Gospel Cypher (2025)

15/03/2025

Christ Parousia, March 2025

The Gift of Tongues (2)

Last month, the history of the "now doctrine of tongues" was chronicled and the author showed how it came to be established in mainstream Christianity even though it was built on the false premise that interpretation does not matter.

In short, Charles Parham is credited with saying, "The Bible evidence of being Spirit-filled is in speaking tongues. They attributed spirituality and proof of spirit baptism to it. Even though we are yet to see a people say, "they praise God in our own native languages."

To stay in this delusion, pentecostal leaders began to systematically reshape church teachings and promote their revised interpretation of what tongues truly is. Jennie Moore (a participant in the Azusa Street Revival) supported the new narrative and claimed her ecstatic utterances were divinely inspired.

As these teachings spread, they created an emotionally charged movement where spiritual experiences often eclipsed the authority of Scripture. Tongues became touted as a "heavenly language" (this is hardly supported by scripture). However, through sheer emotional appeal and institutional reinforcement, the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements grew into global phenomena.

What’s shocking is how readily these leaders ignored the broader consequences of their doctrinal changes. By perpetuating error, they not only distorted biblical teaching but also drew countless people away from a sound understanding of God’s Word.

Today, millions follow this tradition, insisting that speaking in these strange tongues is the definitive evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence—despite its complete misalignment with Scripture. The Bible offers a vastly different picture of tongues than that presented by the Pentecostal movement.

Acts 2 reveals that tongues were real, earthly languages given to the apostles to proclaim the gospel to people from diverse nations at Pentecost. The gift of tongues was part of God’s redemptive plan to call His people from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Far from being random or mystical, tongues had a specific purpose: to signal God’s judgment on unbelieving Israel, fulfilling Isaiah 28:11-12.

Paul clarifies this in 1 Corinthians 14:21-22: “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord. Thus, tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers.” The idea of tongues as a heavenly, ecstatic prayer language has no biblical foundation.

Furthermore, Scripture warns us against prioritizing experiences over truth. Zeal unanchored from biblical knowledge leads to devastating error (Romans 10:2). Nowhere does the Bible teach that tongues are the evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit.

Instead, the Spirit's fruit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and more (Galatians 5:22-23)—is the mark of true spiritual maturity. The story of early Pentecostal missionaries is a cautionary tale about the dangers of fervour unmoored from truth.

Their embarrassment in the mission fields exposed the flaw in their theology, yet their refusal to repent gave rise to a false doctrine that continues to pull countless people away from the gospel today. This is not merely an issue of historical curiosity but one with real consequences for the church.

How many have been wounded by being told they lack faith or the Holy Spirit because they do not speak in tongues? How many have traded the sufficiency of Christ for the empty pursuit of emotional experiences? As believers, we must ground ourselves in Scripture alone.

Emotional zeal cannot substitute for biblical truth. The gift of tongues was a glorious, temporary sign for a specific time and purpose. By returning to Scripture, we safeguard our faith and proclaim the gospel with clarity and power, as God intended.

Jeremiah Knight

Enquiries/partnership: Christ Parousia (CP), Ilorin (+2349062710712)
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14/01/2025

Christ Parousia, January 2025

The lie called humanism

Scripture: “You must not covet your neighbour’s house. You must not covet your neighbour’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbour” (Exodus 20:17).

Commentary: The last stage of becoming an Atheist is claiming to be a humanist. It begins when you begin to identify as a god. It takes the sin of pride to deny God his glory or share in it.

So, when a religious person begins to say I am a god, don't overlook such. He is gradually embracing Eastern mystic religious beliefs and Egyptology.

While others are truly ignorant and gullible, those who are advocating humanism try to reach out and offer them alternative religious beliefs.

So, when they feel cheated by their denominations, they opt into humanism a subtle way to worship themselves and practice Eastern mysticism.

"Humanism is defined as an ethical system that centers on humans and their values, needs, interests, abilities, dignity and freedom; especially used for a secular one which rejects theistic religion and superstition."

