Title Page

Lesson Eleven

I Corinthians 14:1-4

I Corinthians 14:1-41 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

I Corinthians 14:5-6

I Corinthians 14:5-65 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

I Corinthians 14:7-9

I Corinthians 14:7-97 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

I Corinthians 14:10-12

I Corinthians 14:10-1210 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Focus Verse

I Corinthians 14:12

Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the

edifying of the church.

Focus Thought

Spiritual gifts are given to edify the church. God is a God of order. Everything in the worship of Him must be appropriate

and in order.

IntroductionIntroduction

Discussion of the operation and regulation of spiritual gifts began when the apostle Paul identified nine specific gifts in I Corinthians 12. In chapter 13, he proceeded to explain that giftedness never takes preeminence over love.

I Corinthians 13:1-3

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not

charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And

though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all

knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove

mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing”

(I Corinthians 13:1-3).

IntroductionPaul continued the discussion in chapter 14 where he provided specific correctives for the apparent misuse of spiritual gifts in the Corinthian church. In this chapter Paul scrutinized the appropriate use of the gifts of the Spirit as he focused on their purpose for edifying the body of Christ. Paul pointed out that edification through the spiritual gifts is possible only if that which is spoken is understandable. (See I Corinthians 14:6, 18-19.)

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (A)Desire

Spiritual Gifts“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy” (I Corinthians 14:1). The argument made by the apostle Paul did not involve the validity of tongues but the proper use of tongues (and of all the spiritual gifts) in the proper place.

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (A)It is evident in I Corinthians 14 that Paul placed more value on interpreted tongues and prophecy than on tongues alone in a church service. He did not oppose speaking in tongues for one’s own benefit, but he emphasized the intended purpose of the spiritual gifts for corporate edification whenever the church is gathered together.

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (A)He further clarified, “I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying” (I Corinthians 14:5). “Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues” (I Corinthians 14:39). Edification of the individual by the Spirit is good; however, it is not the primary purpose of corporate worship.

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (A)Prophecy, interpretation of tongues, or even the discerning of spirits are not to be feared or shunned, but they are desirable. Our contemporary world is comparable to Corinth in its obsession with fleshly things and sensuality. Consequently, we need the manifestation of the power of God as much today as did the Corinthian church of the first century. Excesses or abuses of the operation of the spiritual gifts by some individuals never justify the quenching of the Spirit. If we are going to effectively reach our generation for Jesus Christ, we must permit the Holy Spirit to move freely in our congregations.

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (A)“His call is upon His church to move into supernatural levels of power and effectiveness for the winning of our world. The power and anointing which comes with the call is not merely for us, but for the reaching of a lost world. The needs of the lost and suffering are crying for the answers that come from heaven. We, the people of God, must be sensitive in order to fulfill the purpose of God in people’s lives. The real purpose of spiritual gifts is for the ministering to people at their point of need” (David Lee, The Calling to Restoration of Spiritual Gifts, 15).

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (A)A. Personal and Public

Use of Tongues

Speaking in tongues in prayer is a good example of the personal use of tongues. “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him” (I Corinthians 14:2). On occasion, we hear accounts of people speaking in tongues unknown to the speaker but known to the hearer. That is what occurred on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (A)However, of all the recorded instances of speaking in other tongues in the New Testament, that was the only time the speakers were understood by the hearers. Evidently, most often when people speak in other tongues, they speak in languages known only to God, or at least not known commonly by other individuals.

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (A)The human spirit communes with the Holy Spirit at a level unknown to the natural man. The New International Version more clearly defines this in the second half of I Corinthians 14:2: “Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.”

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (A)Paul was not referring to the human spirit speaking in other tongues, for it is the Holy Spirit that gives the utterance when a person speaks with other tongues (Acts 2:4). Therefore, it is the Holy Spirit acting upon the human spirit forming the “other tongues” as the human spirit communes with the Holy Spirit. Paul instructed the Romans that “the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (A)This communion of the human spirit and Holy Spirit is essential to spiritual vitality and allows a Christian to live in a realm where he can be used of God in the exercise of spiritual gifts. Moreover, just as sleep repairs and restores the physical body to function at its highest level of physical, mental, and emotional health, so speaking in other tongues in prayer repairs and restores the spiritual man to an optimal state. “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself” (I Corinthians 14:4).

