1 Corinthians 14

Sunday, 8 February 2015

And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. 1 Corinthians 14:25

Paul, noting the difference between people speaking unknown languages and people preaching the word of God (prophesying) shows the contrast in this verse. If everyone is speaking in a foreign tongue, a visitor to the church will think they are mad. However, if everyone speaks coherent words which proclaim Scripture, “the secrets of his heart are revealed.”

The Bible has the power to convict because it reveals the fallen state of man. Among other reasons, God has given us this word to show our fallen state and how the breach between us can be repaired. As the author of Hebrews notes –

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

As the Bible is properly explained, those who hear it will be edified concerning whatever subject matter is being treated. In response to this, there will be a reaction to the words by the hearer of them. In the case of the uninformed, He may be convicted of his need for Christ. Thus, “falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.”

This “falling down on his face” is the way that someone in the Middle East would show deep emotion and humility. It is found numerous times in Scripture and would be comparable to a westerner breaking down in tears and covering his face with his hands. There is nothing in this verse which would support being “slain in the Spirit” as Charismatic churches do. The intent is a humble response and a deep-felt conviction at hearing the word of God, not an ostentatious display at hearing a bunch of nonsense issue from the lips of men who would turn a church meeting into a carnival display.

The intent of church is to teach people about God. A church can only teach people about God if they proclaim Christ, who reveals God the Father. And a church can only teach people about Christ if they do so from His word, which is our source for knowing Him. It is from hearing the word properly preached that faith arises, and from properly directed faith will come salvation. When a person comes to this point in the congregation, he will rightly utter “God is truly among you.”

“Truth from his lips prevailed with double sway,
And fools, who came to scoff, remained to pray.” Goldsmith

Life application: It may not be sensational by today’s standards to hear the Bible properly preached, but in the context of eternity for the human soul, it is the most sensational message possible. Be sure to find a church where the Bible is held in high regard and properly explained.

God, You are not fickle. If You are perfect in Your very being, then when You speak to Your creatures, Your word will be perfectly coherent and it will reflect who You are perfectly. Despite there being many religions on earth, only one can logically be correct. Surely it is my duty to sort through them and determine which it is. I know and am convinced that the Bible alone is Your word and that salvation is found in none other than the Messiah -Yeshua. I receive Your word and I bow to Jesus. I have found peace with You through His shed blood! Hallelujah and Amen.

Saturday, 7 February 2015

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 1 Corinthians 14:24

Paul has spent 22 verses arguing the point that he made in 1 Corinthians 14:1 –

“Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.”

As soon as he said that, he began to explain why “tongues” are a lesser gift. He has clearly demonstrated that they are often more of a hindrance than a help when spoken in the congregation. It is rather astonishing to think that with all of his time dedicated to this instruction, his words have been so utterly dismissed by many churches.

As he desires that believers prophesy rather than speak tongues, he now provides the reason for it. He notes that “if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.” This is the reason for sharing the gospel! This is the reason for being a mature and informed Christian! And thus, this is the reason for learning Scripture and then explaining it to others in an articulate manner!

When a member of the body properly speaks the truth of God’s word, it is an argument intended for conviction. Where there is conviction, there is a change in heart. And where there is a change in heart, there is conversion. In conversion, there is belief. In belief, there is the sealing of the Holy Spirit. This is the work we are called to do – to preach, convince, and then make disciples. As Paul says in Romans 10:17 –

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

When speaking in tongues that are unknown to the hearer, the hearer is not edified. But when a person speaks the words of Scripture, faith becomes possible. And through faith comes salvation.

Life application: Learn the Bible and share what you learn. It can have heavenly rewards.

Lord, I am so grateful to be a part of Your beautiful plan. You have given Your people a Great Commission and I am honored to participate in it. Help me to always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks for a reason why I have this great hope in me. Help me to give it in a loving, intelligent, and effective way so that they too can participate in this greatest story of all – the Gospel of Jesus. Amen.

Thursday, 5 February 2015

Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 1 Corinthians 14:22

“Therefore” comes as a result of everything Paul has said to this point concerning tongues. His final note thus far, which is included in this, but to which “therefore” is not limited, was a quote from Isaiah concerning the speaking of a foreign language to the Jewish people who had refused to hear and pay heed to the word of Lord in the language that they knew. Such a tongue (a known, but foreign language) is “for a sign.”

As Paul says elsewhere –

“For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom.” 1 Corinthians 1:22

The Jews needed a sign and they were given that sign. It came at Pentecost and it was spoken in all the languages of those present at the time. This display was for the benefit “not to those who believe but to unbelievers.” Only God could cause the words of a group of men who didn’t speak the language of the hearers present to have their voices speak in a tongue they understood. It was a validation of the religion which the disciples already professed that was based on the Person and work of Jesus; the gospel that He proclaimed and which they continued to proclaim.

