It has been so easy for me to read my Bible and think I understand it. But, when I rid myself of everything I’ve believed and read it with fresh eyes, I am often awakened to a truth that has been hidden from me to this point. I would posit that it is crucial to routinely come to Scripture with more questions than answers; with fresh eyes ready to see rather than eyes dulled by a false sense of understanding; with a mind seeking wisdom rather than resting in knowledge.
Such was the case for me not long ago. In about a 4 month span, I read through the gospels at least twice, Acts 3-4x and camped out in 1 Corinthians 12-14. At the same time, I devoured the teachings of a friend on this subject. I confess that much of what I learned was new…..frustratingly so. How could I have lived a Christian life for 38 years and not realize the truth of the Holy Spirit and all He has? Furthermore, how could ever have the audacity to think I could do quite well in my Christian walk without all He has to offer? I take full responsibility for ignoring those truths. Oh, I recognize that the Holy Spirit is the One who makes the written word become the living Word….the one who awakens my spirit to the truth within the pages of the written word. But, if I’m honest, I was far too content….too lazy…..too nonchalant to dig very deeply. And, I blended quite well with those around me so nothing seemed amiss. But, oh how I wish I could have those years back! How I wish I could have marinated in those truths long ago! I wish the choice that is so obvious now would have been more clear then.
Take a look at those verses…..rid yourself of all preconceived ideas, beliefs, and yes…..fears. Open your eyes to the truths. And, ask yourself which path you choose: obedience or disobedience. In reality, there is a 3rd choice which you could choose.
“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.” 1 Cor 12:1
The Corinthians misunderstood the role that spiritual gifts were to play in the lives of believers and in the life of the church. Paul is telling them-and us-that he does not want ignorance to have a hold on us. So, Paul begins to explain to them about the gifts. He first lays a foundation identifying how one can know something is of the Holy Spirit:
“….no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Cor. 2:3
In the next 7 verses, Paul delineates the nine gifts, explaining as well that there are diversities of gifts and ministries, but the same Lord….the same God. Then, the remainder of chapter 12 explains that ALL are needed….by using the analogy of a body….and that no part is independent of another. He is assuring us that the wide diversity of gifts assures unity because each gift contributes something necessary to the common life and growth of the whole. Just as the ear is not independent of the body, the prophet is not independent of the church. Just as the whole body cannot be an eye, neither can the entire church function with only the gifts of healing. When a body is missing any part, it lacks health. It can function….but it is not completely healthy….the part that is missing has a function that is not being accomplished. All the gifts are necessary….all work together in unity…for the strength of the body…..for His glory. And, like our physical bodies, the church can function without some of these gifts, but it is not completely healthy….some function is not being accomplished. He then wraps up that part of the discussion by referring back to the gifts.
“And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations and varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” 1 Cor. 12:28-30
These are rhetorical questions showing that not everyone has each gifts….and that all those gifts are necessary. And, then he tells us to earnestly desire those gifts. The word used for desire-zeloo-is a very strong verb. It is where we get the word ‘zealous’. It means ‘to burn with desire, to pursue ardently, eagerly or intensely’. The negative side of the word means strong envy or covet. This is the heart-posture we are to have toward the gifts. Do we? Obedience? Or, disobedience?
He then goes on to tell us that there is something else that must envelop the exercising of those gifts. The Corinthians were misusing them and Paul responds to this problem by showing them the need for love and unselfish motives, for self-control and keeping an orderly service that is edifying to the entire body.
