Summer Series on 1st Corinthians: Week 16, “The Gift in Perspective”

Several years back, Pastor Jeff, the previous lead pastor here, spoke on the gift of tongues. After the service two people approached me and asked me if I agreed with him. The two people were on the opposite side of the issue, and my response was the same to each: I agree and disagree with Jeff on many issues, but he is the lead pastor, and if I agree or disagree with him on any issue, that is between me and him. And today, we’re going to dive into, what I hope we walk away with, a clear biblical understanding on the role of tongues in the Church. No Jeremiah’s or Jeff’s or anyone’s thoughts on the subject, but rather God’s frame work for the gifts that we can work within.

So, let’s open again to 1st Corinthians, where we will be picking up the letter in chapter 14, starting in verse 1. And as we come back to 1st Corinthians 14:1, let’s bring ourselves up to speed once again.

The letter Paul writes to the Corinthian Christians is focused on bringing unity, to a un-unified Church. They were dealing with many different issues, but Paul basically deals with these by combing them in one of two ways. The first half of the letter deals with the issues that were causing disunity in the believers' personal interactions with each other, while the second half of the letter deals with the issues that were causing disunity in the community worship time.

And the main thrust of this disunity in the worship time, revolved around the use of spiritual gifts. So, for the last four weeks we have been walking through Paul’s words in chapters 12-13 to try and fully understand how we can make sure that when dealing with the spiritual gifts, we can come together and have unity, even if we come to the end and disagree on aspects of what we have talked about.

But we walked through these four weeks, with a focus first on the Holy Spirit as the giver of the gifts, then the fact that the gifts are given for the benefit and uniting of the Church, then on what the gifts are through the understanding of the words Paul uses, and finally last week, where we looked at the better path to unity in the Church that Paul says is through agape love for each other.

With all of that being said, we are now going to get into the controversial subject of the gift of tongues, because today, we’re going to be looking at 1st Corinthians chapter 14, verses 1-25. And we’re going to do something we usually don’t do, and that’s go through the chapter pretty much verse-by-verse.

We don’t really do verse-by-verse studies on Sunday mornings, because we try and look at the whole picture of Scripture to see it in it’s whole context. But when dealing with controversial topics such as this, we need to really dig into the language and how the author is putting his ideas together.

But before we start, I want to mention this. 1st Corinthians is the most comprehensive section of Scripture on the gift of tongues. The Greek word for tongues, glóssa (gloce-sah’), which is used both of the physical tongue and of language, is used fifty times in the New Testament. Twenty-eight times in reference to the gift of tongues specifically (Mark 16:17, Acts 2:3, 4, 11, 26; 10:46, 19:6; 1 Corinthians 12:10(2x), 28, 30; 13:1, 8; 14:2, 4, 5 (2x), 6, 9, 13, 14, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24, 27, 39, ). With twenty-one of those times in the 1st Corinthian letter, and sixteen of those times are found in this one chapter. So as we talk about tongues, Paul is giving us a very comprehensive view of the gift and it’s purposes right here. 

So let’s open up to 1st Corinthians chapter 14, starting in verse 1.

1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 

Let’s start off where we left off of last week. Paul opens this chapter with a transition sentence from his more excellent way of uniting the Church, which is the agape love way. These opening words read, “Follow the way of love…” Paul uses two Greek words that translate directly as “Pursue love” This is the idea of the hunter relentlessly going after it’s prey. This is how Paul tells us we must go after love in the Church. In other words, do not let anything else deter you in your pursuit of loving one another. So, as we move into the controversial parts of this chapter, we must remember this, nothing should take our focus off the pursuit of loving one another as Christ loves us.

But Paul doesn’t stop there, and he doesn’t throw off the gifts as if they are not good and useful. No, instead he says to, “…eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit…” This eagerness carries with it the want to be used by the Holy Spirit in maximum usage. It’s seeking the use of the gifts in our lives to reach the maximum purpose of those gifts, which is to bring unity to the Church. So Paul is saying, desire the gifts for the same purpose as the Holy Spirit’s intent. Which is always, what God intends for us. His desire is for us to desire what he desires, which is to love him, and love each other, in the agape way.

And then Paul says about the gifts, “especially prophecy.” Why that particular gift? Why not miracles, teaching, service, helping, or one of the other fifteen? That’s what he’s going to explain, and he’s going to use tongues to do it. Let’s drop down and read verses 2 through 4.

2 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. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 

Here Paul gives us some key things to understand about the gift of tongues and the gift of prophecy. First, in verse 2, Paul tells us that when a person speaks in tongues it’s a conversation between man and God. The word spoken during this gift is a Spirit derived and Spirit led matter. And in this conversation, divine mysteries or the synonymous New Testament term revelations, are given. In verse 4, we’re told what results from this conversation, is an edification of the person, or in some translations a building up of the person. Now this building up is not the vain look at me, but rather God molding a more robust and firm faith in that person.

