Poster | Thread |
Theophila Member

Joined: 2007/1/15 Posts: 365
| Re: | | Amen. The Scriptures do warn us to test every spirit. Any spiritual 'gift' that doesn't exalt Jesus Christ is at best, being misused and at worst, not from the Lord at all. I've heard prophecies that made me think, 'This person should just sit quietly and eat their Quaker oats'. I've also heard prophecies that were clearly from a foul spirit of divination.
OTOH, I've heard of a dyed in the wool 'well-behaved' Southern Baptist brother being moved by the Holy Spirit in intercession for a fellow brother. Hehehehe, isn't the Lord good?
Overall, I wouldn't break fellowship with a fellow believer over their stance on the gifts of the Spirit. My mother-in-law is a staunch Baptist and one of the sweetest people I ever met. Oh yes, I'll take a godly cessationist over an ill-humored Charismatic/Pentecostal any day of the week!
_________________ Tolu
|
|
2016/6/28 9:01 | Profile |
dolfan Member

Joined: 2011/8/23 Posts: 1727 Tennessee, but my home's in Alabama
| Re: | | "I'll take a godly cessationist over an ill-humored Charismatic/Pentecostal any day of the week!"
I hear you. Me too. :). Lord help us walk in good faith and good humor and temperament to our brothers and sisters who are walking with You in truth, knowing we all know little compared to You. _________________ Tim
|
|
2016/6/28 9:20 | Profile |
dolfan Member

Joined: 2011/8/23 Posts: 1727 Tennessee, but my home's in Alabama
| Re: | | Joshua, good post. I thought I knew so much about the gifts and the church until we began a home fellowship where we live it out very intentionally and deliberately. The different setting from the brick and mortar American church setting has been a real blessed education in NT life, including the fellowship of the Spirit among is and the operation of the gifts. (And as the so-called sign gifts have been an infrequent but important part, the full array of Holy Spirit "charis" & the actual doing in the home-meeting setting of NT church activities have been more frequent and vital). _________________ Tim
|
|
2016/6/28 9:27 | Profile |
StirItUp Member

Joined: 2016/6/4 Posts: 949 Johannesburg, South Africa
| Re: | | Hi all, So glad we have a post where we Can agree about something :) Just another interesting insight which you may or may not have picked up before.
1 Timothy 1 verse 7 says: " For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self control"
Power= 1 Corinthians 12 Love= 1 Corinthians 13 and Self Control (Order)= 1 Corinthians 14
One Holy Spirit, different administrations, manifestations etc. For us as believers to walk in the fulness of the Holy Spirit we need to yield to Him and trust Him for all three, not just the last two!
What sayest thee, brethren?
_________________ William
|
|
2016/6/28 10:05 | Profile |
| Re: | | Brethren when I opened up this thread it was not meant to debate the gifts of the Spirit. Though some would probably turn it into that. Preciate the good spirit of your posts and discussion.
I'm trying to avoid the use of theology labels. But I do agree. I would prefer a godly person who does not necessarily speak in tongues or prophecies over one who clains to do so. But are ill tempered or crazy the way the gifts are expressed in their lives.
However let us remember that Paul did not discourage the Corithians in the use of what we call the sign gifts. But laid out directives in terms of how those gifts should be used in the body but the efification of the saints.
I do agree there are abuses and what we call to charismatic movement. People such as Dr. Michael Brown, of charismatic suasion himself, has called out chrismatic preachers for their conduct and craziness.
Because there are abusive and craziness in the charismatic movement. Let us not discount the actual workings of the Holy Spirit. Let us not retreat into Bible mode only and discourage what the Holy Spirit may be doing in our midst.
Just pleading for balance.
|
|
2016/6/28 10:49 | |
| Re: | | There is one issue that I would like to address by personal testimony. It is assumed that people such as myself, who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and pray in tongues do not read the Bible. I would like to say that this is false. And nothing can be further from the truth.
I have met people, and some in this forum, who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit and pray in tongues. And they are very steeped in the word of God. And this includes myself.
I do not doubt that there are those immature believers who claimed to have an experience of being baptized in the Holy Spirit who seek out experience only. But there are solid believers who have been baptized in the Holy Spirit who immerse themselves in the Word of God.
I came out of a Calvinistic background. I was not baptized in the Holy Spirit when I was into Calvinism. It is assumed that those who were immersed into Calvinism are also immersed into scriptures. This was not true in my experience. The people that I fellowshipped with exalted in their commentaries, their expositions, their theologies, their theological degrees. Much of their intake of scripture was through the reading of other men.
I do not mean to demean such. But in my Calvinistic experience I was taught to love the thelogy more than the Word of God.
I was baptized in the Holy Spirit in the 1990s. I received the gift of tongues shortly afterwards. It was only after being baptized in the Holy Spirit that I started finding joy and delight in reading and now listening to the Word of God by an audio Bible.
I spend several hours a day listening to the audio New Testament. I listen to it in my sleep. I listen to it when I walk. I would prefer to listen to the New Testament then even listen to sermons. The word of God is a part of my life. No correction. The Word of God is my life. And I'm saying this as a baptized believer who prays in tongues.
Someone asked me in this forum do I believe in the Word of God. Anyone who knows me. Anyone who has seen my post. The question should be answered. But this testimony should answer the question of those of who think that the word of God is not my Life.
Again, the Word of God is my life. I hope this testimony will satisfy those who call my testimony in a question as one who has been baptized in the Holy Spirit prays in tongues.
Respectfully posted.
|
|
2016/6/28 11:10 | |
Lysa Member

