Speaking of the Holy Spirit - 1 Corinthians 12:3

Good morning all. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.  TOO BLESSED TO BE STRESSED!!
   May your day be Jesus filled.  Yesterday we talked about wanting a gift. Let's look at 1 Corinthians 12:3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.  
    In New Testament times word did not get around like it does in the modern world. The apostles were few and the means of transportation and communication were slow.  Because of this, many times it was like the gossip circle at a party.  Form a circle, whisper in someones ear, they pass it on, and see what comes out at the last person.  So many times it is completely different than what was originally said.
   This too was happening in the apostles time, many false teachers were popping up in the churches.  Why?  They did not hear correctly, added their part to it and then began spreading and believing what they thought they heard.  The first line says we do not call Jesus accursed; accursed means under a curse or damnable.  The second part of this sentence says no man can say that Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost.  This is allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us.
   Because there were no written records for facts in the early church and because there were false teachers - Paul needed to clean some things up - i.e. spiritual gifts.  The first was the gift of tongues, as the apostles did on the day of Pentecost.  This gift became popular with the Corinthians, they all wanted it, and if a brother spoke in tongues in a meeting they felt this was evidence he was under direct control of the Holy Spirit.  Well, guess what?
   Yep, they began looking up to the people who spoke in tongues and then these people began going to church for the honor they could get out of it for themselves.  So, why were they speaking in tongues? To edify the church or to boost their status?  Yep!  You know it!  So, now I ask you, why do you come to church?  To be seen?  To dress in fine clothing?  To show what a good church worker you are?  OR, are you there for Jesus and your love of him.
   God gives us gifts -  wisdom, knowledge, faith, healings, miracles, prophecy, tongues, interpreting of tongues, but what is most important?  BELIEF IN JESUS CHRIST AS SAVIOUR!!  Love you all.
   In Christ's Love and Grace
      Johnny