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The Gift of Prophesy, 03MAR

1st Corinthians 14

But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. ,,,,,,,  Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. ,,,,,,, Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me.12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

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A friend and I were discussing his perceived spiritual gift of Prophecy from his bible study workshop, and we talked about how my writing has been maturing. The song beautifully sung by Joni Mitchell  “LOVE” speaks of maturing – “when I was a child I spoke like a child, now I am a woman I put away childish things.” https://youtu.be/ROjgn0t5fOo

To be honest, I know I am blessed to be a grown woman with a childlike faith of Joy…. Even if my writing has matured, less like a child, this scripture really is about the sad reality of losing those childlike faith moments when we grow up –  the moments that “were known fully are now only known in part” by us who have aged, we are unfortunately jaded grown-ups even if we are matured Christians. Alas, but never fear, our knowledge will fully be restored someday…

Keep becoming the child that the Lord needs you to be – so that your faith is fully known…

2 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 do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love 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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When 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 the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a 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.

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

1st Corinthians 13