"Some Assembly Required"
1 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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In chapter 14, we are given three governing principles to guide us in the practice of spiritual gifts:
I. The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts is for the Edification (Building Up) of the Body! – (14:1-5, 26b)
I. The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts is for the Edification (Building Up) of the Body! – (14:1-5, 26b)
II. The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts is to Bring UNDERSTANDING (Maturity) to the Body! – (14:6-25)
II. The Purpose of Spiritual Gifts is to Bring UNDERSTANDING (Maturity) to the Body! – (14:6-25)
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III. The Operation of Spiritual Gifts Must Be Done DECENTLY and IN ORDER! (14:26-40)
III. The Operation of Spiritual Gifts Must Be Done DECENTLY and IN ORDER! (14:26-40)
Two statements encapsulate these verses:
(26b) – “Everything is to be done for building up.”
(40) – “But everything is to be done decently and in order.”
BECAUSE of the different operations that are mentioned in (26) – “…a hymn, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation” AND because of the phrase “Everything” (40), we understand that these verses may apply to the operation of all manifestations of the Spirit!
FOUR LESSONS:
A. Speaking in TONGUES, or speaking the WORD OF GOD (prophecy) must be done in order – (26-33)
A. Speaking in TONGUES, or speaking the WORD OF GOD (prophecy) must be done in order – (26-33)
The issue here is hearing the Word of God! (26, 36)
You should not attempt to apply these verses without recognizing the culture and the context in which they were written.
· As we mentioned last week, the Corinthian believers did not possess the Word of God as we do today! If they were to hear from God(which was a purpose of their gathering), then God had to reveal Himself to them—(26)
(27-28) – Instructions for the gift of tongues (languages).
NOTICE he/she is not forbidden from speaking in tongues, they must do so between themselves and God.
(29-32) – Instructions for the gift of prophesy.
The purpose is found in (31) – “…that everyone may learn and everyone may be encouraged.”
(32) – NOTE: Don’t ever let a long-winded preacher blame the Holy Spirit! Remind him the fruit of the Spirit is self-control!
(33) – Applies to BOTH gifts, and to ALL CHURCHES!
B. Wives were not to cause a DISRUPTION in the ASSEMBLIES – (34-35)
B. Wives were not to cause a DISRUPTION in the ASSEMBLIES – (34-35)
Again, understanding the customs/culture is essential to a correct application of these verses.
The ISSUE is the relationship between husbands and their wives!
(34) – Nowhere in the Law does it command that all women be submissive to all men! The Law does require wives to submit to their own husbands!
He said to the woman: I will intensify your labor pains; you will bear children with painful effort. Your desire will be for your husband, yet he will rule over you.
Wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.
(35) – I believe it is a mistake to make Paul’s statement, “…it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church,” a blanket interpretation for all women in every church. For one thing, Paul has already given instructions for women praying or prophesying in (11:5)
It would also directly contradict (Acts 21:9), where Philip the evangelist is identified as having “…four virgin daughters who prophesied.”
This man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.
WE DO KNOW from our study in chapter 11, that there was a problem of wives not submitting to their husbands!
Added to that was the custom of women and men being seated on opposite sides of their assemblies! If a wife had a question about, or disagreed with her husband (which seemed to be case), she would disrupt the assembly with her comments or questions – (35a)
C. Recognize the AUTHORITY of Paul in these instructions – (36-39)
C. Recognize the AUTHORITY of Paul in these instructions – (36-39)
Be careful thinking that we are the only ones who truly ‘get it’!
It is an easy thing to develop such an inward focus that before long you think that we who are assembled here in this room are the one’s who make all this happen—that we are the makers of our destiny!
Paul says, “No way, Hosea!” (36) – The Word of God didn’t originate with you (indicating there’s a greater authority) and you aren’t the only ones (the church is a lot bigger than most of us think)!
· Know of any churches that think theIr way is the only way?
The Church—this church—belongs to Jesus Christ! It is His Bride, His Body, we are His children. If it’s to honor Him, then it must operate His way!
(38) – I must admit, this is a challenging verse to follow!
If anyone ignores this, he will be ignored.
D. Don’t THROW OUT THE BABY with the BATH-WATER – (39-40)
D. Don’t THROW OUT THE BABY with the BATH-WATER – (39-40)
In other words, don’t go to extremes—just because the Corinthians were abusing the gifts (particularly tongues), this does not make the gifts themselves bad!
(39) – “…be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.”
(40) – The leadership of the church has the responsibility that services are conducted “…decently and in order.”
But everything is to be done decently and in order.
· What determines what is “…decently and in order?”
SCRIPTURE! And the responsibility to keep the instructions falls to the elders/leaders of a congregation.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
Beloved, let us do everything in our power not to confuse the Gospel!
The chief end of man is to glorify God. In the operation of spiritual gifts, let us bring glory, honor, and praise to the One who has gifted us!
