Here’s a checklist of seven exhortations by the apostle Paul from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22. How many of them can you give a nod to while reading?
1. “Rejoice evermore.”
2. “Pray without ceasing.”
3. “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
4. “Quench not the Spirit.”
5. “Despise not prophesying.”
6. “Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good.”
7. “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
We all love 1 Corinthians 13, the chapter that points us to “a more excellent way”. But love is not only more excellent than “the tongues of men and of angels”, “the gift of prophecy”, and “mountain-moving faith”, but also is more excellent than understanding “all mysteries, and all knowledge” and martyrdom!
We cannot choose which will be our part. However, the theme of chapter 12, which ends with “But desire earnestly the best gifts”, is resumed by Paul at the beginning of chapter 14 with “Follow after love and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that you may prophesy.”
In chapter 13 the apostle Paul elevates love as transcendent and then resumes his teaching on the value of spiritual gifts. He goes on to state that (1) the spiritual gift of tongues is the only spiritual gift that relates to God [the others relate to people]; (2) that when we speak in tongues, we disclose spiritual mysteries to the church [when the tongue is interpreted]; (3) that in doing so, we build ourselves up spiritually; (4) that the gift opens a door to the spiritual gift of interpretation [not a word-for-word translation, but the overall meaning of a message]; (5) that when we speak in an unknown language, our spirit prays; (6) that our prayer is one of blessing and thanksgiving to God; God; (7) that the apostle Paul spoke unlearned languages more than the whole Corinthian church! (Although “more than you all” may be hyperbole, given that the church came behind “in no gift”.) Paul concludes with “Desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.”
Entry into the dimension of spiritual gifts is open to every person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ and is filled with the Holy Spirit. Wait! You say that we should test the spirits to see whether they are of God? (1 John 4:1-3) Good point, and a relevant one, seeing that one of the nine spiritual gifts listed by the apostle Paul (1 Corinthians 12:10) is “discerning of spirits” – a gift those intent on ensuring that all things spiritual must be scriptural should give not just a nod but a handclap!