First, just as God did with Paul, he may choose to afflict you so that you might not become wickedly proud because of your great giftings (2 Corinthians 12:7). In other words, desire the gift of prophecy in order to build up and encourage and console others, in order to have a greater manifestation of the Spirit of God himself.ĭesire all the spiritual gifts, knowing that prophesying and casting out demons is no sure sign of being known by God (Matthew 7:22–23).ĭesire all the spiritual gifts, knowing that suffering will come. In fact, “since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:12). Do not despise prophecies” (1 Thessalonians 5:19–20).ĭesire all the spiritual gifts, knowing that “all things should be done decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).ĭesire all the spiritual gifts because you long for God’s people to be as built up and encouraged and consoled as is pleasing to him (1 Corinthians 14:3).
In fact, God tells us, “Do not forbid speaking in tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:39) and, “Do not quench the Spirit. But, as Storms says, “abuse is no excuse for disuse” ( Convergence: The Spiritual Journeys of a Charismatic Calvinist, 206).ĭesire all the spiritual gifts because God commands it (1 Corinthians 12:31 14:1, 39). Therefore, desire all the spiritual gifts, knowing that good things can be twisted and corrupted. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1 cf.
Do not despise prophecies, but test everything hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:19–20). the fear of what might occur were I fully to relinquish control of my life and mind and emotions to the Holy Spirit” ( The Beginner’s Guide to Spiritual Gifts, 10).ĭesire all the spiritual gifts, knowing that discernment is needed. As Sam Storms writes, “My opposition to spiritual gifts was also energized by fear. Compared to other “higher gifts” (such as tongues, healing, and prophecy† among others), love is “a still more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:31).ĭesire all the spiritual gifts because you need him to overcome the satanic fear that dwells in your heart (2 Timothy 1:6–7). “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).ĭesire all the spiritual gifts, knowing that “the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13 cf. Here are ten ways and reasons from the New Testament to desire all the spiritual gifts, not just the comfortable ones.ĭesire all the spiritual gifts because you desire God himself. God means that we desire all of his gifts, not to glut our selfishness, but to selflessly strengthen others - “so that the church may be built up” (1 Corinthians 14:5).
The apostle bookends his famous chapter on love (1 Corinthians 13) with these two (perhaps surprising) charges: “earnestly desire the higher gifts” and “earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 12:31 1 Corinthians 14:1).
But when you say that, it does not seem to do justice to what 1 Corinthians 12–14 really says. Some might tell you not to really desire all the spiritual gifts.
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