Text: 1 Corinthians 14:1,37

1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.  37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 

Tuesday 4^th February 2025

SPIRITUAL GIFTS “WARNINGS”

Text: 1 Corinthians 14:1,37

Memory verse: 1 Corinthians 12:1

"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant."

Apostle Paul started 1 Corinthians 12 with this powerful statement. “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.” The word used in the original Greek translation for “do not be ignorant” is agnoein, which means “do not fail to understand, forget and or uninformed”. This may sound harsh, but Apostle Paul is warning the Church that we must stay spiritually awake, understanding and searching the scriptures so that we can stand firm in faith. 

I would not have you ignorant.  I wish you will know when such gifts come, and the reason they are given, that each person may serve the Church in the capacity in which God has placed him, that there may be no misunderstandings and no schism in the body of Christ. He reproves by comparing their former state with that in which they were, being endued with those excellent gifts. As touching God's service and the covenant, not considering that you were mere strangers.

We must be conscious of the right mode of exercising these spiritual gifts, and the degree of honour which was due to those who had been distinguished by God by the special influences of his Spirit. It is evident that many in the church at Corinth had been thus favoured; and it is evident that they had greatly abused these endowments, and that those who were thus favoured had claimed a precedency of honour above those who had been less distinguished.  

I would not have you ignorant regarding the nature of those endowments; the spirit with which they should be received; the rules to which they who are thus favoured should be subjected; and the feelings and views which should be cherished in all the members of the church regarding them. Nothing is of more importance in the church than the doctrine respecting the influences and endowments of the Holy Spirit.

CGDS Hymn 27: SS&S 173 

THERE'S A LIGHT THAT IS SHINING IN DARKNESS

1. There's a light that is shining in darkness,

While we wait for the dawning of day;

And it cheers us along on our journey,

Till the shadows shall vanish away !

2. So we'll wait and watch for the dawning,

The day of eternity blest;

Then take the wings of the morning,

And fly away to our rest.

3. From the sure word the prophets

have spoken, [the gloom;

There is light flashing forth through

For the Scripture can never be broken,

And the King in His glory will come.

4. Now we sing 'mid the darkness and shadows, ;

And we pray and we watch for the dawn

Till the Day-star, in glory arising,

Shall betoken the coming of morn.

His Second Coming

5. We are not of the night nor of darkness,

Let us walk, then, as children of day;

Our weeping shall be for a moment,

And our joy shall ne'er vanish away !

 Prayers 

1.  Lord Jesus, open our eyes to the spiritual gifts You have bestowed upon us, and help us to use them to build Your kingdom.

2.  LORD GOD Almighty, grant us the wisdom and discernment to recognize and appreciate the diverse gifts within the body of Christ in Jesus’ name. Amen.

3.  Pray for others in this regard.