Lovekr07
Member
'Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” '
1 Corinthians 14:1-25
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1CO.14.1-25
In the above passage, Paul is encouraging believers to follow the way of love and to seek after the gifts of the Spirit, especially those that build up the church. The gift of tongues is a wonderful gift for praying in the Spirit to God but is not a gift that we can use to bless other people. Speaking in tongues is awesome in our personal worship and prayer times, because the Spirit prays through us the will of God. We do not always know what to pray, so this is a way that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. This can bring us great comfort as we can ensure that we prayed the right thing. I believe it is also our secret language with God where the Devil cannot understand what we are praying. That is so awesome!! Hallelujah!!
For us to be able to bless and minister to others, God equips us with gifts that are for the purpose of building the Kingdom of God. Prophecy is an example because when the Lord gives us specific words that someone or some others need, they are encouraged and built up. It is such an awesome experience that feels like a warm hug from God when another believer says something to us that the Lord gave them to say to us whether they even realize it or not. It is also amazing to be the one He uses to deliver the exact word that someone needs. For Christians it is just a reminder of His awesomeness and sovereignty and for unbelievers, it can reveal to them that God is real when they hear something so personal that it feels like someone has been “reading their mail” or even hearing their thoughts from someone who does not even know anything about them. This reminds me of the woman at the well who drew water for Jesus and found that this man whom she did not know knew everything about her. She knew that He was the Lord!!
Other gifts that are for building the Kingdom of God are teaching, healing, preaching, administration, generosity, translation, wisdom, knowledge, etc. The gift of faith is awesome because it can enhance all the other gifts and move mountains!! I believe the gift of faith is an awesome gift to ask for because faith makes all things possible!! When we pray for other people with the gift of faith, they will experience miracles, breakthroughs, healings, deliverance, gifts of the Spirit, etc. I do not know for sure if I have this gift or not, but I pray that God will give me the gift of faith so that I can believe things for others to bring miracles into their lives, which is an awesome gift to build up the church!! People with the gift of faith display an extraordinary amount of unshakable faith in the most seemingly hopeless circumstances. That is an awesome gift that is used to bless others! Amen!! Hallelujah!!!
1 Corinthians 14:1-25
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1CO.14.1-25
In the above passage, Paul is encouraging believers to follow the way of love and to seek after the gifts of the Spirit, especially those that build up the church. The gift of tongues is a wonderful gift for praying in the Spirit to God but is not a gift that we can use to bless other people. Speaking in tongues is awesome in our personal worship and prayer times, because the Spirit prays through us the will of God. We do not always know what to pray, so this is a way that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. This can bring us great comfort as we can ensure that we prayed the right thing. I believe it is also our secret language with God where the Devil cannot understand what we are praying. That is so awesome!! Hallelujah!!
For us to be able to bless and minister to others, God equips us with gifts that are for the purpose of building the Kingdom of God. Prophecy is an example because when the Lord gives us specific words that someone or some others need, they are encouraged and built up. It is such an awesome experience that feels like a warm hug from God when another believer says something to us that the Lord gave them to say to us whether they even realize it or not. It is also amazing to be the one He uses to deliver the exact word that someone needs. For Christians it is just a reminder of His awesomeness and sovereignty and for unbelievers, it can reveal to them that God is real when they hear something so personal that it feels like someone has been “reading their mail” or even hearing their thoughts from someone who does not even know anything about them. This reminds me of the woman at the well who drew water for Jesus and found that this man whom she did not know knew everything about her. She knew that He was the Lord!!
Other gifts that are for building the Kingdom of God are teaching, healing, preaching, administration, generosity, translation, wisdom, knowledge, etc. The gift of faith is awesome because it can enhance all the other gifts and move mountains!! I believe the gift of faith is an awesome gift to ask for because faith makes all things possible!! When we pray for other people with the gift of faith, they will experience miracles, breakthroughs, healings, deliverance, gifts of the Spirit, etc. I do not know for sure if I have this gift or not, but I pray that God will give me the gift of faith so that I can believe things for others to bring miracles into their lives, which is an awesome gift to build up the church!! People with the gift of faith display an extraordinary amount of unshakable faith in the most seemingly hopeless circumstances. That is an awesome gift that is used to bless others! Amen!! Hallelujah!!!