05 Oct 07
Originally posted by epiphinehasInteresting. Would you mess with a poisonous snake then if the need arose?
Yes, I speak in tongues and cast out demons in Christ's name. I've never messed with any serpents though, nor have I partaken of anything poisonous (that I'm aware of). Some folks have the gift of laying hands on the sick and healing them, but the Lord hasn't blessed me with such a gift yet.
This brings up an interesting point. You said that Christ ...[text shortened]... evidences which manifest in those who have received the Holy Spirit (see the book of Acts).
Also, from what you say, those who cant do those things have not been declared righteous ?
05 Oct 07
1 edit
Originally posted by Rajk999I wonder what situation would require the need to handle poisonous snakes? I'd hope that if any such situation did happen to arise, that I'd be man enough to do whatever is necessary, trusting the Lord to protect me. However, I'm not going to go out of my way to tempt the Lord.
Interesting. Would you mess with a poisonous snake then if the need arose?
Also, from what you say, those who cant do those things have not been declared righteous ?
The gifts of the Spirit are varied and not everyone is blessed with the same gift (consult Corinthians). It is true that everyone who genuinely believes in Jesus Christ receives the Holy Spirit (i.e., they are declared righteous and the Holy Spirit dwells in them), but not everyone who is declared righteous has yet received the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
Note the distinction in this passage:
"Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost" (Acts 8:14-17).
These Christians believed and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus (i.e., they were declared righteous because of their faith), yet they had not yet received the Holy Ghost (i.e., they were not able to manifest signs and miracles).
05 Oct 07
Originally posted by PinkFloydYou can't seriously be that wound up about a missed key-stroke... Do you have anything better to do? If so, please, by all means...
That's can't, Neanderthal. Is English your second language, you "boor"? Get it? "Boor"? {still LMAO at your flaunting your ignorance in not knowing a simple one-syllable word in front of all these people}
05 Oct 07
Originally posted by epiphinehasOK, so you said ....
I wonder what situation would require the need to handle poisonous snakes? I'd hope that if any such situation did happen to arise, that I'd be man enough to do whatever is necessary, trusting the Lord to protect me. However, I'm not going to go out of my way to tempt the Lord.
The gifts of the Spirit are varied and not everyone is blessed with the ...[text shortened]... not yet received the Holy Ghost (i.e., they were not able to manifest signs and miracles).
Because only those who have a genuine faith are declared righteous (Rom. 3:24), and only those declared righteous receive the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:2), which means only those who receive the Holy Spirit are truly God's children (Rom. 8:14) and obey the Gospel: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit... Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Romans 8:1, 9).
If that is as applicable today as it was in the time of Paul when many received the Holy Spirit and performed many miracles, then we should be witnessing miracles today as well. On the contrary whenever we hear of these Christians who claim to have this gift and that power they are often found to be fraudsters (not you). I have actually never come across anyone who did in fact have the gift of the Holy Spirit.
05 Oct 07
Originally posted by Rajk999
OK, so you said ....
[i]Because only those who have a genuine faith are declared righteous (Rom. 3:24), and only those declared righteous receive the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:2), which means only those who receive the Holy Spirit are truly God's children (Rom. 8:14) and obey the Gospel: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus ...[text shortened]... ). I have actually never come across anyone who did in fact have the gift of the Holy Spirit.
05 Oct 07
Originally posted by epiphinehasAre you serious? You really believe that you cast out demons?
Yes, I speak in tongues and cast out demons in Christ's name. I've never messed with any serpents though, nor have I partaken of anything poisonous (that I'm aware of). Some folks have the gift of laying hands on the sick and healing them, but the Lord hasn't blessed me with such a gift yet.
This brings up an interesting point. You said that Christ ...[text shortened]... evidences which manifest in those who have received the Holy Spirit (see the book of Acts).
05 Oct 07
1 edit
Originally posted by no1marauderIt's easy to believe anything you want.
Are you serious? You really believe that you cast out demons?
Once I laid out on the grass and forced my eyes to steady on the sky until I was able to make clouds "disappear". That's actually a neat trick of the eyes having to do with optics, but if I wanted to I could believe that I really made them disappear.
I've met intelligent Christians that "get the holy spirit" by believing something so hard that they begin to speak jibberish and convulse.
Somewhat interestingly I've seen the same from various martial artists who think they're generating Chi by bouncing around.
I don't think it was coincidence that they were also Christians.
edit: On a more hilarious Eastern note, I watched a documentary about some fools who convinced themselves they'd figured out how to levitate; so, what they did was, get in lotus position and bounce LOL I'd have least had the good sense to try it out with no cameras trained on me. How embarrassing for their friends and family.
I think the speaking in tongues is a fascinating subject, I just don't see what use it is other than good story making material.
So many people just WANT sooo badly for their to be supernatural forces in their lives that they fervently make it part of their inner reality. Unfortunately that does those around them very little good.
