May 24, 2015
Morning Service

I Cor. 14:1-25

 

            We saw in chapter 12 the teaching of the Apostle Paul on spiritual gifts.  We found out that God gives the gifts to faithful people to edify the church.  He gives the gifts to whom it pleases Him.  Not everyone has the same gifts, but all are just as important as the next.  He concluded chapter 12 by encouraging Christians to covet earnestly the best gifts, and he said I will show you a more excellent way.  In chapter 13 we saw that the more excellent way was LOVE.  Paul said this in chapter 13; 

1Co 13:8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

He concluded chapter 13 by saying;  1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

In 13:8 he speaks of these things being done away with, and tells us that three things still abide, faith, hope, and charity.  Now in chapter 14 we will see what God wants us to know concerning the gift of speaking in a language, or tongue that is not our common language, and the gift of prophecy, or preaching.

 

Let’s begin:

 

1Co 14:1-40  Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 

·         He already told us to covet the best gifts.  Here he says, “desire spiritual gifts.”

·         Now let us notice how he encourages us to desire the gift of prophecy over the gift of speaking in a different language.

(2)  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.  (3)  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 

·         As I read this I feel that Paul is encouraging me to seek after preaching, more than tongues.

(4)  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 

·         Remember the gifts are for the building up of the church.

(5)  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.  (6)  Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 

·         Hopefully we can discern the direction that Paul is leading us.

·         Try the spirits and see if they are of God.

(7)  And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 

·         Me and the piano!!!  Is one thing.  Judy, and the piano is another.

(8)  For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 

·         You know there is really no need for comments on these words, they explain themselves.

(9)  So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.  (10)  There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.  (11)  Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.  (12)  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.  (13)  Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.  (14)  For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 

(15)  What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 

·         In a language I can understand, and those around me can understand.

(16)  Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?  (17)  For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 

·         Remember edifying the church is what the gifts are for.

(18)  I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: 

·         Paul was a very learned man, and no doubt could speak different languages.

(19)  Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. 

·         Paul is not encouraging us to seek for the gift of speaking in a foreign language.

(20)  Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.  (21)  In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.  (22)  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.  (23)  If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 

·         Paul is leaning away from encouraging the speaking in tongues.

(24)  But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:  (25)  And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth. 

·         The message of the cross has got to be understood in order to be received, and convert someone. 

The Scripture says; Hos 4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Jesus said, “he that believeth, and is baptized shall be saved.”  We need not make serving the Lord confusing, for God is not the author of confusion.  Stay with the Word, and be fruit inspectors.

WHAT WE HAVE TODAY.

According to Wikipedia: Pentecostalism emerged in the early 20th century among radical adherents of the Holiness movement who were energized by revivalism and expectation for the imminent Second Coming of Christ. Believing that they were living in the end times, they expected God to spiritually renew the Christian Church thereby bringing to pass the restoration of spiritual gifts and the evangelization of the world. In 1900, Charles Parham, an American evangelist andfaith healer, began teaching that speaking in tongues was the Bible evidence of Spirit baptism. The three-year-long Azusa Street Revival in Los Angeles, California, resulted in the spread of Pentecostalism throughout the United States and the rest of the world as visitors carried the Pentecostal experience back to their home churches or felt called to the mission field. While virtually all Pentecostal denominations trace their origins to Azusa Street, the movement has experienced a variety of divisions and controversies.

Luk 9:49-50  And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.  (50)  And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.                   

THIS IS MY ATTITUDE TOWARD ANOTHER BELIEVER WHO MAY NOT BELIEVE EXACTLY LIKE ME.

 

ALMIGHTY GOD, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS WORD, AND  ASK THAT YOU WOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE YOUR CHURCH THE GIFTS YOU WOULD WANT US TO HAVE.    AMEN.