To Build up the Church

1 Corinthians 14:1–25 NASB95

Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying. But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church. Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord. So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.

INTRO: Several years ago, an elderly lady fell in her home. Trapped and wounded, she lay there for over 24 hours before a concerned neighbor checked on her and was able to call 911. The thing is- she had a life-alert necklace. One EMT asked why she didn’t wear it, she said she just didn’t want to push that button and trouble the emergency responders, to which the EMT replied- that’s what we’re here for!

You know, when it comes to the church, I fear many church-goers and Christians fail to understand the basic idea of why we are here. Why do we covenant together? Why do we gather? Why is there preaching and teaching?

According to the writer of Hebrews, we do this in order to stimulate one another to live out the character and mission of Christ. Let me read a short exert from

Hebrews 12:12–15 NASB95

Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;

Paul, in writing this letter to the Corinthian Church, has disciplined, corrected, admonished, and encouraged this church to live out their calling and life in Christ. As we come to chapter 14, we bring with us the context of the preceding chapters. So we must begin with the understanding of the last few weeks. Let me try to summarize,

BECAUSE Christian love is the more excellent way to use spiritual gifts, we as Christ-followers are motivated by this love-

We love God enough to commit to God’s values, design, and mission.

We love our neighbors, family, friends, etc. enough to desire God’s best for them. Ultimately, that they would come to know and enjoy God - that they could say confidently I am a citizen of Heaven!

And so this brings us into verse 1 of Ch. 14. Now, I’m going to go ahead and ask you to ready your sermon guides as we jump in because we are going to hit the ground running! Let’s read verse 1 (READ v. 1)

We pursue, follow after, chase, love because it is the necessary mark of a true Christian, and we desire, long for, yearn for spiritual gifts. WHY? In order to edify the church. (We see that throughout this passage, but look especially at v.12 (READ v. 12)

Edification means ‘building up’ - it’s language you might use in construction when you are speaking of the process of building a house or other structure. The church is to be built upon the cornerstone that is Christ- and we are the bricks that make up the walls, etc.

Let me ask you- in building a home for your family, do you choose cheap substitutes or would you want to use quality materials? Even the 3 little pigs can tell you the right answer!!

But if we are going to build the church with quality bricks that will last, weather the storms, and stand tall and strong, we need to know what that means for you and me.

What is a quality ‘brick’ in the church?

It’s a genuine Christ-follower. One who is completely surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus. Not perfect, but abiding in Christ, seeking to glorify Him in every aspect of life.

The church in Corinth was a bit unhealthy, so you might ask, “How?” How could this church be transformed from weak sticks and stubble to strong and healthy bricks?

Paul clues us in on what it takes at the end of v. 1. Listen - “Especially that you may prophesy”

Out of all the things that this church was focusing on, Paul throws in this kind of curve ball.

Now, before we get into how this builds up the church, it is probably a good idea that you and I understand what it means to prophesy - then and now.

To prophesy is not necessarily to speak of future events with insight or knowledge of what will happen. While that can be the case- especially in the OT and in Revelation, the general understanding of the act of prophesying is simply speaking on behalf of God.

That is why in the OT, the prophets would stand up and say something like, “Thus says the Lord God...”

In Corinth, we must remember that they did not have a full New Testament Bible available- the information was still kind of trickling in- letters that we have from Paul and Peter, James, and John were being circulated among the churches, but often these churches would first hear from the Apostles orally and then the letters might come later.

So we might simply say that to prophesy is the act of speaking God’s Word.

We see the act of prophesying placed in contrast to the spiritual gift that the Corinthians were all nuts about- the gift of tongues. Look with me at v. 2-5 (READ)

The gift the Corinthians should really desire was to prophesy, which was to speak to other people in order to edify, exhort, and console. (3b)

Tongues is not a bad gift, mind you, but in order to build up the church, there is a much greater need for people who are gifted by God to speak His word.

BTW, if you took a spiritual gifts assessment and scored high in prophecy, you especially need to listen up. If you didn’t or you just don’t know- there is still a call here that we should desire this gift.

Now, let’s look at what makes PROPHESYING so important in building God’s church that we should desire it:

Prophesying Brings Clarity to the Church (6-12)

Look with me to Paul’s words: (READ 6-12)

Let me ask, How clear are you about your standing before God? I mean, when you face Jesus on the day of Judgment, how sure are you that you have grasped the Gospel; that you have been born again?

