understood by taking a close look at 1 Cor. 14: 21,22 and running the references. It is a sign gift to the Jewish people of a coming devastation and scattering. That occurred around 70 AD and the gift ceased.”
Then recently on January 23, 2012, someone using the moniker that christain fellow posted "Hi I would like to talk to dwbunch2011 privately about this issue, but have no idea how to go about doing that.."
I responded as follows: “We never heard from dwbunch2011 after he posted that once. I did not respond to him because it was obvious he did not know what he was talking about. As Kenneth Hagan used to say, "I'll take the person with the experience over the person with the theory."
Immediately after answering ‘that christain fellow’ I sat down for my daily Bible study. As is my custom, I just randomly opened the New Testament to see if the Lord had anything specific for me today. This is the absolute truth--I opened to Peter’s interaction with Cornelius as follows:
Act 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. Act 10:45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Act 10:46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God.
2 comments:
My question is how does this theory (even if it might possibly true) point to tongues ceasing? Also, it would seem that the gift of tongues actually does the opposite; instead of creating a scattering, it brings understanding, unity and glory to God. As mentioned in Acts, the onlookers were all amazed because they heard the followers of Jesus speaking the wonders of God in their own language… quite the opposite… seems like more of a unifier, rather than something that is bringing a scattering.
Peter in Acts 2, directly speaking to the reaction and wonderment caused by the gift of tongues, clearly explained it by saying:
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.
It is obvious we are closer now to the last days than even Peter was at that time. I think Peter said what he meant, and I believed Joel prophesied what he meant… I believe we are safer taking what the bible says at face value, and not adding deeper meaning to what is stated (especially if that deeper meaning contradicts what is initially is said in the bible). I think sometimes folks want to conform scripture to their lives, rather than conform their lives to scripture ... It takes less faith that way, and we don’t have to explain away why we aren’t walking in the fullness of what God has for us, as the early disciples did.
One last side note, my husband speaks in tongues, and one day he happened to be praying out loud (thought nobody could hear him) at work, and a Muslim man overheard him, but instead of hearing gibberish, he heard him speaking praises to God in his native language. This astounded the man enough that he stopped my husband to talk to him about it, and it gave my husband the chance to talk to him about God.
Thanks Toni for the contribution to the blog. God bless you two.
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