ListenDaily - 31 March 2009; In the center.
You are in the center...I pray that you realize it!
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to
know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"And I pray that you...grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ..."
Satan lies, oh how he lies. Brother...Sister...you are right in the center of the greatest power in the universe. You cannot even imagine the width, length, height, or depth...hear the words of David from Psalm 139:
O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.
You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.
Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Friends...if you choose to be in the middle of the infinite love of Christ, then His words are true for you. "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one." (John 10:29-30)
Don't listen to the lie; hear the truth...you are in the center of of the infinite love of Christ...sense it, feel it...know it!
And pray for someone else, that they will also.
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. How do you picture the love of Christ?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS ON TRUTH:
"Where I found truth,
there found I my God,
who is the truth itself."
Augustine
"Never let us be guilty of sacrificing
any portion of truth on the altar of peace."
J.C.Ryle
"Truth is so obscure in these times,
and falsehood so established, that,
unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
ListenDaily - 29 March 2009; Power to grasp
ListenDaily - 29 March 2009; Power to grasp
Grasping the knowledge...I pray that you can.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to
know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"And I pray that you...may have power...to grasp..."
There are truths...and there is Truth. Jesus told us that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Paul is telling us here that the love of Christ is all-surrounding. But to live with the truths, and in the Truth, we must be able to grasp the truth. This seems like it ought to be a simple proposition, and yet Paul prays that we would have the "power" to grasp it.
Friends...understand, please, that Satan is alive and at work in this world. He is a great liar and deceiver. He uses everything he can to get you to doubt and disbelieve. He wants non-believers never to believe, and he wants believers to doubt the power of the Word of God.
Satan uses the words of the media to get you to doubt. He uses the laughs and looks of fellow students and coworkers. He uses the sneers of teachers and supervisors. He uses Sunday School and Bible study lesson, and sermons that water down the Gospel.
Hear Paul's prayer for you; I pray the same...for you...that you would receive the power of the Holy Spirit, which will remove doubt and allow you to see the truth, to know the truth to grasp the truth. And that you would get on your knees and pray that for someone else.
Amen.
Questions:
1. What does it mean to you, to grasp the truth.
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS ON TRUTH:
"Where I found truth,
there found I my God,
who is the truth itself."
Augustine
"Never let us be guilty of sacrificing
any portion of truth on the altar of peace."
J.C.Ryle
"Truth is so obscure in these times,
and falsehood so established, that,
unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Grasping the knowledge...I pray that you can.
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to
know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"And I pray that you...may have power...to grasp..."
There are truths...and there is Truth. Jesus told us that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Paul is telling us here that the love of Christ is all-surrounding. But to live with the truths, and in the Truth, we must be able to grasp the truth. This seems like it ought to be a simple proposition, and yet Paul prays that we would have the "power" to grasp it.
Friends...understand, please, that Satan is alive and at work in this world. He is a great liar and deceiver. He uses everything he can to get you to doubt and disbelieve. He wants non-believers never to believe, and he wants believers to doubt the power of the Word of God.
Satan uses the words of the media to get you to doubt. He uses the laughs and looks of fellow students and coworkers. He uses the sneers of teachers and supervisors. He uses Sunday School and Bible study lesson, and sermons that water down the Gospel.
Hear Paul's prayer for you; I pray the same...for you...that you would receive the power of the Holy Spirit, which will remove doubt and allow you to see the truth, to know the truth to grasp the truth. And that you would get on your knees and pray that for someone else.
Amen.
Questions:
1. What does it mean to you, to grasp the truth.
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS ON TRUTH:
"Where I found truth,
there found I my God,
who is the truth itself."
Augustine
"Never let us be guilty of sacrificing
any portion of truth on the altar of peace."
J.C.Ryle
"Truth is so obscure in these times,
and falsehood so established, that,
unless we love the truth, we cannot know it."
Blaise Pascal
Friday, March 27, 2009
ListenDaily - 27 March 2009; Come together
ListenDaily - 27 March 2009; Come together
Togetherness...I am praying for your togetherness...
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to
know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
I pray that you...may have power through togetherness.
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints..."
Friends...you are not alone! I do not mean that God is always with you, which, of course is true, but even in the flesh, you are not alone.
If you are in a church, you are surrounded, hopefully(!), by workers in God's field.
If you are not in a church*** you are still not alone!
This 'assembly' of believers that you share this reading with is over a thousand.
There are Christians in your neighborhood, at your school, at your workplace. Find them!
You are part of a fellowship of billions of people who love Jesus. Do not let the world convince you otherwise.
Recognition of that togetherness is part of the power about which Paul wrote.
Claim it friends, claim the brotherhood, claim your part in the priesthood of all believers. This is a part of the riches from which God wants to bless you! Be a part of it...be "together with all the saints!"
Please pray for someone else; that they would realize they are not alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***If you are not in a church, I pray that you find one; please read Hebrews 10:25. I will also help you find one! Please let me know if you do not have a church, or feel as if you are not in the right one, so I can pray specifically.
Questions:
1. What does 'together with all the saints' mean to you?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS ON PRAYER:
"If you are strangers to prayer
you are strangers to power."
Billy Sunday
"Don't pray when you feel like it.
Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it.
A man is powerful on his knees."
Corrie Ten Boom
"Our prayers lay the track down which Gods power can come.
Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails."
Watchman Nee
"The history of missions is the history of answered prayer.
From Pentecost to the Haystack meeting in New England
and from the days when Robert Morrison landed in China
to the martyrdom of John and Betty Stam,
prayer has been the source of power and the secret of spiritual triumph."
Sameul M. Zwemer
"If the devil were wise enough and would stand by in silence
and let the Gospel be preached, he would suffer less harm.
For when there is no battle for the Gospel it rusts
and it finds no cause and no occasion to show its vigor and power.
Therefore, nothing better can befall the Gospel than
that the world should fight it with force and cunning."
