To comfort those who speak in tongues

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ember

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I would agree with the non-label labels! :eek:

my background is anti-gifts....I'm just an anomaly on the radar as far as it goes haha

I am SO glad that God knows our hearts!
 
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Gr8grace

Guest
Popeye, my intial response was to a post made my Peaceful Warrior where he states that tongues were given to Israel only. My response was that originally, the gift of tongues was given to Jew & gentile to speak to the multitudes, thus his statement did not make sense.

Notuptome, apparently misunderstood my statement and wrongly assumed that I was attempting to support the view that tongues are still for today. However, my comment, when read in it's intended context, was never intended to support or deny such a claim. :)
The Gift of tongues were given to believers only...........Christians. The Gift had its impact on Israel.

5Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. 7They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8“And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? 9“Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in ourown tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God.” 12And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others were mocking and saying, “They are full of sweet wine.”

The Jews were gathered for the festival of Pentecost and came from vast distances. They(Jews) all heard them in the dialect from their own region.

Isa 28:11~~New American Standard Bible
Indeed, He will speak to this people Through stammering lips and a foreign tongue,

 
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these things are given and done by God's will, not man's.
you are misconstruing this, and making it conflict with other scripture --
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
(John 1:12-13)

born not of human will, but of God. and how born? by this Spirit, God's own, not men's.

Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
(James 1:18)

by God's own will, not man's.

You are correct - I could no more birth the new creation inside me than a man in the moon - God creates . . . I cannot. I place my faith in His Son and through that faith he gave me the right to become His child.
there are two witnesses for you; and there are more.
For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
(2 Peter 1:21)​

prophecy -- a manifestation of His Spirit -- not by man's will, but by God.
Knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private (idios - one's own) interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Spirit. Yep . . . the words came from God as he spake to holy men . . . but did he possess their hands, hold the pen, and move their hands to write? No . . they spake as they were moved . . . therefore they wrote as they were moved. It is God that energizes.
so when you read this --
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
(1 Corinthians 12:11)​

it is the Spirit who works these things, and distributes these things, according to His will - God's will - not man's will.

But one and the same Spirit energizes all these things (manifestations) dividing to each one (every man) separately (Thayer's) as he will. - he is not capitalized . . . he is a pronoun relative to the closest noun; i.e. every man (each one) so it would be as "man determines". Again, God nor does the holy Spirit possess us (if we are possessed it is not God) - He via the Spirit within us energizes that manifestation and through our own will we move our mouths, our tongues, our vocal cords, we speak - God is Spirit - He gives the words; we through our Spirit speak what we hear as we step out in faith.

you do not chose for yourself, "i will be a prophet" -- but the Spirit determines this. the only thing you choose is "i will submit to God's will" or "i will resist God's will"
you do not choose for yourself "i will speak in tongues" -- but the Spirit will determine this.
you do not choose for yourself "i will work miracles" -- but it is done by the will and power of God.
you do not distribute these things. you do not work these things. the Spirit does this.

in addition to John, James & Peter, Paul is another witness to this truth:
But earnestly desire the greater gifts.
(1 Corinthians 12:31)

why did Paul not say "choose the greater gifts" or "determine for yourself the greater gifts" ? but he says "desire" them.
1) you do not chose for yourself, "i will be a prophet" -- but the Spirit determines this. the only thing you choose is "i will submit to God's will" or "i will resist God's will" ------ the manifestation of prophecy (not a prophet) is a message from God to the body of Christ for edification . . . So if I say I submit to God's will and open my mouth to give prophecy to the body of Christ - God will start speaking or do I speak what my Spirit hears from God?
2) you do not choose for yourself "i will speak in tongues" -- but the Spirit will determine this. ---- the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man, i.e. each born again believer - so God has already determined that I should speak in tongues - (I would that ye all spake with tongues) It is me that has to utter . . . Again God nor the Spirit possesses us. God does not overstep our freedom.
3) you do not choose for yourself "i will work miracles" -- but it is done by the will and power of God. ----- If I am in a situation and the Spirit tells me to do something that is considered miraculous - it will be the Spirit that energizes - I, me, myself, can do nothing of myself . . . but I have to step out when God speaks to me - Have I ever been in that situation? Nope.
you do not distribute these things. you do not work these things. the Spirit does this.
4)
you do not distribute these things. you do not work these things. the Spirit does this. ---- You are correct - I do not distribute - I do not energize - But in order to receive word of wisdom and word of knowledge - I have to listen and apply that wisdom and knowledge in my life or what profit is there? I have to have the faith to walk out but it is God which energizes that faith, I do not heal but I can pray, I can lay my hands on the sick but if I do not obey the energizing, the prompting of the Spirit then nothing will happen. I can give prophecy, speak in tongues and interpret but if I don't follow the prompting of the Spirit and open my mouth and speak . . . then nothing. I never meant that it is all ME . . . it is the Spirit that energizes . . . I can sit on my butt and do nothing if I determine to do so . . . What profit is there in that? And the manifestation of the Spirit is for profit to the body of Christ . . . .

 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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But one and the same Spirit energizes all these things (manifestations) dividing to each one (every man) separately (Thayer's) as he will. - he is not capitalized . . . he is a pronoun relative to the closest noun

no capital letters in the Greek; that's later addition through translation. you can't rely on that. even still, in other translations, it is capitalized.

why so focused on the pronoun when there's a very important NOUN in the sentence?
the NOUN that gives, the NOUN that works, the NOUN that wills -- so why say the pronoun, the recipient, determines? instead of the NOUN - the Giver?

 
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no capital letters in the Greek; that's later addition through translation. you can't rely on that. even still, in other translations, it is capitalized.

why so focused on the pronoun when there's a very important NOUN in the sentence?
the NOUN that gives, the NOUN that works, the NOUN that wills -- so why say the pronoun, the recipient, determines? instead of the NOUN - the Giver?

I know that there are no caps in the Greek - I only pointed out that you had capitalized it . . .

Look . . . I just know that God via the Spirit does not possess nor MAKE anyone do anything that is against their will. I have said that God has given us the gift of holy Spirit . . . within that gift are nine manifestations given to "every man" (believer) for profit. . . so God has already determined that the believer should manifest that Spirit within him/her . . the Spirit energizes our Spirit . . . but it is up to us to walk out and determine whether we will receive . . . . or open our mouth and speak.

Does God make you obey Him? or Is that your choice?


 
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my point exactly

:)
I never said I distribute . . . He has already distributed . . . to EVERY MAN (BELIEVER) -

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to EVERY MAN to profit withal. 1 Cor. 12:7

 
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well, I seldom say I am done with a thread as sooner or later you may want to come back to it...I have thought about this, prayed about this and decided that I will, after all, respond again as other voices have joined, so excuse me for saying I would not be back here...but I changed my mind

with regards to what you wrote to me warrior, it seems you have taken up the cause of vigilant warrior to the extent that you accuse me of attacking him

I do not take such a thing lightly and I gave thought and weight to your words. Continuing to read more of your posts and continuing to read more of his posts...both here and in other threads, I do not accept your conclusion as valid...it may be valid to your own thought processes, but I have not attacked anyone in this thread...although some are quick to accuse others of attacking them, it is not a defense position I usually assume. However, if anyone in this thread has done some attacking it is actually VW...as far as Roger goes...well, he just chugs on pretty much the same in thread after thread...after a while it is kind of line white noise in the background, although I would hope he changes his mind and accepts ALL the Bible and not just the parts he is comfortable with.

Here is a sample post of VW's from this thread not addressed to me...it is to Ricky



you can find that in post 369...with Ricky's response

it seems to me that the arrogance is actually issuing from VW and not anyone else...you have not been arrogant, convallaria has not been arrogant, Roger has not been arrogant and I have not been arrogant.

The height of arrogance and unwarranted abuse? are you kidding me? This is a man who thinks he is the judge here...and you have decided he has not attacked anyone. His responses are similar throughout these forums to one and all on any subject a person may disagree with him on.

So, I reject your words to me ... they are protective of your own thought processes and do not represent a fair evaluation of my posts IMO.

Of course, you are certainly free to think what you want of me or anyone else and we are equally free to reject your conclusions.

I was also very disappointed that you chose to include a summation of Ricky's witness to the effects of praying in tongues with a video of a horror movie.

Vampire movies are demonic IMO and choosing to try and say that someone watched this garbage and then tried to lie about their experience is just way below how I would expect someone who is actively trying to determine truth would behave.
amen well said, and thank you for coming back :)
 
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notice in verse 5 who it is that prepares the table before us?

:rolleyes:

does anyone get the sense that He hands us a menu, and then asks us what gifts and manifestations we'd like to have with our supper?

honestly?

this idea is a stumbling block that leads into this pit of will-worship, saying "
i will speak in tongues" or "i will prophesy" etc. this is centrally wrong here, the preconception that tongues or any other manifestation of God's own Spirit can be "stirred up" by our own human will.


yet not my will, but yours be done.
What I see in the OP scripture I posted is that the gift was already given by the Lord to Timothy with the laying on of the apostle's hands, so when he said to stir it up, it meant don't leave it on the back burner to go cold....remember what you were gifted with and use it.

It is a good insight you had though, that some might think they just need to stir things up to receive it: not a good way to go :)
 
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You claim is made wholly without scriptural support.
Do you mean this in the sense of you sticking your fingers in your ears and going lalalalalala ? :)

C'mon Roger, I have lost count of the many people who have tried to help you see where you are going wrong, but no! You are not having it!
 
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There never was and never will be a cessationist with an in depth study on tongues.

They are oblivious of the word opened to the spirit filled believer.

Sad that they actually and eerily have no starting place.
Very sad and I agree totally
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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I know that there are no caps in the Greek - I only pointed out that you had capitalized it . . .


that was the NASB that capitalized the word, not me in particular, and it's not the only translation to do so :)



Look . . . I just know that God via the Spirit does not possess nor MAKE anyone do anything that is against their will. I have said that God has given us the gift of holy Spirit . . . within that gift are nine manifestations given to "every man" (believer) for profit. . . so God has already determined that the believer should manifest that Spirit within him/her . . the Spirit energizes our Spirit . . . but it is up to us to walk out and determine whether we will receive . . . . or open our mouth and speak.

Does God make you obey Him? or Is that your choice?


i don't think this is about "free will" -- it's about whether it's God who wills and works in us according to His pleasure & purpose, or us who "use" God to do our own will & purpose.
if it is God that wills and works, and God that gives, then it is God who determines how each should be used of Him.
if it is us who will, and us who determine what we will receive of God, then it is our purpose, not His, and God who is used of us, not we of Him.

but you want to make it about free will - well OK, it's not unrelated.
let me ask you -- does God have free will?
people like to talk about their own "free will" - what about the Almighty's "free will" ?
if we have will, does our will confound His?

if God does not will that you should prophesy or speak in tongues throw mountains into the sea, can you by force of your will determine to do these things?

do you make God give you a command, that you should obey it? or does the command come first, and we then choose to obey?
so if one has knowledge by the Spirit, or power by the Spirit, is it because that human purposed and determined that he should receive it, or because God purposed that it should be given to him?

still, all this talk of volition is tangential -- it is God that purposes, God that works in us, God who gives and provides, and man that receives, obeys, responds and rejoices. 1 Cor. 12:11 doesn't say mankind picks & chooses which manifestations of the Spirit he likes best and then places his orders to God through a spirit-catalog. it says the Spirit gives as the Spirit determines - according to God's will, not man's.

we may determine whether we resist or obey His will for us, but we do not determine His will for us just like we don't distribute His gifts to ourselves. that
is upside-down thinking.
 
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BarlyGurl

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What I see in the OP scripture I posted is that the gift was already given by the Lord to Timothy with the laying on of the apostle's hands, so when he said to stir it up, it meant don't leave it on the back burner to go cold....remember what you were gifted with and use it.

It is a good insight you had though, that some might think they just need to stir things up to receive it: not a good way to go :)
Well... IMO... that is an EXCELLENT way of paraphrasing the intent of the text.
 