But also in these verses we have Paul giving some key things about the gift of prophecy. In verse 3, we’re told that the one who speaks prophecy is not speaking in a conversation with God, though we know this is also a Spirit derived and led matter, but rather the conversation is meant to be directed at the people of God. And not only that, but where the gift of tongues is meant to build up the individual speaking it, the gift of prophecy is meant to edify or build the Church as a whole.

And so we begin to see why Paul tells us in verse 1 to especially seek the gift of prophecy, because it brings more unity to the Church, because it is purposefully directed towards the Church.

Now, this isn’t to say, that Paul is dismissing the gift of tongues, because of what he says in verse 5.

5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

The phrase “I would like”  comes from the Greek word theló (eth-el’-o) which translates as “I desire, or I want”. The word carries with it the idea of desiring an optimal situation. In this case, Paul desires that the optimal situation, which is, that not only would every believer be able to speak in tongues, but that in doing so the people would also have someone who interprets what is being said. To Paul, this is the best situation and even better than the gift of prophecy. This is because, then both the individual and the body of believers are benefited. But without an interpretation given, tongues is not used in the optimal way, and so Paul lets us know that prophecy would be a more desirable gift.

But like he did with all the rest of the gifts in chapter 13 verse 8, here in verse 6 of chapter 14, Paul puts tongues into perspective.

6 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? 7 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? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?

Again, Paul’s focus is on the unity and the benefit of the Church. So he let’s us know, what is the point if there is not revelation (an unveiling of God’s plans), knowledge (how to live out God’s truths in every day living), prophecy (a calling back of God’s people to his revealed truth), or teaching (unpacking of the Scriptures), that is relayed which would benefit the Church.

So then, Paul compares the gift of tongues without an interpreter who can relay revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or teaching, to musical instruments that have no clear notes as to make music. And so, just as an instrument sounds bad when we cannot hear the correct notes, so too the gifts of tongues make no sense without an interpreter. And Paul lets us know this in verse 9.

9 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. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 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. 

Paul makes the argument that, just like we need an interpreter to speak between different languages of man to grasp what each one is saying, we must have an interpreter between the group and the gift of tongues, so that it can be understood, so that it can benefit the Church as a whole. And it’s, again for the benefit of the Church that Paul writes this in verse 12:

12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church. 13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.

The Church is being called to seek gifts that will, again, benefit and unite the Church, and not solely the individual. And so, Paul encourages us, if we have or seek the gift of tongues, then we should also, at the very least, seek to interpret or have an interpreter of that gift, so that the Church would benefit from it.

But it is here, that one of the most important passages in this section is written. Let’s drop down to verse 14. 

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 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. 

Paul brings up an important teaching in these verses. A combination of worshiping with our spirit, which is the breath of life of a person or the whole of who a person is, and worshiping with our mind, which is our cognitive ability and reasoning. Both are needed in worship.  But when we emphasize one over the other, we tend to go off the deep in, in one of two ways. Either we focus solely on our ability to understand God, which leads to our mental doctrine putting God in a nice neat box, or we focus on our more emotional experience of God, which embraces the feeling of God over the understanding of God. Both can lead to a type of legalism in which the Church is not built up but divided, and where we cannot allow others in the Church to experience God as he intended them to.

But then Paul brings us back to his central point yet again, in verse 16.

16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

Paul uses the word, idiótés (id-ee-o’-tace) that is translated sometimes as inquirer or outsider, but this word is not necessarily speaking of an outsider, meaning a person who is a unbeliever, but rather the word means uninstructed. This means it could be someone who is either seeking to understand Christianity, or someone who is new in the faith and has yet to understand the gifts and their purpose. This word is a root to the word ignorant.

Such a person cannot say “Amen” or “Let it Be” because they themselves do no understand what is happening, so they cannot be in agreement. This is a reminder of what Paul mentioned earlier in his letter in chapters 8 through 9. We must be looking out for other people’s spiritual walk, just as we are looking out for our own.

And here in verse 18, Paul again brings the gift of tongues into perspective. 

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

Paul uses the number ten thousand, which is a stand in for how we would say a million, it’s just a huge or an innumerable amount. Therefore Paul is saying that an innumerable amount of words spoken in tongues, but not interpreted, is worth less than five words of clear instruction that people can understand.

Now, depending on your experience or understanding of the gift of tongues that last part might offend you. And I think that’s why Paul writes this in the next few verses. 

20 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!”

