Today, prophetic displays, signs, spiritual gifts, and the necessary works a Christian believer must carry out are in view. Carnal reason and the usual standards for flesh must be put aside. Otherwise, gifts become idols that are coveted, and salvation is thought earned or purchased by applying various gifts and by works. Many of the differences among believers within the same congregation are the result of differences in their practice of praise, prayer, and what it is they pray for. This includes ministry by the Holy Spirit, sacred knowledge through the holy writings, and what they receive as tools and spiritual gifts for the work they are assigned. Where a believer has questions about another person’s gifts and how they use them, it is more correct to leave their own comfort zone, and speak to the other directly about their concerns and questions, then, spend quality time with them in order to learn and share experience, rather than repeatedly speak about them in their absence for complaining or witnessing against them. Believers are to know that sin may dominate awareness and self-will in created beings and living creatures. The operations of sin oppose the continued existence of divine law, the Creator, and all sacred order that supports Creation. Under the influence of sin, the flesh (appetite, sensation, and emotion/mental functions) is directed toward consuming and exhausting its own environment and all it may contain (we say, self-destruction), directed to ignorance of divinity, to non-existence, and to rejection of sacred rest. Until released from sin and established as a new creation through Jesus Christ, sinners can not correctly respond to lovingkindness, spiritual gifts, miracles, tongues, divine signs, and sacred works. The fighter at “Yahoo! Answers (New Zealand)” using the ID “Shadow Spinner” (Level 3 with 1,084 points, a member since January 31, 2014) posted the following:
Whats the purpose of speaking in tongues in church in front of the congregation?
The bible says tongues have to be translated but I go to church and it's never translated. I maybe understand personal prayer and worship but I don't see the point when someone is preaching or singing and they just start speaking in tongues for everyone to hear. I don't get how that is supposed to affect me, since I have no idea what they're saying. I'm sort of turned off because I don't know whether it's fake or not and some seem to fit in that it looks just for show.
I remember I went to a special service about healing and during the ministry the preacher (she doesn't have the gift of healing but just prayed to God to heal them) started speaking in tongues at the end and for some just prayed for them in tongues and that was it. Unless there was some a strong spiritual connection, would the person have felt anything? Thank goodness when she got to me, she spoke to me in English so I could understand her.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. (1st Corinthians 14: 18-22, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Spirit Content From GOD? (09/26/2016); The Bible and Salvation (09/14/2016); Simple and Mature Faith (09/05/2016); All Having One Consciousness? (06/13/2016); The Forms of Prophecy? (04/26/2016); The Point of Experiences in the Spirit? (07/07/2014); Too Much Holy Spirit? (11/19/2013); Understanding Peace? (11/20/2013)
“Shadow Spinner”, the body of Christ is to demonstrate and display oneness without sameness. While seeking to become grounded in the sacred knowledge necessary to be mature as a Christian believer, many of us have felt challenged, a bit confused, and even disappointed by seeing others in the community of faith manifesting a gift of tongues in ways that seem excessive, inappropriate, and unbiblical. It is my faith that genuine sacred events (we say, miracles) and spiritual gifts provided by the Holy Spirit (we also say, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth) to members within the full body of believers are governed by sacred law, and do not appear merely on the basis of desire, flesh, imagination, or intellect.
To be at peace within the body where many individual members are learning and serving at different rates, in different roles, with different levels of maturity and skill, believers must practice such disciplines as (1) discernment” (using their own spirit content from the makeup of divinity as a standard to recognize and respond to the spirit content in other persons, practices, teachings, etc.); (2) forgiveness, (3) “knowing by faith” (i.e., in accordance with eternal purposes, sacred operations (e.g., baptism, confession, rebirth, renewal of ones mind, repentance, sanctification, thanksgiving), and revealed truth); (4) lovingkindness (acceptance, respect); and (5) meekness.
It is important that spiritual gifts appear within the body, however, it is not necessary that every member (or even every congregation) personally or privately have every gift. Sinners must be changed, and “see with new eyes” (i.e., have new focus; operate with new meanings and values). Thus, the work of believers is more to serve as witnesses and to trust the divine truth, than to go about performing miracles, engaging in arguments and quarrels, or making displays that may draw attention, yet, will not address the needs for assurance, sacred knowledge, and shared vision. Like miracles, tongues may nourish the growth of individuals, yet, for assemblies often are the source of division, doubt, fear, skepticism, and uncertainty. Consider again the following:
(1.) Ephesians 4: 4-7, King James Version (KJV): 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
(2.) Ephesians 4: 11-15, KJV: 11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
(3.) 1st Corinthians 12: 4-14, KJV: 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 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 divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit are 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.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (4.) John 6: 28-35, KJV: 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? 31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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