ALL THINGS FOR EDIFICATION – 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on November 10, 2019 under 2019 |
Bethany Bible Church Sunday Message; November 10, 2019 from 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
Theme: When it comes to using spiritual gifts in church, we’re to do all things in an orderly way for the edification of all.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
Click HERE for the audio version of this sermon.
As we have put the pieces together from these chapters, we have seen that the people had been emphasizing certain spiritual gifts above the others. And it was resulting in a chaotic experience when the church gathered together.
You can really see this from what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:26. He wrote;
How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation (v. 26a).
It certainly wasn’t that any of these things were wrong. In fact—when properly used—they were very good. But the freedom that they had in their worship had been allowed to get out of order. It wasn’t that some particular person had a song to sing; but rather that everyone had their own song to sing—and they were singing it all at once! It wasn’t that someone had a teaching to offer; but rather that everyone had a teaching to offer—and they were offering it all at once! Several people would speak in tongues at one time; and others would be all speaking out the revelations they had at once; and several people were declaring their interpretations of this or that; and everyone was very concerned that their particular song or teaching or utterance or prophecy or interpretation got the attention they felt it deserved. It was all turning into a disordered and chaotic meeting.
Just how much of a problem this had become is suggested to us in the words that Paul offered in 1 Corinthians 14:23. He wrote;
Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? (v. 23).
I don’t ever want to be unkind, dear brothers and sisters; but we’ve all seen church services that look like that, haven’t we? And I’m afraid that there are a lot of unbelieving people out there in the world whose only impression of the Christian faith is what they might see on television of a church service that looks like that—loud and chaotic; everyone speaking in tongues and prophesying and singing at once—and they think to themselves, “Nothing doing! I don’t want to have anything to do with something like that!” And you can’t really blame them.
Now; as we have seen in our study together, Paul is not—in any way—speaking against the spiritual gift of tongues or against the gift of speaking forth a unique message from God. In fact, he has been very careful to teach that these are genuine gifts that should be honored and recognized as from the Lord. Paul does not write to prohibit their use; but rather, to regulate their use—so that they truly build up and edify the church family, and truly testify of our Lord before the watching world.
And so; that brings us to our passage this morning. In it, the apostle Paul brings a very practical conclusion to his treatment of this subject. After having given the theology of the gifts in Chapter 12; and after having taught them that love is to be the guiding motive in using them in Chapter 13; and after having explained to them that the ministry of speaking-forth God’s word was to be put first at the beginning of Chapter 14; and after showing how edification of everyone is to be the practical goal … and then after showing that the right gift was to be used at the right time … he closes the whole matter by giving us a ‘what to do’ list’ for life in the church family. He doesn’t ‘prescribe’ a bunch of rules; but rather, describes to us some basic practices that guide how the gifts are to be used.
And the great goal behind Paul’s instruction is ‘edification for all’. How can these things be used in such a way as to lovingly build everyone up when we all come together in our time of worship? In 1 Corinthians 14:26-40, he writes;
How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. 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. 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. Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 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. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order (vv. 26-40).
Now; I’m very aware there are a few things in this passage that—on the surface—would seem controversial and offensive to modern attitudes. But let’s remember that—as Paul even makes clear in this passage—this is God’s unchanging word to us. It is not to be set aside as out-of-date or offensive; but rather to be carefully understood, and listened to, and believed, and obeyed for the good of the whole church. And if we look at things carefully in turn—and keep a reverential heart as we do so—I’m confident that the seeming-controversies will cease to be controversial to us.
And let’s always keep the main point always before us. When it comes to using spiritual gifts in church, we’re to carefully—reverently—seek to do all things in an orderly way for the edification of all. If we keep that basic point front and center—if we fight against the sinful inclination in us to pursue our own personal interests, but seek devotedly instead to seek the good of one another—then we will never see our ‘freedom’ in the gathering of the church become chaotic and disorderly.
The watching world will see how we behave together, and how we lovingly serve one another with our gifts in an orderly and dignified way; and it will be impressed that our Lord truly is among us.
* * * * * * * * * *
Now; let’s begin with what Paul gives us as …
1. THE PRACTICAL MOTIVE FOR THE GIFTS.
We’ve already mentioned it. You’ll find it in verse 26. Paul writes; “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.”
To “edify” means to ‘build up’. I don’t know if you knew this; but the Greek word that is used for ‘edification’ also happens to be related to the Greek word that is used for ‘a house’ or ‘a building’. It’s a bit like how the word ‘edify’ is related to the word ‘edifice’. And Paul simply means that when we use the spiritual gifts, we should be using them—not in order to ‘build’ ourselves up—but rather to ‘build’ one another up and to strengthen one another in the faith.
That ought always to be our focus. Our Lord Jesus taught us that our focus together is to love one another. His ‘new commandment’ to us as His followers is …
“that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
When it comes to life together in the church, the apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 2;
… if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others (Philippians 2:1-4).
That is an attitude that is to characterize everything we do together. When we come together for worship, we shouldn’t make it our main priority to ask, “What can I get out of church today?” Instead, the first thing we ask is, “How can I serve my brothers and sisters in church today?” Obviously, we should come to church hoping to be blessed. But our main focus shouldn’t be, “How can I get built up?” Instead, it should be, “Lord; show me today how I can build up others.”
What a difference that would make in how we use our spiritual gifts if we faithfully did that!
* * * * * * * * * *
Now; that’s the main practical motive that Paul is seeking to get us to embrace—that we need to seek how to edify one another. And now; notice how he goes on to give us …
2. THE PURSUIT OF THIS MOTIVE IN CHURCH LIFE.
Paul gets very practical and very specific. First, he speaks of how we’re to pursue ‘edification for all’ when using the gift of tongues. He writes, “If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three …” (v. 27). Did you know that, in the gathering of God’s people, God’s word teaches us that there should not be a whole lot of people speaking in tongues all at once? In fact, there should not be a lot of people speaking in tongues in the service at all. At the most, there are to only be two or three—and that’s it.
Notice also that he says that these two or three are to speak “each in turn …” In other words, they are not to be speaking over one another. These two or three who speak are only to speak one at a time. Furthermore, Paul writes, “and let one interpret …” In other words, if there are only two or three who speak in tongues in the worship service, and each one speaking in turn, then only one person is to offer the interpretation for the two or three. Each speaker is not to have their own individual interpreter. Carefully following that rule, by the way, would help to show that it truly was a message from God.
And note further what Paul says in verse 28. “But if there is no interpreter,” that is, if there is not a single interpreter provided by God to give the interpretation for the two or three who speak in tongues in turn, then “let him [that is, the speaker in tongues] keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.” It’s not that their experience of speaking in tongues isn’t legitimate. It’s not necessarily that it is not a manifestation of the Holy Spirit working in them. It’s just that, in that particular situation, it is not something that is meant for the edification of the whole assembly of the church. It is, instead, meant for a time privately before God.
What a difference it would make if we all—in all the churches of Jesus—faithfully did what God’s word tells us to do in this passage. How much of an orderly and honorable thing before the Lord it would be.
* * * * * * * * * *
Now; I’d like to take a moment to focus on that phrase “let him keep silent”. It’s something that shows up three times in this passage. The single word that is here translated “keep silent” is an interesting one. It doesn’t necessarily mean that a person is to be restricted from having anything to say at any time, or that it is not permitted for them to talk. What it is really seeking to convey is the idea that the speaker has something that they could say, but that they refrain from doing so on that particular occasion, and choose instead to ‘keep it hidden’ or ‘keep it secret’ at that time. It isn’t so much a matter of ‘not allowing someone to speak’ as it is a matter of their using personal restraint in saying something—because right then is not the time to say it.
