Eagerly Desire Gifts with Love and Order
- Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
- The posture toward tongues, and every spiritual gift, should follow 1 Cor 14:1.
- Be zealous for the Spirit’s gifts because they are given "for the common good" (1 Cor 12:7).
- Do not neglect any gift the Lord gives for the church’s upbuilding.
- The Father gives the Spirit’s good gifts to those who ask (Luke 11:13).
- Therefore the church is to pray for the Spirit’s empowerment and the distribution of His gifts for the edification of the body and the glory of Christ.
Perhaps this is the reason "Pentecostals" more commonly exhibit the gift of tongues, as they are earnestly desiring it? Desiring it does not guarantee it, and it is not a mark of spiritual superiority/maturity, but the sincere pursuit of this gift is perhaps reward by God.
The Priority of "Desiring Gifts"
1. Love First
- If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
- Love is the governing way for both desiring and exercising gifts (1 Cor 13:1-13; 14:1).
- The aim is the edification of others rather than self-exaltation. Without love, gifts are empty noise.
- Practically, love requires patience, humility, and regard for the gathered body, so that ministry is intelligible and tongues, when audible, are interpreted (1 Cor 14:5, 12, 27-28).
2. Edification of the Church
26. What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.
- Corporate worship is for mutual edification, not for the display of private experiences. Where the practice of gifts fail to edify, it must be reformed according to Scripture.
- Tongues edify when interpreted (1 Cor 14:5, 27) but, without interpretation or with disproportionate emphasis, they do not.
- Encourage tongues with interpretation and clear, intelligible speech; discourage anything that renders the gathering unintelligible (1 Cor 14:9, 23)
3. Especially Desire Prophecy
- Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
- Prophecy is to be prioritised in the assembly (1 Cor 14:1, 3, 24-25, 39).
- While not equal to Scripture in authority it strengthens, encourages, and consoles, may expose hearts, and can bring unbelievers under conviction (1 Cor 14:3, 24-25).
- Prophesy may also supply guidance or confirmation in community (Acts 13:1-3; 1 Tim 1:18).
- Paul’s emphasis corrects the over-valuation of tongues by centring intelligible, upbuilding speech.
- Churches are to welcome tongues yet prioritise prophecy in gathered ministry and test all claims by Scripture (1 Cor 14; 1 Thess 5:21).
More information on The Gift of Prophecy
4. Openness with Discernment
19. Do not quench the Spirit.
20. Do not despise prophecies,
21. but test everything; hold fast what is good.
22. Abstain from every form of evil.
- Prophetic speech is to be weighed by others (1 Cor 14:29).
- The biblical posture is open-handed and discerning. Evaluate revelations and interpretations against Scripture and sound wisdom. Correct gently when needed and affirm what proves good and edifying.
5. Prayerful Expectancy
13. If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
- The church is to ask for the Spirit’s work (Luke 11:13) and seek fresh filling and His distribution of gifts as He wills (1 Cor 12:11).
- Prayer before gatherings and, as appropriate, the laying on of hands are the biblical patterns for stirring and recognising gifts (1 Tim 4:14; 2 Tim 1:6).
- The command to earnestly desire (Greek zeloo) stands with the confession that the Spirit sovereignly distributes.