The Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Part II

    If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. I Corinthians 12:17,18

What we have today is "the church of the eye!" One man taking control over the church and the only gift activated is his! The rest of the body sits in obscurity and the only thing they receive from church is pastor's sermon, a couple of songs, and the taking of an offering.

Satan drug this model up out of the depths of antiquity after Jesus did away with the temple, priest, and the traditions of men and doctrines of demons. Putting a man on a pedestal was a dangerous plan as many of these superstar preachers have fallen. The glorious church of the Lord Jesus Christ must return to follow the Divine model given them by God in the first century!

Pastors were never meant to found, rule, or control the assembly of the saints because they pen up the sheep and feed them until they are fat and too lazy to obey the great commission! Apostles are the master builders and architects of the church; pastors are to minister to the saints and equip them for service.

    God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. I Corinthians 12:28

THE GIFT OF LOVE

    Though I speak with the tongues of men and, angels but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. I Corinthians 13:1,2

Love is not only a gift from God, but also a command to love Him, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Love has several attributes that describe our heavenly Father's love for us:

    Love suffers long, (patient) love is kind, love does not envy, love has no pride, love is not puffed up, (arrogant) love does not behave rudely, love does not seek its own, love is not provoked, love thinks no evil, love does not rejoice in iniquity, love rejoices in truth, love bears all things, love believes all things, love hopes all things, love endures all things, love never fails.

If we would walk and live with the love of God in our hearts the world would be changed, and the church would flourish like a well-watered garden. True agape love changes men's hearts and leads us to love one another as Christ loves us! Being filled with the Holy Spirit is to be filled to overflowing with God's love.

    And now abide (live or dwell) faith, hope, and love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:13

DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS

    Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I Corinthians 14:1-4

Edification- Edification refers to the process of building up the church and individual believers in their faith, knowledge, and obedience to God. It involves teaching, encouragement, and living righteously. The New Testament emphasizes the spiritual growth, maturity, and unity of believers within the body of Christ. Overall, edification aims to equip believers for service and spiritual maturity.

Exhortation- Exhortation refers to strongly encouraging, urging, or pleading with someone to pursue a specific course of action, especially actions related to spiritual growth and obedience to God.

To prophesy is greater than speaking in tongues because the church is edified, but that does not mean tongues is an invalid spiritual gift, it is necessary as long as it is used in order. By order I mean the gift must be used as the Holy Spirit initiates.

There are various kinds of tongues, some for the church to be edified by someone led by the Spirit speaking a word from God and then another to interpret what the first one said. If there is no interpreter let him be silent. Another tongue that all who are baptized in the Spirit can receive is a prayer language for you and God.

The apostle Paul told the church at Corinth that he spoke in tongues more than all of them and gave them instruction on how to use the gift. Another use is singing in the Spirit which the word doesn't give much instruction on, but it is a beautiful gift.

Even so since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. Therefore, let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. I Corinthians 14:12-15