Day 30: 14:1-25 (Spiritual Gifts That Build Up the Church in Corporate Worship)

1. SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 
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,[a] 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.
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? 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[b] 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[c] 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.

2. OBSERVATIONS :
a.  What did this passage mean to its original audience? 
The mystery religions in Corinth treated ecstatic speech as a sign of a superior connection to the divine and this false pagan belief distorted their understanding of the Holy Spirit’s gift of praying in tongues, leading them to attribute special significance to this gift and making it the hallmark of spirituality. The deeper problem with the pagan worship in Corinth was that it prioritized the individual’s experience. In contrast, Paul writes that when Christians gather for worship the priority is on the “building up” (benefit) of the whole church.  Praying or singing in tongues is not as beneficial in the church service as prophesy is, because praying in tongues is not intelligible to others and therefore only beneficial to the person praying. On the other hand, prophecy is intelligible to everyone so all will benefit.  Praying out loud in tongues can be beneficial to the whole church if there is someone with the gift to interpret for the church.
The main point of this passage is that Christians gather for worship to honor Jesus, and they honor Jesus by seeking the edification/building up (spiritual benefit) of the whole church rather than seeking their own personal edification.

b. What does this passage reveal about God?

• Praying in tongues is a beneficial gift of The Holy Spirit which strengthens the individual spiritually. God has chosen in his divine providence to speak to his people and strengthen them spiritually through other people. (i.e. prophecy).  

c. What does this passage reveal about people?

• Without the Holy Spirit transforming our hearts and lives our tendency is to be self-centered, and selfishlessly motivated. If we are walking in the Holy Spirit we will be like Jesus, looking for ways to serve others rather than looking to be served.

 3. APPLICATION: What does this passage impact my affections, attitudes and actions?
This passage reminds me that when I gather for worship with my church family, I should ask the Lord to use me to build up others. As a Pastor, I must remember that the ministry of the church is “not about me” but about honoring Jesus and building others up in the faith.  I will not make use of my gifts to receive praise or attention for myself, but in a manner that benefits others. This means I won’t preach for an applause or a “pat on the back”. I will make it my ambition to teach and preach the truth in love so that everyone who hears will be built up in their faith. This passage also reminds me that I need to pray in tongues regularly because I need the strengthening that comes from the Holy Spirit as I do.

4. PRAYER:
Dear Lord, help me to remember the importance of praying in tongues, not just in my mind and in English. Help me to not be concerned about how what happens in the church service affects me personally but to be focused on being a blessing to others. Amen.

Pastor. Randy