Prophesy One by One 1 Corinthians 14:31

As Paul the apostle continued to tell the church members in Corinth about “vocal spiritual gifts”, he declared, “if any thing be revealed to another that sits by, let the first hold his peace”, and in chapter fourteen and verse thirty-one of First Corinthians, Paul told the church members, “you may all prophesy one by one”, where we read:

For you may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

The verse begins, “For you may all prophesy one by one, ...”. Paul began with the word, “For” or “even as, indeed, no doubt, verily and therefore” “you may all” which means “the church members each, every, the whole and everyone are able to” “prophesy” or “speak as ones who are moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman who solemnly declare to men what they have received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation” “one by one” or “down from, accordingly, toward and along each other”. Paul permitted “all” the church members to give words of “prophesy” as long as they did so in order one after another.

The verse continues “... that all may learn, and all may be comforted.” Paul continued with the words, “that all” which means “so each, every, the whole and everyone” “may learn” or “would be permitted to be apprised, increased in knowledge, hear, informed and be in habit and accustomed to”, “and all” which means “each, every, the whole and everyone” “may be comforted” or “would be called to one's side, summoned, entreated, admonished, exhorted, consoled, encouraged and strengthened by consolation”. Paul desired for the entire church to “learn” and be “comforted” by that which was “prophesied”.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we see the importance of “edification” within the church through the “spiritual gift” of “prophesy”. Jesus Christ desires for their to be an orderly fashion to the way people share in the church, and when they do it according to his instructions, everyone is “edified”. May we learn the importance of the “gift of prophesy” and keep it in order “one by one” should people have an “unction” from the Lord.

Next time Paul tells the church members, “the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.