I hope you disagree with these doctrines too. I read only the titels, but i dont believe they are true.You hope I do or don't Wolf? That sentence is incomplete. Are you from another country?
I hope you disagree with these doctrines too. I read only the titels, but i dont believe they are true.You hope I do or don't Wolf? That sentence is incomplete. Are you from another country?
Isaiah 28 . . . The Jews would not listen to the OT prophets - so God basically told them I came to you time and again and spoke plainly to you, word upon word, thought upon thought, but you would not listen therefore with stammering lips and another tongue will I speak to this people . . yet they will remain hard hearted. Tongues are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers . . . that the spirit of God dwells within believers. (I don't believe it says "unbelieving Jews" but just plain ole unbelievers) If this manifestation of the spirit were Charismatic Ecstatic Utterances then that's what God would have called them. . . .
Personally, I don't think anyone can understand until they experience Holy Spirit. He is not just words on paper.
So what yardstick do you use to tell that it really is the Holy Spirit and not some other spirit. Demons are known to generate ecstatic feelings, so PLEASE do not tell me you can tell by the feelings. When I was young and stupid, it used to feel good to boogie in the Disco while chasing women, but at least I knew those feelings were not of GOD.
I don't believe I am confused by anything. Tongues is not a "gift" . . . nor are the other 8 items mentioned in 1 Cor. 12. They are manifestations of the spirit. There is ONE gift, the gift of holy spirit manifested in 9 ways. 1 Cor. 12:7 starts with the contraction "but" which sets it in contrast of what was said before - But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withal. . . "Super Apostles" is not scriptural.
The outpouring of the gift of holy spirit was manifested by speaking in tongues . . . scripture is above Historians or Archaeologists. The early churches met in actual homes of believers in order to avoid persecution.
I wonder why Paul, through inspiration of God, taught the Corinthians HOW the manifestations should be properly handled in church, if they were not supposed to?
Could Paul not heal Timothy or was he just giving general advice concerning one's stomach ailments and other weaknesses?
Yes, the epistle is written to Timothy but has instruction for leaders in general.
God will give us information regarding situations and circumstances we may find ourselves in, to lead us and guide us in the direction we should go or what we should do. . . If I pray over someone to be healed and God did not tell me to in the first place . . . it won't work. God gives us revelation through word of knowledge and word of wisdom and we act accordingly . . . if knowledge has vanished - how do we receive information from Ghod?
ONE LAST TIME. The Church at Corinth, had both the Genuine TONGUES or Sign of LANGUAGES, and it had the Ecstatic Babbling Tongue or Babbling Language made famous in the Worship of Apollo. I have heard, but have not yet verified this privately with Greek Theologian; that when Paul uses the plural form of Tongues, he is referring to the genuine Sign of Languages (TONGUES), and when he uses the singular term in the Greek for Tongue, He was referring to the Pagan Tongue of ecstatic utterances.
ONE LAST TIME. The Church at Corinth, had both the Genuine TONGUES or Sign of LANGUAGES, and it had the Ecstatic Babbling Tongue or Babbling Language made famous in the Worship of Apollo. I have heard, but have not yet verified this privately with Greek Theologian; that when Paul uses the plural form of Tongues, he is referring to the genuine Sign of Languages (TONGUES), and when he uses the singular term in the Greek for Tongue, He was referring to the Pagan Tongue of ecstatic utterances.
There is no evidence in I Corinthians for artificial Apollo tongues in the church.
There is a thread going discussing an article that shows that the oracle of Apollo at Delphi used poetry in the time of Herodotus. Plutarch, who lived in the first century, argued that she could use plain direct speech and it did not have to be poetry.
The idea that 'tongue' in the singular refers to pagan tongues is easily debunked with a Greek interlinear, which identifies plurals and singulars, looking at I Corinthians 14:27-28. John MacArthur's doctorates are honorary.
You can read Greek scholars discussions of these verses on the old b-greek list. I haven't read any that argue for the singular/plural fake tongues distinction, and that idea is inconsistent with their comments.
There is no evidence in I Corinthians for artificial Apollo tongues in the church.
There is a thread going discussing an article that shows that the oracle of Apollo at Delphi used poetry in the time of Herodotus. Plutarch, who lived in the first century, argued that she could use plain direct speech and it did not have to be poetry.
