Joan Boney ... apostle/prophet
Acts 2:1-6 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.
In this case, a supernatural event happened caused by God.
Acts 2:7-11 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?
And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?
Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.
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There are many supernatural acts of God which accomplish God's purpose and cannot be explained nor understood by man.
The one thing I do know is the apostle Paul told the church the following:
I Corinthians 14:39-40 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.
Paul also told the church that if they did speak in a tongue, "pray that ye may interpret."
For to speak in tongues does not edify the other person unless there is interpretation. I Corinthians 14
And Paul said: I Corinthians 14:18-19 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
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In the church, we should simply heed what Bible says without trying to explain that which we do not know. We should not be arguing this point concerning tongues.
Certainly if we were with a person who understood only French and another person who did not understand French began speaking things of God in French we should rejoice that God could speak even when the languages were different. The important things are the wonderful things of God and we are glad they are spoken.
God has taught me a great many things about following the Holy Spirit and that point is critical for us.
(Basically following the Holy Spirit has nothing at all to do with the subject of speaking in tongues, yet I find so many church people shut their ears the minute the Holy Spirit is mentioned for they think that is going to have to do with tongues.)
Romans 8:9 Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of HIS.
So all who are of God have the Spirit of God in them.
And the work of the Spirit of God is as follows:
- He will teach us all things
- He reminds us of all Jesus has said
- He guides us into all truth
- He shows us things to come
John 14:26 Jesus says: But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear (from God), that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
It is the Holy Spirit who understands God and searches the heart of God to reveal God's will to us so we can know what to do as we live on this present earth.
I Corinthians 2:6-13 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
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The guidance of the Holy Spirit as we live on this earth is a wonderful gift from God to help us to know what to do and how to handle things in this present life.
To recognize that it was God who showed us what to do, honors God! We know that wisdom was not of ourselves but of God.
Those who think wisdom is of their own selves are puffed up and live in pride foolishly.
So the various gifts of the Holy Spirit glorify God especially when we are aware it was God who gave us that and it was not of our own brilliance.
Paul said: II Corinthians 3:2-6 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
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Concerning spiritual gifts to the church ...
I Corinthians 12:5-11 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 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:
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as HE will.
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Romans 12:3-8 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
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There are evil ones who envy that person to whom God has given a spiritual gift.
The evil ones will try to deny the validity of the gift just as they denied Christ because of envy.
They want the preeminence in the church, therefore they envy when a spiritual gift appears rather than rejoice and give glory to God over the great work that was done among them.
We see this throughout the Bible and know that Christ was crucified because of their envy. So it is with us today in churches.
But we, who are of God, marvel when God chooses to speak among us or do a work among us regardless of the vessel HE uses.
The person carrying the gift is not important. It is the gift that is important to the church.
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