1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.
1 Pursue love: This word is often translated persecute - persecute love - to chase down (follow - NIV). Paul, of all people, understood this kind of pursuit.
1 Earnestly desire the spiritual gifts / especially prophecy: Because they help you love others well.
My life.
A word about the gifts at Calvary Monterey.
Where I see them.
The obstacle.
The pragmatic conclusion, for now.
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.
2 Speaks not to men but to God:
The gift of tongues is the gift of a prayer language to God.
…that God can understand.
…that man cannot understand.
Adam hid from God and their fellowship was broken (Gen 3:8).
Fellowship has been restored through the blood of the cross.
Still, there are times our words are not enough.
The gift of tongues is not a voice to man.
Man-to-God, not man-to-man or God-to-man.
Interpretation will be from man to God.
Acts 2:11 - wonderful works of God.
3 The one who prophesies: His words are understood by the listener - no confusion.
Upbuilding: To build up, edify - Builder.
Encouragement: To spur on - Coach.
Consolation: To shore up - Doctor.
These words aren’t necessarily predictive, but they are timely.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear (Pv 25:11-12).
Pleasant words are like a honey comb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones (Pv 16:24).
Beautiful and necessary gift!
Paul wanted it for us especially (14:1).
These words can also be predictive in nature.
Test them (14:29).
Don’t despise them (1 Th 5:20).
4 Builds up himself / the church: Different times - personal devos vs. public gatherings.
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.
5 Unless someone interprets: The speaker or another in the room. I’ve done this twice with others, often personally.
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? [laws within music] 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? [breakfast or battle, retreat or retire] 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 [like someone shouting at the ocean]. 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 [no meaning]. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
7 Notes / 8 Bugle / 9 Air / 10 Many languages:
Distinct, clear, meaningful, and understandable words in church.
12 Strive to excel in building up the church:
The Corinthians longed to excel for their own personal edification.
The church ought to excel for the public edification.
Jabez: Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain! (1 Ch 4:10)
Love is the key.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? [Paul’s decision on when to speak in tongues. It works for me.] 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 [both are beautiful and needed]. 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 [in tongues], but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you [Paul was a prayer machine]. 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.
19 Nevertheless, in church: Love causes you to understand where you are - private or public.
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.”
21 In the Law: Isaiah 28:11-12 - the Assyrians - God had promised this in times of rebellion.-
Paul gives them an example of another time tongues benefitted no one.
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.
22 Sign: Clear verse - verses 23-25 seem to muddy it.
Tongues: both a sign to nonbelievers (22) and a stumbling block to nonbelievers (23).
Prophecy: not for unbelievers (22), but for unbelievers (24).
Seems our goal is the convicted, convinced man (24-25).
Seems our goal is not for them to say we are out of our minds (23).
Three scenarios:
1 Proper use of tongues (22) — a sign for unbelievers (as in Acts 2).
Result: nudged toward God.
2 Improper use of tongues (23) - all speak in tongues.
Result: They think you are out of your minds.
3 Dynamic and gifted church (24) - everyone prophesies.
Result: He is convicted by all.
Order (26-35)
26 What then, brothers? When you come together [Large / small? Public / private? House / synagogue?] each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation [not a compliment, or a fact, but not a template]. Let all things be done for building up.
ORDER FOUL 1: They didn’t fit it with each other.
26 Each one: They took the if-you-got-it-flaunt-it approach to spiritual gifts. They all wanted to do everything in the body.
27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.
ORDER FOUL 2: They misused the gift of tongues.
29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33a For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
ORDER FOUL 3: They misused the gift of prophecy.
29-30 Prophets: Guide for prophesy during the gathering.
Two / Three: Limit.
Other judge: Using the Word of God.
No prophesy or revelation should ever be considered as highly as the Word of God.
First keep silent: One at a time.
31 Learn and be encouraged: Two pillars of purpose for the church - the gifts aren’t the purpose.
32 Subject to the prophets: Self control - or not a prophet.
33b As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
34-35 The women: Their women.
The Corinthians had an issue.
Some of their women we out of order (submissive).
Some of their women were the distinct leaders in their families (at home).
Some of their women were argumentative during services (speak in church).
The Bible goes to great lengths to incorporate women into ministry.
1 Corinthians: pray and prophesy (11:4).
Can women prophesy? - 1 Cor 14:1
Can women pray publicly? - 1 Cor 11:4
Can women teach? - Tit 2:3-4
Can women serve? - Rom 16:1 (Phoebe, servant of the church)
Can women share testimony publicly? Lead worship? Be in leadership? Yes.
A woman cannot be the teacher/pastor (1 Tim 2:12-14).
The first time Adam and Eve’s order was reversed things got ugly real quick.
Ex. Pastors Nate and Christina Holdridge.
35 Their husbands: Paul’s way of defusing an argumentative spirit. That’s my strategy when cornered by a mama-bear.
36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.
39 Desire earnestly:
Ask for them (Lk 11:13 - Holy Spirt to those who ask Him!).
Recent Christian Survey: About one-fifth (21 percent) of respondents who said they have heard of spiritual gifts claimed to have gifts such as a sense of humor, singing, health, life, happiness, patience, a job, a house, compromise, premonition, creativity, and clairvoyance.