Daily Devotion with Pastor Tong Liu: Today's Passage

1 Corinthians 14:37-40

If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

The Chinese people must have liked the last sentence, "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way". However, whose order are we referring to and what kind of order? Usually when we say this, we mean "You should obey my order", or "You need to behave according to my church's order". So whose order are we talking about here?

In fact, Paul is referring to the order of the Holy Spirit here. Why did Paul use 1 Corinthians Chapter 12, 13 and 14, so many chapters to talk about order? We often do not understand God's Word fully and we try to interpret God's Words in a way that is favorable to us, bringing about great damage instead. Paul says do not forbid speaking in tongues, and he also says we need to eagerly desire the gift of prophesy. Everyone can prophesy, but the church rarely teach that. Instead, we all think that prophesying is dangerous and only the pastors can do it. However, Paul says here each one can prophesy. Hence, we can see that the Holy Spirit has His order and His work. We need to first seek the order of the Holy Spirit before we follow our own order.

In 2 Timothy 1:5-7, Paul told Timothy that he is praying that the Lord will help Timothy, to fan into flame the gift of God, the sincere faith, the heart that loves God and the heart that wants to spread the Gospel. The Holy Spirit give us these gifts so that we can work together and build up the body of Christ, rather than judge and criticize one another. Corresponding to 2 Timothy 1:5-7, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.", Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 power, Chapter 13, love and chapter 14, self-discipline. May the Lord help us to welcome the gifts of the Holy Spirit, so that together, we may build a glorious church.

Pray with Pastor Tong

Lord, we thank you because your will is for the church to be build up. You give us different gifts so we can work together and manifest your glory throughout the earth. May you set this vision before us and set our hearts on fire to work wholeheartedly with you. We thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!