I Corinthians 14
Notes
Transcript
I Corinthians 14
For a Baptist one of the strangest chapters in the N.T.
-Part of the subject mater is about the spiritual gift of speaking in Tongues and the spiritual gift of prophecy.
We are going to take principles from our text today to apply to our life.
PRAY
Introduction - About 10 years ago I went to China to teach at an English camp at a university. It was the tradition in this country at the end of camp to honor the hosts professors with a small gift on the last day of camp.
I went to a local small shop by myself near the school to find something and found a nice insulated large tea cup that looked appropriate. I needed a second cup identical to the first for another professor. But - there was only 1.
I thought they might have one in the back.
I went to the front counter and asked, “Do you speak English?”
All I got back was ,”Hung chow teno ling-hi.” I had no idea what that was. I was stuck. Helpless to communicate. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do.
-Then I looked up and a college age girl came in the store and her face looked very familiar. She greeted me in English. I understood her. She was in another class in the English camp. I feeling of relief swept over me. I’m not alone in communication. I can understand what is happening.
She helped me with my gift.
-When you are in a foreign country, alone, and don’t know the language… When you finally understand what is being said. You are relieved to not be lost.
-Language and communication is so critical!!!
-One of the main reasons that God gave us clear understandable language - is not to buy insulated tea cups, talk about sports, or do business.
-But to help others grow spiritually.
Invest in others spiritually - to help others get better - grow closer to Jesus.
Big Idea - God desires my words to be used for the building up of other Christ Followers.
Context - Todays passage focuses on 2 spiritual gifts that are spoken. The gift of speaking in tongue and the gift of prophecy. The Corinthians were abusing the gift of speaking in tongues. They were trying to make the gift of tongues all about them.
There was a second problem. In individual house churches all over Corinth there was confusion and disorder during worship. Imagine people meeting in homes on Sunday. Some may have 10 people others 20 people, but all small gatherings. No Christian worship buildings in the New Testament.
-During worship Multiple people would speak out at the same time or at inappropriate times.
-Some people were blurting out spontaneously in languages (tongues) no one had heard before.
-Someone would share or teach and others would call out questions in the middle of the teaching before the teacher was finished.
-Sometimes after a husband would speak some wives would put their husbands on the spot and ask demeaning or embarrassing questions in front of the group.
-This was supposed to be a worship time, with attention given to God, but it was one big chaotic selfish distraction.
-...An unpredictable time of disorder. Pause
Teaching - When God’s people gather for worship, our purpose is to do 2 things.
-Bring glory to God.
-Build up believers
-Neither of these things were happening in the Corinthian church.
Transition - We see this principle taught today ...
I. Use the spoken gifts to build up. (vs. 1-12)
I Corinthians 14:1 -3 Read
One of the best ways we love one another well in worship is by communicating in a way that people understand.
Paul encourages the church to seek a gift called prophecy.
The name “Prophecy” sounds super spiritual.
What is the New Testament gift of prophecy?
New Testament Prophecy and Old Testament Prophecy were markedly different.
In the New Testament, here is what the gift of PROPHECY WAS NOT.
It was not speaking on behalf of God.
When a someone with the New Testament gift of prophecy was used, the words were tested by other prophets to make sure they were right on.
New Testament prophets could be wrong. So, other prophets checked their words.
Someone with the gift of prophecy is someone who:
Builds others up spiritually, encourages, consoles, points people to hope in God.
A prophet may challenge or cast spiritual vision for spiritual growth.
A prophet may rebuke, or call out sin. A prophet will use his/her voice to address spiritual matters.
A prophet does not have to be a boisterous or charismatic personality.
But, someone using the gift of prophecy must be motivated by love for God’s people.
Why does Paul tell us to desire prophecy?
The answer is this - It is a gift that builds others up.
It is a gift that encourages spiritual growth. It is a gift where words are clearly understood.
Notice the set up
vs. 1. Have as your foundation love and build on top of love what will most strengthen others - particularly prophecy.
While prophecy builds up the church...
-The gift of speaking in tongues without at interpreter leaves confusion.
What is the gift of tongues?
