Post by 2fw8212a on Feb 27, 2019 19:54:49 GMT -5
It can be hard to be a believer who does not speak with tongues.
This happens because there are doctrines based on flawed understanding of baptism with the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
I am one of those believers and I have suffered.
I myself have heard things like:
If you do not speak in tongues, you are not baptized. And if you are not baptized you are not saved.
If you spoke in tongues only once you are not yet baptized, you have to speak at least two times.
Then later my life was contradicting that very same doctrine, as they said:
If you are not baptized, you cannot overcome the flesh.
He who is baptized has the Spirit of Christ in him.
But there is something wrong in there, because I never spoke with tongues and I have overcome the flesh by faith in Christ.
Then, the Spirit is indeed in me, as it is written:
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit,
if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone
does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." - Romans 8:9
And I do not know why, but in the church I go they still keep laying hands on me for some reason.
It probably is because they do not believe I have been baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Just because I do not speak with tongues, or have any loud manifestation does not mean I have not been baptized.
"...for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7
I am not a cold Christian either, I love living for the Lord and my goal is to please Him... in truth!
"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers
will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking
such to worship Him." - John 4:23
In public worship, as well as when I'm alone at home, I am mostly worshiping inwardly in an introverted manner, just moving the lips and with gentle body movements.
But people do not pay attention to that... But it is great in my mind.
Then, when your life contradicts a doctrine... That doctrine is not 100% accurate.
I am not saying that it exists a perfect doctrine with perfect understanding of all spiritual things.
It actually is not needed such details when it comes to doctrine, there is why so many differences can be found.
To make things much simpler, forget all these commandments of men that say that you must speak with tongues or you do not have the Spirit.
The most precise method of knowing whether the Spirit is in a believer is indeed very simple.
They must believe, in other words, the Word must be active in their lives.
"...it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." - 1 Thessalonians 2:13
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are:
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like..." - Galatians 5:19-21
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit,
if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone
does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." - Romans 8:9
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23
"...Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." - John 8:34-36
Then, those who have the Spirit will walk in the Spirit. By their fruits we will know them, as it is written.
They are no longer slaves of sin, they want to repent from their sins... they desire a holy, truly sanctified life.
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." - John 17:17
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should
know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor..." - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
"...All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given..." - Matthew 19:11
"And we are His witnesses to these things,
and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." - Acts 5:32
Without the Holy Spirit in you it is impossible to achieve that.
"And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them:
I am the Lord who sanctifies you." - Leviticus 20:8
"and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." - Acts 15:9
But is speaking with tongues that important?! Can it help those who have it? Yes, indeed... as it is written:
"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself..." - 1 Corinthians 14:4
But is speaking with tongues of utmost importance?! No.
No believer is having advantage over the other in terms of gifts. God distributes them fairly, I believe.
"But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way." - 1 Corinthians 12:31
"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift." - Ephesians 4:7
Then, if one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself... The other who prophesies can not only edify himself:
"...he who prophesies edifies the church." - 1 Corinthians 14:4
The one who speaks with tongues can be heard by other people, may pray in tongues, etc...
But he who prophesies can edify the church and how much more himself. See no one is in disadvantage.
And those who prophesy are usually more knowledgeable of Scriptures and more inclined to learn more from it.
While those who speak with tongues are usually more interested in group experiences with other people and manifesting power (i.e. they tend to be more extrovert).
But what really, really matters?
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal." - 1 Corinthians 13:1
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:2
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy;
love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely,
does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - 1 Corinthians 13:8
Then, the most important is: To love...
"Love never fails.
But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;
whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge,
it will vanish away." - 1 Corinthians 13:8
"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." - 1 John 4:8
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love..." - Ephesians 5:1-2
"...for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." - Romans 13:8
"Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." - 1 Corinthians 11:1
"For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." - John 13:15
"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." - John 13:35
Then, no matter if you speak in tongues or not... As long as you walk in love you are fine.
"And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according
to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear..." - 1 Peter 1:17
"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me,
to give to every one according to his work." - Revelation 22:12
"And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." - 1 John 3:3
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." - John 17:17
Blessings to you in Jesus' name!
This happens because there are doctrines based on flawed understanding of baptism with the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts.
