Love in our Christian meetings (5)

1 Timothy 3:15 – But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

Paul is talking to Timothy, and he says ‘that you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God’; the word ‘behave’ connotes that which has to do with daily living. So, Paul explains that there is a way we ought to behave in the household of God. Thus, the right conduct must be taught – how we ought to behave and act.

1 Corinthians 12:1, 3
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.
3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

The word ‘ignorant’ is the Greek word ‘agnoeo’ which typifies staying in the dark deliberately. In verse 3, Paul now mentions that no one can say they are born again without the Holy Ghost, this shows us that the spirit of God is in the believer. The spirit of God in the believer is eternal life.

Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-10

The church in Corinth were already flowing in all gifts with ease (1 Corinthians 1:7), why then did Paul instruct them on it again?

Read 1 Corinthians 12-14

Paul uses a natural analogy to explain the body of Christ: The parts of the body work together for the functioning of the whole body (i.e. when one part is suffering, all other parts are suffering). He shows us unity. In the body of Christ, we are all members, and we cannot tell a brother in Christ that he isn’t needed.

In 1 Corinthians 12 verse 28, Paul’s use of the gifts there refers to order of emergence, not superiority.

Verses 29-30 does not mean the believer can have just one gift, else Paul won’t tell you to ‘covet the best gifts’. He’s saying that we have nine gifts of the spirit, not just one – he’s talking about ministries, that there are diversities of gifts but the same spirit.

We see that in these chapters, Paul is teaching love in the things of the spirit, in chapter 13:9, he would explain to us that prophecy without love is immature. He goes further to tell us to use the gift to benefit others – an act of benevolence. We must not be selfish, we are to walk in love with the things of the spirit. Love defines ministry and maturity for us (1 Corinthians 13:12). The widest expression of the gifts of the Holy Ghost is to show love.

1 Corinthians 14:4 presents to us two ways: edifying oneself (tongues) and edifying the church (prophesy). Edification for the benefit of others in the local church is a show of love, thus Paul elevates its place in our gathering. That is, Prophecy is how to love with the gift of the spirit. It shows you aren’t thinking of yourself alone.

Thus, in Christian meetings, don’t just speak in tongues, ensure you have an interpretation – be a source of comfort to a fellow believer, that’s how you show love.

Daily Bible Reading Plan:
Bible Reading – Isaiah 32-37

TEACHING OF THE DAY
Adventures of a Soul Winner (Series 2) – Track 2

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