Posted on 11/30/2013 1:28:20 PM PST by metmom
This is a first in a series of three messages. In this, No. 1, I’ll seek to analyze a problem that has arisen in many sections of the church and in many parts of the world. In the next message I’ll seek to analyze how the problem arose. And in the third message I’ll consider ways to guard against that problem arising again. The title of this first message is Let Us Honor God’s Holy Spirit.
There has been in recent years a worldwide explosion of signs and wonders. Some have been biblical and helpful. Others have been bizarre and unbiblical. Signs and wonders are not new. They are recorded in various passage of the Bible, and in different periods of church history. However, the current explosion extends more widely than any other particular church or denomination, and has attracted worldwide attention in both the religious and the secular media. I want to make it plain that I have no personal prejudice or anxiety concerning unusual manifestations. In actual fact, I have in my own lifetime experienced quite a number of them. They do not frighten me. I’m not negative about them.
As I recorded in my booklet Uproar In The Church, my own personal encounter with Jesus in World War II began in a very unconventional way. In the middle of the night in the barrack room of the British Army, I spent more than an hour on my back on the floor with my body first racked by convulsive sobs, and then filled with a river of laughter which grew continually louder. Next morning I found myself a completely different person. Changed, not by any act of my will, but by yielding to the supernatural power that had flowed through me.
(Excerpt) Read more at dpmuk.org ...
ping
IBTM
I learned what it meant to “search the scriptures daily to see if these things be true”. I was blessed greatly in that church and experienced blessings from God that the church I had grown up in never experienced or enjoyed.
Sadly it didn’t take long before the carnal nature took over in that church and corrupted what had been a glorious worshiping of God. As the author pointed out many of those who showed evidence of the gifts began to “use God” as he put it. The humble nature turned to self glorification for all to many and a great many of us left.
Satan can work both sides. He can get people to deny the power of God but he can also take those who see the other side to “go to far” and will move them to corrupt those gifts or use them wrongly.
There’s got to be a happy medium between the excesses of where the charismatic movement is heading, and the severe, harsh demeanor of some groups who deny it all and you’d never think to raise your hands in their church.
One thing I liked about this guy is that he set up guidelines to follow instead of laying down strict rules.
The point that he was pretty unyielding on was the part about people acting like animals. I’ve heard charismatics excuse that and explain it away as the Holy Spirit, and I CANNOT accept that.
"Thus saith the Lord of hosts; it shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord, and to SEEK THE LORD OF HOSTS: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to SEEK THE LORD OF HOSTS IN JERUSALEM, and to pray before the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is WITH YOU." (Zech. 8:20-23).
Who was God speaking to? Israel. Jerusalem will be the religious center of the earth. Tongues was given for a specific reason. And is a reversal of God in Genesis 11:7-9. Where He confused the languages, now through Israel, He reverses and makes the confused languages understood by His people, His priests for the nations.
Now see Acts 2:5-11. What Zechariah prophesied is exactly what was happening on the day of Pentecost. And what would have continued to happen if Israel had accepted Christ as Messiah, He had returned and set up His kingdom, and they would have gone into it, as a nation of priests and a blessing to all the nations.
Once Israel was set aside, the kingdom was put in abeyance, and the dispensation of the grace of God began, what would it have profited anyone, Jew or Gentile to have those same Pentecost powers, that were prophesied FOR ISRAEL? We, the Body of Christ, aren't promised any earthly inheritance. We are promised a heavenly inheritance. And we walk by faith now, not by sight. Pentecost was an offer to Israel to accept Christ as Messiah, and a foretaste of what the millennial kingdom will be like. And Zechariah was prophesying what that millennial kingdom is going to be like.
" But now" I shall stand back and wait for the flying pies in my direction...:)
I’d be interested to hear what scripture they use to justify it for sure.
Well, the subject is beyond just the use of tongues.
There have been a lot of weird things that have come out of Pentecostalism recently. Things like the Toronto Blessing, where people were acting like animals, purported healings which were never verified, etc.
It’s gotten worse since then with the stuff like *drunken glory*, *fire tunnels*, *angel orbs*, people looking for other people to be literally, physically glowing, gold dust int heir hair, etc.
I know people who are getting taken up in all this nonsense and it seemed good to address the movement as a whole.
This guy offered some good guidelines to discern what is and what is not of the Holy Spirit, and he was a charismatic preacher. He was old when he did this series of messages back int he 1889’s I believe, and has since passed on. However, it is still relevant and discernment is needed more than ever today.
FWIW, I agree with you on tongues.
Paul addresses that in 1 Corinthians 14:22 where he tells us that tongues are a sign for unbelievers, not believers.
What I’ve found it that they don’t have any Scirpture to justify it.
What they use is intimidation tactics, stating the God can work how He sees fit, and then warning you to not attribute to Satan the works of the Holy Spirit. That you are in danger of blaspheming the Holy Spirit if you question the source or come right out and say that people acting like animals is demonic.
After all, God told the people (in their spirit) witnessing this that this is of Him. Therefore, how can you question it? They have the witness of God in their spirit that it is so.
1 Corinthians 12:28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 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.
1 Corinthians 14:27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
Why would Paul explain how to use the gifts if they were no longer relevant? And if we speak to God in tongues when would that have changed.?
1 Corinthians 13:8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When does that “which is perfect” come?
1 Corinthians 12:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
Not until we are face to face with Christ will those gifts cease.
I suppose they missed the scripture that tells us to “search the scriptures” to see if these things be true.
LOL Hey! Showing scripture says they won’t stop will we are “face to face” with Jesus ain’t flying pies I can tell ya!
I bet ya change yer mind!!! I searched the scriptures! :-)
AMEN!!!
You would have to explain to me how having perhaps missed a teaching from scripture on a particular subject corresponds to “Judaism”.
1889 or 1989?
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