‘ESPECIALLY THAT YOU MAY PROPHESY’ – 1 Corinthians 14:1-5
Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on September 29, 2019 under 2019 |
Bethany Bible Church Sunday Message; September 29, 2019 from 1 Corinthians 14:1-5
Theme: Pursuing love in the church family requires that we give due emphasis to the ‘gift of prophecy’.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
You see; the apostle Paul was writing to the Corinthian believers about the way that they had been misusing certain spiritual gifts—those unique endowments from the Lord Jesus that He gives to His people, so that they are enabled to serve one another in the church family. He mentions several of them in 1 Corinthians 12:28;
And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:28).
But the reason he was writing to them was because they were elevating some gifts over others in a way that was harmful to the church family as a whole. Just based on what he has to say in this section of his letter, it’s pretty evident that they were over-emphasizing the spiritual gift of ‘tongues’. And while we here today are far from a perfect church, I would say that this—by God’s grace—is not a problem that we currently have.
And as I was thinking and praying about how I should best draw out the relevance of this morning’s passage to our specific situation, something occurred to me. The reason we are not having the particular problem that Paul describes is because we are—for the most part—already practicing the solution that Paul gives.
The more I thought about that, the more I rejoiced in it. And it convinced me that the best way for us to apply this morning’s passage is by recognizing that we are, for the most part, doing what it says—and to commit to doing so even better.
Well; having said all that, I should probably now read that passage to you. You’ll find it in 1 Corinthians 14:1-5. Paul wrote;
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification (1 Corinthians 14:1-5).
* * * * * * * * * *
Now; to help us understand why it is that we are not suffering from the particular problem that Paul wrote about, we need to appreciate the solution that we are, for the most part, already embracing. Paul talks about this solution in verse 1. He writes, “Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts”.
This is a word of instruction that has its roots all the way back in 12:29-31. Do you remember how Paul listed off all those spiritual gifts? He went on to ask in verse 29-30, “Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” And the implied answer to all of these questions is, “Of course not.” God distributed these gifts within His church to whomever He wishes. You have your unique gift, I have my unique gift, and each one of us in the body of Christ has our particular gift for the good of all. I should not envy you for the gift God gave you; and you should not envy me for the gift God gave me. Instead, we should celebrate what each other has been given for the good of all.
And do you remember what Paul then went on to say in verse 31? “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” And do you remember what follows after that? It’s 1 Corinthians 13—’the love chapter’. Paul helps us to see that, in evaluating which gifts are “the best gifts” for the whole church family, we need to pursue genuine love for one another. Love is the essential ingredient in church life that makes all of the spiritual gifts work together as they should in God’s household. And so; after describing love, Paul then said, in the first verse of our passage this morning—in 14:1—“Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts.”
Do you notice in this instruction, in this first verse, that he gets very specific? He wrote that the Corinthians should “pursue love” and “desire spiritual gifts”. And of course, this would also include the gift of tongues. But then, he says; “but especially that you may prophesy.” So, when he had said at the end of Chapter 12 that they should “earnestly desire the best gifts”, he had this gift of “prophesy” particularly in mind for them as one of the gifts to be most emphasized in the church.
* * * * * * * * * *
Now; what is this ‘gift of prophecy’ that Paul is talking about? What does he mean that the church should be especially zealous that they may ‘prophesy’?
Right away, we might begin to think of the idea of ‘foretelling the future’. If we will think about it carefully, we will remember that there were some people in the New Testament who had this particular kind of gift. One of them was a man named Agubus. In Acts 11:27-28, in the early days when the church began to grow and spread out into other regions, we’re told;
And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar (Acts 11:27-28).
This was a word from God that helped these ancient Christians to prepare for the coming famine; and also to gather provisions together to send to the aid of their brothers and sisters in need. Later on in the book of Acts, this same man came and—in the power of the Holy Spirit—prophetically warned Paul that, when he went on up to Jerusalem, he would be arrested and bound. And, of course, he was. And so; when Paul speaks of the gift of prophecy in the church, I believe he is speaking of something that, on occasion, involves a special message from God about something the church needs to know about the future. That’s what we typically think of when we think of the word “prophesy”.
But I don’t believe that that’s what we should understand as the primary focus of this particular gift. I appreciated what one great Bible teacher has pointed out. When you go back to read the writings of the Old Testament prophets—those great Old Testament saints who spoke and wrote a Spirit-empowered message from God for God’s people—it’s really only occasionally that their prophetic message involved the foretelling of an event in the future. There are, of course, many such ‘foretelling’ prophecies about the future in the Bible that came from their ministries; and they are marvelous to read about and embrace. But for the most part, the great prophets of the Old Testament spoke or wrote a direct message to the people of God for their present time—a message in which God’s people were called to obedience and repentance for their situation right then and there! They spoke a word from God for the times—not necessarily about something in the future, but about something that needed to happen then. And I believe that that’s mainly what Paul is talking about when he urged for the church to desire—especially—that they may have the gift of prophesy.
