Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

v. 1-5 (NASB)

Many churches, including mine, do not encourage the use of sign gifts today, which include prophesy. I believe it’s because there’s been a lot of deception and wrong teachings regarding the use of spiritual gifts. Just because some have misused their spiritual gifts and caused deception, doesnâ€t mean we should omit the gifts all together. We shouldnâ€t limit what God wants to do through us out of fear of misunderstanding or misusing His gifts. Paul says to especially desire that we may prophesy because it edifies, exhorts, and consoles the church. God will often use His children to deliver a timely message to someone as an answer to their prayers, to encourage and build them up.

Many times God has used His people to deliver His message to me to edify, exhort or console me when I needed it. Iâ€ll share a few examples.

Once was several years ago when I was going through some things and was in need of direction and wisdom from God. My birthday was approaching, so I asked God to send me answers to these specific issues on my birthday as a gift from Him. I requested it to be through someone I did not know, so I wouldnâ€t doubt it came from Him. When my birthday came around, I forgot I had prayed for Him to speak to me. I was skimming through my emails  that day, answering some friend requests on one of my social media accounts. After sending messages to each, thanking them for their friend request, I received a  lengthy reply from one man. Thinking it was spam or someone just trying to get me to support their cause, I hesitantly started reading it. The message he wrote, which he humbly said he felt God wanted him to share with me, spoke to everything I was going through at the time. These were not just general things I had requested answers to. These were specific requests that no one could have known about, especially someone who didnâ€t know me personally. God used His servant to deliver a timely message to me to edify me when I needed it.

Another time God delivered a message to me was through my husband. My husband was busy at work one day getting lined up on a job. His boss was giving him instructions when he felt the Lord suddenly speak to him to call me and tell me that he supported me. My husband didnâ€t know at that very moment I was on my knees at home crying and praying for support from my husband over something I knew God wanted me to do. God used my husband to bring me consolation right when I needed it.

God has also used His children to exhort me when I needed it. I was on my way to church one day when I felt led to go to my friendâ€s church instead. She had invited me several times in the past, but I never had a chance to go. I thought Iâ€d show up and surprise her. Little did I know that I would be the one receiving the surprise. As the pastor was finishing up his message, and getting ready to close with a prayer, he stopped and spoke an exhortation that he said he didnâ€t plan on sharing but felt God strongly speaking through him to tell someone to forgive the exact person that I was struggling with forgiving (he stated their title of relation). I know without a doubt, God led me to that place that morning to receive the exhortation to forgive that person.

Paul continues explaining that we should be zealous of spiritual gifts for the edification of the church. We donâ€t need to be afraid of misusing our spiritual gifts if our heart is with God and we are motivated by Him to use those gifts to help others.

But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.

Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.

v. 6-19 (NASB)

I went to a Christian conference once with three of my relatives. One relative had never been to a conference or had any interest in going at the time, but reluctantly went because one of the other relatives insisted she went. Throughout the entire conference, a woman behind us spoke out loud in tongues. It was so distracting that we couldnâ€t listen to the preacher speaking. I was embarrassed as my relative looked like she was ready to run out of the auditorium. The woman behind us was not using her gift for the edification of others. She was hurting others by hindering them from receiving the word the preacher was called to share.

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:11-3 (NASB)

Paul closes addressing issues of disorder in the Corinthian church, and instructs that all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner, because God is not the author of confusion. We are to be mature in our thinking, using the wisdom Godâ€s given us in His Word, and the gifts Heâ€s given us through His Holy Spirit, to build up the church, not confuse and disrupt the church.

Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME,” says the Lord. So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.

What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only?

If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lordâ€s commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.

Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.

v. 20-40 (NASB)

 

Heavenly Father,

We praise You for filling us with Your love and equipping us with spiritual gifts for the edification, exhortation, and consolation of the church. Give us wisdom and knowledge how to use the gifts Youâ€ve given us. Help us not to limit and hinder Your gifts out of fear of misunderstanding or misusing them. Keep our hearts full of You and our minds fixed on Your Word so we can clearly hear from You to reach out and meet the needs of others.

In Jesus†faithful name, we pray. Amen!

*This series will continue next week as we study 1 Corinthians 15.

I just read this great explanation on the gift of prophecy and using it for the edification of the church. http://thebeausejourpulpit.wordpress.com/2013/03/08/the-gift-of-prophecy/

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Paul begins talking about the different Spiritual gifts God bestows upon His children.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

v. 1-11 (NASB)

God has given us different gifts by the same Spirit to accomplish His will. We have been entrusted with a special treasure that is not to be hidden, as Jesus explained in Matthew 25 with the parable of the talents:

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.

“The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the masterâ€s money.

 “After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money.

…“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didnâ€t plant and gathering crops you didnâ€t cultivate.

I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.â€

…Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

Matthew 25:14-19; 24-25; 28-29 (NLT)

God is helping me use the gifts He’s given me, but I often question if the gifts are making a difference. Do you feel the same? Do you often feel like your gifts are not really needed? Paul encourages us with the answer in the following verses:

For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now you are Christâ€s body, and individually members of it.

v. 12-27 (NASB)

Every gift is needed, and every believer is valuable to the body as a whole. Those who are regarded as less honorable are given more honor to remind us that we need one another and we need to walk in unity.

Paul closes explaining the order of authority Godâ€s set in place and encourages us to desire the greater gifts.

And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? But earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And I show you a still more excellent way.

v. 28-31 (NASB)

The Greek word translated “gifts” is “charisma” which means: “a gift of grace, a free gift.” We are to earnestly desire Godâ€s grace to be greater in us as a testimony to lead others to salvation. God testifies of His salvation through His grace displayed in us.

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Hebrews 2:1-4 (NIV)

 

Heavenly Father,

We praise You that we are each precious and valuable to You. Every gift Youâ€ve given us is important and needed to accomplish Your will. Help us to walk in unity by remembering that we are all part of the same body and we need one another. We pray that Your grace would be multiplied unto us through the knowledge of You and Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2).

In Jesus†name we pray, Amen!

 

 

*This series will continue next week as we study 1 Corinthians 13.