Amen to the Holy Spirit, Praise Him for the gift of Tongues, Praise Jesus, Praise Him for His power, His joy, His love, wooohoooooo! Joy overflowing onto these forums right now.
:);)
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In regards to the OP question: No. I don't.
However....I feel I need to say....there seems to be two categories coming out here: those that do and those who don't (and deny it's validity).
What about those who do not pray in tongues, because they have not been gifted with it, but would like to? No one seems intent on addressing that, and well, you know...it might be nice, don't you think?
I am not a cessationist. I know plenty of people who pray in tongues and I have prayed for the gift, should God want me to have it. Thus far, he has not, apparently. What then?
Should I accept I am some sort of "lesser" Christian? I don't believe scripture teaches I am.
Should I believe you are some how "better" Christians than me because you can speak in tongues? I don't know, but sometimes, that's the impression I get, whether you mean to give it or not.
If I might suggest...perhaps some of you more experienced in tongues could suggest....what people like me should do about it. I suspect there are more people in this "third category" than you think. Wanting spiritual gifts that just don't seem to be forthcoming. Since you have experience, since you have been gifted, I think scripture teaches it falls to you to lead in this area.
Hello Naomi!
I think it's wonderful that you seek God. He will give you His gifts wherever you are. He saved me and I didn't know what had happened then He baptized me in the Holy Spirit and gave me the gift of tongues and I didn't know what that was.
All outside of church walls. I owe, we all owe Him everything and not some man created religion or denomination.
EVERYONE that asks receives. Don't think that you have to have a guide or coach. Stick to the Scriptures. As to teaching others the resistance of traditional denominational teaching resists and fights against the Bible's words.
It's hard to find a believer that hasn't been influenced by the naysayers. Even Paul way back then had to write forbid not. All I can do is post experiences and scripture.
Hi Frank, thanks for your encouraging post! I will continue to seek and ask and pray. I suppose I should always remind myself that as God's child, he has a definite plan for me. That's exciting, whatever it is!
Yes, we have the entire Bible and with it we have formed apparently more than 40,000 thousand different denominations with often conflicting beliefs or doctrines. As to disciples, what are they? Are they not followers, learners and/or pupils of Jesus?In Jn 14, Christ was talking to the disciples. They only had the Old Testament at that time. According to several verses, Christ was only sent to Israel - see Mt 15:24. You're not a disciple, you're not an Israelite, and you have the entire Bible.
Should we then throw away the verses where you say He is not talking to us? When was it that God stopped talking to His people? Are we not his sheep who hear His voice while not hearing the voice of strangers? What makes you @Ac28 other than another stranger to us?Are you one of Christ's original disciples? If not, you can't assume He was talking to you. If Paul, the only apostle any of us have today, repeated this in his last 7 books, this would be valid for us also. But he didn't.
That same Bible from which have come the over 40,000 denominations? Why is your denomination a better one? Because you say so? Without God to lead us, will we not all end up in ditches?We have the entire word of God today and we are completely on our own as far as our learning is concerned.
The Bible is the unquickened flesh of Jesus. Without the quickening it is dead to anyone no matter that those who wrote it were anointed by God. Those who read it must also be anointed with that same Spirit or find themselves in that ditch:The Bible is all we have and that's all we need. In Paul's last 7 books, he said his present dispensation fulfils the Word of God. That means filled full, filled to the brim, complete. God hasn't said a word to anyone since Paul completed those last 7 books. The only source of truth you need is the Bible The Bible is the Spirit from start to finish.
The Comforter did come, in Ac 2 at Pentecost, at first to 120 Jews, and provided all those spiritual gifts, for the sole purpose of converting Israel. However, since Israel refused to accept Christ, they were set aside in Ac 28:28. At the same time, everything associated with Israel. the gifts of the Spirit, the rapture, the Jewish Acts church, the calling of the New Jerusalem, you name it, were also set aside. None of these things have been available for 1950 years. If you want to see the glorious calling that is available for us Gentiles today, you'll only find it in Paul's 7 books written after Acts - Eph, Phil, Col, 1&2Tim, Titus, and Philemon. The other 59 books are entirely Israel. They contain vast quantities of excellent information but, if you want to know exactly what God's plan is for YOU and your loved ones, today, you'll find it ONLY in Paul's 7 post-Acts books.
