Day 27
"Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."
1 Corinthians 14:1
My Prayer
Yahweh, my Heavenly Father, thank You for this scripture.Y I praise You for the power that is in it. I thank You for what You will do through it (Isaiah 55:11). Please reveal its meaning to our minds (Psalm 119:18). For all who read here, please lead them to pray this page with me...
My Father, You have told us in 1 Corinthians 14:1 to "earnestly desire spiritual gifts". Many reading here may not know what You meant by the term "spiritual gifts". It seems that many are unaware that You give us our spiritual powers just like You give us our physical traits.5.2o
Cessationists teach that some or all spiritual gifts ceased in all places and for all time after the first century by teaching 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, without revealing 1 Corinthians 13:11-12.sg2 So, they incorrectly use 1 Corinthians 13:9 to teach that prophecy ceased in the first century, while also teaching that the two prophets of Revelation 11:3 are in our future. By thinking beyond what was written in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10, they created a contradiction in Revelation 11:3.1.5h
My Lord, please rebuke those who essentially teach that the early Christians needed these supernatural powers but that we do not.4.3l Please forgive the arrogance and grant repentance (2 Timothy 2:24-25).
If having scripture meant that we don't need Your power, then You would have given Moses scripture instead of miracles when he went before Pharaoh. If we live by the ten commandments but don't "walk by the Spirit" we are merely rule followers, legalists.ws Atheists can live by rules.
My Lord, I pray for those who read here... that they ask this question:
Should we ask for spiritual gifts?
Thank You Father. For to this question, You have provided an answer:
"Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret" (1 Corinthians 14:13).
In verse 14:13, Paul specifically instructed the Corinthians to ask for the gift of interpretation. So, praying to receive a specific spiritual gift is appropriate. You have plainly said so. You have also provided other guidance in regard to this type of request. When we ask for spiritual gifts, we should say "if it be Your will" since the Holy Spirit distributes them "as he desires" (1 Corinthians 12:11).
Praise to Your name! Every Christian receives a spiritual gift or gifts to be used for the profit of other believers (1 Corinthians 12:7). We don't decide which gift or gifts we receive (1 Corinthians 12:11), but we should seek spiritual gifts and ask for them (1 Corinthians 14:13).
Some say that we should not ask for a particular spiritual gift if we don't understand that spiritual gift. But, we Your children routinely must ask You for help, while we don't know what form Your help will take.
Thank You Father! You have revealed many spiritual gifts in Your word:
From 1 Corinthians 12:1-12 we see Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Distinguishing of Spirits, different kinds of languages (Tongues), Interpretation of Tongues.
From 1 Corinthians 12:28-31, I see five more: apostles, prophets, teachers, helps, governments (administrations).
From Ephesians 4:7-12 You added: evangelists and shepherds.
In Romans 12:1-8 I see five more: service, exhortation, sharing, leading and mercy.
All together, these scriptures reveal twenty-one gifts of the Holy Spirit to ask for. These are gifts which You have ordained.
In Your word I see:
- Spiritual Gifts are not developed. (They are supernatural gifts.)sg1
- Spiritual gifts do exist today.sg2
- We receive them by asking for them.sg3
- We don't get to pick our gifts.sg4
- Possession of spiritual gifts doesn't mean that we are spiritual.sg5
- We recognize our gifts through prayer as we make disciples.sg6
- Spiritual gifts grant authority to do Kingdom Work.sg7
- The gift of healing is a sign gift.sg8
In the spiritual gifts we see spiritual authority in the invisible spiritual realm.3.1 We see that You determine our roles in the church by the gifts You choose to grant.
The gifts are ours for the asking. They are Yours to give, according to Your will, for the benefit of Your people. Instead of natural abilities, they are supernatural gifts.
Being aware of spiritual gifts helps us understand what is happening in the invisible spiritual realm. You may expand my role in the disciple making process as I ask You for spiritual gifts. If You grant me additional gifts, I will walk by the Spirit in different ways.
When I discipled two men in college in the 1970's, You gave me the ability to answer their questions directly from scripture. They would ask a question. I would pray for the answer. The answer and it's location in the Bible would come into my mind at that very moment. Without answering the question audibly, I would turn the page and put my finger on the words of scripture that answered the question. This sometimes went on for hours. Both of these men then served in full time church planting / evangelism ministries for over forty years. I now believe that this was the gift called "word of knowledge". You gave me knowledge of the appropriate words from scripture for the moment.
After college I became a rule follower for some unknown reason. I lost the gift. Then, You made me aware the I had started living by rules instead of living by the Spirit. So, for a year or so, I asked You to give me the gift again. You did. But now my interaction is in larger groups. So, You bring the appropriate scriptures into my mind and I quote them into the group. You give me knowledge of the appropriate words of scripture for the moment.
Praise to Your name!
In this passage, 1 Corinthians 14:1, You have told us to ask for spiritual gifts... As You grant gifts, we may walk by the Spirit in new ways and different situations! Thank you for revealing this in Your word!
Heavenly Father, increase our desire for spiritual gifts! By Your Spirit, lead Your children to click this link: "Spiritual Gifts from Romans, Ephesians and 1 Corinthians"
You deserve all praise!
Amen.
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