Influencers - Day 18
Day 18 - Wednesday, September 6
Read 1 Corinthians 14
Highlight
This chapter focuses on two miraculous spiritual gifts that were present in the Corinthian church and how they ought to be used to benefit the whole church rather than bring attention to the people using them. There may be confusion about what exactly these spiritual gifts are, so we will define them here.
Speaking in tongues (glossolalia) is a confusing gift because it seems to have two different forms in the New Testament. The first form is found in Acts 2 during Pentecost when the Apostles are empowered to speak in their own language but each person listening had heard their words in their native tongue. The gift of tongues described here in 1 Corinthians appears to be slightly different - the gift Paul is talking about is the miraculous ability to speak in a language that the speaker themselves does not know or understand. Some people refer to this as an angelic language, borrowing from Paul’s own description in 1 Corinthians 13:1. However, the gift of tongues does not require the language to be something that no human understands, but just the ability to speak in a language the speaker doesn’t know. The interpretation of the tongues could either be a miraculous empowerment to translate the angelic language or it could simply be that someone present speaks the human language (Latin, Aramaic, Greek, etc) that is being spoken.
Prophecy is also a gift that can be confusing. When we hear prophecy, many of us think of the Old Testament prophets and their prophecies that were often focused on predicting the future. That is not what the gift of prophecy is that Paul refers to. Taking the full context of the New Testament references to this gift, prophecy is a sudden insight that comes upon an individual about a passage of Scripture, a topic under discussion, a particular situation, or a particular person. What makes this gift fall into the category of the miraculous is that the revelation’s source is the Holy Spirit and often involves knowledge that the person giving the prophecy couldn’t know without the Spirit’s help.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
Read 1 Corinthians 14
Highlight
This chapter focuses on two miraculous spiritual gifts that were present in the Corinthian church and how they ought to be used to benefit the whole church rather than bring attention to the people using them. There may be confusion about what exactly these spiritual gifts are, so we will define them here.
Speaking in tongues (glossolalia) is a confusing gift because it seems to have two different forms in the New Testament. The first form is found in Acts 2 during Pentecost when the Apostles are empowered to speak in their own language but each person listening had heard their words in their native tongue. The gift of tongues described here in 1 Corinthians appears to be slightly different - the gift Paul is talking about is the miraculous ability to speak in a language that the speaker themselves does not know or understand. Some people refer to this as an angelic language, borrowing from Paul’s own description in 1 Corinthians 13:1. However, the gift of tongues does not require the language to be something that no human understands, but just the ability to speak in a language the speaker doesn’t know. The interpretation of the tongues could either be a miraculous empowerment to translate the angelic language or it could simply be that someone present speaks the human language (Latin, Aramaic, Greek, etc) that is being spoken.
Prophecy is also a gift that can be confusing. When we hear prophecy, many of us think of the Old Testament prophets and their prophecies that were often focused on predicting the future. That is not what the gift of prophecy is that Paul refers to. Taking the full context of the New Testament references to this gift, prophecy is a sudden insight that comes upon an individual about a passage of Scripture, a topic under discussion, a particular situation, or a particular person. What makes this gift fall into the category of the miraculous is that the revelation’s source is the Holy Spirit and often involves knowledge that the person giving the prophecy couldn’t know without the Spirit’s help.
Reflection & Prayer
For this reading plan we will be using a tool to guide our study of Scripture that’s called the S.O.A.P. Method. It stands for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. We recommend you use a journal with this method and write out your thoughts on each of these areas for each day of reading. It doesn’t have to be long-winded and you don’t need a fancy journal. But for anyone that has not journaled before, the benefit is that it often helps us focus and avoid distractions during prayer and Bible study.
S.O.A.P. Method
Scripture - Pick a verse or two that stood out to you and write it in your journal. Be looking for a “Holy Spirit Highlight.” What did you read and think “I needed to hear that” or felt like it was written just for you?
Observation - Now write some observations about the verse(s) or passage. What is this passage or verse saying? About God? About people? How is Jesus revealed in these verses?
Application - Now write a few sentences on how this passage applies to your life. Is there truth about God that you are to believe? A promise to receive? Is the Holy Spirit convicting you of something you need to do or stop doing in light of God’s truth?
Prayer - Now write out a prayer to God in response to this Scripture. This is a way to turn God’s Word to you back to Him. Be honest and express your heart to Him. God always listens and He delights in your prayers. (Psalm 34:15; Proverbs 15:8)
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