05 Oct 07
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Originally posted by Rajk999Unbelief can prevent signs and wonders from occurring: "And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household." And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:57-58).
OK, so you said ....
[]Because only those who have a genuine faith are declared righteous (Rom. 3:24), and only those declared righteous receive the Holy Spirit (Gal. 3:2), which means only those who receive the Holy Spirit are truly God's children (Rom. 8:14) and obey the Gospel: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus ). I have actually never come across anyone who did in fact have the gift of the Holy Spirit.
In Christian circles all over the world God's Spirit is quietly at work performing miracles in the lives of believers. The problem is, most people, many Christians included, don't really believe they are possible. This poses a problem, since unbelief prevents God's kingdom from breaking through into their lives. Christ said his miracle power depended upon faith, "Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:28-29), "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mark 9:23).
The same Spirit which was at work in Jesus is at work in the world today, convicting peoples' hearts of the Gospel, glorifying Jesus Christ, and filling people with the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ, before He ascended, said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
The short time I have been a Christian I have heard many credible stories from friends I have made in the body of Christ regarding miracles. These stories are not broadcast, but shared in cell groups and small group settings. And I've personally known the edification of the Holy Spirit in and through the spiritual gifts of other Christians (i.e., in and through prophecy and words of wisdom, etc.). God never meant for such things to be abnormal for the church, but to be expected. Reread Corinthians where Paul goes into great detail regarding spiritual gifts:
"Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will" (1 Corinthians 12:3-11).
05 Oct 07
Originally posted by mdhallSomewhat interestingly I've seen the same from various martial artists who think they're generating Chi by bouncing around.
It's easy to believe anything you want.
Once I laid out on the grass and forced my eyes to steady on the sky until I was able to make clouds "disappear". That's actually a neat trick of the eyes having to do with optics, but if I wanted to I could believe that I really made them disappear.
I've met intelligent Christians that "get the holy spirit" by b ...[text shortened]... f their inner reality. Unfortunately that does those around them very little good.
I don't think it was coincidence that they were also Christians.
MARAUDER----------
I doubt they were Christians of any real understanding if they were messing about with "Chi" . As far as I understand it Christians don't mess with Chi , Reiki , Auras, or anything else that purports to be spiritual that is not Biblical.
05 Oct 07
Originally posted by mdhallI think the speaking in tongues is a fascinating subject, I just don't see what use it is other than good story making material. MD HALL
It's easy to believe anything you want.
Once I laid out on the grass and forced my eyes to steady on the sky until I was able to make clouds "disappear". That's actually a neat trick of the eyes having to do with optics, but if I wanted to I could believe that I really made them disappear.
I've met intelligent Christians that "get the holy spirit" by b ...[text shortened]... f their inner reality. Unfortunately that does those around them very little good.
Speaking in tongues is a way of one's spirit talking to God . Other ways of doing this is groaning or other non-linguistic forms of expression. Tongues is also for me a way of expressing something that is beyond normal expression or words. When one is touched by God it can feel like there are no words. I will admit it sounds weird sometimes though. Sometimes tongues are translated and are a message from God about something.
05 Oct 07
Originally posted by mdhallSo many people just WANT sooo badly for their to be supernatural forces in their lives that they fervently make it part of their inner reality. MDHALL
It's easy to believe anything you want.
Once I laid out on the grass and forced my eyes to steady on the sky until I was able to make clouds "disappear". That's actually a neat trick of the eyes having to do with optics, but if I wanted to I could believe that I really made them disappear.
I've met intelligent Christians that "get the holy spirit" by b ...[text shortened]... f their inner reality. Unfortunately that does those around them very little good.
Which is your interpretation of it...and that's Ok. I don't doubt that this happens sometimes , but does it therefore mean that we throw the baby out with the bath water? Personally , I spoke in tongues once before I even knew what it was and before I was converted. I was so overwhelmed by what this guy was saying that I just spurted this stuff out. It's a bit like falling over in the spirit , there comes a point where God's reality just blows you away.
05 Oct 07
Originally posted by knightmeisterLook at your words for a moment, and try to read them as a non-believer must read them...do you still think you deserve to be taken seriously?
So many people just WANT sooo badly for their to be supernatural forces in their lives that they fervently make it part of their inner reality. MDHALL
Which is your interpretation of it...and that's Ok. I don't doubt that this happens sometimes , but does it therefore mean that we throw the baby out with the bath water? Personally , I spoke in tongu ...[text shortened]... ke falling over in the spirit , there comes a point where God's reality just blows you away.
Do you think God wants his followers to be talking about these things with non-believers, effectively ruining their credibility in the process?
I would think that if God sanctions this speaking in tongues/casting out demons malarkey he would want you folks to keep it to yourselves to avoid marginalizing the entire belief system.