Speaking To God

[dave c]

HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #124c Written 29MAR08 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw

Chapter 14: Part Three—Speaking To God

by dave c

First Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church (NIV).

Please, try to read these verses without any preconceived filters of doctrinal theology. Do they tell me to refute spiritual gifts except for the gift of prophecy? Does Verse One in any way indicate that I shouldn’t ask God for any, or all, gifts of the Spirit? Do they imply that speaking to God is a bad thing—even if no one else understands what I am saying? Is speaking mysteries in my spirit being prohibited? Is Paul telling me that edifying myself is wrong? On all counts, I have to say, “No”. Are we being told to place the practice of loving God and one another above the gifts of the Spirit? Are we being told to ask God for spiritual gifts? Should we seek to prophesy in particular? Should we speak to God and to men, at times, as two separate events? Should we desire the edification, the exhortation, and the consolation of our brothers and sisters in Christ? Should we strive to edify ourselves and the fellowship of Believers—again, at times, as two separate events? To these questions, I believe that we should be answering, “Yes”.

Is there anything wrong with eating and drinking? No, of course not. At least when given the right situations. Should love and appropriate behavior govern our eating habits generally and specifically? Yes, of course. There are meals that I take by myself or with an intimate few, and then there are meals eaten in public gatherings. There are certain behaviors that may be appropriate to the one, and not to the other. If I sit in the sanctuary eating toast and drinking coffee during a Sunday morning service, I will probably be politely asked to stop. Am I being told that I should not have breakfast, or am I being told that it is the wrong time and place? What if we are having a special early morning gathering that includes food and drink before the Service? Or what if I am participating in taking Communion and instead of toast, it is unleavened bread, and instead of coffee it is grape juice? Suddenly, in both of these situations, my behavior is not only appropriate, it is encouraged.

It is the same with speaking in tongues (and all of the gifts of the Spirit). There are appropriate, and inappropriate, times and places for publicly speaking in tongues; that is, there should be an interpretation as prophecy and in good order for edification and exhortation and consolation of the church. And there are appropriate, and inappropriate, times and places for praying in tongues, that is, speaking to God and not to men—for speaking mysteries in our spirits. Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. 26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God (NASV).

The bottom line is this: Do anything and everything from a motive of love. If you are comfortable with speaking in tongues, prophecy, miraculous healings, etcetera; amen and hallelujah! But neither lord it over your spiritually ungifted brothers and sisters, nor accept from them a position of being ignorant and backward because of your Biblical beliefs and practices. If you are not comfortable with the “fireworks gifts” of the Spirit, so be it...but do not take pride in your theological, or socio-cultural decision to deny their Scriptural viability. Do not speak disparagingly regarding fellowships as being outside of religious orthodoxy because they embrace charismata. Let us heed Peter’s admonition in these matters: But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander (1Pe 3:15&16; NIV).

Ro 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men (NIV). Let us stop passing judgment on one another. Let us not be a stumbling block to our brothers and sisters. Let us not speak evil of that which fellow Christians consider good. Let us, in all things, pursue love. Thank you, Jesus. Amen.