This gift of prophecy is, essentially, a matter of speaking-forth a clearly understandable message from God to the people of God in the power and authority of God’s Holy Spirit. It’s a matter of setting God’s revealed word before His people with force and power—and in such a way as to tell them what God wants them to do; and to call them to obedience and change. It’s something different from the gift of ‘teaching’. In teaching, the truths of God are explained and made plain. But in the prophetic ministry, there’s a call to respond to that truth with repentance and reform, and to rise up and take obedient action. It doesn’t get just to the mind alone, but reaches all the way down into the heart; so that when the gift of prophecy has been put to use in the household of God, the people of God know—without a doubt—that they have heard from God authoritatively.
In other words, to ‘prophesy’—in the fullest sense—is to proclaim God’s revealed word.
And dear brothers and sisters in Christ; when I say that the problem that Paul is writing about to the Corinthians is not a problem that we—here in this church family—are specifically dealing with today, I believe it’s because we as a church family are already, in sincere love for one another, embracing the solution to the problem. There’s always room for growth, of course. But for the most part, we are—with an attitude of love for one another—placing due emphasis on the prophetic gift. We value the preaching of God’s word, and we speak God’s word faithfully to one another. Hearing a clearly-proclaimed word from God is something that we already put high on the list!
* * * * * * * * * *
When I was thinking about this, I remembered what Paul told his young colleague Timothy. Timothy was pastoring a church in which there was the threat of people abandoning revealed truth from God. And so, Paul stressed to Timothy the value of the word of God and said;
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
And then—in one of the strongest admonitions you’ll find in the New Testament—Paul went on to tell him;
I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching (4:1-2).
In other words, he urged Timothy—in the strongest terms—to faithfully exercise his prophetic ministry within the church.
As I was thinking about this the other day, it has really made me love this church family. I believe it greatly values the word of God. May God forbid that it should ever happen; but if I—as the pastor—were ever to start preaching anything else but the word of God from the Bible, I believe that this church family would say something about it, and I’d hear right away from the church leaders about it! This church loves and cherishes having a word from God; because it knows that no other word has authority than God’s word. And may that always be true of us! That’s what a truly loving church is like: It’s a place where its members embrace the word of God, and preaches it, and teaches it, and speaks it to one another. And faithfully doing so—faithfully esteeming the prophetic ministry—will always keep all the other gifts in proper relationship to one another.
There are many churches that, sadly, have gone very far off the tracks on the spiritual gifts. And I believe that if you trace backward to the cause, you’ll find that it failed to be zealous for the ministry of the gift of prophecy—the preaching of the word. But if we will commit ourselves faithfully do as this first verse commands us—that is, if we are faithful to pursue love, and desire all the spiritual gifts, and especially that we may prophesy—then, dear brothers and sisters, we can’t go wrong.
May we always place, on the top place of the list, the gift of ‘speaking a clear word from God to the people of God in God’s own power and authority’!
* * * * * * * * * *
Now; in saying even this, we still must be careful not to go off the tracks. When Paul called the church to ‘especially’ desire the gift of prophecy, he was not saying that the other gifts were not important. And this would most certainly include the gift of tongues.
As we go on to read what Paul will say in 1 Corinthians 14, we will find that he does not set aside the gift of tongues at all. He does not undervalue it or in any way reject it. And neither should we. In fact, rather than set it aside, Paul goes on in Chapter 14 to explain how it is to be properly used. The gift of tongues is a gift from God; and when used in accord with God’s purpose and design for it, it is a blessing from Him to His people. The problem back then was not that the Corinthians were using the gift of tongues. And that’s not really the problem today either. Rather, it was that they were using it in such a way as to take the place in the church that other gifts should occupy—and particularly, the place that the gift of prophecy should occupy. And as a result, they were failing to build one another up in the faith.
So then; as the solution, Paul wrote to them to pursue love, and desire the spiritual gifts—and especially that they may prophesy. And the reason is because prophecy is a gift that edifies the whole church in a way that tongues was not designed to do.
Notice how Paul goes on to show this. In verse 2, he wrote; “For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.” The genuine gift of tongues—as Paul speaks of it in this section of 1 Corinthians—is the miraculous ability to worship, or to sing, or to pray to God in a language that the speaker does not know. It is not meant to be for the edification of the whole church family—unless, as Paul says in several places, it is explained to the church family by someone who has the gift of interpretation. Then, it can be a clear message that everyone can understand and evaluate and benefit from. When Paul says that someone speaking an utterance in tongues “does not speak to men but to God”, he is emphasizing the fact that it is a thing that is not ordinarily meant for the whole congregation, but rather is an expression of one’s personal fellowship with God. The person speaking in tongues speaks to God—not to other people. And in fact, it is not designed to be spoken to other people; because, as Paul says, such a person “in the spirit” speaks “mysteries”. The mysteries are, of course, only mysterious to other people. God Himself knows what is being said. But this alone, by the very nature of the case, cannot edify the whole church in the way that the gift of prophecy does; because it is not meant to be understood by the whole church. It is meant to be the utterances of the heart toward God.
