Bible Tongue Speaking and Modern Impostors!

Tongue Speaking of today is not the tongue speaking of the Bible.

Compare the genuine in the Bible with the fakes of today!

First century	Today
Spoke a known language. Acts 2:8	Today don't even claim to use known languages.
Were understood. Acts 2:6; I Cor. 14:19	Don't claim to understand today.
Were edified. I Cor. 14:26	No such claim today.
Confirmed the word. Acts 10:46;Heb. 2:3-4	Today, they don't accept confirmed word today. Add to and deny it.
Spoke by turn. I Cor. 14:27	All speak together today in Mass confusion.
No interpreter? - Silence. I Cor. 14:28	Don't want to be interpreted today.
Sign to unbelievers. I Cor. 14:22	Used today for excitement.
For use of edifying I Cor. 14:26	Show, entertain.
Spirit subject to speaker. I Cor. 14:26-31	Today - "Don't stop me, I'm getting a revelation.
Spoke to profit the church I Cor. 14:6	No profit today.
Prayed for interpretation. I Cor. 14:13	Today - pray for tongue speaking.
Spoke to instruct. I Cor.14:13	Revel in confusion - no instruction.
Believed Gospel. Mark 16:16	Deny gospel because getting new revelation.
Spoke to benefit hearers. I Cor. 14:9	No so today. Benefit in glory of speaker.
Interpret so unlearned understand.; 1 Cor. 14:16	Interpretation not done today.
No accusation of madness. I Cor. 14:23	Today confusion rampant.
No confusion allowed. I Cor. 14:33	Today, all in confusion.
Women kept silence. I Cor. 14:34	All speak today. In regulating usage of gifts, women had not abilities.
Holy Spirit Baptism audible. No mistake in knowing H. S. came upon them. Acts 2:2	None will say so today.
Holy Spirit baptism visible. Not mistaken in seeing. Acts 2:3	None will say so today.
Holy Spirit baptism heard. No mistake in hearing. Acts 2:4	Not so today.

Compare the truth with the fake:

Simon The Fake Vs Apostles the truth: Acts 8:5-13

Purpose of the gifts
Bible	modern Pentecostals
To confirm God's word	Word confirms gifts
Bring About Unity Of Faith	Many Different Churches Claim To Have Gifts Confirm False Teachings
Miracles
Bible	modern Pentecostals
Dependent On Faith Of Healer Acts 3:7	Dependent On Faith Of Person Healed If Not Healed- "No Faith"
Truly Supernatural Acts 3:7	Scientific Explanation
Healings Were Instant Acts 3:8	Healings Usually Take Months
Healings Total Acts 3:8	Partial Improvement, Remission
Person Healed Known By All Acts 3:10	Person Often Unknown
Miracle Known By Miracle (Obvious)	Miracle Accepted By Personal Testimony
Even Enemies Accepted Acts 4:16	Highly Questionable, Always Internal and unseen
Tongues
Bible	modern Pentecostals
Real Human Language Acts 2:8	Total Gibberish And Nonsense
Max Of 3 In Church 1 Cor 14:27	More Than 3 Speak (visitors view as madness: 14:23)
Each Must Speak In Turn 14:27	Many Speak Simultaneously
If No Interpreter Keep Silent 14:28	Rarely Any "Interpreter"
Only One Interpretation Possible	Often Interpretations Vary
Emphasis On Public Demonstration	Emphasis On Private Devotion
Considered a childish gift of lesser importance 14:5	Stressed As A Sign Of Spirituality
A Sign To Unbelievers 14:22	A Sign To Believers

Modern Day Tongue Speaking Is Not From God!

In the Los Angeles area which consists of about 12 million people, every kind of religious cult that can be imagined is here. One of the churches, called the Rainbow Revival Church, located at 890 Crenshaw in Los Angeles, sent out an instruction sheet a number of years ago giving instructions as to how one may receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Listed below is the sum and substance of the instruction.

