I think the highlight of Paul on Spiritual Gifts is to seek the higher gifts.

[Daniel Marsh]

I think the highlight of Paul on Spiritual Gifts is to seek the higher gifts.

[branchesofHim]

20 hours ago, Daniel Marsh said:

I think the highlight of Paul on Spiritual Gifts is to seek the higher gifts.

Could be and seems to be the case in 1 Corinthians 12 through 14. It seems the focus of the cited text is on the edification of the church (the body of Christ) since there is much mention of the personal edification of speaking with other tongues. Subsequently the gifts of the Spirit are all ultimately to benefit the body of Christ as a whole. Shalom.

[Paul James]

23 hours ago, Daniel Marsh said:

I think the highlight of Paul on Spiritual Gifts is to seek the higher gifts.

I went looking for a solid statement of Paul to support that, and found just one phrase at the end of 1 Corinthians 12, "Now eagerly desire the greater gifts".  The context was that we are all members of the body and not all have the same gift or ministry.  The Holy Spirit distributes the gifts around the members of the body as He wills, and He bestows appropriate gifts according to the role persons have in the body.  Therefore we have prophetic people, pastoral, teachers, those expert in counselling, others in hospitality, others great at administration.  This means that not everyone can be the church treasurer, or the Bible teacher, or the pastor. Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 14, that although everyone can prophesy, for the sake of order in the service, limit the prophecies to two or three; in the same way, not every has the gift of tongues to speak out with the intention that it be interpreted, and not every has the gift of interpretation.

Therefore, what Paul is saying is that we should desire the greatest gifts that would most sit our particular role in the church.  And it does not always remain the same.  In one church, I manifested the gift of prophecy, tongues, and interpretation.   Then I moved to another church where those gifts were not appropriate, and so I received the gift of helps and administration and became an elder and treasurer.   I have manifested the world of knowledge just once in all my years in leadership and that was in my 20s at a youth camp.  I have never manifested the gifts of healing, miracles, or discernment of spirits, because those were not part of my particular role in the church.  I was put on the preaching roster, and so I received the gift of teaching in order to fulfil that role.  Now, having moved cities, I am in a very small church where my total support is just being there on Sunday mornings and helping with the morning tea dishes.

I am not downcast that I have not stayed at the cutting edge of prophecy, teaching, administration, etc., and many would see my present role as a demotion.  But I don't see it that way, because Paul said that he was content with any situation he found himself in.  Love does not consist in pushing oneself into roles that he is not invited to fulfil.  Jesus demonstrated that with His story about the guy who took the best seat at a banquet, and told to take a lower seat because someone more important needed his good seat.  He said that it is best to take a lower status seat and have someone say, "Come up higher, brother."  I think that is the same with desiring roles and gifts in the church.  It is much better for someone in leadership to invite us to become part of the preaching team, be the treasurer, encourage our prophetic gift, become a deacon or elder, or even the pastor of the church, rather than, through self-ambition, push ourselves into roles that don't suit us, and cause others to groan at our incompetence or error.

So, that is what that small phrase says to me.

[Daniel Marsh]

We are all called to serve.    Where ever we can is great.    I found my wife while serving donuts. 

[Paul James]

46 minutes ago, Daniel Marsh said:

We are all called to serve.    Where ever we can is great.    I found my wife while serving donuts. 

So she was sweeter than the donuts??  

[Daniel Marsh]

On 5/1/2020 at 7:05 PM, Paul James said:

So she was sweeter than the donuts??  

Yes, except when I fail to follow orders.

I think Basic training in the military has more to do with marriage then the military.

We are taught to follow orders of our wives.

How to shave, clean up ourselves, how to dress and be polite.

How to make beds and clean house.

How to put the toilet seat down.

Salute means to be nice to her family, no matter what.

work hard.

 

 

[Paul James]

3 hours ago, Daniel Marsh said:

Yes, except when I fail to follow orders.

I think Basic training in the military has more to do with marriage then the military.

We are taught to follow orders of our wives.

How to shave, clean up ourselves, how to dress and be polite.

How to make beds and clean house.

How to put the toilet seat down.

Salute means to be nice to her family, no matter what.

work hard.

 

 

Yep!  I am the head of my house - whatever my wife says shall be done!

Happy wife, happy life!

Edited May 4, 2020 by Paul James

[Paul James]

So, let me get this straight.  If you are seeking the higher gifts, especially prophecy, then you must be regularly using the gift of prophecy in your church meetings.  Am I right?

[Daniel Marsh]

On 5/1/2020 at 7:05 PM, Paul James said:

So she was sweeter than the donuts??  

yep

[Daniel Marsh]

On 5/4/2020 at 6:02 PM, Paul James said:

Yep!  I am the head of my house - whatever my wife says shall be done!

Happy wife, happy life!

Why do you think we are taught to take orders in the Military?