Paul’s encouragement here is to be infants in regard to evil, carries with it the idea of not doing evil things. Infants are not intentional in doing evil, because they have no undertaking of it. So we too are to not engage in evil. Instead, Paul encourages the people to be mature, thinking through the use of the gifts, for what they are designed for.

And I hope we have seen the location that Paul focusing on, it is the Church gathering. The whole context is that of the Church worship time, that Paul is focusing on. And so, if everyone is speaking in tongues in the Church worship time, yet there is no interpretation, then the unbeliever won’t know what’s going on. But if prophecy is happening in the Church worship time, then the unbeliever can understand and experience God’s moving.

Now we know that the primary purpose of the gifts is for the unity of the Church, they do have a secondary purpose of causing an unbeliever to respond to the Gospel. And the gifts of tongues along with the interpretation, can be one of the most eye opening gifts for those who are truly seeking God. We see this in Acts 2 where the gifts were first given.

Now, before we close, I want to highlight some of the controversy, fairly quickly. 

First, some will say that the gift of tongues is not for today. This is false. We have read that the gifts will only go away when perfection comes. That perfection, is in eternity with God (1 Corinthians 13:8-13). Now some will say, that this perfection is in reference to when the Bible was canonized in the early 300s AD. At the canonization of the Bible, certain gifts were no longer needed, and so they were done away with. But Paul tells us that the gifts will only cease when all is perfected, and until then, we see through a mirror darkly. The Bible is a part of that mirror darkly. The Bible focuses on the restoration of our relationship with God, but in eternity, that restoration is complete and so there is no longer the need for the Bible. Therefore the Bible is not the perfection that Paul said was to come, and so, the gifts in their entirety are for today, and will be until perfection comes. Here’s a little caveat, this doesn’t mean new revelation supersedes the Bible, rather, the Bible is what we are to use to test everything against.

Second, the gifts of tongues is a sign that a person is saved. This is false - We have read that Paul would rather believers have the gift of prophecy over tongues. We have also read Paul desires that everyone would have the gift of tongues, which implies that not everyone does. So either tongues is not for every believer, or it is a base gift and there are more important gifts (1 Corinthians 14:3-5). Therefore, why would a believer want something, when there are better gifts? No, the Spirit gives gifts as he sees fit, for the purpose of uniting the Church. Elevating anyone gift over another to prove one is more spiritual, is in direct conflict with what Paul is trying to get at in the 1st Corinthian letter. 

Third, the gift of tongues is a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This is also false. There are three instances of tongues, baptism, and the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. The first two prominent ones was first to the Jewish believers in Acts 2:1-13, then to the Gentiles in Acts 10:44-48. In the case of the Jewish believers, it was a sign that the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 was bing fulfilled; the Holy Spirit was now upon all those who called on Jesus as their Lord and Savior. In the case of the Gentiles, it was a sign that the Holy Spirit would also descend on Gentiles and bring them into the people of God, fulfilling Peter’s prophetic vision in Acts 10:9-16. There is one more mention of the gift of tongues in the book of Acts chapter 19 verses 1-7. In this case were seeing a group of Jews who accepted John’s baptism of repentance, but had not yet accepted Jesus as Messiah. But through the witnessing of Paul, this group of men accepted Jesus as Messiah, were then baptized in the name of Jesus, and afterward Paul laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. In this case they spoke in both tongues and also prophesied. 

We know that this wasn’t the case for every of conversion, because of people like the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:26-38, or Lydia in Acts 16:11-15, or the people at Brea and Thessalonica in Acts 10-15. Where no mention of tongues, or any other gift proceeded or followed their conversation. 

Fourth, the gift of tongues is an inferior gift. This is false as well, notice a theme? We have read that Paul desires believers to have prophecy over the gift of tongues because it’s easier to understand and quicker to build up the Church, but Paul also says that when there is an interpretation along with the tongue, then the gift is on par or maybe even better than the gift of prophecy. So Paul isn’t elevating one over another, but rather clarifying it’s usefulness at accomplishing it’s purpose within the Church body.

Fifth, there is a gift of tongues and then there is a prayer language of tongues. Here’s a change, it’s both true and false. The gift of tongues is both a personal and public gift. Privately the gift can be a communication with God (1 Corinthians 14:2); in public the gift is meant to be accompanied by interpretation, and if not it should not be uttered. We must be careful though in using such passages like Romans 8:26-27, because the two words used are alalétos (al-al’-ay-tos) and stenagmos (sten-ag-mos’), that we translate as inexpressible groans. These do not have the idea that Paul uses for the gift of tongues which is glóssa (gloce-sah’) or language. Therefore, there seems to be a difference in the two.

Finally, our sixth highlight of controversy, the gift of tongues is uncontrollable or in other words, a person is compelled to speak without being able to stop it. This is also false. In 1st Corinthians chapter 14 verse 27 & 28 Paul writes, “If any speaks in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.” This shows that the gift can be spoken, not in a burst of uncontrolled action, but with a mindful intentionality.

With all that said, here’s the thing, every gift has as it’s primary focus of building up the unity of the Church. If for one moment we think of the gifts as a way to present ourselves as more important because of the gifts we have, then we have missed the point, and that gift cannot be used to it’s maximized effectiveness. 

You and I are here, because Christ died for us. We were in rebellion against God, we chose our way over God’s, and we desired the things that God calls sinful, rather than him. And because of this we were marching our way to internal punishment, because God cannot allow sin to be swept under the rug, because he is a just God. But in his justice, he provided a way. the Son came to earth, lived as one of us fully submitting to the Father, and being led by the Spirit. Jesus died on the cross for our sin, and provided the only way to have victory over sin, and eternal relationship with our Creator. 

When we accept Jesus’ work on our behalf, we are brought into a family called the Church, where we are to build each other up as we all walk through this world together. To do this, the Holy Spirit gives us gifts to accomplish the unity God desires for his people. And it’s that unity we should seek as we seek the spiritual gifts.

This week, I want to challenge you to go before God and ask him for unity in the Church. In our community of believers here at the Alliance Church, and across the world for anyone who calls on the name of Jesus as their Savior. That even if we may disagree on things, like the gifts, we would stand united as children of God. And second, that God would use your gifts to accomplish this goal of uniting the Church.

Because that is what we are called to, and what Jesus prayed over us in John 17. So let us be the Church, focused on the Father, bought by the Son, led by the Spirit. Amen.

Summer Series on 1st Corinthians: Week 15 “The Best Route”

I’m always trying to find the best routes to where I want to go. I don’t like taking too much time to get somewhere when I need or want to get there. Now if I am not in a hurry, I’m fine with taking the scenic route, that’s actually one of the reasons why I love riding a motorcycle. But when I need to be somewhere, I want the quickest possible route. 

So out of my driveway, I usually turn right, because even though it seems to be more stops and gos, it’s about 30 seconds faster. It’s also why, when coming from from highway 95 to the church, I pass the first turn off on Moon Mountain and take the second turn which is North Desert. It’ll save you about 20 seconds, if you follow the speed limit. 

And it’s this idea of going the best way that brings us back to our summer study in 1st Corinthians chapter 13, where we’re going to be looking at the entire chapter today. And the purpose of our summer study series, is to look at whole chunks of Scripture so as to get a larger view of what is being addressed in the books we study.

And so, as we’ve been studying Paul’s first letter to the Christians in the city of Corinth, we have understood that his purpose writing this letter, is that the Church would be unified.

And as Paul calls the Corinthians to be unified, in the first half of the letter he deals with issues that are causing disunity through the personal relationships that the Christians have with each other

Then in chapter 11, Paul switches from those issues that cause disunity in our personal relationships, to the issues that cause disunity when we meet together for our community time of worship.

And so far, Paul has dealt with head coverings and the Lord’s Supper, with both having at their core a problem with submitting to God’s intended order. Then Paul moves into the bulk of the second half of his letter, which deals with the spiritual gifts. When dealing with the gifts Paul starts off with the understanding that it is the Holy Spirit who is the one that distributes the gifts at his discretion. This is vitally important, because if we reject this biblical reality, then the ones that become the gate keepers of who gets what gift, or what gifts are okay and which are not, falls not on the third person of the Trinity, by on us as flawed humans.

And so, when we understand that the Holy Spirit is the distributor of the gifts, then we can better understand that the gifts are for the benefit and the unity of the Church, and are given to believers, based on what the Holy Spirit decides we need, so as to accomplish that goal.

And so with this fresh in our minds, let us open together to 1st Corinthians, and let’s begin reading in the last verse of chapter 12.

31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

At the end of Paul’s writing on how the gifts are to be unifying the body, and how we each are given gifts to accomplish this, Paul tells us that there is a more excellent way that he desires to show us. That word excellent, means a surpassing way, a way that should be a greater desire for us. This implies that the gifts are a great way to bring about unity, but there is a surpassing or more excellent way to do it. Because, as we’ll see today, it is a way that accomplishes the purpose of the gifts, that can happen now and will be carried beyond where the gifts are meant to go.

Let’s keep reading in chapter 13 verse 1.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 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. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 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. 12 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.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Paul’s excellent or surpassing way is simply love. As some of you might know, in Greek there are multiple words for love. But in the passage we just read, Paul only uses the Greek word agape. In the biblical context of the word, it carries with it the meaning of moral rightness and graciousness towards human’s from God, it’s a divine love. In other words, agape is God’s pure love for humanity that comes from his righteous character. It’s this type of love that Paul is saying is the most excellent or surpassing way to unify us. This word is also used in Jesus’ teachings on the two greatest commandments found Mark 12:29-30. Jesus tells us we need to agape love God, and agape love our neighbors. 