The idea that 'tongue' in the singular refers to pagan tongues is easily debunked with a Greek interlinear, which identifies plurals and singulars, looking at I Corinthians 14:27-28. John MacArthur's doctorates are honorary.
You can read Greek scholars discussions of these verses on the old b-greek list. I haven't read any that argue for the singular/plural fake tongues distinction, and that idea is inconsistent with their comments.
I don't believe I am confused by anything. . . . But the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withal. . . "Super Apostles" is not scriptural. . . .
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (MontgomeryNT)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I am become a fool - you have forced me to; for you yourselves ought to have been my vindicators. In no respect am I inferior to these super apostolic apostles, even though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] In truth the signs of the true apostle were wrought among you in all patience by signs and marvels and powers.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NJB)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have turned into a fool, but you forced me to it. It is you that should have been commending me; those super-apostles had no advantage over me, even if I am nothing at all.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] All the marks characteristic of a true apostle have been at work among you: complete perseverance, signs, marvels, demonstrations of power.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NET)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it; for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those 'super-apostles,' even though I am nothing. [SUP]12 [/SUP] Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NIV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (GWT)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. You should have recommended me to others. Even if I'm nothing, I wasn't inferior in any way to your super-apostles.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] While I was among you I patiently did the signs, wonders, and miracles which prove that I'm an apostle.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (ESV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NRSV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have been a fool! You forced me to it. Indeed you should have been the ones commending me, for I am not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (HCSB)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs of an apostle were performed with great endurance among you—not only signs but also wonders and miracles.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (RSV) [SUP]11 [/SUP] I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these superlative apostles, even though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (WEY)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] It is foolish of me to write all this, but you have compelled me to do so. Why, you ought to have been my vindicators; for in no respect have I been inferior to these superlatively great Apostles, even though in myself I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs that characterize the true Apostle have been done among you, accompanied by unwearied fortitude, and by tokens and marvels and displays of power.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NASB)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NKJV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (YLT)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have become a fool--boasting; ye--ye did compel me; for I ought by you to have been commended, for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles--even if I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs, indeed, of the apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds,
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (KJV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (ASV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.
Am mostly on an Ipad. But thanks for the suggestion.
I said experience Holy Spirit VCO, nothing about feelings.
Funny but not one time have I ever been led to sin while in the Spirit...I do know what that means by the way.
You don't know what you are talking about. And wont as long as you deny Him access to you.
There is no evidence in I Corinthians for artificial Apollo tongues in the church.
There is a thread going discussing an article that shows that the oracle of Apollo at Delphi used poetry in the time of Herodotus. Plutarch, who lived in the first century, argued that she could use plain direct speech and it did not have to be poetry.
The idea that 'tongue' in the singular refers to pagan tongues is easily debunked with a Greek interlinear, which identifies plurals and singulars, looking at I Corinthians 14:27-28. John MacArthur's doctorates are honorary.
You can read Greek scholars discussions of these verses on the old b-greek list. I haven't read any that argue for the singular/plural fake tongues distinction, and that idea is inconsistent with their comments.
reposted...
I've spent quite a bit of time on various discussion lists with a retired Classics professor, which is a professor of Greek and Latin. He graduate from Texas A&M, worked for some kind of Harvard center for something or other for a while, and became a chair at one of the UNC's before he retired.
No one asked him if 'tongue' in the singular referred to fake tongues, but it was obvious from a detailed discussion we had at one point which included the meaning of I Corinthians 14:27 that he did not hold to such a view. He was arguing for something along the lines of one person speaking two or three utterances, since one person did not turn into two or three when he spoke in tongues.
A straightforward reading of the text, after verifying that the KJV use of the singular and plural matches the Greek in an interlinear, is enough to debunk the idea that tongue in the singular refers to fake gibberish from the Apollo temple. Why would Paul say to allow fake pagan gibberish? Why would he want it to be interpreted? How would interpreting 'pagan gibberish' be 'unto edifying,'
I Corinthians 14:26-28 disprove this theory if we start from the premise that:
1. I Corinthians is inspired.
2. Paul was a faithful minister of the Gospel.
If someone believes that Paul did not know what he was talking about, or was a coward and did not say what he really meant (the latter seems to fit with one of the theories in the article zone posted a while back), then one might draw different conclusions.
