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#Post#: 5979--------------------------------------------------
Re: Christ's Ways
By: Olde Tymer Date: May 28, 2019, 8:33 am
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[font=arial]1Cor 14:1a . . Pursue charity
The koinι Greek word for "charity" in that command is agape
(ag-ah'-pay) which basically means love, e.g. affection,
benevolence, kindness, compassion, empathy, tenderness,
understanding, devotion, caring, thoughtfulness, generosity, and
a host of other things like that. Love will cause you to look
out for someone's best interests without them even having to ask
you to.
The word for "pursue" is dioko (dee-o'-ko) which in many places
in the New Testament means persecute. Well; it hardly seems a
good idea to persecute love. I think what the command is wanting
to get across to Christians is that they're supposed to go after
and obtain love with a determined attitude like a hunter, or a
stalker, or someone who just won't take "no" for an answer; like
the woman who hounded the Lord at Mark 7:25-28.
Love is the heart and soul of all of Christ's commandments.
Christians without love haven't even got to first base yet. I
think it's very safe to say that without love; one won't be
loyal because love and loyalty go together like a horse and a
carriage.
You know, when you love somebody, you will do all in your power
to do what's best for them. Nobody has to crack the whip on
people who truly love because their affections compel them.
People with a tin woodman's soul don't understand what I'm
talking about because there's a cold piece of steel inside them
where a heart is supposed to be. Well; thank God there's a
remedy for that.
"If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living
in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life
to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you."
(Rom 8:11)
At first glance that passage appears to be speaking of the
body's future resurrection, and it probably is; but it's also
talking about the here and now regarding the power of a
supernatural benefit package called the fruit of the Spirit.
(Gal 5:19-25)
The fruit of the Spirit wasn't a new revelation in the days of
the apostles. It was predicted many years before them in the Old
Testament.
"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will
remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of
flesh. And I will put My spirit in you and move you to follow My
decrees and be careful to keep My laws." (Ezek 36:26-28)
An "heart of flesh" would normally be regarded in modern Sunday
school classes as a bad thing. There in Ezekiel, flesh is
juxtaposed with stone to indicate that God is talking about
tenderness; which can be defined as gentleness, kindness,
sensitivity, and deep affection; i.e. the warm, softer emotions.
A heart of stone is cold and dead, like those massive granite
monoliths in Yosemite Valley. They feel not the slightest bit of
pity for climbers who lose their grip and fall. Nope, those big
rocks just go on like nothing ever happened; silent,
indifferent, unconcerned, non grieving, non compassionate, and
non sympathetic; i.e. they feel nothing: nothing at all.
"As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion" (Col 3:12)
_[/font]
#Post#: 6023--------------------------------------------------
Re: Christ's Ways
By: Olde Tymer Date: May 30, 2019, 11:00 pm
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[font=arial]1Cor 14:1b . . eagerly desire spiritual gifts,
especially the gift of prophecy.
An actual spiritual gift is an ability that comes from God, and
there are quite few of them, e.g.
The word of wisdom (1Cor 12:8)
The word of knowledge (1Cor 12:8)
Faith (1Cor 12:9)
Healing (1Cor 12:9)
Miracles (1Cor 12:10)
Prophecy (1Cor 12:10)
Distinguishing spirits (1Cor 12:10)
Languages (1Cor 12:10)
Interpreting languages (1Cor 12:10)
Helps (1Cor 12:28)
Administration (1Cor 12:28)
Ministering (Rom 12:7)
Teaching (Rom 12:7)
Encouragement (Rom 12:8)
Charity (Rom 12:8)
Leadership (Rom 12:8)
Compassion (Rom 12:8)
Evangelism (Eph 4:11)
Pastoring (Eph 4:11)
The New Testament Greek word for "prophesy" is propheteuo
(prof-ate-yoo'-o) which essentially means to speak under
inspiration. That definition is very similar to the Old
Testament Hebrew word for "prophet" which is nabiy' (naw-bee').
That word describes an inspired person of either gender; e.g.
Abel was a prophet (Luke 11:50-51) Abraham was a prophet (Gen
20:7) Moses was a prophet (Deut 18:18) Miriam was a prophet (Ex
15:20) Deborah was a prophet (Judg 4:4) and Huldah was a prophet
(2Kgs 22:14).
Inspired people need not be highly educated; for example Amos
was just a simple farm boy whom God drafted into service right
out of the blue. (Amos 7:14-15)
_[/font]
#Post#: 6036--------------------------------------------------
Re: Christ's Ways
By: Olde Tymer Date: May 31, 2019, 10:53 pm
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[font=arial] 1Cor 14:13 . . anyone who speaks in a tongue should
pray that he may interpret what he says.
If Acts 2:1-12 is the model; then a genuine Spirit-endowed
tongue should be an honest to gosh real-life language instead of
incoherent blabber that's intelligible to no one, not even the
speaker.
"Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every
nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came
together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking
in his own language.
. . . Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are
speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in
his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites;
residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene;
visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans
and Arabs we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own
tongues!"
Mozart composed some amazing music; but had he not arranged the
components sensibly, it would likely grate on people's nerves
instead of entertaining them; sort of like when an orchestra
verifies the pitch of its instruments just prior to a
performance. The discordant din that the orchestra makes is a
cacophony instead of a rhapsody.
"Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as
the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being
played unless there is a distinction in the notes?" (1Cor 14:7)
Modern tonguers typically don't compose anything pleasant to the
ear. At least if they would chirp like birds their speech would
be a discernable song instead of an unintelligible warble.
I was informed by a Charismatic friend that he prayed in a
tongue because he couldn't express his deepest feelings any
other way. Mind you this was an American adult of almost fifty
years old; educated in America and spoke, wrote, and read
English-- his native language his entire life. So I asked him
how it is that his command of the English was so poor that he
could only express his thoughts in a language that not even he
himself could either identify or understand?
"If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is
unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but
I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I
will also sing with my mind." (1Cor 14:13-15)
In other words: there are Christians out and about blabbering
incoherently because they choose to, rather than because they
have to. With just a simple act of their own will they could
easily switch to something composed with real words.
Why on earth would a grown-up prefer incoherent blabbering?
Isn't that the way small children communicate? Well, I can
excuse small children because they're uneducated. But shouldn't
supposed educated adults be just a bit more mature with their
language and grammar than small children?
The true gift of tongues is very handy for communicating with
foreigners. But in our day and age, Charismatics typically don't
communicate with anybody, either foreign or domestic . As a
result, Charismatics are looked upon with the same disdain as
the kooks that hurl themselves on the floor, faint, scream,
writhe, shout, and dance with rattlesnakes.
Well; not too many sensible people care to accommodate kooks, so
if you're serious about influencing people for Christ, I highly
recommend sticking to an intelligible language. Here in my
country, English is a good choice because most people can
understand it without requiring the services of a translator.
And for heaven's sake, please don't allow yourself to be drawn
to participating in a tongues meeting.
"So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in
tongues, and some who do not understand, or some unbelievers
come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?" (1Cor
14:23)
_[/font]
#Post#: 6058--------------------------------------------------
Re: Christ's Ways
By: Olde Tymer Date: June 1, 2019, 10:34 pm
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.
[font=arial]1Cor 14:22a . .Tongues are for a sign
The sign isn't intended for the benefit of believers, but
rather, for non-believers.
"Not to them that believe, but to them that believe not." (1Cor
14:22b)
The purpose of any tongue is communication.
"Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will
anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into
the air." (1Cor 14:9)
So if a tonguer is speaking a language nobody understands,
they've actually created a barrier to communication; viz: a
regression to the tower of Babel; and you can see for yourself
how destructive that was to unity (Gen 11:1-9). Webster's
defines "regression" as: movement backward to a previous, and
especially worse or more primitive state or condition; viz:
backwards thinking.
Since tongues are for the benefit of unbelievers, then it's de
facto that a tongue should be a valid language that the
unbeliever himself speaks and understands (cf. Acts 2:4-11).
Somebody who exercises a tongue for any other reason has missed
the point; and they're behaving like a little kid with a toy.
"Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be
infants, but in your thinking be adults." (1Cor 14:20)
_[/font]
#Post#: 6060--------------------------------------------------
Re: Christ's Ways
By: Olde Tymer Date: June 2, 2019, 8:19 am
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[font=arial]1Cor 14:27-28 . . 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. But if there be no interpreter,
let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to
himself, and to God.
Tonguers are not permitted to speak all at the same time like a
mob of howling political protesters. One of the reasons why I
get so annoyed by talk shows like Today's Talk with Kathy Lee
Gifford and Hoda Kodb, and ABC's The View is because everyone
talks all at once like a bunch of undisciplined dogs barking and
yapping in a kennel. And the way they interrupt each other back
and forth before the other can even finish a sentence is one of
the very things we teach children not to do. You'd think those
supposedly mature adults grew up without supervision the way
they conduct themselves in a conversation.