The most excellent or surpassing way in which you and I being called to is the Agape Way.

Now in these opening words to his most excellent or surpassing way to unity, Paul puts into perspective of what it would be like to have all the gifts without the agape love.

He says things like, without agape love, we would be like gongs, and clanging cymbals, in other words just annoying noise. But then as Paul continues, he begins to use this word, nothing. He says in verse 2, “but do not love, I am nothing.” In verse 3 he says, “but do not have love, I gain nothing.” 

The word for nothing is the Greek word, outhen (oo-dice’) which has the idea of closing the door on something, so that nothing can get through. Paul is saying that without agape love, we allow nothing in. Without this agape love, the door to the workings of the Spirit are closed. When this is applied to the gifts, Paul is saying that without love the gifts are not allowed to work as they were intended, and they would be useless, because they are purposes-less in the life of the Church. And so, what happens when something or someone has lost it’s purpose? It doesn’t do anything, but takes up space, or cause problems for others. Without agape love, the gifts would do us no good and are not accomplishing unity. And so it begs the question, why should the Spirit give the gifts out to a people that won’t seek agape love?

But from here, Paul goes into some detail as to what agape love is and what it is not. He says agape love is patient, and kind. Agape love is not envious, boastful, or puffed up, that means arrogant. Agape love, does not participate in acts that are unbecoming of a believer, in other words, rude or things that would tear others down. Agape love does not seek things of its own to horde, and it is not easily provoked to anger (on a side note, that doesn’t mean agape love does not get angry, but rather it’s first response is not anger). Agape love does not keep records of wrongs, and that word for wrongs is meant to encompass all manner of bad and evil in the widest sense of those words. Agape love does not delight on things that are unrighteous, that means it doesn’t base it’s belief or actions on things that are not of God.

But agape love rejoices with all manner of truth, that includes spoken truth, truth in ideas, truth found in reality, truth found in a person’s sincerity, moral truth, but especially in divine truth. Agape love bears or upholds others, it believes or trusts based on facts, it hopes or expects and trusts in others, it endures or stands behind and with people. And this agape love does all of this in all things, the Greek word here is panta (pas), meaning all the whole of something, every kind of it, it’s totality. Agape love wants all good things of God to happen, and none of the sinful things.

Then in verse 8, Paul again puts the gifts into perspective for us. Paul lets us know that the gifts will eventually cease, or become unneeded some day. For some Christians, this where they get the idea that certain gifts are not for today, or that certain gifts are above others, because Paul only mentions three of them. But is that what Paul’s getting at, or is he giving us an understanding that the gifts, represented by the three here, will all one day be gone? I think that is what Paul is getting at. There will be a day when all gifts, prophecy, tongues, knowledge, helping, leadership, pastoral-ship, apostleship and all the rest, will be gone.

Why? Because the gifts are for the benefit and the uniting of the Church, but as Paul states in verse 11, “11 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.” 

The time that Paul is speaking of, is eternity with God. As long as we’re on this side of eternity, we are like children who need certain things, but in eternity we will be fully mature and we can put away those things. As long as we are here in this sin fallen world, we can never see in perfect sight as the way that God created us to see. We can never know ourselves or the people around us, because the stain of sin corrupts everything. 

So, when God brings us into eternity, the gifts are no longer needed, because we will be perfectly united in Christ.

Then, as Paul transitions to yet another aspect of his talk on gifts, he writes these two words in verse 1 of chapter 14, “Purse love”. Paul is calling every believer to chase love in the same way a hunter chases it’s prey, relentlessly. That is what each of us should purse, the agape love that unites us to each other. That rejoices when another moves forward in their walk with Christ and comes alongside when one stumbles. To purse agape love, is to stand against the things that are not of God and uplifting the things that are. By mourning with those who hurt, and celebrating with those who have found victory. 

It is easy to want the cool gifts of the Christian life, because those gifts can make us feel a sense of spiritual happenings, and maybe even get people to praise us. But God wants us to understand that the greatest thing we can purse in our spiritual walks with him, is to love him and love each other.

So, in our pursuit of agape love, my challenge for you today is to look around this room and pick a couple of people sitting closest to you., you may or may not know them. And while we’re singing our next song, and I want you to take several pieces of paper, and write one encouraging agape love filled sentence to each person around you. Then when we end here today and sing our final song, I want to challenge you to take that note to that person and show them some agape love. 

God has called us to purse love above all things. The gifts are great, and we should desire them, but the love we have and show with each other is better. Amen.