Words Of Praise To Receive The Holy Ghost. Jesus who baptized 120 believers with the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost 10 days after He ascended to heaven, is still baptizing Christians with the Holy Ghost today Acts 2:1-4. Usually Jesus baptizes believers with the Holy Ghost while they are praising the Lord, and their words change from words of praise to unknown tongues, which is proof that they have received the Holy Ghost. We suggest these words of praise to use while seeking the Baptism. To try to say words of praise too perfectly hinders the Holy Ghost from speaking in His Heavenly languages through you. SAY THE WORDS OUT LOUD! As you praise God, do NOT try to stop stammering. In fact the more you get the words of praise mixed up, the easier it is for the Holy Ghost to take control of your tongue and speak in unknown tongues through you. Isa. 28:11: "For with stammering lips and another tongue will I speak to this people." To Start Seeking, say the words of Praise in a paragraph below over and over very rapidly for 2 or 3 minutes, then go to the next paragraph, repeating the words of Praise in each paragraph about the same length of time. After you have repeated the words in all of the paragraphs, you may start at the beginning, and use these words of praise over and over. 1. Glory To God, Hallelujah Glory To God Hallelujah Glory To 2. Praise Precious Jesus, Prince Of Peace, Praise Precious Jesus 3. I Love You Jesus, I Love You Jesus, I Love You Jesus, 4. Jesus Savior Save Sinful Souls, Sanctify Saints To Serve Thee 5. Praise God The Father, God The Son, And God The Holy Ghost, 6. I Beseech Blessed Baptizer Bestow Bountiful Baptismal Blessings 7. Glory To Jesus Glory To Jesus Glory To Jesus Glory To 8. While Wholeheartedly Worshipping, Willing Waiting, Jesus Baptize Me With The Holy Ghost. While Wholeheartedly Worshipping 9. Glory To God, Gracious Generous Giver Of Good Gifts. Glory To Rainbow Revival Church, 890 Crenshaw, Los Angeles CA So what Happens? The individual commits a few phrases to memory and begins to say them over and over. His tongue gets twisted, but he must keep on trying. Finally he is muttering, stammering and stuttering and he blames it all on the Holy Spirit ... HOW SHAREFUL! Now I wonder if Peter and the rest of the apostles had this list in Acts 2 while they were waiting in the upper room for the Holy Spirit? Do you reckon that they were practicing all that time? Of course, the above is IGNORANCE GONE TO SEED. But a very remarkable thing happened soon after I received this list. I was in Pampa, Texas in a meeting and watching a religious program from Amarillo. They had a Catholic nun on the program who claimed to have been baptized with the Holy Spirit. Her "testimony" was that she had not been able to speak well because she DID stutter. But, when she received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, SHE QUIT STUTTERING. So, to stutter or not to stutter-that is the question. I hope that we all understand that those who were baptized with the Holy Spirit in the days of the apostles were given languages that could be understood as the Bible reveals in Acts 2:8 -1 1; and they were not the kind of gibberish that would be produced by one who practiced according to the "Rainbow Revival formula." (Contributed by J.T. Smith) J. Hurt, Steve Rudd

"Unity without doctrine is hypocrisy, while doctrine without unity is arrogance."

"Unity without doctrine is hypocrisy, while doctrine without unity is arrogance."

Benny Hinn -The Healer?

What I will share here is not to judge or prove someone like Benny Hinn is right or wrong. As a brother in Christ and a committee member serving in the same Armenian Evangelical church I would like to warn my brothers about false healers who claim themselves to be healers but who lack the Scriptural support for their ministry.
I used to watch Benny Hinn and have read his book called 'Good Morning Holy Spirit'', what opened my eyes were few things which I will list here below.

1) CBC’s The Fifth Estate challenged his claims of miraculous healings and described his lavish lifestyle of fancy cars, a 7,000-square-foot ocean-front mansion and luxury travel to five-star hotels on a private jet. You can read/watch CBC’s The Fifth Estate movie here:
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/19050/benny-hinn-10

2) He has also been criticized by a number of Christian watchdog groups for not joining the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability . The Council is the leading accreditation agency that helps Christian ministries earn the public’s trust through adherence to seven standards of accountability. It has over 1,100 members, including Billy Graham. Benny Hinn refuses to join. Although most major American churches and ministries release financial information voluntarily, there are no public records for how much the Hinn ministry makes or how that money is spent. Read the whole report here:
http://www.cbc.ca/fifth/main_miracles.html

I do believe in miracles because I believe in God. However, if one is drawing one's knowledge of God out of the Bible, one needs to be aware of exactly what the Bible teaches on miracles.
Those people who claim themselves to be healers, they prepare their healing meetings by creating the right atmosphere for healing by praise songs, heightening peoples’ feelings, emotions, just before healings start.

-Where do we find in the New Testament that the apostles were preparing the atmosphere for healing? In Acts chapter 3 we read that Peter and John were going up to the temple, on the steps up to the temple was a crippled man to whom Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

-Why all these so called healing meetings happen in closed stadiums, arenas and not in shopping malls for everyone to see and praise God as the apostles did?

The fact is: A thorough knowledge of the Scriptures will show that miracles are not as common in them as so many continue to believe; they 'cluster' around certain important events/ministries: Creation, the delivering of the Old Covenant at Sinai, the ministries of Elijah and Elishah and - especially - the ministry of Jesus, and then the first century apostolic ministry. If one left those vital events/ministries out of the picture, then the Bible contains almost no accounts of the miraculous! In a real sense, everything in the Old Covenant points to Jesus, but the ministries of Elijah and Elishah, and then our Lord's ministry, followed by the apostolic ministry especially point to Jesus and to salvation through Him.

