So, if out of the blue I began to witness and speak in Chinese... You would doubt me?
If it is NOT according to BIBLICAL instructions, then I would DOUBT YOU, and have to TEST the SPIRITS to see if it is a DEMON that has given you that power. HERE is PAUL's instructions or guidelines on how TONGUES must be done, which the Charismatic Movement IGNORES.
1 John 4:1 (HCSB)
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
It is Biblical to TEST the spirit of the INTERPRETER.
1 John 4:1 (HCSB)
1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit,
but test the spirits to determine if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
That can be done by having no more than a dozen would be sufficient members of a congregation, memorize and learn a couple verses in a foreign language and then have each member memorize and learn a different couple of verses in a different foreign language. Then have the interpreter correctly interpret all the various languages.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 (ASV)
23 All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful;
but not all things edify.
24
Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor's.
That should eliminate all but a couple of people for
self-edification, who currently speak in
tongues. Because it is forbidden.
1 Corinthians 14:18-40 (HCSB)
18 I thank God that I speak in ⌊other⌋ languages more than all of you;
19
yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in ⌊another⌋ language.
20 Brothers,
don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.
21 It is written in the law:
I will speak to these people by people of other languages and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.
[.The Nation Israel, it is GOD SPEAKING THROUGH THEM.]
22
It follows that speaking in ⌊other⌋ languages is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers [.that are JEWS.]. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.
23 Therefore, if the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in ⌊other⌋ languages and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
24 But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all.
25
The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”
26 What then is ⌊the conclusion⌋, brothers? Whenever you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, ⌊another⌋ language, or an interpretation.
All things must be done for edification [not self-edification].
27 If any person speaks in ⌊another⌋ language, there should be only two, or at the most three, each in turn,
and someone must interpret.
28 But
if there is no interpreter,
that person should keep silent in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets should speak,
and the others should evaluate.
30
But if something has been revealed to another person sitting there, the first prophet should be silent.
31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.
32 And the prophets’ spirits are under the control of the prophets,
33 since
God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,
34
the women should be silent in the churches,
for they are not permitted to speak, but should be submissive, as the law also says.
35 And if they want to learn something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church meeting.
36 Did the word of God originate from you, or did it come to you only?
37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, he should recognize that what I write to you is the Lord’s command.
38
But if anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.
39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in ⌊other⌋ languages.
40
But everything must be done decently and in order.
How many of these guidelines are TOTALLY IGNORED in the CHARISMATIC CHURCHES TODAY ? ? ?
How then can it be of GOD ? ? ?
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