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (A)In contrast to the personal use of tongues, Paul emphasized that “he that prophesieth edifieth the church” (I Corinthians 14:4). Throughout this chapter, he emphasized the importance of understandable, prophetic utterances.

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (A)Whether it involves the operation of the gift of prophecy or the interpretation of tongues, Paul emphasized the importance of the edification of the body of Christ through understanding what the Spirit has to say to the church. “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort” (I Corinthians 14:3). Therefore, concerning the work of God as a whole, “greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying” (I Corinthians 14:5).

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (B)B. A Certain Sound

In I Corinthians 14:6-12, Paul expressed his concern over the lack of benefit to the church when tongues are given in a service without interpretation. Paul presented three analogies of what it would be like to walk into a church service in which everyone was speaking in tongues throughout the entire service, but without interpretation. He first offered a rhetorical question: “Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?” (I Corinthians 14:6).

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (B)To make his point, the apostle first used a musical analogy. His readers were quite familiar with the pipe (flute) and the harp. If either of these instruments played a cacophony of sounds, how would anyone know what song was being played? And how would anyone be able to sing along with the music? Similarly, soldiers who are used to responding to certain trumpet sounds would not benefit from a trumpeter’s unclear and undisciplined sounds. The sounds would be harsh and meaningless noise without purpose.

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (B)“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” (I Corinthians 14:9, NIV). If an entire worship service consisted only of speaking in tongues without interpretation, there would be no benefit to the hearer. It would be like trying to listen to a preacher who did not speak one word of your language. You might get excited because he was excited, but you would go home with no more knowledge or understanding than that with which you came.

I Corinthians 14:12

“Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye

may excel to the edifying of the church” (I Corinthians 14:12).

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (B)Pentecostal theologian Gordon Fee, in his commentary The First Epistle to the Corinthians, reminds us that in Pentecostal circles there has been a great emphasis on “personal experiences in the Spirit” at the expense of the church as a whole.

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (B)A personal experience in the Holy Ghost does not mean that we are exempt from a need for teaching and submission to authority. “The point of everything in corporate worship is not personal experience in the Spirit, but building up the church itself. . . . The building up of the community is the basic reason for corporate settings of worship; they should probably not be turned into a corporate gathering for a thousand individual experiences of worship” (Gordon Fee, The First Epistle to the Corinthians [Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1987], 667).

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (C)C. Interpretation of Tongues

“Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret” (I Corinthians 14:13). The “wherefore” in this sentence connects it with verse 12, indicating that in light of the total argument, if someone is going speak in tongues to the whole congregation, that person should pray that God might grant the gift of interpretation of tongues.

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (C)Paul affirmed that praying in tongues is beneficial to the one praying because the individual’s human spirit is communing with the Spirit of God. However, he wanted the Corinthians to understand that even though the spirit of the speaker was benefited, the individual’s body of knowledge had not increased. (See I Corinthians 14:16-19.)

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (C)The reason some individuals who receive the Holy Ghost do not mature in Christ is that they lack teaching in biblical doctrines, which promote spiritual growth. These individuals have failed to apply the basic teachings of Jesus concerning the need for both Spirit and truth: “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (John 4:23).

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (C)Paul explained that in his personal life he had found balance, and he was urging the Corinthians to do the same. He wrote, “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also” (I Corinthians 14:15).

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (C)However, it is still important that a church service be a place where the uninformed can come and receive instruction as well as inspiration. “Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue” (I Corinthians 14:19).

I. Desire Spiritual Gifts (C)The overriding theme of this chapter is the edification of the church—willingly setting aside our own edification so that others may hear the Word of God and be saved. It was for this purpose that Jesus came into the world and gave His life. (See Luke 19:10.) If that was His purpose, that also should be our purpose. Paul instructed the Corinthians to “covet earnestly the best gifts” (I Corinthians 12:31)—gifts that edify the church. Consequently, regarding the operation of the gifts of the Spirit, we should pray that we may interpret and that the church may be edified. (See I Corinthians 14:13.)

