1 Cor 14 (Gift of Prophecy) • A Holy Phenomenon Pt. 5

(1 Cor 14:1, 3, 4b-12, 18-19, 29-33)

Review & Overview

1. Previous Study’s Review

Back in Chp.7:1: Paul said, now concerning the things of which you wrote to me…    so the church had several questions for Paul and Paul is answering those questions…    

Now in chp.12, 13 & 14 Paul is dealing with the 5th question from the Corinthians regarding the Spiritual Realm & The Manifestations of the Holy Spirit…

Last week we finished up ch. 13:

A powerful message on the importance of love in relation to the manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

We were reminded that without love, these manifestation are not only useless, but can also be irritating.

However, love is not only a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, it is also the Motivation of all Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

We learned that God’s Love is not something that comes and goes, it is something that endures and will remain long after the gifts have pass away.

Overall, it was a powerful reminder that love is the greatest gift and it will remain long after all other gifts have passed away.

It was a great reminder that we should strive to exercise our spiritual gifts in light of love at all times.

2. Current Study’s Overview

Today we will be discussing 1 Corinthians 14, a chapter in Paul's letter to the Corinthian church.

The main theme of this chapter is the use of spiritual gifts, with a specific emphasis on the gift of speaking in tongues & Prophecy. READ...

Paul encourages the Corinthian believers to prioritize gifts that will edify the community and bring glory to God.

He also gives instruction on how these gifts should be used in a orderly and understandable way in the church:

1. The Advice Regarding Prophecy Vs. 1

2. The Advantages of Prophecy Vs. 3, 4b-6, 18-19

3. The Analogies Regarding Prophecy Vs. 7-12

4. The Arrangement of Prophecy Vs. 29-33

1. The Advice Regarding Prophecy Vs. 1

Pursue Love:  dee-o-ko,   to run after…   to flee toward…   Love…   why… 

1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

as we saw last time together it’s the most important thing…  

1 Peter 4:8 NKJV

8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

Desire Spirituals:      notice the word gift is in italics…    it’s not in the original text…

Desire: root word,  zeo…  zealous…   to boil…    to burn…   to be on fire…

Spiritual: pneumatikos from pneuma…  pneumatic…   wind…    breath…   Holy Spirit…   

We’ve mentioned that this might not be talking about the gifts themselves but the operation or manifestation of the gifts…         because     the 7 main gifts are listed in Rom.12:6-8…

If that’s the case, I believe the point is that while Love is great…    glorious… don’t neglect the other gifts…       because        they all work together…   

We can have the gift of Love but if we’re just sitting on a mountaintop by ourselves, what good is it…  

Prophesy:    not fore telling…       but       forth telling the existing Word of God… 

The advice is to seek this gift of prophecy. Yes, Love should be the spearhead, the motivation, our goal, but we should also seek prophecy. 

2. The Advantages of Prophecy Vs. 3, 4b-6, 18-19

2.1 Prophecy Strengthens, Encourages, & Comforts Believers Vs. 3

Not fore telling…   but     forth telling the existing Word of God to man…    for 3 reasons:

Edification -   to fortify…    to build up…    to grow…    

2 Corinthians 13:10 NKJV

10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction.

So it’s the Word of God that builds us up…     that grows us…  

Exhortation - from para-kaleo,   para: along side…  kaleo: to call… we are called to come along side others & minister to them through the Word of God…

Consolation -  comfort,  only used here…  so true comfort or consolation comes by the Word of God…  

2.2 Prophecy Edifies The Church Vs. 4b-5

Tongues are good & important, as are all the gifts…  but  prophesy & interpretation of tongues are better.  

Because they build up the church of Christ…     they grow up the body of Christ…

1 Corinthians 12:12 NKJV

12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

That’s why we place such great importance on Prophecy… or  bringing forth the existing Word of God…

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 11:3 NKJV

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

1 Peter 1:23 NKJV

23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

And Jesus Christ is the Word of God…   

Revelation 19:13 NKJV

13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

John 1:14 NKJV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

2.3 Prophecy Is More Effective Vs. 6, 18-19

Pop off

3. The Analogies Regarding Prophecy Vs. 7-12

Here in Vs. 7-12 Paul gives us 3 analogies proving the point that prophecy is more effective over tongues.

3.1 First Analogy Involves Music Vs. 7

No one can recognize a melody unless each note is delivered clearly.

ILLUSTRATION: If I picked up a guitar or any musical instrument & played it… it would be like the gift of tongues… you wouldn’t understand it…  &  you wouldn’t even like it…

It wouldn’t build you up at all…    in fact it would tear you down…   it would bring you down… 

3.2 Second Analogy Involves The Military Vs. 8

An unclear call to battle is useless

Interesting illustration… in Num.10:1-10 Moses made 2 silver trumpets, one to signal the camp to move & the other to signal the camp to battle…

So if the right trumpet wasn’t played the whole camp would be doing the wrong thing… 

they might be prepared to leave rather then to go to battle…

APPLICATION: This helps us to understand the importance of clearly bringing forth the Word as to Build up the Church…

3.3 Third Analogy Involves Life Vs. 9-11

If you speak 5 different languages but no one can understand you, they are useless.

4. The Arrangement of Prophecy Vs. 29-33

How is this gift of Prophecy arranged? What are the different guidelines or rules when we execute this gift?

Paul gives us 3 ways in how this gift is arranged:

4.1 Only 2 or 3 Should Prophesy Vs. 29

So the right use of prophecy involves being concerned that what they’re saying is right…  we judge it…

Judge: diakrino, 19,  to separate,  to decide, to draw a verdict…  

how do we judge, by the Word of God.

1 John 4:1 NKJV

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 NKJV

21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

Acts 17:11 NKJV

11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

The Concern is not just for what they say…    but   how they do say it…    vs.31a. again there is order.

1 Corinthians 14:40 NKJV

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

4.2 Prophesy One by one Vs. 30-31

If someone is prophesying & the Lord gives you a Word the first person should sit down & let you speak…

Again this is a picture of order & putting others first…   one of the general themes in this chapter…      

Encourage - para-kaleo, to come along side & comfort…   paraklesis, the comforter, the Holy Spirit…

So we see that through the Word of God or prophecy we’re not only learning… but we’re comforted. 

Psalm 119:50 NKJV

50 This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.

4.3 Those Who Prophecy Control Their Spirit Vs. 32-33

Often times we hear people say, I couldn’t help myself…    the Spirit took over…  I was out of control…  

NO… that’s just the opposite of what the Bible teaches…    the Holy Spirit is a gentlemen…  

Luke 3:22 the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove…   a dove is very gentle and not aggressive.

Luke 3:22 NKJV

22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Again with control…  comes order…

The right use of prophecy will not result in confusion…      but      peace… 

People feed off of the show…  they’re driven by emotion & experience…  that can be confusing. 

But when we are relying on the Word of God…       it will bring about Peace…

Since Jesus Christ is the Word of God, Rev.19:13, John 1:14…  only Jesus Christ can give us Peace…

John 14:27 NKJV

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Philippians 4:7 NKJV

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

No wonder Paul said in Eph.2:14 He Himself is our Peace…

Ephesians 2:14 NKJV

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation,

Question for us today is do you have the Peace that only Jesus can give…

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