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Viligant_Warrior

Guest
That is twisting what I said into a false accusation somewhat outrageously. I can say it more generally and it is true, but I was replying to Roger. OK never mind, here it is:

If ANYONE thinks they can have a closer walk with the Lord without His Spirit, they are badly mistaken, and that is putting it kindly.
Have to thank Ember for showing me you replied to this by lying. Maybe she shouldn't have put the link into her post. But then again, I largely ignore both of you, so whatever.

But you did lie. I quoted you in the post you replied to here. You did not quote it accurately, which amounts to a lie. It said:

Roger, if you think you can have a closer walk with the Lord without His spirit, you are badly mistaken...and that is being kindly.
... referring to you posting of 1 Corinthians 2:10, as though the passage deals with tongues. That also is a lie by omission, because you didn't include the whole first eight verses, which clearly show Paul's concern at the outset of his letter is the preference of the Corinthian believers for man's wisdom, rather than God's. That theme goes on for three full chapters, from one through three.

Ironically, what you and these other "tongues-speakers" don't get is that after that rebuke, Paul condemned no less than ten specific practices of that church:

  • their acceptance of man's teaching over God's
  • immorality in the body left unchallenged
  • legal rather than spiritual remedies sought in disputes between believers
  • illicit sexual relations between unmarried church members
  • improper endorsement of divorce
  • sin done under the mantle of "liberty"
  • spiritual idolatry, proper order of service
  • the authority of women in church
  • improperly taking the Lord's Supper, and the abuse of the spiritual gifts which most assuredly includes tongues but also healings as well as prophetic utterances and "knowledge" as relates to claimed "new revelation."
This book is literally filled with the condemnation of wrong understanding, wrong practice, and wrong beliefs of the Corinthians church and is nothing but one lengthy chastisement, done in love, of their arrogantly enacted ignorance. That includes their abuse and misuse of tongues. And yet you want to claim that in the midst of all this condemnation, Paul endorses tongues!

The blockbuster is this: What Paul condemns in the Corinthian church is the practice that you "tongues-speakers" claim is endorsed in the letter!

You speak without interpreters. You chitter and jabber nonsense and claim you "pray in the Spirit." You endorse the use of a gift that was given for the edification of the ancient Jews who are long dead and gone. You refuse to be accountable to Paul's warning because you willfully pretend he isn't talking to you. You've been lied to by charlatans and led as sheep to slaughter as they have caused you to embrace a man-made doctrine without thought as to whether or not it is actually of Christ as you so wrongly claim.

Having said all that, I will more than willing hear the Holy Spirit tell me I am wrong. I will admit it openly and publcly on this forum, if God shows me that I am preaching against His truth. I also warn you, if you take offense at what I'm about to pray, then you must give serious consideration to what is really influencing you. But it is heartfelt and necessary, as this forum -- this electronic form of the body of Christ -- is being torn apart at the seams by this argument.

Lord God, I pray that whoever in this disagreement within the body of Christ is mistaken, that you would have mercy on whomever of us, by our beliefs, abuse Your Holy Spirit. We know not what we do. Reveal to us Your truth, enlightenus by Your power, and bring us into Your Light. Amen.

And with that, I am forever done with these discussions. Even if I am the one who is wrong, the divisiveness has no place here. May we all be blessed by His power, wisdom, and Holy Spirit.
 
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ember

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VW...I don't know why you seem to believe that you are doing good to others with your demeaning and untrue posts.

It seems you deliberately go out of your way to grind others with the way you twist what they say and calling someone who is a beliver a liar, because they did not post every scripture you believe they should have, is both childish and very revealing of your apparent desire to besmirch another person's name.

You do not seem able to keep on track. Rather then discuss the subject, you almost constantly seem to prefer to discuss the person.

This, is a rather amateurish psychological way of dealing with your own apparent hatred of the op...as you profess to be a professional, itmight behoove you to

1. Act like the professional you state you are

2. Act like a Christian and stop calling others liars and other such when the truth of the matter is that you simply do not believe what the Bible plainly states and go to great lengths to make it seem you are an authority

Really, if anyone is causing dissention here or causing unbelievers to wish to know nothing of Christ, it would be someone with your attitude and nasty posts to others

You are bullying and it is not really your best side
 
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ember

Guest
Lord God, I pray that whoever in this disagreement within the body of Christ is mistaken, that you would have mercy on whomever of us, by our beliefs, abuse Your Holy Spirit. We know not what we do. Reveal to us Your truth, enlightenus by Your power, and bring us into Your Light. Amen.
God has already done so. You simply refuse to believe it.

Actually, we do know what we do. Jesus says we are His FRIENDS and we are not left in the dark if we do what He commands John 15:14

We are commanded to esteem others higher than ourselves, and to GENTLY talk to those we believe are in sin or in error

You don't do that VG...you call people liars and twist what is actually said

Who do you think you are praying to here? God sees everyone and knows our hearts...you don't sound to me like you actually have any concern for convallaria or others of us who are not in the camp in which you have set up your tent

Prayers can be manipulative also, and within the context of your post, IMO it may be what is possibly being done
 
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that was the NASB that capitalized the word, not me in particular, and it's not the only translation to do so :)

i don't think this is about "free will" -- it's about whether it's God who wills and works in us according to His pleasure & purpose, or us who "use" God to do our own will & purpose.
if it is God that wills and works, and God that gives, then it is God who determines how each should be used of Him.
if it is us who will, and us who determine what we will receive of God, then it is our purpose, not His, and God who is used of us, not we of Him.

All I know is the verse says "as he will" - God determines who gives the gift, and therefore determines who utilizes the manifestation of the Spirit . . I am not saying that I determine IF I get the gift of holy Spirit - God has already determined that each and every believer receives the gift of holy Spirit upon faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 2:38) and if every believer receives the gift of holy Spirit then they are also already determined to operate the manifestation of the Spirit as God energizes said gift.
but you want to make it about free will - well OK, it's not unrelated.
let me ask you -- does God have free will?
people like to talk about their own "free will" - what about the Almighty's "free will" ?
if we have will, does our will confound His?
if God does not will that you should prophesy or speak in tongues throw mountains into the sea, can you by force of your will determine to do these things?

It is God's will for us to manifest the Spirit within us . . . to profit ourselves and to profit the church by edification. It is God who will give the prophesy to my Spirit - but I must utilize the technique of speaking before it can be uttered. It is God who will give the tongues to my Spirit - but I must utilize the technique of speaking before it can be uttered. It is God that would remove the mountain into the sea should I ask him to . . . So can I, by force, determine to do these things? I can determine to open my mouth to speak with what the Spirit gives to my Spirit to speak either prophesy or tongues . . . the mountain thingy - all I can do is ask. :)
do you make God give you a command, that you should obey it? or does the command come first, and we then choose to obey?
so if one has knowledge by the Spirit, or power by the Spirit, is it because that human purposed and determined that he should receive it, or because God purposed that it should be given to him?
I would say that the command comes first - then we choose to obey. I would that ye all spake in tongues . . . there is the command . . . NOW - do I just open my mouth?
God has already given us this gift of holy Spirit and I already said that God has purposed or determined that we utilize the manifestation of the Spirit - purpose, determine - no matter which word we use

still, all this talk of volition is tangential -- it is God that purposes, God that works in us, God who gives and provides, and man that receives, obeys, responds and rejoices. 1 Cor. 12:11 doesn't say mankind picks & chooses which manifestations of the Spirit he likes best and then places his orders to God through a spirit-catalog. it says the Spirit gives as the Spirit determines - according to God's will, not man's.

