Daily Bread 1 Corinthians 14
Daily Bread 2010
1 Corinthians 14
Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues
1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 3But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Sometimes we get very uneasy in the church with the idea of “prophesy”, or those who would say they are a “prophet”! Usually we align this idea with someone who makes a prediction about something God is going to do in the future, often catastrophic. But Paul gives us some valuable teaching in 1 Corinthians 14, which clears up the purpose and use of this gift of prophesy.
First of all, Paul encourages the church at Corinth to seek the gift of prophecy above the gift of “tongues”. Why? To speak prophetically was to speak God’s word to the local congregation in a timely and relevant way. The result of speaking God’s word to people is that they are edified, or “built up” in their faith.
Speaking in tongues was an ecstatic gift that God used to communicate the gospel in a very unique way in the early church, but in the church of Corinth it began to be elevated to an unhealthy level. While Paul did not disregard this gift for future use, he encouraged the church to focus more on the gift of prophesy.
Note too, he didn’t limit the gift to the pastors/leaders. Often in the church today we have relegated this gift the pastor giving him sermon on Sunday morning, and yet God has so designed the church that we might mutually encourage each other through speaking God’s word to each other often. Note: I do not here minimize the importance of local pastors preaching powerfully and passionately in prophetic ways every Sunday!
My hope is that in the Daily Bread each day, we might mutually encourage one another. I always invite you to share what God is speaking to you through these verses together. The bottom line is that we all need to be “built up” and more than just for an hour on Sunday. While Sunday is the primary time we set aside to be built up in our faith and the pastors play a major role in leading that each week, we also need to learn how to read the Word ourselves and encourage each other often. Of course unless you spend time reading God’s word and praying over it you will have little chance of hearing from God.
Dear Jesus, thank you for this wonderful gift of prophesy that you have given to the church for mutual edification. Increase in each of us the ability to hear Your Word and respond and encourage each other all the more as the day of the Lord approaches. Send Your Spirit to bring Your Word alive in and through us each day. In Your Name we pray, Amen.
1 Corinthians 14
Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues
1Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 3But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Sometimes we get very uneasy in the church with the idea of “prophesy”, or those who would say they are a “prophet”! Usually we align this idea with someone who makes a prediction about something God is going to do in the future, often catastrophic. But Paul gives us some valuable teaching in 1 Corinthians 14, which clears up the purpose and use of this gift of prophesy.
First of all, Paul encourages the church at Corinth to seek the gift of prophecy above the gift of “tongues”. Why? To speak prophetically was to speak God’s word to the local congregation in a timely and relevant way. The result of speaking God’s word to people is that they are edified, or “built up” in their faith.
Speaking in tongues was an ecstatic gift that God used to communicate the gospel in a very unique way in the early church, but in the church of Corinth it began to be elevated to an unhealthy level. While Paul did not disregard this gift for future use, he encouraged the church to focus more on the gift of prophesy.
Note too, he didn’t limit the gift to the pastors/leaders. Often in the church today we have relegated this gift the pastor giving him sermon on Sunday morning, and yet God has so designed the church that we might mutually encourage each other through speaking God’s word to each other often. Note: I do not here minimize the importance of local pastors preaching powerfully and passionately in prophetic ways every Sunday!
My hope is that in the Daily Bread each day, we might mutually encourage one another. I always invite you to share what God is speaking to you through these verses together. The bottom line is that we all need to be “built up” and more than just for an hour on Sunday. While Sunday is the primary time we set aside to be built up in our faith and the pastors play a major role in leading that each week, we also need to learn how to read the Word ourselves and encourage each other often. Of course unless you spend time reading God’s word and praying over it you will have little chance of hearing from God.
Dear Jesus, thank you for this wonderful gift of prophesy that you have given to the church for mutual edification. Increase in each of us the ability to hear Your Word and respond and encourage each other all the more as the day of the Lord approaches. Send Your Spirit to bring Your Word alive in and through us each day. In Your Name we pray, Amen.
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