NO! tonguers are to take turns; speaking one at a time, rather
than an entire congregation of tonguers barking and yapping like
dogs in a kennel whenever they "feel the Spirit" moving them.
And if there's no one to interpret, tonguers are not permitted
to speak at all. If Christians the world over followed those
rules, it would put the charismatics out of business right
quick.
FYI: These directives regulating the exercise of tongues in a
church meeting were written by the apostle Paul-- a duly
authorized agent speaking on behalf of Christianity's Christ.
"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." (1Cor 14:37)
Therefore, when Christians proceed to defy the rules regulating
the exercise of tongues, they are in shameful rebellion against
the very lord and master of Christianity; and yet, ironically,
many tongue violators still have the chutzpah to pass themselves
off as the Lord's Spirit-filled followers. However; a follower
can be defined as someone who gets in step and/or falls in line
rather than going off-reservation to do their own thing.
"Rebellion is as the sin of divination; and insubordination is
as iniquity and idolatry." (1Sam 15:23)
"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in
darkness, we lie, and do not the truth" (1John 1:6)
_[/font]
#Post#: 6095--------------------------------------------------
Re: Christ's Ways
By: Olde Tymer Date: June 4, 2019, 8:11 am
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[font=arial]1Cor 14:29-31 . .Two, or three, prophets should
speak, and everyone else should weigh carefully what is said. If
a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first
speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that
everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
Though God endows certain Spirit-selected people in church with
the gift of prophecy (1Cor 12:4-11) it is not He who endows them
with the impulse to talk out of turn. Self control is their
responsibility; not His.
"The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." (1Cor
14:32)
Actual prophets channel God's thoughts; viz: they speak as the
voice of God. People with opinions don't speak as the voice of
God at all; they speak as themselves. True prophets are
revelators; people with opinions are little more than a
nuisance; and if not kept in check they will quickly derail a
Sunday school class and drag it off onto a perpetual bull
session that never gets to the bottom of anything.
_[/font]
#Post#: 6114--------------------------------------------------
Re: Christ's Ways
By: Olde Tymer Date: June 5, 2019, 7:22 am
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.
[font=arial]1Cor 14:34 . . Women should remain silent in the
churches. They are not allowed to speak; but must be in
submission (i.e. subordinate to the men)
It could be argued, with some merit, that this rule applies only
to tongues and prophecy; but Paul goes further with this rule in
a letter to his friend Timothy.
"Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I
suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the
man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve."
(1Tim 2:11-13)
It's important to note that this is neither a gender issue nor
an issue related to competence; it's an issue related to
primogeniture. For that reason it's an insubordinate act of
contempt for authority when Christian women lead Christian men
in a Christian congregation.
_[/font]
#Post#: 6138--------------------------------------------------
Re: Christ's Ways
By: Olde Tymer Date: June 6, 2019, 8:01 am
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[font=arial]1Cor 14:35 . . If women have questions, they should
ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a
woman to speak in the church.
What's an inquiring wife to do if her husband is spiritually
inept? I'd suggest that women married to spiritually inept
Christian men, and/or women married to non-Christian men, and/or
unmarried women; seek assistance from one of the ladies in
church known to be somewhat of a Bible expert.
But for safety's sake, she shouldn't seek assistance from
another woman's husband; even if he's the pastor, or a deacon,
or an elder; it's not only disobedient, but that's also how
rumors (and other things) get started.
_[/font]
#Post#: 6147--------------------------------------------------
Re: Christ's Ways
By: Olde Tymer Date: June 7, 2019, 7:29 am
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[font=arial]1Cor 14:37-38 . . If anybody thinks he's a prophet
or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am
writing to you is the Lord's command.
If your Sunday school, or your catechism class, is being chaired
by somebody who disagrees with the Lord's commands regulating
women's subordination, or the use and abuse of tongues, and/or
the speaking of prophecy; then believe me you have a serious
problem because it indicates that your leader is humanistic
rather than inspired.
_[/font]
#Post#: 6161--------------------------------------------------
Re: Christ's Ways
By: Olde Tymer Date: June 8, 2019, 8:37 am
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[font=arial]1Cor 14:38 . . But if any man be ignorant, let him
be ignorant.
In other words: if a Bible teacher refuses to accept the apostle
Paul as a duly authorized agent speaking for Christ; then his
believing followers are under orders to ignore that person's
opinion of themselves that they're a prophet and/or spiritually
gifted.
_[/font]
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