Mastering the distance from the head to the heart 515-2 - 20 - 4

How have I mastered the distance from the head to the heart; I’m still very much a work in process. I have an absolute knowing that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God. This comes not only from years of study but from within, something I can’t really explain. I’m working at becoming a Christian apologist, however, I don’t always have patience when dealing with people, a heart problem. 

Anne Graham Lotz has written, “In almost thirty years of ministry, I have observed many good Christians — but very few great ones. And the difference is the same eighteen inches — the distance from the head to the heart. While there are many good Christians who have a head knowledge of Scripture and are comfortable with prayer, there are relatively few Christians who are in love with Jesus, who put Him first in their lives when doing so demands that they sacrifice their own time, money, and desires”.

Here Mrs. Lotz was referring to a quote by Tom Landry, the head coach over the Dallas Cowboys. “On several occasions, I heard Coach Landry say that during his career he came across many good athletes — but very few great ones. He said the difference between a good athlete and a great one is eighteen inches — the distance from the head to the heart. Good athletes have exceptional ability and a thorough understanding of the game, but great athletes have heart — a passion to play that drives them to selfless sacrifice, brutally long hours of practice, undivided focus, and ultimately, to achieve extraordinary accomplishments.”

[Graham Lotz. Fixing My Eyes on Jesus: Daily Moments in His Word]

When I selected this discussion question, I recalled a book I read years ago “Like A Mighty Wind.” The book is about the Indonesian revival that began in 1965 and according to author, “the Lord has restored the spiritual gifts in our churches, and I thank God for that.” The author goes on to say, “The trouble with most of us is that we have to figure out everything with our minds, our little computers, instead of with our hearts.”

Does the manifesting of the spiritual gifts involve the heart or the head or a combination of the two? Can the head block the impartation of the spiritual gifts? What of baptism in the Holy Spirit?

More basic, are the spiritual gifts for today or did they end with the passing of the first century apostles? CM has a commentary on "The Spirit Gifts" listing divine wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, and tongues.

At the first Pentecostal people spoke in tongues but they spoke a foreigner language understood by foreigner. Fast forward to the present, I attend a Pentecostal church that strongly suggest that speaking in tongues means one is filled with the Holy Spirit. Several people will be speaking at once with no interpretation which sounds to me like babbling. So, is this a reaction of my head rather than the heart? I don’t speak in tongues, rather I feel the presence of the Comforter. I Often get confirmation through “goose bumps.”

Again, my mastering the distance from the head to the heart is a work in process. Perhaps the head rules when it comes to speaking in tongues rather than the simple heart acceptance of it as by Mel Tari, Mel, the author of “Like A Mighty Wind.”

Spiritual Gifts 531-1 - 10 - 8

What are spiritual gifts and what of today?

Paul had much to say about the gifts of the Spirit, 1 Corinthians 12:7, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” Paul names wisdom first, tongues last thankfully as winters I attend the local Assembly of God Church and have repeatedly failed the speaking in tongues test. Therefore, in accordance with the following I haven’t been baptized in the Holy Spirit.

"Though many non-Pentecostals teach a baptism in the Holy Spirit without speaking in tongues, the position of the Assemblies of God is clearly declared in Section 8 of its Statement of Fundamental Truths: "The baptism of believers in the Holy Spirit is witnessed by the initial sign of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit of God gives them utterance (Acts 2:4)." The evidence always occurred (and still does today) at the time believers were baptized in the Spirit, not at some indeterminate future time."

[http://ag.org/top/Beliefs/topics/gendoct_02_baptismhs.cfm]

But I digress. Here Paul lists the spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 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:”

Are the gifts of the spirit active today? There are two extreme views. There is Cessationism, the doctrine that these gifts ceased with the passing of the original apostles. At the other end of the spectrum is the Charismatic Movement, a rather aberrant view of the work of the Holy Spirit. Other names would be Hyper-Pentecostal and Hyper-Charismatic.

The New Apostolic Reformation, NAR, includes many televangelists espousing non-Biblical views such being little god, holy laughter, angel guides, gold dust and more. Question, can any in the NAR fulfill the requirements in Acts 1:21-22 to be an Apostle? I think not!

“Acts 1:21, 22 Whoever was to be chosen had to fulfill two requirements:

1. He had to be one who had accompanied the disciples during the three years of Christ's public ministry—from His baptism by John to is Ascension.

2. He had to be able to bear responsible witness to the resurrection of the Lord.”

[Believer’s Bible Commentary]

There are many in the NAR who claim they are prophets and there are schools where you can learn to be a prophet, for a price.

“Discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong. It is knowing the difference between right and almost right.”

[Charles Spurgeon]

Even Satan quotes Scripture. Those in the NAR and the Word of Faith Movement used just enough Scripture to give the impression they are sharing to the Word of God.

In Acts 2:17 Peter quoted Joel 2:28-29, "28. 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: 29, And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."

Peter used the words "in the last days" rather than "afterward" as did Joel. This makes it very clear that these gifts would last throughout the Church Age.

Spiritual gifts are active today, however, I would add discernment is of the utmost importance.