Does your church still have "tarrying meetings"?
 

Well.. do they? And by tarrying meeting I mean a prayer meeting where folks seek God for the Holy Ghost. Not so much waiting for God to move according to an unknown timetable, but about seeking God in prayer and allowing Him to work out whatever we need worked out, ie getting US into a place where God can fill us.

Seems the general consensus in the church world is that "tarrying" in that sense is unnecessary and unbiblical. But practically ALL the early Pentecostals wholeheartedly believed in it.

Seems to me that as tarrying has been abandoned and replaced with a charismatic "just name it and claim it" type approach, we have become less and less genuinely Pentecostal. Many Pentecostal churches seem Pentecostal in name only. Many Pentecostals are backslid, lukewarm, worldly, uncharitable, and barely indiscernible in their attitude from the unabashedly lost.

Could abandoning the "importunate seeking after God" in favor of hurrying up to speak in tongues be responsible for flooding the world with pseudo-pentecostal "saints" and carnal imitation "pentecostal-in-name-only" churches?

What do you think?

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

I do notice in acts there wasn't a lot effort to receive the Spirit.

I don't understand this.

it's not biblical

Somewhat of a false dichotomy, but I'll go along. I have seen some of the name and claim stuff in OP, but nothing as extreme as that in the WOF movement. An instant society requires instant results.


I couldn't agree more. My theory is that this is the result of legalism. When all you need to do is please the pastor the bible really isn't necessary.


Yes. This implies that much of today's tongues are not real. That will get no disagreement from me. The rush to get people to speak in tongues is a result of the initial evidence doctrine.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

I would say that your definition of tarrying would possibly include a prayer meeting that doesn't end until an answer is received, and a couple of examples that come to mind is the first outpouring of the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, where they gathered in one accord to pray and seek the Lord until the Spirit was poured out. We see several other prayer meetings in the book of Acts where it certainly seems that the saints were in no hurry to leave, but were praying until the answer came - another example being Peter freed out of prison, and Rhoda answering the door as the group was meeting to pray for him.

So yes, I think that tarrying is scriptural, biblical, and certainly something that the church could benefit from today.

I have been a part of many such meetings, overnight prayer meetings, and meetings where people stayed and prayed until a breakthrough was reached in their need.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

I am thinking that in the Upper Room, they weren't sipping chai as they awaited the power from God promised to them. I IMAGINE they were praying and singing while waiting.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

I don't see it as unbiblical at all. How can someone see seeking the Lord in prayer, song and supplication be unbiblical?

The emotional stuff and snotting and rolling around and other stuff that happens in some tarry meetings is not recorded in the Bible, but neither is the gathering in church buildings. We have concepts and we have human nature and often, they collide.

Furthermore, who knows if God Himself may not be using some of the examples of humanity we see to bring a deeply personal breaking a surrendering to a soul racked by self will and pride?

I agree.

I agree but the lack of tarry services isn't directly connected to this phenomenon.


I see symptoms of sickness but not a clear cause and effect relationship you seem to be trying to point out.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

It was by divine providence that it was given till day of Pentecost. All experiences in acts was a lot different.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

I was not trying at all when my first experience with tongues happened. I did not know it was related to the Spirit baptism. I was a 6 week old believer who was just continually in the word and prayer. It was at work not in a tarry meeting.

Having said that Im all for tarry meetings. I remember our Chief Pastor in the Pentecostal Mission work telling he went to a full gospel business men's meeting once. He said they asked if anyone wanted the Holy Spirit. He said the did not mention repentance at all just told them to open their mouth and speak in tongues.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

So abandoning the tarrying meeting/prayer meeting is a symptom along with the other things? What then would be the cause? And what would be the cure?

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

I love prayer time. Individual or with the church body. It's always a blessing to spend time in prayer, but in Acts, the reason the 120 were WAITING (tarrying) was because they were waiting on a particular time. And when the day of Pentecost WAS FULLY COME.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

He is talking about a specific kind of prayer meeting for people to seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost

He is not talking about tarrying at a church service.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

I've been to "tarrying services" where folks were seeking the Holy Ghost, most of the time it didn't work. Just wore everybody out.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

Is there anything wrong with that? Isn't tarrying the same as seeking God?

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

Never anything "wrong" with seeking God.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

No one "tarried for tongues" in the Bible.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

That is true. We read no accounts in the book of Acts for the kind of actions that take place in many churches with those seeking the gift of tongues. The screaming, wailing, shaking, pushing, jumping, spitting, and all kinds of other stuff that go on in the name of "seeking the Holy Ghost" just is not found anywhere in Acts. People believed, and received.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

How do you know the Samaritans didn't tarry in Acts 8?

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

Not the Samaritans. They believed but didn't receive.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

Hou, I've learned that, when no one responds to your post, you may regard that as a "can't touch this." :D

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

It is written,

Prior to the ascension...

Luke 24:49
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

After the ascension...

Acts 1:12-14
12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
13 And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

After addressing the business of appointing Matthias and a period of waiting until Pentecost was fully come...

Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

They tarried in Jerusalem waiting for the promise.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

I've been in prayer meetings wherein the group sits in silent prayer until someone responds to the moving of the Spirit. In house churches the gift of prophesy often manifests within the group as members begin to prophesy under the anointing of the Spirit. Sometimes a message in tongues with interpretation is given to the group, especially if an unresolved issue exists within the body.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

Acts 1 and 2, the 120 "tarried" because they were all waiting for the time designated by God for the outpouring of the Holy Ghost ("And when the day of Pentecost was FULLY come"). Since the initial outpouring of the Holy Ghost, no one HAS TO TARRY, because the promise of the Father has been fulfilled at Pentecost. Simply obey Acts 2:38.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

This is a common error people make nowadays.

The disciples were told to tarry (wait) in Jerusalem until... what? Until the Day of Pentecost? No. Until they received the Holy Ghost. They were told to wait in Jerusalem - don't go around preaching or anything - until they had been endued with power from on high, the power of the Holy Spirit.

They were waiting for the Promise. Waiting for the Power. Waiting for the outpouring of the Spirit to empower them to be witnesses into all the world. Their ministries were on hold UNTIL they had the power of God in them.

They were not told to wait until the 50th day after the waving of the omer of the first barley harvest (aka "Pentecost"). They had no idea the Spirit would visit them on THAT PARTICULAR DAY. They only knew to wait until the Spirit came.

So they waited. They weren't keeping time marking off the days, they were in prayer and supplication. For what? The power. The Spirit. They did not know WHEN it would happen. Only they had a promise from Jesus and they tarried in prayer until the promise was fulfilled in them personally and experientially.

Jesus had told them God wanted to give them the Spirit. He had told them the Father would give he Spirit to he disciples IF THEY ASKED HIM. And then taught them parables about the efficacy of persistent, importunate prayer IN THE CONTEXT OF ASKING FOR AND RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST. Acting on His promise and obedient to his teaching they continued in prayer and supplication and did pretty much nothing except beseech God in faith and expectation.

And they received when God saw all things were in the right time and place, when it was most expedient and wise for the promise to be fulfilled.

Just because THEY received the Spirit gives nobody else the standing to presume that they have the Spirit. The Spirit is not something enjoyed on your behalf, nor is it something that you have access to JUST BECAUSE THEY DID. Each of us must come in faith. Each must receive for THEIR OWN SELF. And that means each must repent. Each must seek God. Each must ask. We come to Calvary as individuals and we must come to Pentecost likewise ... regardless if others come with us or if others are present.

I fear this charismatic "just open your mouth and speak it out and claim it as real by faith" approach is aborting untold numbers of would be children of God.

And I think the condition of the church today bears that out.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

And remember... I am not talking about "waiting" just to wait until some point in time, but rather to wait actively in prayer until the Promise becomes a reality.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

I think you'd have a harder time proving that they did.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

We have prayer meetings! Wednesday morning 6:00 AM, want to come?

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

Anyone ever attend a Quaker gathering? Very peaceful, a lot of tarrying.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

This is really good Bro. I really am with you on it. I agree the false teaching of just open your mouth and start has had terrible results. And yet the old time Pentecostal approach that I have witnessed does not seem to be perfect either.

Many of these groups that teach that way have no more power than many Charismatics. Now I do believe in proper preparation to receive. The norm for all seekers is that they would forsake all and turn to Christ.

Repent and be baptized into the name of Jesus. And yes then CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD!

Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. The context in Acts chapter 2 means they shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

No one should ever be told to just open their mouth and accept it by faith if they have not the right heart preparation.

And then there are those like in Acts 10. All they did was listen and believe. They really just believed and not even aware of what was happening they received. Much like my own experience. The Spirit manifested to me in tongues and prophecy while I was on break at work April 3 1974. I was definitely not seeking THAT experience.

I did not know that experience. I had never been in a Pentecostal Church in my life. But as to who receives the Holy Ghost one HUGE part of that puzzle IS NEVER ADDRESSED.

That is Acts 2:39. The promise is to you and your children and all that are afar off AS MANY AS THE LORD OUR GOD shall call!

No doubt many people have been brought to a Pentecostal altar and assured they will receive. No doubt many have stood in a Charismatic prayer circle and assured they will receive.

The bottom line is the Holy Spirit baptism is only for as many as the Lord our God shall call. No one else will receive whether in a Pentecostal or Charismatic setting.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

Peter told 3000 Jews "the Promise is unto you and to your children"... did he know each of them were called? Are we not called by the gospel? Thus if the gospel is proclaimed to someone, is it not evidence enough for them to assume God is calling them?

Of course... many are called but few are chosen. So even having the "Pentecostal baptism" is no guarantee of making it in the end. Too many people had a genuine experience but are now resting on the laurels of a past experience rathet than a present reality. And so the Pentecostal baptism becomes their Nehushtan.

And the conclusion to THAT analogy I'll leave unspoken.

Re: Does your church still have "tarrying meetings
 

I don't think so. The apostles and earliest disciples were told to "wait" to receive the Spirit. So there is precedence.

One would have to speculate as to how long they took seeking for the Spirit before they sent for the apostles.