Communication in Worship
Notes
Transcript
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Communication is vital in a church
If what is spoken is not understood, it cannot be beneficial
Jarrod Sherman - speaking in Spanish to a man
The Proper Place of Communication and Content
Vs. 1-6
Illustrating Futile Communication
Vs. 7-13
Choosing to Communicate Well
Vs. 14-20
The Proper Place of Communication and Content
The Proper Place of Communication and Content
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
Paul told this church to FOLLOW (chase) after love in action
Look for ways to put the love of God in action in the church and in the world
Nothing wrong with wanting a spiritual gift, and the most important gift to desire in the church was the ability to speak the messages of God
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
Speaking a language in the church that no one knows is not beneficial
If I start speaking Japanese, does that help the church?
I could be speaking about the great mysteries of the Word of God eloquently in Japanese, but it doesn’t help anyone
Why speak a language that no one understands in a group that speaks only English? That would be foolish.
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Speaking in an understandable language among the church does benefit and wisely:
Edification - building a house
Prophesying (or preaching) - builds spiritual character and encourages spiritual growth
Exhortation - calling to someone’s side for aid
Comfort - consoling a person with a degree of tenderness
In our life, we need each and every one of these benefits to the ministry of communicating God’s truth. This is productive and fertile growth.
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
The individual that speaks in an unknown language is just making building up himself
Self-promotion and adding to one’s ego
Japanese - Would it be benefit you? No. Others might listen and say, “Wow! He knows Japanese. That is incredible!”
I’m in it for myself.
BUT he that speaks the messages of God (preaches God’s Word) in a known language benefits the whole church. Everyone under the sound of that voice would benefit.
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
It would be wonderful if everyone of you spoke a different language!
Jarrod - reached that Spanish speaking man for Jesus
The greater part is speaking the truths of the Gospel
The one that preaches God’s Word is more effective than those who speak in tongues that is not imparting the truth of Jesus Christ.
EXCEPT that one that is enable through interpretation to relay the good news of Jesus
Paul said if I came to you speaking in a language that no one understood, how would that help you?
BUT what if I spoke in your language:
Revelation - truth might be unveiled
Knowledge - truth might be understood
Prophesying - truth might be unfolded
Doctrine - truth might be underlined
These all help the church!
Illustrating Futile Communication
Illustrating Futile Communication
THE ILLUSTRATIONS
And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
Music is important and proper music is beautiful in our ears
Holly play a few chords beautifully
Now, play some notes that are bad
There are rules and notes that go together - if there were many instruments here playing different notes some that should be quieter playing loudly and others that should be louder playing quietly - sound like fingernails running down a chalkboard
That is what was happening in Corinth - people didn’t know what was going and their clamouring for different languages was confusing, chaotic, and driving people away instead of drawing them to the Gospel
For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
The trumpet played an important part of society especially in war
Certain sounds and melodies would mean attack, retreat, advance, fall back, etc
What if that trumpet began combing the sounds or began playing sounds that no one knew or recognised?
It would lead to confusion and maybe even defeat in the battle
Churches that are laughed and mocked to scorn not because of the message but rather because of the confusion and chaos over people clamouring to make uncertain sounds.
A Christian that is preaching the message should not be swayed or affected when the message of God is refuted. That has happened every since Adam and Eve rejected God’s instruction in the Garden of Eden. God’s Word is true whether you hate what I am saying right now or loving every syllable.
Chaos in speaking languages that no one understands, or, as some deceivingly believe, they are rambling in some unknown “mystical or supposedly heavenly” language gives place for the Devil to work in discouraging people looking for the truth of the Gospel.
APPLICATION
So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
If someone is speaking a language no one knows - it just sounds that don’t make sense floating through the air
Paul knew there are many languages, and each of them is significant among that language group
But to the Greeks in Corinth, anyone that could speak Greek was a foreigner and could not be understood
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
You want spiritual gifts and that is a good thing when it is accompanied with the desire to edify the church and get the Gospel to others.
Otherwise, it’s like you are foreigner and stranger amongst your own church family. This behaviour separates you from those you are to be loving with the truth of Scripture.
Those that speak in an unknown language, pray (request), that he would interpret it for you.
Missionaries speak in another language AND then they give the English interpretation
Choosing to Communicate Well
Choosing to Communicate Well
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Paul had the gift to speak one language and the HS would cause it to be heard in another language
Paul said what if I began to speak in a language that I did not know or even understand
It is unfruitful even to me!
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Paul decided that he would effectively communicate wherever he went even in prayer and in song.
Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
The would sing, pray, and preach, and the custom of the people was say, AMEN
The word AMEN - I AGREE
It is a vocal expression of their understanding and taking the truth onboard in their hearts
It gives encouragement to those leading the singing, praying, and preaching
Apparently even their AMEN’s were being voiced in a different language
Starting saying AMEN in Japanese - you wouldn’t know what that word was and it would not encourage
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
Paul said I have spoken in more languages than any of you have. He was not bragging here, but rather making a point.
Every word I have spoken I desired it be understood. 5 understood words is more valuable than 10,000 words never understood.
Understand what I’m saying like men, not a child. Don’t get angry or upset that I desire for your communication in worship to effective. I’m trying to help you.
Be innocent towards malice
Malice - kakia - caw-key-uh - depravity, wickedness, vicious disposition and desire to pervert truth and moral principles
Be a child, a babe, in those things
Media - is taking Godly moral principles and perverting it to an evilness
This type of thinking ought to be beyond us on how they have twisted and perverted truth
God used Paul to write a large portion of this letter to the Corinthians so they would effectively communicate truth in worship. God desires for us to edify, exhort, and comfort one another through understood language and vocabulary. This is important to God, and SBC needs to continue following this wise, practical, and profitable instruction.
Someone gave me 500 pesos from the Philippines. It didn’t profit me nor did it help me. I was in the US using dollars. I gave it to the missionary we were with next that was going to the Philippines.
Preach the Word! Preach it with understanding! Preach it to profit one another!