The Witness of the New Age

[Pariah]

One can go on the internet and surf about the topic of new age coming into the churches. One has to wonder how they are getting in.

Matthew 24: 24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

1 Timothy 4:1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

So it is by lying and being hypocritical in their lies that is one clue.

Consider this as another clue for discernment.

1 John 4: 5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Okay then. Let us take heed that we do not speak in the way that the world speak and hear in the way that the world hears.

Anymore clues?

1 John 4: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

So anyone looking for the Holy Spirit in the place of worship is not discerning the practise. Anyone calling for the Holy Spirit to come is not discerning the hypocrisey of Him being in us as promised for coming to Jesus. What is the faith?

2 Corinthians 13:5Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

What were we warned against?

Matthew 24:23Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25Behold, I have told you before. 26Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

And yet wayward believers go to places where the movement of the Spirit is being publicized and glorified in the media.

How can anyone keep a medium out of the worship service? Do they not call for spirits and welcome them into the place? Does anyone think God would have a rudiment following after the way of the world? One cannot say that Satan imitated God in this regard, because the mediums and their practises existed before the coming of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So then, is this a case of a method of new age creeping in unaware? Is this a case of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils?

But... tongues are being spoken.

Isaiah 8:And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?

Is not the invitation for this encounter is by chasing after the Spirit?

Some will testify of not doing so when the Spirit fell on them as they began speaking in tongues.

Did they test the spirits? Was there interpretations of the tongues? Did this encounter occurred when a new believer came to Christ, or was it just that he or she was a believer before, but because that happened, that was to be their salvation exerience, failing to test the spirits in how their testimony changed their witness of the Gospel?

Remember, signs and wonders will come, even if possible to fool the elect, so can anyone account for no new age person being among them if believers speak as the world speaks as believers hear as the world hears with tongues of no interpretations? How can it not qualify as the stranger's voice?

Let us examine the use of tongues today.

It has developed into its own time of prayer language in the assembly. They took verse 2 out of 1 Corinthians 14th chapter as if that justifies that practise, and yet the whole chapter was Paul demoting tongues to exalting the gift of prophesy for the assembly, and why.

1 Corinthians 14:22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 23If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

That alone should prune away the practise of prayer language time in the assembly.

24But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: 25And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

There is a saddest day in the Jewish calendar, marking the day that the Temple fell in Jerusalem. The Temple was the place of God's Presence and open miracles. Now look again at verse 25 above. That report is the end result of the manifestations of the Spirit to bear witness of Jesus Christ, the Good News to man.

There are talks that tongues have ceased when the Temple fell, and the completion of the scriptures voids the necessity of tongues today. One may also add, that due to the Temple having fallen, there were no more need for open miracles to bear witness of God's Presence in the believers of the New Covenant as opposed to the Temple of the Old Covenant. If one consider that it was necessary to show the transition that this is the same God of the Old Testament in this proclamation of the New Covenant, then one could see this as a reason why tongues ceased when the Temple fell. Still, it is conjecture, even if it is based on the reality of God, so then we must continue in examining tongues.

Another apsect of tongues today is that women are receiving the tongues. Why would they if it goes against the commandment as from the Lord? Note verse 36 about how the Word of God must go first to man. Compare that with 1 Timothy 2:13 reference.

1 Corinthians 14:34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. 35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 37If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

1 Timothy 2:11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was first formed, then Eve.

This is more than just women speaking out of turn. Paul is always careful when speaking for the Lord and when he is speaking on his own, and he makes sure the readers knows as example in 1 Corinthians 7th chapter: so it is not the times Paul lived in that he was decalring this as a commandment from the Lord.

So if women are not allowed to speak in the assembly, why would the gift of tongues go first to women? God is not a hypocrit.

It is true that the prophet Joel testified of handmaidens having the gift of the Spirit poured out on them so that they will prophesy, but that is to prophesy, not speak in tongues. There are verses where women are named in the mission field, but not to serve in the prophesying capacity in the assembly for men are to be leaders in being submissive to Christ, the Head, as women are to heed this commandment as well.

1 Timothy 2:8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.

In like manner without wrath or doubting, women are to be adorn as such.

So then we look closely at the tongues given to women in the event that the men may have the same tongues which is gibberish. How did the women get this tongue? By seeking after the Spirit? Is that how the men got it too? And yet, the world gets their tongues in the same way by seeking after other spirits.