Martin Luther
"We do not find that He used this power either for Himself or for His disciples,
but He did for the multitude, whom He fed upon two occasions, in great numbers, with a few loaves."
Cardinal Bonaventura
"Our Lord's determined purpose and design was to overcome the devil,
not by the exercise of His power, but by means of His own self-abasement."
Jerome
"Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not."
Samuel Johnson
"The seed once sown grows...of itself,
from its own impulse and power of life....
The self-inherent power of growth of the kingdom of God."
Rudolph Stier
Togetherness...I am praying for your togetherness...
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to
know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:14-21 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
I pray that you...may have power through togetherness.
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints..."
Friends...you are not alone! I do not mean that God is always with you, which, of course is true, but even in the flesh, you are not alone.
If you are in a church, you are surrounded, hopefully(!), by workers in God's field.
If you are not in a church*** you are still not alone!
This 'assembly' of believers that you share this reading with is over a thousand.
There are Christians in your neighborhood, at your school, at your workplace. Find them!
You are part of a fellowship of billions of people who love Jesus. Do not let the world convince you otherwise.
Recognition of that togetherness is part of the power about which Paul wrote.
Claim it friends, claim the brotherhood, claim your part in the priesthood of all believers. This is a part of the riches from which God wants to bless you! Be a part of it...be "together with all the saints!"
Please pray for someone else; that they would realize they are not alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***If you are not in a church, I pray that you find one; please read Hebrews 10:25. I will also help you find one! Please let me know if you do not have a church, or feel as if you are not in the right one, so I can pray specifically.
Questions:
1. What does 'together with all the saints' mean to you?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS ON PRAYER:
"If you are strangers to prayer
you are strangers to power."
Billy Sunday
"Don't pray when you feel like it.
Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it.
A man is powerful on his knees."
Corrie Ten Boom
"Our prayers lay the track down which Gods power can come.
Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails."
Watchman Nee
"The history of missions is the history of answered prayer.
From Pentecost to the Haystack meeting in New England
and from the days when Robert Morrison landed in China
to the martyrdom of John and Betty Stam,
prayer has been the source of power and the secret of spiritual triumph."
Sameul M. Zwemer
"If the devil were wise enough and would stand by in silence
and let the Gospel be preached, he would suffer less harm.
For when there is no battle for the Gospel it rusts
and it finds no cause and no occasion to show its vigor and power.
Therefore, nothing better can befall the Gospel than
that the world should fight it with force and cunning."
Martin Luther
"We do not find that He used this power either for Himself or for His disciples,
but He did for the multitude, whom He fed upon two occasions, in great numbers, with a few loaves."
Cardinal Bonaventura
"Our Lord's determined purpose and design was to overcome the devil,
not by the exercise of His power, but by means of His own self-abasement."
Jerome
"Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not."
Samuel Johnson
"The seed once sown grows...of itself,
from its own impulse and power of life....
The self-inherent power of growth of the kingdom of God."
Rudolph Stier
Thursday, March 26, 2009
ListenDaily - 26 March 2009; Power!
ListenDaily - 26 March 2009; Power!
I did not pray for you yesterday, and I am sorry. The day got away from me, meetings started at 6 a.m., and I have a litany of other poor excuses that you don't want to hear.
Today...I am praying for your power...
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
I pray that you...may have power,
This is not a prayer for 'power' as we might usually think of 'power'...it is a power to know and understand and be filled.
Still, I would like to look at this power thing for just a moment, and remember its source: "...out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power..."
"His glorious riches...strengthen you...through His Spirit...your inner being...Christ...in your hearts...
...rooted...established ...love...power." Power!
Today, I pray for each of you, that you would have all the power God intends for you, so that you may receive all He wants for you. Will you pray that for someone else?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does power mean to you, in terms of love and understanding?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS ON PRAYER:
"If you are strangers to prayer
you are strangers to power."
Billy Sunday
"Don't pray when you feel like it.
Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it.
A man is powerful on his knees."
Corrie Ten Boom
"Our prayers lay the track down which Gods power can come.
Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails."
Watchman Nee
"The history of missions is the history of answered prayer.
From Pentecost to the Haystack meeting in New England
and from the days when Robert Morrison landed in China
to the martyrdom of John and Betty Stam,
prayer has been the source of power and the secret of spiritual triumph."
Sameul M. Zwemer
"If the devil were wise enough and would stand by in silence
and let the Gospel be preached, he would suffer less harm.
For when there is no battle for the Gospel it rusts
and it finds no cause and no occasion to show its vigor and power.
Therefore, nothing better can befall the Gospel than
that the world should fight it with force and cunning."
Martin Luther
"We do not find that He used this power either for Himself or for His disciples,
but He did for the multitude, whom He fed upon two occasions, in great numbers, with a few loaves."
Cardinal Bonaventura
"Our Lord's determined purpose and design was to overcome the devil,
not by the exercise of His power, but by means of His own self-abasement."
Jerome
"Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not."
Samuel Johnson
"The seed once sown grows...of itself,
from its own impulse and power of life....
The self-inherent power of growth of the kingdom of God."
Rudolph Stier
I did not pray for you yesterday, and I am sorry. The day got away from me, meetings started at 6 a.m., and I have a litany of other poor excuses that you don't want to hear.
Today...I am praying for your power...
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
I pray that you...may have power,
This is not a prayer for 'power' as we might usually think of 'power'...it is a power to know and understand and be filled.
Still, I would like to look at this power thing for just a moment, and remember its source: "...out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power..."
"His glorious riches...strengthen you...through His Spirit...your inner being...Christ...in your hearts...
...rooted...established ...love...power." Power!
Today, I pray for each of you, that you would have all the power God intends for you, so that you may receive all He wants for you. Will you pray that for someone else?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does power mean to you, in terms of love and understanding?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS ON PRAYER:
"If you are strangers to prayer
you are strangers to power."
Billy Sunday
"Don't pray when you feel like it.
Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it.
A man is powerful on his knees."
Corrie Ten Boom
"Our prayers lay the track down which Gods power can come.
