ListenDaily - 26 February 2009; Pausing to reflect...
May we take a one day pause from our discussion on tongues?
I am ever mindful (and if I forget, I am ever reminded!) that there is a wide variety of folks that read this, from many denominational, non-denominational, and never-denominational backgrounds. And so, when talking about traditions, it is a guarantee that my experiences will be quite different than many or most of you. That being said, yesterday was Ash Wednesday and ushered in the season of Lent. For many people, this is a regular part of their lives, for others, not a part at all.
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Revelation 21:1-5 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
I praise God and await that day! Lent has been, traditionally, a time of reflection, and I think that is good. It is good to, on occasion, remember what part we have played in putting Jesus on the cross. And it is good to remember that we know about the cross, but we also know about the empty tomb! Christ died because of my sin, and I should remember that, but I do not have to dwell in the guilt because He arose, victorious over death!
Ash Wednesday: I went home last night, and did what I had earlier asked the congregation to do. I went to the sink to wash my face, I looked in the mirror at the ashes, shaped into a cross on my forehead...I looked up at the cross...then I washed it off. The stain of the ash cross was gone, as the stain of sin on my life is gone because of the cross.
Lent: Consider giving something up for Lent, but replace it with Jesus. Give up a favorite food, and when your stomach growls for it, thank God for all you really do have. Give up lunch, spend lunchtime in prayer. Give up buying lunch, give the money to feed someone. Give up one TV show and read the Bible. Or do something else. I think you will find that in 'giving up', you will receive so much!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What is your tradition concerning Ash Wednesday/Lent?
2. Will you consider giving something up and getting more Jesus?
3. If so, what will you do, and may I share it?
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
INTERESTING THOUGHT:
"Prayer is reaching out after the unseen;
fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal.
Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution
that we are ready to sacrifice anything,
even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God."
Andrew Murray
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
ListenDaily - 25 February 2009; What we know so far...
ListenDaily - 25 February 2009; What we know so far...
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
The next mention of tongues comes in the nineteenth chapter of Acts. A lot has happened between these passages, including Saul/Paul's conversion. Interestingly, he brought 'new languages' into the preaching of the Gospel, from his own prior education. Paul was a Hebrew, a Roman citizen, and spoke Greek as well.
"Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all." Acts 19:4-7 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is an interesting passage, that looks a bit different from earlier ones, and yet reflects some similarities as well. Here are twelve, or 'about twelve' men, hearing and accepting Jesus. They are touched by the Holy Spirit, and begin to speak "in tongues and prophesy". Again, there is no clear definition of the tongues, and what they looked or sounded like. The main difference here is the laying on of hands prior to the speaking in tongues Now, this was not the first use of 'laying hands'. Jesus sometimes touched people when healing, and Acts 8 gives an account that contains the statement: " the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands".
Now we have a new question: did the Spirit come during the "laying on of hands" or because of it?
But I digress.
Friends, I am being true to what I stated at the beginning; I am not consulting outside sources, just reading what the Word says, concerning tongues, and will refer to commentaries and such later. What I see thus far is:
- The tongues in Acts 2 seem to be different, they were about human understanding.
- The Book of Acts does not define any other 'speaking in tongues'; mentions it, but without definition.
- The speaking in tongues in the Book of Acts, after Pentecost, is always preceded by; 1) a believer sharing the Gospel, 2) a non-believer hearing and accepting, 3) the presence of the Holy Spirit.
- Thus far, tongues are not promised nor sought.
Please reread that list, I think these are significant statements.
Next, we will move into Paul's letter to the Corinthians, which has the greatest number of tongues references.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does this say to you?
2. What do you think of these findings?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON PREACHING:
To teach in order to lead others to faith is the
task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"If Jesus preached the same message minister's preach today,
He would have never been crucified."
Leonard Ravenhill
"The reason why congregations have been so dead
is because they have dead men preaching to them.
How can dead men beget living children?"
George Whitefield
"Whatever subject I preach,
I do not stop until I reach the Savior,
the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things."
Charles Spurgeon
"You have nothing to do but to save souls.
Therefore spend and be spent in this work.
And go not only to those that need you,
but to those that need you most.