The bible does not only teach these things but says more is expected of Christians. In short, every Christian must embody this as Christ Jesus himself taught, "If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.

If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that"(Matthew 5:46-47). Christ here was teaching an unconditional love, which even humanism does not practice.

It is funny how dissatisfaction or inability to tame sin has made many choose this route. The fact that you don't understand a doctrine is not enough to throw away the faith of a child. You are told to believe the ways of the fathers, yet these same ways don't teach you how to love.

Another aspect I find amusing is that humanist separate Christ from his teachings. You claim Jesus embodied divinity and want us to do the same. However, Jesus taught no man can be saved from sin by mere good works but by professing faith in him.

Jesus never taught we reject God or religion. He never taught we love men above God and would never support a worldview that uses deception to sway men away from the Faith. He had maintained that anyone who does that it is better if he was killed.

Humanism does not offer man any good. It only gives man the opportunity to be happy in his sin and has become a tool to attack those perceived to be former allies. Time has always proven truth, and humanism failed a long time ago.

Lastly, humanism teaches God is "custom made" for the Israelites. That is not true because Moses was raised in Egypt, grew with a theist, and later was called by God to reveal him to a lost world.

God only wanted to bring back man, so using the Israelites to achieve that is because of his love for humanity. Is there a love greater than this?

That is because God does not work outside men when he needs to carry out his salvation plan. When Moses, who was the first to prophesy about Christ, left the scene Jesus came, and he was the glory of God revealed that all men would see.

Now, trying so hard to ignore such scripture but cherry picking others from a book you reject says one thing, "you are not a sincere seeker."

Many of you reject the salvation God offers not because of lack of faith but because you love your sins more than being accountable to God.

Palegh Aker
Contributor, for Christ Parousia (CP), Ilorin.
Enquiries/partnership: +2349062710712

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07/11/2024

Daily Family meeting Guide November 7, 2024

Topic: Life's paradox

Read: Ecclesiastes 8:14-17

Commentary: A story was told of a criminal who was arrested and he was asked about his accomplices. He then took the police around and was pointing at random people. When you resist, he will simply tell you, "When you get to the station, you can explain yourself." Sometimes, I just wonder how bible speaks about societal ills like it was written in our time. Solomon called it a futility. For why would a righteous men get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there is a wicked man who gets what the actions of the righteous deserve? This happens to many young job seekers. You would see someone who served God, never cheated to reach the peak of his study searching for a job but to no avail. In the end, another who might have cheated his or her way to the top get the job and still continue their evil deeds. The worst is when you have worked for something and someone takes credit for it. You see this repeatedly happening in our days. As it was in our story above, where can we go to and explain ourselves? Maybe we should stick to the scriptural admonition to enjoy life because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry.

Discuss: How can a Christian deal with false judgement?

Bible reading plan: John 14-17

Question: What is total inability?
Answer: Therefore all men are conceived in sin, and are by nature children of wrath, incapable of saving good, prone to evil,1 dead in sin, and in bo***ge thereto; and without the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit, they are neither able nor willing to return to God, to reform the depravity of their nature, or to dispose themselves to reformation (Gen 6:5; Eph 2:1, Jn 8:34; Rom 6:16-17; Jn 3:3-6; Titus 3:5).

06/11/2024

Daily Family meeting Guide November 6, 2024

Topic: The righteous man's reward

Read: Ecclesiastes 8:1-13

Commentary: When Jesus identified as king, his rule was to be in righteousness. The kings of this world are not so, and that is why his second coming will be to reward the dead in Christ. While we await that day, we must be wise enough to accept our fate. Scripture is clear about our dying, and when it is time, it is time. Today, we read, "No one can keep from dying or put off the day of death. That is a battle we can not escape; we can not cheat our way out." A story was told of a man who wanted to cheat death. He welcomed him and entertained him, so by the time death was enjoying itself, the man removed his name from the next line and took it to the last. So, in appreciation for being entertained, death promised to begin from the last to the top, and there was the man's name. The moral of the story is clear. That is the understanding of the wicked. They think they can escape their day of judgement. When Jesus judged them, they asked, "When did we see you in prison, naked or hungry that we never attended to you?" And Jesus replied, "when you do wickedly to others, it is to me." While the wicked will be judged justly, the righteous would be rewarded. People may praise and say good things at the burial of the wicked, but scripture says, "...it will not go well for the wicked. Their life is like a shadow, and they will die young because they do not obey God.”

