REVIEW
Last week we learned that Love is useful in this life and the next. Faith and Hope, the result of the gifts of the Spirit, are only usedful in this life. Thus, Love is greater.
1 Corinthians 13:8 NKJV
8 Love never fails (Ceases). But whether there are prophecies (spiritual gift - communication), they will fail (cease); whether there are tongues (spiritual gift - communication), they will cease; whether there is knowledge (spiritual gift - communication), it will vanish away.
COMMUNICATION GIFTS
Paul chooses 3 Gifts of Verbal Communication: Prophecy, Tongues, and Word of Knowledge.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
FAITH & HOPE
Faith and Hope come through hearing Prophecy, Tongues, and Words of Knowledge.
THE POINT OF PROPHECY
1 Corinthians 14:1-3 NKJV
(Earnestly) Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts (communicators), but especially that you may prophesy (as opposed to tongues).
Conclusion – Always practice love. And no doubt, desire spiritual communicators. Just make sure people understand what you’re saying. —BBT
QUESTION
Why would Paul encourage Prophecy above the other communication gifts?
ANSWER
Because the Corinthians were misusing Tongues.
The tone is set for Chapter 14. It’s entirely focused on clarifying how Jesus is communicated.
2 For (regarding what I just said about needing people to understand you) he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him (which is a problem when the Church is supposed to be revealing Jesus); however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.
WHAT IS THE MYSTERY?
The tongues (languages) being uttered are the sound of the Mysteries of God. What are the Mysteries? Paul told us.
CONTENT OF PROPHECY
3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.
CONTENT OF PROPHECY
EDIFICATION (Greek = Oikodomé)
• A building, serving as a Home.
• Prophecy reminds the Church that we are now God’s Building/Temple/Home.
EXHORTATION (Greek = Paraklésis)
• Cognate with Paráklētos (“legal advocate”). Paraklésis has legal overtones.
• A personal exhortation that delivers the “evidence that stands up in God’s court.”
• Prophecy is a personally delivered account of all that God has fulfilled in His verdict of “innocence” over you.
COMFORT (Greek = Paramuthia)
• “Close speech.” Speaking closely to someone. Hence it denotes comfort with a great degree of tenderness.
• Prophecy is a close and tender reminder of God’s love for you, demonstrated by Jesus’ great sacrifice.
PROPHECY is the clear proclamation of who Jesus is and what He did.
PROPHECY IS GREATER
TONGUES IN THE BIBLE
There are only 4 places in the New Testament that talk about speaking in Tongues.
• Acts 2, 10, 19, and 1 Corinthians 12-14.
1 Corinthians 14 is the only text that gives instruction for tongues.
PYTHIA, THE ORACLE OF DELPHI
Ancient Corinth was a very religious city. It was influenced by centuries of Greek Gods and the traditions of worship. It’s important to note that the Greek God, Apollo (god of Prophecy), was worshiped in the city of Delphi, just 40 miles from Corinth.
Since the 8th Century BC, an Oracle, called the Pythia, would give predictions to Generals, Kings and Noblemen. Wars would be waged by her cryptic prophecies.
Also noteworthy is that this Oracle would often give her predictions in unknown languages, to be interpreted by the priests standing by.
There is little doubt that this method of communicating from God had influenced the Corinthian Christians.
Paul is bringing structure and order to a church that was mimicking pagan practices to communicate the true God.
1 Corinthians 14:4-5 NKJV
4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
• Prophecy is preferred.
5 I wish you all spoke with tongues (considering how important it seemed to be to the Corinthians), but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophecies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.
Tongues + Interpretation = Prophecy
1 Corinthians 14:6 NKJV
6 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?
If I come to you speaking in Portuguese, what good is my message if you only speak English? What I communicate must have meaning! —BBT
ILLUSTRATION – Gospel in Portuguese
Someone can stand here and preach the Gospel in Portuguese for an hour. If you don’t speak Portuguese, that is a wasted hour.
WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD
WHAT’S BEING SAID IN TONGUES?
Acts 2:1-11 NKJV
When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?
GALILEANS
An underhanded insult referring to rude, unpolished, and unlearned men. Men who had never been brought up in any school of learning and had never learned any language but their mother tongue.
8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabs –
Acts 2:11b ESV
we hear them speaking in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
MIGHTY WORKS
Mary with Elizabeth.
Luke 1:49, 52-55 NKJV
49 For He who is mighty has done great things (Greek = mighty works) for me,
And holy is His name.
52 He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
And exalted the lowly.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He has sent away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and to his seed forever.”
“The Mighty Works of God” = The Gospel. The fulfillment of God’s impossible promise to bring righteousness to the world through the Christ.
CONCLUSION
Prophecy, the clear communication of who Jesus is and what He’s done, is the result of speaking in tongues with an interpretation. The point of 1 Corinthians 14 is not for more people to speak in tongues. Rather, it’s to make sure, beyond any other intention, that Jesus is well communicated to the Church. May the Church excel at declaring the mighty works of God to the world!