It is not your business to preach so many times,
and to take care of this or that society;
but to save as many souls as you can;
to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.
John Wesley
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
The next mention of tongues comes in the nineteenth chapter of Acts. A lot has happened between these passages, including Saul/Paul's conversion. Interestingly, he brought 'new languages' into the preaching of the Gospel, from his own prior education. Paul was a Hebrew, a Roman citizen, and spoke Greek as well.
"Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all." Acts 19:4-7 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is an interesting passage, that looks a bit different from earlier ones, and yet reflects some similarities as well. Here are twelve, or 'about twelve' men, hearing and accepting Jesus. They are touched by the Holy Spirit, and begin to speak "in tongues and prophesy". Again, there is no clear definition of the tongues, and what they looked or sounded like. The main difference here is the laying on of hands prior to the speaking in tongues Now, this was not the first use of 'laying hands'. Jesus sometimes touched people when healing, and Acts 8 gives an account that contains the statement: " the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands".
Now we have a new question: did the Spirit come during the "laying on of hands" or because of it?
But I digress.
Friends, I am being true to what I stated at the beginning; I am not consulting outside sources, just reading what the Word says, concerning tongues, and will refer to commentaries and such later. What I see thus far is:
- The tongues in Acts 2 seem to be different, they were about human understanding.
- The Book of Acts does not define any other 'speaking in tongues'; mentions it, but without definition.
- The speaking in tongues in the Book of Acts, after Pentecost, is always preceded by; 1) a believer sharing the Gospel, 2) a non-believer hearing and accepting, 3) the presence of the Holy Spirit.
- Thus far, tongues are not promised nor sought.
Please reread that list, I think these are significant statements.
Next, we will move into Paul's letter to the Corinthians, which has the greatest number of tongues references.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What does this say to you?
2. What do you think of these findings?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON PREACHING:
To teach in order to lead others to faith is the
task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"If Jesus preached the same message minister's preach today,
He would have never been crucified."
Leonard Ravenhill
"The reason why congregations have been so dead
is because they have dead men preaching to them.
How can dead men beget living children?"
George Whitefield
"Whatever subject I preach,
I do not stop until I reach the Savior,
the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things."
Charles Spurgeon
"You have nothing to do but to save souls.
Therefore spend and be spent in this work.
And go not only to those that need you,
but to those that need you most.
It is not your business to preach so many times,
and to take care of this or that society;
but to save as many souls as you can;
to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.
John Wesley
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
ListenDaily - 24 February 2009; Backing up to move forward
ListenDaily - 24 February 2009; Backing up to move forward
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
We have already discussed how the presence of the Spirit was manifested in the "speaking in tongues and praising God ". Now let us look back at the preceding verses:
"Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:38-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came..."
Paul wrote in his first letter to the Thessalonians that we should not quench the Spirit, or put out the Spirit's fire, and He lists ways to avoid that pitfall. I wonder if what we are seeing here is the exact opposite. If we have the capability to limit the Spirit, then do we not have the opportunity to create an environment in which the Spirit is welcomed and can readily work? When that happens, we may see tongues and other manifestations of the Spirit's presence.
So the, how did Peter welcome the Spirit?
He preached Christ...crucified and resurrected! And while he did, "the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message...[they began] speaking in tongues and praising God."
We still have some work to do, figuring out what the Scriptures say about 'speaking in tongues', but this much is crystal clear: the Spirit can be ushered in by the sharing of the crucified and resurrected Christ with those who do not yet know Him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do you displayed in your church?
2. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do others see in you?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON PREACHING:
To teach in order to lead others to faith is the
task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"If Jesus preached the same message minister's preach today,
He would have never been crucified."
Leonard Ravenhill
"The reason why congregations have been so dead
is because they have dead men preaching to them.
How can dead men beget living children?"
George Whitefield
"Whatever subject I preach,
I do not stop until I reach the Savior,
the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things."
Charles Spurgeon
"You have nothing to do but to save souls.
Therefore spend and be spent in this work.
And go not only to those that need you,
but to those that need you most.
It is not your business to preach so many times,
and to take care of this or that society;
but to save as many souls as you can;
to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.
John Wesley
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
We have already discussed how the presence of the Spirit was manifested in the "speaking in tongues and praising God ". Now let us look back at the preceding verses:
"Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
"We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:38-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came..."
