1 Cornthians 13:8-12

Work???

MEE

 

There *are* times when we *must* build ourselves up through Prayer and Bible Study so that we may build others up...

And, whether Jude is talking about praying in a tongue or not... The message remains clear it is not wrong to edify oneself...

Only to flaunt it... (Or, cause division over it?)

(Which remains a charge I readily admit Pentecostals remain rather open to. ) </font>[/QUOTE]Certainly were to edify ourselves: through the Word and prayer--particularly the preaching and teaching of the Word. You quoted from Jude 1:20. There is not one verse in Jude about speaking in tongues. In fact there is not one verse outside the Book of Acts (3 examples), and one epistle (a rebuke), that speaks about tongues. No where else in the New Testament does it speak about tongues. But there are many books that speak about edification.
DHK

 

Paul corrected the abuse of the Lord's Table and then commanded us to keep it until when? He specifically said: "until the Lord comes again" That is how long we are to remember it. There is no confusion in his words.

There is no confusion in 1Cor.14:21,22 either. Tongues are for a sign to the unbelieving Jew. After that the sign would cease. The sign was prophetic spoken of in Isaiah 28. A sign does not continue for over 2000 years! That would negate the very definition of a sign. It was a sign to that generation of unbelieving Jews. It authenticated the gospel message to that generation. They did not believe. Judgement came. The sign ceased. It is as simple as that. During the time that the sign was in place, Paul gives some very strict restrictions under which tongues was to be used. They are outlined in 1Cor.14. People today very rarely keep any of them. Almost all of what he says were a rebuke to the Corinthians, and an encouragement to use their prophetic gift instead. It was prophecy that edified, not tongues. Tongues generated confusion; prophecy generated edification--therefore prophesy.
DHK

 

Carol, DHK took time to write his first post as well as most of his posts and I was thanking him for what he did. He probably has less time to post now because he is a moderator and has to read more. Anyway, because my posts are usaully "quick hits" I appreciate one that time was spent on. How you doing? btw. Hope all is well!

SMM, I have to agree with DHK again. We can edify ourselves no problem, but not with our spiritual gifts. ! cor. 12:7 says gifts are to edify the "body" and we must heed this teaching.

Paul said that he speaks tongues more the =n you all because he was the well known evangelist and went to the most foreign countries. In fact, he was speaking to just the church in Corinth and those people. Who knows who spoke more tongues between Paul and the other apostles and it doesn't matter because he was just making the point that speaking in tongues did not make him any better then anyone else. It is clear from Paul's overall tone that many Corinthian tongue speakers were exaulting and edifing themselves by using tongues (real or not real). Paul was saying "hey look, I speak tongues more then you so what, it doesn't make me great, what is really great is when we lift eachother up". 1 Cor. 14 has a fiesty tone to it.

Tongues was not a pattern througout the NT church or it would be mentioned way more often. It was a sign, it was a gift with a purpose that came up to warn the people of Isreal, just as Isaiah said it would. Prophecy fulfilled - sign ends, it is a simple concept.

SMM, the problem is that you have and do speak in tongues. To agree here is to admit you have been speaking gibberish that has not appealed to God like you thought it had. That would be a tough pill for anyone to swallow. I do not blame you for your position. Take care,

In Christ,
Brian

 

SMM, Are you saying that if you prayed in English rather then the language you did that God would not have answered the prayer in the same way?

If you were praying in Tongues for a specific need then you knew in your mind what you were saying, right? Have you are thought that if the gift was really happening with you that you may have said words that made no sense? Real tongues were always a real language.

I am not even sure what I am getting at here. I believe God saw the need at hand and answered the prayer of your heart not the outward language or perhaps gibberish that came out of your mouth.

God has and always will be a God of miracles. We agree there.

In Christ,
Brian

 

SMM, I am glad that you and your friends wife are doing OK and that God showed mercy on you. God still does work in wonderful ways.

Of course, this has nothing to do with the spiritual gift of tongues but it does help me understand your passion for tongues.

Thanks for sharing your experiences!!

In Christ,
Brian

 

My Pleasure, Brother!