Summer Series on 1st Corinthians: Week 14 “The Gifted”

Let’s play a quick game of Family Feud. Instead of the top ten, we’ll just do the top three. In 2018, the publication Popular Mechanic released the top 100 skills everyone should know (https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/g87/skills-everyone-should-know/). So, take a few moments and write down the three skills that you think made the cut. Ready?

The third most important skill was…build a camp fire.

The second most important skill was…parallel park.

And the number one skill was…being able to escape from a sinking car. Now I don’t know how often you’ll need that number one skill, but if you did, that one time it could literally save your life.

And it’s this idea, of knowing what something is, or how to use something that brings us back to our summer study in 1st Corinthians chapter 12, where will be picking it up in verse 27. And as we get back to 1st Corinthians 12:27, let’s bring ourselves up to speed on where we are.

We started this series with the understanding that Paul was writing this letter so that unity would happen within the Corinthian Church. After his first half of the letter focused on those thing that cause disunity through our personal relationships. In his second half, Paul changes his focus to look at those things that were causing disunity in the corporate worship time of the Church.

And so we looked at two ways that submission plays a role in worship when we looked at the controversial topic of head coverings and how we partake as an individuals in Communion.

After this, Paul moves into another controversial topic, that of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It’s in these gifts that Paul has called us to understand two things: first, we must understand who the Holy Spirit is and that it is he that gives out the gifts at his own discretion. Secondly, we must understand that each of the gifts are equal and necessary to the overall health of the Church.

With this now in our minds, let us continue our study in the letter of 1st Corinthians chapter 12, verse 27.

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

After two weeks of talking about how we are going to talk about the gifts of the Spirit, we are finally going to talk about the gifts of the Spirit. But as we do, we must understand that there are several different passages where Paul brings up these gifts. One of these, is the passage we just read from 1st Corinthians chapter 12 verses 27-30. 

And in order to really tackle the topic of the gifts, we need to address those other passages. So the way we’re going to approach this, is by making an alphabetical list of the gifts starting with the passage we just read and then adding to that list by looking at the other three passages that contain the gifts. 

So let’s look at those gifts here in 1st Corinthians 12:27-30. We have Administration/Guidance (depending on your translation), Apostles, Healing, Helping, Miracles, Prophets, Teaching, and Tongues. 

Alright, let’s move to the beginning of 1st Corinthians chapter 12, and look at our second passage that deals with the gifts of the Spirit. Chapter 12 starting in verse 8 reads, “To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.”

So now in our list we can add, Distinguishing of Spirits, Faith, Interpretation of Tongues, Prophecy is similar to Prophet so I want us to jot that down as a side note, so all that’s left is Word of Knowledge, and Word of Wisdom.

Alright, two down, two to go. Let’s move over to Romans chapter 12, where we’ll be looking at verses 6-8. 

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

From this passage, we can add Exhortation or Encouragement (again depending on your translation), Giving, Mercy, and finally Serving. We’ve already wrote down prophecy and teaching, so we don’t need to again.

Okay, so one more passage, which is Ephesians 4, starting in verse 11.

11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

We already wrote down apostles, prophets, and teaching, so we only have two to add from this passage, which are, Evangelist, and Pastor/Shepherd (depending on your translation).

Really quick, I have been asked, why is Ephesians 4:11-13 a part of the gifts, when the word gift is not in the passage? And the answer is, first, there are overlaps with the other gift passages. These would be apostles, prophets, and teachers. Second, the use of the language of the Church being Christ’s body is in both 1st Corinthians 12, which is the most exhaustive gift passage, and Ephesians 4:11-13. And third, the whole point of the gifts are to bring unity to the Church, and here in Ephesians, Paul is saying that these five things where given to bring unity to the Church. So there we go, those are the top three reasons why this is a gift passage.

But now that we have our list of the gifts, let’s briefly explore what each of these gifts are through the words that Paul uses. And here I must emphasize, that we are not looking at the gifts from a particular denomination or tradition’s view of the gifts, but rather from the words that Paul uses when he tells us what the gifts are.

First, Administration/Guidance - the Greek word is kubernésis (koo-ber’-nay-sis) meaning governance or leadership. (1st Corinthians 12:28) This gift is given to those leading the Church bodies as coordinators of the work of God. An Elder, a Deacon, a secretary, a treasurer or someone who is getting things in order for an event could have this gift. 

Next, Apostles - the Greek word is apostolos (ap-os’-tol-os) meaning messenger, or the commissioned. This word is used in the New Testament almost exclusively of those directly sent by Jesus. (1st Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11) There’s some controversy here, with someone people saying that this gift was only given to those first century men who were directly sent out by Jesus. Which it is true that a distinction is made between those who were Apostles directly sent by Jesus, and other Christians. But the word that is used here means one who is commissioned for a purpose. Jesus in Hebrews 3:1 is called an apostle. In Philippians 2:25 Paul calls Epaphroditus an apostle. And so, this gift looks to be closer to those who today we call missionaries, or church planters. The idea is one who is sent out to start a new ministry.