Paul wrote in his first letter to the Thessalonians that we should not quench the Spirit, or put out the Spirit's fire, and He lists ways to avoid that pitfall. I wonder if what we are seeing here is the exact opposite. If we have the capability to limit the Spirit, then do we not have the opportunity to create an environment in which the Spirit is welcomed and can readily work? When that happens, we may see tongues and other manifestations of the Spirit's presence.
So the, how did Peter welcome the Spirit?
He preached Christ...crucified and resurrected! And while he did, "the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message...[they began] speaking in tongues and praising God."
We still have some work to do, figuring out what the Scriptures say about 'speaking in tongues', but this much is crystal clear: the Spirit can be ushered in by the sharing of the crucified and resurrected Christ with those who do not yet know Him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do you displayed in your church?
2. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do others see in you?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS ON PREACHING:
To teach in order to lead others to faith is the
task of every preacher and of each believer."
Thomas Aquinas
"If Jesus preached the same message minister's preach today,
He would have never been crucified."
Leonard Ravenhill
"The reason why congregations have been so dead
is because they have dead men preaching to them.
How can dead men beget living children?"
George Whitefield
"Whatever subject I preach,
I do not stop until I reach the Savior,
the Lord Jesus, for in Him are all things."
Charles Spurgeon
"You have nothing to do but to save souls.
Therefore spend and be spent in this work.
And go not only to those that need you,
but to those that need you most.
It is not your business to preach so many times,
and to take care of this or that society;
but to save as many souls as you can;
to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.
John Wesley
Thursday, February 19, 2009
ListenDaily - 19 February 2009; To see and hear you have to speak!
ListenDaily - 19 February 2009; To see and hear you have to speak!
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:44-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Much of the debate and discussion about tongues and other Spiritual gifts seems to center around details of what they sound like, what they mean, when and where they are appropriate. All good stuff to discuss. But can we pause here, with this passage, to consider another perspective?
Everything we can know about the Father, Son, and Spirit, will never be all there is to know. We cannot understand it all...though we should pursue understanding. While the Scriptures may seem less than clear on some subjects, others are crystal clear. In today's passage, for example, exactly what the 'tongues' were like, we do not know. Were they speaking in a Spirit language, or were they enabled with foreign tongues so that others could understand, like in Acts 2?
I don't know.
This I do know...unbelievers heard and believed. The Holy Spirit came upon them and there was evidence of His presence.
Regardless of our definitions of the Gifts, the believers we know should show some evidence of the Holy Spirit.
If we are believers, we should know the presence of the Spirit, and show evidence of it.
How are we doing with that?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do you displayed in your church?
2. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do others see in you?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS FROM BILLY SUNDAY:
"Trying to run a church without revivals can be done
when you can run a gasoline engine on buttermilk."
"Enthusiasm is as good a thing in
the Church as fire is in a cook stove."
"If you are strangers to prayer you are strangers to power."
"We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
AN INVITATION!
Come join the First Church of Facebook (no, this isn't a joke!)
Go here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=63164484154
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:44-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Much of the debate and discussion about tongues and other Spiritual gifts seems to center around details of what they sound like, what they mean, when and where they are appropriate. All good stuff to discuss. But can we pause here, with this passage, to consider another perspective?
Everything we can know about the Father, Son, and Spirit, will never be all there is to know. We cannot understand it all...though we should pursue understanding. While the Scriptures may seem less than clear on some subjects, others are crystal clear. In today's passage, for example, exactly what the 'tongues' were like, we do not know. Were they speaking in a Spirit language, or were they enabled with foreign tongues so that others could understand, like in Acts 2?
I don't know.
This I do know...unbelievers heard and believed. The Holy Spirit came upon them and there was evidence of His presence.
Regardless of our definitions of the Gifts, the believers we know should show some evidence of the Holy Spirit.
If we are believers, we should know the presence of the Spirit, and show evidence of it.
How are we doing with that?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do you displayed in your church?
2. What evidence of the Holy Spirit do others see in you?
3. Does your church teach, preach, or encourage the use of Spiritual gifts and fruit?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS FROM BILLY SUNDAY:
"Trying to run a church without revivals can be done
when you can run a gasoline engine on buttermilk."
