04/11/18 NOT GIFTS, BUT LOVE
Though prophecy (speaking God's word) is the greatest ministry gift,
There is a MORE EXCELLENT WAY...
LOVE.
There was no speaking in angelic languages or unintelligible languages on the Day of Pentecost. God enabled them to speak in human languages in order to proclaim the Gospel. Even the most useful ministry Gifts of the Holy Spirit are only useful to a point.
The order of importance of the gifts puts speaking in foreign languages and interpretation as last. Notice also, miraculously speaking in other human languages was not given to everyone and it is not a sign of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 12:27-31
27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
30 Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
The evidence of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a pure heart, because God purified the hearts of Jewish believers on the Day of Pentecost and subsequently when He filled the Gentiles with His Holy Spirit.
Acts 15:6-9
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Of the great ministry gifts given to believers for proclaiming the message of God, the most abiding, enduring blessings from the Holy Spirit are FAITH, HOPE and LOVE, and the greatest of these is LOVE.
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
However, LOVE from a pure heart is the goal of salvation. It was demonstrated on the Day of Pentecost and has been the sign of true believers since the time of Christ.
1 Timothy 1:5
5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
John 13:34-35
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
