August 27
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RESURRECTION IS VICTORY OVER DEATH
29 For otherwise, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized or them? 30 Why are we also in danger every hour? 31 I affirm, brothers and sisters, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily. 32 If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what good is it to me? If the dead are not raised, LET’S EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE. 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” 34 Sober up morally and stop sinning, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
– 1 Corinthians 15:29-34
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In this letter, Paul proves further the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In verse 29, he seems to be talking about baptism for the dead which may have been a practice of those times regarding baptizing those who have died without hearing the gospel.
According to Gospel Coalition.org, some scholars have proposed that Paul’s key terms have rare or figurative meanings. First, they say “baptism” is metaphorical, as in Peter’s expression “baptism with fire.” Second, they say “for” does not mean “on behalf of.” Third, they say “the dead” are the spiritually dead or the dying, not the physically dead. Yet the text gives us no reason to seek metaphorical meanings. All stripes of scholars agree that the plain sense is most likely, though no one knows precisely what the Corinthians did. Though many scholars have tried to interpret this very perplexing verse, let us not get out of context, but go back why Paul mentioned this in this letter. He continues to spell out the essence of Christ’s resurrection for those who are hearing this message. He challenges their thinking regarding the principle behind the resurrection of Jesus: to show that Christ reigned over death and that in Him, we will have life again.
In verse 32, he talks about the only boasting we need to do as Christians: that Jesus Christ died for us to save us from sins and that no amount of achievement or prowess that we have achieved will assure us of life everlasting.
Paul cautions the believers that if Christ wasn’t resurrected, then we won’t have a purpose in life. Since God made us in his own image, he wants to ensure that we are living up to that image he made us to be. He warns us to stay away from bad company so that we can continue to live blameless lives.
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REFLECTION
• How is the resurrection pointing us to our purpose in life according to God’s plan?
Category Archives: Uncategorized
FIRST FRUITS OF OUR RESURRECTION ILMA’S VLOG
August 26
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FIRST FRUITS OF OUR RESURRECTION
20 But the fact is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man death came, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to our God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 27 For HE HAS PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is clear that this excludes the Father who put all things in subjection to Him. 28 When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all.
– 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
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In Leviticus 23:9-14, the feast of the first fruits was celebrated on the day after the Sabbath. Jesus rose from the dead on the same day of the feast of the first fruits, the day after the Sabbath following the Passover. Guzik comments that firstfruits is the ancient Greek word aparche. In the Septuagint, this word is used for the offering of firstfruits and in secular usage, the word was used in entrance fee.
In this letter, Paul couldn’t stress enough the importance of the resurrection of Jesus. He reminds the Corinthian believers that Adam brought death but Christ gave us life. When Christ resurrected, he became the offering to God so that he can appease God of his wrath on man’s sinfulness. All who believe in Christ, will also be resurrected as promised by God. He was sacrificial lamb so that we can have eternal life. Paul refers to the promised second coming of Christ, where he will rule over all kingdoms here on earth and in the heavenlies. All earthly rulers and spiritual powers will bow down to him and they will all be subject to Christ’s authority, power and reign. In verses 27-28, Paul specifically puts emphasis on all things will be subject to Christ except God the Father, since he is the Maker of all things. Though Christ is the Son of God, he is still subject to His Father. In Romans 11:36, Paul says in these words about the mystery of God’s plan: For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. He reminds the believers of the purpose of a man’s life: to bring God all the glory.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important for us to remember what our purpose here on earth is?
CHRIST’S RESURRECTION PROVES OUR RESURRECTION ILMA’S VLOG
August 25
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CHRIST’S RESURRECTION PROVES OUR RESURRECTION
12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain. 15 Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, we are of all people most to be pitied.
