Why Such A Fuss Over Standards!!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

I believe tongues is an initial, outward sign of being filled with the Holy Ghost, but it isn't the only sign. And quite frankly, if a person speaks in tongues all day long but doesn't exhibit the fruits of the spirit, then I don't think they have the Spirit of God.

The Bible says, "...by THIS shall all men know you are my disciples, that you have love one to another." It doesn't say that people will know we're Spirit filled because of our tongue talking.

It is not and never has been and "if" or an "or" in choosing between identifying ourselves as a spirit-filled tongue talker or a person showing love.

The word "disciple" means a "learner" and a "pupil". That is why the Word says - "I press toward the mark...." Of course He would admonish us to love - love covers a multitude of sin. What does that mean? That love draws a heart. That is how He won us - While we were yet sinners, Christ died for the "ungodly". That is love!

The fruit of the spirit is also an extension and progression in the life of a "spirit-filled" child of God. That is not another sign, they are attributes we should have as "spirit-filled" children of God.

II Peter 1: 4 shows us, also, how to be partakers of His divine nature.

(4)Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (5)And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (6)And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (7)And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

That is a Disciple - learning and growing. Paul speaks to Timothy and says, "stir up the gift that is in you". Jude 1:20 "But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost..." Stir, build up, pray - grow!

I Corinthians 13 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
...And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
...And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

I think this passage puts *tongues* in their proper perspective.

Tongues is a sign that follows them that believe--meaning it comes after a person has believed.

Yes, AND baptism AND repentance are also a step taken "after" we believe.

It puts tongues in it's proper perspective toward a "disciple" who is a "pupil" or "learner" . How? The precursor to I Cor 13 is I Cor 12:31, which says, "....and yet show I unto you a more excellent way." Disciple! I will teach you something more!

Let's not overlook, especially, 1 Corinthians 12:11 which also states - "But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will."

There is no OTHER anything - it's the one and the same - selfsame - the Spirit of God Almighty.

Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:18 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.

I would say these signs are fairly common among many Pentecostal denominations, including those who don't teach the necessity of tongues, but still accept the practice or the sign, with the exception of serpents and drinking deadly things.

If you put total stock in a person who is able to perform a few signs, than you will have to put stock in Pharoah's magicians and even toward the devil himself. God will always respond to faith. That does not mean the person can and will be saved.

"new" tongues means "new, especially in freshness". It is not the same as in Acts 2:4 when it speaks of "other/different" tongues. Although, Vines puts the "new" and "different" having the same meaning. Strong's leaves it as "freshness".

Clearly, one of the signs in Mark 16 would be the "freshness" and renewing of our spirit. I Cor 15:31, "I die daily." That is why, IMO, the writer determines to use "new" tongues, as it means "fresh". It is a renewing and progression as a spirit filled child of God. Even if it took the meaning of "different" from the Vines, it would still support Acts 2:38.

I find NO other spirit, but the selfsame spirit of God - the "seal" - "the promise" - "the Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit" poured out on the Day of Pentecost - and they spoke in tongues as the Spirit of God gave the utterance - the selfsame working all in all!

There is only ONE sign. Everything else is an attribute or working of that sign.