It was granted to the apostles and to the '70' to perform mighty works, even to the degree that the people believed that the very shadow of Peter passing over people would cause them to be healed (Acts 5:15). The miracles of Jesus provided clear evidence for his identity: His miraculous ministry was a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Matthew. 11:3-5). Jesus Himself cited his utterly unique miracle ministry as one of the evidences for his Messiahship (Matthew. 11:3-5; Mark 2:9-11; John. 5:36; 10:37, 38).
For their part, the apostles (and the 70 disciples) were specifically required to be witnesses to the ministry of Jesus and were empowered for this purpose. They lived during the same time as Jesus and could provide direct testimony of the incredible things which they witnessed - none of us can claim that today. Just note Matthew 10:1; Matthew 10:8; Mark 16:20; Luke 9:1-2; Acts 2:43; Acts 5 12-16; Acts 14:3; Acts 15:12; 2 Corinthians 12:12 and Hebrews 2:3-4. Indeed, the New Testament writers usually referred to the miraculous 'signs of an apostle' in the past tense - this alone tells us a whole lot.

I am not fully 'cessationist' and do not believe that miracles are now impossible, but in everything I have seen of modern-day 'healing evangelists' I remain unconvinced that any of them have been granted particular gifts of healing - this does not surprise me since I feel that the fullest manifestation of this Gift has now passed. After all, why look for what the New Testament refers to as 'the signs of an apostle' in an age in which the apostles have long since departed?
But (it could be asked), are not some sick people still healed in a sudden and possibly dynamic way? Undoubtedly, but I tend to put that down to the faith of the sick person, or to the faith of the person praying for the sick person, or to the faith of a group of people involved in such prayers - but that in itself still does not necessarily mean that the 'Gift of Healing' has - in our day - been granted to any one person or to any one ministry! If it had been, this would surely grab the attention of even this sceptical world; Just think of it: every child and adult with 'down's syndrome' dramatically healed, every blind person receiving sight, every cancer sufferer instantly healed! Every amputee finding a new arm or leg miraculously reappearing! Yes, I really mean 'every'- not just claims by a tiny minority who attend 'healing meetings.' I have heard of the desperate sadness and depression of hundreds (Did you, literally? :-) of mentally and physically handicapped persons leaving typical large charismatic healing meetings. These people had been told that they would be healed “as long as you have the faith” and since no healing occurred then people who had thought themselves to be rich in faith, leave in a doubly depressed state. Truth is: they had fallen victims to some pretty poor biblical teaching. This teaching blames the failure for God to heal on a lack of faith - but this is entirely wrong. If such people lacked faith they almost certainly would not have attended the healing meeting in the first place! No - The problem is that the theology is wrong in the first place.

There is no doubt in my mind that the overwhelming majority do not receive supernatural healing in our age simply because the extensive presence of that particular Gift only accompanied the apostolic age. The New Testament seems to frankly tell us that, so why not just believe it? Some like to only read their preferred Scriptures on the topic of healing when it has always been a cardinal rule of good biblical interpretation to take all scriptural teaching on any doctrine into account before deciding what the correct scriptural teaching really is.

So, to conclude, sincere or not this man seems quite representative of a long line of charismatic preachers who hold a view of divine physical healing which lacks Scriptural support.

In Christ,

Khoren

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

It's ironic that Christians have argued so much about the baptism of the Spirit, when the apostle Paul used it as one of his main arguments to prove that we are all united in Christ!

Some churches believe that the baptism of the Spirit is an experience different than initial salvation. They see it as a second experience that gives a person much greater spiritual power and boldness, and the ability to live a more victorious Christian life. Some groups teach that the baptism is accompanied by such signs as speaking in tongues.

The Bible does not actually use the term "baptism of the Spirit" very often. John the Baptist predicted that Jesus would come and baptize with the Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). In Acts 1:5, Jesus recalled John's words, and told His followers that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from then. The spectacular events of the day of Pentecost ten days later seem to be the obvious fulfillment of His words (see Acts 2). The only other mention in Acts (11:16) refers back to Pentecost, explaining that Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, had an experience very similar to the Pentecost manifestations.

While these passages make it clear that the believers in Acts 2 experienced a baptism of the Spirit, we do not find a clear explanation of what that baptism means. Nor do we know whether there were other works of the Spirit that were happening at the same time.

The clearest explanation of the baptism appears in I Corinthians 12:13. Paul is dealing with a situation where the Corinthian church was splitting into factions over the issue of spiritual gifts. Overemphasis on certain spectacular gifts had led to the attitude that some people had the most desirable gifts, while others were deficient. In response, Paul exclaims, "We're all one! Don't divide up into cliques!" And to prove his point, he explains, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit" (I Corinthians 12:13).

