PASTOR RAY MCCLINTOCK
WORD OF FAITH | SOUTHFIELD, MI
Hello. I am Ray McClintock, the Senior Assistant Pastor here at the headquarters church in Southfield, Michigan. Our topic today is seeking a greater manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit. If we want to seek a greater manifestation of the Gifts of the Spirit, let’s start with1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 31, which is one of our devotion Scriptures and it reads,“But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.”Well, right in the middle of1 Corinthians chapter 12 and 14, which are both about spiritual gifts, is chapter 13—the love chapter. That is the more excellent way—the way of love. We must remember 1 Corinthians is a letter that the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Corinth. The Scripture should be read that way and not cut off like bullet points or even with each chapter heading. In order to get a full understanding, you may have to read into the next chapter. This is a perfect example right here.
The Apostle Paul goes right into chapter 13saying,“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.”Verse 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.”When we go and read further into chapter 14 and look at verse 4 (the B part of the verse),“...but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.”Verse 5:“I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”Verse 12says,“Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”
The purpose of spiritual gifts is to edify or build up the church. When we get our minds off of ourselves and onto the charging up, the building up, or the more excellent way—the way of love—then we will see a greater manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit, and operation in our lives and in the church. God bless you.