I find it QUITE amusing that there are those here, everywhere, who feel themselves SO "in-the-know" with regard to the "things" of God... and yet, vehemently deny the Spirit... and its gifts. They pomp and posture over what "the BIBLE says"... as if they are truly knowledgable. They hold it up as God's infallible word, that which should be consulted devotedly, in order to know God... and the "things" of God... all the while denying what it ITSELF has written in it. They tout Paul as an expert in things spiritual... even over the Christ. And, yet, they overlook even what Paul himself says.
For example, and I will use the KING JAMES version (and BTW, dear DJ, I do not use the Johannes Gruber version - but the NWT for the simple reason that that is the "version" that most who come here use - not that it would matter, for my Lord's voice takes precedence over EVERY version)... I digress.
For example 1 Corinthians 2:4-16, which says:
- 2:2
- For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
|
- 2:3
- And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
|
- 2:4
- And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing F4 words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
|
- 2:5
- That your faith should not stand F5 in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
|
- 2:6
- Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
|
- 2:7
- But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
|
- 2:8
- Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
|
- 2:9
- But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
|
- 2:10
- But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
|
- 2:11
- For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
|
- 2:12
- Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
|
- 2:13
- Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
|
- 2:14
- But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
|
- 2:15
- But he that is spiritual judgeth F6 all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
|
- 2:16
- For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
|
And then, there's 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 where Paul lists the GIFTS of the spirit, including, "discerning SPIRITS," as stated in verse 10:
- 12:4
- Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
|
- 12:5
- And there are differences of administrations, F42 but the same Lord.
|
- 12:6
- And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
|
- 12:7
- But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
|
- 12:8
- For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
|
- 12:9
- To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
|
- 12:10
- To 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:
|
- 12:11
- But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
|
Again, I find it quite amusing... for they THINK they see... and yet, they are blind. I advise them ALL... to go to the One who sells EYESALVE... HOLY SPIRIT... and "buy" from him. For there is no other way to see that which is unseen... nor to understand SPIRITUAL things. Revelation 3:17; John 14:6
You did not hear it from ME... but from PAUL... whose words YOU believe to be completely "inspired." If, then, you will not listen to my Lord, just as the Father commanded you to... why, do you not listen... to PAUL?
A slave of Christ,
SJ
