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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Why little sign of power in our churches | Mark 16:17 | stjones | 93189 | ||
Hi, Suede67; I'm a little late to the conversation, but your reference to 1 Corinthians 13:8 caught my eye. The passage makes even more sense if you read it in context, especially the next four verses: "For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." Are you suggesting that "then" has already come? Has the event that Paul referred to - "when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears" - has already happened? Has perfection already come a second time? That is when gifts such as prophecy and tongues will disappear. 1 Corinthians 13 makes perfect sense apart from any discussion of whether or not God has suspended spiritual gifts. Among the things that the Bible says will last forever is, according to Jesus, our fellowship with the Holy Spirit: "... I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you." (John 14:16-17) I'd be interested to know what you think the Holy Spirit is supposed to do "in" us. It seems to me that anything he is likely to do "in" me will probably manifest itself in some outward way - as a gift of the spirit. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |
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2 | Why little sign of power in our churches | Mark 16:17 | Ken hepting | 93270 | ||
"I'd be interested to know what you think the Holy Spirit is supposed to do "in" us. It seems to me that anything he is likely to do "in" me will probably manifest itself in some outward way - as a gift of the spirit." Hi Steve! Ever hear the term "AC hum"? It's an electronic term and a situation within the circuitry that is rectified to produce a clean sound. Us Christians are full of "AC hum" that the Holy Spirit is given to "rectify" out of us the "HuM" that distorts and makes unclear the sweet clear sound of Jesus..It's sometimes called "purifying"...the soul. |
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3 | Why little sign of power in our churches | Mark 16:17 | stjones | 93292 | ||
Hi, Ken; Thanks for the reply and the interesting analogy. I certainly agree that being a rectifier (in the electronic sense) is part of what the Holy Spirit does. After I replied to Suede67, I realized that there is another passage in 1 Corinthians that is very relevant to this discussion - one I just preached on two weeks ago! That is the previous chapter, 12, in which Paul clearly links spriritual gifts to the body of Christ. If we are to believe that spiritual gifts have ceased, we must also believe that the body of Christ has also ceased to exist or at least lost the power of its parts. Taken as a unit, chapters 12 and 13 make it clear that the Holy Spirit is still busy and still distributing his gifts in accordance with the Father's will. Peace and grace, Steve aka Indiana Jones |
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4 | Why little sign of power in our churches | Mark 16:17 | Ken hepting | 93294 | ||
Yes. And we shouldn't be given that Spiritual gifts have ceased. However, many who would agree call 'breathing' a Spiritual gift, refusing to embrace anything deeper. Consequently the church has taken on a false "spirituality" with a fidelity to natural obligations that is devoid of the presence of God. Michael Harper did a paper a few years back titled "Love or Gifts". If that can be found it is well worth the reading. One will notice that Chapter 13 of 1 Corth. is sandwiched in between 12 and 14 that should speak of the implication of all three being linked together. The absence of one in practice weighs heavily upon the effectiveness of the other two. When all three are in balance chapter 13 is greatly intensified being without dissimilation. This is "that" which Peter spoke of in Acts 2.16 refering to the prophet Joel. Jesus refered to it as "Bread" in John 6:58 (KJV) This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. The eating of the Bread has to do with Chap 14 which should produce chap 13 and thus build up/make perfect, the effectiveness of chap 12. I fully realize that "This is That" is refering to a single part of something that was given on the day of Pentecost but taken away from the context of all else Jesus pointed to and spoke of has lead many to throw the baby out with the bathwater rendering the church powerless. Flour, yeast and water, make bread. |
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