Avoiding some pot holes and traps:
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Beware of getting over impressed by 'phenomena'.
There are many things that can create a phenomenum, so we mustn't be carried along by it.
Satan comes as an angel of light, and this is an area where we need to be cautious.
Impressive phenomena does not prove anything in itself.
Another trap is being fearful of showing unbelief, and so we then accept anything which seems to be miraculous. This can lead to weird and wacky things.
The key is found in 1 Corinthians 12:11
"All these (gifts) are the work of one and the same Spirit,
and He gives them to each one, just as He determines."
It is very important to notice that these gifts are the work of the Holy Spirit and He determines when they should be used.
Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones taught that tongues were given at a particular moment. It was not something which we could turn on or off like a tap. If anyone said they could speak in tongues at any time, then he would say that it was psychological and not spiritual, because the gift is given at a particular moment. He would say that someone cannot do a miracle when they want to. Gifts can only be used when a commission is given from heaven.
This is especially important during public meetings, but what about during our personal devotions?
In the present climate on spiritual gifts, Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones' teaching would raise a lot of eyebrows!
So let's keep an open mind and look at what Paul said:
"I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you." 1 Corinthians 14:18
Does Paul speak in tongues more than anyone else, because he decides to do that? It would appear not, because he says "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you."
Paul thanks God - why would he do that if he could speak in tongues at any point in time?
We don't want to quench any of the Spirit's work, so what do we make of this?
Perhaps in our personal devotions when we open our mouth to speak in tongues and the Spirit does spring up within us, then we continue with that until the streams of living water seem to stop flowing. But on other occasions we open our mouth to speak in tongues and it seems kind of 'hollow', so this teaching would recommend that we should stop, because the Holy Spirit will determine another time when He will rise up within us. "I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you."
Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones also said never use the word 'claim' when talking about the gifts, because the Spirit may give, or not give, just as He chooses.
Humility should accompany the gifts, this distinguishes a true experience from a false one.
Every believer should seek to be filled with the Spirit, so that they can be filled with power to be Christ's witnesses. That is the motive, to glorify the risen Christ, and not to seek after an experience.
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Flame & Fearful images: thanks to Serif ART Gallery CD.
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