They All Spoke With The Same Mind, And With The Same Judgment

[Mr. M]

1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and with the same judgment.

The Apostle Paul makes this wonderful exhortation, even as he prepares to dress down the Corinthians for allowing divisions to form among them. This is no pie in the sky wishful thinking. This is the expectation of a small group of dedicated men and women with a steadfast commitment to "the apostle's doctrine, and fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer."

There is nothing wrong with a 10,000 member megachurch. The leadership and mature members however, must commit to this perfection of their relationship under the Anointing of the Holy Spirit. There are so many who constantly talk of themselves, and their relationship with Christ as if that means them and Jesus. In Christ always implies a group, called the Body, or the Temple.

This is what we should expect to find whenever the Holy Spirit pours out upon a group, and this manifestation of God is the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing that group "from glory to glory". Failure to see this has been a major downfall in the history of Christian Fellowship. There has been much talk about being a "book of Acts Church", while erroneously placing the emphasis on speaking in tongues.

Acts 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

After the Resurrection, Jesus breathed on His Disciples and instructed them to receive the Holy Spirit. This was sufficient for them to remain together in one accord, as they waited on the Lord to be "endued with power from on high" for the task ahead.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues,

as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 And there was dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 

6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because

everyone heard them speak in his own language.

11...—we hear them speaking in our own tongues, the magnificent works of God.

So today we have many divisions over the issue of tongues, when the revelation is not so much that they all heard what was being said in their own language, but that the disciples all spoke with the same mind and judgment. This is also referred to in scripture as "magnifying the Lord".

Peter informs them that this is an example of the prophecy of Joel:

18 And on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
And they shall all prophesy.

This is foreshadowed in the Wilderness Congregation

Numbers 11:

16 So the Lord said to Moses: “Gather to Me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom you know to be the elders of the people and officers over them; bring them to the tabernacle of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 

17 Then I will come down and talk with you there. I will take of the Spirit that is upon you and will put the same upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with you, that you may not bear it yourself alone. 

They all began to prophesy

25 And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they all prophesied, and did not cease.

The details of this are further developed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:

26-32 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

So why, in the middle of this in depth instruction, does Paul quote this scripture?

21 In the law it is written:

“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to these people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”

Edited September 7, 2024 by Mr. M

[AdHoc]

2 hours ago, Mr. M said:

So why, in the middle of this in depth instruction, does Paul quote this scripture?

21 In the law it is written:

“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to these people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”

I will propose an answer.

The Holy Spirit is given twice, once for Eternal Life (the gospel of John) and once for Power to serve. The Greek word for receiving the Spirit INTERNALLY in fulfillment of John 7:39 is "pleroo" which means to be filled like a vessel. The Greek for the second receiving of the Spirit for Power to serve in fulfillment of Joel is "pletho" which means "to be furnished" like a policeman is "furnishd" with a uniform. It is the same Holy Spirit but has different functions. The Christian is born again and scripture calls them "babes" in Christ. They need maturing and this takes years. But the Spirit given for Power is dependent on His power, not the man. He is fully capable of casting out a demon even if the Christian is still a babe. And so it was in Corinth. Immature Christians were given the Holy Spirit in His full capability.

Being immature, they very shortly entertained the thought that it was THEIR doings, and it became a matter of prestige, not humble service. The most visible and seeming miraculous gift was tongues. The tendency was to show off one's "spirituality" by tongues. This led to what we still see in Churches today. The whole congregation burst forth in tongues. The talking in tongues by an hundred people led to a confusion - like Babel. The prediction in the Law was that if Israel misbehaved she would be carried off to a land where they spoke in an unknown tongue. Hebrews would be unable to both communicate and understand. So, confusion by multiple tongues in the Church is a SIGN that there is unbelief, just as Israel must hear the babbling of unknown words.

It is a fitting sign of lack of faith in an Assembly who hear but do not understand. It is what they have done to God's Word - turned it into what it cannot mean and misunderstood it. My first four years as a Christian were in a Pentecostal Assembly. I met some fine Christians, but God's Word was not taught, nor was it understood, and the moral standard in general was unbecoming of those who carry Jesus' Name. This was the situation at Corinth. The "babes" and the "fleshly" did not know that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are given for God's glory - to be used as He orders. They used tongues in confusion - not to spread order. Paul regulates the use of tongues. The test is the unbeliever. If an unbeliever comes into a meeting and says that you are crazy - you failed the test and brought disgrace on Jesus. Moreover, the gospel is hindered.

[Mr. M]

On 8/30/2024 at 3:55 AM, Mr. M said:

The details of this are further developed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:

26-32 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 

And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

So why, in the middle of this in depth instruction, does Paul quote this scripture?

21 In the law it is written:

“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to these people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”

22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe,

but to them that believe not: but prophesying serves 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?

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believes not,

or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest;

and so falling down on his face he will worship God,

and report that God is in you of a truth.

 

How is it then, when all do not prophesy?

Will the secrets of his heart be revealed, 

with repentance and worshiping God?

Have new traditions cut off the Holy Spirit 

from doing His strange work? (Is. 28:21)

Isaiah 28:29 This also comes from the Lord of hosts,
Who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance.

[Mr. M]

On 8/30/2024 at 3:55 AM, Mr. M said:

So why, in the middle of this in depth instruction, does Paul quote this scripture?

21 In the law it is written:

“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to these people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”

Isaiah 28:

9 “Whom will he teach knowledge?
And whom will he make to understand the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just drawn from the breasts?
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.”

11 For with scornful lips and another tongue
He will speak to this people,
12 To whom He said, “This is the rest with which
You may cause the weary to rest,”
And, “This is the refreshing”;
Yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the Lord was to them,
“Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little,”
That they might go and fall backward, and be broken
And snared and caught.

[Mr. M]

Just now, Mr. M said:

Isaiah 28:

9 “Whom will he teach knowledge?
And whom will he make to understand the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just drawn from the breasts?
10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little.”

11 For with scornful lips and another tongue
He will speak to this people,
12 To whom He said, “This is the rest with which
You may cause the weary to rest,”
And, “This is the refreshing”;
Yet they would not hear.
13 But the word of the Lord was to them,
“Precept upon precept, precept upon precept,
Line upon line, line upon line,
Here a little, there a little,”
That they might go and fall backward, and be broken
And snared and caught.

14 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, you scornful men,
Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem,
15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death,
And with Sheol we are in agreement.
When the overflowing scourge passes through,
It will not come to us,
For we have made lies our refuge,
And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.”

16 Therefore thus says the Lord God:

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone for a foundation,
A tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation;
Whoever believes will not act hastily.
17 Also I will make justice the measuring line,
And righteousness the plummet;
The hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,
And the waters will overflow the hiding place.
18 Your covenant with death will be annulled,
And your agreement with Sheol will not stand;
When the overflowing scourge passes through,
Then you will be trampled down by it.
19 As often as it goes out it will take you;
For morning by morning it will pass over,
And by day and by night;
It will be a terror just to understand the report.”