OH . . . I never meant that we pick and choose the manifestation of the Spirit we like best and place an order . . . Again - God determines and has already determined that we manifest the Spirit and there are nine ways in which to manifest the Spirit . . . all these nine ways are energized by God . . . Does God want to give us word of wisdom and word of knowledge? Okay . . let's say I have a situation in which I need God to give me wisdom and knowledge in applying that wisdom - if I don't "will" to listen then it does me no good. Does God want us to speak in tongues and interpret? I believe so . . . but if I don't "will" to open my mouth and speak then it does me no good. I'm not shopping around for a manifestation . . . !!
we may determine whether we resist or obey His will for us, but we do not determine His will for us just like we don't distribute His gifts to ourselves. that is upside-down thinking.
His will for us is to walk in power in this wicked and perverse world . . . I believe that walking by the Spirit is walking in everything that God has given us . . . He has said that the manifestation of the Spirit is for profit . . . it profits us as individual believers and profits the church, the body of Christ unto edification - so if I do not "will" to manifest the Spirit, what God has purposed for me and energized in me, in my life - then I am not obeying. I do not recognize the manifestations as gifts but coming from the one gift - holy Spirit. . . that is what God calls them (1 Cor. 12:7) :)

 
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ember

Guest
The blockbuster is this: What Paul condemns in the Corinthian church is the practice that you "tongues-speakers" claim is endorsed in the letter!
No one has said any such thing in this thread or in ANY OTHER THREAD on tongues I have participated in or read since I joined this site.

Many things are corrected in the New Testament letters...for that is basically much of what the NT consists of

In the issue of tongues and the Corinthian church, we have a very good example of what not to do, so thank God for that.

However, Paul never said to stop the gift of tongues....and neither should we as the Bible plainly states the opposite with:

39Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

How simple is that then? DON'T FORBID IT...JUST DO IT THE RIGHT WAY!

Oh and please read that whole chapter...I could copy/paste...but get your Bible out, pray before you read and ask God to reveal Himself to you in the words of Paul to the Corinthians

Don't gloss over what is in the Bible because some people appear to get angry and wish to intimidate others who do not share that aversion to spiritual gifts!

God is faithful and just...He is not going to give you a stone if you ask Him for bread....
 
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ember

Guest
15So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding.
This is what I do. However, I sing directly in English...bypassing tongues...by the Power of the Spirit of God.

When people first hear it, they often do not believe it is not a song that has already been written. I don't know how it happens, it just does!

Apart from that, I write my own songs and sing...I have not done so in quite a while because of a family situation that was beyond my control wherein I was falsely accused of doing some pretty awful things. It has been proven I did not do the things someone said I did, but the harm was done and my name became mud to quite a few people.

Don't listen to gossip. Pray...I can only put my life in God's hands.

Last night, for the first time in a long time, I felt a song...a new song...being 'born' in me and I have no voice but the one God gives to me...I'm not talking about how I 'sound' because I don't sing off - key...I'm talking about that which is given to us by the Spirit...the Holy Spirit...who gives life even to the dead dry bones and causes them to rise up again.

Ah well....I'm getting carried away now...but praise to God our Father and much glory to Jesus our Savior!
 

posthuman

Senior Member
Jul 31, 2013
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OH . . . I never meant that we pick and choose the manifestation of the Spirit we like best and place an order . . . Again - God determines and has already determined that we manifest the Spirit and there are nine ways in which to manifest the Spirit . . .
maybe i'm just misunderstanding what you put, i hope - because i thought you were saying that it's us who determine how the gifts are distributed -- so that i could say "o i want to be one who speaks in tongues" or "i want to have the gift of healing" and then God, like a robot without free will, has to manifest His spirit in us according to how we determine it.

no argument about whether it's in us to harden or soften ourselves to His will!

but that it's the Lord who determines 'this one will be my prophet' or 'this one will show signs for me' or 'this one will be given wisdom' -- God who has the free will to say "yes" or to say "no, I have a better thing for you" when we ask of Him.
so in this verse in Corinthians, i see the Spirit being the active distributor & determiner of how to distribute, and us the recipients, with our agency being about how to react to the gift, not how He should manifest.

what i mean is, i can't just wake up and say "i feel like working miracles today! OK Spirit, give me power."
but i might wake up one day and the Spirit (of God's volition, not mine) say "today I will give you power, and you will work miracles"
i could reject that or embrace & obey it in my heart - but it's not me that determines what God has purposed for me.