Intended Consequences (part 2)

II.      God intends for the church to operate in the gifts with edification.

22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers. 23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!" 1 Cor 14:22-25 (NIV)

–        Tongues are a sign for the unbeliever.  Prophecy is for the believer.  Now this wounds like a contradiction to what Paul was saying to the church.  How can something that benefits one person be a sign to someone else?

–        Tongues should alert the unbeliever to the presence of God.  Prophecy should remind the believer that God still speaks.  When God speaks, His Words should edify.  Tongues edify the individual will prophecy edifies the body ad a whole – and even unbelievers can benefit from hearing what God is saying to the believers.

–        Here is the problem....when everyone comes together to worship and everyone is speaking in tongues, the unbeliever or someone who doesn't understand may see the sign as a sign of confusion instead of a work of God.  In fact, Paul says the unbeliever will come to think the church is out of its mind. But....

–        If the unbeliever or the one who doesn't understand hears prophecy (words spoken in their language) he or she may become convinced of their sin and seek the forgiveness of God. True prophecy can reveal the deepest secrets in the hearts will be revealed.  Such a person will then fall down and worship God and acknowledge God's presence in the church.

–        If our words are not edifying the crowd, then our words are falling on deaf ears.  This is why the fullness of the Spirit is found in the use of all the gifts of the Spirit not in just a select few.  We make a mockery of the work God is trying to accomplish when we are not edifying the believers.

–        Paul spoke a lot about two gifts in the passage form chapter 14 but not to neglect the other gifts but to show how only investing in one miraculous gift falls short of the full work of the Spirit.

III.    God intends for the church to operate in the gifts orderly.

39 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. 1 Cor 14:39-40 (NIV)

–        The use of tongues was not to be prohibited.  On the contrary, the gift of tongues has a prominent place in the work of the church when it is accompanied by interpretation.  Nor are tongues to be forbidden during worship and prayer – one must, however, not try to be heard over everyone else unless you are going to provide interpretation.

–        The use of tongues in worship should be done orderly as well as the use of prophecy.  Paul relegates the use to no more than two or three people (not always the same people).  This allows for the other aspects of congregational worship to take place – singing, preaching, collection of tithes, ministry to the sick, planning for ministry, prayer and on and on.

–        If the church comes together and all it experiences is tongues and interpretation or only prophecy, then the people may leave feeling good about themselves but they may also feel incomplete.

–        There is a time and place for the work of the Spirit in the church but it needs order.  Without order, chaos assumes and the church of “holy-rollers” is seen as just that and not as a viable work of God's kingdom. 

Conclusion:

Perfection has yet to come on earth.  Prophecy has not ended.  Tongues have not ended.  Wisdom has not ended.  Therefore, God intends for the church to continue operating in the gifts of the Spirit.  All of it is moderated by love which is eternal.

Properly using the gifts of the Spirit is motivated by love.  If we are to be eager to use the gifts, it must be because we are eager to show love to others.  If we are to edify others with the use of the gifts, it must be because love motivates us to share the gifts.  If we are to be orderly in the use of the gifts, it should be because God's love empowers us to boldly share the gifts of the Spirit with the world.

What holds us back then?