Gifts in Worship

1 Corinthians 14:1–25 ESV

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

Intro:

AG:

TS: Paul discusses the issue of gifts, specifically, tongues and prophesy. The Corinthians fought and struggled to be the best. They were pushing each other down and trampling each other. Paul has discussed the importance of love and unity. Here he opens with “pursue love, and earnestly desire gits.”

The temptation could well be to say if gifts are so complicated and divisive, lets just skip them altogether. Love doesn’t hide the gifts for the sake of others but rather it uses them to or their sake.

The main focus is on prophesy and tongues. Remember, tongues should be translated languages.

When one of the most influential Eng translations, the KJV was translated, the word tongue meant language. Due to some of the theological confusion, most Eng translations leave tongue rather than modern word language.

1. Rule #1 - Edification

1 Corinthians 14:1–5 ESV

Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.

Paul seems to use the singular, language, to distinguish the counterfeit gift of pagan gibberish from the plural indicating the genuine gift of a foreign language.

A. Meaning of tongues - language

Remember in Acts 2, the first time we see tongues it was clearly a language.

Acts 2:7–11 ESV

And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

B. The purpose - build up self or others

It is a gift designed or others.

A communication gift

C. Prophesy

Genuine prophecy, or preaching of truth, is quite a contrast to the gibberish they were doing.

It declares the truth of God in a clear and straightforward way.

It edifies the one who hears.

It builds the body and increases unity

2. Rule #2 - Understanding

A. Languages do not profit

1 Corinthians 14:6–12 ESV

Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

Speaking in a language the listener doesn’t know has no benefit.

It is like instruments playing indistinct sounds:

Every been in a band hall as they gather and everyone is doing their own thing? That is a chaotic sound!

Worship can be like that if everyone is doing their own thing and pulling their own way. It missing the point.

It is never about displaying our powers

It is never about getting attention.

It is about glorifying God and proclaiming His truth

B. Languages are to be Thoughtful

1 Corinthians 14:13–19 ESV

Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

The mind is to be engaged

5 words with the mind is better than 10,000 in another language!

C. Languages are a sign

1 Corinthians 14:20–25 ESV

Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

They were for spreading the gospel

They were for communicating when there was a language barrier

With tongues, unbelievers are confused by the disorder.

With Prophesy, unbelievers are “convicted by all”

This again shows the practicality of prophesy over languages.

3. Rule #3 - Order

With languages, prophesies or any other gift, order is the top priority

1 Corinthians 14:26–33 ESV

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints,

1 Corinthians 14:40 ESV

But all things should be done decently and in order.

A. Confusion by everyone wanting to be heard

They all wanted to show off

They all wanted to speak at one time

They spoke over each other and chaos reigned

B. Confusion caused by no final authority

There was no one bringing order to the chaos

It was fueling the division and strife

C. Confusion caused by rebellion

They selfishness and division were rebellion against God.

Conclusion: