Epiphany 5 Strive?
Feb. 4
1 Cor. 14:12b-20
† In Jesus Name †
Grace and Peace be yours, from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ!
Knowing versus Being a Father
The lessons of fatherhood have begun, and I have to admit, some of them are not… pleasant. One of the lessons, one of the harder lessons, that I learned this week, best illustrates the lesson we see in reading from 1 Corinthians.
It is probably not the most colorful lesson, or the most… fragrant, that was the diaper changing lesson. But it was the most dramatic, and for me, a painful lesson. You see, during the week I learned that there is a big difference between knowing you are a father, and being one.
Thursday evening, it became pretty apparent that I had contacted some kind of 24 hour stomach virus, as I became pretty ill. That is where the difference between knowing I am a dad, and having the blessing that I am one comes in. You see, knowing I had a bad bout of the flu, I determined to stay as far away from Kay, and from William, less I get them sick.
As I would look across the house, as William cried, I knew the difference between knowing I was his dad, and being his dad. I could not hold him, and soothe his emotions and stop his tears, I could not be his dad.
There was no doubt in my mind, that I was his dad, and yet, the reality of holding him in my arms, of seeing relief and peace brought to him, was beyond my reach. There was a disconnect between knowing, and being – and the difference was staggering.
Our life as believers, can be compared to the experiences of fatherhood I have had this week. I think that there are times, we are satisfied with sitting across the room, knowing that we are believers, that we have faith in Jesus. I would have us today, move to hold our faith in our arms, bringing Christ’s peace to those whose cries would would cease, as they cry AMEN to the words with which we proclaim and praise our Lord Jesus.
Zeal for Manifestation of the Holy Spirit
Isaiah’s Vision
For some tongues “proves” this
What proves to you, you’re touched by God?
Better if it benefits others!
The people in Corinth, had a great measure of eagerness to see the Holy Spirit’s power demonstrated in their midst. They wanted, perhaps even needed to know that God would work in their midst. There is, a certain faith-strengthening that occurs when we realize that God does work in our midst, and perhaps, that is even stronger when we realize it is because we are saved, that we can see God work, that our strength is given a boost.
Consider the other two readings today, and I think I can illustrate this more. When Peter is in the boat, and the miraculous catch comes in, he realizes that Jesus is from God. His reaction – please get away, I am a sinful man. That reaction is not so different from Isaiah’s, as he realizes he is in the very throne room of God. I am dead, I cannot live in the presence of Holiness.
Sin cannot abide, it cannot live in the presence of pure holiness. Matter of fact, the phrase that is often used in comparison to being unholy, is impure, or unclean. As in Isaiah’s own words, noting that he deserved judgment. In Malachi chapter 3, there is a great prophecy, which pictures Jesus refining the people of God, even as silver or gold is made pure. So pure, it is promised, Jesus will make the people of God, that they will be able to come into God’s presence again, with offerings done in righteousness.
And so Jesus refines, with Peter, as he calls Peter to work in the Lord’s work, to fish for men. And Jesus refines Isaiah, who as he realizes this, responds to a call, to use his gifts, that he might call Isreal back to God.
In both cases, their spirits are strengthened, and renewed, as they realize that they have been redeemed, purified, refined as they live in the very presence of God.
In the same way, the gift of tongues, used on its own, gives some assurance to the user of their salvation. Yet, as it only benefits them, to some extent, it is like me looking at a picture of William, or sitting across the room, assured I am his father. So much different is it, though the relationship doesn’t change, if I actually go over, and pick him up.
Zeal for Edification
The stranger saying Amen
Let Him give praise too!
See the Holy Spirit work there….
5 Words teaching better
As I studied this passage, two words came across strongly in the greek, because they appear twice. The first is zeiteit, from which we get zeal. It is used for eager, in the first verse we read, and in a verb form –for the word translated as strive. Think of strive as zealously pursue, and you have the image. The other word is what is to be pursued – oikodomen – edification. Or down in verse 17, where the word is translated as build up.
We are to strive, to zealously pursue, oikodomen – of the church. There is more than a sense of knocking together a few pieces of wood, but a plan, to cause strength, and durability in the building. If the church is built of people, based on the cornerstone of Christ, building then means to strengthen each other, and those that are being added to the body of Christ.
If I am to be a dad, rather than just knowing it, it means I am there for my young son, willing to deal with the cries, to hold him and try to bring him peace. To assure him that where he is weak, presently Kay and I will care for those weaknesses.
We do that in the church, by sharing what God has done for us, and that He will do it for them as well. Here is how Paul wrote to the Corinthians,
16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say "Amen" to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 1 Corinthians 14:16-17 (ESV)
Another Greek word picture arises with this idea of the outsider, who does not know what you are saying. The greek it literally pronounced idiot, thought the meaning comes closest to ignorant. If you were doing something that gave you assurance of your faith, of your place in Christ, but the other person had no clue what it meant, what good does it for them to listen? But if they hear, and know, they join our voices of praise, as they realize God’s love is for them as well.
That is why Paul values five words, that can be heard and understood, by an unbeliever, than words in tongues that men cannot understand. Because they can hear, and having heard, they can have faith.
What a joy it is, to see someone come alive in Jesus! To see them realize, by the power of the Holy Spirit, that Jesus came and died, for them. That their sins are forgiven. Believe me, as you see it happen, it is the closest thing I can think of emotionally and spiritually, to holding your own newborn son.
It is the same feeling, as you see someone come to know Jesus, to lift their voices in praise, as they realize that He died for them, or as they deepen their understanding of that.
Please note, Paul doesn’t say to pray only with the mind, to praise only with the mind, but to do both, to praise and pray, and thank, with all that you are, using the gifts you have, as you see the Spirit work through you, in the building up, the strengthening, the edificing of the church, the very people of God.
As we remind each other that we have been given the peace of God, the peace which surpasses all understanding, and guards your hearts and minds, and mine, and Williams, as we abide in Christ Jesus.
AMEN?
Amen!