Therefore, churches (and there are many of them) that claim that tongues are an “initial evidence of Holy Spirit Baptism” have fundamentally misunderstood both the purpose of tongues and the sealing of the Holy Spirit. If a person is already a believer, they are sealed with the Spirit and saved. As tongues are a sign not to believers, but to unbelievers, it is obvious that the false tongues they speak are simply an ostentatious display bordering on that which is ludicrous.

Understanding the purpose of tongues, Paul next contrasts that to prophesying. He notes that as tongues are a sign to unbelievers, “prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.” To prophesy is to take the word of God and explain it and declare it in a coherent, reasonable manner. If someone doesn’t believe that the Bible is the word of God, then all the explanation of Scripture in the world will have no effect on the person.

Only after they have accepted that it is what it claims to be does it make any sense to proclaim it to that person. But once a person comes to believe in Christ, then they have a basis for hearing the word explained to them. They will have the desire to know Him, to learn what He commands, and to be obedient to those commands.

A sign then is a validation for something which is as yet unknown; in this case “belief.” Prophesying is an edification of something which is known. If tongues are a sign in hopes of belief, then why would they be spoken in a church which is intended as a place of edification? It makes no sense. Paul will explain this in the next two verses.

Life application: The gathering together of the saints is for the edification of those saints. If unbelievers come in among them, they need to see order, not disorder. They need to see people being edified, not stupefied. Let us consider this as we gather.

I am so abundantly grateful to You Lord. Though I have had many trials in my life, for the most part they have been self-inflicted wounds. But when I stay close to Your word, I find that my life is just where it should be and that things are just as they need to be. The reason for the trials that do come is much clearer and nothing is really out of control. This is why I’m so grateful to You. Your word is a light to my path and a lamp to my feet. It makes the dark turn to light and the trials are merely stepping stones leading me to Your door. Thank You Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, 4 February 2015

In the law it is written:
“With men of other tongues and other lips
I will speak to this people;
And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,”
says the Lord. 1 Corinthians 14:21

Paul now turns to Scripture itself to support his words concerning the use of tongues. He says here, “In the law it is written:” Generally, the books of the law are considered the five books of Moses, from Genesis to Deuteronomy. But in a broader sense, even though Isaiah is a part of the writings known as “the Prophets” he notes that it is a part of “the law.” The reason for this is that the entire time, from the giving of the law until the establishment of the New Covenant in Christ’s blood, is considered the time of the law. Thus Isaiah’s writings are considered as “the law” in this wider sense.

His quote is from Isaiah 28. However, his citation is not an exact quote, but rather the imparting of the general sense of the words. Isaiah says –

“For with stammering lips and another tongue
He will speak to this people,
¹² To whom He said, ‘This is the rest with which
You may cause the weary to rest,’
And, ‘This is the refreshing’;
Yet they would not hear.” Isaiah 28:11, 12

Both Isaiah and Paul clearly indicate real languages spoken by real people. Further, Isaiah is specifically speaking of the coming of the Assyrians. These people were not of the covenant line and would not be speaking the tongue as a gift of the Spirit, but rather as their normal language. In other words, Paul is once again referring to a known language which is not understood by its hearers. He is not referring to an ecstatic tongue or some type of “prayer language.” Further, the Bible never speaks of, or even hints at, such concepts.

A couple of other examples of what Paul is referring to can be found in Deuteronomy and Jeremiah as follows:

“The Lord will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand…” Deuteronomy 28:49

“‘Behold, I will bring a nation against you from afar,
O house of Israel,’ says the Lord.
‘It is a mighty nation,
It is an ancient nation,
A nation whose language you do not know,
Nor can you understand what they say.'” Jeremiah 5:15

Paul’s quoting of Isaiah, as well as the other OT references, show us that because the people wouldn’t listen to the loving words of the Lord, which they understood, He would speak to them in harsh words by people whom they didn’t understand. Paul will explain the purpose of this in the next verse.

Life application: The words of Scripture are given to the world for our edification and instruction. We have them translated into our language for this purpose and we are to apply them to our lives, not ignore them. Let us therefore cherish these precious words and let them guide our steps at all times.

Lord, You have taken portions of  human history and condensed them into a book which is intended to show us our miserable state in relation to You and what You have done to correct that. You have ensured that this word was carefully maintained and faithfully translated into languages all around the world. It stands as a wonderful letter of love and hope… and yet we ignore it. How can it be that we are so unwilling to acknowledge and receive such a gift. Forgive us! Turn our hearts towards You! Help us to pursue Your word and apply it to our lives. Amen.