How many here went before the Lord and asked for the gift of prophecy?? What did you ask for?? How long ago was it?? What have you received?? Do you feel the Lord answered your prayer? and how?
Omegatime's Questions:
1.) "How many here went before the Lord and asked for the gift of prophecy?"
I don't recall anyone in the New Testament asking for the gift of prophecy... I only recall God giving gifts out as he sees fit.
2.) "What did you ask for?"
Is this to imply that you have to ask a certain way, or say certain words, to receive spiritual gifts?
If so, that seems out of alignment with scripture.
3.) "How long ago was it?"
I can't see how that's relevant, or how it's addressed in scripture.
- Do our prayers have an expiration date?
- Do our spiritual gifts have an expiration date?
4.) "What have you received?"
It's unclear if this is a question about receiving the gift of prophey, or receiving particular prophecies with that gift, or something else... the question is unclear.
- It also seems irrelevant.
- Why? If God gives out gifts as he sees fit, then whether or not an individual received a particular gift would have no bearing on doctrine.
5.) "Do you feel the Lord answered your prayer?"
I believe God answers all of my prayers, and all prayers in general, but not always in the affirmative - he's sovereign and can answer our requests however he sees fit.
6.) "How?"
God is actually obligated by his perfection to answer all of our prayers in different ways, as he feels is best for us - if a child asked for a helicopter you wouldn't give it to him, he'd harm himself.
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CONCLUSION: Strange Debate Strategy:
1.) It seems like a strange debate strategy, when debating doctrine and scripture, to leave scripture behind and and start asking people odd questions about their personal lives.
2.) Why? Because any individual, lost or saved, could CLAIM, with their words, VIRTUALLY ANYTHING about their personal life... and that doesn't PROVE anything about scripture or doctrine.
3.) We study scripture and doctrine by going to scripture... not by asking people about their personal lives or personal feelings.
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