D) That was the focus of Chapter 13 that leads us right
into chapter 14 where Paul says 14:1 Pursue love, & desire spiritual gifts,
but especially that you may prophesy
Pursue
love (SEE lovelessness was the root of
their problems )
A) Pursue = Dioko = ( to follow , hunt, chase after w/ intensity )
Pursue love Go after it- w/ intensity – make it priority
1) Some today have this
reversed order - pursue gifts & desire love !
C) Delight your self in the Lord …………
desires of the heart ! Delight leads
to love ! He is Love ! Jn15 – Abiding – Delighting
1) I am to pursue love because
the goal is Edification /
C) Lord I love you so much want
to bless you/ you can use me to bless others
1) Emphasis isn’t on what I want but what He wants
!!!!!
A) Unfortunately these are often times the very things that are lacking in many settings – NO ORDER – results in No UNDERSTANDING
1)
People
walk away scratching their heads – what was that ?????
A) Prophecy we have noted already in a previous study is speaking forth
the word of God ! / Primarily in N.T. Forth Telling / vs. fore or Predictive
1)
in v. 3 Paul declares that he who prophesies speaks edification and
exhortation and comfort to men.
A) That is the Purpose of Prophesy- edification / exhortation (stir up ) &
comfort !
The gift of tongues & the Interpretation of tongues are two gifts
we have yet to discuss - ( A TONGUE in this context
would be unknown language.)
A) Speaking in tongues is
speaking in a language, through the ability of the Holy Spirit, that you did
not NATURALLY acquire.
a) It is the ability to
WORSHIP God and PRAY in a language that you have not naturally learned.
B) The gift of the Interpretation of tongues is a
supernatural ability by the
H.S. to
be able to give an interpretation of a tongue that was spoken
1)
Thus
the interpreter is interpreting a Language that He or she doesn’t know
& has possibly never even heard before.
D) The Person speaking in
tongues is speaking to God – not to man /
1)
Which
means that when an interpretation of the gift of tongues is going to be given
it is going to be directed to God / not men
Learn a good
lesson on this in Acts 2 what took place on the day of Pentecost
A) Remember people have gathered to Jerusalem from all over the region for Pentecost
B) 2:1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come,
they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven,
as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were
sitting.
3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues,
as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.- KEY
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews,
devout men, from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the
multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak
in his own language.
7 Then they were all amazed and marveled,
saying to one another, "Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
8
"And how is it that we
hear, each in our own language in which we were born?
He gives a list of each background & language
represented there & then says in v. 11 we hear them speaking in our own tongues
the wonderful works of God."
A) So here we
see that the tongues being uttered were directed to God in the form of
PRAISE speaking forth the wonderful
works of God."
A) Now I believe that this is
the nature of tongues – praise & worship oriented – in the spirit –
proclaiming the goodness of God
A) NOTE Tongues is the only gift that personally edifies the Believer – rest are to build up the Body .
B) Paul continues
V. 5 I wish you all spoke with
tongues,( great for you ) but even more that you prophesied;( great for the church
) for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues,
unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
B) Now when there is someone in the meeting whom the H.S. equips to interpret /
1)
then the whole body is edified as we are reminded
at how awesome the Lord is !
Now by contrasting these two gifts we see how important it is to the Lord that His people are understanding what is going on .
A) And Because His goal &
Desire for us when we come together is that we are edified & build up – Put
a Priority on Prophecy
1) So that People can hear & understand & be built up
B) V.6-25 Paul gives some
illustrations of the importance of understanding in edification V.6-12 read
Here Paul uses
3 simple illustrations To make his
point. That there needs to be understanding
if there is to be edifying spiritual ministry taking place
A) Musical instruments /
trumpet calls to battle / & daily conversation !
B)
If the Musical instrument does not give a clear distinct sound nobody
will recognize the music being played (
what is that )
1) Trumpet in battle - not
clear charge or retreat !
A) And there are many Languages in world / but if I can not
understand who cares it is no use to me !
( Interpreters in Yugo / Hungary )
D) Paul in using these 3 illustrations Is basically
stating that Tongues are great but
if there
is no one who can interpret it is like being in a foreign country !
1)
Very frustrating
A) As if to say – Let your growth in ministry & Desire for the gifts be not for you – but for the building up of the Body !!!!!
13 Therefore = For this reason / the
importance of understanding,v13-22
Now Since Understanding is a key for the profit of all / if speak in tongues / pray that you can
interpret / or better yet just Prophesy !
