Pursue Love and Earnestly Desire the Spiritual Gifts
Sermon Series on 1 Corinthians 14: 1-5, 20, 26, 39-40
A theme in the books of 1st Corinthians is the division in the body is palpable and in need of restoration. Paul has spoken previously about love. He now promotes other avenues for reconnecting the body and its people through heavenly communication among one another.
A distinction is made between spoken tongues and shared prophecy. Though both are extremely important, the former communes with God and only finds utility with interpretation, but the latter is useful for building the congregation and community.
Honestly and earnestly desire spiritual gifts.
God’s gift to us is logic. In our everyday lives, it’s important to be logical people. But in our eternal lives, it’s even more important to be spiritual people. An earnest desire for spiritual gifts will allow us to understand and navigate the matters that elude our logic. For issues that are beyond comprehension, it’s logical to pray for these instances.
If we don’t pray, we lose opportunities for God to make miracles happen in our lives.
Pastor Daniel gives us examples of the possibilities of God’s miracles.
When it came to his daughter’s arm, he prayed first, and then took her to the hospital
For a sister about to give birth, prayer was laid on her with physical touch by the congregation, and the mother avoided surgery and gave birth naturally.
For our missionaries in Antalya, people are delivered and rescued from dangerous situations and find Christ as their Lord. Let us seek miracles we can pray for.
Q: When we pray for these things, do we have the expectation for God to perform miracles?
Earnestly desire spiritual gift, but specifically to prophesy.
What is the gift of prophecy? It’s not to see the future like a fortune teller and tarot cards. It’s when God provides things in your mind you normally wouldn’t. All of us will obtain it, so expect it. [Act 2:17]. Spend time in scripture and prayer. Sharing meditations is the act of prophecy. If a member is moved and inspired, you have prophesied to them. When you pray for a person and God reveals the feelings and emotions to empathize for the person, or when it’s revealed to you how God feels for a person, you’ve prophesied.
How will we know if it’s from Him or from us? – Un-biblical, from you. Apostolic teaching, from God. When it’s building up and not to destroy others. Practice. Not for your own benefit, but for others. You rob blessings from people around you if you don’t pray and earnestly seek.
Be careful of False Prophecies. Prophecies are not given to individuals, but given to congregations. To build up the body. It’s a selfless gift. It’s important to be part of a spiritual body and family to experience the miracles and opportunities for the Holy Spirit to move in our lives.
Discussion Questions:
What do you think God is trying to speak to you through the message? How do you want to respond?
What do you think you need to do to earnestly desire spiritual gifts/manifestations/things?
