Again young talmedeme... THINK LIKE A HEBREW...

Jewish people back then as well as still today talk in pictures... What does the fire give them a picture of in the scriptures (Genesis through Deuteronomy)?

innerdawg

Michelle,

You ask a question that carries a very passionate debate among many Christians today, and that's the gift of tongues. I don't know what denomination you all are at Stand, or if there are many in your group. There has been so much discussion about Spiritual gifts, and the gift of tongues in particular. Some denoms believe that that gift was only temporary, as you referred to in your question. That God gave that gift to His apostles at Pentecost and it was only needed for the people of that day. Others believe that tongues is a vital part of worship for today. Still others will take a stand and go so far as to question one's salvation if they do NOT speak in tongues...

I have belonged to a Southern Baptist body as well as an AOG (Assembly of God). Baptists do not believe that tongues is a necessary gift, nor do they believe that it is for us today. AOG believe otherwise and speak it (both in prayer and as a message received from the Holy Spirit) at most every service.

For me, I have been prayed up and over and on and still have not spoken in tongues. I don't know why that is. I know that I have prayed for it. So the rest is up to God. Some may say that it's a sin issue, that I am somehow prohibiting the gift... Well, it's possible, cos I do slip, but mostly I believe that if this is a gift that God has for me, then someday I will speak. If not, no biggie. I never put Him in a box... He has more for us than we could ever imagine in our own thoughts...I don't want to put a limit on what He has for me...

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[ 09-24-2001: Message edited by: embie ]

Jason,
HELP!!!!! Could you shed a little more light on the subject of "thinking in pictures" for this talmadene? I know what images fire brings to me, but I don't understand the jewish culture of the times in which the old testament was written...I've read the books you suggested and looked up fire in the concordance...it symbolized God's power,protection,guidance, etc... physically it was used for warmth,sacrifice,cooking,refining,destruction....what am i missing?? Also, what is the name of the man who recorded those tapes that you learned so much from? I'd like to hear the complete series. Thanks!

Embie, I'm glad that you brought up the subject of speaking in tongues. I can only respond from my own viewpoint...I, too was raised in a denom that didn't even talk about the possibility that tongues was a gift for us now....all I knew was that it seemed fanatical and a little "out there"...I feared what I didn't know...then about 4 years ago, I went to church with a friend and they spoke in tongues...she patiently explained what was happening and i relaxed. I felt a peace that that was more intense than I had ever felt before in my spirit. I still thought it very strange and it was WAYYYYY out of my comfort zone. My friend and I went out to eat a few weeks later and she patiently answered all the questions that I threw at her regarding this gift. The one thing that stuck with me is that it is a gift...one that i could choose to receive or not....that it was up to me. I didn't understand HOW though. It confused and frustrated me. I prayed, I asked questions...nothing. Then one day, I was praying and worshiping GOD....just pure worship...telling HIM over and over again how much I love HIM. All of a sudden, I felt this feeling of pure joy welling up inside me. Somewhere from deep within, I physically felt something unfamiliar rising up in me. I later likened it to the feeling that my soul was trying to jump out of my body to meet GOD. I still don't know if that makes any sense, but that is what i felt in the physical. I felt a union in flesh and spirit that I had never felt before. It was so incredibly beautiful. It was then that my mouth started making sounds that I had never felt or heard before. My tongue moved in ways that I was unaccustomed to. There was no fear, only peace and joy. That experience left me as weak as a new born babe. I tried later to reproduce those moments, to no avail on my own. Speaking in tongues came again, but only after I had spent time worshiping and praising the LORD. Blocking everything out but HIM. I still speak in tongues...it comes much easier now...I've learned to concentrate on HIM during those times..and it just flows. I still don't understand why it came when it did, but I do know that it has nothing to do with sin being in our lives...please, if it were based on the presence of sin, then no one would be able to speak in tongues. It is a gift for our spirits of communication and communion with the HOLY SPIRIT. Why some and not others? I don't know...maybe it is fear like it was for me...or maybe HE gives us all different gifts...to bring more diversity and beauty to the Body of Christ....???

<img src="smile.gif" border="0" alt="" />

posted by Delight: "...I've read the books you suggested and looked up fire in the concordance...it symbolized God's power,protection,guidance, etc... physically it was used for warmth,sacrifice,cooking,refining,destruction....what am i missing??"

I know it is hard for us (westerners--not Texans Americans <img src="biggrin.gif" border="0" alt="" /> ) to change our thinking, but you are on the right track. Don't "understand it" just "see it" as they would. An example would be if I told you that throughout all that has hapened in the last few weeks we need more people like the Statue of Liberty... imediately you get a picture of what I mean. You don't have to break it down and define it... just see the picture I mean to convey.

The teacher is Dr. Ray VanDerleen. He's incredible.

innerdawg

Jason,
You are right...it is hard to just "visualize" instead of "analyze". So, I tried again and this is what I came up with...I "see" fire as...brightness, light,consuming power, intense heat,a "source" to help with everyday life ( cooking, warmth,refining)....Am I getting "warm" yet?????