Monday's Message: Tongues

This is a simple passage of Bible teaching. If we will let the Word speak for itself and determine that we will not approach it with a pre-conceived understanding of the terms we will be able to discover the contextual application.  Some have defined “Tongues”as a spirit language that is spoken by those who are filled with the Holy Spirit as evidence of being filled and as a means of delivering God’s specific message.Wouldn’t it seem easier for God to just write His message down so everyone can read it?  The Bible definition of the term, “Tongues” is found in Acts 2:6 as being a synonym for the word language. I believe the unknown language Paul was referencing in this passage of Scripture was the chanting of Hebrew prayers.  To those who speak Hebrew and understand the prayer it is uplifting and helpful, but for those who do not it is uncomfortable and frankly, a little weird.  Paul also says, “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself;” We can see that this is true of believers in those days as well as believers today.  Back then believers could stand and quote a prayer in vain repetition without Holy Spirit fullness, and make a very spiritual spectacle of themselves for everyone, just as people today can “speak in tongues” in churches and similar gatherings, gladly soaking up all of the attention and glory for the superior spirituality.   We are urged to prefer prophesying which is a term closely related to “preaching” and many times these terms are used almost interchangeably. It is the main focus of a church service. It is where we are challenged, comforted, and corrected from the Bible through the preacher by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The purpose of every ministry should be to bring glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ by spreading the Gospel message as often as possible.  The very fact that the focus was removed from the eternal and placed on the gifts of the believers in Corinth was a problem.  Believer, avoid that trap. Keep Christ as your focus.  Verse twenty-three of this chapter sums up this whole topic beautifully; when the manner of ministering and the minister become the focus it is perceived as madness.

I Corinthians 14:

1Co 14:1  Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
1Co 14:2  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co 14:4  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
1Co 14:5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
1Co 14:6  Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
1Co 14:7  And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
1Co 14:8  For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1Co 14:9  So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
1Co 14:10  There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
1Co 14:11  Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
1Co 14:12  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
1Co 14:13  Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
1Co 14:14  For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
1Co 14:15  What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
1Co 14:16  Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
1Co 14:17  For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
1Co 14:18  I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
1Co 14:19  Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
1Co 14:20  Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
1Co 14:21  In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
1Co 14:22  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
1Co 14:23  If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
1Co 14:24  But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
1Co 14:25  And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
1Co 14:26  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
1Co 14:27  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
1Co 14:28  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
1Co 14:29  Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1Co 14:30  If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
1Co 14:31  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1Co 14:32  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1Co 14:34  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1Co 14:35  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1Co 14:36  What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
1Co 14:37  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
1Co 14:38  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
1Co 14:39  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
1Co 14:40  Let all things be done decently and in order.  

Family Friday: Building the House the Way God Wants It Built - Part - 2

Written by Mrs. Jo Beth Hooker

Part II

Thou son of man, show the house to the house of Israel...let them measure the pattern...all the ordinances...all the laws...all the forms...and write it in their sight...and do them. This is the law of the house.  Ezekiel 43:10-12

As we talked about previously, God has established a pattern, according to Ezekiel chapters 40-43, for how He wants us to build our temple/s. We are a walking,talking, breathing movement that will either bring honor or dishonor to God by what we do with our temples, what we say, where we go, what we open our doors up to, how we represent the Lord Jesus in appearance etc. The right kind of temple is important! Looking at His Word we can KNOW what He wants us to know and understand how He wants our temples fashioned if one, we ask Him; two, if we read to learn. Here are a few. Look these verses up in your Bible:

1.    To measure the pattern (Ez. 43:10). There is a right way and a wrong way to do everything. We cannot afford to be slothful. Diligence is one key to success.

2.    Precision is the key to excellence (Ez.40:21). If you are going to do something, do it right.

3.    Plans are worthless if they have no purpose (Ez. 41:25, 26).Standards protect us and the little temples we are building from ruin. Thick planks cover, shade and protect. Narrow windows keep the enemy out while still allowing in the joy of the sunlight.

4.    Intricate details add both beauty and meaning to the design (Ez. 41:18-20). Honor and glory should be the foundation and purpose behind all that we do. We should only put on our walls, allow into our homes, look at, dwell on and observe those things that add to the meaning and beauty of the design.

God also tells us some things in His Word about HOW He wants the temple to appear:

1.    He wants no other gods worshipped in His temple (Ex. 34:14).

2.    He wants His name to be glorified there (Ps. 29:2).

3.    He wants to be worshipped in the beauty of holiness there (Ps. 29:2).

4.    He wants no cuttings made in our flesh for the dead (self-mutilation) or for us to print any marks upon ourselves (tattoos) (Lev. 19:28).

5.    He wants us to reverence His sanctuary. This is both literal and figurative in that we are to treat h

6.    His house/church with respect but also our bodies and each other's bodies with respect too. (Lev. 19:30).

Obviously, God has a plan! I challenge every reader to do a word study on the words "temple, worship, and building" and ask God to open your eyes to His Word and Truth. The Holy Spirit longs to show off God's architectural designs, His plans, His marvelous mind and to brag on His work. It is a journey of learning and adventure! Plus, it pleases Him. After all, as His apprentice, doesn't He say in His Word that I am to study to show myself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (I Timothy 2:15)? We definitely have a job to do and we need to put on our carpenter's tool belt and get with it!

Thoughtful Thursday: Give Thanks! - Part 4

Psalms 100:4 -“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving…”

We should thank Him for:

-The church

-Religious freedom

-The Gospel

“…and into his courts with praise…”

We should praise Him for:

-His goodness

-His mercy

-His love

-Who He is

“…be thankful unto him…”

We should be thankful for:

-Salvation

-Health

-Family

-Provision

-The Bible

-Heaven

-Freedom

“…and bless his name.”

To “bless” means to praise, to glorify, for benefits received.

Psalms 103:2 says “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:”

We celebrate Thanksgiving today.  As we eat too much delicious food, surrounded by those that we love, let’s use Psalms 100:4 to guide us through our day.  Take the time to thank Him…to praise Him…to bless Him.  We are so undeserving, yet we have so much!  He is so deserving of it all and so much more!

Monday's Message: Now and Then

This letter’s information to the Church there at Corinth was absolutely vital to their development as believers.  They had to understand the transitional period they had reached as a body of believers.  Paul through the power of the Holy Spirit was keeping them on track, by instructing them on how toavoid false doctrines andmen’s traditions based on the Law.

Just as all believers, those in Corinth needed to make a vital decision.  They needed to decide that the Word of God is absolute and that it has the authority to dictate their actions, motives, and conversations.  This type of surrender will require a more mature Christian desire; hence, the statements about childish and manly ways of thinking and speaking.

The Bible is an amazing Book!  In this passage Paul compares it to a mirror.  It is a special kind of mirror;  it allows us see ourselves as Christ sees us, and it clearly exposes the flaws that exist in our lives.  The Scriptures have been provided for us in a complete, perfect fashion as a means of understanding exactly what God’s requirements and expectations are for each of His children.  Believer, allow the Word and the Holy Spirit to mature you and bring you closer to the Father.  It is our love for God and our belief in Him that will bring us to this point, or our hatred and rebellion that will keep us from Him.

 

I Corinthians 13:11-13

1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.