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PLAYING ON GOD’S TEAM
4 There’s No “I” In Team.
(Opening SLIDE) When was the first time you saw the gift of tongues or prophecy in operation? Some of you without much church background don’t have a clue what I’m talking about! You’ll know more in 30 minutes.
- Others of you have never personally seen the gifts of tongues or prophecy in operation but you’ve heard of them. You’ve maybe seen people on Christian TV shows who are praying or maybe even preaching and then suddenly they start to speak unintelligible words.
- Still others of you maybe grew up in a church environment where no one ever talked much about the gifts of tongues or prophecy but all you knew is that they were bad somehow. Like a dirty little family secret that everyone’s just supposed to know you don’t talk about.
- Others of you maybe grew up in an opposite church environment where tongues were common place. Each Sunday morning, at least one person, would get up and speak in some strange language. If you didn’t have this ability, the code word for you was, “not Spirit Filled.”
I grew up in a church that didn’t talk about spiritual gifts at all, and was especially hush hush about the gift of tongues. Then I went to Bible college, and one day during chapel, someone came up to the mike during a sharing time, closed her eyes, and at full volume started belting out something that was… not in English.
I was not really shocked so much as extremely curious. And, this one experience set our campus abuzz and I was immediately plunged into what I found out was a long standing controversy in the church about the exercise of the gift of tongues and who should have it.
Well we’ll need to scratch the surface of that controversy today because our passage, 1 Cor 14 is all about these two gifts: tongues and prophecy. HOWEVER, be forewarned, the take home application of this chapter is much broader than these two gifts and maybe… even more controversial!
So to begin, let me give you some background on
(SLIDE) 1. WHAT TONGUES AND PROPHECY ARE
Let’s start with the gift of tongues. Simply put, it’s a supernatural ability the Holy Spirit gives to speak in a language you didn’t learn. We see it first show up on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:6-8
When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia [etc.] - we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!"
However, when the gift is discussed in Corinthians, it seems to be somewhat differently used. (SLIDE) Listen to how it’s described in 1 Cor 14:2&4
- For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.
- He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…
So check out the contrast in the two gifts (SLIDE):
(BULLETS) ACTS 2
- known languages
- spoken to men
- people understand
- for purpose of evangelism
I COR 14
- unknown languages
- spoken to God
- no one understands
- for the purpose of personal edification
So the gift seems to have different expressions which in fact, Paul mentioned back in (SLIDE) 12:28:
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers… and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.
Remember he also made some reference to this being a wide-ranging gift in 13:1
- if I speak in the tongues of men and angels.
Now, historically and in my own personal observations, the most common expression of the gift seems to be of the 1 Cor 14 variety. Therefore, it’s primary value is for personal edification in private moments of prayer and worship, it provides a sense of God’s presence, a freedom when verbal prayer is inadequate.
(SLIDE) 2. TONGUES & PROPHECY – WHO SHOULD HAVE THEM?
Now, let’s dive into chapter 14:
(BULLET) 1 Cor 14:1 (BULLET) Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy…. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified.
Is there a gift that every Christian should have? Many people think all Christians should have the gift of tongues and yet you could make a much stronger case from these verses that EVERY Christian should really have the gift of prophecy.
But is that really what Paul is saying in light of every he’s ALREADY said about spiritual gifts? Remember Paul’s whole thrust at the end of Chapter 12 where he asks the rhetorical questions:
- are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all speak in tongues? ANSWER: NO!
Something to keep in mind is that just because Paul wishes people to have a certain gift does not mean he really believes that everyone should or will get that gift. A good case in point is what he’s already said about celibacy earlier in this letter (SLIDE).
1 Cor 7:7 I wish that all men were as I am [celibate]. But each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
Would we all be benefited by having all the gifts? Sure! But we don’t so that we lean on each other and live interdependently. Yet what Paul is saying is that there is a sense in which we should all seek what each gift represents.
- Do you have the gift of evangelism? Maybe not, but should you seek to share your faith? Yes!
- Do you have the gift of mercy? Maybe not, but should you seek to be merciful? Yes!
- It’s in this sense that Paul can say, ‘I’d like you all to have this gift or that gift. In this sense we all should desire the well rounded maturity represented by ALL the gifts.
My wife has the gift of tongues, I don’t, I have the gift of teaching she doesn’t. Yet as a Christian, who has the Holy Spirit inside him, I seek to hear God and develop my intimacy with him, and my wife seeks to follow the Biblical command for ALL believers to teach each other.
It‘s in the sense of desiring a well rounded Christian maturity that we may ALL desire ALL the gifts and express them all in some measure.