This, however, is not the case with prophecy. The ministry of speaking forth a clear word from God to the people of God in the power and authority of God is obviously designed by God for the edification of the whole church. Paul goes on to say in verse 3, “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” Taking up a clear word from God, and faithfully ‘speaking-forth’ that word with full understanding, is a thing that is meant to be for the edification of all.
Look at the things that Paul says a clear word of God faithfully ‘forth-spoken’ does! First, it ‘edifies’ others—that is, it builds them up in the faith and in their relationship to the Lord Jesus. It also ‘exhorts’ others. The word that Paul uses here is from the same word that is used to describe the Holy Spirit—the Paraclete—the One called along-side as an advocate and a helper and a counselor. The gift of prophecy—rightly exercised to declare the word of God—exhorts God’s people to action in obedience to God. And finally, it ‘comforts’ others. It pours the clear, sweet, healing balm of God’s word upon needy souls; and assures them, and comforts them, and gives them needed strength.
The gift of tongues is a good and blessed thing. It is a gift from God. Praise God for it! But it is not meant to do within the gathering together of the church what the gift of prophecy can do. ‘Tongues’ speaks to God, but ‘prophecy’ speaks to the people of God.
And look at what else Paul goes on to say. In the first half of verse 4, Paul wrote, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself …” And Paul is not saying that this is, in any way, wrong. It is a good thing to edify one’s self in Christ. As it says in the twentieth verse of Jude, “building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” Paul is not speaking against building ourselves up. Rather, he is simply stating the main purpose of the gift of tongues is for the edification of those individuals in the church family to whom it has been given. It is meant to enable them, by the help of the Holy Spirit, to express to God what is in their heart. It is meant for the blessedness of the speaker before God. But Paul contrasts this with the gift of prophecy when he goes on to say, “but he who prophesies edifies the church.”
And it’s the edification of the whole church that Paul has in view. If you were to look at what he goes on to say in Chapter 14, you’ll see that this was his concern in dealing with this problem. In verse 6, he writes; “But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching?” Unless it is a clear, understandable revelation, or a word of knowledge, or a prophetic utterance, it cannot benefit the church body. Or in verse 12, he wrote; “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” That’s to be the priority—to edify the whole congregation. When we gather together as a church family, that’s what we need to be most concerned about. We’re not to ask, “What blesses me?” Instead, we’re to ask, “What best works toward the edification of the whole church family?”
It is not the nature or purpose of the gift of tongues to edify the whole church family—unless, of course, the message is an authoritative message from God that is then interpreted and made plain to all. But it absolutely is the nature and purpose of the gift of prophecy to edify the whole church family; because it is the gift of speaking-forth a clear word from God to the people of God in the power and authority of God.
That shows us the difference between the two things; doesn’t it? “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” And so; if we will pursue genuine love toward each other, and if we will sincerely desire the spiritual gifts—from out of the motive of edifying the whole church family in love—then we will thank God for tongues; but we will desire ‘especially that we may prophesy’. This is because ‘tongues’ edifies one’s self, but ‘prophecy’ edifies the whole church.
* * * * * * * * * *
Now; I hope that, in all of this, I have made it very clear that I respect my brothers and sisters who speak in tongues. It’s sad that it is a thing that has caused so much division in so many churches. But it doesn’t have to. The divisions and the tensions are not really about the gift; because it’s from God. Rather, I believe that the divisions have come as a result of misplaced priorities. If the emphasis is where it should be—that is, upon loving edification of the whole church—then gift of tongues will be respected as a gift from God, and the gift of prophecy will be pursued most of all, and all things will be in their proper relationship to one another.
Look at how Paul puts the matter in verse 5;
I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification (1 Corinthians 14:1-5).
I believe Paul truly meant that. He wished that all spoke with tongues. He even tells us in verse 18 that he himself spoke with tongues. I don’t believe this is meant to say that everyone should speak in tongues; but simply that he wished that all did. Yet, he went on to say in verse 19 that, in the church, he’d rather speak five words with his understanding than ten-thousand words in tongues. When it came to the gathering of the church family together, he put the gift of prophecy in the top place.
And it seems to me, dear brothers and sisters, that—for the most part–that’s what we do here in our church family. That, I believe, is why we do not struggle with the problem that Paul wrote to the Corinthians in order to solve. But let’s make sure that we keep it that way. Let’s keep on pursuing genuine love toward each other—the love that Jesus Himself showed to us. And let’s desire spiritual gifts—all of them; including the gift of tongues—for the good of the whole church family. But especially that we may prophesy—and speak forth a clear word of God to the people of God in the power of God.
If we do this, we’ll keep on growing as a healthy church to the glory of our Savior.
EA
Add A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.