Tongues | The Fulfillment

All rights reserved "Lion tongue" by Doug Wheller

• Tongues | The Foundation
• Tongues | The Foreshadowing
• Tongues | The Fulfillment
• Tongues | The Facts
• Tongues | The Familiar

Tongues What's that about?

1 Corinthians 12

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant

The Gifts of the Spirit

There are several lists in the New Testament about gifts; they do not speak about the same thing or to the same people. Neither are any of the lists meant to be exclusive or all encompassing. Rather, these are to give us some functional insight into the common ways God works in our lives… while leaving room for God to be God outside his box.

The primary section in all the bible commonly studied for The Gift of Tongues is 1 Corinthians 12-14. As we've seen from Part 1 and Part 2 of this study, it's not anywhere near the only place it's mentioned. But this section of scripture is dedicated by Paul to address this topic of Tongues and the other gifts of the Spirit. We will dive in and take it all apart and look at it on the inside…

But first, we must take a step back, and see the big picture.

Paul is addressing the Church of Corinth. These are a wild bunch. Prone to wild things. These are the ones that Paul had to dress down in chapter 5 for having a person who had taken his father's wife. This is a wild bunch. They are excited about this Tongues deal and the other gifts. Paul makes a VERY important statement here.

1 Corinthians 12

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant

There is no excuse to be ignorant of spiritual gifts in this day and age. We not only have the bible, and 2,000 years of Church history. We have, in the last 100 plus years have had more people walking in the miracle powers of God at one time than in the history of the world.

Starting from the day Martin Luther posted his statement that men are saved by Faith, God has been restoring the basics of Christian Living to the Body of Christ one revelation at a time.

Slowly but surely, Religion is being cast out for the evil spirit it is and replaced with the simple truths of God's Word.

As Jesse Duplantis often says: "It takes a good theologian to help you misunderstand the bible."

So, we have no excuse to be ignorant. There are many great teachers of the Word. There are many who walk in these gifts in varying degrees today. Find someone who does and learn from them.

This set of chapters (1 Corinthians 12-14) can be divided into sections.

• Admonition to not be willing ignorant of this subject.
• Origin - Chapter 12 primarily addresses the origin and power of the gifts and put’s them forth in a list.
• Power - Chapter 13 speaks about where the true power in these gifts is found; In Love.
• Effectiveness/Use - Chapter 14 goes on to break down the one on one aspects, personal prayer, and more on group dynamics.

All In All

One of my favorite scriptures in the bible, 1 Corinthians 12:6, settles forever any lingering debate in my mind that any of the gifts, especially Tongues, were for some people and not for others. The same God works ALL IN ALL.

All means all, and that's all "all" means.

That means that all the gifts are worked in all the people. However it’s clear from the rest of the book that the Corinthians were using this to their ruin by having all the people speaking in Tongues all the time. The very fact that they were all doing this is evidence that it's available to all people.

No gift, by itself, meets all the needs of the people present. Therefore, in a group/ministry setting, no gift should be used exclusive unto itself without the others. This is why in chapter 14, verse 26 Paul concludes the three chapter section by saying that all of the gifts should be used, a few at a time, for the whole church to be edified. Fittingly and in order.

Lists and More Lists

There are many “gift” lists in the New Testament. Some writers simply dump everything that mentions the word “gift” into one box and call them all the same thing. But the bible puts these lists in separate places on their own because they are different things.

So let us take a look at these lists briefly. A note to make, it’s quite simple to understand these lists if you actually read the whole section. Each list is found within a context (leadership, body of Christ, etc). Each list begins by a brief description of it’s content and intent.

Here is a another great article on this topic: http://iblp.org/questions/what-are-three-categories-spiritual-gifts

Manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

1Cor 12:7-11 gives us a specific list of nine gifts. Paul calls these the manifestations of the Holy Spirit. What does that mean? The Holy Spirit is always there, he’s everywhere. But He isn’t always physically noticeably there. When HolySpirit shows up in a way that can be tangible He brings certain characteristics with Him to the environment.

Just as when a grumpy person shows up they bring a certain atmosphere with them, and when a cheerful person shows up they bring a certain atmosphere with them. “Manifestations of the Holy Spirit” means that when the Holy Spirit shows up, He is likely going to bring these primary characteristics with him. He works all of them. They are His gifts to His people. He may work some or all. He works out what, who, and when. It will always be in His order. And you can’t truly have them without Him involved.

1 Corinthians 12

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

Motivational Gifts | Appointments - God's Gifts To The Church

There are a slightly different set of gifts mentioned later in chapter 12. This list is specifically addressing appointed gifts. These are not the random things that may happen in the midst of a service or gathering, these are gifts given to certain ones. These are the things people are gifted to BE not just DO.

These are appointments within the Church body, which Paul just got finished expounding upon. Some people are called to take the gifts of the Spirit listed earlier and the Word of God and add their supply to the Church in a more official capacity. These gifts are located here.

1 Corinthians 12

28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.