Joined: 2008/10/25 Posts: 3699 East TN for now!
| Re: Does God still confirm the gospel by signs and wonders? | | Blaine,
I believe in signs and wonders not because I've seen them but because the word of God says explicitly there are signs and wonders.
Every Christian (cessationist or not) LOVES to quote, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;" ~ Hebrews 2:3
But the very next verse is the word of God as well, is it not? - "God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?" ~ Heb 2:4
And Paul also said: For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. ~ Romans 15:18-19
To Paul, fully preaching the gospel included word; deed and mighty signs and wonders by the power of the Spirit of God. That is the Gospel!!!
God bless, Lisa
_________________ Lisa
|
|
2016/6/29 4:14 | Profile |
Theophila Member

Joined: 2007/1/15 Posts: 365
| Re: | | Amen, brother! I think part of the issue for my cessationist brethren is that some Charismatics/Pentecostals insist the ONLY evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is speaking in tongues. Not sure how they came to that conclusion but I disagree.
I know Reformed folks hurt by fellow brethren who called their salvation into question for not believing in speaking in tongues! That should not be!
Part of baptism in the Holy Spirit is so we can BE like Jesus and have power to do His work on earth. And that includes loving the Holy Scriptures too.
May the day never come that I hurt another believer because we disagree on some pet doctrine of mine. Amen. _________________ Tolu
|
|
2016/6/29 4:26 | Profile |
| Re: | | Brother Blaine
I hope I did not give the impression that I think that charismatics do not study the Bible. I do not think that at all and the charismatic churches I have been in, do indeed study the scriptures. But here is the difference I have found, and don't forget I am in the UK. The Reformed churches indeed do study theology a lot more and use other men's writings, but they are using them because they have a good grasp of Koine Greek and good interpretation practices.
So it is a matter of the depth of study and the desire to know the Greek and Hebrew. I am sure that you have an appreciation of the good grounding you had when you were in like me. However, I was always frustrated that he gospels did not get more attention - it was all Paul Paul Paul, and the obsession with the letter and not the Spirit.
This is of cource speaking in general but on both sides I found imbalance.
Tell me though Blaire, do you believe that the Spirit baptism and the gifts can be and are counterfeited? |
|
2016/6/29 5:10 | |
| Re: Brenda | | Dear sister I have seen in your posts you do read and study the Scriptures. So I do not doubt that whatsoever in your life.
Yes sister I do believe that Satan, being the deceiver, can counterfeit the gifts of the Spirit. Or at least some of them.
|
|
2016/6/29 5:37 | |