II. Be Mature (A)Be Mature

Paul continued his discourse by comparing children and adults—the immature with the mature, the untutored with the well instructed. A child is immature and is more concerned about self than about others. The theme throughout this chapter, however, has been the need to set aside personal gratification and edification for the sake of the corporate body of Christ and the successful pursuit of the mission of the church. Paul was not suggesting that speaking in tongues is a sign of immaturity. Rather, the immaturity exists in one’s lack of willingness to set aside personal needs and personal enjoyment in the Spirit for the benefit of others.

II. Be Mature (A)A. A Spiritual Pride

In reading this second epistle to the Corinthians, it is evident that though they were gifted, they also were infected with spiritual pride. They even prided themselves in their toleration of sin. “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father’s wife. And you are proud! Shouldn’t you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this?” (I Corinthians 5:1-2, NIV). The same spiritual pride caused them to tolerate chaos in their church services. Further, their pride hindered their spiritual growth and kept them immature.

II. Be Mature (B)B. Heeding Instruction

A person may believe that he is spiritual, but if he cannot receive instruction from the minister and God’s Word, he is in great spiritual danger. If one cannot respect God-given authority, he needs to review the biblical criteria for spirituality.

I Corinthians 14:37

“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I

write unto you are the commandments of the Lord”

(I Corinthians 14:37).

II. Be Mature (C)C. The Purpose of Prophecy

The purpose of prophecy, preaching, and interpretation of tongues is that men and women may receive instruction in the ways of God and that sinners who are present may be convicted by the power of God and may acknowledge the presence of God. Theologians have long struggled with verse 22 because of its abrupt departure from the theme of the chapter. “Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.”

II. Be Mature (C)David Lee made a poignant statement concerning the revelation of sin and the conviction of the sinner: “The focus of conviction is not to point the finger at someone’s deeds, but to point us to Calvary and what we can be” (David Lee, The Calling to Restoration of Spiritual Gifts, 18).  

II. Be Mature (C)The main concern of mature Christians is not achieving personal edification by speaking in tongues, shouting, running, dancing, or any such demonstration of the joy of the Lord, but his concern focuses on the salvation of the lost. Jesus Christ did not use His power as a sideshow, but to glorify the heavenly Father. (See John 9:3, 11:4.) When Simon the sorcerer wanted to purchase the power of the Holy Ghost so that he could add tongues to his repertoire of tricks, the apostle Peter rebuked him: “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee” (Acts 8:22).

III. Order and Regulation (A)Order and Regulation

Having spent considerable time addressing the misuse of the gift of tongues, Paul turned to another problem within the Corinthian church—the orderly use of all the gifts of the Spirit within the church service. The gifts of the Spirit are powerful and, like any form of power, can be destructive if not balanced.

III. Order and Regulation (A)A. Everyone Involved

“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of

you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a

revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto

edifying” (I Corinthians 14:26).

III. Order and Regulation (A)Paul was not rebuking the Corinthians in I Corinthians 14:26. Rather, he was ac-knowledging that every believer has something to contribute. “But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be” (I Corinthians 12:18, NIV). Every part is important. But every part must work toward the building up of the church.

III. Order and Regulation (A)The list Paul provided (a psalm, a doctrine, a tongue, a revelation, and an interpretation) is not meant to be an order for service or an exhaustive list of what the members of the body might offer in ministry and worship. The list could well have concluded with et cetera. Moreover, the word doctrine in the list is not to suggest that when the church comes together everyone may have a different doctrine. The word doctrine in that context simply means “a word of instruction.”

III. Order and Regulation (A)When a healthy church meets for worship, the believers may experience everything on Paul’s list, or more, during a worship service. Someone might lead in singing, another might provide instruction in the Word, another might speak in tongues, and still another might interpret those tongues. As a result, those present would receive revelation. But it must all be done to strengthen the church.

III. Order and Regulation (B)B. Guidelines Given

Having established the fact that “all things” must be done for the strengthening and building up of the church, Paul proceeded to provide guidelines for the operation of tongues and prophecy, the two gifts that have been at the forefront of his discussion in these chapters.  