Discuss: How can a just society solve crime?

Bible reading plan: John 11-13

Question: How did the fall affect all humans?
Answer: Man, after the fall, begat children in his own likeness. A corrupt stock produced a corrupt offspring. Hence all the posterity of Adam, Christ only excepted, have derived corruption from their original parent, not by imitation, as the Pelagians of old asserted, but by the propagation of a vicious nature, in consequence of the just judgment of God (Gen 5:3; Job 14:4; Ps 51:7; Heb 4:15; Rom 5:12-19).

05/11/2024

Daily Family meeting Guide November 5, 2024

Topic: Choose wisdom

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:15-29

Commentary: The book of Ecclesiastes within the Jewish worldview is called Ketuvim (writings) or written (scripture). The Tanakh (OT) is divided according to the time of canonization. The writings came last because they were added last. However, the writings were important scriptures on wisdom and ethics. So, when Solomon speaks in a way you don't feel comfortable with, don't think that is how Jesus taught. Solomon spoke from his limited and finite wisdom, but Jesus drew his from eternity. So, why moderation is a virtue, being honest, has no extremity. You can't be on the fence in the Christian worldview. However, the bible is against fanaticism. Solomon compared a seductive woman to death, and he is right. It is on the same premise that he said it is rare to get one virtuous woman in a thousand. Is it not funny that he married 700 wives and had 300 concubines? So, his data set may be from his household. However, he was right to say, " There is no one on earth who does what is right all the time and never makes a mistake." That is why we need a perfect Saviour. If you deny your need for One because your religious beliefs say otherwise, then who credits to you righteousness? It is God who forgives, and if he says, only through faith in Jesus can he justify us, then we must not be complacent but decisive in kissing the son.

Discuss: Moderation.

Bible reading plan: John 7-10

Question: What effect did the fall have on human nature?
Answer: Man was originally formed after the image of God. His understanding was adorned with a true and saving knowledge of his Creator and of spiritual things; his heart and will were upright, all his affections pure, and the whole man was holy. But, revolting from God by the instigation of the devil and by his own free will, he forfeited these excellent gifts; and in the place thereof became involved in blindness of mind, horrible darkness, vanity, and perverseness of judgment; became wicked, rebellious, and obstinate in heart and will, and impure in his affections (Gen 1:26-27; 2 HC 6; 3 Gen 3:1-7; HC 9; 4 Rom 3:9-18; Eph 4:17-19).

04/11/2024

Daily Family meeting Guide November 4, 2024

Topic: Choose the better

Read: Ecclesiastes 7:1-14

Commentary: As humans, we are presented with dual choices in almost everything we do. God has a way of guiding us to pick the right option rather than suffering the consequences of a foolish choice all to prove his love for us. So, he gives us a better option that when we refuse to pick, we are likely to lose. Today, I believe we may find wisdom in making the superior choice among God's two. Take a good name or reputation; though there are many who don't care about it, having a good reputation is key to defining who you are. As a believer, you can't have God's name being dragged in the mud. The day you got saved, you have his identity and must represent well. Someone may be wondering why the day of one's death would be better or his finishing more honourable? Imagine someone who lived and wasted his life and died miserably. And another who did but repented and had a second chance? So, the day of death gives us the opportunity to write our names in gold. We learn patience, get wiser, and won't want to leave regretting we died without hope. Choosing the better out of two is wisdom, and wisdom is a gift from God so, "Accept the way God does things, enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life."

Discuss: Bribery and corruption.

Bible reading plan: John 4-6

Question: What are the errors to be rejected?
Answer: That Christ neither could die, nor needed to die, and also did not die, for those whom God loved in the highest degree and elected to eternal life, since these do not need the death of Christ. For they contradict scriptures that declare Christ died (Gal 2:20, Rom 8:33-34, Jn 10:15, Jn 15:12-13).