(SLIDE) 3. TONGUES & PROPHECY – DEEPER PRINCIPLE
So this is where we must realize that Paul is going past tongues and prophecy per se to a deeper principle. Why has Paul singled out prophecy as greater? Is it because he really believes people who prophecy are better and if you have the gift of tongues or some other gift you should just take it back?
NO! He is advocating prophecy because the Corinthians are not seeking a well rounded Christian maturity and he wants to balance them. (BULLET) Let’s go to verse 4:
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.
Now, as you read that I want you to create two equations in your mind:
- (BULLET) tongues = a focus on edifying self
- (BULLET) prophecy = a focus on edifying others
This is Paul’s deeper concern: The Corinthians were focused only on their own spirituality and growth and they didn’t give a rip about their brothers and sisters spirituality and growth or about non-Christian friends who desperately needed Jesus.
This attitude was seen in their worship services:
People would come to worship, rich people first, sometimes eating all the communion food before the poorer Christians would get there. Then in worship, they would drift into a sort of spiritual ecstasy that was disengaged from their brains, and then those with the gift of tongues would stand up and speak in some unknown language... and then another person would be overcome with some message from God and start talking and then another until the whole place was a cacophony of noise and confusion!
Can you see now why Paul is highlighting prophecy? Prophecy is a gift, (SLIDE) VS 3
“to strengthen, to encourage and to comfort.” Strengthen means to help build up or grow someone spiritually. It’s this concern for others growth that is totally lacking in their church.
Does this mean that Paul is saying the gift of tongues is bad? (SLIDE) NO. That’s why he mentions three tongues disclaimers:
- (BULLET) vs. 5 he wishes they all had this ability It builds a person up, that’s good.
- (BULLET) Vs 18 Paul thanks God that he speaks in tongues a great deal, this is obviously a gift that he has and that helps him know God better
- (BULLET) Vs. 39 Paul says no one should forbid people from speaking in tongues
So the practical upshot of all this talk of two gifts comes down to (SLIDE) three rules which Paul lays down:
14:27 - The first is, tongues is pointless in public without an interpretation that people can understand. So the sister gift of interpretation must be there in public to keep in mind our foremost goal: to build others up.
14:29 – The second is, anything that purports to be a message from God, either a prophecy or a tongue with an interpretation – must be weighed carefully. It must be tested.
14:40 – everything should be done in a fitting an orderly way.
Now, in a sense, Allen Creek, I want to get all that out of way, so we can focus now on the deeper principle. See if you can catch it as I read these (SLIDE) verses:
6 Now, brothers, 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?…
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….
11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to me…
12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
16 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.
I want you to catch some phrases here.
- “what good will I be to YOU?…
- “how will anyone ELSE know?”
- “Excel in gifts that build up OTHERS.”
- “The OTHER man is not edified.”
Are you catching his point? Might I suggest Allen Creek, that we take the names off of these two gifts and hone in on the question: are we…
Focused of building others up OR
Focused on building up me only
If you are being built up, what does he say? Vs 17, hey, it’s working for you fine, BUT, what about everyone else? That’s the DEEPER PRINCIPLE HERE and the question I want us to ask Allen Creek:
what about everyone else?
SAFE
This fall we’ve put a lot of energy into clarifying our mission once again. We’re using the acronym, S.A.F.E.: make Sure Allen’s Fears are Eliminated. You know who Allen is? Allen is the other guy. Allen is the guy or the gal next to you. And our mission for them to move from seeking to believing, and from spectating to full participation, from immaturity to full devotion.
If you need another acronym that might fire you up, think A.I.M. Our mission is to get ALLEN IN MOTION. Now, what’s that going to take? It’s going to take all of us, no matter how long you’ve been a follower of Christ to ask, what about everyone else? What about
- the fearful new Christian who needs an open chair in your small group?
- the person who needs to be matured without a bunch of high sounding words or a brand of spirituality that he doesn’t understand. That may work for you, but does it make sense to him?
- the person who needs to know what worship means?
- the person who needs to learn how to pray, tithe, serve?
Paul says, in verse 18:
I’d rather speak 5 intelligible words to instruct others than 10,000 words in a tongue.
What’s he saying? Is he downgrading the gift of tongues? No, he’s focusing on what it represents to the Corinthians. Go back to our equations: A focus on building me up ONLY and saying to heck with the other guy. So, Paul is saying: no, think about the other guy. What does he need? Edify him!
I’ve been in long caravans before where anywhere from 5 to 25 vehicles are making the same trek together - as a tree planting and a youth pastor. You know what my rule always was for the drivers? Keep up with the guy ahead of you. That was my rule. It seemed natural because you’re always looking ahead anyhow.