Like a mighty locomotive, his power is irresistible, but it cannot reach us without rails."
Watchman Nee
"The history of missions is the history of answered prayer.
From Pentecost to the Haystack meeting in New England
and from the days when Robert Morrison landed in China
to the martyrdom of John and Betty Stam,
prayer has been the source of power and the secret of spiritual triumph."
Sameul M. Zwemer
"If the devil were wise enough and would stand by in silence
and let the Gospel be preached, he would suffer less harm.
For when there is no battle for the Gospel it rusts
and it finds no cause and no occasion to show its vigor and power.
Therefore, nothing better can befall the Gospel than
that the world should fight it with force and cunning."
Martin Luther
"We do not find that He used this power either for Himself or for His disciples,
but He did for the multitude, whom He fed upon two occasions, in great numbers, with a few loaves."
Cardinal Bonaventura
"Our Lord's determined purpose and design was to overcome the devil,
not by the exercise of His power, but by means of His own self-abasement."
Jerome
"Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not."
Samuel Johnson
"The seed once sown grows...of itself,
from its own impulse and power of life....
The self-inherent power of growth of the kingdom of God."
Rudolph Stier
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
ListenDaily - 24 March 2009; Rooted and established
ListenDaily - 24 March 2009; Rooted and established
I am praying for your roots...
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love..."
Paul follows this with a list of very important things - but let us not skip over this very important phrase; "...rooted and established in love..."
Harking back to Paul's writing in his letter to the Corinthians, "Now I will show you the most excellent way." Then comes the famous 'love' passage. Here Paul says, "rooted and established". That means you must have been planted in, and have grown in, love. You plant grass seed in good soil, but there is a change when what is seen above the roots, your lawn, becomes 'established'. At that point, it can handle a dry spell, it will make it through people walking on it, for it is rooted and established. The appearance may occasionally be dry, but the roots are sound and strong.
For us to make it to the point where we:
1) "may have power" and,
2) togetherness "with all the saints",
3) and have the ability to understand "the love of Christ",
4) and know "love that surpasses knowledge"
5) and can be "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
We must first be "rooted and established in love".
Today, I pray for each of you, that your roots are deep in the love of God, the love that is God...and that what is seen above the roots become well established, and I ask that you pray that for someone else.
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does 'rooted and established mean to you, in your own relationship with your Father?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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:
"The blast of temptation struck down the leaves, but the root stood fast."
Theophylact
I am praying for your roots...
"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love..."
Paul follows this with a list of very important things - but let us not skip over this very important phrase; "...rooted and established in love..."
Harking back to Paul's writing in his letter to the Corinthians, "Now I will show you the most excellent way." Then comes the famous 'love' passage. Here Paul says, "rooted and established". That means you must have been planted in, and have grown in, love. You plant grass seed in good soil, but there is a change when what is seen above the roots, your lawn, becomes 'established'. At that point, it can handle a dry spell, it will make it through people walking on it, for it is rooted and established. The appearance may occasionally be dry, but the roots are sound and strong.
For us to make it to the point where we:
1) "may have power" and,
2) togetherness "with all the saints",
3) and have the ability to understand "the love of Christ",
4) and know "love that surpasses knowledge"
5) and can be "filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
We must first be "rooted and established in love".
Today, I pray for each of you, that your roots are deep in the love of God, the love that is God...and that what is seen above the roots become well established, and I ask that you pray that for someone else.
Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does 'rooted and established mean to you, in your own relationship with your Father?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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:
"The blast of temptation struck down the leaves, but the root stood fast."
Theophylact
Monday, March 23, 2009
ListenDaily - 23 March 2009; The manger, the cross, the tomb, Heaven, and you
ListenDaily - 23 March 2009; The manger, the cross, the tomb, Heaven, and you
I'm praying for you this morning.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen
you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."
I am praying for each of you, and for myself, that this may be true...newly true, or continually true...that God the Father will send the Holy Spirit to strengthen you at your very core, with a Heavenly power, "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."
I pray that, not only have you (or will you) accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but that He would set up permanent residence in your heart, in your inner being.
The Son of God, coming to "dwell in your hearts through faith."
Take a moment and think about that. Have you accepted Christ? Does He dwell inside you? How does that change the things you think, do, and say?
Think about it, really think about it: The same One who left Heaven, who was born in a stable and laid in a manger, the same One who was nailed to the cross and broke free from the tomb, dwells within you.
We should do nothing without remembering that fact.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. We often use "Jesus in my heart" words, but what does that really mean to you?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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:
"What good are Greek, commentaries,
insight, gift, and all the rest,
if there is no heart for Christ"
Jim Elliot
I'm praying for you this morning.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen
you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."
I am praying for each of you, and for myself, that this may be true...newly true, or continually true...that God the Father will send the Holy Spirit to strengthen you at your very core, with a Heavenly power, "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith."
I pray that, not only have you (or will you) accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but that He would set up permanent residence in your heart, in your inner being.
The Son of God, coming to "dwell in your hearts through faith."
Take a moment and think about that. Have you accepted Christ? Does He dwell inside you? How does that change the things you think, do, and say?
Think about it, really think about it: The same One who left Heaven, who was born in a stable and laid in a manger, the same One who was nailed to the cross and broke free from the tomb, dwells within you.
We should do nothing without remembering that fact.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. We often use "Jesus in my heart" words, but what does that really mean to you?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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:
"What good are Greek, commentaries,
insight, gift, and all the rest,
if there is no heart for Christ"
Jim Elliot
Friday, March 20, 2009
ListenDaily - 20 March 2009; Good stuff
ListenDaily - 20 March 2009; Good stuff
Again today, I went to my 'upper room' and prayed for you.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being..."
Sometimes, I think, when we ask God for strength, or say that He has strengthened us, we sort of have this idea that He somehow props up that within us that needs, well, propping up. Some sort of remodeling of who we are.
Nope.