– 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
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According to wikibooks.org, the word “resurrection” means a ‘raising up’, or ‘rising up’ from the Greek word “anastasis.. In the verb form it means ‘to cause to stand or rise up; to raise from sleep or from the dead’. In 1 Thessalonians 4:18, rapture comes from the Koine Greek text which uses the verb form [harpagēsometha], which means “we shall be caught up”, “taken away”, with the connotation that this is a sudden event which is found in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.The resurrection of the dead is one of the most basic of doctrines; and we accept it as fact that Jesus Christ, the Messiah not only suffered and died for the sins of the world, but that He subsequently rose from the grave by the power of the Almighty God the Father. Martin Luther says “Everything depends on our retaining a firm hold on this doctrine in particular; for if this one totters and no longer counts, all the others will lose their value and validity.” Spurgeon says that “If Jesus rose, then this gospel is what it professes to be; if He rose not from the dead, then it is all deceit and delusion.”
Paul proves to the Corinthians the truth of the promise of our resurrection by pointing out the fact that Christ himself resurrected from the dead and was raised after he died on the cross to save us. He was rebuking some of those Corinthian believers who were questioning the promise that all believers will also be resurrected just like how Christ was raised from the dead. Some of the Corinthians were still influenced by the Greek Philosophy that they live forever but not in resurrected bodies. Paul had to prove to them that Jesus himself died and resurrected which proves that all believers will be given too.
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REFLECTION
• Why is the doctrine of the resurrection hard for unbelievers to understand?
NOT I BUT THE GRACE OF GOD IN ME ILMA’S VLOG
August 24
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NOT I BUT THE GRACE OF GOD IN ME
Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, 2 by which you also are saved, if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.3 For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
– 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
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In this letter, Paul repeats the importance of the gospel in a believer’s life. It is the Good News that Paul had preached to them and they have received it and stood by it. He reminds the Corinthian believers that it is the only source of salvation; that if they believe that the death of Christ on the cross is to fulfill the Scriptures, they will be saved. Paul humbly confesses to them that he didn’t deserve to bring them the gospel because he was unfit to be called an apostle because he once persecuted the church of God. In verse 10, he explains the reason why he was able to bring them the Good News despite all the things he used to do to kill Christians. It was God’s grace that made him preach the gospel. Once again, we witness Paul’s humility here. He wasn’t taking credit for anything that he has preached to them. Instead, he points to God’s grace as the source of such knowledge of truth and the message of God to all believers. Even though he didn’t discount the fact that he worked hard to ensure that they receive the Good News, he never boast that it was his. How often do we see or hear preachers bring the gospel and then turned it the wrong way by calling attention to themselves instead of focusing on bringing the gospel to the body of Christ? Paul reminds us that everything comes from God and without his grace, we can do nothing.
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REFLECTION
• Why should we always remind ourselves to live in God’s grace?
A WOMAN’S PLACE IN THE CHURCH DURING WORSHIP ILMA’S VLOG
A WOMAN’S PLACE IN THE CHURCH DURING WORSHIP
August 23
A WOMAN’S PLACE IN THE CHURCH DURING WORSHIP
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As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35 If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church. 36 Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only?37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. 38 But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way – 1 Corinthians 14:33-40
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In this letter, Paul teaches the Corinthian believers of a woman’s place in the church during worship. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul established the importance of headship in the church. Paul makes it clear that God has established principles of order, authority, and accountability in this earlier chapter. He says that the head of every man is Christ and the head of every woman is a man and the head of Christ is God. Each one is covered by an authority where they are submitting to. He also mentioned in this earlier chapter that this order is to be followed by the believers in their worship in church.
In this chapter, Paul reiterates this order by reminding the woman to keep silent during worship and need to be subject to their head who is the man. Guzik comments that in the Jewish synagogues, men and women sat apart. But if a woman chattered or called out to her husband sitting far off, she would be dealt with severely. The Corinthian church may have adopted the same kind of seating arrangement, but with many women from Gentile backgrounds, they did not know how to conduct themselves at a church meeting. Paul teaches them how. In the ancient world, just as in some modern cultures, women and men sat in different groups at church. Among the Christians in Corinth, there seems to have been the problem of women chattering or disrupting the meetings with questions. Paul is saying, “Don’t disrupt the meeting. Ask your questions at home.”
