Part Two - The Gifts are Still for Today?
Continued from above post:
For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit [by the [d]Holy Spirit within me] prays, but my mind is unproductive [it bears no fruit and helps nobody]. (totally in agreement. NOTE, Paul doesn't say thes gift of tongues isn't impossible, but that it should be used productively to bear fruit).
Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit [by the [e]Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will also pray [intelligently] with my mind and understanding; I will sing with my spirit [by the Holy Spirit that is within me], but I will sing [intelligently] with my mind and understanding also. (It is quite clear that Paul prays and sings in the spirit, when alone).
Otherwise, if you bless and render thanks with [your] spirit [[f]thoroughly aroused by the Holy Spirit], how can anyone in the position of an outsider or he who is not gifted with [interpreting of unknown] tongues, say the Amen to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? (Agreed. The continued argument to keep prayer language in the privacy of your home).
To be sure, you may give thanks well (nobly), but the bystander is not edified [it does him no good]. I thank God that I speak in [strange] tongues (languages) more than any of you or all of you put together; (Is Paul admitting to speaking in strange tongues? I do believe he is! But then he explains when and how he utilizes this gift - like me- in private not public worship) Nevertheless, in public worship, I would rather say five words with my understanding and intelligently in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a [strange] tongue (language).
Brethren, do not be children [immature] in your thinking; continue to be babes in [matters of] evil, but in your minds be mature [men]. It is written in the Law, By men of strange languages and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and not even then will they listen to Me, says the Lord. Thus [unknown] tongues are meant for a [supernatural] sign (this is exactly what I've been saying all along, it is a supernatural gift for a supernatural purpose), not for believers but for unbelievers [on the point of believing], while prophecy (inspired preaching and teaching, interpreting the divine will and purpose) is not for unbelievers [on the point of believing] but for believers.
Therefore, if the whole church assembles and all of you speak in [unknown] tongues, and the ungifted and uninitiated or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are demented? But if all prophesy [giving inspired testimony and interpreting the divine will and purpose] and an unbeliever or untaught outsider comes in, he is told of his sin and reproved and convicted and convinced by all, and his defects and needs are examined (estimated, determined) and he is called to account by all,
(Here is the result of supernmatural prophesy from the above two verses) The secrets of his heart are laid bare; and so, falling on [his] face, he will worship God, declaring that God is among you in very truth.
What then, brethren, is [the right course]? When you meet together, each one has a hymn, a teaching, a disclosure of special knowledge or information, an utterance in a [strange] tongue, or an interpretation of it. [But] let everything be constructive and edifying and for the good of all (in my case it follows this course of action in order to not offend, or as I like to say, "To not bruise the fruit).
If some speak in a [strange] tongue, let the number be limited to two or at the most three, and each one [taking his] turn, and let one interpret and explain [what is said]. (Paul clearly doesn't state that tongues CAN'T be used in church, which is why he lays out rules for orderly use of tongues in church) But if there is no one to do the interpreting, let each of them keep still in church and talk to himself and to God. So let two or three prophets speak [those inspired to preach or teach], while the rest pay attention and weigh and discern what is said.
But if an inspired revelation comes to another who is sitting by, then let the first one be silent. For in this way you can give testimony [prophesying and thus interpreting the divine will and purpose] one by one, so that all may be instructed and all may be stimulated and encouraged; For the spirits of the prophets (the speakers in tongues) are under the speaker’s control [and subject to being silenced as may be necessary], For He [Who is the source of their prophesying] is not a God of confusion and disorder but of peace and order. As [is the practice] in all the churches of the saints (God’s people), The women should keep quiet in the churches, for they are not authorized to speak, but should take a secondary and subordinate place, just as the Law also says. (I should point out that the majority of my Baptist bretheran use this verse to keep women out of the pulpit. So if you use this verse, WHY are you willing to ignore the remainder of this text regarding tongues and porphesy? If it's good for the goose, it shoudl be good for the gander. You can't pick and choose folks). But if there is anything they want to learn, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to talk in church [[g]for her to usurp and exercise authority over men in the church].
What! Did the word of the Lord originate with you [Corinthians], or has it reached only you? If anyone thinks and claims that he is a prophet [filled with and governed by the Holy Spirit of God and inspired to interpret the divine will and purpose in preaching or teaching] or has any other spiritual endowment, let him understand (recognize and acknowledge) that what I am writing to you is a command of the Lord.
But if anyone disregards or does not recognize [[h]that it is a command of the Lord], he is disregarded and not recognized [he is one whom God knows not].
So [to conclude], my brethren, earnestly desire and set your hearts on prophesying (on being inspired to preach and teach and to interpret God’s will and purpose), and do not forbid or hinder speaking in [unknown] tongues.
But all things should be done with regard to decency and propriety and in an orderly fashion. (Again, everything I have presentd in my arguments in this OP have been to expain what, why and how I do what I do, i.e., 1) all I do is to lift up God, 2) lift up the people, 3) and I strictly adhere to the rules Paul lays out in the teaching of this chapeter from Corinthians, in an orderly, private fashion so not to bring undue attention to me or any gifts He's given me).
Finally, last but definietly not least - Paul writes in Eph. 6:12 (NASB) "For our struggle is not against [a]flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
For this reason, God has truly equipped us with supernatural gifts, and he never once state that tongues or prohesy ended, but rather continued, which is why he laid out a set plan of rules to keep those gifts in church so as to not turn off the church or turn the world away.
Nothing I do is done out of line with Paul's teaching. I am not saying I don't have a prayer language (but I also do not promote that YOU need one to prove yourself equipped for God), or use prophesy when I speak (which has no restrictions per Paul, in fact it is encouraged).
Some of you BB members may think it strange that I have received and used gifts that you believe are not allowed, yet I present to you one complete chapter and other texts, that allow for what I do, so the problem is not mine but yours.
I leave you with this text and a few extra translations of the text, to show that God is in fact preparing and equipping His church for the end of times:
New International Version (©1984)
"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
New Living Translation (©2007)
In the last days,' God says, 'I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.
English Standard Version (©2001)
“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
Shalom :type: