The Devotional – 1063 – Foot Steps in First Corinthians, on going

The Devotional – 1063 – Foot Steps in First Corinthians, on going

Ever chase after something; that is, desire something and that always seems to be just a bit out of reach? Of course you have, most of this desire may seem okay, yet the apostle James clearly states that this sort of effort is sin. Speaking through the Holy Spirit to his readers he uses the desire to be prosperous financially as an example; he says that the desire to plan for the future without including God in those plans is sin (James 4:13-17). Yesterday while watching Dr. David Jeremiah’s In Touch program he covered this topic very well, yet it was food for thought for me concerning our walk through First Corinthians in that much of what we do as believers in Christ may fall into the category of the flesh rather than the Spirit. Chapter fourteen of First Corinthians speaks to all of us regarding our personal walk with the LORD among His children.

CHALLENGES & COMMENTS – 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

Most often we desire spiritual gifts, in fact the apostle clearly says: “desire spiritual gifts” remember words in italics are not in the Greek text, but implied. These are added to suggest the intent of the one who is given the spiritual ability to prophesy or some other expression of the Holy Spirit within the church.

Let me also say that these gifts that the apostle has referenced are temporal, meaning that these Spiritual expressions were more active at one point in time but are less active today. The way I like to look at this is that the “church age” or the dispensation we live in today, yet being a mystery is complete. We need no additional revelation or special word from God, the next event of God’s Plan is to complete the mystery and return the Holy Spirit along with the church back to heaven. We ought to comfort one another in this; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Going back to 1 Corinthians 14:1 – did you notice that I missed something? I did that on purpose, you see our desire to be “something” spiritually overrides the main expression of the God the Holy Spirit. We are to “PURSUE” or to “chase after” THE Spiritual expression (gift) of the Love of God. What good is any prophesy or any other expression of God the Holy Spirit if we do not understand the LOVE of God which is the greater part of the “mystery” of the “grace dispensation” Ephesians 3:1-7 and John 3:13-17.

Now you may believe and it is true, we received the “love of God” when we were saved, yes we did, but did we fully understand the love of God, the answer; no we did not. I for one do not and it is the main search of my study of the Holy Bible, it should be yours too. I see the love of God, I feel the love of God and I expect confidently that the love of God has been made complete in me through the Person and Sacrifice of Jesus Christ my LORD. YET, have I chased after the love of God to fully express any of the temporal gifts of the Spirit of God as the apostle suggests? God will be the judge of this.

The scripture as I read it is clear and literal, “he who speaks in a tongue, DOES NOT SPEAK TO MEN but to God. So if one loves God accordingly, why should (he) openly expose his gift to another man if the words are only good for the ears of God? Remember the words of comfort I referred to in the second paragraph, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18? I see that the apostle Paul says that it is far better to speak within a prophesy of scripture and comfort one another rather than to speak in a tongue.

In Christendom today many are confused about the Spirit of God simply because they seem to be chasing after God for His gifts without first including God. 1 John 4:12-16 makes it clear that we have not been perfected in the LOVE of God if we are not first abiding in Him, for God is LOVE.