His main point? All believers share the reality of being baptized by the Spirit.

What does it do? It makes us part of the body of Christ, the Church.

When did it happen? If every believer has been baptized in the Spirit, then it must happen at the moment you accept Christ and become a Christian.

Great Christians down through the years have often experienced dramatic encounters with God after salvation. There is no reason to deny that this is a genuine way that God works with His people. It is also true that equally devout, effective Christians have gone through life without such a "second work" of grace.

We may use whatever words we want to describe our experiences with God. But it is most accurate to say that the Bible uses "baptism of the Spirit" to refer to one of the wonderful things that God does for us the instant we trust Christ and enter His family!

Author: Dr. John Bechtle.

					'

"Women pastors / preachers? What does the Bible say about women in ministry?"

www.GotQuestions.org

Question: "Women pastors / preachers? What does the Bible say about women in ministry?"

Answer: There is perhaps not a more debated issue in the church today than the issue of women serving as pastors / preachers in ministry. As a result, it is very important to not view this issue as men versus women. There are women who believe that women should not serve as pastors and that the Bible places restrictions on the ministry of women - and there are men who believe that women can serve as preachers and that there are no restrictions on women in ministry. This is not an issue of chauvinism or discrimination. It is an issue of Biblical interpretation.

1 Timothy 2:11-12 proclaims, “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.” In the church, God assigns different roles to men and women. This is a result of the way mankind was created (1 Timothy 2:13) and the way in which sin entered the world (2 Timothy 2:14). God, through the Apostle Paul’s writing, restricts women from serving in roles of spiritual teaching authority over men. This precludes women from serving as pastors, which definitely includes preaching to, teaching, and having spiritual authority over men.

There are many "objections" to this view of women in ministry / women pastors. A common one is that Paul restricts women from teaching because in the first century, women were typically uneducated. However, 1 Timothy 2:11-14 nowhere mentions educational status. If education was a qualification for ministry, the majority of Jesus' disciples likely would not have been qualified. A second common objection is that Paul only restricted the Ephesian women from teaching (1 Timothy was written to Timothy, who was the pastor of the church in Ephesus). The city of Ephesus was known for its temple to Artemis, a false Greek / Roman goddess. Women were the authority in the worship of Artemis. However, the book of 1 Timothy nowhere mentions Artemis, nor does Paul mention Artemis worship as a reason for the restrictions in 1 Timothy 2:11-12.

A third common objection is that Paul is only referring to husbands and wives, not men and women in general. The Greek words in 1 Timothy 2:11-14 could refer to husbands and wives. However, the basic meaning of the words are men and women. Further, the same Greek words are used in verses 8-10. Are only husbands to lift up holy hands in prayer without anger and disputing (verse 8)? Are only wives to dress modestly, have good deeds, and worship God (verses 9-10)? Of course not. Verses 8-10 clearly refer to men and women in general, not only husbands and wives. There is nothing in the context that would indicate a switch to husbands and wives in verses 11-14.

Yet another frequent objection to this interpretation of women pastors / preachers is in relation to Miriam, Deborah, Huldah, Priscilla, Phoebe, etc. - women who held positions of leadership in the Bible. This objection fails to note some significant factors. In relation to Deborah, she was the only female judge amongst 13 male judges. In relation to Huldah, she was the only female prophet amongst dozens of male prophets mentioned in the Bible. Miriam's only connection to leadership was due to her being the sister of Moses and Aaron. The two most prominent women in the times of the Kings were Athaliah and Jezebel - hardly examples of godly female leadership.

In the Book of Acts, chapter 18, Priscilla and Aquila are presented as faithful ministers for Christ. Priscilla's name is mentioned first, likely indicating that she was more "prominent" in ministry than her husband. However, Priscilla is nowhere described as participating in a ministry activity that is in contradiction to 1 Timothy 2:11-14. Priscilla and Aquila brought Apollos into their home and they both discipled him, explaining the Word of God to him more accurately (Acts 18:26).

In Romans 16:1, even if Phoebe is considered a "deaconess" instead of a "servant" - that does not indicate that Phoebe was a teacher in the church. "Able to teach" is given as a qualification for elders, but not deacons (1 Timothy 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9). Elders / bishops / deacons are described as "husband of one wife," "a man whose children believe," and "men worthy of respect." In addition, in 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and Titus 1:6-9, masculine pronouns are used exclusively to refer to elders / bishops / deacons.

The structure of 1 Timothy 2:11-14 makes the "reason" perfectly clear. Verse 13 begins with "for" and gives the "cause" of what Paul stated in verses 11-12. Why should women not teach or have authority over men? Because - "Adam was created first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived." That is the reason. God created Adam first and then created Eve to be a "helper" for Adam. This order of Creation has universal application to humanity in the family (Ephesians 5:22-33) and the church. The fact that Eve was deceived is also given as a reason for women not serving as pastors or having spiritual authority over men. This leads some to believe that women should not teach because they are more easily deceived. That concept is debatable...but if women are more easily deceived, why should they be allowed to teach children (who are easily deceived) and other women (who are supposedly more easily deceived)? That is not what the text says. Women are not to teach or have spiritual authority over men because Eve was deceived. As a result, God has given men the primary teaching authority in the church.

Women excel in gifts of hospitality, mercy, teaching and helps. Much of the ministry of the church depends on women. Women in the church are not restricted to public praying or prophesying (1 Corinthians 11:5), only to having spiritual teaching authority over men. The Bible nowhere restricts women from exercising the gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians chapter 12). Women, just as much as men, are called to minister to others, to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and to proclaim the Gospel to the lost (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8; 1 Peter 3:15).

God has ordained that only men are to serve in positions of spiritual teaching authority in the church. This is not because men are necessarily better teachers, or because women are inferior or less intelligent (which is not the case). It is simply the way God designed the church to function. Men are to set the example in spiritual leadership – in their lives and through their words. Women are to take a less authoritative role. Women are encouraged to teach other women (Titus 2:3-5). The Bible also does not restrict women from teaching children. The only activity women are restricted from is teaching or having spiritual authority over men. This logically would include women serving as pastors / preachers. This does not make women less important, by any means, but rather gives them a ministry focus more in agreement with how God has gifted them.



© Copyright 2002-2007 Got Questions Ministries.
http://www.gotquestions.org/Printer/women-pastors-PF.html

"I feel led.... God Told Me...."

"I feel led.... God Told Me...."

http://reformationinprogress.blogspot.com/2007/05/i-feel-led-god-told-me.html

One of those issues that has gotten under my skin for a long time is the issue that I call the "God told me" syndrome. People who suffer from this problem often experience symptoms such as, but not limited to:

* Weak theology
* Self justification of sin
* Gratification of the flesh
* A rejection of Sola Scriptura and the Sufficiency of Scripture

I myself, a former charismatic, have suffered from this condition. Yes it's true, there was a time when I would often say things like, "God told me..." or "God led me to do this" or "I think God is leading me to..." I would use these catch phrases to justify something I wanted to do. I sometimes genuinely convinced myself that God had really said something to me, but Got frustrated when it did not happen. I've had other experiences where friends would tell me that God told them something. I had a girlfriend in High school break up with me because God told her to. I had a friend that told me God told him that I shouldn't get married to the person who is now my wife of almost 4 years (whom I love and God has blessed our marriage). I couldn't figure out why God would tell my friend that, and not me. Maybe I wasn't listening, or maybe I was right that my friend just wasn't happy with the relationship I had with my fiance' that moved to quick for most people. (I asked Susan to marry me one day less than a month after meeting her.) So I have been guilty of this disease and I have suffered from the symptoms of others as well. But let me ask you this, when can we actually say that God told us something?

I submit to you that the only time we can confidently say "God told me..." is when we can follow it up with something like "...In John chapter 10..." After all, the only way we can know for sure the will of God is through his word. 2 Timothy 3 :17 tells us that Scripture makes the man of God "...competent, equipped for every good work."
Therefore when we come to a difficult decision or we are needing some guidance on any given issue, where should we turn? Do we stop and listen to that inner voice? No. We go to the Scripture that is sufficient to make us competent, and equipped for every good work.

When a person says that God told them something, my response is always, "What did God sound like? I mean if you heard from God, tell me what He sounds like, I'm eager to know!" Of course, that's not what they meant. They did not hear the audible voice of God. So then they might say, "Well, I feel God leading me to do this." Then of course I can't help but ask, "Really? How does it feel when God leads you?" About that time they are tired of my questions.

But here is the point, what do people mean when they say "God told me..." or "God is leading me..."? How does God do this to them? They just feel it in their heart? But Jeremiah 17:9 says,

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?"

The problem here is that we are sinners. We have been seriously marred by sin. And even if you are a new creation in Christ, the Scripture tells us that we will struggle to defeat the flesh (our sinful old nature) for the rest of our earthly existence. So can we trust our feelings? Absolutely not. Our feeling are subjective. Think, right now as you are reading this, how many ungodly thoughts and feeling have you had this month, this week, today? If you're honest you will say, "I've had a whole lot." I know I have. Why? Because I'm a jacked up sinner in need of God's grace every moment I draw another breath.

So when I have a decision that needs made, or I need guidance, what do I need to do? I need to pray and go to the word of God. It is a dangerous thing that is being taught that people should merely pray, ask God for answers and sit quietly and listen for his voice. That is not how God tells us He operates. Who knows what you might here? You might hear your own desires saying "Yeah, do this" or perhaps a demon might speak to you and you think it's God! How do you know? What does God sound like?

