In 1 Cor. 14, i do find the apostle saying, "I wish you all spoke in tongues..." in that chapter. This is surely because it builds up the person who does it. Let's all be hungry for that kind of thing!
I'm not so sure about the part where you say, "paul says everyone is definitely NOT supposed to have it."
I see that not everyone has it.
I read that not all do it.
I hear Paul desiring it for all.
I recognize that there are greater gifts.
But there doesn't seem to be a major problem with everyone having it.
Now, everyone going BERZERK with ecstatic stuff in a meeting of the church, that's not okay by the Scriptures. Definitely not.
but what about the use of this spiritual blessing in song, during the worship time of the church? I understand that people aren't to clash with each other in the use of this gift. I understand that we're not to crowd out the clear, upbuilding delivery of the prophetic word with ostentatious glossalalia... but what about the "Spirit Songs" of Col. 3:16 and 1 Cor. 14?
I'm not afraid of disagreement, division, or trouble in these things. Let's let down our guards and really talk about it. I'll be bold to say that it would do all our hearts a lot of good to have prayer languages. This is clear in scriptures! It'd also bless the socks off men and angels alike for us to really throw down intimacy with the Lord in our worship times...
These are things that aren't FORCED on you by hype, but must be taught and encouraged. Honestly, they're good things... there's so much good news here for all. God has blessings in store...
Focus on the cross. Jesus died for you. Live for him. This stuff comes in His perfect timing, as we lay our lives down in submission to Him...
Know this: we're a long way from disorder in our meetings. we're safe here to experiment in spiritual giftings. Here, we can seek the Lord together, and learn how to pray for one another, use tongues, listen for words of prophecy, heal, all the stuff of the Bible...
So be bold to lay hold of Jesus today. He has loved you so much. Don't let go of Him. He'll never let go of you. He loves you. He really does!
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tongues, tongues...tongues...
ReplyDeleteFirst time I have read the blog in a couple of weeks and boy have I missed some good stuff! I want to start by encouraging all of you for wrestling with some pretty hot topics. Between the war and tongues this can make for some volatile conversations in the church. It's easy to love someone when they agree with me but when we disagree now we begin to see loving one another come to life. I encourage all of you to continue to wrestle, debate, agree and disagree without making it personal and especially without it taking your focus off of what is important. I am sure there has been numerous denominations formed over these two topics, that ain't Jesus. Now let me weigh in on the tongues thing from an experiential point of view. I hook up with some awesome Jesus followers on Friday nights. They spend a lot of time praising and praying openly, singing spiritual songs back to Jesus sometimes in tongues. I'll admit it was different and odd for me at first, this weren't like no Methodist gathering I had ever been too,(no offense to my Methodist bro's). Thing is, it is all done in humility and I can not deny Jesus in our midst as HE has met me there in powerful ways. A couple of years ago I was at a prayer gathering and the person who put it together was big on the idea of praying in unison as it is done in many other countries. Certainly it is a biblical way of praying and talk about confusing...it was more difficult than someone praying in tongues. The main person saw fit to be louder and pray longer than anyone else. Even though he was praying in English. I think if this were the case in the church in Corinth Paul's letter may have read a bit differently. The point of his letter was the pride and self-righteousness that was present with those who were using the gift of tongues.Can someone pray in tongues and not draw attention to themselves...absolutely. Can someone pray in English and draw attention to themselves...absolutely. My point is simply that whether in tongues or not whether one at a time or in unison what's important is humility and considering others first as we use our gifts to build up the body.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Mike
First time I have read the blog in a couple of weeks and boy have I missed some good stuff! I want to start by encouraging all of you for wrestling with some pretty hot topics. Between the war and tongues this can make for some volatile conversations in the church. It's easy to love someone when they agree with me but when we disagree now we begin to see loving one another come to life. I encourage all of you to continue to wrestle, debate, agree and disagree without making it personal and especially without it taking your focus off of what is important. I am sure there has been numerous denominations formed over these two topics, that ain't Jesus. Now let me weigh in on the tongues thing from an experiential point of view. I hook up with some awesome Jesus followers on Friday nights. They spend a lot of time praising and praying openly, singing spiritual songs back to Jesus sometimes in tongues. I'll admit it was different and odd for me at first, this weren't like no Methodist gathering I had ever been too,(no offense to my Methodist bro's). Thing is, it is all done in humility and I can not deny Jesus in our midst as HE has met me there in powerful ways. A couple of years ago I was at a prayer gathering and the person who put it together was big on the idea of praying in unison as it is done in many other countries. Certainly it is a biblical way of praying and talk about confusing...it was more difficult than someone praying in tongues. The main person saw fit to be louder and pray longer than anyone else. Even though he was praying in English. I think if this were the case in the church in Corinth Paul's letter may have read a bit differently. The point of his letter was the pride and self-righteousness that was present with those who were using the gift of tongues.Can someone pray in tongues and not draw attention to themselves...absolutely. Can someone pray in English and draw attention to themselves...absolutely. My point is simply that whether in tongues or not whether one at a time or in unison what's important is humility and considering others first as we use our gifts to build up the body.
ReplyDeletePeace,
Mike