1 Corinthians 12 states:
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.
1 John 4 states:
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world.
More often in this modern time and with the distractions of the worldly, the believer must confront that which is not of the Spirit of God. It is important that discernment become an integral part of the believer's living, and especially that impulse of leading that comes from God.
Be very careful in the area of tongues. Even in private prayer. God does not grow weary with one clarifying that the instruction and leading comes from Him. Challenge the "spirit." Discern that which is from God and that which is a doubtful copy.
On a personal level, I am not in league with the modern charisma which places great stock in the "gifts of tongues" as some indication of being in tune with God, or having some deeper understanding or even some more powerful anointment. To my knowledge, the OT does not present the prophetic messages given to humankind as having come through some heavenly language.
OFTEN the use of 1 Corinthians 13 to bolster "tongues" is used, but that isn't the emphasis of that portion, but a comparison of how useless a believer is without the very Love of God flowing through them.
It is well understood that some on the BB will disagree with me on this matter. At one time I would have disagreed with me, too, for that was what I had been taught, and I merely accepted that thinking.
Therefore, I would take this part of the post to further clarify my thinking to the BB.
First, I no longer accept as correct the thinking the "that which is perfect" is the completion of the cannon of Scriptures.
If Paul was indicating that cessation occurred with the giving of Scriptures and compilation into the cannon, then it follows that Paul
did not have complete understanding as an Apostle of what He was presenting to the Gentiles.
Does not Paul include himself in the "We" of "now
we see in a mirror dimly," and more, does he conclude a limit of his own accord with the "I" statement of , " now I know in part?"
Therefore, if the Apostle who wrote a large portion of letters to the churches that are consider Scriptures does not have complete understanding and knows only in part, then it follows that his writing (although Scripture) is also limited, and, as Peter said, "Hard to understand" in some matters.
John records a similar phenomena when told to not write down something he saw. Something that will occur and is not for our understanding at this time. Therefore, we know in part. We have limited understanding and knowing of even ourselves. With all the power of Scriptures, there is still a limit to understanding of even the depth of introspection.
One may state that the Scriptures are discerning and illuminating all areas of the heart and mind. However, even in that the Psalmist cries, "Search me, O God, and know..." The statement of Paul in the terms of what is known of even himself by himself is limited, for he states it in terms that as God knows him fully and that Paul will also be able to fully know himself and the relationship with God. That and all the living questions that go unanswered in this troubled place will be fully understood, just as God fully understands Paul at the writing: "then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known." Paul is (imo) STILL waiting for this to occur. It did not take place during his life, nor did it take place some centuries latter when the cannon was put together at a meeting.
When will believers be "face to face" with the Word, at what time will ALL knowledge be readily available, and when will we understand all about what has taken place in our living?
Beginning with the return of Christ for those believers who live through the tribulation, those who are rapture ready may determine to place the cessation at that time.
Some of us, like Paul, will be calling out, "How Long!" (that certainly isn't knowing as He knows) and waiting patiently for the grand return of the King of kings. For at THAT time, "when the perfect comes," there is no need of the tongues or of knowledge (learning), or of prophetic writings and attempts of discerning the prophets, for "the perfect" has begun.
Again, it is understood that some on the BB will reject my thinking on this matter. But, that is fair, for I have rejected theirs.