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Let me be of assistance.
Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
What’s the power for?
To be witnesses.
I don't dispute that.
Wonderful! Thank you.
My opinion - if you do not need the gift (perhaps because of lack of use), there is no reason for the gift to manifest.
I have been in WoF for over 45 years. I have never heard anyone actually say "the reason you are not healed is because you lack faith." I suppose there are... but apart from anecdotal references, I have never heard it.Just for clarification and thanks everyone for the responses thus far! I am not implying gifts and signs are false, nor that those who display them are automatically faking them. Rather just to start a discussion about how healthy it is to pressure others into the use of such.
As I stated originally, I attended a church that taught congregants how to pray in tongues. Another that said if you asked for healing and you werent healed then you lacked faith, so people would pretend to need healing so they could act like super faithful. Etc.
Such behavior only gives reason to outsiders to doubt and its certainly not helpful imo.
but essentially, any sounding from the Spirit is speaking in tongues. Even just a groan or a sigh.
That falls rather short of miraculous.
As I stated originally, I attended a church that taught congregants how to pray in tongues. Another that said if you asked for healing and you werent healed then you lacked faith, so people would pretend to need healing so they could act like super faithful. Etc.
Such behavior only gives reason to outsiders to doubt and its certainly not helpful imo.
When the disciples experienced the pouring out of the Holy Ghost in the upper room, they did not hide away up there. The flooded out into the streets where others could hear and see what was happening. If you are not manifesting... it could mean you are still in the upper room.
and ye shall be witnesses unto me
Signs for the sake of signs?So a lot is made about fruit bearing, and giving evidence. I am sure I know how this will turn out, but really just curious for discussion sake. And as a "re-introduction" to the forum, I've been AFK for a bit:
Does a person that follows Charismatic teachings and agrees doctrinally with their respective group need to manifest signs or gifts? Tongues, Healings, Discernment of Spirits, etc.
The point of my question is to really examine if Charismatic groups are/can be a bit elitist and actually cause congregants to display false signs. You know, pressure them so greatly into "if you don't display you aren't one of us" that they fake tongues, or fake a healing, etc.
Then the followup is that the Christlike behavior we are to portray?
Signs for the sake of signs?
=Vanity.
I do not lay hands on the sick to see or show off a sign of healing.
But so they can be healed and free from suffering.
Walking in the power of the Holy spirit is nothing to do with froth and bubble and show. But rather living out obedience ...Go and love people
Without faith it is impossible to please God.Glad to hear it.
Yes.
But the whole point is that we do not NEED to be doing signs and wonders to show our love or obey and serve the Lord.
Some Christians have never done a "wonder" in their lives, (though it is not them that would do it, but the Lord) - yet they show their love by feeding the poor, helping the neglected, comforting/visiting the sick and listening to, and affirming, the outcast, downtrodden and weak in society - just like Jesus did.
Glad to hear it.
Yes.
But the whole point is that we do not NEED to be doing signs and wonders to show our love or obey and serve the Lord.
Some Christians have never done a "wonder" in their lives, (though it is not them that would do it, but the Lord) - yet they show their love by feeding the poor, helping the neglected, comforting/visiting the sick and listening to, and affirming, the outcast, downtrodden and weak in society - just like Jesus did.
Without faith it is impossible to please God.
Just like Jesus did.???
Hmm ya need to think THAT through.
If we live our lives submitted to God …
committed to following all He asks, in obedience …
we will do signs and wonders and more,
how and when HE wants them done.
Any 'beating persons over the head' …
with the message that all MUST be doing signs and wonders, etc. …
'or else' they are not saved, they are not true followers of Jesus …
they are not baptized in the Spirit, and on and on ...
is based in ignorance or spiritual immaturity …
God is love.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Love.
Those truly walking with God, will love …
… whether that means working signs and wonders …
healing the sick … casting out demons ...
giving the next door neighbor a bag of groceries because they are in need …
babysitting for the tired young mother in need of a break …
giving a sack lunch to a poor man on the street corner ...
et cetera ...
The 'sign' of a "Charismatic", Spirit-filled believer?
Love.
And where you see Godly love you will see the power of God manifest...for God IS love.If we live our lives submitted to God …
committed to following all He asks, in obedience …
we will do signs and wonders and more,
how and when HE wants them done.
Any 'beating persons over the head' …
with the message that all MUST be doing signs and wonders, etc. …
'or else' they are not saved, they are not true followers of Jesus …
they are not baptized in the Spirit, and on and on ...
is based in ignorance or spiritual immaturity …
or pride or judgmentalism …
or demonic influence …
or some combination of those things ...
but not in God.
God is love.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Love.
Those truly walking with God, will love …
… whether that means working signs and wonders …
healing the sick … casting out demons ...
giving the next door neighbor a bag of groceries because they are in need …
babysitting for the tired young mother in need of a break …
giving a sack lunch to a poor man on the street corner ...
et cetera ...
I think we do well, to remember this:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord,
did we not prophesy in your name
and in your name drive out demons
and in your name perform many miracles?
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
~Mark 7:21-23
And this:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
~ Matthew 22:36-40
And lastly:
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value.
The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."
~ Galatians 5:6
The 'sign' of a "Charismatic", Spirit-filled believer?
Love.
Where the Holy Spirit is present …
and free to flow thru the life of an individual …
we will 'see' love ...
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