Author: missionspaul

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance.” (1 Corinthians 15 v 1-3)

1. The GOSPEL doesn’t change over time and we need reminding of that even if our culture and world changes, the GOSPEL remains.
2. The GOSPEL isn’t something we create for ourselves to fit into our own lifestyles and behaviours but it is what we receive.
3. The GOSPEL requires a decision to hold firmly to it and to take a stand for it so as not to drift from what was originally given.
4. The GOSPEL has saved you but calls for an ongoing commitment to it.
5. The GOSPEL is so important it needs to be given to others. We are responsible to give what has been given to us.

“What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. ²⁸ If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.²⁹ Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. ³⁰ And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. ³¹ For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. ³² The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. ³³ For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people. Womenshould remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. ³⁵ If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. ³⁶ Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. ³⁸ But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored. ³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. ” (1 Corinthians 14 v 26-39)

Paul’s Church service:

1. It involved more than just the leader, v26.
2. It was for the building up of those in the Church, v26.
3. Understanding was more important than just the use of the spiritual gift, v27-28.
4. Not every person should be heard, v28-30.
5. You are there to listen and learn, v29.
6. Peace is more important than self-promotion, no one is ever out of control if the Spirit is there, v31-33.
7. Marriages should not display division, (wives should not interrupt/correct their husbands when he is using a spiritual gift), v34-35.
8. No one is the best, the most, the greatest … v36-38.
9. The Scriptures (the law, v34); the gospel (v36); and the apostle’s teaching of the Lord’s commands (v37); (are all equalling our Bible for us) are more important and should never be replaced by prophecy or any other spiritual gift.
10. The Church should be united in that spiritual gifts (such as prophecy and tongues) should not be stopped but all the gifts should be used in an intelligent, understandable and orderly way.

Paul’s view of the church service 2,000 years ago and still relevant for us today.

“Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. ²¹ In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” ²² Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” (1 Corinthians 14 v 20-25)

Paul is addressing the abuse of the gift of tongues within the Corinthians church.

He refers to the prophet Isaiah who spoke 700 years previously saying that God will judge Israel’s sin by using foreigners with foreign languages they could not understand to rule over them. “Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people, ¹² to whom he said, “This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”— but they would not listen.” (Isaiah 28 v 11-12)

So Paul is bringing balance to tongues and prophecy. Tongues is a sign that is connected to judgment and prophecy is a sign of encouragement and revealing the presence of God and both are speaking to unbelievers. Tongues pushes people away from God because it creates that distance of confusion because the unbeliever cannot understand. Prophecy on the other hand draws people in because they hear in their own language what God is thinking of them. Paul is speaking about tongues that are not interpreted of course. It raises a question on whether in a public service we should be encouraging a time of corporate tongue-speaking. The tongue speakers may feel great but the non-tongue speakers and especially the unbelievers may think we are crazy!

Paul is helping us to understand that:-

1. The spiritual gifts are not only for strengthening the church but to speak to the unbeliever that God is here.
2. Maturity is to think less of yourself and more of others.
3. Public worship services are not meant for Christians who all have the same gifts but for the revealing and the understanding of God being present there and then to encounter everyone.

“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭

The Apostle Paul spoke in tongues.

He didn’t dismiss its use nor devalue the gift.

He spoke in tongues a lot. 

He was pleased and thankful that he did. 

This was done away from church, in a private setting, not in the public arena. 

How about you? 

Do you have the gift?

Do you speak in tongues much?

Are you thankful that you can?

In your private prayer time do you use the gift?

Yet Paul held to the 5 v 10,000 principle when in church. 

5 words in your every day native language are better than 10,000 words of tongues. Simply because good communication isn’t measured by the quantity of words (tell the long-winded preacher!) but if the words have been used to influence those who are hearing you. 

So we are back to the very purpose of our lives, which should be LOVE. 

LOVE means what goes on in private isn’t as important as what goes on in public. 

LOVE means other people’s benefit is better than yours.

LOVE means 5 is better than 10,000.

“For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an enquirer, say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? You are giving thanks well enough, but no-one else is edified.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭13-17‬ ‭

• Our spirit can pray and worship as well as our mind. Therefore the impact of prayer and worship can be experienced in our spirit. 
• Your spirit can cause fruit to bear in your mind. Therefore intelligence in your spirit needs to be understood so that not only your spirit grows but your mind also.
• Desire to do both. It’s not one or the other. Let the whole of you give thanks to God.
• Have in mind those who are ‘enquiring’ about the faith. When your spirit is involved make sure you make clear what is being said and sung.
• Make sure the church is edified. 

I have been in many church services all over the world and not understood anything that has been said, neither the songs, the exhortations to worship nor the prayers and shouts of praise to God. I’ve stood there trying to engage, having my own time of worship but not aware of anything that is happening around me. 

“Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. “Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭6-‭12‬ 

I use my encounters of world church services as an illustration to what Paul is meaning. It’s not meant to be a criticism and I quite enjoy listening to foreign languages trying to spot the odd Hallelujah and Amen! 

Paul is not against tongue speaking, he speaks in tongues more than all of them (v18). But having spoken so freely about love he is against the self-indulgent use of the spoken gifts that are not understood by those in that service. His thoughts are for the unbelievers and for the whole church. Everyone must understand what is going on otherwise what is the point of them being there?

A worshipper can be having a great time; they can be enjoying themselves; the church can be pleased that the service displayed spiritual gifts but if there was no explanation, no understanding by all of the people gathered, then what’s the point? There isn’t one.

The church service needs to edify all and needs to call everyone to battle. 

Love means no one is left out. That’s the point!