I am one of those believers and I have suffered.
I myself have heard things like:
If you do not speak in tongues, you are not baptized. And if you are not baptized you are not saved.
If you spoke in tongues only once you are not yet baptized, you have to speak at least two times.
Then later my life was contradicting that very same doctrine, as they said:
If you are not baptized, you cannot overcome the flesh.
He who is baptized has the Spirit of Christ in him.
But there is something wrong in there, because I never spoke with tongues and I have overcome the flesh by faith in Christ.
Then, the Spirit is indeed in me, as it is written:
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit,
if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone
does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." - Romans 8:9
And I do not know why, but in the church I go they still keep laying hands on me for some reason.
It probably is because they do not believe I have been baptized with the Holy Spirit.
Just because I do not speak with tongues, or have any loud manifestation does not mean I have not been baptized.
"...for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." - 1 Samuel 16:7
I am not a cold Christian either, I love living for the Lord and my goal is to please Him... in truth!
"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers
will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking
such to worship Him." - John 4:23
In public worship, as well as when I'm alone at home, I am mostly worshiping inwardly in an introverted manner, just moving the lips and with gentle body movements.
But people do not pay attention to that... But it is great in my mind.
Then, when your life contradicts a doctrine... That doctrine is not 100% accurate.
I am not saying that it exists a perfect doctrine with perfect understanding of all spiritual things.
It actually is not needed such details when it comes to doctrine, there is why so many differences can be found.
To make things much simpler, forget all these commandments of men that say that you must speak with tongues or you do not have the Spirit.
The most precise method of knowing whether the Spirit is in a believer is indeed very simple.
They must believe, in other words, the Word must be active in their lives.
"...it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe." - 1 Thessalonians 2:13
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are:
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like..." - Galatians 5:19-21
"But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit,
if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone
does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." - Romans 8:9
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23
"...Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed." - John 8:34-36
Then, those who have the Spirit will walk in the Spirit. By their fruits we will know them, as it is written.
They are no longer slaves of sin, they want to repent from their sins... they desire a holy, truly sanctified life.
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." - John 17:17
"For this is the will of God, your sanctification:
that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should
know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor..." - 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4
"...All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given..." - Matthew 19:11
"And we are His witnesses to these things,
and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." - Acts 5:32
Without the Holy Spirit in you it is impossible to achieve that.
"And you shall keep My statutes, and perform them:
I am the Lord who sanctifies you." - Leviticus 20:8
"and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." - Acts 15:9
But is speaking with tongues that important?! Can it help those who have it? Yes, indeed... as it is written:
"He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself..." - 1 Corinthians 14:4
But is speaking with tongues of utmost importance?! No.
No believer is having advantage over the other in terms of gifts. God distributes them fairly, I believe.
"But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way." - 1 Corinthians 12:31
"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift." - Ephesians 4:7
Then, if one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself... The other who prophesies can not only edify himself:
"...he who prophesies edifies the church." - 1 Corinthians 14:4
The one who speaks with tongues can be heard by other people, may pray in tongues, etc...
But he who prophesies can edify the church and how much more himself. See no one is in disadvantage.
And those who prophesy are usually more knowledgeable of Scriptures and more inclined to learn more from it.
While those who speak with tongues are usually more interested in group experiences with other people and manifesting power (i.e. they tend to be more extrovert).
But what really, really matters?
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels,
but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal." - 1 Corinthians 13:1
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge,
and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." - 1 Corinthians 13:2
"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy;
love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely,
does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity,
but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - 1 Corinthians 13:8
Then, the most important is: To love...
"Love never fails.
But whether there are prophecies, they will fail;
whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge,
it will vanish away." - 1 Corinthians 13:8
"He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." - 1 John 4:8
"Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love..." - Ephesians 5:1-2
"...for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." - Romans 13:8
"Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." - 1 Corinthians 11:1
"For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." - John 13:15
"By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." - John 13:35
Then, no matter if you speak in tongues or not... As long as you walk in love you are fine.
"And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according
to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear..." - 1 Peter 1:17
"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me,
to give to every one according to his work." - Revelation 22:12
"And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure." - 1 John 3:3
"Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth." - John 17:17
Blessings to you in Jesus' name!