CS1, of course my expierience as christian is not the messure for soemthing. Thank you also for your outlines.
But they could not convince me.
Of course God is the One who worked through all the churchhistory also in useing miracles and signs. That is not to questioning!
But all the example which you mentioned fit not. Because nobody from them taught what the pentecostal and later the charismatic movenent starts to teach about the Holy Spirit and the gifts!
There is a different. And this different is the teaching about the baptising with the Holy Spirit and the gifts which been as evidence of it. This teaching was spread in the world, like we know it from the "Toronto blessing" People came to Azusa Street and took it in their home churches and from their to other churches (so it came to germany) ore people from Azusa Street brought it to other places. This why all pentecostal churches call it as the beginning point. Of course meanwhile pentecostal theologians are saying this was not the beginning, the beginning was in acts 2. But I say this teaching is not to find in the churchhistory! You find speaking in tongues by the reformators. But they found this not so important that they support it to teach it in their doctrines! Non ot them! If they had taught it, this would be then not new when the pentecostals came in 1905.
And my point is. If your view is true and that this gifts speaking in tongues and healing is given for today as it was given in the days when Paul wrote his letter to the corinthians.
Then a great part of the followers of Christ did not got it! All out of the charismatic and pentecostal movement. This is a consequence of the pentecostal theologie.
And the reason for that is according the pentecostal theologie that we dont want it! It is our own fault, if we dont have the empowerment with the Holy Spirit.
I would say if God wantet this sign gifts into the church today , as he did in the time of 1. Corinthians, then he would made it among all times and among all believers! And would it not make depent to come to a particular places ore people for to get this, what Pentecostals call f.e. second baptism ore empowering with the Holy Spirit!
BTW it seems to me that you not recognized the different between man initiert theologie and Spirit initiert theologie.
Man initiert theologie contain mostly mistakes and is imperfect. Spirit initiert theologie contain no mistakes and is perfect.
The bible says it is possible for an christian to follow a wrong spirit. And this is what i would say the pentecostal and the charismatic movement follows a wrong spirit. This means not that pentecostals ore charismatics are not beeing born again!!!
Under no other movements like pentecostal ore charismatic which claiming to have special empowerments from the Holy Spirit so many false teachings were createt.
Yes, they are the fastest grown movements among christians worldwide, and almost all denominations have charismatics among them, but is this an indicator for to be right?
About Thomas your arguments convinced me not, because it is only a assumption that it was, as you argue. Nowhere it is written that Thomas later was breathed and received the Holy Spirit in the way as the 10 became before.
And coming back to the OP Theme, be shure that you have the right Spirit if you speak, pray and sing in tongues.
And we will have always benefit if we praise our Lord, with our Voice, Thoughts and Life!
So far, our hope should be that many people will come to know of our Lord Jesus Christ in hearing the gospel, before he will return!