16 DAYS TO PENTECOST

16 DAYS TO PENTECOST – THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT 3

TEXTS:  1 CORINTHIANS 14:1-11

¹Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

² For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

³ But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

⁴ He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

⁵ I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

⁶ Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

⁷ And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

⁸ For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

⁹ So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

¹⁰ There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

¹¹ Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

¹² Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

KEY TEXT: 1 Corinthians 14:8 ^“For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”

REFLECTION:  In the city of Corinth idol worshippers were noted for working themselves up into a sensual frenzy that would sometimes end in ecstatic speech.  Paul is very anxious to distance the Christians from their pagan neighbors.

² For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Those that speak in a language that no one knows, are obviously not understood by those around them. God, who knows all things, would alone understand the language.  For anyone else listening it would be a mystery.

³ But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Notice the Apostle Paul’s definition of “to prophesy.”  He does not mention “predicting future events” in his definition.

⁴ He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

He makes it clear that if one is speaking in a language or tongue that no one around understands they would edify-- build up or encourage--themselves, but if they same person was speaking in a tongue or language that others understood they would edify—build up or encourage—the entire church.

⁵ I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

The Apostle is certainly willing that every Christian in the Corinthian Church would be gifted with the ability to speak in tongues, but he specifically says that he would “rather that they prophesied.” The Apostle says that the person who prophesies is greater than the person that speaks in tongues that are not understood. 

⁶ Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

⁷ And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

⁸ For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

⁹ So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

¹⁰ There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

¹¹ Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

The Apostle encourages the Christians at Corinth to speak in a language that is “easy to be understood,” otherwise they would just be “speaking into the air.”   

It is interesting that the Apostle accents the importance of “distinction,” (v.7), “certainty,” (v.8) “understanding,” (v.9), and “significance,” (v.10).  The Spirit of Holiness—the Holy Spirit—brings all four to the heart and life of God’s people.

The spirit of the age opposes all four—he blurs distinction (morality), he questions certainty (“hath God said?”), he obscures understanding (“the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them who believe not.” 2 Cor. 4:4) and he diminishes “significance” (eroding and finally destroying what is of true and lasting value).

PRAYER: Our Father in Heaven, We are profoundly grateful today for the mighty Work of God, and the might God who is at work in us.  We pray that thy Spirit, who is the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Comfort, the Spirit of Assurance, the Spirit of Holiness, and the Spirit who graces and gifts God’s people to accomplish God’s will, would have complete control in our hearts and lives today.  May we resist the “spirit of the age,” and embrace the “Spirit of Holiness,” today and everyday. In Jesus name we pray, Amen. “Our Father, &c”