Question about Spiritual Warfare

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(12-03-2009 01:22 PM)rancherforChrist Wrote:  Hello Mary,

First off, you're talking about apples and oranges and what you said here could be very misleading to people. Though preaching the gospel is a part of that scripture, Jesus did not use it as one of the signs of a believer. No one is making spiritual warfare the star attraction. It's just that, well, this topic is about spiritual warfare, and casting out demons mentioned in Mark 16:17, is at least one facet of spiritual warfare.

As for 1Corinthians 14:22 Not only did you misquote it, you also used it in a way that is totally out of context. Again, very misleading. You tried to diminish the very existence of tongues, and you made that your star attraction. Paul was making a point, but before he made it, he also made it very clear that he spoke in tongue more than the rest of them. Here's the actual scripture for everyone to read.

1 Corinthians 14:18-25
18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
21 In the law it is written:
“ With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”
says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus[c] the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

Nice try Mary. Don't get me wrong, I don't care if you poke at me, but I'm not gonna sit quietly while you try to deceive others.

Love ya,
Chris

Chris, I want you to direct your responses to me ok? I don't want you to say anymore to Mary about deceiving others etc. I want you to dialogue with me for now.

Preaching the gospel is what we are all called to do. Sharing the Truth of Jesus Christ. The passage in Mark was Jesus Christ dialoguing with the apostles, and the promise of what would follow them to confirm they were in fact of God-when they preached the Gospel-they were the ones who had personally walked with Christ; the witnesses chosen by God to convey the Truth of Christ. THey spoke other languages--fulfilled. Bitten by snake--Paul and no other record, cast out demons--Peter and Paul, etc and those the apostles specfiically laid hands on for specific purposes; healed the sick--Peter, Paul, probably stephen, phillip, etc --all specifically recorded--with limited focus-- in the Scriptures to confirm who they were and Their record was true.

Acts 4:29-33 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30. By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32. And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Luk 24:33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, ..Luk 24:36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Luk 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. Luk 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luk 24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
...Luk 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luk 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Luk 24:48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
Luk 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.

Heb 2:3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
Heb 2:4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Act 5:12 And bythe hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
Act 5:13 And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
Act 5:14 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
Act 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
Act 5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

Act 6:5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Act 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
Act 6:7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Act 6:8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.

Act 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.
Act 8:6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
Act 8:7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

Act 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
Act 19:12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.
Act 19:13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
Act 19:14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
Act 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
Act 19:16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

As far as tongues, Paul spoke more languages than any other. He spoke the Gospel so men might be saved. He also said those tongues aka languages were for unbelievers---not believers. THose who pursue tongues miss that most important fact. Further he said it would be better to speak 5 clear words that someone understand than to speak ten thousand which no one could understand. All gifts were for sharing Christ or edifying the Body. And all were to desire to do things that edified the body of Christ.