That's what right division in 2Tim 2:15 is all about, making a single straight cut of scripture in a place where it is 100% Israel on one side of the cut and 100% Gentile on the other side. Why? Because there are 100's of things pertaining to Israel that you don't get (or want - the Gentile blessings are far superior). You would only be confused. The only place in the Bible where that All Israel/All Gentile division possibility exists is Acts 28:28. You will find that nothing in Paul's post-Acts books is found any place else in the Bible. It is a Mystery said to have been hid in God until revealed by Paul after Israel was gone. You find that you can spend eternity in heavenly places, defined as far above all Heavens, where Christ now sits at the right hand of God. No one in the other 59 books ever had a chance of going to Heaven - Search and see.
The Greatest Of These Is "Love"In regards to the OP question: No. I don't.
However....I feel I need to say....there seems to be two categories coming out here: those that do and those who don't (and deny it's validity).
What about those who do not pray in tongues, because they have not been gifted with it, but would like to? No one seems intent on addressing that, and well, you know...it might be nice, don't you think?
I am not a cessationist. I know plenty of people who pray in tongues and I have prayed for the gift, should God want me to have it. Thus far, he has not, apparently. What then?
Should I accept I am some sort of "lesser" Christian? I don't believe scripture teaches I am.
Should I believe you are some how "better" Christians than me because you can speak in tongues? I don't know, but sometimes, that's the impression I get, whether you mean to give it or not.
If I might suggest...perhaps some of you more experienced in tongues could suggest....what people like me should do about it. I suspect there are more people in this "third category" than you think. Wanting spiritual gifts that just don't seem to be forthcoming. Since you have experience, since you have been gifted, I think scripture teaches it falls to you to lead in this area.
Those posting in this thread "Hidden In Him", "ByGrace" and "Truth7t7" have openly told you they have received the gift of speaking in the "Unknown Tongue" as Identified below.The only people in the Bible that have a hope of being resurrected into Heaven are those who SEE, BELIEVE, and CLAIM this hope in Paul's last 7 epistles, all written after Acts. Actually, it says, Far above all Heavens, where Christ sits at the right hand of God. This is where Satan aspired to go and he tries to prevent humans from going there by keeping them in Acts, specifically, by conning them into believing the lies that the rapture, the gifts of the Spirit, and other all-Israel things, available during the all-Israel Acts period, are available today, although Israel and EVERYTHING associated with Israel was set aside in Ac 28:28 and Israel has not existed, in God's eyes, for 1950 years.
The wiles of Satan keeps much of Christendom focused on the presently dead doctrine of Acts instead of the live doctrine found ONLY in Paul's post-Acts epistles. Since Paul's 7 Acts books were written to both believing Jews and Gentiles in the all-Israel Acts church, and ALL saved Gentiles in Acts were part of Israel, and Israel doesn't exist today, no doctrine found in those books (Rom, Thess, Cor, Gal, Heb) applies directly to any saint today. Quotes from any of those Acts books cannot be used to prove anything about the rapture or the gifts being truth for today If we want to know what applies to us today, we must look in today's Gentile books written by Paul, mainly Eph and Col.
Sorry, but Corinthians doesn't apply to us today, at least not anything that would tell us what belongs to us Gentiles now or will belong to us in the future.Those posting in this thread "Hidden In Him", "ByGrace" and "Truth7t7" have openly told you they have received the gift of speaking in the "Unknown Tongue" as Identified below.
In the mouth of two or three witnesses may every word be established, will you call those witnesses liars?
1 Corinthians 14:2KJV
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
2 Corinthians 13:1KJV
This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
Yes, we have the entire Bible and with it we have formed apparently more than 40,000 thousand different denominations with often conflicting beliefs or doctrines. As to disciples, what are they? Are they not followers, learners and/or pupils of Jesus?
As to Israelites? Who are they? Are they not the ones who will rule as God? [Israel From H8280 and H410; he will rule as God]
"Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:" Rom 9:6
Should we then throw away the verses where you say He is not talking to us? When was it that God stopped talking to His people? Are we not his sheep who hear His voice while not hearing the voice of strangers? What makes you @Ac28 other than another stranger to us?
That same Bible from which have come the over 40,000 denominations? Why is your denomination a better one? Because you say so? Without God to lead us, will we not all end up in ditches?
The Bible is the unquickened flesh of Jesus. Without the quickening it is dead to anyone no matter that those who wrote it were anointed by God. Those who read it must also be anointed with that same Spirit or find themselves in that ditch:
"[God] Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life." II Cor 3:6
I won't attempt to educate you in where all of your errors are as you have made up you mind, but you should read the scriptures and ask God for help. Alone you will be unable to find the truth unless you do sincerely ask of Him. You will be as Pontius Pilate who asked what truth was for he was unable to see that it was standing before him in Jesus.
"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts 2:38-39
God has called many who are not natural children of Jacob the son of Isaac. To say that we have not been called as per verse 39 above is a quite arbitrary decision on your part.
Study alone will get you to a weariness of the flesh [Ecc 12:12] and nothing more.
"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him." Acts 10:34-35
God who have never changed has never been a respecter of persons.
Your claim of God's word applying specifically to "Jews/Israel" in the New Testament is in left field, as Timothy below clearly states "All Scripture" For Doctrine And Instruction, To The "Man Of God", no two peoples mentioned.I read your post several times and, besides being very confusing, nothing you said proves or disproves anything. Out of those 40,000 different Biblical mind-sets, there can be only one correct answer for each question posed and applying things given only to Israel, to Gentiles, will not work as a proof. Everything in Acts was all-Israel, since the saved Gentiles in the Acts church were all grafted into Israel, the good olive tree. The only Gentile books in the Bible are Paul's 7 books written after Acts. If you want to prove anything that applies directly to us Gentiles today, you must quote only from those 7 books. Paul, throughout his ministry, continually received unique special revelations from Jesus Christ. His books written after Acts were his last books written and, therefore, were the last and final word concerning Gentile doctrine. Therefore, what is contained in his last 7 books (Eph, Phil, Col, 1&2Tim, Titus, and Philemon) certainly takes prescience over anything written in his 7 Acts books (Rom, Gal, 1&2Th, 1&2Cor, Hebrews). Therefore, if you want to prove anything regarding what belongs to us Gentiles, you can't quote anything from his Acts books, unless it is backed up by his post-Acts books.
And who was it that decided these rules you have set before us?I read your post several times and, besides being very confusing, nothing you said proves or disproves anything. Out of those 40,000 different Biblical mind-sets, there can be only one correct answer for each question posed and applying things given only to Israel, to Gentiles, will not work as a proof. Everything in Acts was all-Israel, since the saved Gentiles in the Acts church were all grafted into Israel, the good olive tree. The only Gentile books in the Bible are Paul's 7 books written after Acts. If you want to prove anything that applies directly to us Gentiles today, you must quote only from those 7 books. Paul, throughout his ministry, continually received unique special revelations from Jesus Christ. His books written after Acts were his last books written and, therefore, were the last and final word concerning Gentile doctrine. Therefore, what is contained in his last 7 books (Eph, Phil, Col, 1&2Tim, Titus, and Philemon) certainly takes prescience over anything written in his 7 Acts books (Rom, Gal, 1&2Th, 1&2Cor, Hebrews). Therefore, if you want to prove anything regarding what belongs to us Gentiles, you can't quote anything from his Acts books, unless it is backed up by his post-Acts books.
In regards to the OP question: No. I don't.
However....I feel I need to say....there seems to be two categories coming out here: those that do and those who don't (and deny it's validity).
What about those who do not pray in tongues, because they have not been gifted with it, but would like to? No one seems intent on addressing that, and well, you know...it might be nice, don't you think?
I am not a cessationist. I know plenty of people who pray in tongues and I have prayed for the gift, should God want me to have it. Thus far, he has not, apparently. What then?
I suspect there are more people in this "third category" than you think. Wanting spiritual gifts that just don't seem to be forthcoming.
Your claim of God's word applying specifically to "Jews/Israel" in the New Testament is in left field, as Timothy below clearly states "All Scripture" For Doctrine And Instruction, To The "Man Of God", no two peoples mentioned.
2 Timothy 3:16-17KJV
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
I agree Frank!Hello Naomi!
