Power for Living - Prophecy in the Church
Power for Living: The Work of the Spirit Today
The Gifts of the Spirit in the Church
Overview of Corinth –
Pentecostal Church Divided
Worship services were a wreck
Use shape game – throw all shapes in the air at once. This was how the Corinthian church was operating
Chapter 12 – Unity – everyone finding their place
Chapter 13 – Love – gifts used in love make beautiful music
Chapter 14 – Building Up – other believers and therefore the church
1 Cor 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
1 Cor 14:2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
1 Cor 14:3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
1 Cor 14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
1 Cor 14:5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
1 Cor 14:6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?
1 Cor 14:7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?
1 Cor 14:8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
1 Cor 14:9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
1 Cor 14:10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
1 Cor 14:11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
1 Cor 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
Admonition to Seek the Gift of Prophecy
A. Eagerly Desire Spiritual Gifts
Love is the foundation on which spiritual gifts must operate
Don’t neglect Spiritual Gifts
Eagerly Desire Them – seek after them – ask God for them – pray for them
B. Especially the Gift of Prophecy
What is prophecy - speaking for another
Not foretelling the future
Forthtelling – speaking a word from the Lord
Supernaturally inspired utterance by the Holy Spirit
The Corinthians were filled with pride that they could speak in tongues.
Therefore they were neglecting the other gifts of the Spirit
Tongues builds up the individual
1 Cor 14:2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
1 Cor 14:4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Advantages of the Gift of Prophecy
A. Prophecy builds up the church
1 Cor 14:3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
NLT - 1 Cor 14:3 But one who prophesies is helping others grow in the Lord, encouraging and comforting them.
Strengthens - helping others grow in the Lord
Encourages – exhorting – calling to fulfill their duty to the Lord
Comforts – helps with sorrow and fear
Word from the Lord either to individuals within the church or to the church as a whole, stirring to greater service and comforting in times of need.
B. Tongues are important but prophecy in the church is more important
1 Cor 14:5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Again the Corinthian church put an emphasis on tongues at the exclusion of the other gifts
Paul is showing them that prophecy is the greater gift
Why?
Tongues without interpretation is in an unknown language
Prophecy is in a language that all can understand
III. Analogies Concerning the Gift of Prophecy
A. From His Own life
1 Cor 14:6 Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction?
If he came speaking only in tongues what good would it be to the congregation
They would have no idea what he was saying.
They would receive no
- Revelation – could be about Christ’s return
- Knowledge -
- Prophecy – a word from the Lord
- Instruction – doctrine - teaching
B. From Music
1 Cor 14:7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?
It is like when I played the cymbal last week
It was just noise because there was no distinction of notes
Once I sang – everyone knew the song
Public use of tongues without interpretation is like a musical instrument that doesn’t play the melody
C. From the Military
1 Cor 14:8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
The trumpet player played different songs for different things
Reveille
Taps
Advance in Battle
Retreat
The army had to know what was being played in order to respond properly
Tongues without interpretation is like a military trumpet player playing the wrong song at the wrong time.
The church needs the right word at the right time to go, be and do what God wants
D. From daily human life
1 Cor 14:9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.
1 Cor 14:10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
1 Cor 14:11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me.
If what is being spoken is not understood – you will just be speaking into the air
We must speak in a language people can understand in order to purvey the truth of God’s Word
1 Cor 14:12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
Paul is repeating an important point in relation to the church and gifts
Church is not about you but about God and others
Tongues without interpretation is for the building up of the believer
Prophecy is for the building up of the church
Eagerly desire the Gifts
We must be hungry – hungry for the things of God
We must be open – not closed minded as it relates to the gifts
We must be willing to be used by God
These gifts flow from God for His purposes
He gives gifts for His Glory not our own
1Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim his truth. 2If you praise him in the private language of tongues, God understands you but no one else does, for you are sharing intimacies just between you and him. 3But when you proclaim his truth in everyday speech, you’re letting others in on the truth so that they can grow and be strong and experience his presence with you.
4The one who prays using a private “prayer language” certainly gets a lot out of it, but proclaiming God’s truth to the church in its common language brings the whole church into growth and strength. 5I want all of you to develop intimacies with God in prayer, but please don’t stop with that. Go on and proclaim his clear truth to others. It’s more important that everyone have access to the knowledge and love of God in language everyone understands than that you go off and cultivate God’s presence in a mysterious prayer language—unless, of course, there is someone who can interpret what you are saying for the benefit of all.
6Think, friends: If I come to you and all I do is pray privately to God in a way only he can understand, what are you going to get out of that? If I don’t address you plainly with some insight or truth or proclamation or teaching, what help am I to you? 7If musical instruments—flutes, say, or harps—aren’t played so that each note is distinct and in tune, how will anyone be able to catch the melody and enjoy the music? 8If the trumpet call can’t be distinguished, will anyone show up for the battle?
9So if you speak in a way no one can understand, what’s the point of opening your mouth? 10There are many languages in the world and they all mean something to someone. 11But if I don’t understand the language, it’s not going to do me much good. 12It’s no different with you. Since you’re so eager to participate in what God is doing, why don’t you concentrate on doing what helps everyone in the church?