Ministry Position Gifts: Leadership roles of the Church

These gifts are also listed in a more specific list in Ephesians 4. This list however is specifically referring to the leadership gifts. These five positions: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, and Teacher are given specifically to the entire body of Christ as the ones charged with preparing them for the work of ministry and helping them grow up and mature.

Notice here that it is the BODY OF CHRIST that should be ministering and the ministry gifts are given to prepare them for it. So often, especially in the USA, we consider “Ministers” as the ones who are hired to do full time ministry. These are the ones who make their living writing books and preaching. But that’s not the bible definition, really. We are all ministers. The writing and the preaching is supposed to be preparing the Body of Christ in the USA to minister. Church services are classrooms. Real Life ministry should be taking place, mostly, outside the Church. Malls, Stores, Grocery Shopping, Elevators… that’s where the majority of the healing, salvations, etc ought to be taking place.

  

Ephesians 4:7-16

7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8 Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." 9 (Now this, "He ascended"--what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ-- 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Measure of GRACE-Charis(ma):

Paul starts this section off by talking about the Body of Christ. Just as before. Here he tells us to be sober in our self-judgment or self-evaluation. This has been abused by preachers and people to think that you should beat yourself up and call yourself a dog. This type of teaching is contrary to the teaching of this verse. We should be sober, not emotional or lead by outside influences, in our evaluation of who we are and what we do. This means we should not think more lowly of ourselves OR more highly. We throw out our opinion of ourselves altogether and replace it with God’s opinion of us. Which by the way, is much higher than our own usually.

Then we see that we are given grace/gifting to do these things. All of these things are things we, as the body, should be doing. However when we do them, we should do them at the level and ability we have developed through God. Some are called and gifted more highly in a specific area than an another. It is the GRACE of God that is the primary subject of this section of scripture not the gifts. It is this GRACE which should be on our minds as we do everything we do. We all have these gifts, but these gifts are going to differ in their function in us according to the level of GRACE we walk in.

GRACE can be defined as God’s supernatural ability. The word GRACE in verse 3 is Charis (GRACE). The words used during the rest of the chapter translated gifts are Charis-ma (Gracious Gifts), this is from the root of Charis. This is all talking about the same thing. This list is a list of the ways GRACE can operate through us, and how the measure of our understanding of GRACE we walk in, determines how well we walk in these gifts.

Therefore, if you teach, teach with GRACE on your mind. If you give, give liberally, because of the GRACE of God on your life. If you show mercy, do it with cheerfulness. Why? Because there are people who give mercy and forgiveness with a frown on their face. “I’ll forgive but I won’t forget!”, they say. However that is not forgiveness. Jesus tells us about the man who was forgiven much and chose to punish someone who owed him little. That man wasn’t walking in the GRACE he received.

Romans 12:3-13

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

Cultivate The Gifts

Paul encourages us several times throughout 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14 to desire and seek the gifts of God. Each of us should be ready at a moments notice to be used of the Holy Spirit in these gifts for the building up of the Body of Christ. However, if you haven’t spent your time praying and cultivating yourself in the Love of God and GRACE of Jesus you are not as likely going to be ready to be used in these ways.

These scriptures, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Romans 12, and Ephesians 4, are the primary places that list out gifts. The word “gift” or “gifts” can be found many other places, and a thorough study of all of those could be interesting. The main point here is to remember what these lists pertain to in context for a proper understanding of who they pertain to and how to cultivate them.

*

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And now I leave you with a question:

So... what are your thoughts about this? What did this make you think about? 

Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe or on Google +DarrellWolfe

By Darrell Wolfe

• New Here? Start HERE
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• Get My Book: "Banking Basics for Believers", which guides you through the basics of banking and money from a Christian Perspective. 

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Tongues | The Foreshadowing

All rights reserved "Lion tongue" by Doug Wheller

Tongues | The Foundation

Tongues | The Foreshadowing

Tongues | The Fulfillment

Tongues | The Facts

Tongues | The Familiar

.

Tongues What's that about?

1 Corinthians 12

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant

The Foundation of this Study

So many people have undertaken to write on this topic. Over the years I've picked up a little here, and a little there. Much of the teaching out there on this is decent, most if it rubbish.  


So I've decided to add my study to this hotly debated and intriguing topic as well. I've been studying this subject ever since I was young. But I really started a focused study on the subject in 2003 after I started speaking in tongues myself. I grew up on one side of the debate and now stand on the other. 


I grew up in denominations that taught that the gifts had passed away, or maybe never even happened, or were just stories. I spent time in other churches in my teens. I heard that tongues were of the devil. I heard that tongues were from God, but that only certain people could have them. I heard that those who had them should keep it to their home and not bring it out in public. I heard that any public use of them should always be with an interpreter, but mysteriously there was NEVER an occasion where tongues had an interpreter. Interpreting seemed to be an even rarer gift, as it was totally absent from the churches I learned these things from.

• How did they know so much if they'd never seen or used it? 
  

Thus the debate raged on, and I was left to wonder with amazement. Until one day in 2003 I actually met some people who spoke in tongues. They did so freely and unashamed. I was amazed. Thus I began my search for the truth.

One day I returned to the church I was attending as a "Tongue Talker".
 

They said: "We always knew you were too charismatic for this group".
 

I took that as a compliment. 

 
I will go on record and say that anyone who writes on this subject who doesn't speak themselves in tongues has no great authority to speak on this subject. It's not that it's impossible that they would have something to add, some insight or observation. But... Would you take pilot lessons or read a manual about flying written/performed by someone who's never flown?
 
No!


Therefore, I would take anything you read about any of the Gifts of the Spirit from an author who doesn't do them with a dose of skepticism, or distance. 


Let me also add to this that I am not THE authority on the subject.


There are many things to this day I don't understand. Some things I have grown more and more sure of as the years pass by.
 
Other things I still question…


So I may learn something along with you in this study.


I reserve the right to be wrong. That is the only honest opinion of one who is still seeking Truth (which we all should be). If I need to be corrected, there is One who can correct me, and the people who are tools He uses to bring that correction. I'm open to understanding this better than I do today.

If you are not reading this because you honestly want the truth... turn it off.
 
Don't bother.


If you want to add something to the study you think I've missed, hit me up on social media, or email Me@DarrellWolfe.Com. I will consider with prayer any comments or emails that are tasteful, well thought through, and spoken in LOVE.


Having said that. Let us begin…


 

In The Beginning

Ever since Peter stood among a group of 120 believers in Jerusalem there has been debate about what this is and what it isn't. So what is this about? When the first 120 people were speaking with tongues in Jerusalem there were divided reactions. Some people thought there was something wondrous happening from God. Others figured these people were just drunk. And thus the first debate over the nature and origin of tongues was fired in the first few minutes.
 
Satan has been fighting tongues ever since, so they must be fairly important!


 

Acts 2

11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

 
To speak about Tongues in any holistic sense we must talk about all its aspects and references. Contrary to popular teaching tongues is not a New Testament phenomena. However, like all the gifts, it didn't flourish until the New Testament.

Let us first take a look at God's order of things. This is important. Without understanding the importance of Words to God, one has no proper framework by which to understand such a controversial and strange topic. 

The Word of God (or God's Words)

In Genesis 1 we see an interesting pattern. God is creating the earth. The bible could record that God got down and formed the earth with his hands, had angels do the work, or any number of things. What it records, however, is that He did it with Words.

He Said… He Saw…
 

God created the world from Words. Romans 4 tells us that God's pattern is to call things that are not, as though they are, thus creating them to be. That is how God does things. So Words are God's tool. Hebrews 11:3 tells us that:
 

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
 

He did not create the world from nothing, he created it from invisible things that create visible things. His Words, full of Energy and Life. Einstein informed us that matter converts to energy and energy converts to matter. So it should not surprise a student of modern Physics that God (who is light/energy/power itself) can release himself into the void and convert that energy into matter.

John Chapter One goes on to confirm that not only are God's WORDS important to Him, but that His own Son is His Word. Jesus was the embodiment of His Word. It was Jesus speaking the heart of God into the void, and the Holy Spirit empowering that speech, which created all known matter. The three in one, in perfect harmony.


When we see Adam created, he is given something no other creation way: speech.
 
He created a "speaking spirit like God." Does that mean that man is god? No. It does mean that man is like God. God created man in His Image and His Likeness. God is a spirit and man is a spirit. Man has the ability to speak just like God has the ability to speak. Parrots can use words, but they can't carry a conversation. That is because they were not created to be speaking spirits, only man was.


Why is this important when talking about tongues?
 
Because Tongues are God's Words in our mouths.
 
When we speak the Words of God, the same power and force are in them, that were in the Word of Jesus when He created this earth, when he said Lazarus Come Forth, when He said "No man shall eat fruit of thee" and the tree withered and died. The same power and force can be in our words…
 
But it isn't always… For most modern men and women that power is either absent, as water from a dried river bed; or, it is diluted. Like watered down soda, which has lost both its taste, and vibrant effervescence.
 
How it got that way, why, and what's changed...

That's another story. Let's continue along in history… next time.



Until Then #BeStillBeLed?


---

And now I leave you with a question:

 

So... Do you speak in Tongues? Why/Why Not? What are your thoughts?

Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe or on Google +DarrellWolfe

By Darrell Wolfe

• Got Jesus?
• About This Blog, and Darrell. 
• Book Suggestions
• Suggestions for other: Bloggers, Authors, Ministries, Thought Leaders, and More
• My Tool Box: suggestions for some of the tools I've used in my journey.

Read more →

Parables | Stories | Word Pictures

Teaching Through Stories

So yesterday @GatewayPeople (+gatewaychurchtv ) Pastor Robert Morris taught about Jesus "The Teacher".

The Teacher | Service | 7 | Jesus | A Gateway Series | Robert Morris | 28:44 | 04/18/2015
Pastor Robert continues the Jesus series with a message titled, “The Teacher,” where he explains how Jesus is a great teacher and why His teachings were so compelling and powerful. 