When we allow Him in, He brings the strength of Heaven, the strength of the Creator. He does not redesign using spare parts and pieces of our broken lives, but rather, creates a new thing, out of "His glorious riches".
It's that "born again" stuff.
That "putting on the new man" stuff.
"Create in me a clean heart" stuff.
"Crucified with Christ now I no longer live. but Christ in me" stuff.
That's good stuff!
And now I ask you, to select someone and pray for them, that God would strengthen their inner being out of His glorious riches.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What might it feel like for the Spirit to bring the strength of God to your inner being?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS:
"Do not have your concert first,
and then tune your instrument afterwards.
Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer,
and get first of all into harmony with Him."
I have seen many men work without praying,
though I have never seen any good come out of it;
but I have never seen a man pray without working."
Hudson Taylor
Again today, I went to my 'upper room' and prayed for you.
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being..."
Sometimes, I think, when we ask God for strength, or say that He has strengthened us, we sort of have this idea that He somehow props up that within us that needs, well, propping up. Some sort of remodeling of who we are.
Nope.
When we allow Him in, He brings the strength of Heaven, the strength of the Creator. He does not redesign using spare parts and pieces of our broken lives, but rather, creates a new thing, out of "His glorious riches".
It's that "born again" stuff.
That "putting on the new man" stuff.
"Create in me a clean heart" stuff.
"Crucified with Christ now I no longer live. but Christ in me" stuff.
That's good stuff!
And now I ask you, to select someone and pray for them, that God would strengthen their inner being out of His glorious riches.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What might it feel like for the Spirit to bring the strength of God to your inner being?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS:
"Do not have your concert first,
and then tune your instrument afterwards.
Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer,
and get first of all into harmony with Him."
I have seen many men work without praying,
though I have never seen any good come out of it;
but I have never seen a man pray without working."
Hudson Taylor
Thursday, March 19, 2009
ListenDaily - 19 March 2009; Out of His Glorious Riches
ListenDaily - 19 March 2009; Out of His Glorious Riches
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
What a beautiful, poetic, powerful, prayer..
Again today, I went to my 'upper room' and prayed for you. I prayed these specific words, from Paul, to you:
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being..."
"I pray..." I went and spent time in conversation with the Creator of all there is,
I asked Him to share, with you,"out of his glorious riches..."
I asked that He who is the Creator and Owner of all good things would "strengthen you with power" the power that comes "through His Spirit", and that the strengthening would not be merely physical, but "in your inner being".
Imagine, if you will and if you can, what strength is available for you, from the storehouse of God's strength to your inner being!
And now I ask you, to select someone and pray the same thing for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What might it feel like for the Spirit to bring the strength of God to your inner being?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS:
"Do not have your concert first,
and then tune your instrument afterwards.
Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer,
and get first of all into harmony with Him."
I have seen many men work without praying,
though I have never seen any good come out of it;
but I have never seen a man pray without working."
Hudson Taylor
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
What a beautiful, poetic, powerful, prayer..
Again today, I went to my 'upper room' and prayed for you. I prayed these specific words, from Paul, to you:
"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being..."
"I pray..." I went and spent time in conversation with the Creator of all there is,
I asked Him to share, with you,"out of his glorious riches..."
I asked that He who is the Creator and Owner of all good things would "strengthen you with power" the power that comes "through His Spirit", and that the strengthening would not be merely physical, but "in your inner being".
Imagine, if you will and if you can, what strength is available for you, from the storehouse of God's strength to your inner being!
And now I ask you, to select someone and pray the same thing for them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What might it feel like for the Spirit to bring the strength of God to your inner being?
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS:
"Do not have your concert first,
and then tune your instrument afterwards.
Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer,
and get first of all into harmony with Him."
I have seen many men work without praying,
though I have never seen any good come out of it;
but I have never seen a man pray without working."
Hudson Taylor
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
ListenDaily - 18 March 2009; A Prayer for the ListenDailyans
Ephesians 3:14-21 has this header in many Bibles: "A Prayer for the Ephesians"
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
We studied this passage in our Tuesday afternoon Lenten study this week. It made me think of you.
Yes, you.
Paul wrote this letter to the church community in Ephesus, where he had lived at one time, for about three years. So he actually knew many of the people who would read his letter, and many more he did not. I am not comparing myself to the Apostle Paul...but in the writing of this 'letter', our circumstances share this similarity. Many of you are from places I have lived, South Jersey, Virginia, both Carolinas, Delaware, Oklahoma, with dashes of other places thrown in as well. Many of you I know...but through the wonder of the internet, most of you who read this I do not know.
To all of you I offer this today, inspired by Paul: "I kneel before the Father..." for you this morning. I prayed for you. I went into the Upper Room (actually a Sunday School classroom upstairs from my office) and prayed for you.
I prayed for those of you in my local church. I prayed for those of you those of you in the Christian family of the greater Dover area. I prayed for those of you those of you in churches my family has attended in other parts of the country. I prayed for those of you in the First Church of Facebook. I prayed for those of you I went to high school or college with. I prayed for those of you who have been my neighbors. I prayed for those of you I have never met.
But it is not about anything Paul ever did or anything I have ever done. It is about "the Father" whom we kneel before. It is about"His Spirit in your inner being". And it is about "Christ", who will "dwell in your hearts".
We will study this passage over the next few days, and I am making a covenant, on each of those days to kneel before the Father and pray.
For you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Has anyone prayed for you today
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS:
"Do not have your concert first,
and then tune your instrument afterwards.
Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer,
and get first of all into harmony with Him."
I have seen many men work without praying,
though I have never seen any good come out of it;
but I have never seen a man pray without working."
Hudson Taylor
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
We studied this passage in our Tuesday afternoon Lenten study this week. It made me think of you.
Yes, you.
Paul wrote this letter to the church community in Ephesus, where he had lived at one time, for about three years. So he actually knew many of the people who would read his letter, and many more he did not. I am not comparing myself to the Apostle Paul...but in the writing of this 'letter', our circumstances share this similarity. Many of you are from places I have lived, South Jersey, Virginia, both Carolinas, Delaware, Oklahoma, with dashes of other places thrown in as well. Many of you I know...but through the wonder of the internet, most of you who read this I do not know.
