Rev Andrew Fitzgerald – There is Freedom: For the Edification of the Body – 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

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“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:1)

For the last few weeks we’ve been exploring the Freedom of God, which is found in Jesus Christ (Galatians 5:1) and where the Spirit of the Lord is (2 Corinthians 3:17). The Holy Spirit helps the church to know this freedom with gifts distributed to the body of Christ according to His determination. Last Sunday, we explored the final three of nine spiritual gifts listed by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, with the following explanations. 1. The ability to distinguish between spirits is useful when not only living in a physical but a spiritual world. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against dark powers and spiritual forces (Ephesians 6:12) as the devil prowls around like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8). 2. The ability to speak in different kinds of tongues is personally edifying, expressing our love and adoration to God but also when no human words can be found in our weakness (Romans 8:26). This gift is collectively edifying when; 3) we are given the gift of interpretation. The message of God is revealed, explained or expressed through a person as determined by the Holy Spirit. Throughout this series, I hope we have seen the importance and our need for these spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12. They are good gifts, not to be afraid or grieved but eagerly desired for the edification of the body at CBC. Let’s not give up the journey but continue pressing into what God has for us as His church.