Were they only for the apostolic times, or they are also for the present time?
Lord, what confusion reigns on these issues within the Christian community .
I remember, I've recently received the Holy Spirit's gift of tongues and on the door of my apartment someone rang. A man was selling books, one of which had in it's title "Holy Spirit". I did not think long, took several books and sat with interest to read about the Holy Spirit. What was my surprise when I found out that hundreds of pages have been written to prove that there is no such thing as "speaking in tongues", something that I already had, given to me by grace - something supernatural and most natural for God to give. Then I saw that all the books are from one author -- Hellen White. In a purge at home all the books burned in the stove so that the pipes became red .
So I noticed that the same arguments that were used by White are also used by other opponents of the gift of "speaking in tongues" and the common thing between them all is that they do not have this gift...
Whether there are imitations - absolutely. I myself, in desire to be like others and stop their reproaches that 7 months have been gone and I have not been baptized in the Holy Spirit, tried somehow to imitate it, repeating syllables, which I have heard. It was funny. Oh, it never works in the flesh!
Best imitations are in a spirit, but not in the Holy Spirit. I was a witness in a case where a girl remembered pretty words in Aramaic and presented it as a speaking in tongues. But any imitation, ultimately manifests itself, or it is seen by the fruits in one's life, what is the source.
I would like to clarify that I did not identify the receipt of the Holy Spirit with the gift of tongues. And I had a personal confirmation from God for this.
But the very fact that there is imitation is the best proof of the existence of the original.
One of the things that convinced me to give my life to Jesus Christ was the truth of what the Bible says. I read and what it says as spiritual principles I watch them confirmed in the real life. For me, even as a brand new in the faith, it was clear - that of speaking in tongues is in the Word (Mark 16:17 , 1 Corinthians 12:10 , 1 Corinthians 12:28 ), I got it as it is written in the Word (Acts 2:3 , Acts 10:46 ) and it effects as it is written in the Word (Acts 10:46 , Acts 19:6 ). There are also instructions on how to use it, yet still in the Word (1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14). All this I've read in the Word was fulfilled in my real life!
So my advice to the opponents of the gift of speaking in tongues is to simply ask God sincerely and honestly - even if you are not sure about this, but in the belief that if you want something good from God, He will give it to you, according to Matthew 7:7 -11 .
You may not have to wait like me for 7 months.
Waiting for me had a very good reason - I wanted more the gift than the Giver. It had become an obsession that if I don't get the gift of tongues, my biggest problem will not be solved. In general, superstitions! Furthermore, I was worried what would think of me my brothers and sisters who laughed at me a little that I still do not have it. But when, with the grace of God I realized my improper attitude, peace came back to me and joy in my worship - and at the time that God considered, He gave me a tongue, then another, then another...
The Word is living and powerful also today, and the Holy Spirit is the same today as He was in the apostolic times.
Therefore, the same applies to the liberation and healing.
If regeneration is real - initiated by God and leading to a conviction and repentance for our sins, and real change in us, freight, curses, addictions, diseases should be cut off from the newborn believer. Theoretically, this could be the case. But in practice it is not always so. A fact seen for almost 20 years!
I 'm lucky - I was very sickly before believed. I used to catch every passing virus, even twice. So often suffered from purulent tonsillitis that already simple antibiotic capsules did not help - I went to have injections. Then, because of my feeble body what happened to me was overdose on prescibed drugs and I suffered from side-effects ...
When I was born again, I received an amazing gift from my God - divine health, I stopped getting sick. By saying that I do not catch a flu, people look at me with disbelief, but it is a fact. Besides, I had a health problem found after the first birth, confirmed after the second birth of another doctor, but it didn't bother me and it did not hurt and ignored it. A few years ago I read that it might be a cause for tumor formation. I went to see a doctor and it turned out that I do not have this problem - according to the doctor, it seemed that I never had it! I have many testimonies of healing of my children , my mother and other people through prayer. So, for me to say that God does not heal today, it means I would be ungrateful liar before my God.
Liberation - again, quite recently I have believed, with child-like faith , before someone told me what is possible and what is not, what it was for then and what is not, for now, I read in Acts 19:11, 12 "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them."
I believed and with the children we prayed and laid hands on the sheets on the bed of my husband, who then had a serious problem with alcohol. He came and threw a plate of food on the floor, slammed two doors and went to bed. When asleep, I went back and laid my hand on his head and began to pray quietly in tongues. As he was sleeping, he suddenly began to sob. In the morning he could not remember anything, and it worried him. After lunch a neighbor came with a bottle of brandy to visit, but my husband refused to drink - there was no desire in him for this. Glory to God !
And not only that, I've been witness to believers, born-again Christians who were oppressed by the enemy, even were introduced into psychiatry. I myself felt demonic attacks. An elderly woman in the church was harassed by demons at night even with manifestations in the material. She called filled with the Holy Spirit long- time believers. They prayed, anointed her and her home, and harassment stopped. These are real things. It can not necessarily be typically manifested demonic terror. It can be sometimes confusion, depression, weakness, but the source could be the same. All of this is real and God has given us power and authority over such attacks in the name of Jesus Christ.
What makes me suspicious, however is the ostentation in these ministries, displacement of the center from Jesus Christ to a man and to God's gifts, blessings and commercialism. Sometimes imitation, and the action of evil spirits are even apparent.
But it is a fact that there are believers in need of healing and deliverance. Why is this - that's another topic. God used me in this when I was called to do so. Not that flashy way, of course. I have prayed for people in need in the presence of a few people - at church office or at home and they received healing or deliverance. The key to this is the leading of the Holy Spirit. As a brother says - "You can not pray someone to get a steak, if God wants to slap him and bring him to repentance."
I totally agree - the best thing happened to me in my life was when God hit me a nice, loud slap that made me seek Him and repent. The slap was absolutely deserved - I openly declared that there is no God and that everything in my life depended on me...
Oh, God loves those challenges. He put me in a situation where nothing was up to me. God has a sense of humor, too. Immediately I changed my philosophy. The threat hanging over me with a setup charge for a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison. Seven years I have lived on my knees in prayer, and absolute trust in the only One who had the power to deliver me - Jesus Christ! I was so serving the study of the Word so my first Bible was not only patterned, painted and marked, but twice collapsed .
What we need to be able to abide in God and the Holy Spirit to dwell in us - despair.
Well, there are some with not so tough heads like me, in their lives it could the easier way.
One of the pastors in my town used to say, " I pray God to send us persecution, so we would be and drawn near to Him! "
But if we have come to this despair, unconditional surrender and total commitment to God, then we will see the smiling face of Jesus and then He can use us to implement His Will! And it's not about just some individuals - this is for all of His servants. When I received a Word of God with a call from Him, at first I felt very special, but then God has directed my attention to His Word and I understand that it is for all His servants .
Only Jesus is special !
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:" Acts 2:17 , 18
You will not be offended if I say that word here for servants and handmaidens, in the original are actually male and female slaves - dulos . For Joel 2:28 , 29, where is the quote from I'm not sure, but I checked for Acts - SLAVES .
This is the condition to be fulfilled for us the Word of Joel 2 and Acts 2 - to become slaves of Christ. Do not be alarmed, this is a good thing. Being a slave of God Almighty is the highest rank that a human being can reach. The price is ... to give our lives with all that we have.
And so - the tongues, healings and deliverances are ALSO for now and the words of Jesus are ALSO for us :
"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." John 14:12
For all I crave abundant grace in the transmission in voluntary slavery of Jesus Christ.
I've had short periods of time when by the grace of God I managed to pass the control to God.
WOW ! The experience is more powerful and exciting than in all the amazing adventures that I have read in novels. Why do I not live permanently so - oh, apparently much more escapes to me ...
I hope you get it! Just to warn you that there is a process of preparation, associated with reproof, cleaning , humbling, equipping, testing, accompanied by painful operations. Do not give up, I think, it is worth even for a smile on the face of the most beautiful - excellent Jesus the Christ .
I love you !
For more details on submission to slavery - in the article "
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