February 2, 2009
ListenDaily - 02 February 2009; POWER!!!
ListenDaily - 02 February 2009; POWER!!!
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
To one there is given...to another miraculous powers...
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Miraculous powers..."
I have to honest here; the idea of there being even more powers than those listed (wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in and interpretation of tongues) makes me pause for a moment.
What else could there be?
For examples, I would think we should look at the miracles performed by 'ordinary people' in the New Testament. Demons were cast out, people were healed, and they were not all pleasant...Acts 13 tells of a man going blind, through Paul.
So it seems that these "miraculous powers" could be referring to things in our list as well as other miracles, as deemed necessary by God.
A question is; do these same things happen today? Are these "miraculous powers", or any of the gifts of the Spirit still available today?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you accept, reject, or feel unsure about these gifts?
2. Do the leaders of your church discuss them?
3. Why do we not see more manifestations of the gifts?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
As our Lord asked the sick man whether he wished to be healed, so, without our consent,
He will not save us; and sinners are without excuse for not consenting to the will of the Lord and their own salvation."
Cardinal Bonaventura
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
To one there is given...to another miraculous powers...
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Miraculous powers..."
I have to honest here; the idea of there being even more powers than those listed (wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in and interpretation of tongues) makes me pause for a moment.
What else could there be?
For examples, I would think we should look at the miracles performed by 'ordinary people' in the New Testament. Demons were cast out, people were healed, and they were not all pleasant...Acts 13 tells of a man going blind, through Paul.
So it seems that these "miraculous powers" could be referring to things in our list as well as other miracles, as deemed necessary by God.
A question is; do these same things happen today? Are these "miraculous powers", or any of the gifts of the Spirit still available today?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you accept, reject, or feel unsure about these gifts?
2. Do the leaders of your church discuss them?
3. Why do we not see more manifestations of the gifts?
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
As our Lord asked the sick man whether he wished to be healed, so, without our consent,
He will not save us; and sinners are without excuse for not consenting to the will of the Lord and their own salvation."
Cardinal Bonaventura
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