Posted on 04/16/2016 4:30:45 PM PDT by pastorbillrandles
Thanks Jim. A few things in response. I am baptized in the Spirit, and believe in all of the gifts, including speaking in tongues. Rather than being a hindrance to anyone to receive, I feel I am doing a service which could possibly open the door for some, by clearing away the rubbish done in the name of the Holy Spirit by a good many Charismatic and Pentecostal leaders.
Movements don’t matter to God, but they have a big impact on men, thus they need to be critiqued rigorously through the prism of scripture.
Re read my posts, there is nothing in them which would hinder anyone from the valid gifts of the Spirit I will re-read your posts as you ask, and cherish your friendship and fellowship-”As iron sharpens iron...”
Well, Bill, I’m sorry you did not balance this fairly negative report on a movement which you claim is dead with the present truths of the baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking/praying in tongues. Without that balance you, as many evangelicals and many others who responded here to your posts, appear to be dissing the entire movement including scriptural truths and blessings that were espoused and embraced in the movement.
I hope that you, to show good faith and a desire to not throw off those who might otherwise want these things from the Lord, follow up soon with an accurate, in depth, and scriptural teaching on the baptism in the Holy Spirit which God intends for every believer and, as seen is Acts is not, as so many who do not have it claim, the same thing as being born again.
I would also hope you would offer soon an accurate and scriptural teaching on the gift of tongues making the important distinction between the personal prayer-life of praying in tongues which needs no interpretation and the gift to the church which needs an interpreter.
As can be seen, those who followed your series here are generally those who seem confused about the tongues thing, almost certainly do not have the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and seem to think, as I, that you are of the same ilk as they. What you don’t say that would otherwise ensure clarity and avoid wrong inferences, is as important as what you say expressly.
I have to say, Bill, also that I don’t believe your attacks and accusations by name of those charismatic leaders and pastors was of the Lord. You do seem fairly gentle, but this was a nasty attack and put you, as I said, in league with the wrong crowd and also strengthened the feeling of opposition to the scriptural truths that these folks and this movement espoused.
I am glad you’ve stayed with me up to this point because I know I have disagreed sharply with some of what you have said and the imbalance of your approach, if in fact you in good faith want to help others receive these wonderful gifts from the Lord.
The prayer from my heart is you will consider prayerfully what I’ve said and see if the Holy Spirit in you, not man, backed up solidly with scripture, approves of what I am saying. Whatever is not approved, please, throw it out.
We’re all in the School of the Holy Spirit.
God bless.
It's real simple. You start at the beginning, you do the plowing, the dragging, then you plant the seed and let God do the watering and growing. My FRiend, you do not like this, have refused to do the work necessary for expository teaching, and have merely pontificated on your opinion, cherry-picking Bible verses that do not really back up your thesis. I told you this would end our exchange, and it has.
But if you wish to change your approach and look at this issue from a scholarly viewpoint, you might want to read this article through:
This is from a an old missionary who founded a theological seminary and has translated the entire New Testament. So He has some "witness".
You go from assertion to assertion and conclusion to conclusion with no scriptural-based reasoning to support either.
I’m done as well. Good luck.
Write me again when you come to grips with Chapter 13, especially verse 1.
Also, you might want to check out James 1:23,24,& 25 regarding face-to-face and that which is perfect, eh?
Also 1 Jn. 5:1 is of essence.
Fare thee well, Brothers!
Jim, This is a series. I am in good faith and always try to bring out balance and scriptural teaching. Sometimes you need to clear out the rubbish before you plant a seed.
I have no doubt, Bill, that you mean well and I hope you prayerfully consider what I’ve shared with you.
And on what basis do you make that judgment or determination?
The main focus of the charismatic movement and the word of faith stuff is the Holy Spirit and power.
Jesus taught it was about Him and faith/belief in Him and walking in love, not power.
The work of the Holy spirit is to exalt Christ and lift HIM us.
Jesus said that if HE was lifted up, HE would draw all men to Himself.
The focus and the begging for the Holy Spirit to show up is wrong. hen I hear people ask the Holy spirit to come down and be with us, that we invite you here and welcome you here, I just want to scream.
Jesus promised that when two or three are together that He would be there in their midst.
Instead of inviting Him to come, THANK HIM for already being there.
Period.
Everything else is secondary to this theme and purpose.
Speaking in irrational sounds does not serve this scenario in this day of completeness of revelation.
I have heard of actual cases of people speaking in an actual language to people from different cultures but they are rare instances.
I just don’t see the modern practice of tongues or the exercise of it as Scriptural.
There is not recorded instance of using "speaking in tongues" in the NT planting of churches, is there?
chased
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