TONGUES is a precious gift from God

Whilst it is true that the Lord came not to condemn the world and He demonstrated that very often with women who were in sin and not least the women who was NOT condemned yet WAS admonished to sin no more - simply advising brethren to sin no more as a mechanism to reduce personal acrimony or the flesh (which ever way we want to say it) or an accusation amounting to a seeming condemnation - that fact will have no fruit in a time when it is doctrine and misshapen claims are the cause of constant divisions. And those divisions will not cease if every member were to fall silent and say yes Ma'am - because even just one voice could lead an entire flock to slaughter.

Maybe you can interpret this for me? Thanks,
᾿Εν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος, καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ Λόγος.

Of course He was Divine. He was sent to model for us how we should live. No one since has had the success and power of Holy Spirit working through them.

1 בראשית היה הדבר והדבר היה את האלהים ואלהים היה הדבר

My apologies. I realise that was what you were getting to, and I answered with what could be taken as a rather glib comment.

I could have spelt my answer out better, such as if the stranger was wearing a tshirt with I hate Jesus printed on it, or was standing in the way of others, blocking their path, or had queue jumped, then yes, I would be wary of considering them as being a Christian. But it's not for me to judge who will be saved, and who won't, but it is up to me to discern the spirit behind anyone that claims to be a follower of Christ or who offers up insights into His ways. That's what I have done, and will continue to do throughout my Christian walk, working at my own salvation with all fear and trembling.

So, you can or cannot be near a stranger and feel their spirit, whether it is connecting to yours or it is really struggling to be around yours?

Thank you Lafftur.

It depends on what one regards as being spiritual. For me, it is how well the nature of the human being near me imitates the nature of Christ. Everything else is secondary. And to have the gift of articulating God's ways into a lifestyle scenario is a gift that Paul argued was a better one. Even so, he then goes on to say that all spiritual gifts are trumped by godly love. 😊

Discernment, is not us judging, but the Spirit of God judging, and we are the ones understanding what the outcome of that judgement is!

Some people have something akin to a sixth sense, be they Christian or not. Some people have the ability to discern the spirits behind a spoken word, or action. Some Christians have the bent of Prophetic Insight, and they, depending on their level of faith, are able to evaluate the integrity of those they encounter. I test and evaluate everything, and make decisions based on the nature of Christ, which is seen through His dealings with His disciples and others, and the words He spoke, and the promptings of the Holy Spirit that indwells me. People know me to be friendly and welcoming, fair and law abiding. If their spirit doesn't mesh with mine, I'm not offended. I'm responsible for my own behaviour, not others.

Well I am never troubled by meeting unbelievers even when they are as rude a red rock - and neither have I found that such rude men and occasionally a rude women are all unbelievers. But that does take a conversation of sorts unless the Lord expressly makes me aware of their condition as a rude believer. In which case I can decide what to do. But I have found many times a deep witness in my spirit when I have met a truly harmful man or woman who themselves are quickened by sensing my concern in the spirit and usually have to weigh if they are going to take a stand or not. They usually don't bother - but I may run after them and make an appeal.

Speaking from my own experience the most grave witness has often been grounded in a dire circumstance and almost always just comes into sight in the casual way of a shared need - be that a queue for gas (petrol) or for food. It has happened standing at a bus stop and then in that instant I knew that the person was a believer and yet my concern was because of some matter or other which the Lord wanted them to be aware of in their own life. Often I don't even know what the specifics are - it just goes the way of knowing the person is a fellow believer and so the Spirit speaks to them and I may not have a clue what is really being spoken - but I know it is the Lord speaking all the same. Those kind of things are very precious because we can also receive ourselves when we reflect on what has happened and acknowledge our own faults as well. Sound a bit ideal I know - but that is my own experience.

Other times there is no mistaking what the Lord is saying because the words just cannot be hidden. I may just get smacked in the mouth for being a finger of God. It's all in a way of service. To be clear with you - politeness and civility are truly not the best way to know who a believer is.

I agree with the first element of this post, brother. That so-called sixth sense does indeed exceed ordinary bounds of psychophysiology - and yes it most assuredly does become prophetic in character - yet it is not a prophet. So the question is really what function our spirits have (not the soul) that bear witness to Christ in others that amounts to spiritual discernment.

I do have a great sense of humour sister. On that we can agree. The rest is graciously hidden is it not?

Perhaps it is to well hidden. Unlike Shakespeare who wrote plays and orations minded to stir the political and emotional theatre of life!

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
Actually the grammar is inaccurate. Here is what it should have been.
Στην αρχή ήταν ο Λόγος και ο Λόγος ήταν με τον Θεό και ο Λόγος ήταν Θεός.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John 1:1&version=KJV

Actually the original is correct according to Koine Greek. My second one was modern Greek.

This is obviously in Koine Greek. Any normal believer would know that. I wonder if the fellow is thinking he can fool someone who doesn't know Greek to give a "Charismatic" interpretation to it? Just wonderin'...