| | | | Strengthen the church - 1 Corinthians 14;1-4 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won't be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. 1 Corinthians 14:1-4 (NLT)
The thing I love about the Apostle Paul is that he's so practical. In writing to the church at Corinth about Spiritual gifts, Paul doesn't try and explain the deep doctrinal mysteries surrounding the gift of tongues, he simply gives them some practical guidance. And the theme that's imbedded in his guidance is this: Always seek to do what will strengthen the entire church.
If you bring up the topic of speaking in tongues with a group of Christians, things can get awkward fast. Some people speak in tongues all the time, some believe the gift is no longer functioning in the church, others feel it should be confined to your prayer closet. You're probably in one of those groups. You're probably wondering what group I'm in! Well, regardless of what group you or I fall into, one thing we can agree on is that we should all follow Paul's guidance, which is to seek to conduct ourselves in a way that will strengthen the entire church.
Paul made it clear later in chapter 14 that he speaks in tongues, prays in tongues, and even sings in tongues, yet he felt it was important that when he was with others, he wanted them to be able to understand what he was saying. Practical Paul. I love that.
In my humble opinion, when Christians start debating about tongues, or other matters, it only serves to divide the body of Christ, and that's never good. Rather than debate about tongues, lets let love be our highest goal, desire the special gifts that God has for us, and let our focus be to strengthen the entire church.
"Lord, help my focus today be on letting love be my highest goal, desiring all that you have for me, and strengthening the entire church."
Pastor Clay | | | | | | | |
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