In verse 35, he tells the women to go to their own heads who are their husbands if they have questions and not speak freely to disrupt the worship. In our modern world, the order of God during worship isn’t honored by many false churches.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think Paul emphasizes the importance of having order in worship?
ORDER IN WORSHIP FOR EDIFICATION OF CHURCH ILMA’S VLOG
August 22
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ORDER IN WORSHIP FOR EDIFICATION OF CHURCH
26 What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God. 29 Have two or three prophets speak, and have the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.
– 1 Corinthians 14:26-32
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According to bibleodyssey.org, the Corinthian church was a mixed-gender group. 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 reveals that women were fully involved in church life, participating vocally in gatherings for worship by praying aloud and prophesying. The article says that it isn’t easy to know the size of the Corinthian church, but scholarly estimates range from 40-150 persons. It is assumed then when the “whole church” came together for worship (1 Corinthians 14:23), it did so in a believer’s home, but Paul’s distinction between church and home in 1 Corinthians 11:22, may suggest otherwise. The meeting place may have been a rented dining hall, a large garden or some other venue.
In this letter, Paul gives the Corinthian church a guideline to use for church gatherings. Because of the predisposition of the Corinthian believers to misuse the spiritual gifts they have received; he gives them direction how to go about the order of using such gifts when they meet. Can you imagine if they are meeting in homes, halls or gardens and they were all praying aloud all at the same time and prophesying simultaneously? It would be chaos.
He reminds them in verse 26 that all must be done for the edification of the church. How often does our flesh interfere in the growth of the whole body of Christ? Our selfish nature wants to point to our gifts and forget the reason why it was given to us in the first place. He clearly instructs them in verses 27-32 how to go about giving each other room to speak in tongues, prophesy, exhort, pray aloud and interpret. In verse 33, he reminds them that they serve a God of peace, not of chaos or confusion. It is sad to watch many churches today not following the order that Paul spoke about in this letter.
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REFLECTION
• Why is order in a church worship very essential in a church?
FOCUS ON THE GIVER NOT THE GIFT ILMA’S VLOG
August 21
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FOCUS ON THE GIVER NOT THE GIFT
20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written: “BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME,” says the Lord. 22 So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. – 1 Corinthians 14:20-25
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In this letter, Paul once again addresses the issue of the desire of the Corinthian believers to use the gifts of tongue for their own gain instead of edifying the body of believers. So, in verse 20, Paul reminds them of the importance of focusing on growing in their faith so they can mature and ensuring the they are infants when it comes to evil. What did Paul mean? He was correcting their thinking that were fascinated by this gift and using it for self-seeking reasons. Paul redirects their thoughts into a higher perspective where they won’t focus on using such gifts for their own gains but to bring glory to God with the use of the gift.
He repeats to them the prophet Isaiah’s words in chapter 28:11-12 which says “For by the people of the strange lips and with a foreign tongue, the Lord will speak to this people, to whom he has said, ‘This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose’;yet they would not hear. David Guzik comments “They did not receive the word of the prophets who spoke to them in Hebrew, so now they will hear the voice of men with other tongues and other lips. The Assyrian invaders spoke a language the Israelites could not understand, and it was an example of judgment to the Israelites. The tongues were a sign of judgment upon the Israelites. Foreigners who spoke in unknown tongues invaded their country.”
Clarke also comments “The strange tongues were not a blessing, but a curse, “Take heed that it be not the case now: that, by dwelling on the gift, ye forget the Giver; and what was designed for you as a blessing, may prove to you to be a curse… God may curse your blessings.”
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important not to lose sight of the Giver when we receive gifts?
PRAY THAT YOU MAY INTERPRET ILMA’S VLOG
August 20
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PRAY THAT YOU MAY INTERPRET
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. 15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. 16 For otherwise, if you bless God in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the outsider know to say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
– 1 Corinthians 14:13-19
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In this letter, Paul brings the importance of being able to interpret rather than speaking in a tongue. In verse 14, he says that speaking it tongue doesn’t involve the mind, but just the mouth. This bypassing of the understanding is not beneficial to the edification of the body.