I'm certainly this is where someone will say to me, "But the book of James tells us that 'if anyone of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.'" (James 1:5) Well, yes it does. But it says wisdom and not knowledge. Wisdom, biblically speaking, is the application of knowledge. So Scripture is not saying, if you don't know something, ask God to tell you, rather, if you know the truth but don't know how to apply it, ask God for wisdom in how to do so.

How then do we let God lead us? Obviously it is something we want to do. We must let God take control. Take Ephesians 5:17-21 for instance:

"17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, 20giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ."

Being filled with the Spirit is contrasted with being filled with too much wine. Wine controls in a negative way when a person become drunk, but the Spirit controls in a good way when people immerse themselves in Him. We are to give ourselves to the worship of God, the study of the Scripture, the fellowship of other believers, and other things that we are told bring glory to God. This is how we give control to the Spirit and let Him lead us, by doing what He tells us to do, being obedient to the word of God.

When Jesus talks about the coming of the Holy Spirit he tells His disciples that the Spirit will teach them all things and bring to remembrance the things that Jesus taught. This is how God speaks to us today also. As we worship God, pray to Him for guidance and wisdom, and seek Him in the Scriptures, the Spirit will bring to remembrance the things God has told us, in His word.

When we make decision about buying a home or a car, God might remind us about the parable of the talents and being a good steward with the money He gives us. We pray and think and then make a decision that we believe most honors the Lord with what He has given us. This doesn't make our decision inerrant, but it's a much better approach then just doing what we want and saying "God told me." The same is true for any circumstance. Dating for instance. Should I date this person or not. Well the Bible tells us to be evenly yoked, is she a Christian? Does she hold my conviction about the Bible and things that matter to God? Seek the word of God in Scripture, pray about it and make the decision that you think honors God.

Scripture alone is our authority that equips us for every good work. Trust God's word, not inner voices and urges, you do not know who those voices belong to.

Hebrews 1:1-2

"1Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world."

We have the word of Christ in written form. You need seek nothing else for answers. Ask God for wisdom as you read His truth that is already revealed.

Here is a link on this same issue that I appreciated by Pastor Steve Cornell:
http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/2007/05/26/do-inner-promptings-reveal-gods-will/

You're probably a cessationist, too

You're probably a cessationist, too

http://phillipjohnson.blogspot.com/2006/01/youre-probably-cessationist-too.html

If you believe any of the miraculous spiritual gifts were operative in the apostolic era only, and that some or all of those gifts gradually ceased before the end of the first century, you are a cessationist.

If you believe all the spiritual gifts described in the New Testament have continued unabated, unchanged, and unaltered since the initial outpouring of tongues at Pentecost, you are a continuationist.

It's pretty hard to find a real continuationist. Absolute non-cessationists exist only at the bizarre fringe of the charismatic movement. They are the sort of people who like to declare one another "apostles," claim (and inevitably abuse) all the apostolic prerogatives, sometimes invent fanciful stories about people raised from the dead, and twist and corrupt virtually every category of doctrine related to the gospel, the atonement, or Christian discipleship and self-denial.

But evangelical charismatics (especially the Reformed variety) do not really believe there are apostles today who have the same authority as the Apostles in the early church. Some may use the term apostle, but they invariably insist that the apostleship they recognize today is a lesser kind of apostleship than the office and gift that belonged to the apostles in the first century.

Now, think through the implications of that position: By arguing for a lesser kind of apostleship, they are actually conceding that the authentic, original New Testament gift of apostleship (Ephesians 4:11) has ceased. They have in effect embraced a kind of cessationism themselves.

Note: There is no more or less biblical warrant for this view than for any other kind of cessationism.

Nonetheless, every true evangelical holds to some form of cessationism. We all believe that the canon of Scripture is closed, right? We do not believe we should be seeking to add new inspired material to the New Testament canon. We hold to the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3)—delivered in the person of Christ, and through the teaching of His apostles, and inscripturated in the New Testament. We believe Scripture as we have it is complete. And those who do not believe that are not really evangelicals. They are cultists and false teachers, who would add to the Word of God.

But notice this: if you acknowledge that the canon is closed and the gift of apostleship has ceased, you have already conceded the heart of the cessationist argument.

That's not all, though. Most leading "Reformed charismatics" go even further than that. They freely admit that all the charismatic gifts in operation today are of a lesser quality than the gifts we read about in the New Testament.

For example, in Wayne Grudem's book The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today (Wheaton: Crossway, 1988)—probably the single most important and influential work written to defend modern prophecy—Grudem writes that "no responsible charismatic holds" the view that prophecy today is infallible and inerrant revelation from God (p. 111). He says charismatics are arguing for a "lesser kind of prophecy" (112), which is not on the same level as the inspired prophecies of the Old Testament prophets or the New Testament apostles—and which may even be (and very often is) fallible.

Grudem writes,

there is almost uniform testimony from all sections of the charismatic movement that [today's] prophecy is impure, and will contain elements which are not to be obeyed or trusted.


Jack Deere, former Dallas Seminary prof-turned charismatic advocate, likewise admits in his book Surprised by the Power of the Holy Spirit (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993), that he has not seen anyone today performing miracles or possessing gifts of the same quality as the signs and wonders of the apostolic era. In fact, Deere argues vehemently throughout his book that modern charismatics do not even claim to have apostolic-quality gifts and miracle-working abilities. One of Deere's main lines of defense against critics of the charismatic movement is his insistence that modern charismatic gifts are actually lesser gifts than those available in the apostolic era, and therefore, he suggests, they should not be held to apostolic standards.

Again, consider the implications of that claim: Deere and Grudem have, in effect, conceded the entire cessationist argument. They have admitted that they are themselves cessationists of sorts. They believe that the true apostolic gifts and miracles have ceased, and they are admitting that what they are claiming today is not the same as the charismata described in the New Testament.

In other words, modern charismatics have already adopted a cessationist position. When pressed on the issue, all honest charismatics are forced to admit that the "gifts" they receive today are of lesser quality than those of the apostolic era.

Contemporary tongues-speakers do not speak in understandable or translatable dialects, the way the apostles and their followers did at Pentecost. Charismatics who minister on the foreign mission-field are not typically able to preach the gospel miraculously in the tongues of their hearers. Charismatic missionaries have to go to language school like everyone else.

If all sides already acknowledge that there are no modern workers of signs and wonders who can really duplicate apostolic power, then we have no actual argument about the principle of cessationism, and therefore all the frantic demands for biblical and exegetical support for cessationism are superfluous. The real gist of our disagreement boils down only to a question of degree.

In a very helpful book, Satisfied by the Promise of the Spirit (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1996), Thomas Edgar writes,

The charismatic movement gained credence and initial acceptance by claiming their gifts were the same as those in Acts. For most people this is why they are credible today. Yet now one of their primary defenses is the claim that [the gifts] are not the same [as those in the New Testament.] Faced with the facts, they have had to revoke the very foundation of their original reason for existence. (p. 32)


As for biblical arguments, in Scripture itself, there is ample evidence that miracles were extraordinary, rare events, usually associated in some significant way with people who spoke inspired and infallible utterances. It is obvious from the biblical narrative that miracles were declining in frequency even before the apostolic era drew to a close. Scripture says the miracles were apostolic signs (2 Corinthians 12:12), and therefore by definition they pertained specifically and uniquely to the apostolic era.

Phil Johnson

Do inner promptings reveal God’s will?

Do inner promptings reveal God’s will?

http://thinkpoint.wordpress.com/2007/05/26/do-inner-promptings-reveal-gods-will/

Posted on May 26th, 2007.

Should we appeal to inner promptings or feelings to lead us into God’s will? Have you ever heard someone profess to feel God’s leading toward something that you doubted to be His will? I have repeatedly cautioned people against appealing to inner promptings as indicators of God’s will. Many times, these inner impressions are assigned to the work of the Holy Spirit. “I feel led by the Spirit…,” someone will say. Yet how can we tell whether impressions are from God or from another source?

“This is a critical question.” wrote Garry Friesen, ”For impressions could be produced by any number of sources: God, Satan, an angel, a demon, human emotions (such as fear or ecstasy), hormonal imbalance, insomnia, medication, or an upset stomach. Sinful impressions (temptations) may be exposed for what they are by the Spirit-sensitized conscience and the Word of God. But beyond that, one encounters a subjective quagmire or uncertainty. For in nonmoral areas, Scripture gives no guidelines for distinguishing the voice of the Spirit from the voice of the self or any other potential `voice’. And experience offers no reliable means of identification either (which is why the question comes up in the first place). Tremendous frustration has been experienced by sincere Christians who have earnestly but fruitlessly sought to decipher the code of the inward witness. Impressions are real; believers experience them. But impressions are not authoritative. Impressions are impressions. Call them `spiritual’ or attribute them to the Holy Spirit, and they are still the same just impressions. Impressions by any other name confuse the issue and confound the believer in the process of decision making.” (Garry Friesen, Decision Making and the Will of God, pp. 130-131.)

Does Romans 8:14 teach us to look to inner promptings from the Spirit for guidance? This verse says, “Those who are led by the Spirit are the sons of God.” In context, the reference to being “led by the Spirit” does not refer to inner “voices” or any such experience, but to mortifying known sin and not living after the flesh!