Some Bible interpreters think they are smarter than the Bible and the authors that wrote it. It is unfortunately when Bible teachers who claim to believe the Bible repeat liberal, unbelieving theories.
stonesoffire,
You might point out that if he reads the chapters around it, Paul was dealing with false apostles. 'Super apostles' may have been what they called themselves. Many people believe that is what the reference to 'super apostles' is about.
II Corinthians 11:13
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
Thanks . . . I never really looked at all the translations nor at the Greek in those scriptures. Of course, the Greek does not go so far as to say "super apostles" but relates greatly, exceedingly, beyond measure (Strong's) and Thayer's - the most eminent apostles. Paul was so humble . . out of all the apostles - he received more revelation (word of knowledge, word of wisdom) than any other apostle but yet considered himself behind them . . . wonderful man of God.2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (MontgomeryNT)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I am become a fool - you have forced me to; for you yourselves ought to have been my vindicators. In no respect am I inferior to these super apostolic apostles, even though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] In truth the signs of the true apostle were wrought among you in all patience by signs and marvels and powers.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NJB)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have turned into a fool, but you forced me to it. It is you that should have been commending me; those super-apostles had no advantage over me, even if I am nothing at all.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] All the marks characteristic of a true apostle have been at work among you: complete perseverance, signs, marvels, demonstrations of power.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NET)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have become a fool. You yourselves forced me to do it; for I should have been commended by you. For I lack nothing in comparison to those 'super-apostles,' even though I am nothing. [SUP]12 [/SUP] Indeed, the signs of an apostle were performed among you with great perseverance by signs and wonders and powerful deeds.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NIV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The things that mark an apostle--signs, wonders and miracles--were done among you with great perseverance.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (GWT)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have become a fool. You forced me to be one. You should have recommended me to others. Even if I'm nothing, I wasn't inferior in any way to your super-apostles.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] While I was among you I patiently did the signs, wonders, and miracles which prove that I'm an apostle.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (ESV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NRSV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have been a fool! You forced me to it. Indeed you should have been the ones commending me, for I am not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (HCSB)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have become a fool; you forced it on me. I should have been endorsed by you, since I am not in any way inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs of an apostle were performed with great endurance among you—not only signs but also wonders and miracles.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (RSV) [SUP]11 [/SUP] I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these superlative apostles, even though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs of a true apostle were performed among you in all patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (WEY)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] It is foolish of me to write all this, but you have compelled me to do so. Why, you ought to have been my vindicators; for in no respect have I been inferior to these superlatively great Apostles, even though in myself I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs that characterize the true Apostle have been done among you, accompanied by unwearied fortitude, and by tokens and marvels and displays of power.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NASB)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NKJV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (YLT)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I have become a fool--boasting; ye--ye did compel me; for I ought by you to have been commended, for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles--even if I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] The signs, indeed, of the apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds,
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (KJV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (ASV)
[SUP]11 [/SUP] I am become foolish: ye compelled me; for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing was I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I am nothing.
[SUP]12 [/SUP] Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, by signs and wonders and mighty works.
You aren't edifying the flesh VCO. The spiritual man is built up. Your definition of edifying is incorrect. Empowered by Holy Spirit within your Spirit.
How you see the things of the Spirit as selfish I cannot understand.
Holy Spirit glorifies only One and that ain't me or you. Sorry, I don't normally say aint but it seemed to fit somehow.

AMEN, on the "ain't", this old country boy understands ain"t. I will use my sister inlaw, a Pentecostal, as an example, of what I am talking about. For YEARS, I kept asking her when are you going to START serving the LORD. Her standard answer for many years was "After I have been built up and edified enough by the Holy Spirit to Serve Him." She did not START to minister to the needs of others until she was in her 50's.
Wow, was she ever full of joy then. Her habitual tongues things had held her back for years from coming to KNOW the joy of knowing the blessing that comes from letting the Holy Spirit empower us to serve others. I had come to KNOW that kind of Joy, early in my Christian WALK, because, I TRUSTED HIM TOTALLY TO EMPOWER ME TO DO WHAT I COULD NOT DO. I knew that I did not have to wait till until HE built me up enough to be used, all I had to do was be willing to be USED BY HIM, trusting HIM Totally to DO IT THROUGH ME.