I think it's wonderful that you seek God. He will give you His gifts wherever you are. He saved me and I didn't know what had happened then He baptized me in the Holy Spirit and gave me the gift of tongues and I didn't know what that was.
All outside of church walls. I owe, we all owe Him everything and not some man created religion or denomination.
EVERYONE that asks receives. Don't think that you have to have a guide or coach. Stick to the Scriptures. As to teaching others the resistance of traditional denominational teaching resists and fights against the Bible's words.
It's hard to find a believer that hasn't been influenced by the naysayers. Even Paul way back then had to write forbid not. All I can do is post experiences and scripture.
View attachment 2494
You never seem to say anything that has any meaning or validity.And who was it that decided these rules you have set before us?
You say I have written nothing that proves anything. My proof is what God has written on my heart. The only proof of truth that any of us have has come to of us from God.
You do not even use the scriptures to prove your point. You say divide up what Apostle Paul has written, but you do not show us in scripture why it must be so. You do not refer us to someone from whom you have received your wisdom. You do not go through verses to explain why you are right and we are wrong. But nonetheless we should simply throw all that God has shown to us through the scriptures over many years and accept what you write here as truth. I am quite afraid that unless you have more than that you will continue to stand alone here.
I don't want to push on you my beliefs which are quite bit away from yours. But I will give you a taste to see if you are hungry and thirsty fpr righteousness or for something else.You never seem to say anything that has any meaning or validity.
That which rightly divides the truth is the Holy Ghost in us. It is not rightly divided in some because instead of following the lead of the Spirit they quench the Spirit. This is the primary reason I see for the 40,000 plus so-called Christian denominations. If it were man using his brain and his logic to encounter truth and it worked then those with brains like Einstein would those closest in their approach to God. This is not the Way that God has made it to be.The rules were written by Paul and, since he is your only apostle, and since he, only, had constantly been receiving special revelations directly from Christ, his God-breathed word is the last word, as far as what applies directly to you. His main 2 rules on how to understand scripture are
2Tim 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Phil 1:10
That ye may approve things that are excellent (see Strong's = try or test things that differ); that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.
IIt is interesting to note that both of these verses appear only in Paul's books written after Acts. Why? Because they were not needed earlier, since all of the other 59 books involved ONLY Israel. But now, with these brand new 7 books, the only books in the Bible written TO Gentiles, we need some instruction from God on what to do with all that other stuff pertaining only to Israel. Otherwise, since the rules for the Jews are totally different than those given to the Gentiles. we would run across contradictory rules and would, thus, be confused.
Greetings, Naomi!
Listen, do not worry yourself over this, and most of all do not think yourself some "lesser" Christian just because you have not experienced tongues or other spiritual gifts yet. Just trust God and keep walking with Him. Eventually He will lead you to the right time and place where it will happen, even if the Holy Spirit just falls on you after you pull over to the side of the road some night. Or you find yourself caught up in worship surrounded by a group of believers upon whom the Spirit rests mightily, and the experience just comes upon you. Just trust Him and keep walking with Him, and don't give any nonsense about Him loving you less a moment's thought. That's gibberish. I will tell you why in a moment.
Listen to me here. Gifts are given for the sake of ministry. They are not for personal encouragement, though they can have this effect. But watch. Let me highlight just how much ministry is the purpose behind the spiritual gifts:
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. (1 Corinthians 14:1-12).
According to verse 6, even tongues is ultimately designed to minister to others by being interpreted and/or understood by someone speaking a foreign language. And verse 12 states clearly that those who desire the spiritual gifts should do so out of a need to minister to others. The gifts I have been given all just came upon me without asking, most at the very time when I was starting to enter online ministry. They just started happening. Why? Because I was entering into a place where God was going to use me to minister to others, and He desired to empower me to do so to an even greater extent.
The point is this: Pray for the gifts, but pray that the Lord keeps preparing you for ministry. Pray He starts revealing to you your calling. Once you start entering into it, you may suddenly find that gifts just start showing up in your life. This is why I say don't be worried about it at all. Just focus on continuing to grow in Christ and His word. The time will come, if you just keep pursuing Him, where He will anoint you for greater service unto God.
God bless, and please keep asking questions. There are many here who can help you.