Y’all have heard me say this before, but we must not overlook Jesus’ Words in

Matthew 7:21 NASB95

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

Friends, I don’t know about you, but I sure don’t want to be playing odds on that!

My kids know that they are mine. They know they belong in my home and in my family! Shouldn’t we have that kind of confidence about our belonging in God’s family?

The Corinthians wanted to speak in tongues, but Paul is reminding them that it is the clear Gospel that brings us to conviction and repentance. The Gospel cannot be received if spoken in some other language that others cannot understand!

I heard a pastor once say, “Our awe of Jesus and His Gospel doesn’t come through miracles, but through the clear proclamation of God’s Word!!”

We ought to desire to prophesy so that we can bring clarity to the message so that the response of those who hear is genuine. If you respond simply out of fear of hell, that is not a response to the Gospel, but an attempt at dodging consequences. If you respond out of obligation or tradition, you are simply practicing religion.

If we hope to become a strong church, then it will take believers speaking the Word of God clearly.

Discuss: How does clarity of God’s Word build up the church? How is a lack of clarity dangerous?

As we look further, we can see that:

Prophesying Brings Blessing to the Church (13-19)

Again, Paul lays prophesying next to the gift of tongues as he points out our responsibility to one another. Let’s read 13-17 (READ)

Here is the idea- if you have a prayer language- you are speaking to God and that’s great. If you are praying in your spirit, that’s good for you.

Even so, as a church we must recognize that we are not gathering simply for our own personal growth. No, instead, Paul points out that the gift of tongues won’t even bless the speaker unless he/she can interpret it or has an interpreter there.

I mean, if nobody knows what you are saying, they cannot agree or disagree. It’s just a bunch of babble. Beyond that, an unbeliever cannot even comprehend our acts of corporate worship or prayer if the words do not make sense!

ILL: James and I attended a dinner last year where we worshiped alongside believers from over 20 different nations. There were people who sang in Swahili… if we didn’t have the English words on the screen, we could not have even agreed or joined in their praise.

Yet the act of prophesying is speaking the Word of God in the language of the people, which engages our minds and our spirits. Look with me to v. 18-19 (READ) Don’t miss this- Paul said he spoke in tongues. When he is alone, speaking in tongues is great. But IN THE CHURCH, he desires to speak 5 words that are intelligible- understandable than 10,000 in tongues.

I think Paul was saying something like this- “If I can point others to Jesus, let me put aside my personal desires and replace them with God’s desire for His church to be built!”

When we stand and speak God’s Word, the church can be instructed and exhorted.

The church will be blessed because God’s Word is never out of date. It’s never irrelevant or lacking in power.

Isaiah 40:8 NASB95

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

We should desire to build up God’s Church by prophesying because it brings clarity and blessing to the church.

Discuss: We don’t think much about the gift of tongues in our day. Why was this gift so attractive to the Corinthians and how does Paul encourage the church regarding this gift?

Finally, I’d like to show you that

Prophesying Confronts the Unsaved (20-25)

Let me just read this again (READ)

Y’all, this is the answer to the rhetorical argument Paul gave in

Romans 10:14 NASB95

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?

Listen folks, I cannot convict a sinner of his wickedness. I cannot convince you of your need for Jesus Christ. But, as we proclaim God’s Word, the Spirit of God uses that proclamation to prick the hearts of those who do not know Christ so that the secrets of their hearts would be revealed and that they would fall on their faces and worship God!!!

Only God’s Word can do that! Only God’s Word can reveal the Gospel so that His church will be multiplied.

We hear the word “confront” and we don’t usually like that kind of thing, but let me tell you that is exactly what a lost and dying person needs!!

Hey listen, if we want the unsaved in our community to know that God is active and working among LRBC, then there is no better way than by prophesying- by proclaiming God’s Word.

This does not mean that you have to preach as I do each week. No, but it does mean that you are faithful to take the Word of God and speak it as such. God’s Word is authoritative!

There is more that I can say, but here is what I want to leave you with this morning:

What kind of brick are you in God’s church? What is the desire of your heart? Are you, like the Corinthians, simply looking for that which will be good for you? I want to challenge you to pursue love and desire to build this church using the gifts that God has given you… especially prophesying.

In just a moment, we will sing one last song before we depart. During that time, I want to encourage you to ask God to show you what He desires from you- a brick in His church.

[PRAY]

Discuss: Are there unsaved people in your life that need to hear God’s Word? What steps can you take this week to ensure that happens? How will they know?