I usually do not ever talk about how HE used me, lest someone thinks I am bragging. I will however this time give you a short bit of a very long story, to try to give you a small idea of why I believe your charismatic experience PALES in comparison to genuinely TRUSTING and being USED by the LORD to serve and minister to others.
I was born and raised a mid-west farm boy, attending Church regularly, but I was not born again until I was 29. That happened after three attempts at suicide the last week of 1977. My wife of only six months, demanded a divorce on Christmas Eve, because: "You cannot earn enough money to buy me what I want in life. I want a divorce!" I hit bottom hard, face down. After that third attempt at suicide, as I was walking into my bedroom, when a WAVE of GUILT, GRIEF, and MOURNING washed over me, convicting me of my UTTERLY SINFUL LIFESTYLE. Wave after wave of GUILT and GRIEF continued to wash over me, because of my lifestyle of sins. It drove me to my knees, weeping and crying uncontrollably Weeping. I cried out to HIM: "FORGIVE ME! FORGIVE ME! If you have a purpose for my life, You will have to come into it, and run my life; because I CAN'T DO IT! I am making a Mess of it."
No one in the Church that I grew up in, taught me to pray like that. I believe the Holy Spirit gave me that Prayer when I needed it the most. I understood, it was a COMPLETE, WILLING SURRENDER to JESUS. With that Prayer came a COMPLETE TRUST in HIM to do exactly what I had prayed. The totally overwhelming grief over my sinfulness continued as I continued weeping and sobbing. I then fell face down prone, still crying uncontrollably. Apparently at some point, I fell asleep, and HE gave me the most VIVID DREAM that I have ever had in my life. I was on my knees before the CROSS, looking up at HIM. CRYING OUT: "FORGIVE ME! FORGIVE ME!" Then I looked up at the nails through His wrists with tears in my eyes, (and no one in that Lutheran Church that I went to, ever told me the Jews considered the wrists to be part of the hands), and I saw Blood dripping and falling from HIS wrists. I was there at the foot of the Cross weeping, with my arms reaching up towards Him, as that Blood fell. AND I COULD FEEL THE WARMTH OF THAT BLOOD as it splashed on my forearms. I KNEW FOR SURE AT THAT MOMENT ALL OF MY SINS WERE FORGIVEN!
When I woke up, I KNEW, something in me was different. I knew HIS SPIRIT was in me. AND I had this total TRUST that HE would do something with my life, and that HE would empower me to do what I could not do. That level of TRUST has never left me. He even brought a godly women into my life, as my wife; literally, my soulmate. My hunger for HIS WORD grew and grew, when it was NEVER THERE BEFORE. Soon I was Listening to sermons by Dr. John MacArthur, Chuck Swindoll, Dr. Ed Young, Dr. Richard Lee, Zola Levitt, and a few others. I ended up, over time, having over 500 one hour sermons on Cassette Tapes, and which I listened to, 4 per night on my Walkman player, while working the night shift. Over the years, I figure, I listened to each tape four times.
Then one day as I was trying to witness to a co-worker, a thought flashed through my mind: "It is finished, MOVE WEST." Through a series of miracles, the doors opened to move to Susanville, CA. A job opened up, when they were not expecting an opening for 5 years, and the expenses of moving seemed like an impossible hurdle, but a drunk teenager hit and run my parked 2 year old vehicle, totaling it, and I got more money out of insurance, than I was asking for it in the paper. One little miracle after another, and another, and another; making it all possible to be where HE WANTED ME.
I did not know WHY Susanville, but I trusted HE did. At a men's prayer breakfast one morning, we had a guest speaker, a representative from the Match Two Prison Ministries, looking for Volunteers, so I volunteered. My wife told me, after I became involved in that ministry, that it was wonderful seeing me coming home from that Prison, FULL OF JOY, and commented that it was almost like I was walking 6 inches off the floor.
