Tuesday night study, 3/12/13 Presented by Elder Dennis Trudgen Are we to Command God’s Spirit?
"We sometimes see on TV, so called “Faith Healers” that appear to be
trying to control or COMMAND the Holy Spirit as if it were their own
personal gift to control. By their actions, are they not saying that God
has given them a gift in which they can exercise as they see fit? I.E.
Healings, tongues, casting out devils, etc." The evidence that you have
received the fullness of the Spirit is the gift of angelic tongues. If
we want to accentuate the positive (the higher self or inner wheel
within the outer wheel) we must learn to speak in tongues as the great
Apostle Paul.” http://www.kenkleinproductions.net/Tongues_of_Men_and_Angels_s/70.htm
“I need help with speaking in tongues. My friends said you learn to
speak in tongues by practicing every day. But deep in my heart I know is
the Holy Spirit that makes you speak in tongues.” Mark 16 : 17-18
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they
cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 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
Corinthians 12 : 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same
Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God
which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given
to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the
word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9
To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing
by the same Spirit; 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: 11 But all these
worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as he will. 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members,
and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so
also is Christ… 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need
of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you….27 Now
ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath
set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly
teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversities of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? are all
prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? 30 Have all the
gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? 31 But
covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent
way. Matthew 7 : 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the
way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware
of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly
they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men
gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?... 22 Many will say to me
in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Acts 2 : 4-8 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began
to speak with other tongues, as t he Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And
there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation
under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came
together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak
in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying
one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 8 And
how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? Acts
19 : 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came
on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. II Nephi 14 :
2-4 But behold, why do ye ponder these things in your hearts? Do ye not
remember that I said unto you, that after ye had received the Holy
Ghost, ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now, how could ye
speak with the tongue of angels, save it were by the Holy Ghost? Angels
speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of
Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, Feast upon the words of Christ; for
behold the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
I Corinthians 14 : 1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts,
but rather that ye may prophesy. 2 For he that speaketh in an unknown
tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth
him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries….So likewise ye,
except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it
be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air…. 22
Wherefore 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. 23 If 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? 26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of
you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation,
hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 27 If 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. 28 But if there be no
interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to
himself, and to God. 29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the
other judge. 30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by,
let the first hold his peace. 31 For ye may all prophesy one by one,
that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 32 And the spirits of the
prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of
confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Rare Examples where some are Given Power To Use as They See Fit
Matthew 18 : 17-18 1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus,
saying …17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the
church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an
heathen man and a publican. Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall
bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose
on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two
of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask,
it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where
two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst
of them. Helaman 3 : 120 117 And now because thou hast done this
with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee for ever; and I will
make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even
that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou
shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will. 118 Behold, thou art
Nephi, and I am God. 119 Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence
of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall
smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction,
according to the wickedness of this people. 120 Behold, I give unto you
power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth, shall be sealed in
heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in
heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people…121 And thus, if
ye shall say unto this temple, It shall be rent in twain, it shall be
done.122 And if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou cast down and
become smooth, it shall be done. 123 And behold, if ye shall say that
God shall smite this people, it shall come to pass. 124 And now behold, I
command you that ye shall go and declare unto this people that, Thus
saith the Lord God, who is the Almighty, except ye repent, ye shall be
smitten, even unto destruction…. 4 And it came to pass that in this
year, Nephi did cry unto the Lord, saying, O Lord, do not suffer that
this people shall be destroyed by the sword; but O Lord, rather let
there be a famine in the land, to stir them up in remembrance of the
Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn unto thee; 5 And
so it was done, according to the words of Nephi. And there was a great
famine upon the land among all the people of Nephi…. 8 For the earth was
smitten, that it was dry, and did not yield forth grain in the season
of grain; and the whole earth was smitten, even among the Lamanites as
well as among the Nephites, so that they were smitten that they did
perish by thousands, in the more wicked parts of the land. 9 And it came
to pass that the people saw that they were about to perish by famine,
and they began to remember the Lord their God; and they began to
remember the words of Nephi…. 12 And it came to pass that when Nephi saw
that the people had repented, and did humble themselves in sackcloth,
he cried again unto the Lord, saying, O Lord, behold this people
repenteth;...14 Now, O Lord, because of this their humility, wilt thou
turn away thine anger, and let thine anger be appeased in the
destruction of those wicked men whom thou hast already destroyed? 15 O
Lord, wilt thou turn away thine anger, yea, thy fierce anger, and cause
that this famine may cease in this land? 16 O Lord, wilt thou hearken
unto me, and cause that it may be done according to my words, and send
forth rain upon the face of the earth, that she may bring forth her
fruit and her grain, in the season of grain?... 19 And now, O Lord, wilt
thou turn away thine anger, and try again if they will serve thee? And
if so, O Lord, thou canst bless them according to thy words which thou
hast said. 20 And it came to pass that in the seventy and sixth year,
the Lord did turn away his anger from the people, and caused that rain
should fall upon the earth Luke 8 : 28-29 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried
out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What
have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech
thee, torment me not. 29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to
come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept
bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven
of the devil into the wilderness.) Acts 3 : 6, 4:7, 10 then Peter
said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In
the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk… 7 And when they
had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name,
have ye done this? …10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people
of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye
crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man
stand here before you whole. Barnes' Notes on the Bible In the
name - Compare Acts 4:10. In Mark 16:17-18, it is said, "These signs
shall follow them that the sick, and they shall recover." The expression
means "by his authority," or "in virtue of power derived from him."
..The apostles never attempted to perform a miracle by their own power.
It was only in the name of Jesus; and this circumstance alone shows that
there was a radical difference between Christ and all other prophets
and teachers. Acts 16 : 18 16 And it came to pass, as we went to
prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us,
which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: 17 The same followed
Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most
high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation. And this did she many
days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command
thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out
the same hour. Clear Examples were Paul’s Did Not Command or Control God’s Spirit
II Corinthians 12 : 7-9 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure
through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn
in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be
exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that
it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient
for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me. II Timothy 4 : 19- 20 19 Salute Prisca and
Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. Erastus abode at Corinth: but
Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. Moses had no power to command the Spirit himself but was told what to do Exodus 4 : 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the LORD who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him.
Numbers 20 : 7-11 7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 8 Take the
rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother,
and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth
his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so
thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 9 And Moses
took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him. 10 And Moses and
Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said
unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; out of this must we fetch you water
rock? 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the
rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation
drank, and their beasts also. 12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and
Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the
children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into
the land which I have given them. In the attitude of humility, we
are to ask, plead, beg, petition our Father through the avenue of
fervent, reverent PRAYER, in the name of Christ. We are Not to demand
anything as some unthankful child. II Chronicles 7 : 14 If my
people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray,
and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Acts
20 : 19 Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears,
and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
Alma 10 : 28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and
call on his holy name and watch and pray continually that ye may not be
tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy
Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all
long suffering; having faith on the Lord; Alma 16 : 219 Yea, humble
yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him; cry unto him when ye are
in your fields; yea, over all your flocks; cry unto him in your houses,
yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening; yea,
cry unto him against the power of your enemies; yea, cry unto him
against the devil, which is an enemy to all righteousness. James 5 :
13-16 13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let
him sing psalms. 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders
of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the
name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and
the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall
be forgiven him. 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for
another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a
righteous man availeth much. 17 Elias was a man subject to like passions
as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it
rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18
And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought
forth her fruit.
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