(06-14-2023, 05:15 AM)BodhisattvaStyle Wrote: There were so many great views that covered every angle I will do my best to whittle it down and address the big things that I can remember. And I'd like to address it as a whole, if ya'll don;t mind.
First off, i am not pentecostal, or assembly of God, or any denomination. I am simply a dude who decided to explore this topic for myself.
First thing.
I grew up in a church where they spoke in tongues, all rowdy like, and I do believe, as much as anything else I have learned at addressing this topic to the public is, demons will absolutely speak other languages through people. There's no doubt in my mind thsi can work both ways. Demon-possession is still very very real. They can mimic what would appear to be "God" to someone. They are tricksters. So yes, I agree, hands down that that is possible, and happens often. I think we have an interpreter among us. I believe those "evil spirits" wanted to scare you. And succeeded, which is their trade-craft. Confusion is a powerful tool. I would have been scared as hell too and probably would have been leaping over pues to get outta there. lol
Since this is a matter of faith, anything one does not believe in won't happen from the Lord. The Lord would only grant something like that if one sought it out, as I did. I knocked on that door.
(Public disclaimer) How do i know I'm not demon-possessed? Because, yeshua hamashiach. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the Living God. He died on a cross. Was raised from the dead, and beat death. He is my King and my Lord and my Brother because we share the same Father......Yahweh.
That is my belief. That is what I put my trust in. I found the answers in God's Word. I knew God existed as long as I can remember. There was never a time I didn't. Hell, I remember being a little boy about 4 or 5 and hearing about that dude Jesus, and thinkin to myself, "He sounds like someone I want to be around." Like NightSkyeB4Dawn said, it was I who turned from the Lord. I had tried it my way, on my own and for my own selfish desires. I wasn't even thinking about helping others. All I thought about was what I needed or wanted. And that's the other way I know I'm not demon-possessed is, an evil spirit would never guide you to selflessly help and love others. A demon could never show mercy, or kindness, or gentleness, or forbearance, or long-suffering. An evil spirit would never guide you to turning off the porn and reading God's Word. They could never show any real love because they do not know it. They don't show love or guide us to forgiveness. They cause us to judge one another. They want us to "demonize" others. Something like that would never continually guide us to forgiveness, to meekness, to a humbled heart. Demons are proud and angry and they hate us. They just want to steal our joy, and it doesn't matter how they do it. But confusion is a versatile tool they use.
Okay, also, I have never spoken in tongues in public in front of other people. What would be the point in speaking mandarin to someone who speaks English? I speak English, so I would never watch tv in Spanish. That's just silly to me. I am writing all this in English so we can all read it. It has never entered my mind to "show off" a gift like that to amuse others. It doesn't work like that. A fact about this theory though is, this is the most broken record rhetoric I hear about the topic. What's amusing from my POV when I see people say it in person is how angry they seem to get a lot of times when they say it. Case in point is, I've noticed hundreds of preachers act and say it exactly like that, and in those same words. And Please know that I take no offense, and meant no offense by any of what I've said in this paragraph. This is the very angle of this topic I am prepared to face. I knew I was opening a can of worms here. But I also know I am among some great minds, and I have aton of respect for this crowd (otherwise I wouldn't be her. Trust me on that), so I thought it to be neat to bring it up. I too believe in the "to each is own" philosophy. Romans 14 covers that exact philosophy nicely. So, "to each is own" is pretty much Biblical.
I do wish this was something I could explain better. I'm not saying it's necessary for "salvation" or anything like that. God is bigger than our petty disagreements or views. Wisdom says we pretty much know nothing. I just know that my story involves the tongues, but is a small part of my walk with the Lord. The Bible states that "it is the least of the gifts." And Jesus said, that "those who can be trusted with a little can be trusted with a lot." I did ask for God to use me in any way He saw fit. That's what He chose for me, so Im'ma just roll with it, and hopefully help others with the love the Lord has taught me to love ,in doing/deeds. I do my part in helping as much and as often as I can. When I am speaking in tongues it is in my alone/intimate time with the Lord; and truth be told it doesn't happen often. Unless I seek to commune with the Lord in that way.
And finally..
Yes! Interpretation is key. Even when alone. I get mine in different ways. One cool way is sometimes through dreams. Often its an unknown language (and yes, languages only angels and demons understand, and one special one only God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit know; as I have come to recognize the "special language" because I never get an interpretation on that one. And yes, I have come to recognize a handful of different languages spoken). I also Know that The Holy Spirit uses one to command the angels...
But that's enough for this post. lol. Hope this has (or will) help with some insight.
Ps. Some special insight I came back to lay on you all.
Some of what I've heard/gotten from interpretation.
They are beautiful prayers...
Prayers an evil spirit could never muster up. I hear a lot of worshipping the Lord, giving praise, and praying the most eloquent loving prayers I have ever heard. I have never heard another human being utter such love and beauty of words like this. I've been to every church, heard every preacher, but they are but a flicker of light, to a super massive star's radiance. I have heard the Lord weeping for us. I have heard him sing songs of peace. I have heard his laughter and joy for us. I have heard him promise to come back to us. To love us. To be our forever Light and Lamp of Love. I have heard him command the demons and send them running like scared little cockroaches. I have heard him tell them he is going to toss them into an eternal fire soon. He has promised that to them...
Ladies, gentlemen, non bin, etc, I have heard true love come from interpretation. A love that nothing evil could ever fake or conjur up. This is a love that loves us all equally. With absolute equality of love. He does not love me anymore than he loves any of you. He sees past our flaws. He sees us for what's in our hearts. He is bigger than any one region, or view of him, or interpretation of his word. The thing we 'know' is, He is real. And he loves us all. But hates the evil in this world and what it has done to His entire creation. A Promise has been made. He will come fix it. We don't know when. We just 'know.' And when it is all said and done.........LOVE WILL ABIDE...
One Love!
I don't think you are demon possessed. As a matter of fact, I don't even think that young lady so many years ago was demon possessed. At the time, I wasn't so much scared as I was ticked off, royally. It was only later, when I realized and thought through the fact that I could understand what was said that a degree of "creepiness" crept in. I've no explanation for how that happened. I did not speak that language at all, much less fluently, although I HAD read some bilingual texts in it - you know, one column in the original language and a parallel column in English. The language itself was not "evil", it is just another language. It's what was said that ticked me off, and did sound like something a demon would claim, although again I don't think she was possessed, just being unwittingly used momentarily.
We all have our own path to the Divine that we have to tread. I firmly believe that God relates to each individual on their own level, in ways that they can relate to, in order to be better known, although not fully known until we get to our final destination. That is part of what makes "religion" a personal experience.
This:
Quote:(Public disclaimer) How do i know I'm not demon-possessed? Because, yeshua hamashiach. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the Living God. He died on a cross. Was raised from the dead, and beat death. He is my King and my Lord and my Brother because we share the same Father......Yahweh.
Is pretty much the same as the way I believe. What is NOT said there may, or may not, be as important as what IS said, from my perspective. Be that as it may, that is the whole of the law, the only thing crucial to salvation. The rest is just padding.
I have a doctor's appointment now. Assuming I survive it, I'll be back later to see if there is anything else I need to add.
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