Third, Distinguishing of Spirits - the Greek word for distinguishing is diakrisis (dee-ak’-ree-sis) meaning an act of judgment; and the Greek word for spirits is pneuma (pnyoo’-mah) meaning spiritual beings or spiritual situations. Together it is implied that this gift is able to make judgments in spiritual happenings around us. Whether that be knowing a false teacher or brother, or the circumstances of the situation that someone might find themselves in. (1st Corinthians 12:10)

Fourth, we have Encouragement or Exhortation  - the Greek word is parakaleó (par-ak-al-eh’-o) meaning to encourage or give comfort in times of grief. A believer with this gift has in their presence and in their words the ability to speak words that will encourage someone in their discomfort or grief. (Romans 12:7)

Next is Evangelist - the Greek word is euaggelistés (yoo-ang-ghel-is-tace’) meaning a bringer of good news. Every Christian is to share the Gospel (good news), but an evangelist has a special calling to it. This is most evident when someone has the ability to speak the Gospel in such a clear way that when people hear, they understand, and accept it. (Ephesians 4:11)

The sixth gift is Faith - the Greek word is pistis (pis’-tis) meaning an unshakable confidence through God’s divine persuasion, which is another way of saying God’s self revealing work that causes us to believe. This is usually manifested in a believer’s life when they step out when everyone else says stop, and then God does something amazing through it. They trust God enough to know that when they move forward, he will be there. (1st Corinthians 12:9)

Next is Giving - the Greek word is metadidómi (met-ad-id’-o-mee) meaning to give a share of something or to part with something. Usually people think of money when they think of this, but this could be anything of worth, but specifically it is material possessions. So money yes, but also real estate, vehicles, and more. And it’s not related to donating something to the Church, but rather seeing where God desires it to be given. This type of giving goes beyond every Christian’s regular giving. This doesn’t include our time or meals, because there are other gifts for those areas. (Romans 12:8)

Our eighth gift is Healing - the Greek word is iama (ee’-am-ah) meaning to cure of an alignment. We’re not talking about natural or made made cures, like aspirin, surgery or other such things. No, we’re specifically talking about divine healing that occurs through the power of God himself, where a body is cured of an alignment without the help for natural or human means. (1st Corinthians 12:9, 28)

Then there is Helping - the Greek word is antilémpsis (an-til’-ape-sis) meaning to give one aid, this is where we get the word of minister or ministry. This might happen when a person is stranded on the side of the road and we work all day to get them going. It is going beyond what is required of us in a given situation to help another. (1st Corinthians 12:28)

Next is Interpretation of Tongues - the Greek word is herméneia (her-may-ni’-ah) meaning to give an explanation or a summary of the message. This one walks hand-in-hand with the gift of tongues, which we’ll be going more in depth in a couple of weeks, so we’ll just leave it there. (1st Corinthians 12:10)

The gift of Leadership is similar to the first gift on our list - the Greek word used here is proistemi (pro-is’-tay-mee) meaning to be early, but was used in Paul’s day as a colloquial term to talk about those who are the first to move forward among people, i.e. leadership. In other words, the gift of leadership happens when a person takes the first step to lead others. David in his fight with Goliath shows this gift of leadership. (Romans 12:8)

Our twelfth gift is Mercy - the Greek word is eleeó (el-eh-eh’-o) meaning to take pity on another, or to be loyal to someone by acting on previous agreed upon terms. In other words it’s not feeling sorry for something alone, but being true to someone even as they have not been true to us. (Romans 12:8)

Next is Miracles - the Greek word is dunamis (doo’-nam-is) meaning divine power, might or strength. We tend to use miracles as an umbrella term for all things supernatural, but the gift of miracles speaks directly to divine power with things like, parting a sea, calming a storm, bringing someone back from the dead. In Paul’s distinguishing of the gifts, miracles and healing are separate, even though they are similar in divine power, miracles are grand shows of that power, whereas gifts such as healings are more intimate. (1st Corinthians 12:10, 28)

In our fourteenth spot we have the Pastor/Shepherd - the Greek word is poimén (poy-mane’) meaning a caregiver, feeder, protector, and ruler over a flock. This is someone who is the spiritual protector of the Church, it’s their responsibility to be the gate keeper that allows the things of God in and to keep the things not of God out. It is why we use the Pastor title of those who we call to be the main overseers of our local congregations. (Ephesians 4:11)

