The Nature of Prophecy ...continued

Those who love

Love is the most important quality that will be displayed in those seeking to move in spiritual gifts. When I speak of love I do not mean sentimentality or indulgence towards people, but rather the love of Jesus, which on examination of the gospels is revealed as a discerning, strong and truthful love.

1 Corinthians 13 verses 1 to 3 makes clear the need for love in the operation of spiritual gifts and that nothing is gained if gifts are used without love.

1 Corinthians 13:1 - 3 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If 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. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."

Indeed for spiritual gifts to be spiritual, that is from the Holy Spirit, love must be the motivation of the recipient or distributor of the gift.

The only way to develop or allow this love to grow is to study Jesus in the gospels and to allow the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with the love of God.

1 John 4:19 "We love because he first loved us."
Rom 5:5 "God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit."

As we allow the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with the love of God, taking steps of faith to do what Jesus would do in building up the church and encouraging the saints, so our gifting will develop and we will move on to maturity.

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