"Enthusiasm is as good a thing in
the Church as fire is in a cook stove."
"If you are strangers to prayer you are strangers to power."
"We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
ListenDaily - 18 February 2009; To see and hear you have to speak!
ListenDaily - 18 February 2009; To see and hear you have to speak!
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:44-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This short passage is filled with information...and raises some questions.
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message." So then, the evidence of the Spirit here is upon those who, before speaking...heard.
"The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles." A sub-lesson from our topic, and an important one for believers at all times, anyone can receive Christ; the Spirit and His gifts are available to all.
"...the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God." So...what is the evidence of the Spirit here? The speaking in tongues? The praises to God? Or both? Are these Spiritual tongues or is this an understanding of other languages?
To me, what stands out here is the order of events.
The Gospel was given.
The Gospel was received.
The Holy Spirit was given.
There was evidence of the Spirit.
The evidence was with the new believers, witnessed by all, recognized by those who had already believed.
So then, if we were to experience something like this today, what would it look like? As those who have already believed, our role would be the giving of the Gospel and the recognition of the results. It is the responsibility of the hearers of the Word to accept, and it is God's decision how to evidence His Spirit.
The question is, are we doing our part? Are we preaching the Truth and looking for evidence of the Spirit?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. What is the purpose of tongues in this passage?
3. Are we, as individuals, doing our part? Are our churches?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS FROM BILLY SUNDAY:
"Trying to run a church without revivals can be done
when you can run a gasoline engine on buttermilk."
"Enthusiasm is as good a thing in
the Church as fire is in a cook stove."
"If you are strangers to prayer you are strangers to power."
"We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have."
Acts 10:44-47 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This short passage is filled with information...and raises some questions.
"While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message." So then, the evidence of the Spirit here is upon those who, before speaking...heard.
"The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles." A sub-lesson from our topic, and an important one for believers at all times, anyone can receive Christ; the Spirit and His gifts are available to all.
"...the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God." So...what is the evidence of the Spirit here? The speaking in tongues? The praises to God? Or both? Are these Spiritual tongues or is this an understanding of other languages?
To me, what stands out here is the order of events.
The Gospel was given.
The Gospel was received.
The Holy Spirit was given.
There was evidence of the Spirit.
The evidence was with the new believers, witnessed by all, recognized by those who had already believed.
So then, if we were to experience something like this today, what would it look like? As those who have already believed, our role would be the giving of the Gospel and the recognition of the results. It is the responsibility of the hearers of the Word to accept, and it is God's decision how to evidence His Spirit.
The question is, are we doing our part? Are we preaching the Truth and looking for evidence of the Spirit?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. What is the purpose of tongues in this passage?
3. Are we, as individuals, doing our part? Are our churches?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS FROM BILLY SUNDAY:
"Trying to run a church without revivals can be done
when you can run a gasoline engine on buttermilk."
"Enthusiasm is as good a thing in
the Church as fire is in a cook stove."
"If you are strangers to prayer you are strangers to power."
"We have a God who delights in impossibilities."
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
ListenDaily - 17 February 2009; He who has ears, let him hear!
ListenDaily - 17 February 2009; He who has ears, let him hear!
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Acts 2: 5-11(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Yesterday's passage in Mark, is the only mention of speaking in tongues in the Gospels. Moving forward through the New Testament, we come to the second chapter of Acts. As a reminder, I am not using any commentaries at this point, just reading the Scriptures and seeing what they say to us in our language. We will look at some other perspectives, and the Greek terms before we finish this study.
"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them...there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?...we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
God's role here, in he Holy Spirit, was to fill the apostles and allow this miracle to occur.
The speakers preached! The hearers heard the Gospel!
Now, was the miracle here a changing of the speakers' tongues, or of the hearers' ears? We really do not know...and I have to ask...does it matter? The important thing was that the Good News of Jesus Christ be understood, and that language not be a barrier.
As I have alluded to previously, this Pentecostal experience was not what we typically view as 'speaking in tongues', yet it is a passage often referred to in that subject.
