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I was reading I Cor 12-14 and it just hit home in a TOTALLY different way this time. Paul devoted 3 whole chapters to discussing prophesy and speaking in tongues. Most people know I Corinthians 13:4-8 whether they are Christians or not because it is about love and it is spoken at most weddings. But when it's read in context with the teachings about spiritual gifts you get a whole new view of what the passage is telling us.

In chapter 12 it says that each person receives a spiritual gift, one that God sees fit and is perfect for you to be a vital part in strengthening the church body. We all know that, but the list of the "greater gifts" was kind of shocking to me. We think of hospitality, encouragement, and giving as spiritual gifts but I Cor 12:4-11 says the greater gifts are:
- wisdom
- knowledge
- faith
- miraculous powers
- prophesy
- distinguishing between spirits
- speaking in tongues
- interpreting tongues

It says each one is the work of the same spirit and is given as he determines. So why do we only practice (or accept for the most part) the first 3 gifts but deny the others are of God? Many people associate a lot of that with Satan or say that it died away with the apostles (cessationism) and no longer happens, although I haven't read proof of either thought. I've read a lot on continuationism, which supports the use of these gifts.

There is a good bit of discussion in 1 Cor. 12-14 saying that we should not be upset that we do not have the gift we want because we all need to identify and use our gifts for the body to be strong. So if these gifts are going unused, the current body of Christ will be weak.

I Cor. 12:27-31 goes on to put these gifts in order:
1. Apostles
2. Prophets
3. Teachers
4. Miracle Workers
5. Healers
6. Helpers
7. Administrators
8. Speaking / Interpreting tongues

Seems like back in Bible times, they all wanted to speak in tongues, which caused fighting and Paul had to clear it up with these lengthy passages. Nowadays not many even acknowledges that speaking in tongues could even remotely be legit when someone is brave enough to claim they can do it. Most people think it's fake because they can't prove it's real. But you can't prove it's fake either. An important thing Paul said at the end of the list of gifts, "eagerly desire the greater gifts." I think people desire to be teachers, helpers and administrators but that's as far as it goes today (because they have been taught that there are no other options.)

In I Cor 13:1-3 (right after all this discussion of gifts and how we should eagerly desire them) "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing"...then it goes on to describe love and then continues this thought..."But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears."

This is the passage many use to support cessationism. But the statement that "when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears" is referring to Jesus 2nd coming, which hasn't happened yet. To me this passage is saying that we will not be given these gifts if we don't love each other or if we do not use them in love. If we are not humble about it or use it for what it is intended for, the strengthening of the body, it will not just be taken away from us, but the gifts will die! Perhaps these gifts have been lost because we have not used them in love or have not loved each other enough.

In chapter 14, he begins by saying that we should "follow the way of love" and "eagerly desire the gift of prophesy." He describes prophesy as something that strengthens, encourages and comforts both believers and unbelievers alike. So why are people so afraid of it??? Later he says that we should try to excel at the gifts that build up the church.

Something that really spoke to me was the section on how we are supposed to conduct worship. I learned about this a million times in college, in church, etc but it has never jumped out at me in this way. Paul says that when we come together to worship, we should ALL bring:
- hymns
- words of instruction
- revelations of prophesies (that we had on our own time)
- interpretations of tongues (that were spoken on our own time)
After that he says that "All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church." But every church I've ever gone to has not included the last 2 in any way.

He described also how we should go about prophesying. Those with the gift should sit in groups of 2-3 people and take turns saying what the spirit leads them to say, then discuss its meaning and bring it to the group of believers as a revelation. It said to do this so that everyone will be instructed and encouraged. So if something is so beneficial and worthwhile, why not do it?

I think one of the most powerful statements made was this: "If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored." OUCH! So perhaps the weakening state of the church could be because we do not love each other enough and we do not accept these gifts as COMMANDS from the Lord. One book I read on this topic referred to the concept of cessationism as an attempt to put a muzzle on God and his people. To say that He is not active in our lives today is simply not accurate.

Paul ends chapter 14 with this, "Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."