Intelligibility in Worship

HOOK

TURN OFF CALENDAR BREAK

TURN OFF CAFFEINE

DO NOT FORGET TO UNMUTE

It’s MONDAY the 14th day of September

Did you read in advance?

Last Thursday when we talked about the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we touched upon one of the gift of the Holy Spirit— the Gift of Tongues— we learned that:

SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS A MANIFESTATION OF THE INFILLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS A SPIRITUAL GIFT [1 CORINTHIANS 12:10]

We also learned that speaking in tongues may or may not be understood by the hearers

Due to the importance and extensiveness of this subject matter, we are using this day to jump to 1 Corinthians to see what Paul has to say about “Speaking in Tongues”

It’s quite long, so without delay, open your Bible to 1 CORINTHIANS 14:1-25— once you get there I’d like for you to type, “Ready to learn about the gift of tongues”

CHARACTER, COMMANDS, CONFESSION, PROMISES, ATTITUDE, EXAMPLES, PRAYERS, THANK GOD, TRUTH TO BELIEVE, ENCOURAGEMENT, CHALLENGES

Read 1 CORINTHIANS 141-25

BOOK

1 Corinthians 14:1–25 NLT

1 Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. 2 For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. 3 But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. 4 A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. 5 I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened. 6 Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. 7 Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. 8 And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? 9 It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space. 10 There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. 11 But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. 12 And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church. 13 So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. 14 For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying. 15 Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. 16 For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? 17 You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. 19 But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language. 20 Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. 21 It is written in the Scriptures: “I will speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to me,” says the Lord. 22 So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. 23 Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. 24 But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. 25 As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”

LOOK

FOR IF ANYONE SPEAKS IN A TONGUE DOES NOT SPEAK TO PEOPLE BUT TO GOD

No one understand them

BUT THE ONE WHO PROPHESIES SPEAKS TO PEOPLE FOR THEIR STRENGTHENING, ENCOURAGING AND COMFORT

People who hear are strengthened, encouraged and comforted because they understand what is being said

ANYONE WHO SPEAKS IN A TONGUE EDIFIES THEMSELVES, BUT THE ONE WHO PROPHESIES EDIFIES THE CHURCH

Edify, in other words, instruct, improve, build up, strengthen

THE ONE WHO PROPHESIES IS GREATER THAN THE ONE WHO SPEAKS IN TONGUES

Because they do not just edify themselves, but others

UNLESS SOMEONE INTERPRETS, SO THAT THE CHURCH MAY BE EDIFIED

Interpretation is another gift of the Holy Spirit— God is the God of order— there should be good order in worship— 1 Corinthians 14:28

Those who speak in tongues must pray that they may interpret what they say

Paul even asked..

UNLESS YOU SPEAK INTELLIGIBLE WORDS, HOW WILL ANYONE KNOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING

Intelligible in other words, understandable

SINCE YOU ARE EAGER FOR THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, TRY TO EXCEL WITH THOSE THAT BUILD UP THE CHURCH

Paul encouraged them to excel on their gifts that builds up the church

UNBELIEVERS COME, WILL THEY NOT SAY THAT YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND?

They surely would— because they do not understand what you are saying— they do not have any idea what is going on

That’s why in worship—Paul said there must be order— 1 CORINTHIANS 14:39-40

TOOK

BE EAGER TO PROPHESY, AND DO NOT FORBID SPEAKING IN TONGUES

EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DONE IN A FITTING AND ORDERLY WAY

SING

Hillsong Young and Free— Alive