Monday, March 1, 2010

Prophecy Protocols and 1 Corinthians 13

I love the Gifts of the Spirit. When they flow it's amazing. It's beyond understanding.

There is a caution for all of us who frequently operate in those gifts. IF we do NOT operate out of Love and Compassion for the person for whom the gift is being poured out, we are dangerous and illegitimate gift carriers. Paul describes us as NOTHING. Empty. Noisy.

Too many in the Body of Christ who are anointed greatly believe the Gift is them, rather than they are carriers of the Gift. It's a danger. We are out of balance.

Once more, I want to encourage you to consider the Corinthian warning. Remember, it starts out by talking about this as a more EXCELLENT WAY. Let's do better.....OK? (highlights and notes in red are mine)

1 Corinthians 12
27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
I Corinthians 13
1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (in fact if I have not love I might be dangerous) 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast (your past glories are insignificant to the hurting soul), it is not proud (How could you be proud of something you didn't DO?). 5It is not rude (or crude), it is not self-seeking, (or desire to be the center of attention at all times) it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects (particularly the hearts of the hurting), always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love 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 (when the day comes that the source of all knowledge and wisdom sits on the throne before us) . 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part (of course I want you to think that I have all the information but am keeping it from you, not really), 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. (but it can be great fun to be foolish and childish, on the other hand sometimes it can demean the gift I carry) 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

If you have ears to hear, hear what the Spirit of God is saying thru The Apostle Paul. We need to have better ministry protocols.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love you too! Selah!

Anonymous said...

Prophetic expression says- sometimes God takes me back to the basics. And my prophesying to just learning faith hope love. Forbid not prophesying but let all things be in order. Ive seen all kinds of prophesying some very rooted in the word and some personal word. You my dear and distant friend, i sense he has something in particular he wants you to do for him. He wont stop refining you till it comes out. It flows quite and steady in the nite watches