Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(1Co 13:3) “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”  “Charity”: sacrificial love; Source, the Holy Spirit. Example: the Lord Jesus put the desires of God the Father before His Own; the needs of others before His Own. His life demonstrates others first, even one’s enemies; self last. This is Godly love.

(1Co 13:2) “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.”  You that have been saved awhile, ask yourself: “Which would I rather have?” honestly before God. If you didn’t know what this verse said, chances are you would ask for something other than the ability to sacrificially love. We have a long way spiritually to go.

(1Co 13:1) “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”  Paul is not saying he can speak the language of angels, any more than he gave his body to be burned (v.3). He is doing a comparison of these things to Holy Spirit produced sacrificial love. They two do not compare.

(1Co 12:31) “But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”  The excellent way referred to here is instruction on what gifts are the “best” gifts. Bottom line: the best gifts are those which are best for the local church, those which hold forth the Word of God.

 (1Co 12:29) “Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? (30)  Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?”  The answer is, “No”. The Holy Spirit gave each of us abilities through Himself for us to use for the good of the people (the church), each being every bit as important as the other.

(1Co 12:28) “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”  It is enough to say we do not see these active in churches today. What should be pointed out before looking at the verses to follow is one word that puts aside “the heavenly language” error of today – “diversities” of tongues – languages. Not one “heavenly language”, but each person speaking or interpreting a known language.

(1Co 12:27) “Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”  As a physical being, what one does not seemakes it hard to grab and hang onto of the spiritual. These words are truth. I am one with the folks of my local church and should act accordingly.

(1Co 12:26) “And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.”  I remember rejoicing in church as an elderly woman gave praise to God for giving her a parking spot near the store. It wasn’t a small insignificant thing to her and neither should it have been for  us. When we love the brethren we care about both their joy and their sorrow.

 (1Co 12:24) “For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: (25) That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.”  It is very revealing of true spirituality through how a congregation treats the “strange; different” among them. Our sinful nature thinks, and thus acts so differently than the Lord would have us think and thus act.

(1Co 12:23) “And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.”  Seek out those in the church who seem to sit alone, go right to their seats, have few people that speak to them. Instead of talking with those you enjoy, spend time talking with them. Please your Lord rather than self.