Spiritual Gifts

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Monday March 2, 2009

God wants us to desire spiritual gifts:

1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV)
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

Some people read that verse and think God doesn't want them to have any spiritual gifts except the gift of prophecy, but Paul told the Corinthians to eagerly desire SPIRITUAL GIFTS, THEN he singled out prophecy as one to especially desire. Speaking in tongues is defined in the next verse:

1 Corinthians 14:2 (NIV)
For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.

That's an AWESOME thing, to speak to God; uttering mysteries with your spirit. What mysteries are you uttering when you speak in tongues?

Romans 8:26,27 (NIV)
26. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

When we speak in tongues, the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for us IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD'S WILL! Want to pray God's will? Praying in tongues is one way to know for sure you are praying God's will whether you know what His will is or not! The Holy Spirit "intercedes for us with groans that words (in our own language) cannot express." What language are we speaking when we speak in tongues?

1 Corinthians 13:1 (NIV)
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

The Bible calls it the tongues (or languages) of angels. Some people read that verse and think that you shouldn't speak in tongues, because if you have not love, you're a "resounding gong" or a "clanging cymbal," but God wasn't saying that. If we speak in tongues of angels OR MEN and have not love, we're making noise, but God wants us to walk in love AND speak in tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:5 (NIV)
I would like every one of you to speak in tongues

1 Corinthians 14:18 (NIV)
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.

Some churches even forbid speaking in tongues, but God tells us it is wrong to forbid it:

1 Corinthians 14:39 (NIV)
Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

Speaking in tongues is a positive source of edification:

1 Corinthians 14:4 (NIV)
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself

Speaking in tongues should not be forbidden, but rather encouraged!

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Your Spirit inside me that always leads me in line with Your Word. Thank You for Your wonderful, life-giving Word. Help me comprehend Your Word and rightly divide it so I can let You govern my life more completely.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

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