1 Corinthians 13 starts of with telling us the uselessness of having the gifts without love:
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. Though I have the gift of prophecy…though I have all faith…but have not love, I am nothing.” 1 Cor. 13:1-2
He then goes on to explain what love looks like and again refers back to the fact that the gifts are meaningless without love by saying that the time will come where there will be no need for prophecies, tongues, or words of knowledge. This is where the 3rd choice comes in: cessationism. Some take this verse to mean the gifts have ceased…they are no longer in operation. I would believe that the day will come….but hasn’t yet. Heaven has no need of prophecies…..or tongues….or words of knowledge. When we reach heaven, there will be no need for them for,
“..we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.” 1 Cor. 13:9-10
After explaining what must permeate all the gifts, he then explains how they are to operate in a service. He starts of this section again exhorting us to
“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” 1 Cor. 14:1
BOTH must be pursued: love and spiritual gifts. I find Paul’s choice of words interesting. ‘Pursue’ is the word dioko, which means ‘to follow after’, ‘pursue'(as one would a calling), ‘to be given to’ or ‘to press forward’. It lacks the strength of the verb ‘zeloo‘. Essentially, he is telling us to give ourselves over to love, pursue it AND zealously, eagerly burn with desire for the spiritual gifts….Do we? Would those adverbs describe your desire for the gifts of the Holy Spirit? Obedience? Or, disobedience? Or, maybe you are a cessationist?
He is also saying in this verse that he longs that we might prophesy. And, in verses 2 and 3, explains that the gift of prophecy has greater potential to edify the body than speaking in tongues. (It seems the Corinthians were guilty of what some modern day churches are: they confused both the importance and role of tongues) When you have been blessed and ministered to by a person who has a strong prophetic gifting, you can understand what he means by this gift edifying the body. I have left such times feeling like God hand-picked me to speak into my life and that His messenger had read my mail….or my mind. It was dead-on accurate….spoke to exactly what I was thinking at the time and other things going on in my life. Why anyone would want to minister without this gift is incomprehensible to me. I so long for this gift. I admit without any shame that I will not stop yearning for it; that my heart burns with a desire to prophesy like nothing else. I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that my ministry to others is severely limited without it. I am far more uncomfortable ministering or encouraging without it than I ever was about the exercising of the gifts.
Most of chapter 14 is explaining the role of the various gifts-particularly the gift of tongues and prophecy-in the individual and the church meetings. It’s very interesting to me that the meetings he describes look absolutely nothing like modern day church services. I kinda chuckle when I hear someone mention that certain things that some churches practice aren’t found in the Bible because, in reality, the average church service isn’t in the Bible(among other things we hold so tightly to…but that’s another message…or post…or whatever)
“Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” 1 Cor. 14:26
He then goes on to say that 2, or at the most 3, each taking a turn, speaks in a tongue…and one interprets. Then 2 or 3 prophets speak….let the others judge. If one is speaking and another gets up to speak, the first sits down. He’s wanting those with gifts to honor each other and the service….to not seek their own glory by having their gift on display for all…to remember the purpose of the gifts is for the edification of the body. He then wraps up this section with some serious words:
“If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But, if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.” 1 Cor. 14:37-38
I suppose Paul is introducing a 4th option I hadn’t thought of: ignorance. Now, for the 3rd time, he tells us to desire earnestly to prophesy(v. 39). There is significance when the Bible repeats something 3 times in a short passage. Also, considering that the word used for desire means to pursue ardently(which means fiery, hot, zealously, eagerly), do you think that maybe he’s really trying to hammer something home if he adds the word “earnestly” 2 out of 3 times??? Is the word zeloo not strong enough that he feels he must add another adverb to it? It’s more than a superlative(which is actually an adjective not an adverb, but anyway….). He’s using several adverbs to strengthen the word desire. I’ve heard so many people discourage others from seeking the gifts, but it seems quite obvious to me that Paul’s admonition is just the opposite.
So, just how zealous are we for the gifts? How eagerly do we pursue them? How much do we burn with desire for them? 1 Corinthians 12-14 are not individual chapters isolated from each other. Nor should they be taught that way. Together, they give a complete picture of the how we can best edify the body through the manifestations of the Holy Spirit: seek earnestly the gifts the Holy Spirit has….in the exercising of those gifts, be certain that love is the motivating factor enveloping their use….honor one another….use self-control and maintain order. But, for so long, we have isolated the chapters-even the verses with the chapters-and chosen to focus on some and ignore the others. Obedience? Or, disobedience?
You may be a cessationist. We can agree to disagree. But, if you’re not, what do you choose? Will you choose to obey ALL of what Paul is teaching? Or, cherry-pick the verses you are most comfortable with? Or, will you simply ignore that which you don’t particularly care for?
Which do you choose? Obedience? Or, disobedience?