Good morning. Today we continue with why Paul said “but
especially that you may prophesy”. But one who prophesies speaks to men for
edification and exhortation and consolation (King James - comfort). Remember
that the one who speaks in a tongue speaks to God, not to men. In other words,
The one who prophesies builds up other people, not themselves. That is why the
pastor says that if a prophecy or interpretation of tongues puts down someone,
it is probably not from God. On the other hand, the word exhortation can have
with it the idea of “quit messing around and get your life straight“. One who
speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.
So that is the crux of the matter - why Paul said “but especially that you may
prophesy“. One may speak in tongues at any time (though not the gift of
tongues), but normally, prophesying occurs in a church situation; though there
are times when someone made prophesy outside of a church situation to a single
individual. Father thank You that no matter what we may do in a church service
or outside of, our whole purpose is to build up the body of Christ.
Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me
Good morning. Paul then gives a list of a lot of things that he has gone through as an apostle. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. There could be many people that you listen to either in church or through the Internet or other means; but there was only one person (as a general rule it was a person) that lead you to Christ. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. He was saying that just like a child imitates his or her father, they were to imitate him. He says that again seven chapters later. Since it is easy to forget some things about people we have not seen in a while, Paul says that he sent Timothy to them to remind them of his ways which are in Christ, just as he taught everywhere in every church. Some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. I shall find ou...
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