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Prophesying: The Best Gift


“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”

(1 Corinthians 14:1 NKJV)

 

In the preceding chapters of 1 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul explained that believers should desire spiritual gifts, but, most importantly, they should possess love. He makes it clear that operating in spiritual gifts void of love equates to nothing. Love for both God and His people must be the motivation behind using the gifts given to God’s people. After Paul clarifies the significance of love being the core from which spiritual gifts are to be used in 1 Corinthians 13, he begins 1 Corinthians 14 by naming which spiritual gift is most important.


Prophecy is listed as the single most important spiritual gift of all. Paul mentions tongues and how the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Because tongues listed in this text is an intimate spiritual gift between God and man, it edifies the spirit of the one speaking to God in the tongue, but it does not edify anyone else (unless there is an interpreter as listed in verse five).


Paul wished everyone spoke in tongues (v. 5) and thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than them all (v.18). In 1 Corinthians 14:39, Paul stated, “Do not forbid to speak with tongues.” So, it is evident that the gift of tongues was approved; however, it needed to be done in an orderly fashion. If an interpreter is not present, the one who speaks in tongues is to remain silent.


In verse 23, Paul explains why speaking in tongues without an interpreter is out of order. He states that if the entire church speaks in tongues but there is no interpreter, an uninformed unbeliever will think the church is out of its mind. In essence, speaking in tongues without an interpreter causes confusion, and God is not the author of confusion as listed in verse 33.


To avoid confusion and to ensure that all is done in order, Paul writes this letter to the Corinthian Church. He states, “Since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel (v.12)” He also states, “he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks in tongues (v.5)”. Paul says this because edification, building up the Body of Christ, is more important than building up one’s own faith in the spirit.


Prophesying trumps tongues because tongues builds up one man while prophesying builds up many. We are to seek the good of all instead of our own gain; therefore, prophesying carries out God’s will more than tongues. Verse 3 states that the one who prophesies edifies, exhorts, and comforts.


Since Paul states prophesying is the most excellent spiritual gift, a proper understanding of it is needed. The text states to prophesy is to edify. Oxford Languages states that edify means to instruct or improve someone morally or intellectually. In Greek, edification is described as an architecture or structure. To prophesy is to build one another up as an architect plans to build a building. It is to build upon one’s foundational faith in Christ. It is to add beauty to the soul of God’s structure, his Holy Temple, which is the Body of Christ.


Exhort means to strongly encourage or urge someone to do something. In Greek, exhort is defined as encouragement, imploration, and solace—all of which means to earnestly urge someone to do something. Therefore, to prophesy is to strongly encourage believers to pursue Christ and to live lives pleasing to Him. It is to encourage God’s people to seek God and remain clothed in holiness and righteousness through Christ.


Lastly, Paul states that prophesying comforts. Comfort is the easing or alleviation of a person’s feelings of grief or distress. In the Greek, comfort is to console or encourage. We normally console someone in their times of grief or disappointment. Therefore, to prophesy is to comfort believers in their time of distress, grief, or disappointment.


Preaching Christ to those in distress is to offer peace amidst difficulty. We know that the Holy Spirit is a comforter per John 14:26, and that Christ said we would have trouble in this world. Yet, he encouraged us to take courage in Him (John 14:33).


Prophesying is so much more than foretelling the future. Prophesying is about encouraging one another in the Lord. It is about urging each other to continue forward in the faith and to grow in our knowledge and understanding of God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son. It is comforting each other in our darkest moments. And it is also about warning the world about what’s to come.


For we all know of one main event that was prophesied to us all. The Second Coming of Christ is yet to come, and we are to keep watch and be ready for that great and terrible day. In the meantime, let us, as Paul states, pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, especially prophesy. May we all petition God to grant us the best gift, the gift to prophesy. And may we use it according to his will—so that we may edify, exhort, and comfort one another.


I pray this message has blessed you. May we all be granted the best gift of prophecy according to the Holy Spirit's work within us. May God bless you and keep you.


 

Thank you for reading this week's Write On! Wednesday article. Browse the blog for more articles or visit www.amazon.com/author/quinarrington if you are interested in Christian fiction or nonfiction. Thank you for your time. God Bless!

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