You don't have a clue what you are talking about,........ friend.
There is not a single moment in scripture where the gifts were ever used to promote the good news of Jesus Christ. Not a single mention of this ever.
Did you hear that correctly? Let me spell that out for you again. There is no example in scripture where Peter, Paul, Steven, or any one of the other 1st Century Christians ever used the gifts to promote or confirm the gospel. Period.
Now,..............and pay attention to this,..........the gifts were used as an arresting truth so the gospel could be preached by the 1st Century Christians, like we see with Peter In acts 2 and other various examples in Acts, where the gifts were manifested by GOD for healing or a miracle first, and then the message was preached by one of them following it,...................... not the other way around.
Other than these examples in scripture where GOD showed HIs mercy to a dying world, the gifts serve no purpose other than for the body of Christ,....
1Co 14:12 So also ye, since ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may abound unto the edifying of the church.
They serve no other purpose than personal use or corporate use for edification. That's it.
Btw,..... just because you and your church have refused the filling of The Holy Spirit doesn't mean you are not saved. It just means you have refused to follow Jesus and take one of the steps that He did for His ministry. That's all.
I'm always amused when people tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. Especially when they make statements that are so demonstrably wrong. You claim there is no Scripture when in fact I've already given Scripture.
21
In the law it is written, With
men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 22 Wherefore
tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not:
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), 1 Co 14:21–22.
There you have it. Paul states unequivocally that tongues was a sign for the unbeliever.
Before I go on to other passages, let's discuss Critical Thinking. Where does Paul say that the purpose of the gifts is to edify the Church? Correlation is not causation. Just because the church was edified in the use of the gifts doesn't mean that that is the purpose of the gifts.
In that passage Paul said, 'in the law it is written'. Let's look at the Law and see where it was written.
Whom shall he teach knowledge?
And whom shall he make to understand doctrine?
Them that are weaned from the milk,
And drawn from the breasts.
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept;
Line upon line, line upon line;
Here a little, and there a little:
11
For with xstammering lips and another tongue
Will he speak to this people.
12 To whom he said,
This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest;
And this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the LORD was unto them
Precept upon precept, precept upon precept;
Line upon line, line upon line;
Here a little, and there a little;
That they might go, and fall backward, and be broken,
And snared, and taken.
14
Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men,
That rule this people which is in Jerusalem.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Is 28:9–14.
This is the passage Paul is referring to. Notice who tongues are addressed to. They're addressed to the "scornful men that rule this people which is in Jerusalem'". Who ruled in Jerusalem? It was Sadducees and the Pharisees. These are the unbelievers that Paul is referring to. Tongues was a sign to the Jewish leadership in particular.
But let's look at some more.
11 For the LORD spake thus to me with a strong hand,
And instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,
12 Say ye not, A confederacy,
To all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy;
Neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid.
13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself;
And let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
14 And he shall be for a sanctuary;
But for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel,
For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
15 And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken,
And be snared, and be taken.
16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
17 And I will wait upon the LORD,
That hideth his face from the house of Jacob,
And I will look for him.
18
Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me
Are for signs and for wonders in Israel
From the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Is 8:11–18.
If we compare verse 14 with what we saw in Isaiah 28 we find the same wording. This stone of stumbling and rock of offence is quoted by Paul and applied to Christ. He is the rock of offence. Again, notice it is to both houses of Israel. Then notice verse 18. Isaiah prophesies the words of Christ, "I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and wonders in Israel". Notice he said they were signs and wonders in Israel. He didn't say that were for signs and wonders in the church.
We also have the words of Mark.
15 And he said unto them,
Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;
they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. 20 And
they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Mk 16:14–20.
They preached everywhere and the Lord was working with them. What was He doing? He was "confirming the word" with signs and wonders. There you have it. It's crystal clear. The Lord was confirming the word with signs and wonders.