On the internet, one can find research of linguists being invited to churches that claim to have the Biblical tongues with interpretations. But gues what? Those churches were found to have the same kind of tongues found in the world!

If we are to test the spirits, then let us test the tongues. The comfort zone of the prayer language cannot exist in the realm of discerning the tongues as being of the Spirit or of other spirits.

1 Corinthians 12:7But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Above declares that tongues are to work with interpretations, otherwise, new age can come in easily.

1 Corinthians 14:12Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 13Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

And how can you give thanks to God for answered prayers if you do not understand what you had prayed for?

17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

Boasting of Paul? I think not. He continues to demote tongues as the gift to seek, but to covet the gift of prophesy.

19Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

Try not to read the above verses with the eyes of false teachings as many will say that other tongues and other lips mean that it is an unknown tongue for which there is no interpretation, because tongue and lip is not singular to be read that way. The prophesy is referring to other languages of men or other nations.

So then, if anyone still not convinced and yet where is this orderly practise in the churches?

1 Corinthians 14: 27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Does anyone speak in tongues where they cannot stop as if they have no self-control? Then how can they be told to be silent if no interpretor? Verse 32 is the key also for discernment of the spirits for why else are we instructed not to quench the Spirit unless we can stop speaking in tongues when there is no interpretor?

This is the self same Spirit so He is not going to operate differently as in other churches. Any other manifestations not listed, as it glorifies the movement of the "Spirit", then we best start getting back to talk Jesus.

1 Corinthians 2:2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Otherwise, how can believers that speak in tongues stand apart according to our faith in Christ Jesus, if they speak as the world speak, hear as the world hears when there is no interpretation?

How can the worship of the Holy Spirit in the worship place be any different than other spirit worship in the world?

Do we discern how tongues came about by another way or not? Do we test the spirits to see how they take our eyes off of Jesus or not?

Any further relevation by tongues to add to the New Testament? Is it that God does not want His wayward believers to add to His Word lest they receive the plagues? If so, then we have what we need in the scriptures to guide us as we are edified by the Word.

Jesus Christ is the Gospel. Preach Him; & not another spirit to receive.

The Way has been broadened. Time to narrow the way back to Jesus.
So... preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. New age would have a hard time fitting in.

[Bloodbought]

Scripture says that we should only speak intongues if there is an interpreter. How will we know if there is an interoreter unless we know the language which require to be interpreted?

If someone is going to give an interpretation after something is said in an "unknown tongue" then why does the interpreter not give the message and cut out the"middle man". Speaking in tongues in this way is only self glorifying.

[Robert Cragg]

Originally Posted by Bloodbought

Scripture says that we should only speak intongues if there is an interpreter. How will we know if there is an interoreter unless we know the language which require to be interpreted?

If someone is going to give an interpretation after something is said in an "unknown tongue" then why does the interpreter not give the message and cut out the"middle man". Speaking in tongues in this way is only self glorifying.

If it is real Tongues yes it should be interprted, But the Holy Spirit is in charge, many times there is those who has the interpration but are affraid to. If I have the interpratation I usually wait and see if someone else might have it also, or if the Pastor asks for it. Sometimes if I wait to long, someone else will say the same thing that was in my heart to say.
I have seen many healings and such but it is always the Holy Spirit at work but the person is just a vessel. I've would love to explain more about the gifts of the Holy Spirit,But it raises too much negative response.

[canny]

I've would love to explain more about the gifts of the Holy Spirit,But it raises too much negative response.

I have a feeling, that is because, the Gifts are not discussed, tongues often takes precedence over any other, and people are so often made to feel inadequate if they have not heard or spoken in tongues,,, and I am quite sure it is just one of many.

I would love to hear about the other Gifts Robert

[Bloodbought]

I have a problem with what you say. Scripture says that you should only speak in a tongue if there is someone to interpret. That means knowing before you speak that there is an interpreter.

[bebe]

in public

[Robert Cragg]

Originally Posted by canny

I have a feeling, that is because, the Gifts are not discussed, tongues often takes precedence over any other, and people are so often made to feel inadequate if they have not heard or spoken in tongues,,, and I am quite sure it is just one of many.

I would love to hear about the other Gifts Robert

Well then I will start a topic on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit very soon.