To all of you I offer this today, inspired by Paul: "I kneel before the Father..." for you this morning. I prayed for you. I went into the Upper Room (actually a Sunday School classroom upstairs from my office) and prayed for you.
I prayed for those of you in my local church. I prayed for those of you those of you in the Christian family of the greater Dover area. I prayed for those of you those of you in churches my family has attended in other parts of the country. I prayed for those of you in the First Church of Facebook. I prayed for those of you I went to high school or college with. I prayed for those of you who have been my neighbors. I prayed for those of you I have never met.
But it is not about anything Paul ever did or anything I have ever done. It is about "the Father" whom we kneel before. It is about"His Spirit in your inner being". And it is about "Christ", who will "dwell in your hearts".
We will study this passage over the next few days, and I am making a covenant, on each of those days to kneel before the Father and pray.
For you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Has anyone prayed for you today
2. For whom have you prayed today?
3. Will you pick one person, out of your normal circle, and pray for them every day during this study?
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 THOUGHTS:
"Do not have your concert first,
and then tune your instrument afterwards.
Begin the day with the Word of God and prayer,
and get first of all into harmony with Him."
I have seen many men work without praying,
though I have never seen any good come out of it;
but I have never seen a man pray without working."
Hudson Taylor
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
ListenDaily - 17 March 2009; Have you heard enough?
ListenDaily - 17 March 2009; Have you heard enough?
Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Today we will close out this topic, and I'm ready. It has been important, and the private response has been tremendous, but I am ready to move on.
Suffice it to say that I did not address or answer everything. A few details to close out the subject:
In general, churches regarded as Pentecostal or Charismatic, believe in tongues, some thinking it is evidence of salvation, some as evidence of a separate 'Baptism of the Holy Spirit'.
In general, few, if any other Protestant churches deny that speaking in tongues is a possibility, but you probably will not see it experienced there.
I'm not sure that the Catholic Church has an official stance, but they do recognize the Charismatic Catholic movement.
There are different Greek words used for tongue, one meaning the body part, one meaning language, and one combining 'speak' and 'language' (glossolalila).
Over the centuries, tongues have been considered as everything from affirmation of Holy Spirit baptism, to mental illness, to demonic influence.
Out breaks of unintelligible speech takes place in many pagan religions.
My final word, for now, is this: Seek God, accept His Son, open yourself to His Holy Spirit. Submit yourself and be discerning. Seek to please God, not man.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Any final questions?
2. Have you heard enough on this topic?!
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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:
"One may be theologically knowing and spiritually ignorant."
Stephen Charnock
Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Today we will close out this topic, and I'm ready. It has been important, and the private response has been tremendous, but I am ready to move on.
Suffice it to say that I did not address or answer everything. A few details to close out the subject:
In general, churches regarded as Pentecostal or Charismatic, believe in tongues, some thinking it is evidence of salvation, some as evidence of a separate 'Baptism of the Holy Spirit'.
In general, few, if any other Protestant churches deny that speaking in tongues is a possibility, but you probably will not see it experienced there.
I'm not sure that the Catholic Church has an official stance, but they do recognize the Charismatic Catholic movement.
There are different Greek words used for tongue, one meaning the body part, one meaning language, and one combining 'speak' and 'language' (glossolalila).
Over the centuries, tongues have been considered as everything from affirmation of Holy Spirit baptism, to mental illness, to demonic influence.
Out breaks of unintelligible speech takes place in many pagan religions.
My final word, for now, is this: Seek God, accept His Son, open yourself to His Holy Spirit. Submit yourself and be discerning. Seek to please God, not man.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Any final questions?
2. Have you heard enough on this topic?!
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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:
"One may be theologically knowing and spiritually ignorant."
Stephen Charnock
Monday, March 16, 2009
ListenDaily - 16 March 2009; Straight talk from Paul
ListenDaily - 16 March 2009; Straight talk from Paul
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. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. 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. 1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you." Paul spoke in tongues, and was blessed by it.
"But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." But while in church, Paul states that clear words of instruction are preferable to tongues.
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. The folks in Corinth (and this can be applied to many churches over the centuries, up to and including today), have been viewing these things in a spiritually immature way.
"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. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers." Harking back to the prophet Isaiah, Paul indicates that all sorts of languages, earthly and Heavenly, will be used for God's purposes.
"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." Everyone(!) has something to offer in worship...butt not the same thing from each person.
"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." Could this be more plain?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. I think we are getting close to ending this discussion...what are your thoughts? Questions?
(I will not end it without a discussion on the Greek, and a few common teachings, thus far ignored.)
2. Have you ever experienced public speaking in tongues with interpretation? Without?
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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:
"One may be theologically knowing and spiritually ignorant."
Stephen Charnock
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. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. 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. 1 Corinthians 14:18-28 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you." Paul spoke in tongues, and was blessed by it.
"But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue." But while in church, Paul states that clear words of instruction are preferable to tongues.
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. The folks in Corinth (and this can be applied to many churches over the centuries, up to and including today), have been viewing these things in a spiritually immature way.
"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. Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers." Harking back to the prophet Isaiah, Paul indicates that all sorts of languages, earthly and Heavenly, will be used for God's purposes.
"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." Everyone(!) has something to offer in worship...butt not the same thing from each person.
"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." Could this be more plain?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. I think we are getting close to ending this discussion...what are your thoughts? Questions?
(I will not end it without a discussion on the Greek, and a few common teachings, thus far ignored.)
2. Have you ever experienced public speaking in tongues with interpretation? Without?
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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:
"One may be theologically knowing and spiritually ignorant."
Stephen Charnock
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
ListenDaily - 11 March 2009; Speaking and Singing
ListenDaily - 11 March 2009; Speaking and Singing
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 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. 1 Corinthians 14:13-17 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Now this is interesting.
Many of us have understood that the Scriptures spoke of the value of having tongues interpreted so that others may understand or it holds no value for anyone else, and Paul does indicate that here: "If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand 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."
Pal also indicates that there are times when one's spirit may speak or sing, and he can interpret, other times when he cannot. Paul's remedy here, lest the time and energy be "unfruitful", is to always be praying, or singing, with one's conscious mind as well.
Even then, Paul warns, this is of no edification to the church.
But does it not give us a desire to sing with our spirits?
Jesus said, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24
Hmmmmm....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. I think we are getting close to ending this discussion,,,what are your thoughts? Questions?
(I will not end it without a discussion on the Greek, and a few common teachings, thus far ignored.)
2. Do you think there is connection between Jesus' 'spirit and truth' quote, and Paul's discussion of tongues?
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
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 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. 1 Corinthians 14:13-17 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Now this is interesting.
Many of us have understood that the Scriptures spoke of the value of having tongues interpreted so that others may understand or it holds no value for anyone else, and Paul does indicate that here: "If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand 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."
Pal also indicates that there are times when one's spirit may speak or sing, and he can interpret, other times when he cannot. Paul's remedy here, lest the time and energy be "unfruitful", is to always be praying, or singing, with one's conscious mind as well.
Even then, Paul warns, this is of no edification to the church.
But does it not give us a desire to sing with our spirits?
Jesus said, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24
Hmmmmm....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. I think we are getting close to ending this discussion,,,what are your thoughts? Questions?
(I will not end it without a discussion on the Greek, and a few common teachings, thus far ignored.)
2. Do you think there is connection between Jesus' 'spirit and truth' quote, and Paul's discussion of tongues?
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
ListenDaily - 10 March 2009; Lord, is that You? Or is it me?
ListenDaily - 10 March 2009; Lord, is that You? Or is it me?
1 Corinthians 14 has more references to tongues, I believe, than any other passage. Let's look at verses 1-12:
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. 1 Corinthians 14:1-12 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." So then, after starting with love of God and our neighbors, we may begin to 'desire' that the Spirit bestow His gifts upon us, and be in His will as we do.
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. This is a clear and distinct statement, perhaps the first one, that indicates that there is a type of tongues that is a separate language, and that it is intended to be a believer's spirit communicating with God. (Worshipping in spirit and in truth?)
He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. Tongues are not the ultimate or greatest gift.
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. The majority of experiences I have had (and from the letters I have received, this seems to be the most common type of experience) concerning tongues, have been exactly as Paul describes here: individuals or groups, making what sounded to human ears, unintelligible noise, repetitive, and nonsensical. This does not invalidate the experiences of those people, but nothing was done that built up the church.
I also have first hand knowledge of an instant where a group encouraged a visitor to repeat a 'praise chant' over and over, faster and faster, and when the words became unintelligible the group claimed that tongues had been achieved.
Nonsense.
We must be very careful of any sort of emotional frenzy that begins with human activity. This is not to say that the Spirit cannot overcome someone, and that it will not be an emotional experience...but that starts when a person is still and open to God, then the Spirit moves. We cannot create this on our own...we can fake it on our own, and maybe even convince someone else.
This, my friends, is very, very dangerous.
Tomorrow: Interpretation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. I think we are getting close to ending this discussion,,,what are your thoughts? Questions?
(I will not end it without a discussion on the Greek, and a few common teachings, thus far ignored.)
2. Have you ever been present in a situation similar to the one I described? (Many of you have related stories already.)
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
1 Corinthians 14 has more references to tongues, I believe, than any other passage. Let's look at verses 1-12:
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. 1 Corinthians 14:1-12 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy." So then, after starting with love of God and our neighbors, we may begin to 'desire' that the Spirit bestow His gifts upon us, and be in His will as we do.
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. This is a clear and distinct statement, perhaps the first one, that indicates that there is a type of tongues that is a separate language, and that it is intended to be a believer's spirit communicating with God. (Worshipping in spirit and in truth?)
He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. Tongues are not the ultimate or greatest gift.
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. The majority of experiences I have had (and from the letters I have received, this seems to be the most common type of experience) concerning tongues, have been exactly as Paul describes here: individuals or groups, making what sounded to human ears, unintelligible noise, repetitive, and nonsensical. This does not invalidate the experiences of those people, but nothing was done that built up the church.
I also have first hand knowledge of an instant where a group encouraged a visitor to repeat a 'praise chant' over and over, faster and faster, and when the words became unintelligible the group claimed that tongues had been achieved.
Nonsense.
We must be very careful of any sort of emotional frenzy that begins with human activity. This is not to say that the Spirit cannot overcome someone, and that it will not be an emotional experience...but that starts when a person is still and open to God, then the Spirit moves. We cannot create this on our own...we can fake it on our own, and maybe even convince someone else.
This, my friends, is very, very dangerous.
Tomorrow: Interpretation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. I think we are getting close to ending this discussion,,,what are your thoughts? Questions?
(I will not end it without a discussion on the Greek, and a few common teachings, thus far ignored.)
2. Have you ever been present in a situation similar to the one I described? (Many of you have related stories already.)
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
Monday, March 9, 2009
ListenDaily - 09 March 2009; The most excellent way
ListenDaily - 09 March 2009; The most excellent way
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...Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled...
From 1 Corinthians 12 & 13 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
There are two points that I would like to focus on from this passage; remembering, of course, that this is part of a continual thought flowing through chapters 12 & 13, and remembering that there is always more to any passage than I have to say!
1 - "But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled..." There will come a day when all these gifts will no longer be needed. The debate is to whether this day has come already, or not. Some say that this day took place at the end of "New Testament times" and that all the Spiritual gifts departed with the Apostles. My feeling is that Paul is referring to the day when Christ returns, when love is perfected, and when discerning, prophesying, and special tongues are no longer needed for God will be dwelling with us.
