What Is Passing Away?
1Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
Notice it says three things will eventually go away. Tongues, prophecy, and knowledge.
They go away when that which is perfect has come. The classic argument against the work of the Spirit in the way of the gifts and prophecy uses this passage to say there is no longer a need now that the Bible has come.
They do this while promoting the idea of increased Bible study and reliance upon the word of God. They promote biblical courses and conferences that elevate Scripture’s validity while dismissing the gifts of the Spirit and prophecy.
Obviously, the word of God given to us in the Scriptures is of great value and essential. I, too, promote that valuable gift we’ve all been given. But to encourage that is to promote the activity of knowledge. So how is it appropriate to encourage knowledge which is one of the three things that will cease once the perfect has come, and denounce the other two items?
This is an inconsistency if you think about it. The truth is that we need the Holy Spirit and the word. We need the gifts of the Spirit and prophecy in the church.
1Thessalonians 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
Putting trust in our ability to break down written encouragement and instructions in the Scriptures and then talk and act like we do not need the help of the Holy Spirit according to the way He wants to give it is an attitude of arrogance. It demonstrates greater confidence in our intelligence rather than putting us into a position of greater dependence upon the Holy Spirit.
Jesus declared it was essential and profitable that He go away because if He didn’t go to the Father, the Holy Spirit wouldn’t come. When the Holy Spirit came, He demonstrated what His showing up looks like.
In Holy Spirit-led times, it is not a business-as-usual way of operating, and the body becomes equipped to minister according to the Spirit, and life, joy, and peace are the fruits of His work.
God wants to bring supernatural Holy Spirit solutions into our daily lives so that we might be encouraged, equipped, and strengthened to be His witnesses in these last days. The Holy Spirit loves to minister to you and others through you. True New Covenant gospel includes the work of the Holy Spirit, knowing that Jesus looked forward to His coming after He ascended. Jesus taught His disciples about the importance of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
If you have struggled in any way with the idea of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, I invite you to give today’s devotional some thought and then ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself to you so you might grow in your revelation of Christ and walk according to the power of the Spirit. If this is not new information to you, perhaps the Holy Spirit wishes to refresh some things in your soul concerning this subject. I pray that all will be encouraged to step forward in faith regarding the work of the Spirit. Grace and peace be yours, and may you be filled afresh today with the Holy Spirit.