There’s a fascinating use of this word in Romans 16:25-26. Paul was writing about his own ministry of preaching the gospel; and he wrote;
Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest … (Romans 16:25-26).
The word Paul used in Romans 16—that is, “kept secret”—is the same word that he’s using in 1 Corinthians 14. The mystery of the gospel was ‘kept secret’ for a time—because it was not the appropriate time for it to be revealed. When the appropriate time came, then it was made manifest. You’ll also find this word in Acts 12. Do you remember the time when an angel came and released Peter from prison and led him out through the gate and into the street? When that happened, he went immediately to where his brothers and sisters were gathered together to pray for him. When they saw him, they were astonished and overjoyed; but he had to motion to them with his hands to “keep silent”—again, the same word. So; this word is indicating there may be something that someone has on their heart to say—and it may even be a very legitimate and true thing from God; but that right then is not the time to say it. They are, instead, to keep it to themselves; to refrain from speaking; to keep it hidden; to keep it secret; to “keep silent” until such a time or situation as is appropriate for the edification of all.
Paul uses this same word again as he talks about practicing edification when using the gift of prophecy. Prophecy, as we have noted before, is basically the act of speaking-forth a word from God to the people of God in the power and authority of God. It may be in the form of a special revelation that God gives someone in the church for the need and benefit of all; or it may be in the form of preaching God’s written word or speaking it forth to God’s people in some way. In verse 29, in much the same way as he wrote regarding tongues, Paul says, “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.” In other words, there shouldn’t be any more than two people—or at the most three—who feel the burden from God to speak forth a special revelation from Him or to make a declaration from God’s written word in the assembly of God’s people. And we can be sure that—just as with tongues—they are not to try to do so over one another, but are to do so only one at a time. Everyone else is to listen, and assess whether or not the message is a biblical one.
And then Paul goes on to add this in verse 30; “But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.” And there’s that word again—the one translated “keep silent”. It’s not that what the first person had to say was not from God. It may very well be. But if God raises up another person with another word, then that first person is to refrain from speaking and—as it were—hold on to it and keep it to themselves until a more appropriate time. Right then is not the right time or the right situation. Paul goes on to explain in verse 31, “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.”
If ‘edification of all’ is the practical motivation for the use of the spiritual gifts in the church, then one person will never try to dominate over another—or speak over another—in giving forth a word from God. The Holy Spirit will give a message to the church in such a way that all can speak “one by one”; and in such a way that everyone can learn, and can be encouraged; and so that all can be edified.
What a difference it would make if all our Lord’s churches would keep to this principle!
* * * * * * * * * *
Now; someone might say, “But when I have a message from God—the Spirit just comes over me and I can’t help it! I just have to shout!” But that leads Paul to give us another application of the principle. The use of the spiritual gifts to edify the whole church will always be done through personal control. In verse 32, he says, “And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” What he means by this is that the divine manifestation of God, working through the spiritual gift, is not outside the gifted person’s control. The expression of that gift is subject to the will and the rule of the person who has it.
This is important; because as Paul goes on to say in verse 33, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” Dear brothers and sisters; whenever we see a display of a bunch of people in a church who are given over to the expression of a spiritual gift and are out of control in a chaotic and disorderly and dishonorable manner, we can know for certain that it is not because of a work of God. Our God does not sponsor chaos and confusion. When He works in the church family, it’s through peace, and in an orderly and decent way.
* * * * * * * * * *
Paul says that this is “as in all the churches of the saints”. Some Bible translations place that phrase in connection with the idea of exercising personal control in the use of our gifts. But some translations place that phrase in connection with the next thing that Paul says. He goes on to say that the motivation of ‘edification for all’ is to be pursued in conformity to biblical headship roles. He would then be saying in verse 34 that, as is true in all the churches of the saints, “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; this is a very controversial matter in our day. But I think it helps to remember that the phrase “keep silent” is—again—from that same word that we’ve already considered. This should not be understood as men suppressing women and prohibiting them from speaking. Rather, it should be seen in the context of use of the speaking gifts in the church assembly—speaking in tongues or prophecy—and as an appeal to the sisters in the Lord to ‘keep hidden’ or ‘keep in secret’ that thing that they may have on their hearts to speak forth in tongues or as a prophecy; because the public assembly is not the appropriate time.
Paul says that this is “as the law says”; and most likely, he is pointing back to the Genesis story. God had established a headship order in his creation. Adam was created first, then Eve. As God was given as the divine Head of the man, the husband was given as the headship-covering for His wife. The conduct in the church needs to reverently reflect this. The godly men of the church family—duly appointed to spiritual leadership—are to take the lead in the teaching and prophetic ministries of the church. And so, Paul goes on to say in verse 35, “And if they want to learn something” (and I take it to be if they want to ask questions about what is said in a prophetic utterance or an interpretation of a message in tongues), “let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.”
Now; I am taking these instructions to be given in the specific context of the whole exercise of tongues or prophecies in the assembly of the church. In other words, Paul is saying that when speaking in tongues, or uttering forth a word from God, legitimately occur in the assembly of the church—resulting in an authoritative word of instruction to the church family—it will be through the men in the church family and not through women. I don’t believe we have warrant to take it any further than that. Even so, Paul’s words will still not sit well with a lot of the attitudes of contemporary culture. His instructions would not have been controversial forty or fifty years ago; but they are greatly controversial to some today. But let’s reverently remember, dear brothers and sisters, that this is the unchanging word of God. We may not completely understand why God has given this instruction to us through Paul; but we dare not oppose it or seek to act contrary to it. To do so would be to act contrary to God’s word and in a disorderly way in Christ’s church; and would no longer acting out of the motivation of truly edifying one another.
* * * * * * * * * *
And this leads us to one more practical matter. We should seek the idea of ‘edifying one another’ by obedience to God’s revealed word. In verse 36, Paul asks—somewhat rhetorically—“Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?” It may be that the Corinthian church struggled with these things—and in doing so, they were not acting in a way that was in accord with the practice “in all the churches of the saints”. And so, Paul was, as it were, asking, “What? Do you think that you’re the authoritative source of the word of God? Or do you think that it came to you alone—and to no one else?”
The apostles were given to us from our Lord Jesus to bear the official witness of Him and to establish the principles of conduct for the church. I praise God that there is great freedom and liberty given to us in how we may do things. But I also praise Him that He has also given us some rules in the New Testament writings of the apostles for order and propriety in His household. Those rules are authoritative because they are given to us in God’s holy word; and they apply to the use of the spiritual gifts in the church assembly. In verses 37-38, Paul wrote; “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. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.”
We can admit to those times when we may not completely understand why God has given us the instructions He has. But we can still know—without a doubt—that they are given for our good. That’s a matter of humble obedience. But may it never be that we reject and disobey the things from God’s word just because we don’t understand them—and thus end-up being ‘ignorant still’.
* * * * * * * * * *
So; Paul began by stressing to us that the key practical motivation in our use of the spiritual gifts is that we seek to lovingly edify the whole church family. And now, in the last two verses, we find …
3. THE PRACTICAL MOTIVE REAFFIRMED.
Paul writes in verse 39, “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.” We are to make sure that we place a higher priority on the gift of speaking forth God’s word to God’s people in God’s power and authority. We’re to make sure that the Scriptures are the rule of our faith and practice—and that it is even the measure by which we measure unique prophetic utterances in the church. And then, at the same time, we are to make sure we do not prohibit the proper, biblical use of the gift of tongues.
And to sum it all up, as Paul says in verse 40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” If we faithfully follow the few rules that God has given us to regulate our freedom in the church assembly, all things will be done decently and in order—and to the glory of our Lord!
Click HERE for the audio version of this sermon.
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