The Holy Spirit And Tongues

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A

apostolic862004

Banned
#41
Jun 26, 2014
224
4
0
#41
MadParrotWoman said:
Plenty of food for thought here.

I don't believe that everyone who claims to speak in tongues is actually displaying the gift of the Holy Spirit though I believe many are. I'd imagine it's pretty easy to fake - especially when it is just the one sentence spoken over and over.

Apostolic862004, I plan to talk to my pastor about this and a few other things next weekend.
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MadParrrotWoman, I am glad to here that. He will be able to explain what that church believes. Be sure that he is giving you biblical reference and not just his opinion. Also remember that just because many people believe something does not make it truth. Jesus said there are MANY false prophets in the world. They teach false doctrine to their churches and the people in there churches in turn repeat the same false doctrine. There are many on this forum that agree that speaking in tongues is not for every believer however the bible teaches contrary to that. I am not telling you to take what I say and accept it as truth either. That is why in my previous post I gave you scripture for everything I said. You should read that for yourself and then ask God to reveal the truth to you about it. He will answer you if you are sincere because he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him according to Hebrews 11:6.

:)
 
M

MadParrotWoman

Guest
#42
#42
apostolic862004 said:
MadParrrotWoman, I am glad to here that. He will be able to explain what that church believes. Be sure that he is giving you biblical reference and not just his opinion. Also remember that just because many people believe something does not make it truth. Jesus said there are MANY false prophets in the world. They teach false doctrine to their churches and the people in there churches in turn repeat the same false doctrine. There are many on this forum that agree that speaking in tongues is not for every believer however the bible teaches contrary to that. I am not telling you to take what I say and accept it as truth either. That is why in my previous post I gave you scripture for everything I said. You should read that for yourself and then ask God to reveal the truth to you about it. He will answer you if you are sincere because he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him according to Hebrews 11:6.

:)
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Everything my pastor has taught me he has backed up with Bible quotes and examples from the Bible, he really does know his stuff and most of what he has taught me I have mulled over with a friend of mine who is also a pastor. Despite this we all have our own interpretations of what is meant by scripture - even by reading different versions of the Bible, I understand this and I don't ignore my own gut instinct - or the Holy Spirit's prompting. I have to admit that this "tongues" topic has proven to be a stumbling block to me. I will never try to be or do something that isn't natural. If it doesn't come to me from the Holy Spirit I won't fake it in order to fit in with (most) everyone else. I do have a personal relationship with God - I just wish I had more time to spend alone talking to him but you are SO right I have to take this to God. I know that certain things I do, I do with God's blessing. I know when God is pleased because I feel joy that I didn't feel previously.

As I said previously there is no pressure from my church about this, tongues has only once ever been mentioned in church in the 18 months I have been going. It's all about me trying to understand what it's all about and why I don't have this ability.

God bless.
 
notuptome

notuptome

Senior Member
#43
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#43
Although scripture says that tongues have ceased 1 Cor 13:8 one could make the case that God would have nothing to do with the practice in the modern church because of all the abuse.

It pains me to say that vile and contemptible is a better description of most churches than would be pure and holy.

The Pentecostals were much more palatable when they were into holiness. Many have turned to the rock and roll religion of this world and I believe God has long since departed from among their gatherings.

Scripture says that we know we are Christ's because the Holy Spirit witnesses with our spirit. If you doubt tell the Lord Who can give you peace. Do not ever rely on external evidences that can be counterfeited. Rely on the scripture and upon God.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
A

apostolic862004

Banned
#44
Jun 26, 2014
224
4
0
#44
MadParrotWoman said:
Everything my pastor has taught me he has backed up with Bible quotes and examples from the Bible, he really does know his stuff and most of what he has taught me I have mulled over with a friend of mine who is also a pastor. Despite this we all have our own interpretations of what is meant by scripture - even by reading different versions of the Bible, I understand this and I don't ignore my own gut instinct - or the Holy Spirit's prompting. I have to admit that this "tongues" topic has proven to be a stumbling block to me. I will never try to be or do something that isn't natural. If it doesn't come to me from the Holy Spirit I won't fake it in order to fit in with (most) everyone else. I do have a personal relationship with God - I just wish I had more time to spend alone talking to him but you are SO right I have to take this to God. I know that certain things I do, I do with God's blessing. I know when God is pleased because I feel joy that I didn't feel previously.

As I said previously there is no pressure from my church about this, tongues has only once ever been mentioned in church in the 18 months I have been going. It's all about me trying to understand what it's all about and why I don't have this ability.

