Love is always the highest way. There is no greater gift than that of love. Gods love compels us and controls us. Love never ends, but will endure and grow forever.
Paul lays out a clear picture of what the highest purpose in everything is and should be, love. He does not stop there though. It is important to put on love, walk in love, live in love and prophesy in love. Paul says to pursue love and eagerly desire the spiritual gifts and especially that of prophecy. The spiritual gifts are available for every believer. There is no favoritism or elimination factor when it comes to the gifts. I firmly believe as Paul says, that everyone can and should prophesy.
"For you can ALL prophesy one by one, so that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged." 1 Corinthians 14:31
I love this! Prophecy encourages the believer. It is designed and only meant to build up one another. It is a form of encouragement and exhortation. It could be a simple word of hope, a scripture, a psalm, or a word of knowledge. It could be a vision, a picture, a constant sense, or a constant joy that God gives to share with another. The Holy Spirit is a great gift giver and He longs for His church to be encouraged and to encourage one another. Imagine if we all sought to build one another up! What a bright and shining light the church would be. Many on the outside would want in because of how contagious this type of lifestyle is in the Holy Spirit. Imagine happy Christians. I am convinced that when done in order, and we seek to honor God, that there is total freedom and transformation when we are all walking in the gifts of the Spirit. Let us seek to love loud and prophesy boldly. Everyone should be encouraged and built up.
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