According to Guzik’s commentary, Paul emphasizes the essential function of the gift of tongues which is to communicate to God and not to man. This is probably why he cautions the Corinthian believers to pray that they have the gift to interpret. Some people want to relate to God only through their own understanding. While it is important that we use our intellect and ability to understand, we also need to appreciate our limitations to comprehend and thank the Lord for a way to relate to Him that goes beyond intellect. Enduringword.com says that the language of tongues works much like languages we understand. A word or a sound occurs to our mind, and we vocalize that word or sound. In the gift of tongues, one simply continues to speak the words and sounds coming into their mind, trusting God is prompting them, and He understands what they say, and that in the Spirit what we say is perfectly appropriate for the moment. The Holy Spirit does not make us do strange, bizarre things. He will never make someone shout in tongues, or speak in tongues in a strange manner, though they may do it on their own initiative. God can give us the freedom to exercise the gift of tongues in a melodic way, so it flows in with worship. However, based on the principles in this chapter, if this is done, it should never be done in a way that would draw attention to itself or distract others.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the Corinthian believers were so fascinated by gift of tongue?
STRIVE TO EXCEL IN ORDER TO EDIFY THE CHURCH ILMA’S VLOG
August 19
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STRIVE TO EXCEL IN ORDER TO EDIFY THE CHURCH
6 But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophecy, or of teaching? 7 Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8 For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be talking to the air. 10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. 11 So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible to me. 12 So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church. – 1 Corinthians 14:6-12
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In this letter, Paul rebukes the Corinthian believers who were fascinated by the gift of tongues and tells them that it doesn’t really build up the church but they need to strive to excel in the following in order to edify the church:
• Revelation- Easton bible dictionary defines it as an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen; to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. The Scriptures are not merely the “record” of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate preservation and propagation of the truth.
• Knowledge-The Hebrew root yada [[;d”y],translated “know”/”knowledge, ” has a wider sweep than our English word “know, ” including perceiving, learning, understanding, willing, performing, and experiencing. Knowledge is not the possession of information, but rather its exercise or actualization.
• Prophecy- or prediction, was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a “miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future.
• Teaching- the process of disciplining and training men. As teaching is both a condition and an accompaniment of disciplining.
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REFLECTION
• Which among the gifts mentioned here have you been edifying the church with?
PROPHETIC GIFT EDIFIES THE CHURCH ILMA’S VLOG
August 18
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PROPHETIC GIFT EDIFIES THE CHURCH
Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification. – 1 Corinthians 14:1-5
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In this letter, Paul once again reminds the Corinthians believers to pursue love earnestly so they may prophesy. Blue Letter bible defines the gift of prophecy as a special ability to speak forth the message of God. A prophet is basically a spokesman for God. He or she delivers the Word of God to people by means of direct revelation. Prophetic utterances can deal with certain individuals, the church, or a larger context. It does not always refer to the future. The word is used far more to proclaim the Word of God rather than to predict the future. Farnell, cited in Kistemaker also comments that “Preaching is essentially a merging of the gifts of teaching and exhortation, prophecy has the primary elements of prediction and revelation. Paul emphasizes in verse 1 that we seek after agape love so that we can deliver God’s Word through prophecy for edification, exhortation and comforting the body of Christ.
Guzik comments that “Edification is “building up.” A word of prophecy will build someone up, not tear him or her down. Exhortation is encouragement. A word of prophecy will encourage someone, not discourage him or her. Comfort has the idea of not only consoling, but also strengthening. A word of prophecy will strengthen, not weaken someone.” In this letter, Paul differentiates the difference between the recipients of the two gifts in verse 4. The gift of tongues builds up oneself because it is used to communicate with God in a different language while the prophecy targets to edify the body of Christ. The tongues is useful to grow in your prayer life and intimacy with the Lord, but the prophetic gift will grow the whole family of believers because the revelation will reach the hearts of each member of Christ’s body and help them grow into maturity to bring forth the kingdom of God on earth.
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REFLECTION
• How can the pursuit of love grow us in our prophetic gifts?