God bless.
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One important point to note is that speaking in tongues is not something that YOU do. According to Acts 2:4 it happens "As the Spirit gives the utterance." I have heard it explained like this:

When you go to the store to buy a pair of tennis shoes, you don't go looking for a pair of tongues, you go looking for a pair of tennis shoes. However, guess what is a part of the shoe? The tongue. It is attached to the shoe. You can't separate them and still have tennis shoes. It is the same with the Holy Ghost and tongues. We seek to be filled with God's Spirit. But when that happens, we will begin to speak in another language we did not learn. It is a supernatural experience. Now I will tell you that there are TONS and TONS of hypocrites and fakes out there that babble a bunch of gibberish and claim that it is God. However, it is not for us to judge whether another individuals tongues are real or not. We only need to make sure that when it happens to us, it's not US that's doing it. I commend you for not being willing to fake it just to fit in. That is exactly how God wants you to be. Real and genuine. When it happens to you, you will know that it is real and that it's of God and not of you.

Another scripture setting that brings some light as to "why" God chose tongues as the sign that a believer has received the Holy Ghost is James chapter 3. This chapter explains that the tongue is the smallest member of the body and yet whoever controls your tongue controls your whole body. The thing about God is that he is a gentleman. You have to surrender to him because he will not force himself on you. But when you have completed surrendered everything to him, you will also surrender your tongue and it is an outward manifestation of the complete control that God now has over your life.
 
J

JesusIsAll

Guest
#45
#45
MadParrotWoman said:
I have to admit that this "tongues" topic has proven to be a stumbling block to me. I will never try to be or do something that isn't natural. If it doesn't come to me from the Holy Spirit I won't fake it in order to fit in with (most) everyone else. God bless.
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Interesting statements that bring something to mind. The best fodder for cults are people who feel the need to fit in, first, who you can get to swallow anything or act out anything, as long as their social deficits are met. People can have strong herd instincts. It's a legitimate point to wonder how many people would take up faking tongues just to fit in with perhaps the also faking babbler next to them, like a snowball going downhill, just to be socially acceptable to the in-crowd. You, yourself, appear to be cognizant of such pressure. It seems to me this could well be a red flag, that maybe the Holy Spirit is already speaking to you about fakery. (I'd also have to ask how this congregation is so "tongues-ie" above others. If as has been equated in Romans gifts of the Spirit are like different parts of one body, why does this church have, say, so many left arms?) I do know, when it's of the Spirit of God, anything, I've never felt confused, perplexed, skeptical the teaching, etc. In other words, such questions popping up in my soul seem to always indicate something is wrong, something is not harmonious of God, who is not the author of vexation and confusion. Anyway, God bless and keep you in this!

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
 
A

apostolic862004

Banned
#46
Jun 26, 2014
224
4
0
#46
notuptome said:
Although scripture says that tongues have ceased 1 Cor 13:8 one could make the case that God would have nothing to do with the practice in the modern church because of all the abuse.

It pains me to say that vile and contemptible is a better description of most churches than would be pure and holy.

The Pentecostals were much more palatable when they were into holiness. Many have turned to the rock and roll religion of this world and I believe God has long since departed from among their gatherings.

Scripture says that we know we are Christ's because the Holy Spirit witnesses with our spirit. If you doubt tell the Lord Who can give you peace. Do not ever rely on external evidences that can be counterfeited. Rely on the scripture and upon God.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
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Scripture does not say that tongues have ceased. It says they will. But when tongues have ceased, knowledge will also cease. So unless you are prepared to say that knowledge has vanished away, you shouldn't claim that tongues have either.
 
M

MadParrotWoman

Guest
#47
#47
apostolic862004 said:
Another scripture setting that brings some light as to "why" God chose tongues as the sign that a believer has received the Holy Ghost is James chapter 3. This chapter explains that the tongue is the smallest member of the body and yet whoever controls your tongue controls your whole body. The thing about God is that he is a gentleman. You have to surrender to him because he will not force himself on you. But when you have completed surrendered everything to him, you will also surrender your tongue and it is an outward manifestation of the complete control that God now has over your life.
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Now THIS is interesting..
 
tono77

tono77

Member
#48
May 31, 2013
83
4
8
#48
Love is the greatest above all Gifts.
 
R

r20

Banned
#49
Aug 28, 2014
4
1
0
#49
I definitely don't recommend the Pentecostal churches, they will be constantly deriding you for not be "as spiritual as we".
 
notuptome

notuptome

Senior Member
#50
May 17, 2013
15,050
2,538
113
#50
apostolic862004 said:
Scripture does not say that tongues have ceased. It says they will. But when tongues have ceased, knowledge will also cease. So unless you are prepared to say that knowledge has vanished away, you shouldn't claim that tongues have either.
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In the context of the passage the knowledge gift has ceased. The gift of knowledge did not include all knowledge. Although it seems that some folks push that contention to the limit.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
T

The_highwayman

Guest
#51
#51
tono77 said:
Love is the greatest above all Gifts.
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yes it is and mastery of your Love Walk should be the most important thing you do in your walk.
 
A

apostolic862004

Banned
#52
Jun 26, 2014
224
4
0
#52
notuptome said:
In the context of the passage the knowledge gift has ceased. The gift of knowledge did not include all knowledge. Although it seems that some folks push that contention to the limit.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
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I guess you believe that prophecy has ceased as well?
 
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