What I do not want to miss here is that God made it important to cross over the human language barrier, once created by Him. Remember the Tower of Babel? At that time, God used language to scatter men; here He uses it to bring them together, and, more importantly, to Him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. How do different languages help/hurt the spreading of the Gospel today?
3. How does God overcome language differences in and through the church today?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Acts 2: 5-11(find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Yesterday's passage in Mark, is the only mention of speaking in tongues in the Gospels. Moving forward through the New Testament, we come to the second chapter of Acts. As a reminder, I am not using any commentaries at this point, just reading the Scriptures and seeing what they say to us in our language. We will look at some other perspectives, and the Greek terms before we finish this study.
"All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them...there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?...we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
God's role here, in he Holy Spirit, was to fill the apostles and allow this miracle to occur.
The speakers preached! The hearers heard the Gospel!
Now, was the miracle here a changing of the speakers' tongues, or of the hearers' ears? We really do not know...and I have to ask...does it matter? The important thing was that the Good News of Jesus Christ be understood, and that language not be a barrier.
As I have alluded to previously, this Pentecostal experience was not what we typically view as 'speaking in tongues', yet it is a passage often referred to in that subject.
What I do not want to miss here is that God made it important to cross over the human language barrier, once created by Him. Remember the Tower of Babel? At that time, God used language to scatter men; here He uses it to bring them together, and, more importantly, to Him.
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Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. How do different languages help/hurt the spreading of the Gospel today?
3. How does God overcome language differences in and through the church today?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
Monday, February 16, 2009
ListenDaily - 16 February 2009; WDJS?
ListenDaily - 16 February 2009; WDJS? (What did Jesus say?)
Speaking in tongues...What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." Mark 16:15-18 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is an intriguing passage, some debate that it should not be included. There is a note in most Bibles referring to that debate. And the idea of snake handling is one that puts most people off.
Me too.
But let us look at what Jesus is really saying here; are these promises or commandments or what?
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." This is a commandment. Period.
"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." This is a promise and a certainty.
" And these signs will accompany..." The word 'accompany' here is an important one to note. Jesus did not say 'all believers will...', rather He said that these signs would go along with the new church. And the book of Acts gives examples of these things. Acts 28 documents Paul being attacked by a snake and suffering no ill effects. Note also that Paul did not go after the snake to prove anything, rather that God protected him from the unsolicited snake attack.
I also have to wonder this; when Jesus said "...they will speak in new tongues..." is it implicit that He meant 'tongues' only as we have come to think about them? Remember, the 'tongues' at Pentecost were not a spiritual language, but languages that enabled all human listeners to understand the Good News being preached, without interpretation.
Maybe Jesus meant one, maybe the other, maybe both. I do not know. One thing I do know; the multitude of letters I have received on this topic have revealed divisions in churches over this 'speaking in tongue'. And Jesus said "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Period.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. Have you ever seen a difference between someone's teaching and the Scriptures?
3. What do you do about that?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
Speaking in tongues...What is the role of the speaker? The hearer? God?
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." Mark 16:15-18 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
This is an intriguing passage, some debate that it should not be included. There is a note in most Bibles referring to that debate. And the idea of snake handling is one that puts most people off.
Me too.
But let us look at what Jesus is really saying here; are these promises or commandments or what?
"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." This is a commandment. Period.
"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." This is a promise and a certainty.
" And these signs will accompany..." The word 'accompany' here is an important one to note. Jesus did not say 'all believers will...', rather He said that these signs would go along with the new church. And the book of Acts gives examples of these things. Acts 28 documents Paul being attacked by a snake and suffering no ill effects. Note also that Paul did not go after the snake to prove anything, rather that God protected him from the unsolicited snake attack.
I also have to wonder this; when Jesus said "...they will speak in new tongues..." is it implicit that He meant 'tongues' only as we have come to think about them? Remember, the 'tongues' at Pentecost were not a spiritual language, but languages that enabled all human listeners to understand the Good News being preached, without interpretation.
Maybe Jesus meant one, maybe the other, maybe both. I do not know. One thing I do know; the multitude of letters I have received on this topic have revealed divisions in churches over this 'speaking in tongue'. And Jesus said "A house divided against itself cannot stand." Period.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. Have you ever seen a difference between someone's teaching and the Scriptures?
3. What do you do about that?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our seminaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
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