...gifts of the Holy Spirit...

“1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified” 1 Corinthians 14:1-5.

There are seven gifts of the Holy Spirit identified by the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 11: 1-3 in the Old Testament: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. The Apostle Paul, however, identifies nine gifts of the Holy Spirit in

1 Corinthians 12:8-10: message of wisdom, message of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, distinguishing between different spirits, different kinds of tongues, and the interpretation of tongues.

The gift of tongues is a way of praying that is a blessing to the person praying. Paul says that the gift of tongues “edifies yourself,” which is a way of saying that it is the least important of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, because it is the only gift that edifies yourself. Prophecy, on the other hand, is a gift for other people, as are the other gifts, and as such, is very important. When a person prophecies, s/he delivers a word from the Lord to others, a word that strengthens, encourages, and comforts other people. It is a Word from the Lord. Other times the prophecy can also be a Word from the Lord that challenges others. If the Lord does not like the way you are living, a prophetic Word of the Lord can challenge you to repent and change your behavior and follow the Lord.

Prophecies are Words of God spoken by a messenger, a person of God’s choosing, who acts like a mirror. We are to gaze into the mirror to see what the Lord is saying to us about our life.

When you pray today, pray that good will bless you with a gift of the Holy Spirit, and pray that whatever is lacking you to receive such a gift, can be thrown away and discarded from your life.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.

Today’s Prayer

Oh Lord, help me to hear in my heart and mind

what You want from me in life.

In those areas of my life where I am sinful,

or lacking in any way, please bless me with Your Holy Spirit.

I love You and lift up my praises to You,

and I ask for Your sufficient grace to bestow on me

Your gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Let me live this day in service to others,

bringing them a Word from You that lifts them up

and blesses them!

Pour out Your Spirit so that I may be faithful to You.

And this I pray through Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Amen.