Final on Spiritual Gifts

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. ²¹ In the Law it is written:
   “With other tongues
   and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
   but even then they will not listen to me,
            says the Lord.”^[e]
 22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

Good Order in Worship

 ²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
 ²⁹ Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. ³⁰ And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. ³³ For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
 ³⁴ Women^[f] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. ³⁵ If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.^[g]
 36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. ³⁸ But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.^[h]
 39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

So is speaking in tongues a spiritual gift for the modern church?  I have read on the internet some believe it ceased when the apostles died. I then question why God would have inspired Paul to write an entire Chapter on correcting the church on the use of this gift. 

Also, at 2 Timothy 3:16 states:
16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

My final thoughts, I believe spiritual gifts are alive an well. I think Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth."

Part 2 Tongues for Today?

I Corinthians 14:6-19  Now, brothers and sisters, 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? ⁷ Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? ⁸ Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. ¹¹ If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. ¹² So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
 ¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. ¹⁵ So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer,^[d] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
 ¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Paul continues to teach the unruly Corinthian church about speaking in tongues.  He seems to be saying he prays in tongues more than all of them, but he doesn't want them speaking in tongues in church unless someone can interpret.  I can just imagine the scene, the church was so anxious for flashy they misuse the gift they were given.  Some modern church authorities have devalued the gift tongues saying well love is better as in Chapter 13.  Of course it is, but maybe a way to build up the Holy Spirit within us, to be able to love is to seek, pray for spiritual gifts. Why would anyone refuse a gift from God? Why would God want to give us a bad gift? More on this chapter tomorrow....   

Should we throw out this Chapter of the Bible?

This is the draft starting point for I Corinthians 14.  This is a controversial subject. I want to explore what the Bible says. For now, I am just going to post a section of the chapter.  

I Corinthian 14:1-5

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. ² For anyone who speaks in a tongue^[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. ⁴ Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,^[b] but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,^[c] unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.      

Speaking in tongues makes people uncomfortable, so the church has largely ignored it.  Paul says it IS a spiritual gift. Paul says it edifies the speaker.  Paul says he would like every one to speak in tongues.  Why was this whole chapter on tongues such a big deal.  Those crazy Corinthians were OUT of CONTROL in the church and Paul was trying to establish ORDER!

More tomorrow....  

The Love Chapter

This is the Chapter read at more weddings than any verses in the Bible. I think if people took this chapter seriously, we would see a much sweeter world.    

It is a tall order and I am always striving to love in this way, but unfortunately I fail.  More times than I care to admit.  My hope is while my love has failed, praise be to Our Lord Jesus, His Love for us has never failed.  

  

I Corinthians 13:4-8

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸ Love never fails.

Father, by Your Holy Spirit, teach me to love like this. Teach me, remind me, catch me, convict me. In the name our Savior Jesus.  

Corinth must have been the Sin City of its day

Corinth must have been some city.  While I have been reading 1 Corinthians the past two days, I have also been doing some study on Corinth and reading several commentaries to try and understand the context of how and why the letters were written.  Paul was very direct and his letter was very specific.  

I Corinthians 5 sets the stage for ex-communication from the Church. 

When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. ¹⁰ But I wasn’t talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. ¹¹ I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer^[j] yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.

I Corinthians 6:9-11 he continues to lay on the heat.      

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ⁹ Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. ¹¹ Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

I just have to end here.  Here is what the Word says. Lord, help me to pray and be bold enough to speak to people about You.  I don't want anyone to not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.         

Are You Too Wise to believe in Christ?

1 Corinthians 1:18-25
 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:
   “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
   the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”[a]
 20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

People believe more in Julius Ceasar than in Jesus and the written history of Christ is documented much more from eye witnesses.  Why did these early Christians die by martrydom if it was all a conspiracy?  I AM A FOOL FOR CHRIST! 

Judge Not

I have a secret fantasy.  I wish I could be Judge Judy.  In her courtroom, she can say whatever she wants.  I DVR her everyday and watch and laugh. She says the things I wish I could say.  "Well that is stupid"  "You, madam are not a nice person"  "You sir are a user"  Unfortunately, I am not a judge.  While I have my thoughts that may be like this at times, I am under a different commandment.

Romans 14:10-13 
¹⁰ But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. ¹¹ For it is written,
   “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,
AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL ^[e]GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”
 ¹² So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.
 ¹³ Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.

Our commandment is Love.  The bible says in 1 Peter 4:8

⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

I need to love to cover my multitude of sins!!!!