There are different kinds of tongues, but in our passage it is a language that no one else has heard. The person with the gift of tongues would be given a message of spiritual application from God. They would speak this in a language no one understands.
Then … Someone else with the gift of interpreting tongues would stand and let the group know what was just said.
Without the gift of interpretation tongues is just gibberish. The body isn’t blessed.
Illustration of music, (NEXT SLIDE)
-Have you ever walked into a really nice store or restaurant and someone was playing some intricate jazz on the piano? (Picture)
-At first you think, what is that? That doesn’t make any sense. You give it 10 or 20 seconds and then realize how all the notes and rhythms are perfectly coming together. It’s beautiful
Notes played in harmony together are beautiful. Spiritual speech that is clear is uplifting.
Illustration Bugle
Imagine if you were in an old school battle, like World War 1, soldiers were getting ready to go into the fight. They were in their trench, had a bullet in their gun, and their bayonet locked on the end of the barrel. They heard the artillery explosions. Waiting on the signal.
The bugler played a series of notes no one had heard before. It was unrecognizable.
-It would cause confusion.
-Some men would charge into battle, others wouldn’t.
-There would be chaos.
The point is this - When you are trying to grow spiritually, understanding what someone is saying is super important.
Tongues without an interpreter only helps the person speaking.
Application,
OK so that’s all nice to know … what if I’m not given the gift of prophecy? How does this apply to me?
Answer - Use the words you say to build up others spiritually.
Read -vs, 12 Summary
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
-Ask yourself this question. What can I say that will spiritually lift up others? Transition - And because the Corinthian church was so hung up on speaking in tongues, Paul doubles down on his point.
II. Don’t get hung up in tongues speaking (vs.13-19)
-There are some of our charismatic friends that think speaking in tongues is one of the greatest gifts. But Paul says, it’s one of the least of the gifts.
Read vs 19.
Tongues in Corinth - Speaking in tongues was the most popular gift, the gift that brought the most attention, the most honor, seen as the most spiritual gift.
Tongues without an interpeter doesn’t help others.
-Tongues without an interpreter hurts worship, because instead of bringing attention to God, it only brings attention to yourself.
-Tongues in worship must have an intepreter.
-The point of gathering for worship is to bring glory to God & to build each other up.
-Application,
-If I don’t have the gift of tongues or prophecy how do I bring glory to God and build others up with my words?
-Sing out loud. When someone hears you singing during worship, they are encouraged. They hear that you are in worship with them.
-Men, One of the reasons I sing in church is because my dad sang in church.
Illustration, Seth (Our former Youth Minister) sang, I know his dad. His dad sang. Seth watched His dad sing and learned to sing in church. Give the gift of worship to your children by singing. Show them singing to God is important.
How else do I use my words to build up?
-Pray for each other face to face.
“In a conversation you simply say, “I’m really glad you shared that with me. Let’s pray for that right now.” Then pray 2-3 short sentences.
-(Use less words by)- Listening to each other
“My talking friends, love someone enough to listen and not think about what you are going to say next. Love the other person enough to ask questions and really listen.”
-Men, tell another Christian man that you love them.
-Challenge each other to take fresh steps spiritually.
-Encourage each other.
-Share personally what is going on in your life.
(especially what you are struggling with.)
-Give testimony to what God is doing in your life or someone else’s life?
-God desires you to use what you say for God’s glory.
It is hard in worship service to spiritually build up the person sitting right next to you.
-But outside the church in the grass is a good place to encourage each other.
-Let me make a shameless plug for Sunday School.
-Even more so, in Sunday School. Speak up and spiritually share in Sunday School. It’s the perfect environment.
Question, What does tell you about God’s character that He is a God of verbal clarity and understanding?
-He could be just fine with everyone having a 1 on 1 worship time every Sunday morning, each individual be worshiping him in his/her heart.
-Instead, God has called us together in part so we can hear each other.
-While God benefits from your worship, He desires others to benefit from Him being worshiped.
-He desires Him receiving glory to lift the heart of others.
God has purposed worship to be so powerful that it pulls other Christ followers along and lifts their hearts to God.