As it turns out, that’s the dumbest thing we could have done. Just one car has to get too far ahead, one car is stuck in traffic and quickly everyone is separated, we miss rendezvous points, cars get lost, pass each other without knowing it, confusion.
Eventually I heard another method for traveling caravans that was exactly the opposite: keep the guy behind you in your rear view mirror at all times. That seemed unnatural, always looking backwards. But it was brilliant!
If everyone followed that rule, then the middle vehicle getting a flat means no one gets lost, because the next vehicle has him in their sights. You can always reach back and slow down, but often you can’t go fast enough to keep up. And you know what? We never lost a vehicle, and we all arrive together.
Friends, the Corinthians didn’t give a rip if they lost some stragglers. They were looking at the person in front of them desperately trying to keep up with their spirituality, their knowledge. And Paul says, in this whole chapter, what about the guy behind you?
And here’s where Paul takes the gloves off in verse 20:
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children.
How do children think? They think only about their needs and how they will be met. You don’t have to be a bible scholar to edify others. Just turn and give what you’ve been given. That’s it. Make that your habit. You have a thimble full of knowledge and spirituality.
Make sure it’s full, be feeding yourself, go get what you need.
- You have a bible, read it,
- You have knees, get on them,
- you have a church, find some Christian walking buddies (opportunities)
- you have some Christian walking buddies? Draw strength from them!
- you have a pastor unpacking the mysteries of the Bible every week in a profound and meaningful way, apply what you hear!
- …and then turn around and pour your thimbleful into someone else.
Some good old fashioned American consumerism has invaded the church and it doesn’t belong. Worldly values of blame casting, victimhood, adult children of this or that who reject responsibility. The church is in dire need of some parents, Allen Creek, some people more formed by the Word of God than conformed to the world around them.
And if this message weren’t strong enough, Paul says, the “What about everyone else” Principle applies to outsiders as well as insiders. Look at verse 22ff:
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?
Now, I don’t believe Paul is teaching that tongues as expressed in the Corinthian church was a sign for non-Christians. Why? Because the very next thing he says is that if non-Christians come and hear this, they’ll think you’re nuts.
Is it likely that Paul would contradict himself in back to back sentences? Not likely. More likely is that verse 22 should be in quotes, it’s what the Corinthians believe about tongues, and verse 23 is Paul’s response to their little motto. He does this in many other places in the same letter.
Why do the Corinthians think that unknown tongues should be a sign to non-Christians? I think they’re being spiritually lazy. They’re thinking, if we just focus on us, God will do the work. God will do the messy work of making the gospel and worship and community understandable for people who don’t understand.
Friends,
- it takes effort to explain the gospel, to change Christian lingo, to welcome outsiders.
- It takes effort to make community and spiritual growth understandable to people who have never experienced it,
- it takes effort to introduce someone to the wonders of worship.
- It takes using our spirits AND our minds (vs.15)
And more than that, it takes concern. The Corinthians were not concerned about outsiders. Me, me, me, and you baby Christian, you non-Christians can just catch up, can’t you? You know when they will catch up?
(SLIDE) Paul gives the answer:
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!"
People will get it, when WE ALL eagerly desire to prophecy – and what does Paul say prophecy equals? Go back to our equations: Prophecy equals a focus on the edification of others. Other people getting it, other people understanding. We when start to ask,
What about the everyone else?
There is no “I” in team, men and women. That, I dare say, is more controversial than anything I could ever say about tongues or prophecy.
- some of you are stagnating thinking you have nothing to give to others – that’s not true and you know it… it’s time to pour your thimble full into someone else’s life, get over your insecurity, and grow some courage.
- some of you are focused on yourself because you’re hurt – that happens, but friend, when are you going to do something about that? There’s a lost world out there that needs you. And a church that needs some spiritual parents.
- some of you are may even be looking with disdain on me for not focusing on your growth enough – I’m can always improve, but have you embraced the Biblical teaching that it’s your job to build up the body, not mine (Eph 4:12)?
I’m so glad that Richard Enns (one of my spiritual mentors you will probably never see or know) would rather speak 1 intelligible word to me when I was a seeker than to focus only on his own spiritual experiences. Some of my greatest spiritual mentors were high school students! I’m so thankful the people who reached & discipled me were looking in the rear view mirror!
You get it Allen Creek? They weren’t spiriutal giants. But they launched me in my walk with Christ because they asked, "What about everyone else." It’s not a question you start to ask after you’ve been a believer for 10 years. It’s a question you start to ask today.
