Hosting The Presence (8)

What Are The Greater Gifts and The More Excellent Way?

1 Corinthians 12:31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts AND I will show you a still more excellent way!

After identifying apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles, gifts of healings, tongues and interpretations of tongues . . .

. . . as being spiritual gifts, the apostle Paul exhorts Believers to earnestly desire the greater gifts!

So, what are the greater gifts?

“Greater” might be defined as that gift or those gifts most suited to the given situation.

For example, prophecy is functionally greater than tongues in public . . .

. . . because it edifies the church (14:4,5), unless the “tongue” is interpreted. . .

So, what is the more excellent way?

I. PURSUING God’s Mature LOVE is the more excellent way!

1 Cor 14:1 Pursue LOVE . . .

What does the word “Pursue” mean? It means to chase or to hunt something with a passion!

What is love? God is love and love is Patient, Kind, not Jealous, not Arrogant, rejoices in Truth . . .

. . . Bears all Things, Believes all Things, Hopes all Things, Endures all Things and love Never Fails!

II. DESIRING God’s Spiritual GIFTS is the more excellent way!

1 Cor 14:1 Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts . . .

What does the word “Desire” mean? It means to strive for something, for the purpose of being committed to what you desire.

In this case, it is referring to Spiritual Gifts!

Words of Wisdom, Words of Knowledge, Faith, Gifts of Healings, Miracles, Distinguishing of spirits, Tongues . . .

. . . Interpretations of Tongues and Prophesying by the Spirit are a few of the Gifts we are to desire earnestly for the purpose of being committed to the proper usage of them!

III. HEARING God’s Distinctive VOICE is the more excellent way!

Revelation 1:10 I was in the spirit on the Lord’s day, and I HEARD behind me a loud voice, like the sound of a trumpet

Revelation 1:12 THEN I turned to SEE the voice that was speaking with me and having turned, I SAW . . .

The ability to Hear God’s distinctive Voice is imperative to the ability to PROPHESY at the promptings of the Holy Spirit . . .

and Prophesying is essential to the well-being of the local church . . .

Why is Prophesying so important to the well-being of the local church?

1 Cor 14:3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation

What does it mean to Prophesy according to the Spirit? It means to relate divine communication to another person . . .

. . . it means to speak forth the mind and counsel of God to another person!

The only way a person can “Prophesy according to the Spirit” is to learn the language of the Holy Spirit!

You can’t speak what you don’t hear, and even if you do hear it, you will not speak it if you don’t know you are hearing the Voice of God!

John 10:4 and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice . . . I have other sheep . . . and they will hear My voice!

In 2014 I publicly stated my desire for Truth Tabernacle of Praise to learn the language of the Holy Spirit . . .

. . . In 2023, it is becoming a reality, but there is one additional thing that is part of the more excellent way!

IV. SPEAKING God’s Prophetic WORD is the more excellent way!

1 Cor 14:3 But one who prophesies SPEAKS to men . . .

Earlier in this message I said that in order to Prophesy according to the Spirit we must be able to Hear God’s Distinctive Voice . . .

. . . and after we learn the language of the Holy Spirit, it is imperative that we Speak the message that we Hear God speaking!

When we hear God speaking His Prophetic word to us, we usually know who the Prophetic word is for . . .

. . . it is wise to ask the person if you have their permission to share the word with them!

Hearing God’s Distinctive Voice and Speaking God’s Prophetic Word are both required in order to Prophesy according to the Spirit!

In closing . . .

V. EDIFYING God’s Militant CHURCH is the more excellent way!

1 Cor 14:3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for EDIFICATION and EXHORTATION and CONSOLATION

EDIFICATION = To build a house, to strengthen the house, to lift up the house

EXHORTATION = To call to one’s side, to comfort someone through words and compassion

CONSOLATION = To encourage in times of trial, to motivate through divine communication

When the Church is Prophesying according to the promptings of the Holy Spirit . . .

. . . we are hearing God’s distinctive voice because we have learned the language of the Holy Spirit!

Who should be Prophesying when the church is gathered together in worship?

1 Cor 14:31 For you can ALL prophesy one by one, SO THAT all may learn and be exhorted!

1 Cor 14:39 Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy . . .

It is God’s desire and God’s design for everyone in the Body of Christ to bring their GIFTING to be used when the church assembles for worship . . .

To HEAR from JESUS

To be TAUGHT the WORD

To be HEALED

To be DELIVERED

To be ENCOURAGED, EDIFIED and COMFORTED

To be EQUIPPED to do the work of the ministry!

How many of us can say that when we have assembled together, we have heard from Jesus . . .

. . .been taught the Word, been healed, delivered, encouraged, edified, comforted and or equipped?

One man can’t do all of those things for you in a worship service and one man shouldn’t try to to all of them!

God has gifted each member of the Body and every joint supplies what is needed for the Body!

We can and should release the Body to be the Body of Christ and all of these things can and will be done in an orderly manner . . .

1 Cor 14:39 all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner!