Quote:
Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea
David Bernard in his book the New Birth in his chapter discussing repentance attributes not being filled with the Spirit w/ the evidence of speaking tongues, or having diffiiculty in receiving the HG ... to be lacking in repentance and/or faith.
Why don't some receive the gift of the Holy Ghost w/ the evidence of speaking in tongues ... right away ....
We've heard of some who complete either step 1, or steps 1 and 2 .... and for years cannot speak in tongues or struggle to be filled .... Why, is this so? Do you agree w/ Bernard?
Is it more lack of repentance? Lack of faith? Are they not linked?
If one is forgiven at repentance ... and/or after baptism but can't speak in tongues were you really ever forgiven at step one or two?
If we all accept that we are saved by grace through faith but the reason one does not speak in tongues is because a lack of faith ... then did that person ever obey the plan of salvation at least partially ... or exercise salvific faith in the first place?
And tangentially ... do you agree w/ Bernard's altar worker suggestions?
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Here is a thought....sure they may not receive the Spirit for those reasons...however what if they did have faith and did repent but just have not spoken in tongues yet?
Is it possible to be baptized in the Spirit...be able to speak in tongues but for some reason not understand how to just yield to the Spirit?
I remember Bro Stoneking saying once he was praying with a seeker and he felt in the Spirit that this person could hear words in their head....well he instructed that person to let the words that he was hearing in his head to come out by his voice and the person burst out speaking in tongues....
Does that mean that person was not baptized with the Spirit yet? That does not mean tongues is not the initial evidence but that a person might be struggling with just how to "let go" so they can speak in tongues...
How many times have we prayed with someone and we can tell they were sooooooo close? Stammering lips...the inability to say anything in their own language yet never really letting tongues just take over? You know what I mean...the seeker just can't say anything...not tongues, not english...because they are "right there"....tongues is a sign but tongues it not the means.
Just some thoughts....that maybe there is sometimes more to a person not speaking in tongues yet
Now on the other hand...early Methodists did not believe in all that...but they did believe in earnestly seeking God and waiting on Him....they earnestly believed in praying for confirmation from God of their salvation as a result many of those pre Topeka Methodists spoke in tongues anyways
Oh yeah...then there is third party factor....those well meaning alter workers that are more harm than help...they are annoying. They are confusing. They won't stop talking to that person who is now listening to them more than they are seeking God...
And how much are we responsible for having faith for that person? Some get it inspite of us but some churches are so dead nothing is happening