 

“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no-one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you 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 edified.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭14‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭

In the context of the pathway being love and with the desire to receive spiritual gifts, Paul’s encouragement is to desire prophecy. And this is why. 

Prophecy is the speaking to people through supernatural revelation. Whereas the Prophet may well be used outside the Church, prophecy is for within the church (but can also speak to the unbeliever who is present) and comforts and edifies the whole Church. With this in mind we should be desiring this gift and excel in it for who doesn’t want to build up the church?

There are many conferences and church programmes helping us all on how to prophesy. I am certainly not going to teach anything here in this short devotion on how to prophesy. But very simply this is what I do, it is simply this: a) asking God to speak to you about the person/church; b) At the same time remind yourself of all that God has done and is doing for them; c) As your mind focuses on those things and may even speak them out let your heart connect and feel God’s heart of love for them; d) stay in that place of God’s love for them and silently again ask God what He wants to say; e) be confident that God will speak and it may start with a word or subject matter, a picture in your mind or something the person is wearing will cause an understanding not seen before

It is possible that prophecy was being held with contempt, hence the command of Paul. It is still true today. We are called to test prophesies and not despise them. Again this might help some but there are great books and resources for this. This is my measurement in no particular order: a) the opening line is not ‘This is the Lord speaking …’ but rather something like, ‘I believe the Lord is saying this’ b) is it in alignment with the Bible? c) does it build up? d) is it bringing me nearer to God? e) does it set me free or tie me up?

Satan wants us to despise the supernatural gifts of the Spirit. He wants to remove them from the Church and our lives and in some places he has managed to do so. It is true that some abuse the gifts today. There are still the doom-sayers today within the church and deception is never far from us. If he can remove faith and replace it with fear then he has won. This is the command Paul is speaking about. Let us not kill off prophecy. Whenever we meet together as Christians there is an opportunity for God to speak through the Written Word and the Spoken Word of prophecy.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13

So the previous verses would suggest only love remains but actually faith and hope also are unceasing. 

They’re like a powerful trinity in our discipleship.

FAITH is the foundation of our life. Faith in God and what Christ has done for us through His Spirit. Faith in His promises. Faith in His presence. Faith in His purposes for our life. 

HOPE sustains us through the many difficulties we experience in life. This isn’t wishful thinking but a definite knowledge that God holds us and will bring us through. Hope holds us in the storm. Hope says there’s still more to the story. Hope gives us strength to keep going. 

But why is LOVE greater? Eternity.

In eternity we won’t need faith because we will see; we won’t need hope because everything will be fulfilled; but God is love and love will be there for Him, from Him and for mutuality with others. 

And so ends a beautiful chapter and a dramatic pause as Paul addresses the abuse in the Corinthian church over several things and one including spiritual gifts. He goes back to it now hoping they have understood the importance 

It never dies. It never ceases. It lasts forever. It is eternal. This is the beauty and power of love. Whereas the spiritual gifts will not last forever. 

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ 

Love is more important than spiritual gifts. Love takes precedence over spiritual gifts. 

What good are spiritual gifts without love? 

Yet if you have love and no spiritual gifts then that lies with the sovereignty of the Spirit but love is still working. 

The gifts will end.

Prophecy will cease.

Tongues will be stilled.

Knowledge will pass away.

Paul could go on but he’s made his point.

All the gifts that this church are either abusing or ignoring will come to an end. What will we be left with when we stand before God? Our badge of being able to speak in tongues and able to prophecy? Or will it be that we loved whilst here on earth? Will the church be commended for its giftedness or its love? 

But there’s more.

Paul says the gifts are partial and incomplete. 

Completeness is coming and when it does the gifts will fall away. 

To those who say completeness is the death of the last apostle or the finalisation of the canon of the Bible then these verses challenge those thoughts. 

“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”

‭‭v12‬.

Completeness hasn’t come yet for we are all still waiting for Christ to return. 

Only then (or when we die before He comes) will we see Him face to face. 

When that day comes we won’t need spiritual gifts to know God or what He is saying for we will fully know and will be fully known. 

What will be left? What will we stand before Him with? 

The answer is we will stand before LOVE with love. 

Love never ends. 

“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” 1 Corinthians‬ ‭13‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV

Love keeps going! 

It’s not sympathy we need at times,
not even a listening ear … We need someone to say don’t give up!
What are you facing?
“Hold on! I love you! Don’t back away now!”

People never just give up. They gave up behind the smiles and laughter a long time ago. No matter how resilient you are if you do not know you are loved then you will fade. 

I’m not thinking we need to say ‘pull your socks up’ or to ‘keep smiling’ under duress. But rather have a conquering patience with anything that life can throw at us knowing that God who is love does love you!

It is always too soon to give up when there is love.

Sunday 22nd January 2017 I stood with a married couple with 2 small children for a photograph. This was their farewell from the church as they were being sent as church planters to an area where there was absolutely no Christian witness. It was for me a most poignant moment for I knew the struggle that they would face. I was in the region of the world where the Church is continually persecuted. Christians carried injuries to their bodies because they were Christ followers. I was told of how their houses got burnt down, their children set upon and their entire family despised as worthless. I asked the question, “What happens when it all gets too much?” The answer that came shocked me. “We stay.”

You may enter your day struggling to get through it. You face internal pressures from external circumstances that are causing you to wonder if you will ever be free. Physical problems, loneliness, financial instability, loss of work and broken relationships are making you feel like you are swimming against the tide. Let the persecuted Christians help you today. They have found something that is priceless. If we do what they do then we will be saved in our circumstance. They have discovered perseverance that has come through knowing ‘God so loved the world’; they know they are loved and they love people. The power of love causes them to remain, to hold on, for love perseveres.