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The Tongue

The tongue (γλῶσσα) describes the member of our body that is primarily used in speech and is therefore synonymous with what language we speak. In Scripture, tongue is always used of a known language upon the earth, even if the hearers do not understand it (1 Corinthians 14:11). How we use our tongue is important, for it has great power in influencing our path in life.

In the upper room, on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, tongues were divided unto them, Acts 2:3. These tongues were specific dialects of the devout Jews that were in Jerusalem at this time, Acts 2:11. This was a very specific event that was only repeated a few other times for a sign to the Jews. It is not the Spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. They did not continue to speak in tongues after this because the Holy Spirit mentally controlled (πίμπλημι) them to enable this, where today the Holy Spirit fills us where we lack (πληρόω) so that we are able to use our Spiritual gift and produce His fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). We see this sign again when Peter is in the house of Cornelius, a devout Gentile. While Peter is telling them of the death and resurrection of Christ, they begin to speak in tongues, causing the Jews with Peter to wonder, Acts 10:46. What caused them to wonder was not that the Gentiles could speak in another language, but that they were speaking the wonders of God, for God said that He would give the Jews a sign by speaking to them in other tongues, 1 Corinthians 14:21. One of the healings that Jesus did as a sign to the […]

The Tongue2023-11-25T07:49:57-08:00

2 Corinthians The Certainty We Have in Christ

Our Boast in the Day of the Lord, 2 Corinthians 1:14

Our Crown of Rejoicing, 1 Thessalonians 2:19

It is Not About the Crowns, it is About the People

Incorruptible Crown – for exercising self-control in all things, 1 Corinthians 9:25

Crown of Life – for enduring a temptation, James 1:12

Crown of Evangelism, Philippians 4:1

Crown of Righteousness – for those who love His appearing, 2 Timothy 4:8

Crown of Rejoicing – for Preaching the Gospel, 1 Thessalonians 2:19

Crown of Glory – For Pastors, 1 Peter 5:4

Not Boasting of Bad Conduct, 1 Corinthians 5:6

Not Boasting About Our Works for Salvation, Romans 4:2

Examining Your Own Works, Are They Worthy, Galatians 6:4

Holding Fast in the Word of Life, Philippians 2:16

Christ is our Confidence and Boast, Hebrews 3:6

Assisting In Paul’s Ministry, 2 Corinthians 1:15-16

Coming to them in Confidence, 2 Corinthians 1:15

They Have Turned again to Paul

A Second Grace

Paul giving them a benefit by working with them

Not another blessing, there is no add-on to the faith

Often Used to Imply the Holy Spirit is Given After Salvation

Misunderstanding of the Progression of the Gospel

First to the Jews, Acts 2:5

Speaking in Tongues Was a Sign to the Jews, Acts 2:8

God Showing Peter the Gentiles are Being Accepted along with the Jews, Acts 10:44-46

Then Unto the Samaritans – Who are Mixed Jews

Philip Preaching the Gospel in Samaria, Acts 8:5

2 Corinthians The Certainty We Have in Christ2023-12-14T08:21:01-08:00

Experiencing the Holy Spirit – Desires

Why do we want the things that we want? There is always a reason behind our desires. Some of them are not so good as others, but a reason none the less.

As part of our salvation our spirits were washed and regenerated, that is, we were born again in our spirit which means we are now connected to God in spirit.

not out from works, the ones in righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us through washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5

But the one knit together with the Lord is one spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:17

Our spirit is our rational part

For what human intuitively knows the things of a human except the spirit of the human, the one in Him? 1 Corinthians 2:11

Because we are now connected to God in our rational, intellectual part and the Holy Spirit indwells us, He impacts our desires. So the next time you have a desire to do what is right, that desire is not coming from you; rather, it is a direct result of the Holy Spirit expressing to you His desire for you in that situation. Don’t take these desires lightly, they are not natural to our human nature and are contrary to it.

But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will never bring to completion the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the desires of the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. For these are against one another in order that you do not do the things you desire – Galatians 5:17

Now we do not want our sin nature taking advantage […]

Experiencing the Holy Spirit – Desires2023-12-14T08:41:58-08:00

The Daily Christian Life – Dealing with the Strongholds in Our Mind

For our weapons of warfare are not fleshly, but inherent ability by the God towards the tearing down of strongholds, casting down logics and every high thing lifting itself up against the knowledge of the God and bringing every thought into captivity into the obedience of the Christ, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

Within our mind we can build up strongholds that are very difficult to overcome. These can be false beliefs or temptations like living by law, speaking in tongues, drinking alcohol, pornography, lying, stealing or anything else that holds us. Often these strongholds are built with the help of others who influence what we believe and how we perceive life. However, when they come up against the knowledge of God, we struggle to overcome them.

Dealing with what goes through our minds can be very difficult when we are not using the methods provided for us in Christ. Our battle is not fleshly, it is spiritual, it is a battle for the mind, and this is why it is important for us to frame our minds correctly. Remember, framing the mind is about setting a proper boundary around who you are and what you allow to remain in your mind. As Christians our frame of mind needs to be on the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above where the Christ is seated at the right hand of the God, Frame your mind of the things above, not the things upon the earth – Colossians 3:1, 2

Having this frame of mind, we can then compare the thoughts in our mind with whether or not they fit and if they […]

The Daily Christian Life – Dealing with the Strongholds in Our Mind2023-12-14T08:48:15-08:00

The Proper Use of the Old Testament

Two types of doctrine are found in Scripture that are revealed through two Greek words used for different types of teaching; doctrine that is to be learned and practiced and doctrine that is to be learned, but NOT practiced.

“All Scripture is God breathed and profitable towards teaching, towards conviction, towards correction, towards child training in the righteousness” , 2 Timothy 3:16.

“Teaching” refers to information to be learned but not practiced. Conviction, correction and child training in the righteousness relates to doctrine that is to be learned and practiced.

“And having various gracious gifts according to the grace, the one given to you, whether prophecy, according as the portion of the faith, whether the one serving, in serving or the one teaching, in teaching…” Romans 12:6, 7.

“… and He gave the Apostles, and the prophets, and the evangelists, and the pastors even teachers…” Ephesians 4:11.

The “Pastor” and the “Teacher” in the Ephesians passage are the same person. It is the primary responsibility of the Pastor as the shepherd to teach doctrine that is to be learned and practiced; however, he is also to properly handle Old Testament information by teaching it as information that is to be learned, but not practiced. In addition to the Pastor properly handling the Old Testament information, God has proved others with the Spiritual gift of teaching who properly teach the value of the Old Testament information without abusing it by seeking to make it doctrine to live by in this day and age (Romans 12:6,7). This is not restricting doctrine to be learned and practiced to only a Pastor being able to teach it, but the Pastor is the primary method by which this type […]

The Proper Use of the Old Testament2023-12-10T07:25:07-08:00
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