Matthew 13:54, 22:33; John 7:32, 45–46 , Matthew 7:28–29 

He mentioned how nearly all of Jesus messages were based in Stories and Word Pictures. This was in comparison to the teachers of the day, who taught dry, disjointed, rule-based teachings. One person noted that the volumes of teaching from Israel's Rabbi's were the longest, drying, most boring, disjointed ramblings ever recorded. Yet, here was Jesus, and people would come from miles and miles, follow Him into deserted places, just to hear him speak.

What caused them to want to listen? He taught in stories and word pictures. This has been a theme for me this year, as God has been dealing with me to delve into creative writing (fiction and possibly story based song writing (like some of Garth Brooks best stuff)).

So if you start to hear/read more stories from me on this blog... this was your advanced notice that it was coming.

#BeStillBeLed?


---

And now I leave you with a question:

 

So... what is the most POWERFUL story you've ever heard/read? 

Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe or on Google +DarrellWolfe

By Darrell Wolfe

• Got Jesus?
• About This Blog, and Darrell. 
• Book Suggestions
• Suggestions for other: Bloggers, Authors, Ministries, Thought Leaders, and More
• My Tool Box: suggestions for some of the tools I've used in my journey.

Read more →

Tongues | The Foundation

All rights reserved "Lion tongue" by Doug Wheller

Tongues | The Foundation

Tongues | The Foreshadowing

Tongues | The Fulfillment

Tongues | The Facts

Tongues | The Familiar

.

Tongues What's that about?

1 Corinthians 12

1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant

The Foundation of this Study

So many people have undertaken to write on this topic. Over the years I've picked up a little here, and a little there. Much of the teaching out there on this is decent, most if it rubbish.  


So I've decided to add my study to this hotly debated and intriguing topic as well. I've been studying this subject ever since I was young. But I really started a focused study on the subject in 2003 after I started speaking in tongues myself. I grew up on one side of the debate and now stand on the other. 


I grew up in denominations that taught that the gifts had passed away, or maybe never even happened, or were just stories. I spent time in other churches in my teens. I heard that tongues were of the devil. I heard that tongues were from God, but that only certain people could have them. I heard that those who had them should keep it to their home and not bring it out in public. I heard that any public use of them should always be with an interpreter, but mysteriously there was NEVER an occasion where tongues had an interpreter. Interpreting seemed to be an even rarer gift, as it was totally absent from the churches I learned these things from.

• How did they know so much if they'd never seen or used it? 
  

Thus the debate raged on, and I was left to wonder with amazement. Until one day in 2003 I actually met some people who spoke in tongues. They did so freely and unashamed. I was amazed. Thus I began my search for the truth.

One day I returned to the church I was attending as a "Tongue Talker".
 

They said: "We always knew you were too charismatic for this group".
 

I took that as a compliment. 

 
I will go on record and say that anyone who writes on this subject who doesn't speak themselves in tongues has no great authority to speak on this subject. It's not that it's impossible that they would have something to add, some insight or observation. But... Would you take pilot lessons or read a manual about flying written/performed by someone who's never flown?
 
No!


Therefore, I would take anything you read about any of the Gifts of the Spirit from an author who doesn't do them with a dose of skepticism, or distance. 


Let me also add to this that I am not THE authority on the subject.


There are many things to this day I don't understand. Some things I have grown more and more sure of as the years pass by.
 
Other things I still question…


So I may learn something along with you in this study.


I reserve the right to be wrong. That is the only honest opinion of one who is still seeking Truth (which we all should be). If I need to be corrected, there is One who can correct me, and the people who are tools He uses to bring that correction. I'm open to understanding this better than I do today.

If you are not reading this because you honestly want the truth... turn it off.
 
Don't bother.


If you want to add something to the study you think I've missed, hit me up on social media, or email Me@DarrellWolfe.Com. I will consider with prayer any comments or emails that are tasteful, well thought through, and spoken in LOVE.


Having said that. Let us begin…


 

In The Beginning

Ever since Peter stood among a group of 120 believers in Jerusalem there has been debate about what this is and what it isn't. So what is this about? When the first 120 people were speaking with tongues in Jerusalem there were divided reactions. Some people thought there was something wondrous happening from God. Others figured these people were just drunk. And thus the first debate over the nature and origin of tongues was fired in the first few minutes.
 
Satan has been fighting tongues ever since, so they must be fairly important!


 

Acts 2

11 Cretans and Arabs--we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God." 12 So they were all amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "Whatever could this mean?" 13 Others mocking said, "They are full of new wine." 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words. 15 For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

 
To speak about Tongues in any holistic sense we must talk about all its aspects and references. Contrary to popular teaching tongues is not a New Testament phenomena. However, like all the gifts, it didn't flourish until the New Testament.

Let us first take a look at God's order of things. This is important. Without understanding the importance of Words to God, one has no proper framework by which to understand such a controversial and strange topic. 

The Word of God (or God's Words)

In Genesis 1 we see an interesting pattern. God is creating the earth. The bible could record that God got down and formed the earth with his hands, had angels do the work, or any number of things. What it records, however, is that He did it with Words.

He Said… He Saw…
 

God created the world from Words. Romans 4 tells us that God's pattern is to call things that are not, as though they are, thus creating them to be. That is how God does things. So Words are God's tool. Hebrews 11:3 tells us that:
 

By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
 

He did not create the world from nothing, he created it from invisible things that create visible things. His Words, full of Energy and Life. Einstein informed us that matter converts to energy and energy converts to matter. So it should not surprise a student of modern Physics that God (who is light/energy/power itself) can release himself into the void and convert that energy into matter.

John Chapter One goes on to confirm that not only are God's WORDS important to Him, but that His own Son is His Word. Jesus was the embodiment of His Word. It was Jesus speaking the heart of God into the void, and the Holy Spirit empowering that speech, which created all known matter. The three in one, in perfect harmony.


When we see Adam created, he is given something no other creation way: speech.
 
He created a "speaking spirit like God." Does that mean that man is god? No. It does mean that man is like God. God created man in His Image and His Likeness. God is a spirit and man is a spirit. Man has the ability to speak just like God has the ability to speak. Parrots can use words, but they can't carry a conversation. That is because they were not created to be speaking spirits, only man was.


Why is this important when talking about tongues?
 
Because Tongues are God's Words in our mouths.
 
When we speak the Words of God, the same power and force are in them, that were in the Word of Jesus when He created this earth, when he said Lazarus Come Forth, when He said "No man shall eat fruit of thee" and the tree withered and died. The same power and force can be in our words…
 
But it isn't always… For most modern men and women that power is either absent, as water from a dried river bed; or, it is diluted. Like watered down soda, which has lost both its taste, and vibrant effervescence.
 
How it got that way, why, and what's changed...

That's another story. Let's continue along in history… next time.



Until Then #BeStillBeLed?


---

And now I leave you with a question:

 

So... Do you speak in Tongues? Why/Why Not? What are your thoughts?

Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe or on Google +DarrellWolfe

By Darrell Wolfe

• Got Jesus?
• About This Blog, and Darrell. 
• Book Suggestions
• Suggestions for other: Bloggers, Authors, Ministries, Thought Leaders, and More
• My Tool Box: suggestions for some of the tools I've used in my journey.

Read more →

Superheros with Divine Calling

Hungering, Thirsting, Yearning.... for the supernatural! 

There is a rising tide… a growing dissatisfaction with status quo. People (all people not just born again ones) are becoming thirsty for more of the spiritual realities that we are surrounded by, if only vaguely aware of. The growth and rapid demand for movies about super heroes, supernatural, witchcraft, mysticism, etc… these are signs of this corporate cultural thirst.

There are multiple sci-fi series in which mankind is experiencing a leap in evolution and this results in super powers (think Alphas or X-Men). The increase in Zombie films derives from this same thirst, but for the unbelievers this thirst often turns to fear. This is also where End of the World movies come from as well. Aliens are becoming common place in our entertainment, as Satan is starting to build his case to explain the soon coming mass disappearance of earth citizens.

Recently, I was listening to the John Batchelor Show in which he was interviewing Walter Hunt, author of “Elements of the Mind”. This secular novel follows the concept of Mesmerism; the idea of people who could control others with their mind power, often through spirits helping them.

I was pondering a recent conversation I had with my friend Allen about the rise of the prophetic ministry among average Christians, while I heard John Batchelor talk on the radio… it occurred to me, rather soberingly, that people are being sucked into this stuff, in part, because we (the Body of Christ) have not been out there showing them another way.

We’re so busy having church meetings that we’re not creating entertainment based books, sitcoms, and movies that feed this thirst with truth. In the absence of truth, we are left with the lies. When we do bother to create entertainment it's so chalk full of "preachyness" that it's unpalatable to the non-believer (think most of the work done by Kirk Cameron). 

I'd imagine that a few non-believers got tricked into watching these sermons in disguise we've created in the last 30 years, and a few of those might even have been changed by them, and don't get me wrong. I'm grateful that someone is out there creating something, so I'm not again Kirk Cameron's work. What I am saying is we need to start being "wise as serpents, harmless as doves". 

It's time we find a balance in our creative works between Lord of the Rings, which is great entertainment but doesn't often lead to non-believers knowing God, and Pilgrims Progress which is amazingly deep for the unbeliever but won't be read by many non-believers.

There must be a way to feed the mass thirst with the entertainment they desire, while feeding their sole with truth... then quietly leading those who have found that need met to the side for an open and honest conversation (and not a preachy sermon), leading them to The King himself.

It's not my job to get people saved, but it is my job to lead people to the Savior and let them talk with Him. I can't do that if they are turned off before I had a chance to open the conversation.

So how do we strike this balance? I'm not really sure. I have some ideas, I'm playing with it now on the side. But I have not found that road map.

Any ideas? Thoughts?

In the meantime I will #BeStillBeLed!


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And now I leave you with a question:

 

So... what are your thoughts about this? What did this make you think about? Do you have a portion of that road map? 

Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe or on Google +DarrellWolfe

By Darrell Wolfe

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God cares what you wear, but not for the reason you think.

God's Opinion vs God's Will

Several times in my life, I've heard someone say that God doesn't care what you where today; that the will of God is not that precise. Just pick something and go with it. Although there may be an element of truth to that, I don't think that paints an accurate and complete picture.

No. The will of God is not so precise, that if you don't pick just the right outfit you'll miss the will of God for your life today. In all but the most unusual circumstances, I doubt that would be the case.

Yes. God does care what you wear today.

Men, doesn't your wife? I know that I could wear anything I want, but if I ask my wife what I should wear she'll have an opinion that day. God cares more about the details of my life than my wife does.

That is the real heart of the issue. It's about relationship. He'll have an opinion for the day. If you ask, He'll give you His opinion. It's just one more element of that relationship He's been trying to develop with you, while your so busy running around doing life.

So, stop, listen, interact... #BeStillBeLed?


---

And now I leave you with a question:

 

So... what is the most surprising thing God's ever told you?  

Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe or on Google +DarrellWolfe

By Darrell Wolfe

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Can you lose your salvation? The Eternal Debate

For those who don't want the long drawn out study, here is my short answer: 

Q:      Can you lose your salvation? 

A:      No. Jesus paid the price that you never could, which covered your past, present, and future from all sin. You cannot lose your salvation; you cannot behave or think badly enough to lose it by failure or sin. John 10:27-30 NKJV

Caveat:      In very rare circumstances, someone who was very close to Jesus, Baptized in the Holy Spirit, living a life bathed in the miraculous... can, by an act of their will, choose to reject Jesus to the point that they cannot be brought back to repentance. In essence, this person says "To Heck with Jesus, and everything he stands for." This person is not an atheist, he is like Satan himself, who knows God and Jesus intimately and willfully chose to reject the authority of God and walk away forever. If this was you; you wouldn't care what the answer to this question is because you wouldn't WANT to be saved; neither would you be afraid of loosing your salvation. It's not that this person cannot be saved, or lost their salvation... it's that this person rejected their salvation and declined it knowing full well what they were doing. This person did not accidentally do it. They can be saved, but they refuse to be brought to repentance. Hebrews 6:1-10 NKJV

If you care about your salvation, if you are afraid of not going to heaven... you are NOT the person described in the caveat above. All you need to do is believe that Jesus died for you, and ask Him to be our Lord.

* If you want a more detailed answer to this question, I have outlined it at the last of the five points studied below. 

Since the 1,600's, people have been taking sides in the Calvin/Arminian Debate. 

Reading over the Five Points of both arguments, I'm inclined to disagree with certain points on both sides based on incorrect definitions. I'd like to take a close look at these five points, define them, and explore them.

1. Free Will vs God's Sovereignty
2. Election: Conditional vs Unconditional
3. Universal Redemption vs Specific Redemption
4. Holy Spirit's Calling: Resistible or Irresistible? 
5. Salvation Can Be Lost: Yes or No?
1. But what about the "Unpardonable Sin"? 

Now, for the deeper dive look at this topic. 

Free Will vs God's Sovereignty

Some scholars assume that men were so broken that they couldn't even choose God if they wanted to. God makes the choice for them, and it only looks like free will, but isn't really free will. However, this is contrary to the entire point of the biblical narrative.

The ability of choice is the chief difference between mankind and all other creation, including Angels. God made man in His Image, with the ability to choose and create. In Genesis 2 and 3, we see God place Mankind in the earth with perfection all around them. However, we see God place before them one choice. We also see God did not prevent Satan from speaking to them. God did not attempt to control their choice.

God was not interested in robots, He was interested in a family with real (mutual) Love. Again, and again he presents people with choice. In Deut 30:19; we see Him say "I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live..." God gives us choice, tells us which choice is the one that bears Life and Death, and then suggests we choose Life. But He refuses to make that choice for us. 

In Revelations 3:20; Jesus is speaking to the Church (not unbelievers) when he says "I stand at the door an knock..." You can hear His heart; "I am a Gentleman. I will not force you to love me, or obey me. But I want to come in, and fellowship with you, and love you. Please let me in." It's the hearts cry of a lover. But He will respect your choice, even if it means letting you choose hell over Him.

Why is there evil in the world? Why do bad things happen? How can a Good God let bad things happen?

It is the element of Free Will that the entire story of the history of the world is based on. There would be no evil without free will. Men Do Evil; therefore, if God was controlling the acts and decision of man, it would mean that God was evil because he was making them do evil. Men often blame God for evil; they call a storm an "Act of God".

Now, God has all power, all knowledge, and ultimately controls and influences the outcomes of world events, as well as some personal ones. As Father, he is keenly interested in the smallest moment of your day. He is willing to use His power to see that you get a particular type of food for your lunch one day, just because He loves you! One only need read the end of the book of Job to catch a glimpse of the power and mind of God.