2 - The thing that really jumps out to me about this passage is the importance of love. "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." The passage goes on to express similar thought about other gifts...but listen to this! If I speak in plain English (or whatever my listeners speak), with a perfect testimony or sermon, with a flawless argument, and with a PhD. hanging on my wall, but without loving God and my neighbor, my message is utterly worthless.
If I 'speak in tongues', directly to God, but without loving God and my neighbor, my message and my prayers are worthless, completely worthless.
Speaking in tongues, preaching or teaching about tongues, seeking to speak in tongues, are all secondary to Christs Great Commandments: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
"...the most excellent way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. I think we are getting close to ending this discussion,,,what are your thoughts? Questions?
(I will not end it without a discussion on the Greek, and a few common teachings, thus far ignored.)
2. Chapter twelve and thirteen are part of the same writing...what is "the most excellent way"?
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
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...Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled...
From 1 Corinthians 12 & 13 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
There are two points that I would like to focus on from this passage; remembering, of course, that this is part of a continual thought flowing through chapters 12 & 13, and remembering that there is always more to any passage than I have to say!
1 - "But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled..." There will come a day when all these gifts will no longer be needed. The debate is to whether this day has come already, or not. Some say that this day took place at the end of "New Testament times" and that all the Spiritual gifts departed with the Apostles. My feeling is that Paul is referring to the day when Christ returns, when love is perfected, and when discerning, prophesying, and special tongues are no longer needed for God will be dwelling with us.
2 - The thing that really jumps out to me about this passage is the importance of love. "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." The passage goes on to express similar thought about other gifts...but listen to this! If I speak in plain English (or whatever my listeners speak), with a perfect testimony or sermon, with a flawless argument, and with a PhD. hanging on my wall, but without loving God and my neighbor, my message is utterly worthless.
If I 'speak in tongues', directly to God, but without loving God and my neighbor, my message and my prayers are worthless, completely worthless.
Speaking in tongues, preaching or teaching about tongues, seeking to speak in tongues, are all secondary to Christs Great Commandments: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
"...the most excellent way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. I think we are getting close to ending this discussion,,,what are your thoughts? Questions?
(I will not end it without a discussion on the Greek, and a few common teachings, thus far ignored.)
2. Chapter twelve and thirteen are part of the same writing...what is "the most excellent way"?
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
Friday, March 6, 2009
ListenDaily - 06 March 2009; Say it again, Paul!
ListenDaily - 06 March 2009; Say it again, Paul!
Friends, to follow up on yesterday's discussion on the place of speaking in tongues within the body of the church, let us reflect on the next verses from this chapter.
"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?"
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
As a writer, I hesitate to be so repetitive...but the Apostle Paul repeated important ideas as God led him, and Paul's writings have done pretty well, readership-wise.
"And in the church God has appointed..."brothers and sisters...how important this is! For the operation of the church God Himself has appointed the positions, gifts, and people to have them...! We seek His will, we seek His gifts, but they are not just randomly handed out....they are appointed.
You may have to reach a level of spiritual maturity in order to be able to receive and handle that which God has appointed for you.
"...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?"
The answer to Paul's question certainly seems to be, no. How then, have some of us become so obsessed with one gift? How have we developed the theology that 'everyone' who 'truly believes' will speak in tongues?
But let us not get caught up in negative thoughts, for next time,"I will show you the most excellent way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. I think we are getting close to ending this discussion,,,what are your thoughts? Questions?
(I will not end it without a discussion on the Greek, and a few common teachings, thus far ignored.)
2. Chapter twelve and thirteen are part of the same writing...what is "the most excellent way"?
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
Friends, to follow up on yesterday's discussion on the place of speaking in tongues within the body of the church, let us reflect on the next verses from this chapter.
"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?"
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
As a writer, I hesitate to be so repetitive...but the Apostle Paul repeated important ideas as God led him, and Paul's writings have done pretty well, readership-wise.
"And in the church God has appointed..."brothers and sisters...how important this is! For the operation of the church God Himself has appointed the positions, gifts, and people to have them...! We seek His will, we seek His gifts, but they are not just randomly handed out....they are appointed.
You may have to reach a level of spiritual maturity in order to be able to receive and handle that which God has appointed for you.
"...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?"
The answer to Paul's question certainly seems to be, no. How then, have some of us become so obsessed with one gift? How have we developed the theology that 'everyone' who 'truly believes' will speak in tongues?
But let us not get caught up in negative thoughts, for next time,"I will show you the most excellent way."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. I think we are getting close to ending this discussion,,,what are your thoughts? Questions?
(I will not end it without a discussion on the Greek, and a few common teachings, thus far ignored.)
2. Chapter twelve and thirteen are part of the same writing...what is "the most excellent way"?
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
Thursday, March 5, 2009
ListenDaily - 05 March 2009; Things we think and things we know
ListenDaily - 05 March 2009; Things we think and things we know
Friends, to follow up on yesterday's discussion on the place of speaking in tongues within the body of the church, let us reflect on the next verses from this chapter.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
...there should be no division in the body...
Like many of you, I am still working out the meaning and usage of speaking in tongues. I am still seeking clarity, still seeking discernment. The Scriptures are not as clear, to me at least, as I wish they were on this issue.
...there should be no division in the body...
This statement, however, is crystal clear. Certainly there have been, are, and will continue to be divisions in the church...but there should not be! If an issue, speaking in tongues or any other, is causing division, that division is from the flesh of men, or from Satan working through the flesh of men. We must maintain the truth, and be acctountable to it, but never seek to create a division over an issue, especially something that is given as a gift. I am not referring to issues of sin that some would have made acceptable in the church; although even in those, unity should be sought by preaching and teaching the truth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you believe in tongues?
2. Do you believe everyone should speak in tongues? No one?
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
Friends, to follow up on yesterday's discussion on the place of speaking in tongues within the body of the church, let us reflect on the next verses from this chapter.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
...there should be no division in the body...
Like many of you, I am still working out the meaning and usage of speaking in tongues. I am still seeking clarity, still seeking discernment. The Scriptures are not as clear, to me at least, as I wish they were on this issue.