Then one day, about two years later, that same thought came back to me, "It is finished, MOVE WEST." I prayed and prayed to know why, and the answer came back, "To start a Prison Ministry, in the new Prison being built there." I knew that I had no knowledge about how to start a prison ministry, BUT I STILL TRUSTED HIM TOTALLY AND I KNEW HE KNEW EVERYTHING THERE WAS TO KNOW ABOUT STARTING A PRISON MINISTRY. So once again I stepped out totally in FAITH and let HIM USE ME; thus we ended up on the Coast at Crescent City, CA. It took another series of miracles to open all the doors to get there, plus I was accepted as a Volunteer Protestant Chaplain ministering to inmates in that supermax Prison, despite the fact that I did not have a single hour of Bible College.
I even started with those in the "HOLE", called the Security Housing Unit. Every time I walked in the HOLY SPIRIT filled me and I was able to minister to every inmate that I talked to with the equal FERVENCY; no matter how mean, how violent, or how gross they could get. I was not going to mention this, but somehow, I know it is important to somebody. How gross can an inmate get? One of them just to be as GROSS and OFFENDING to Officers as he could possibly get (a sick joke game certain inmates like to play on Officers), had actually thrown his clothes away and smeared his own feces all over every square inch of his body, including his hair and beard. I went in to talk to him in front of his cell, and the Officers warned me, not to get close his cell door, because he was known to try to throw the feces at you. So I prayed to be filled with the Spirit as I walked in, and HE faithfully answered that Prayer. I stopped about six feet in front of his cell door, and he was dumbfounded that anyone would want to talk to him, but I could see he was attentively listening. I poured out my heart fervently to that inmate, telling him about CHRIST and His Forgiveness, for at least 25 to 30 minutes, and even though he did not make a decision for CHRIST, he certainly heard the GOSPEL TRUTH. About 10 minutes into fervently witnessing, I noticed that I could no longer smell that inmate, and in my head, I thought "Thank You, LORD!"
I was responsible to train all additional Volunteers for the Prison Ministry in that Security Housing Unit, where 1500 inmates were housed. I was also used on Sunday Afternoons to escort guest Pastors from local Churches in town in to do the Sermons in the Minimum Security Yard. One Sunday Afternoon, about 3 years into the Ministry, I was standing at the window pacing, waiting for the guest Pastor to show up. I knew his car and could see the parking lot from that window, and watched the clock get closer and closer to the 2:00 PM worship time. Checking the clock every couple minutes, I just about panicked when it reach 2:05 and I realized the guest Pastor had forgotten it was his Sunday to Teach. I hurriedly went into the Office, realizing that I had to Preach, and I had never done that Before. I prayed, "LORD You know I cannot do this, BUT I still Trust you to do it through me. Give me the Words to teach this lesson." I had the basic Salvation verses written in the back of my Bible, and knew just those few verses would become the Plan of Salvation sermon. When I started the sermon, I opened with a Prayer I had heard Dr. Ed Young use several times: Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for your Holy Word. You SPEAK this hour, and let me get out of the way, so that this message might be proclaimed pure and true, just like you gave us your Words through the Prophets of old, and through the Apostles. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN." The message just FLOWED, He really was delivering the message through me. And despite how few the verses were written in the back of my Bible, the Sermon Lasted 45 minutes, and HE GAVE ME EVERY WORD OF IT.
I want to keep this as short as I can, so this will be the last paragraph. Afterwards, Inmates had reported to the Head Chaplain, what a good job I had done, (I am convinced it was CHRIST, and not me.); therefore the Head Chaplain asked me to totally take over that Service, instead of calling to arrange for a guest Pastor. My grandfather had repeatedly taught me, "If it ain't broke, DON'T FIX IT." So I would PUT MY TOTAL TRUST IN HIM, EVERY TIME I STEPPED UP TO THE PULPIT. I would let him pick the Subject, by bringing something into my path throughout the week, that HE WANTED ME TO TEACH in the Prison, thus HE faithfully provided the SUBJECT. I looked up the Verses that pertained to that Subject, and after I got a computer, I would put those verses on a page with a nice border and maybe a picture or two, and that was all of MY input. HE THEN, filled me with His Spirit every week, and faithfully gave me every word of those Sermons, for the next 12 years. Like I said if FAITH and TOTAL TRUST IN HIM WORK, don't try to fix it!
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