03/11/2024

Daily Family meeting Guide November 3, 2024

Topic: Fleeting life

Read: Ecclesiastes 6:1-12

Commentary: There is something called purpose. It is simply a set target, or I should add God's plan for you. One thing I always believe is that God has predestined a lot of things, but the order they will happen, we may not fully grasp it. Life is fleeting, and the future is uncertain, yet God sits in eternity and knows what would be. Anytime Jesus says, "I must do the work of my father," what I hear is I must walk in his plan for me. Many of you are beginning to sound like Solomon, you have embraced a wisdom that was lost on the laps of strange women. No wonder Jesus is the greater than Solomon. Jesus answered Solomon on many fronts, when he taught about riches he said, "what profit is it to gain the whole world yet lose your soul?." On decent burial, there is no guarantee that it will change anything, scripture says, "on the resurrection, God will gather all men from every part of the world where they died..." Many of you had lost touch with eternity, and that is why you teach people how to give God and get physical blessing and say less about his eternal state. How can you say what the future holds or what your destiny would be? You can't! So, it is better not to make assumptions but seek God who rewards diligence because your life is fleeting, but God offers an eternal life through Christ.

Discuss: What should be the Christian's understanding of "untimely death"?

Bible reading plan: John 1-3

Question: What are the errors to be rejected?
Answer: Who use the difference between meriting and appropriating, to the end that they may instill into the minds of the careless and inexperienced this teaching that God, as far as He is concerned, has willed to apply to all equally the benefits gained by the death of Christ; and that, while some obtain the pardon of sin and eternal life, and others do not, this difference depends on their own free will, which joins itself to the grace that is offered without exception, and that it is not dependent on the special gift of mercy, which powerfully works in them, that they rather than others should appropriate unto themselves this grace. For these, while they pretend that they present this distinction in a sound sense, seek to instil into the people the destructive poison of Pelagianism.

02/11/2024

Daily Family meeting Guide November 2, 2024

Topic: Naked, you go!

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:8-20

Commentary: Yesterday, I was replying to a post making mockery of what Jesus came to do and I said, "many of the wealthiest nations have Christian foundations from Germany to Switzerland, America to others Western nations." So, someone wanted to dispute with emotions, I had to tell him Jesus taught against wickedness, greed, oppression, and promoted an egalitarian society. Some people think Jesus was praising the giving of the woman, forgetting he was also condemning the wicked religious leaders of the day. Today, we see people lying to the poor to give and break away from poverty unlike the reformers who took time to build their societies on Jesus' principles and eliminated pauperism and today, we go to these places and get free education. Just look around, see how wickedness is everywhere, and yet those who keep taking from the poor or accumulating wealth won't take anything to their grave. It is vanity. However, the bible says we should enjoy the good God has given us and as it is a free gift. However, never forget you will one day die, and what would you do with all that you have always gathered?

Discuss: Why greed?

Bible reading plan: Luke 22-24

Question: What are the errors to be rejected?
Answer: That all men have been accepted unto the state of reconciliation and unto the grace of the covenant, so that no one is worthy of condemnation on account of original sin, and that no one shall be condemned because of it, but that all are free from the guilt of original sin. This opinion opposes Scripture, which teaches that we are by nature children of wrath (Eph 2:3).

01/11/2024

Daily Family meeting Guide November 1, 2024

Topic: Fear God

Read: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

Commentary: James wrote, "Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls (James 1:19-21). I hope we can link this scripture to today's reading? Yes, when you fear God, you don't talk carelessly or act without thinking. James in the third chapter took time to establish the foolishness of careless speaking. Though the tongue is there used to represent speech. Hence, we must learn to be careful in speech. These days, people throw the name of God into every speech, yet their hearts are far from him. Look at what scripture says: "Do not be quick to speak, and do not let your heart hastily utter a word before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are on earth. So let your words be few." It is this same carelessness that makes people make vows they can't keep. In the marriage relationship and church, we have so many double-tongued religionists, but for you who fear God, do that which is right.

Discuss: True worship.

Bible reading plan: Luke 18-21

Question: What are the errors to be rejected?
Answer: That the new covenant of grace, which God the Father, through the mediation of the death of Christ, made with man, does not herein consist that we by faith, in as much as it accepts the merits of Christ, are justified before God and saved, but in the fact that God, having revoked the demand of perfect obedience of faith, regards faith itself and the obedience of faith, although imperfect, as the perfect obedience of the law, and does esteem it worthy of the reward of eternal life through grace. For these contradict the Scriptures (Rom 3:24-25).

31/10/2024

Daily Family meeting Guide October 31, 2024

Topic: A foolish king

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:13-15

Commentary: In our world, royalty is respected and sought after. However, few care to know the story behind their success. They forget many began small, pushed through, and today, they are where they are. It was said about Jaja of Opobo that though a slave, he went on to be king and ruled his master's house. Is it not funny that even when these kings become big, their kingdoms fall and new ones arise? By now, you will realise nobody lasts forever and no dynasty rules forever. Even among royal families, some would be left out while others will abscond. No wonder the wise man added, "But then everyone rushes to the side of yet another youth who replaces him. Endless crowds stand around him, but then another generation grows up and rejects him, too. So it is all meaningless—like chasing the wind." Do you understand that? It is the same as saying vultures gather where there is a carcass or brown ants where there is sugar. So, when you are being celebrated or elevated like a king, be wise not to stop listening to solid counsel, else foolishness will step in and the result is a disadvantaged but wise person will soon have an edge over you. Many of you, your lives, ministries, family, and source of livelihood, have fallen apart because you became proud and foolish that heeding to warnings meant nothing to you.

Discuss: Politics and faith.

Bible reading plan: Luke 14-17

Question: What are the errors to be rejected?
Answer: That Christ by His satisfaction merited neither salvation itself for any one, nor faith, whereby this satisfaction of Christ unto salvation is effectually appropriated; but that He merited for the Father only the authority or the perfect will to deal again with man, and to prescribe new conditions as He might desire, obedience to which, however, depended on the free will of man, so that it therefore might have come to pass that either none or all should fulfill these conditions. For these adjudge too contemptuously the death of Christ, in no way acknowledge that most important fruit or benefit thereby gained and bring again out of hell the Pelagian error.

30/10/2024

Daily Family meeting Guide October 30, 2024

Topic: Two can resist

Read: Ecclesiastes 4:1-12

Commentary: It was Job who spoke and cursed the day of his birth (Job 3:1). Jesus, on the other hand, said, "it was better for Judas not to be born..." On the early hours of December 15, 2022, I had stood by my wife praying to God to show us mercy, and he did. Do you know why I am sharing this? Solomon speaks of the dead and the living as enjoying the same fate and witnesses to the wickedness of men. He, like Jesus, would opine it is better not to even exist. When you lose someone, that thinking seems to come into play, but that is not the solution to the issue. To everything, God has given it time and purpose. I would not have known I had unworthy friends if my wife had not come into my life. In my short period of making big moves, I have seen people become cold towards me for reasons I care less to ask. It seem our political and religious leaders want to out compete themselves in oppressing their followers, but there is hope. Two are better than one. In unity, we can resist every opposition. Beyond marriage, this works in every facet of human life. For marriage, we must understand it comes with godly principles. Every couple should learn to first submit to God and live by his word. I had come to discover many today just want to better their financial state by opting for marriage, but all that is vanity upon vanity. Be intentional about glorifying God and stand in arms to resist every opposition that rises against your lives, marriage, and the children God has given you.

Discuss: Marital unity.

Bible reading plan: Luke 10-13

Question: What are the errors to be rejected?
Answer: That it was not the purpose of the death of Christ that He should confirm the new covenant of grace through His blood, but only that He should acquire for the Father the mere right to establish with man such a covenant as He might please, whether of grace or of works. For this is repugnant to Scripture which teaches that "Jesus has become a guarantee of a better covenant…the new covenant" and that "it has no power at all while the testator lives" (Heb 7:22, 9:15,17).

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