...there should be no division in the body...
This statement, however, is crystal clear. Certainly there have been, are, and will continue to be divisions in the church...but there should not be! If an issue, speaking in tongues or any other, is causing division, that division is from the flesh of men, or from Satan working through the flesh of men. We must maintain the truth, and be acctountable to it, but never seek to create a division over an issue, especially something that is given as a gift. I am not referring to issues of sin that some would have made acceptable in the church; although even in those, unity should be sought by preaching and teaching the truth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you believe in tongues?
2. Do you believe everyone should speak in tongues? No one?
3. Many of you have mentioned divisions caused by this issue, how did that affect your 'church life', then and now?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
ListenDaily - 04 March 2009; Interdependency
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 the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
to another miraculous powers,
to another prophecy,
to another distinguishing between spirits,
to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.
So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Much of the discussion concerning the topic of speaking in tongues, seems to center on whether or not everyone should be able to, or if the inability to speak in tongues indicates some lack of having received the Holy Spirit.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given...to another...to another faith by the same Spirit...to another...to another...to another...to another...to another...and to still another...the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.
Friends, and I know this will be contrary to what many of you have been taught and believe, but it seems so clear that speaking in tongues is a gift that is given to part of the body. And Paul clearly states, elsewhere, the importance of understanding the different parts of the body, that we are all called to different things, with different gifts, so that much can be accomplished working together.
For all who seek His will and are open to the Holy Spirit, I say: Have you been gifted with speaking in tongues? Praise God for the Holy Spirit working in you! Have you not been so gifted? Praise God! For He has a plan and gifts specifically for you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you believe in tongues?
2. Do you believe everyone should speak in tongues? No one?
3. How does today's passage reflect your beliefs?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom,
to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,
to another faith by the same Spirit,
to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,
to another miraculous powers,
to another prophecy,
to another distinguishing between spirits,
to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines.
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.
So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Much of the discussion concerning the topic of speaking in tongues, seems to center on whether or not everyone should be able to, or if the inability to speak in tongues indicates some lack of having received the Holy Spirit.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given...to another...to another faith by the same Spirit...to another...to another...to another...to another...to another...and to still another...the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body.
Friends, and I know this will be contrary to what many of you have been taught and believe, but it seems so clear that speaking in tongues is a gift that is given to part of the body. And Paul clearly states, elsewhere, the importance of understanding the different parts of the body, that we are all called to different things, with different gifts, so that much can be accomplished working together.
For all who seek His will and are open to the Holy Spirit, I say: Have you been gifted with speaking in tongues? Praise God for the Holy Spirit working in you! Have you not been so gifted? Praise God! For He has a plan and gifts specifically for you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. Do you believe in tongues?
2. Do you believe everyone should speak in tongues? No one?
3. How does today's passage reflect your beliefs?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
ListenDaily - 03 March 2009; The Common Good
ListenDaily - 03 March 2009; The Common Good
We will take a few days to look over the 1 Corinthians passages on tongues; all of the remaining New Testament references to tongues are in 1 Corinthians, chapters 12, 13, and 14.
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12: 1-12 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This chapter is where we started, some weeks ago, the discussion of spiritual gifts bringing us to this discussion on tongues. This phrase "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good" is of no little importance. The church at Corinth was rife with divisions over a variety of issues and Paul sought, through this letter,to bring their focus back to Christ.
Whether it be tongues or any other subject, nothing can be settled in the church until the body of the church, settles its gaze on Christ, and opens itself to the Holy Spirit, only then can the church glorify God and work toward 'the common good''.
Those who are called into leadership of local churches are responsible for maintaining their own focus on Christ and submission to the Spirit, and leading their followers into the same.
Those who have ascended into leadership positions by means other than God's call, must repent for accepting those positions and seek His guidance out of that particular predicament.
Unity in the Body can only come from the Body's unity with Christ. Then, and only then, can the gifts of the Spirit be properly utilized for 'the common good''.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. No Earthly church is perfect, but do you see your church as unified?
2. What characterizes the leaders of your local church; capability or spirituality?
3. How does this affect the manifestation of the Spirit's gifts?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
We will take a few days to look over the 1 Corinthians passages on tongues; all of the remaining New Testament references to tongues are in 1 Corinthians, chapters 12, 13, and 14.
Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, "Jesus be cursed," and no one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
1 Corinthians 12: 1-12 (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This chapter is where we started, some weeks ago, the discussion of spiritual gifts bringing us to this discussion on tongues. This phrase "Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good" is of no little importance. The church at Corinth was rife with divisions over a variety of issues and Paul sought, through this letter,to bring their focus back to Christ.
Whether it be tongues or any other subject, nothing can be settled in the church until the body of the church, settles its gaze on Christ, and opens itself to the Holy Spirit, only then can the church glorify God and work toward 'the common good''.
Those who are called into leadership of local churches are responsible for maintaining their own focus on Christ and submission to the Spirit, and leading their followers into the same.
Those who have ascended into leadership positions by means other than God's call, must repent for accepting those positions and seek His guidance out of that particular predicament.
Unity in the Body can only come from the Body's unity with Christ. Then, and only then, can the gifts of the Spirit be properly utilized for 'the common good''.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. No Earthly church is perfect, but do you see your church as unified?
2. What characterizes the leaders of your local church; capability or spirituality?
3. How does this affect the manifestation of the Spirit's gifts?
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 THOUGHTS:
"One hundred religious persons knit into a unity by careful organization do not constitute a church
any more than eleven dead men make a football team. The first requisite is life, always."
A.W. Tozer
"Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other?
They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow.
So one hundred worshippers meeting together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become unity conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.
Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified. The body becomes stronger as its members become healthier.
The whole church of God gains when the members that compose it begin to seek a better and a higher life."
A.W. Tozer
"The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.
He who fritters away the early morning, its opportunity and freshness,
in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.
If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He will be in the last place the remainder of the day."
E.M. Bounds
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