GIFTS, LOVE AND TONGUES (1 COR. 12,13 &14)
(week 03/15)
OLUBI JOHNSON
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are SPORADIC, TRANSIENT OR TEMPORARY releases of the power of the Holy Spirit without measure for REVELATION: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, discernings of spirits; for POWER: special faith, workings of miracles, gifts of healings; and for UTTERANCE: prophecy, diversities of tongues and interpretations of tongues.
1Corinthians 12:7-11 NKJV: But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: (8) for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, (9) to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, (10) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (11) But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
The reason why these gifts are given ONLY SPORADICALLY AND TEMPORARILY is because the church is in a state of spiritual immaturity and so CANNOT BE TRUSTED WITH POWER OF THE SPIRIT WITHOUT MEASURE FREQUENTLY AND PERMANENTLY.
The power of the Holy Spirit we receive when we get born-again and speak in tongues is only a measure, which is an earnest or foretaste or deposit or down payment, to enable and encourage us to full spiritual maturity and perfection in God’s character of love which will then qualify us to be rewarded with the power of the Spirit without measure PERMANENTLY, like the Lord Jesus received it at the age of 30.
Ephesians 1:13-14 AMP: In Him you also who have heard the Word of Truth, the glad tidings (Gospel) of your salvation, and have believed in and adhered to and relied on Him, were stamped with the seal of the long-promised Holy Spirit. (14) THAT [SPIRIT] IS THE guarantee of our inheritance [the firstfruits, the pledge and FORETASTE, the DOWN PAYMENT on our heritage], IN ANTICIPATION OF its full redemption and OUR ACQUIRING [COMPLETE] POSSESION OF IT –to the praise of His glory.
Ephesians 4:13-15 NKJV: till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; (14) that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, (15) but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
Luke 3:21-23 NKJV: When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. (22) And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.” (23) Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli,
This is why Paul shows us a MORE EXCELLENT WAY of experiencing the gifts of the Holy Spirit: the power of the Spirit without measure on A PERMANENT BASIS.
1Corinthians 12:31 NKJV: But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
This more excellent way is the WAY OF LOVE.
1Corinthians 13:1-13 NKJV: Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. (2) And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (3) And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. (4) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; (5) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; (6) does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; (7) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (8) Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. (9) For we know in part and we prophesy in part. (10) But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. (11) When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (12) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. (13) And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
It is GROWING INTO SPIRITUAL MAN-HOOD AND PERFECTING THE LOVE OF GOD in us that will qualify us to like, the Lord Jesus, receive the power of the Spirit without measure, PERMANENTLY and so CONSTANTLY have the gifts of the Spirit in manifestation whenever the need arises.
In our article next week, we will see how praying in tongues will help us to grow into spiritual man-hood and perfect the love of God.