Transition - When we practice our verbal spiritual gifts it blesses other believers. It also has an effect on unbelievers.
III. Spiritual gifts effect unbelievers, 20-25
Read vs. 22-25
How are tongues a sign for the unbeliever?
Notice how verse 21 is in quotations. This is a quote from Isaiah 28:11.
Isaiah gave the nation of Judah (the southern kingdom) a prophecy of judgement.
Judah (the nation) had left the worship of God and had followed foreign God’s.
Isaiah prophesied, When a foreign language (foreign tongue) is spoken to this nation (Judah), this will be a sign of their destruction.
Eventually, the superpower Babylon shows up at the walls of Jerusalem.
Speaking Babylonian- a foreign tongue. Which was a sign of their destruction.
Carry that thought over to this quote from Isaiah in I Corinthians 14:21
Read I Corinthian 14:21-22.
When unbelievers hear the foreign tongue of the tongues speaker, it is a sign of spiritual judgement - the judgement of hell.
vs. 24-25 tell us the opposite about Prophecy. When an unbelievers hears a clearly spoken message, it is an opportunity for salvation.
For the unbeliever, Tongues is a message of condemnation, & prophecy is a message of salvation.
Unbeliever, Have you been saved from the penalty of sin? The eternal destruction of your soul in hell?
-Now is the day of salvation.
-Jesus gave His life on the cross as an unblemished payment for sin.
-Will you receive this payment in faith? Will you give your life to follow Jesus?
-He loves you. He is inviting you to come to Him today in full trust.
Transition ...
III. “Ordered worship is a blessing.” vs. 26-35
Why would Paul have to tell the Corinthians to get organized and make an order in their worship?
Worshipers were speaking at the same time & trying to speak over each other. It was very distracting.
Read 26-29
You got one person giving a testimony, one reading a scripture, one speaking in a tongue, another singing a song, another giving a prophecy, it was chaotic … No one was being blessed.
Paul simply says, take turns so everyone can have a place and everyone can be blessed in worship.
Illustration - Have you ever seen a 4 year old soccer team?
Forget positions or spreading out the ball. You’ve got kids like to swarms of bees following after the ball. It is cute & fun to watch.
Completely different than a good high school team that has order and flow to their play.
The Corinthians worship times were more like chaotic bees more than an organized team.
Paul instructs the Corinthians, Take turns, Let worship have an order, and those who are leading in worship must wait for their turn, and not blurt out.
-This lets the listener take in what God is doing and be blessed.
Transition - Because things had gotten so chaotic and out of order, Paul had to give the women a specific instruction.
Read 14:34-35,
The passage we just read appears to conflict Chapter 11:4-5
In Chapter 11:4-5, God allows for women to pray and prophecy. He allows women to participate in the worship service.
Here at first baptist, women lead in worship, read scripture, pray, and give testimony.
What is this thing about women being silent?
It had to do with the chaos in worship time. (X2)
Reading between the lines, what we think was happening with some of the ladies.
They were speaking out of turn, not waiting for the right time to give a prophecy, or speak in tongues, interrupting the teaching in the middle of the lesson.
-Remember that women were held back from education. They were denied getting to know
basic things that men were taught. This effected the worship service.
It seems like a lot of questions they had could be easily answered by their husband at home and not take up the worship time. So Paul directs the questions of the ladies to be answered at home.
-I want you to hear me. No one is saying that these women were stupid. That is not the case. Because in their culture they were held back from education, the worship service was effected.
-It also appears that during and after their husbands would speak, some women would make embarrassing comments and ask personal questions that would put their husbands on the spot. Paul says, take care of this at home.
Closing
What does it tell you about God that He wants chaos & distraction removed from a worship service?
God has a high value for order because in an ordered environment you can focus and take His greatness & goodness in.
You can hear about how God ministers to a broken heart.
You can be built up spiritually and learn to glorify Him.
What does it tell you about a God who wants you to verbally be involved in worship?
He wants to include His people in being a blessing to others.
Will you, with God’s strength speak up for Him?
Will you, with God’s help, minister to others with your words?