"Some Assembly Required" 1Cor14

I’d like to start with a PRE-CHRISTMAS-MOMENT-OF-TRUTH: On the gifts with that wonderful label that says, “Some assembly required,” How many of you take the time to read the instructions carefully…

GOD HAS GIVEN US specific instructions concerning the operation of Spiritual gifts—instructions that will help us in our understanding of spiritual gifts—and in particular, the gifts of tongues and prophesy!

(v.20) – “Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking,, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking.”

In Chapter 12, Paul taught that DIVERSITY does not equal DIS-UNITY! In fact, using the illustration of the body, Paul shows that while we are all different, we are still part of the same body!

In Chapter 13, Paul shows that the key to unity is LOVE!

Now, in chapter 14, we are given THREE GOVERNING PRINCIPLES to help us in the practice of spiritual gifts: EDIFICATION (14:1-5, 26b), UNDERSTANDING (14:6-25), and ORDER (14:26-40).

We are going to look at the first two this week (my outline for today’s message is from Warren Weirsbe’s, Be Wise—with slight modifications):

1 Corinthians 14:1–25 CSB

Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy. For the person who speaks in a tongue is not speaking to people but to God, since no one understands him; he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the person who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and consolation. The person who speaks in a tongue builds himself up, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. I wish all of you spoke in tongues, but even more that you prophesied. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up. So now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you with a revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? Even lifeless instruments that produce sounds—whether flute or harp—if they don’t make a distinction in the notes, how will what is played on the flute or harp be recognized? In fact, if the bugle makes an unclear sound, who will prepare for battle? In the same way, unless you use your tongue for intelligible speech, how will what is spoken be known? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different kinds of languages in the world, none is without meaning. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me. So also you—since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church. Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing praise with the spirit, and I will also sing praise with my understanding. Otherwise, if you praise with the spirit, how will the outsider say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in regard to evil and adult in your thinking. It is written in the law, I will speak to this people by people of other tongues and by the lips of foreigners, and even then, they will not listen to me, says the Lord. Speaking in tongues, then, is intended as a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church assembles together and all are speaking in tongues and people who are outsiders or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all are prophesying and some unbeliever or outsider comes in, he is convicted by all and is called to account by all. The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall facedown and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”

(READ TEXT - PRAY)

I. The PURPOSE of Spiritual Gifts is for the EDIFICATION (Building Up) of the Body! (14:1-5, 26b)

The mistake the Corinthians were making in their worship services was to emphasize their own personal edification! They were more concerned about building themselves up than they are building up the Church!

They attended church, not to serve, love, or minister too others—but for what church did for them! PRAISE GOD, we no longer deal with that attitude today!

Someone had reported to Paul that the church was neglecting prophecy and giving a greater emphasis to tongues.

Paul begins by showing the value of prophesy over tongues by CONTRASTING the two:

1. PROPHECY SPEAKS TO MEN, TONGUES TO GOD — (vv.1-3)

Prophesy is best, because of the threefold ministry that occurs when men and women, “forth-tell the Word of God”

(v.3) – “strengthening/edification – encouragement/exhortation – consolation/comfort”

* It is BEST because it “builds up (edifies) the church!”

2. PROPHECY EDIFIES THE CHURCH; TONGUES EDIFY ONLY THE SPEAKER — (vv.4-5)

Notice that Paul does not deny the value of tongues to the speaker, but he places a greater value on building up the church!

That is why, if there is no interpreter, the person with the gift of tongues is to “keep silent in the church” – (v.28).

II. The PURPOSE of Spiritual Gifts is to Bring UNDERSTANDING (Maturity) to the Body! (14:6-25)

Eight times in this section, Paul used the word understanding!

“It’s not enough for the minister to impart information to people; the people must receive it if it is to do them any good.” – Warren Wiersbe

(Matthew 13:23) – “…the one who hears and understands the word.”

Paul asks a very good question in (v.6) – “…how will I benefit you?”

1. THREE ILLUSTRATIONS – (vv.7-11)

1) A musician – (v.7) - “Name that tune…”

2) A bugler – (v.8)- “Charge! Retreat!”

3) Daily conversation– (vv.9-11)

2. THREE APPLICATIONS – (vv.12-25)

1) To the Speaker Himself– (vv.12-15)

Your GOAL is to be understood!

2) To Other Believers in the Assembly – (vv.16-20)

Paul’s ASSUMPTION is that believers would respond to the message, “Amen!”

(v.19) – The issue was not quantity of words, but quality of communication!

Paul wanted them to grow up! – (v.20)

3) Unsaved Persons Attending the Assembly – (vv.21-25)

(v.21) – The “other tongues” and “lips of foreigners” in this reference from (Isaiah 28:11-12)referred to the Assyrians and was a sign of judgment!

The phrase, “this people” referred to unbelieving children of Israel!

(v.22) – Paul’s point: In the assembly of believers, unless there are unbelievers present, then what is the purpose of demonstrating a sign gift to those who already believe?

(v.23) – If everyone is speaking in other languages, it would appear madness to an unbeliever!

(vv.24-25) – On the other hand when an unbeliever hears from God—WORSHIP & REPENTANCE!