However, He chooses to intervene in a person's life up to, but not including, their free will decision. He will not intervene if you asked him not to, or didn't invite Him to be a part. The only instance I see where God interrupts a person's free will is when He does so to prevent them from acting upon another's. Even then, I only see that happening when there is a human intercessor making the request (Ezekiel 22:30), or where He is engaged in an active (two-way) relationship with that person He is protecting. 

Conclusion:

• God is Sovereign; and He made a Sovereign choice to limit Himself  at Man's Free Will. 

Election: Conditional vs Unconditional

Both Calvin and Arminian camps assume that God "Elected Certain Individuals"; however, come to different conclusions as to why/how this process took place. I reject the idea that he chose/elected certain individuals at all.

There are plenty of scriptures that speak of God's Election of certain people. What is that about?

1 Peter 1:2 references this when he says "...To the pilgrims of the Dispersion... elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father..." So what does this mean?

It means that God is outside of time and space. It's not just that he was with Abraham 1,000's of years ago. He is with him 1,000's of years ago right this very moment; even as He is with you now, and is with you 1,000 years from now (in heaven).

Right this moment, God is having a conversation with you next week. He transcends time. God knows all. Therefore, of course God knew who would reject Him. That doesn't mean He made their choice for them. It also doesn't mean that He would not gladly take them in if they were to change their mind and make a new choice for Him (Saul to Paul).

The word "elect" refers to someone who was the recipient of choice. I elect Bob to be president (I cast my vote for him). God's choice was for all mankind to be saved, and therefore he chose us. But he leaves the choice in our hands. He presented us with a ballot "Life" or "Death". For those who voted for LIFE, they elected LIFE.

I elected to accept that gift. I am the elect.


Conclusion:

• The fact is that God's Choice/Election is for all men to be saved. All were chosen, and those who elected to respond are the elect.

Universal Redemption vs Specific Redemption

Jesus stated, (John 12:47-48) that He did not come to judge the world, but to save it; and those would be judged would not be judged for sin, but for rejecting Jesus.

Paul stated that Jesus came to save sinners (1 Tim 1:15), implying ALL sinners. Peter (2 Peter 3:9) informed us that the Lord is not delaying his promise; but he is waiting until more come into the fold. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (LIFE). That settles forever any question of God's will in Salvation. God's will is that all men be saved.

There can be no doubt that the very idea that God would choose some to be saved and some to be damned is from the pit of hell itself. God saved the world. John 3 makes it clear that Jesus came to save the whole world; and that the state of the saved depends on the choice of the person to believe (accept) or not believe (reject) that offer.

1 Corinthians 1:21 NKJV
21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

Conclusion:

• God's choice is for everyone to be saved; and, Man must choose. 

Holy Spirit's Calling: Resistible or Irresistible? 

So this is a simple question:

Can you resist HolySpirit? 

There may be at least 17 scriptures that say you can (here). Ephesians 4 tells us that we can Grieve HolySpirit. Acts 7:51 tells us that we can resist HolySpirit. This very question takes us back to the free will question. Do we have free will, or are we just robots with "apparent free will"? If you read the section above, Free Will is Free Will. Period.


Conclusion: 

• Yes, HolySpirit can be resisted. 

Salvation Can Be Lost: Yes or No?

In Foundations of Freedom, by Gateway Church Southlake TX, this topic is covered in some very interesting ways. I suggest you take time and watch these courses on their website (here). In the Garden of Eden, mankind was presented with two choices "LIFE" vs .... if you thought I was going to say "DEATH"... not quite.

Life vs Knowledge

We are the branches, HE is the vine (John 15:15). Life is not defined as breathing air and beating heart. In fact, if you are a believer in Jesus, and your body stops breathing air and pumping blood, you will experience LIFE on a deeper level than you ever could have imagined. Life is the essence of God. God is LIFE. It is his Spirit, flowing in and through us, like power from a socket through a cord, that makes LIFE. Yes, this LIFE impacts the physical world, but it is not physical in nature.

When Adam ate the fruit of Knowledge, he died. Instantly, not 900 years later, instantly. He disconnected from LIFE, and connected instead to Knowledge. When you are connected to LIFE you don't have to learn something, you need only start to form the question, and you know the answer instantly. You don't have to work out the equation, you know the answer and solution. It comes to you, through LIFE.

When Adam connected to Knowledge, he was forced to survive on his physical senses, and ability to reason. This is why human systems don't function perfectly. We build them from our limited perspective and reasoning.

Religion = Knowledge

Religion - Man makes systems of rules and ideas about God based on his reasoning and experience. Religion is about knowledge. Do X,Y, and Z. Don't do A, B, and C. We assume that knowledge of bad makes us do bad things. So we assume that a better knowledge of good will help us do good things. This is why the world, especially secularists, are so intense about education. They assume that if we could only give people better knowledge it would prevent and reduce crime (doing bad).

Hitler was surrounded by scientists who had knowledge. Some of the worst regimes in the world have leaders with PhD's. Better knowledge will never equal better behavior, only more advanced versions of bad behavior.

