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."
No comments:
Post a Comment