A) Now verse 22 is interesting – almost think – Paul is contradicting Himself
here / by saying tongues is a sign to unbeliever – prophesy to the Believer
B) This is where context is so
important – Tongues is a sign to the unbeliever How? 2 ways
C) 1st Day of Pentecost –unbelievers heard & marveled how speak in our
language. ?
1) Courson at Bible school !
2nd With interpretation / How
know my Lang. ?
A) Context – tongues is mentioned w/ interpretation the 2 going hand in hand through out this whole section !!!!
Now Prophesy is a sign to the Believer because He is declaring God’s
Heart – Purpose is to Build up
B) But that doesn’t mean that the unbeliever can not be touched & pricked in his heart
C)
H.S.
doesn’t seek to build up the
unbeliever / or encourage the unbeliever or comfort the….
1)
Convict
/ - But Satan seeks to build up comfort / encourage the
unbeliever to stay in His sin!
Now in v. 23 -
40 Paul begins to focus on the 2nd key principle for edification
that of order ! V. 23-25
A) All speaking in tongues crazy !
Unbeliever
comes in Circus !
B) Convicted & judged by
Prophecy heart is pricked - why ? Remember prophesy is speaking forth the
word of God –
1) Word is Living & powerful / sharper……….
B) Faith comes by hearing & hearing by the word!
v. 26-28
Specific guidelines
A)
Come
together each person using their gifts – 1ST Remember the goal
EDIFICATION / how many times said
this ( get the Point)
B) 2nd Tongues – order – v.27 2 or at the most 3 and each in turn / not a free for all
C) 3rd
– v. 28 No interpreter – keep silent in the Church
1)
This would indicate that the person w/ the gift has control – not an
uncontrollable urge – couldn’t help it
the H.S. took control of my tongue
D) How Know if there is an interpreter – FAITH – NOT
– NO MORE
v. 29-33 Guidelines w/ Prophesy –
Same let 2 or
3 prophets speak – words be given
A) Judge or Prove = test – How -
By using the word
B)
Does
it match up - i.e. build up encourage & comfort – or does
it tear down !!!!
C)
v.32
Prophets have control – Spirit of is subject to ….
D) V.33 Key verse 33
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace,
as in all the churches of the saints.
1)
ALL THE CHURCHES / Not -
MORE CHARASMATIC
V.34 34 Let your women keep silent
in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be
submissive, as the law also says.
Now, you recall that we pointed out when we were in the 11th Chapter, that Paul there speaks of a woman praying or prophesying w/ her head unveiled.
A)
So
when Paul is declaring here that a woman is not to speak but is to keep silent,
he is not referring to women not praying in church
1)
or
not prophesying in church, because he already has made allowances for that back
in the 11th Chapter.
A)
Then
what does he mean that "your women.." -- notice "YOUR women keep
silence in the church." V.35 gives insight 35 And if they want to learn
something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for
women to speak in church.
B)
The
early church followed the pattern of the Jewish synagogue. Men sat on one side,
the women sat on the other side.
C)
They
did that because they felt that they might be distracted by women, so they kept
them on one side separately -- the men on the other so they would not be
distracted by them.
D)
Now
we don’t do that – we sit together / and
if you Wife has a question – whispers or note
E) But in that culture because their husband was on the other side,
"HONEY,
WHAT'S HE TALKING ABOUT?"
And so Paul said, let the woman keep silent
-- your women keep silence – ie your wife, let her keep silent.
A)
If
she wants to learn anything, if she has a problem, a question, let her ask you
when you get it home.
1)
It's
a shame the way the women are calling out in church.
Remember This is still in
the Context of those guidelines & in the idea of God not being the author
of confusion – all things done ….and in order
V.36 36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?
A) Now this is clearly satire here – He is recognizing that there was a tendency among some in Corinth to think they had unique Rev.
B)
So
Paul says rather sarcastically – Did the
word of God originate w/ you or are you the only ones who received it
37
If anyone thinks himself to
be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to
you are the commandments of the Lord.
A)
In
other words the truly spiritual people are those who always recognize the
authority of the scriptures
B)
Important
to note especially in our day & age where people claim all kinds of special
Rev. that contradicts scripture
1)
Paul
is merely reestablishing that God’s word is our Authority
A)
Word
is Superior to peoples emotions / experiences / and Extra Biblical Revelation
B)
Truth
– H.S. never operates or functions in a way Contrary to the written word
3RD
THING HE SAYS TO THEM IN V.38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
A)
Literally
If any one be ignorant – Let him be
ignored
B)
In
other words don’t pay attention to him / don’t get caught up in needless
conversations or lengthy debates w/ some one who doesn’t want to pay attention
to the Word !
39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to
prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in
order.
All things done / Decency & in Order
Giving place in big Church