Jesus = LIFE

When Jesus took the law "you shall not murder", and expanded that to say "if you hate your brother you are guilty of murder"... He was not trying to get us to a higher level of performance. He was not attempting to say "you aren't doing it good enough, here's more rules", or "Here's a better knowledge of good".

Jesus did not come to give us a better knowledge of good. 

Jesus came (John 10:10) to give LIFE and LIFE more abundantly! Jesus came to restore the problem caused by Adam. Jesus came to disconnect us from our knowledge (reason and experience based decisions) and reconnect us to LIFE.

What's the point? How does this connect to "Can I loose my salvation?" 

At the heart of a question like "Can I loose my salvation?" is a deeper question; "Can I behave or think badly enough to lose my salvation?" The answer is no. Sin was never about your behavior or thoughts to begin with. Your behavior and thoughts were a symptom of sin, which was a result of being connected to Knowledge and disconnected from LIFE.

Once you are connected to LIFE, you cannot accidentally loose that LIFE. When Jesus said he came to give us LIFE and LIFE more abundantly... He was cluing us in to another secret. Life can be had in differing quantities.

LIFE: A little dab will do ya!

Just a little dab of LIFE will re-create your human spirit, cause you to be born again, and you are (right then - feel it or not) saved. You can get more LIFE and may experience a "Baptism in the HolySpirit". You can keep connecting to life and keep getting that baptism several times a day if you need. You keep filling up, like a tree drinking water from a stream.

The more life you have flowing through you, the more your behavior and thoughts will be "auto-corrected", like a spell checker for your soul. If you are dissatisfied with your current behavior or thoughts... stop trying to change them. Just spend your time connecting to LIFE himself, and they will change as a by-product.

It is possible for someone to be rebellious and still saved (in fact if we are to be honest, as long as we live on this version of earth we are all rebellious to varying degrees).

Can I be living in sin, alcoholism, sexual addition, same-sex relationships, etc... and still be saved?

Yes.

But the more you connect with LIFE the more you will find yourself disconnecting from the things the LIFE did not give you.

You cannot behave or think badly enough to "lose your salvation". Jesus' LOVE is unconditional. His offer to give LIFE to anyone who asks for it is open and free. He did not ask you to change before coming to him, and He does not ask you to change after coming to Him. He does promise that as you connect to him, whatever change you require will happen as a result and by-product of connecting to His LIFE (not through your effort = religion).

John 10:27-30 NKJV

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. 30 I and My Father are one."

Gateway Church (Southlake TX) Position Paper on Salvation.

Can I Lose My Salvation?
No believer can presume on God’s grace or His goodness by choosing to live after himself or his own desires. After all Christ did for us, we are encouraged and admonished to passionately pursue Him and to bear much fruit (John 15:8). For those who have received Christ and who evidence the Holy Spirit’s fruit in their life, we affirm that their salvation is eternally secure.

Conclusion: 

• You cannot lose your salvation; you cannot behave or think badly enough to lose it by failure or sin. John 10:27-30 NKJV

But what about the "Unpardonable Sin"? 

There is a great article on this by ChristianAnswers.net (here). In Mark 3:22-30 and Matthew 12:31-32, Jesus stated: "Whoever blasphemes against the HolySpirit cannot be forgiven.What does this mean?

Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees (religious people who, as usual, missed the point God was making to them), and they claimed that that Jesus was doing His works as an agent of Satan. In other words, they rejected Jesus. In Hebrews 6, we see concept this outlined again in more detail:

Hebrews 6:1-10 NKJV

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; 8 but if it bears thorns and briars, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. 9 But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. 10 For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

The religious leaders of Jesus' day should have known, better than anyone, that Jesus was the promised one. They rejected Him. Since Jesus is the only way to salvation, they rejected salvation. They chose to stand before God on the merits of their own behavior and thoughts rather than on Jesus' finished work.

Today, in very rare circumstances, someone who was very close to God, Jesus, Baptized in the Holy Spirit, living a life bathed in the miraculous... can, by an act of their will, choose to reject Jesus to the point that they cannot be brought back to repentance.

In essence, this person says "To Heck with Jesus, and everything he stands for." 

This person is not an atheist, he is like Satan himself, who knows God and Jesus intimately and willfully chooses to reject the authority of God and walk away forever.

If this was you; you wouldn't care what the answer to "can I lose my salvation?" because you wouldn't WANT to be saved; neither would you be afraid of loosing your salvation.

It's not that this person cannot be saved, or lost their salvation... it's that this person rejected their salvation and declined it knowing full well what they were doing. This person did not accidentally do it. They can be saved, but they refuse to be brought to repentance. Hebrews 6:1-10 NKJV

This person does this rejecting with full knowledge of what they are doing, not by accident. This is a purposeful choice on their end. 

Conclusion: 

• You cannot lose you salvation. Period. You can choose (knowingly not accidentally) to reject Jesus. 

So now that we've settled that, you can #BeStillBeLed?


*

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And now I leave you with a question:

So... what are your thoughts about this? What did this make you think about? 

Hit me up on Twitter @DarrellWolfe or on Google +DarrellWolfe

By Darrell Wolfe

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