Fanaticism and Tongues Speaking
The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:32, 33.
A spirit of fanaticism has ruled a certain class of Sabbathkeepers. . . . They have sipped but lightly at the fountain of truth and are unacquainted with the spirit of the message of the third angel. Nothing can be done for this class until their fanatical views are corrected. . . .
Some of these persons have exercises which they call gifts and say that the Lord has placed them in the church. They have an unmeaning gibberish which they call the unknown tongue, which is unknown not only by man but by the Lord and all heaven. Such gifts are manufactured by men and women, aided by the great deceiver. Fanaticism, false excitement, false talking in tongues, and noisy exercises have been considered gifts which God has placed in the Church. Some have been deceived here. The fruits of all this have not been good. . . .
There are many restless spirits who will not submit to discipline, system, and order. They think that their liberties would be abridged were they to lay aside their own judgment and submit to the judgment of those of experience. The work of God will not progress unless there is a disposition to submit to order and expel the reckless, disorderly spirit of fanaticism from their meetings. Impressions and feelings are no sure evidence that a person is led by the Lord. Satan will, if he is unsuspected, give feelings and impressions. These are not safe guides. All should thoroughly acquaint themselves with the evidences of our faith, and the great study should be how they can adorn their profession and bear fruit to the glory of God. . . . A trifling, joking, reckless spirit should be rebuked. It is no evidence of the grace of God upon the heart for persons to talk and pray with talent in meeting, and then give up to a rough, careless manner of talking and acting when out of meeting. . . .
The truth of God will never degrade, but will elevate the receiver, refine his taste, sanctify his judgment, and perfect him for the company of the pure and holy angels in the kingdom of God.
Maranatha p. 154
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Prayer Requests
——Our family needs urgent and fervent prayer. Thank you. Kelly
—–A friend of mine is going though an extremely rough time and is in need of prayer. JT
—–Please pray for my son who has an upcoming job interview. L
——Please say a quick prayer for Zach (well, and me!). Taking him in for some dental work that he has to be knocked out for. Melissa
—–Need prayers… Just could use a different spiritual attitude right now… And prayers of others help that a lot. Nicole
—–Dr. Shank, is in _____ Africa. While the other hospitals and unite stations are working with the Ebola patients, Dr. Shank is caring for the patients with other needs. ….He has asked us to pray for him and his team as they work with these many, many other needs; also that God will be with him in detecting those who have Ebola and sending them on to the other hospitals to be cared for, and of course Dr. Shank’s health and safety. M
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Dear Friends,
We had a pastor, many years ago, who became ill and was given a very strong medicine for too long a time. This caused some real problems to his mind. It was very sad. Every week he preached the same sermon on Peter’s sermon at Pentecost. For years, I could not read that chapter without thinking of him.
Yet, Peter’s sermon holds so much food for thought, that each part is worth reading and contemplating often. A mighty miracle happened on that day. Jews from far away countries had come to the feast. These Jews spoke the language of whatever country in which they lived. Through the power of the Holy Spirit they heard in their own language the good news of the Messiah’s coming and giving His Life for them. Peter shows how Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled that day, “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” Joel 2:28,29
Peter, then preaches unto them about Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. He refers to the tenth verse of the sixteenth p! salm: “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” He declares, “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy ! countenance. Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool” Acts 2: 22-35
Paul also used this psalm when he was speaking to those in the synagogue in Antioch. He said, “Wherefore h! e saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.” Acts 13:35-37 Praise God that we serve a living Saviour! This very same Jesus Who loved us so much that He bore our sins on the cross, is the very same Jesus Who intercedes for us in the Heavenly Sanctuary! “We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Heb 8:1,2 John speaks of His Heavenly Ministry when he says, “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1
Praise God! We have a Sin-Bearing Savio! ur! Paul asks, “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:34-39 Isaiah also speaks of this in his great prophecy of Jesus, “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great,! and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isa 53:12 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Heb 7:25
May we continually look “to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.” Heb 12:2 May we always rely upon His atoning sacrifice to both justify us and sanctify us. May we look in faith to the Courts Above where our Dear Saviour is interceding for us.
Rose