Paul has concluded a section on why GOD’S LOVE is greater than spiritual gifts. WITHOUT LOVE, he insisted, spiritual gifts become WORTHLESS AND EVEN DESTRUCTIVE. Still, Paul is not dismissing the importance of spiritual gifts in the life of the church, including the gifts of tongues and prophecy. “Let love be YOUR HIGHEST GOAL! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1)
People have been known to “prophecy” harmful words against another person they have an issue with, when the do it WITHOUT LOVE. This is important because “LOVE NEVER FAILS. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” (1 Corinthians 13:8) Just how important is it for live in and practice LOVE? “On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to TEST (ekpeirazō: to tempt thoroughly) JESUS. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD with ALL your HEART, SOUL, STRENGTH and your MIND‘; and ‘LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” (Luke 10:25-28)
And speaking of the importance of Love, “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8) So, that’s why we are told that love should be “our HIGHEST GOAL” because if we try to “Help” someone when we are without love it will CAUSE A PROBLEM!
Why would God allow something like this to happen? “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but TEST THE SPIRITS, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh IS NOT OF GOD. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3) How will we know this? “YOU ARE OF GOD, little children, and HAVE OVERCOME THEM, because HE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD.” (1 John 4:4) Jesus said, “I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but YOU KNOW HIM, for He dwells with you and WILL BE IN YOU.” (John 14:16-17)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham