1 Cor 14 (Gift of Prophecy) • A Holy Phenomenon Pt. 6

1 Cor 14:2, 4a, 13-17, 21-25, 27-35

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 began Ch. 14:

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...

As you can see in our reading of today’s scripture: 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.

Last time we focused only on the gift of Prophecy:

The Advice Regarding Prophecy

The Advantages of Prophecy

The Analogies Regarding Prophecy

The Arrangement of Prophecy

2. Current Study’s Overview

Today we will be looking at the gift of Tongues. If you are taking notes we are going to look at two things as it pertains to the Gift of Tongues:

1. The Purpose of the Gift Vs. 2, 4a, 21-25

2. The Proper Use of the Gift Vs. 13-17, 27-32, 34-35

1. The Purpose of the Gift Vs. 2, 4a, 21-25

Now there are a couple of things we want to look at regarding this.

Because there is a purpose for believers & there is a purpose for unbelievers.

1.1 The Purpose For Believers Vs. 2 & 4a

He Speaks Mysteries To God Vs. 2 -

He Edifies Himself Vs. 4a -

Talk about how prophecy edifies the whole church but tongues edifies himself.

1 Corinthians 14:26 NKJV

26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.

1.2 The Purpose For Unbelievers Vs. 21-25

The Prediction Vs. 21 - Here Paul quotes Isa.28:11 where Isaiah predicts that the Assyrians who speak in another tongue will take the Northern Kingdom of Israel into captivity…     &      they did in 722 BC…

Then Isaiah continues to predict that the Babylonians who speak in another tongue will take the Southern Kingdom of Judah into captivity…      &      they did in 586 BC…

So Paul is using the example of Israel’s rejection of God, that resulted in God speaking to Israel through a foreign language, a different tongue.

The Assyrian & Babylonian invaders came into the land of Israel, and the Israelites heard their foreign language being spoken.

This was a sign to them of their rejection of God’s word - It was a sign to them of their unbelief.

The Purpose Vs. 22- 23 - So here the purpose for the Gift of Tongues is intended to be a sign to unbelievers.

So the Corinthians should not insist on using them freely within the Church service where the Believers gather.

Because in vs.23 it’s a sign that we’re crazy…   that we’re out of our mind…   

So unbelievers will think that the whole global church is crazy! And that is not the case.

That’s why in vs.27-28 if you’re going to speak in tongues there must be an interpreter…     or    people will think you’re out of your mind…

And we will talk about that in a second, hold that thought.

2. The Proper Use of the Gift Vs. 13-17, 27-28, 34-35

2.1 Interpretation is Mandatory Vs. 13, 27c-28

Unfortunately many churches are focused on speaking in tongues… but not the interpretation of tongues.

If we have the gift of tongues we should pray for the gift of interpretation to edify the body.

Or at the very least for someone to interpret.

2.2 Understanding is Mandatory Vs. 14-17

So praying in the Spirit & singing in the Spirit is good… in 1 Cor.12:4 diversities of gifts are good…   

1 Corinthians 12:4 NKJV

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

But doing it with understanding is the key, because then others can benefit from it. Which is why Paul said in...

1 Corinthians 14:19 NKJV

19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Paul would rather speak 5 words so that he can be understood, than 10k words in a foreign tongue.

And I think this shows the heart of Paul and really the heart of God. The goal for the Church is to help the people of God, to equip the saints.

In Vs. 19, the word “my understanding” is in the objective genitive.

Which speaks of other people understanding when I speak, not what I myself understand.

The context here has to do, not with Paul’s own understanding of what he spoke in tongues, but of other people understanding him.

Look at...

1 Corinthians 12:20 NKJV

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.

Paul next exhorts the Corinthians against immaturity in their thinking. Children prefer amusement to usefulness, flashy things to stable ones. Paul is saying, “Don’t take a childish delight in these spectacular gifts which you use for self-display. There is one sense in which you should be childlike, and that is in the matter of malice or evil. But in other matters, you should think with the maturity of men.”

Because look at what is at stake, look at...

1 Corinthians 12:24–25 NKJV

24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

Understanding is mandatory because that is the only way an unbeliever can be convinced and convicted of the truth.

That is the only way for God to reveal the secrets of a persons heart, which causes people to fall down and worship God!

2.3 Two or Three is the Capacity Vs. 27a

So pretty strait forward there shouldn’t be a church gathering or service where a multitude of people are speaking in tongues.

2.4 One at a Time is the Capacity Vs. 27b

So this means that they can’t utilize this gift at the same time, but it has to be one after the other.

This right here would avoid the chaos and disorder of several people all speaking in tongues at once.

So the proper use of this gift of speaking in tongues are:

Interpretation, Understanding, 3 max, one at at time.

And you know what this speaks of? This speaks of order.

1 Corinthians 14:40 NKJV

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

And hold that thought because we will talk about this...

3. The Principle Involving All Gifts Vs. 34-40

The principle the involves all gifts is that everything must be done decently and in order.

3.1 Regarding Husband & Wife Vs. 34-35

So the question is this: The command for women to keep silent in the churches, is it for the women only in the church of Corinth specifically? Or is this a general command that includeds today’s church corporately.

And I think the answer is both. Paul wrote, “women need to keep silent”, both to the women of the church in Corinth specifically, but also to women in today’s Church corporately.

1 Timothy 2:11–12 NKJV

11 Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12 And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence.

So simply, women are to be silent and learn in silence.

Now, before you ladies begin to cancel me, and throw tomatoes. It’s important to understand the context.

Here in Ch. 14 Paul uses the phrase: “keep silent” 3 times. We see it here in Vs. 34 & 35 regarding women. But look at...

1 Corinthians 14:27–28 NKJV

27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.

He’s not saying that everyone needs to be silent only when...

1 Corinthians 14:29–30 NKJV

29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.

Speak about people jocking for position.

So the context here is to maintain order, unity, and harmony, to prevent chaos and confusion in the church.

So the command to keep silent in the church is not exclusively to women, but also applies to men.

APPLICATION: At the end of the day, both men and women are to keep silent in the church when the Word of God is being put forth.

Now in addition to that, Paul specifically addresses the women at this church because apparently they were disrupting the church service.

During this time, women were second class citizens. They were not able to be educated and were considered inferior to men.

Now, when Christianity came to scene and began to teach that:

Woman are equal to men

Women are free etc.

Some of these women took it overboard and had an attitude of, “Well, i’m equal to a man, so listen to me!”

Men & women were divided during the church services, women in the back and men in the front of the room.

During the service women would interrupt the service by yelling out to their husbands regarding the topic of the day.

So Paul is saying, let them ask their own husbands at home. Yes, woman are equal to men but there is still hierarchy.

God has implemented a hierarchy in the family at home and with the family at the Church.

Genesis 3:16 NKJV

16 To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”

APPLICATION: Now, here Paul is implying that the husband should be the spiritual leader of the home.

The husband should be the pastor and priest of the home. Not the woman.

3.2 Regarding The Word of God Vs. 36-37

Vs.36  1. Obedience - A bit of sarcasm:  was the Word God written by you… No…   is the Word of God only for you… No…

Since the Word of God came from God to everyone…    simply do it…     be obedient to it…  

APPLICATION: Unfortunately like then, many today simply don’t do what the Word of God says to do…

They think that because it doesn’t line up with the way they think or feel they don’t have to do it…

Now chances are we all want to be obedient to the Word of God, but the problem is when we try to do it in the flesh…      in our own power or strength…     we will always come up short…

But when we cry out to the Lord for help, He gives us His Grace…    

Romans 1:5 NKJV

5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

Vs.37    2.  Acceptance - The church in Corinth was so puffed up…      so prideful regarding their spiritual gifts…    Paul knew it would be very difficult for them to accept what he had to say… 

After all in 1 Cor.3:1 he calls them babes in Christ…   in 1 Cor.14:20 he calls them children or immature.

1 Corinthians 3:1 NKJV

1 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

So if you had any kind of spiritual understanding & knowledge of the Word you’ll know that what I’m telling you is true…        so Accept it…       Receive it…        Believe it…

APPLICATION: This is why it’s so important we have Spiritual Understanding…     &    Knowledge of the Word… 

Colossians 1:9 NKJV

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

This is a supernatural understanding…        something the natural man can’t receive or know, 1 Cor.2:14.

1 Corinthians 2:14 NKJV

14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

When we have spiritual understanding & knowledge of the Word we can Accept what people are saying as true…         or         a lie… 

3.3 Let All Things Be Done In Order Vs. 38-40

Talk about David & The Ark of the Covenant:

1 Chronicles 13:5 NKJV

5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor in Egypt to as far as the entrance of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath Jearim.

1 Chronicles 13:7 NKJV

7 So they carried the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Abinadab, and Uzza and Ahio drove the cart.

1 Chronicles 13:9–10 NKJV

9 And when they came to Chidon’s threshing floor, Uzza put out his hand to hold the ark, for the oxen stumbled. 10 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzza, and He struck him because he put his hand to the ark; and he died there before God.

1 Chronicles 13:11–12 NKJV

11 And David became angry because of the Lord’s outbreak against Uzza; therefore that place is called Perez Uzza to this day. 12 David was afraid of God that day, saying, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”

1 Chronicles 15:1–2 NKJV

1 David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one may carry the ark of God but the Levites, for the Lord has chosen them to carry the ark of God and to minister before Him forever.”

1 Chronicles 15:12–13 NKJV

12 He said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel to the place I have prepared for it. 13 For because you did not do it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not consult Him about the proper order.”

1 Chronicles 15:15 NKJV

15 And the children of the Levites bore the ark of God on their shoulders, by its poles, as Moses had commanded according to the word of the Lord.

You see, some people say, Anthony your putting God in a box. No we’re doing what the Bible says. 

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