III. Order and Regulation (B)1. The first rule of order is that if tongues are spoken for the purpose of interpretation, the person or persons speaking should make no more than three attempts without the message or messages being interpreted. (See I Corinthians 14:27.) The number three also seems to hold true for the maximum number of completed tongues and interpretations, or prophecies, which should occur in any given service. (See I Corinthians 14:29.)

III. Order and Regulation (B)2. The second rule governs tongues when no one present yields to the Spirit of God to interpret the tongues, or in the event the individual speaking is in error and the tongues were not meant to be interpreted. “But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God” (I Corinthians 14:28).

III. Order and Regulation (B)Some struggle with this rule, associating order with quenching the Spirit. However, the human spirit desires to commune with the Holy Spirit on a continual basis and can easily move a person to speak in tongues. A degree of maturity and spiritual sensibility is necessary to know when the tongues are to be interpreted and when they are to be spoken at the level of personal edification.

III. Order and Regulation (B)Speaking in tongues to oneself rather than in a loud voice to be heard by all during the preaching of the Word of God is not quenching the Spirit; it is exercising spiritual discipline, maturity, and self-control. Paul assured the Corinthians, “The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (I Corinthians 14:32). God gave this rule because He loves order. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (I Corinthians 14:33).

III. Order and Regulation (B)3. The third rule requires the Holy Ghost filled members of the congregation to judge or weigh carefully an interpretation of tongues or prophecy. (See I Corinthians 14:29.) The validity and accuracy of the interpreted tongues and prophecy are to be weighed by the Word of God. It is the standard by which all things are measured or weighed. (See Psalm 119:89, Matthew 24:35.)

III. Order and Regulation (B)4. The fourth rule addresses respect for one another and applies to those speaking spontaneously by the Spirit. This rule is not addressed to the preacher who is proclaiming God’s Word, but to those who may operate in the gift of tongues and/or interpretation. Paul wrote, “And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop” (I Corinthians 14:30, NIV). The purpose of this rule is to prevent an individual from dominating a church service to the exclusion of others. (See I Corinthians 14:31.) This rule prevents disorder among the members of the body of Christ, for God is a God of order.

III. Order and Regulation (C)C. Submissive Spirit Required

Paul proceeded to address what it really means to be spiritual. He cautioned the Corinthians again concerning spiritual pride: “Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached?” (I Corinthians 14:36, NIV). Pride is one of the three major avenues that lead to sin. (See I John 2:16.) Men and women in positions of authority must continually guard against the sin of pride and the sense of entitlement. Individuals who are used of God also must guard against pride. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

III. Order and Regulation (C)The Corinthians prided themselves in that they thought themselves to be more spiritual than others. The questions Paul posed were rhetorical and the answers were obvious: No, the Word of God did not originate with them, and they were not the only people whom the Word of God had reached. To be truly spiritual, an individual who is used mightily of God will be even more careful to respect lines of authority and to recognize his own fallibility.  

I Corinthians 14:37

“If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I

write unto you are the commandments of the Lord”

(I Corinthians 14:37).

Reflections

“Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not

to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and

in order” (I Corinthians 14:39-40).

ReflectionsIn his concluding words on the topic, Paul summarized the theme he had accentuated throughout the chapter. In a church service, clarity in communication of the gospel message must take precedence over personal edification. Prophecy and interpretation of tongues are gifts that should be eagerly sought after as a part of a worship service. There is no indication in the Scriptures that these gifts should be rare or unusual.

ReflectionsWhen the body is fit and functioning at its optimum level, it will respond immediately to orders from the head—Jesus Christ. Whether a sinner needs conviction of sin or a believer needs encouragement, these spiritual gifts are given for the building up and strengthening of the church.

ReflectionsSo that tongues not be deemphasized and lost altogether, the apostle stressed that no one should forbid speaking in tongues. He exhorted the Corinthians to incorporate order into their operation within the church service. Order is a characteristic of God just as grace characterizes Him. One has only to look to the creation of the world and the universe beyond to recognize the Lord’s emphasis on order. The planets and our solar system operate in an orderly fashion year after year, century after century, and for innumerable millennia.

ReflectionsThe human body, Paul’s metaphor in I Corinthians 12, is another example of God’s order that is amazing and almost beyond comprehension. It functions wonderfully as long as the order remains, but disorder in even one part of the body causes disease and chaos within the whole body.