1 Corinthians 14:6-12 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
Who will get ready for battle? The devil hates clear words of revelation, knowledge, prophecy or instruction because those words of enlightenment prepare the church for battle against him and his forces. Without such inspiration by the Holy Spirit, the church lacks supernatural leading. God indicates He will send the Holy Spirit to all his children. In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. (Acts 2:17) The Spirit of God is poured out on ALL PEOPLE; your sons and daughters WILL PROPHESY. In other words, all people cleansed through the blood of Jesus' sacrifice have the Spirit of God abiding in them and the ability to prophesy, to speak God's words of edification and encouragement. We who are alive in Christ should be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's intentions in us and in the world. We should be prepared to speak his inspiration. If we are not willing to reveal what God is saying to us, we will closet the Spirit of God within our own spirits. We must remember we are part of the body of Christ, with spiritual gifts to inspire and to encourage a healthy body, making it ready to combat a sinful world. If we do not express God's leading in us to the rest of the body, we will not supply the body with necessary spiritual nourishment. Many churches seek their spiritual growth from books by a supposed expert or from special ministers and spiritual gurus from afar because the church is not functioning well. People evaluate their spiritual health, vitality, and direction through the writings and teachings of these individuals rather than by the direction of the Spirit. While outside inspiration is appropriate in some situations, these sources should not be our only means of growth. We must be aware that God wants each community of believers to welcome the necessary gifts of the Spirit. “When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.” (Luke 12:11-12) If we do not step up and tell the world what God has been doing in our hearts and in our midst, we lose an effective, supernatural testimony and sign to the world. Jesus said, the Holy Spirit will talk through you in these communities if you are willing to believe. Are we willing to believe the Holy Spirit speaks through us and He will say what is necessary if we allow him to do so? The Word teaches us that the Spirit knows how to pray for us when we do not and the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. (Romans 8:28)
Now, there are special giftings in the church that are to function specifically for the edification of the whole body. As with tongues, prophecy is available to all, but the special gifts designated by God for the edification for the whole church are given to particular individuals. In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers. . . (Acts 13:1) During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. (Acts 13:27) Prophets were identifiable to the whole church as were teachers and ministers. People knew who they were. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28) These positions were appointed by God. Just as in the Old Testament, the Levites were the priests and the singers. They were not singers based on their talents: they were singers because God chose them to be singers. This is true in the New Testament church: the gifts are not given because of special abilities but because God wills for people to fulfill these positions. Such giftings are for the body of believers as a whole, functioning under the church leadership in an orderly manner. Using spiritual gifts should not bring chaos to the body, for the Holy Spirit comes to build up and to teach the body. People with special gifts are not strangers but well-known within the community of believers. As known members of the body of Christ, they exercise their gifts in an atmosphere of love and trust. Apostles, prophets, and other positions are sometimes more important to the newly found church than they are with the more established community of believers because they bring the stability and guidance of the Holy Spirit. When trials and problems come, the church needs men and women full of the Spirit. When Paul encourages the church in Rome that they are justified through faith and that their suffering will work to their benefit, he writes, And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:5) Those who exercise the gifts of the Spirit remind us of the truth of the Good News.
Paul wants the Corinthians to try to excel in gifts that build up the church. We have seen that prophecy is a desirable gift for the edification of the body of Christ. Prophecy has two components within the community of believers. All Christians can speak words of prophecy by the unction of the Holy Spirit, for all have been given the Holy Spirit. Also, within the church, God has given some a special position of speaking prophetic words to the body as a whole. The devil attacks and hates prophecy, for prophecy edifies, strengthens, and prepares the church for battle against him and his forces. Before describing the armor of God, Paul tells us, For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12) Since we are alive in Christ, we should be willing to express what God tells us in our secret prayer closets. We should be excited about telling others what God reveals to us. When God's still small voice encourages and enlightens us, we should desire all people to know what He says. Our voices should be filled with passion, announcing from the housetops what God says in secret. This is prophecy. All of us have access to God's wonderful and powerful voice. When we are willing to express what God says to us, the church will be strengthened. Because the devil hates the power of the Holy Spirit in action, he wants you to close up the gift of prophecy in your own spirit. He wants you to be fearful about saying, "This is what God has been telling me today. I want to share what has thrilled my soul." The people who hear you express God in your life will go away challenged, encouraged, ready to take up the cross and follow Jesus. Are you willing to step out in faith, sharing what God is saying or are you on the back pew, listening to thousands of words from Christian leaders and ministers, reading book after book on Christian thought, but never willing to say, "This is what God is telling me." If you are unwilling, no words of encouragement or edification will escape your lips: the church will lack the strength your words could bring to build up God's people. If you speak for God, his glory will go forth, and the Holy Spirit will change lives. When King Herod gave an oration under the providence of God, the people said, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. (Acts 12:22) But God required Herod's life because he did not give God the glory. May we glorify God today with our words and our lives.
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