Earnestly desire spiritual gifts especially prophecy
After the wedding yesterday, I was struck by Bishop Curry’s sermon, like many were. But my take was a bit different, as you might expect by now. I was reading in I Corinthians this morning and was struck by the concept: Earnestly desire spiritual gifts especially prophecy. More than that Paul expected us to recognize the necessity of prophecy. In fact, as usual, he makes it personal.
Make love your aim, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. I Cor 14:1 RSV
Your goal remains love—always. But we are to seek the nine gifts listed in chapter 12. However, Paul states clearly that the most necessary charism is prophecy. Miracles and healings get most of the attention by the world and babes in the Messiah. The truly important gifts are those where the Holy Spirit speaks to His people.
Earnestly desire spiritual gifts especially prophecy
Yes, our aim remains agape love—not eros or philia. But, Paul charges us to seriously and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. They remain critically important, especially in the midst of our current lack of truthfulness in our culture.
We need discernment simply to know who’s telling us what. I find that functioning day to day constantly requires the knowledge and wisdom gifts. When I misplace something, ask the Lord for help, and watch my eye move to look directly at the missing item—that’s a word of knowledge from within my spirit.
However, the focus of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the body of the Messiah
In that context, the ability to prophesy [allowing the Lord to speak through you] critically helps in the edification of any meeting. Whether the group is two or three gathered [as in a married pair seeking the Lord] or thousands in a large hall, we truly need to hear the Lord’s voice as we draw near to the end. This will be even more important as the Bible becomes illegal. Maranatha!
Hello David! Thanks for posting this! I love it!
In addition, I add the following thought: The way I like to think of it is that the spiritual gifts of First Corinthians 12 and 14 need the motivator and the aim of 13–that is, that agape-love must be incorporated into the release/use of the Spirit Gifts.
We’ve all met tongue-talking people and prophets who were heavy in the giftings but lightweights when it came to agape-love. I think I’d rather have someone truly love me. Without love, the gifts become hype or even manifestations of the flesh (or even worse). Love for the Lord first. Love for each other–those around us–in close second. Loving others beyond ourselves. And all of the love I just mentioned isn’t emotional/sentimental, but full of action.
Hope you’re well, David!
-Sean
I agree with you…but my main concern is the current reality of virtually no manifestation of supernatural gifts. Without agape they can get pretty harsh. However, without the gifts it’s usually pretty dead. Again it’s always the middle road and lots of prayer for anointing, wisdom, and guidance.
Amen… Fully agree! As they say, for most churches, the person least likely to show up is the Holy Spirit. And least welcome, too. May He find believers and fellowships where He is welcome!
I remember studying 1 Corinthians 12:31 and realizing that chapter 13 was a description not just of love, but it was a description of how we are to desire the greater gifts — especially prophecy. Love is the motivation behind the desire for the gifts — to possess and, more importantly, to pour out into the Body of Christ. I Corinthians 14:1 is a command to desire prophecy so that we can use it in love to build up the Church.
I agree. Doing it all in the Lord who is love.