After that we come to the gift of Prophets/prophecy - Now in the two places that we saw these two different words used, there are in fact two different Greek words. The Greek word for prophet is prophétés (prof-ay’-tace) (1st Corinthians 12:10; Romans 12:6) meaning an interpreter or forth teller of divine will, one who gives a message from the mind of God to the people. Whereas the - the Greek word prophecy is prophéteia (prof-ay-ti’-ah) (1st Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11), which means communicating or enforcing revealed truth. Now, even though there are two different words, the gift is the same and comes from the Hebrew word for prophet which is nabi [naw-bee’] and means a spokesperson. Now we usually think of prophecy or prophets as those who speak to future events, and there is that aspect of the gift. But that aspect is more in keeping with how to know a false prophet when they come. See in Deuteronomy 18:20-22 Moses lets us know that a false prophet will be known in one of two ways. First their prophecy will not come true, or second they will call people to worship other gods. But the gift of prophecy spoke here is more in keeping with the main work of the prophets in the Old Testament, which was about 20% future telling and 80% calling people back to God’s divine will. This was usually to keep with the Old Testament Law, but after Jesus, it would be in keeping with the Gospel.

Our sixteen gift is Serving - the Greek word is diakonia (dee-ak-on-ee’-ah) meaning service and here we can think of a waiter or waitress. This gift is similar to the gift of helping, but is different because this is someone who sees things that need to be done and does them without being asked. We sometimes see this when people clean up after a potluck, or set up chairs for an event. (Romans 12:7)

Then comes Teaching - the Greek word is didaskalos (did-as’-kal-os) meaning an instructor in the way of the Scriptures. This gift is seen when someone opens up the Scriptures in new ways to help us see the different layers of God’s Word. But this one comes with a warning, in James 3:1-2 we’re told that not all should seek to be teachers, because they are held to a higher standard. (1st Corinthians 12:28; Romans 12:7, Ephesians 4:11)

Next is Tongues - the Greek word is glóssa (gloce-sah’) meaning a language. This word is used of both human and angel languages in 1st Corinthians 13:1. We’re going to discuss this one more in a couple of weeks, so we’ll leave it there. (1st Corinthians 12:10, 28)

At our nineteenth spot we have Word of Knowledge - the two Greek words used here are logos, meaning word and gnósis (gno’-sis) meaning experiential understanding. This gift is given to a believer when they recognize that God allowed them to walk through certain situations as a learning experience, so as to relay that experience of trusting God to someone else as they walk through a similar time. This isn’t as someone have understood it, being educated, but rather real life and the ability to apply God’s truth to it. (1st Corinthians 12:8)

Our last gift seems similar to our previous one, this is Word of Wisdom - the two Greek words here are logos, again meaning word, and sophia (sof-ee’-ah) meaning insight into human or divine affairs. This would be an insight that the Holy Spirit gives someone into a situation that God is working in, and most likely speaks to another person’s inner thoughts or struggles. (1st Corinthians 12:8) This happens when someone says, have you been listening to my thoughts?

There we have it, twenty gifts quickly summarized and analyzed. Each of which are given at the Holy Spirit’s discretion and for the building of the body of Christ in unity.

Now it’s easy to dismiss certain gifts as not being needed for today, and there are Christians that do believe that. In our study today, we do not have time to go into why that is not a biblical stance. But then there’s the other side of the topic that believe that certain gifts are above the others. Again, in our study today, we do not have time to go into why that is not a biblical stance either.

Instead, we must agree with Paul that the gifts are the Holy Spirit’s department. It is his job to deal out the gifts when and as he sees fit. To constrain, or dismiss in any direction the Holy Spirit’s work, even in the gifts, is to flirt with Jesus’ warning of the unpardonable sin in Matthew 12:31-32, which is the denial of the work of the Holy Spirit.

And so, instead, we must seek the Spirit and the gifts, for his purpose. That purpose is the building of the Church in unity. So, even though I may want the really cool gift of miracles, or to speak the Gospel in such a clear way that many people come to Christ, my desire must instead be, that the Spirit would give me the gifts that would do the most good for my brothers and sisters. Not the ones that I desire, but that he desires. 

But with all of this talk about gifts, Paul gives us this word in verse 31 of 1st Corinthians 12, “31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.”

And it’s this more excellent way that we will talk about next week. But for the challenge this week, I want to challenge you to realize the gifts the Holy Spirit has given you. Take what we have studied here today, and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal which gifts he has given you. Then next week, on the wall I’m going to have all the gifts categorized, and I want you to pin your gifts to the wall so we can see what gifts God has given us for the building of this body of believers.

Let us each walk in the Spirit as he administers the gifts, so that the body of Christ can be built, and the glory of the Father can be seen. Amen.