Daily Blessings: Encouragement for Your Journey

SATURDAY, 25 MAY 2024

TEXT: I Corinthians 14:1-12

1: Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

2: 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.

3: But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.

4: Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

5: 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.

6: 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?

7: 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?

8: Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

9: 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.

10: Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

11: 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.

12: So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: THE GIFT OF PROPHECY AND SPEAKING IN TONGUES (I)

These two gifts can be very sensational and captivating to the beneficiary who can claim to be speaking mysteries from God to the church. Sadly, each of these has been abused and misused in the Church, thereby causing divisions among believers.

God set apart the prophets in the Old Testament to represent Him before His people by instructing, warning, exhorting and presenting promises and rebuking the listeners toward living holy and obedient lives.

In the New Testament, Paul's emphasis on these gifts is the delivery of God's Word for the purpose of building and edifying the members of the Corinthian church. Thus, the gift of prophecy today is not meant to bring a new revelation because the Bible is already complete.

Paul declared that anyone claiming to have the gift of speaking in tongues must interpret it for the edification of members just as the prophet is called to explain the Word of God for the spiritual nourishment of believers, otherwise he should just keep quiet.

QUESTION: Do you prophesy in accordance with Biblical prescriptions?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help me to recognise false prophets and those who deceive Your children with fake gifts of speaking in tongues, in Jesus name. Amen.