“The Bible teaches that the Holy Spirit will lead us, but we are never told He will do this by some inner urge. It is interesting in this connection that when Jesus told His disciples that He would send the Holy Spirit and that the Spirit would lead them into all truth, He said, `He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you’ (John 14:26). Here the leading is bringing to mind Jesus’ statements. The mind of each disciple is the instrument the Spirit will use, not some non-rational, mystical factor.” (Arthur L. Johnson, Faith Misguided: Exposing the Dangers of Mysticism.)

Many respected Bible teachers offer strong warnings about following inner impressions. Consider some of their statements:

“The idea of a life in which the inward voice of the Spirit decides and directs everything sounds most attractive, for it seems to exalt the Spirit’s ministry and to promise the closest intimacy with God; but in practice this quest for super-spirituality leads only to frantic bewilderment or lunacy. Yet the true way to honor the Holy Spirit as our guide is to honor the Holy Scriptures through which He guides us. The fundamental guidance which God gives to shape our lives the instilling, that is, of the basic convictions, attitudes, ideals and value judgments, in terms of which we are to live is not a matter of inward promptings apart from the Word but of the pressure on our consciences of the portrayal of God’s character and will in the Word which the Spirit enlightens us to understand and apply to ourselves.” (J.I. Packer, Knowing God, p. 235.)

“Most of the biblical passages that deal with the will of God focus on holiness, living in harmony with one’s family, obeying God and the like. The kind of determining of God’s will that utterly depends on voices, internal promptings, `burdens’, and the like can indeed prove far too subjective, especially when such experiences are invested with an authority that challenges the criteria of Scripture or the consensus wisdom of mature, spiritually-minded Christians.” (D.A. Carson, Letters Along the Way, pp. 132.)

“Scripture never commands us to tune into any inner voice. We’re commanded to study and meditate on Scripture (Joshua 1:8; Ps. 1:1-2). We’re instructed to cultivate wisdom and discernment (Prov. 4:5-8). We’re told to walk wisely and make the most of our time (Eph. 5:15-16). We’re ordered to be obedient to God’s commands (Deut. 28:1-2; Jn. 15:14). But we are never encouraged to listen for inner promptings. On the contrary, we are warned that our hearts are so deceitful and desperately wicked that we cannot understand them (Jer. 17:9). Surely this should make us very reluctant to heed promptings and messages that arise from within ourselves. Those willing to heed inner voices and mental impressions may be listening to the lies of a deceitful heart, the fantasies of an overactive imagination, or even the voice of a demon. Once objective criteria are cast aside, there is no way to know the difference between truth and falsehood. Those who follow subjective impressions are by definition undiscerning.” (John F. MacArthur, Jr. Reckless Faith, pp. 189-193.)

Paul Little, in his helpful pamphlet entitled, “Affirming The Will Of God,” offered a relevant illustration. “Several years ago I knew a girl who had signed a contract to teach. In August, she received another offer from a school closer to where she wanted to live. So she broke the original contract. Had she acted on the biblical principle in Psalm 15:4, where God says that He is pleased with a person who swears to his own hurt and does not change, she would not have done that. The department chairman who told me about the Christian girl’s action said her justification was `I have a peace about it,’ and he commented rather sardonically, `Isn’t that lovely? She’s got the peace and I’ve got the pieces.’

I believe that girl missed the will of God. She violated a principle which, if she had been alert and had applied it to her situation, would have given her clear guidance in this specific detail of her life. God guides, then, through His Word and its principles.“This is one of the most neglected dimensions of guidance today. It sounds terribly spiritual to say `God led me,’ but I am always suspicious of a person who implies that he has a personal pipeline to God. When no one else senses that what the person suggests is the will of God, then we had better be careful. God has been blamed for the most outlandish things by people who have confused their own inverted pride with God’s will. Occasionally I hear of a guy who, in the name of spiritual guidance, rushes up to a girl and says, `Susie, God has told me you’re to marry me.’ I have news for him. If that is the will of God, then Susie is going to get the message too. If she does not, somebody’s radar is jammed, and it’s not hard to tell whose.”

The collective wisdom of these teachers should caution believers against allowing inner impressions to lead them as a final voice from God. The potential for subjective, self-serving, misguided or even Satanic influences is strong.

In summary, God works in the whole person: intellect, emotion and will. God clearly uses conscience to restrain and protect us. But conscience like inner urges must be yielded to the objective truth of Scripture. We cannot debate another person’s feelings or inner impressions, but we can evaluate those impressions based on objective considerations. Be a good (and obedient) student of Scripture rather than your feelings and you will flourish in God’s will (Deuteronomy 8:3-5; Psalm1; 19:7-11; 119; II Timothy 3:16-17).

Pastor Steve Cornell