One must discern between gifts and offices. There is the gift of prophecy, a one time or maybe occasional receiving/giving of prophecy, then there is the office of a prophet, someone who is called upon to give prophecy as a continuous course of action. Kinda like, anyone can use a fire extinguisher on a fire, but that doesn't make them a fireman.
And it's true that not all believers will be given every gift available. That depends on place and circumstance. If you receive words of wisdom on a regular basis, does that mean that when someone is sick you can't expect to also pass along a gift of healing? Would you really tell a sick person "gee I know you need healing, but I don't do that one?" Or would you leave the door open to working that gift as well?
Tongues is the only gift Paul said he wished we would all partake in. He also said that was the least of the gifts. I find that to be an interesting paradox. Too, the Bible says that when perfection comes (meaning the restoration of all that man has lost), we will all then speak in a singular spiritual language. That's why I tend to believe we all have the potential for it. But I could be wrong.
Take salvation. It is available to everyone. God wishes that everyone will receive it. But will everyone receive it? Nope. Perhaps, maybe, tongues falls into that same pattern.
Tongues are not required of anyone. You are not less of a Christian if you never speak in them. But, if Paul and the Bible says to eagerly seek it, and that it provides edification, why would one choose not to?
"One must discern between gifts and offices. There is the gift of prophecy, a one time or maybe occasional receiving/giving of prophecy, then there is the office of a prophet, someone who is called upon to give prophecy as a continuous course of action. Kinda like, anyone can use a fire extinguisher on a fire, but that doesn't make them a fireman. "
From where you got, that the gift of prophecie is not permanent? If you read 1. Cor. 12,7ff you will get not the impression that the mentioned gifts are only for one time ore maybe occasional reciving/giving.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man for profit. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another various kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But in all these works that one and same Spirit, dividing to every man individually as he will. 12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him. 19 And if they were all one member, where would be the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of you: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our less respectable parts have greater respect. 24 For our more respectable parts have no need: but God has arranged the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helpers, administrators, various kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
Paul describes the giving of the gifts with a body which has different parts which works togehter with their special ability. (A eye can not hear and a nose can not see) Who has the gift of healing should heal, and who has the gitft of serving should serve.
"And it's true that not all believers will be given every gift available. That depends on place and circumstance. If you receive words of wisdom on a regular basis, does that mean that when someone is sick you can't expect to also pass along a gift of healing? Would you really tell a sick person "gee I know you need healing, but I don't do that one?" Or would you leave the door open to working that gift as well?"
As you see in the above mentioned verses it seems not that an eye can suddenly ore ocassional hear ore smell. Ore a leg will do the job of a finger. I can not see a scriptual proof for what you say. If I would know that a certain believer has an gift of wisdom, then i would not expect from him to heal me. I would go to the Lord at first and then to the eldest of the church.
"Tongues is the only gift Paul said he wished we would
all partake in. He also said that was the least of the gifts. I find that to be an interesting paradox. Too, the Bible says that when perfection comes (meaning the restoration of all that man has lost), we will all then speak in a singular spiritual language. That's why I tend to believe we all have the potential for it. But I could be wrong."
If you read from 1. Cor 12, 31 on to 1.Cor. 14, 1 then you find out that we: a) should covet earnestly the best gifts.
b) follow after love c) and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy.
Tongues so far, as you said the least of the gifts! But it seems me it will treat to be the highest of the gifts.
Can you show me in bible please where the Bible says that when perfection comes (meaning the restoration of all that man has lost), we will all then speak in a singular spiritual language?
Isnt this idea little strange, that we all should have the potential for a spiritual language, but only those which are baptised with the Holy Spirit as an second expierience are able to use it? In Pauls teaching i cant find an hint that speaking in tongues is conectet with the baptising of the Holy Spirit. To give the gift is the job of the Holy Spirit, according to his will.
As I wrote before, what is with the believers before the pentecostal movement createt this doctrine in around 1905? They all failed to be equipped for the ministry. And also all believers who said no to this doctrine since 1905 are not equipped for the ministry.
In the age of 25 the Lord found me and i became a believer, I received the Holy Spirit, then I searched for an church and came to menonite bretheren. I attend a bible college. And i found out all denominations are not 100% rigth in there teachings. In the first years as christian i met also pentecostal people, who told me i should have the baptising with the Holy Spirit and the speaking of tongues. I read in the scripture and prayed also for. But then it comes clear to me that it is false.
From the beginnig of beeing a christian i could recognize which spirit is behind. And i case of the doctrine with the baptising with the Holy Spirit and as proof to receive the speaking in tongues was from beginning strange for me. In this time i had no much idea from menonite doctrine. I grew up as an nominal christian, as the most in germany, babybaptised but without reading the bible. So it is not because i was uesed mennonite ore any else doctrine.
Then through my churchlife i had some bad expieriences with charismatics, which made me more clear this doctrine is wrong.
For somebody who grew up in a pentecostal church ore in charismatic churches this shurely sounds strange. I dont know a denomination which has 100 % right doctrine. So we have to proof the word of god. And we have to ask the Lord for guidance and understanding.
Before I became a christian, i thought i am a christian, because i am baptised as child and i belonged to the protestant church. Then people shoewed me from the bible, that i am not a christian. First i was shocked and could not believe it.
It takes some month, finaly i attend a youth club. At this night was the them Follow Jesus. At this night the Lord opened my heart and i understand that i could not stand in front of God, because of my guilt. And after this service My heart wish was to go to Jesus. In this night I asked him to forgive me and to rule over my life. And I know that he came into my heart.and gave me eternal life. He adoptet me in his family. It was the 3rd october 1987. Praise to the Lord!
We should not follow any human, we should follow Jesus. As humans we are always in the danger to create our own way of what is to believe. The result we are seeing in our world. So many denomoinations and churches and all are convinced we are right and the other wrong!