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NASB | Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, ¶ To the saints who are at Ephesus and who are faithful in Christ Jesus: |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed), by the will of God [that is, by His purpose and choice], To the saints (God's people) who are at Ephesus and are faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus: |
Bible Question:
My pastor says that the only way a person knows they have the Holy Spirit is that they will speak in tongues. Each person has their own special tongue or language He uses Acts1 and 2 to back this up. I understand those chapters say that the people praying and worshipping Jesus spoke in tongues. Peter told the people outside that when a person gets the Holy Spirit,that person will dream dreams or prophesy. Nothing was said about tongues. It eays elsewhere in the Bible that when people get the Holy Spirit,some will get gifts of prophesy,some dreams some teaching,some speaking in tongues,some translating for those who speak in tongues. I talked to him privately a couple of weeks ago about the gift I felt god had given me. He toally blasted me out of the water and said no way. Unless I speak in tongues,I do not have the Holy Spirit. If I have a gift from God,I want to use it to glorify God. If I deny the gift or try to give it back,I feel like I am calling God a liar or that I am saying I am not worthy. I am not trying to score brownie points or win an argunebt. I want to apply God;s to my life as accurately as possoble and this has left confused and shutting down. Are tongues the only way a person knows he or she has the Holy Spirit? Isit the1 gift He gives everybody? Does he gift different gifts to different people and all gifts are valuable? I know this is a lot to ask all at once? I don't want to make a mistake if I can avoid it. This is making me question my faith. Thank you Crys Ingalls |
Bible Answer: Most Pentecostal denominations/churches believe that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Based on Ac 1:4, Ac 2:4, Ac 8:12, Ac 10:44, Ac 11:14, Ac 15:7, Lk 24:49, 1Co 12:1. Since they view this as initial evidence to have another gift before the person speaks in tongues would be out of order. Now when they say speaking in tongues it does not mean you stand up in church and start speaking, although you can, what they really mean is you have an initial prayer language that may only be used by you in private. You have to decide if you are of the Pentecostal persuasion or not, if you aren’t then I would take Beja’s advice and find another church. If you are then you need to understand the teaching of the church on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. |