God's People Must Be United and Growing in Holiness
1 Corinthians 14:1-25[1]
As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, July 1st, 2012
Let's read the story of Babel.
Genesis 11:1-9
Now the whole earth had one language and the same words. And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there. And they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly." And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth." And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built. And the LORD said, "Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another's speech." So the LORD dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city. Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth. And from there the LORD dispersed them over the face of all the earth.
Observations:
Men could work together we to build things when they had one language.
Of course, men were working together to 'make a name for themselves'.
In order to stop the cooperation, God confused their languages.
Men spoke in the same language with the desire to build up the name of man, and God confused them.
In 1 Corinthians 14:1-25, God speaks so men can hear Him in the same language to build each other up to make a name for Christ, and not themselves.
Remember the context; men are excited about the gifts, and especially pursuing tongues, somehow thinking it is more exciting and desirable; possibly because it was so dramatic, or miraculous-appearing.
We need a clear word from God that we can understand, so the saved can be built up and the lost can be saved.
V 1-12 Pursue and Prioritize Prophecy because it Builds Up the Saved
1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.
3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.
4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.
5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?
7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?
8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.
10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning,
11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
Prophecy is greater than tongues
To be desired more
Builds up the church
Paul wants all to prophesy
One who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in a tongue - unless someone interprets
V 1-12 Pursue and Prioritize Prophecy because it Builds Up the Saved
1-3 It builds up the church. It is spoken to people for their building up, encouragement, and consolation.
4-5 It is the greater gift. Because it builds up the church, and tongues edifies/builds up the self. When we're gathered together, we're not here about ourselves, we're here about God and others.
6-11 People can't respond to what they can't understand. Paul takes some time to make the simple point here that people cannot be expected to respond to what they cannot understand.
12 Pursue the gifts that edify the church! If you want to be spiritual, you want manifestations of God's power, then pursue a clear word from God. LIKE WE HAVE IN THE BIBLE TODAY.
V 13-25 Pursue and Prioritize Prophecy Because It Saves the Lost
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret.
14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful.
15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.
16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?
17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
21 In the Law it is written, "By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord."
22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.
23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?
24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all,
25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
13-19 Tongues without interpretation is about self and useless in a public gathering. Two kinds of tongues? Message in another language, and private prayer language? I don't see that. I see one gift of tongues, and a tendency to abuse it. Man's spirit is speaking, not necessarily the Holy Spirit.
That stands today as much as in Corinth. We are self-seeking to use tongues in a public gathering where the Word of God needs to build up the body and save the lost. Let Paul's ratio drive the priority; 5 vs 10,000!
20-25 Grow up – think! Good things happen when the message from God is clear. It is childish to pursue unintelligible words during a public worship service. It edifies the self and confuses the lost.
It doesn't bring God glory for people to think we're crazy. That's no way to spread gospel grace.
See, when we work together to build a name for ourselves, God is against us. When we work together to build up the name of Christ, God speaks to build us up so we can indeed glorify the name of Christ, and so the lost who come among us will hear God, repent, and worship Him.
If we want anything lasting built, it needs to be built for God's glory and worship, by God's power through God's Word to God's people. Gospel growth. Eternal growth.
Pursue and prioritize prophecy, because it builds up the saved and saves the lost.
We need a clear word from God that we can understand, so the saved can be built up and the lost can be saved.
When we receive a clear word from God, will be obey? Will we respond in faith?
[1] All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved. I paste them in red for distinction.
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