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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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DIFFICULTIES IN CHURCH WORSHIP (CH 11-14): THE USE AND ABUSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS (CH. 12-14) 1Co 14:23-33 (2/15/12) Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. THE PURPOSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS WAS
EDIFICATION (1Co 14:1-12) II. THE PERSEPCTIVE ON TONGUES THAT IS MATURE
(13-20) III. THE PURPOSE(S) FOR TONGUES (21-26) A. Biblical Purposes for Tongues (21-22) 1. Tongues were a Sign of Judgment to
Unbelieving Israel 2. Tongues were a Sign for Salvation to the
Gentiles 3. Tongues were a Sign to Affirm Apostolic
Authority B. Unbiblical Purposes for Tongues (21-22) 1. Tongues were Not a Sign for Evangelism 2. Tongues were Not a Sign for Personal
Edification (Devotional) 3. Tongues were Not a Sign for Evidence of
Spirit Baptism xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx C. Tongues will Appear to be Madness (23) 1. When any gift is used other than for its
intended purpose there is going to be confusion of some sort. It was
certainly true of tongues. 2. In the day when tongues were still in
existence, just having given a main purpose for tongues (A sign of Judgment
to the Jews, vs. 21-22), Paul stated that when the church assembled together,
tongues did not bring edification to the service. 3. Especially if “unbelievers” (those who
did not have the Spirit) and the “ungifted” (those without the gift of
tongues or interpretation) witnessed such gifts, it would only bring
“madness” (mainomai, rage or mania). Once again, no would understand what
was being said and no one would be edified. D. Prophecy will Convict in Truth and Worship
(24-25) 1. However, prophesy (forth-telling) would
proclaim God’s truth and men’s hearts would be convicted (elegchō - expose and reprove). 2. Such a conviction would reveal the heart
and they would worship (proskune,ō - reverence or kiss one’s hand in honor) before God. God moves when truth is
proclaimed. E. Let all be Done for Edification (26) 1. That is why Paul restated his familiar
theme of edification (oikodomê -
spiritually build up the body of Christ; 1Co 14:3, 4, 5, 12, 17, 26, 29). Here edification is an
imperative 2. Edification takes place when teaching and
revelation of God’s truth occurs. 3. Edification is the purpose of believers,
the church, worship, preaching, and gifts. IV. THE PRINCIPLES FOR THE USE OF TONGUES AND
PROPHECY A. Principles for Tongues (27-28) 1. Must have only Two or Three Tongues
Speakers (27) a) To Paul, the teaching of the Word,
worship, and edification was a serious matter. It was to be done for the
whole congregation, in an orderly manner, and according to principles that
gave the greatest opportunity for edification. Therefore Paul gave the
Corinthians instructions for the proper use of tongues and prophecy. b) Paul gave a practical example no doubt
from an abuse the Corinthians were committing. If there were any who were
going to speak in tongues, then it was to be only two or at the most (polus,
many or most) three who were permitted to do so. c) They must speak in turn not
simultaneously as most do today. Someone must have the gift of interpretation
for them to speak. (1) Orderliness, understandability, and
courtesy all demand such a procedure. Several persons speaking in the same
language at the same time would be confusing enough, but doing so in
different languages would be bedlam. MAC in loc. (2) One of the strongest indictments of the modern
charismatic movement is the common practice of many persons speaking,
praying, and singing at the same time, with no one paying attention to what
others are doing or saying. It is everyone for himself,
just as it was in the Corinth, and is in clear violation of Paul’s command
that each speak in turn. MAC
in loc. 2. Must not Use Tongues if No Interpreter
(28) a) If there was no interpreter, then there
must be no tongues-speaking. We have already discussed the fact that just
because one would speak in tongues does not necessitate that he would also be
able to interpret (cp. 1Co 12:30). b) No such guarantee exists in the Scriptures
concerning tongues and interpretation. If that were true then such an
admonition would be pointless. c) They must remain silent and speak to God
and themselves, though Paul has already showed the small value of such
expression of tongues (1Co 14:13-15). B. Principles for Prophecy (29-33) 1. Must have only Two or Three Prophets
Speak (29) a) Paul applies the same principles to
prophets. Here he probably has in mind the idea of forth-telling. He will
mention “revelations” in vs. 30 which appears to be fore-telling. b) During the normal church service, only two
or three prophets were permitted to speak and teach. c) The other prophets were to discern (diakri,nō - evaluate or distinguish) the biblical content of their preaching. 2. Must Defer to the Revelation of Another
(30) a) Perhaps because the Corinthian church was
filled with self-serving and self-promoting speakers, Paul admonishes them to
defer to others with a revelation. b) This revelation may have been a vision or
a dream prior to the service or may have been revealed during the service.
The speaker was to cut his speech short or just defer altogether to the one
with a revelation and keep silent. 3. Must Allow One by One to Prophesy (31) a) Paul’s admonition speaks to the problem of
some dominating the entire service due to vainglory and grandstanding. b) Truth and biblical content was at the
heart of such admonitions. Worship was not just a time to get together and
trade experiences. They were to be able to “learn” (manthanō - to learn, Eng root of mathêtê,s - disciple) and be “exhorted” (parakale,ō - one called alongside to encourage or
exhort, in regard to preaching). 4. Must Subject Prophecy to Other Prophets
(32) a) Even though they were permitted to
prophesy in church, whether forth-telling or fore-telling, their message and
their manner were under the scrutiny of the other prophets. b) If something was said that was unbiblical
or contrary to God’s truth, such error was under the discipline of the other
prophets. Everyone’s teaching was to be “subject” (hupotassō - arrange underneath) to them in order to protect biblical
accuracy and truth. c) This also would include these principles
given by Paul (cp. 1Co 14:37-38). Today this principle has all been
abandoned. 5. God is not the Author of Confusion (33) a) The overwhelming principle was that God
was not the author of doctrinal confusion (akatastasi,a
- instability, disorder, disruption). b) False teaching, false prophecy, and pseudo
gifts promote severe instability because stability comes from being grounded
on God’s truth. Contradictory doctrine or new doctrine is not where the move
of God is found. c) The peace that Paul speaks of is not just
a mere feeling of peacefulness, it is peace in one’s
mind and spirit where teaching agrees with God’s truth and Word. d) Furthermore, no church had a license to
work outside of these bounds because these were principles for doctrinal
integrity for “all the churches of the saints” and for all generations (Jude
1:3). There are to be no new revelations and prophecies for today. |
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