Sunday, June 17, 2012 pm
STUDIES IN 1 CORINTHIANS
Conduct in the Assembly (1)
1 Corinthians 14:1-25
Having addressed the issue of speaking in tongues, today we want to
reexamine this same text, but this time we want to focus the attitudes
that govern our worship when we assemble together.
This is the practical application of this text with lessons we
ought to apply in our worship services.
a.
We have talked
extensively about the importance of love.
It must govern our conduct, including our attitude toward God and
one another in our worship and work as the Lord’s church.
It was to prevalent in the way they treated each other concerning
the use of their spiritual gifts, and we need it as we conduct our
worship.
b.
The word, “pursue” means
to do something with intense effort.
The word is also a PRESENT Tense verb meaning ongoing action.
AM I willing to do my part to ensure that love is present?
c.
When we assemble we need
to put aside our personal differences and with one heart and one voice
worship Him. That was one of
the problems Paul was addressing in our text.
a.
The context was dealing
with spiritual gifts which are no longer present.
b.
BUT, let us be reminded
that we all have gifts and abilities, something we have discussed in
times past. Rom. 12:6-8, 1
Pet. 4:11.
c.
Will we seek to excel in
what we are capable of doing?
As Christians we are always to do our best – Colossians 3:23 tells us
that whatever we do, it must be “heartily, as to the Lord.”
(cf. Eccl. 9:10).
This would certainly include our worship services.
Let us NEVER forget that when we assemble we are worshipping God
and all that we do must be with due reverence to Him. (Heb. 12:28)
Does He not deserve our best, even in worship? Remember that Heb. 13:15
reminds us to offer a sacrifice to God of the “fruit of our lips” which
would include our singing and prayer, etc.
Consider that this is described as a sacrifice which would
include it being the best that we have!
God is insulted when we offer to Him our leftovers (cf. Mal.
1:6-8).
Consider the familiar Col. 3:16 which calls upon us to sing with grace
in our hearts to the Lord.
a.
While attached to gifts
such as prophesying, interpreting tongues, knowledge, etc. Paul observes
that the goal is to edify, exhort and comfort – these we ought to seek
to do in our worship services and always. Let us take a few moments to
understand these words
b.
Exhortation
– is a word that is associated with comfort and is often translated
“consolation” including 2 Corinthians 1:3-7 which uses the word 6 times.
It means to be an encouragement to one as he struggles to do the
right thing. I am reminded
of Paul’s admonition in 2 Cor. 2:5-8 where he encourages the brethren of
Corinth to accept back into their midst, the sinful brother who has
repented.
As preachers and teachers, we need to sometimes remind ourselves of the
need for such a message (i.e. we should not be exclusively focusing on
problems, etc.). But at the
same time, we must not neglect the problems either. The gospel message
involves a skillful balance as we seek to declare “the whole counsel of
God.” (cf. Acts 20:27)
Even in 2 Tim. 4:2-3 where Paul charges Timothy to preach the word “in
season and out of season” we find that the ultimate goal is to exhort
them. Together these words describe a process in which you identify
error or problems, make application and then provide a solution with
encouragement.
c.
Comfort –
is a word used only here and is similar in meaning to the word “exhort”
but it “expresses a greater degree of tenderness.” (WS Dictionary)
It indicates consolation and encouragement in the face of
trouble. We sometimes speak
of consoling others – that is the idea here.
Certainly, our study of God’s word ought to lead to this.
Even when there is reproof and rebuke for sinful conduct, the
ultimate goal is comfort.
Phil 2:1 says, “Therefore if there
is any consolation in Christ, if any
comfort of love, if any
fellowship…”
1 Thess. 2:11, “We exhorted and
comforted and charged every
one of you, as a father does his own children.”
d.
Edification
– I mention this last because we want to spend some time dealing with
this. It is a recurring
precept in this chapter.
i.
What is edification?
The Greek word, οἰκοδομή (oikodomen) literally means to build up,
as in building a house. In
fact, the word actually includes the Greek word for house (οἶκος, oikos)
and that is the way Vine’s describes it (under the word build).
Louw-Nida says of the word, “to strengthen, to make more able, to
build up.” (74.15).
The idea, as it is used in scripture is the building up of the saints
spiritually. As we examine
this word in our text, this will become clearer.
ii.
Edification – a work of
the church
1.
Our text: 1 Cor. 14:12,
“Let it be for the edification of
the church that you seek to excel.”
1 Cor. 14:26, “Let all things be
done for edification.”
2.
Eph. 4:11-16 is a text
that clearly points this out – God gave various leaders within the body
“for the equipping of the saints
for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
As you continue to examine the text you find this is accomplished
through sound teaching that will strengthen the body and prepare them
for teaching that is contrary to God’s word.
When we speak the truth it causes growth, “from
whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every join
supplies, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
3.
This is accomplished by
the conduct of brethren toward one another.
1 Thess. 5:11, “Therefore comfort
and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
Eph. 4:29, “Let no corrupt word
proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification,
that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
Rom. 14:19, “Therefore, let us
pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may
edify another.”
4.
And in addition to this
there are passages that simply address how we ought to be concerned and
work for building up the body though the word “edification” is not used:
a.
Heb. 10:24-25 which
challenges us to exhort one another by not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves
b.
Col. 3:16 in our worship
speaks of us “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and
spiritual songs…”
c.
Acts 20:32, as Paul is
speaking to the Ephesians elders he commends to them “the
word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an
inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
d.
1 Thess. 5:14-15 finds
Paul exhorting brethren to “warn
the unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with
all.” In all of these we
see a concern which will result in the building up of the church.
iii.
Characteristics of
edification in our text
1.
As we have seen already
there many things which promote edification.
In our text we find some things mentioned that I want for us to
consider:
2.
Let there be
understanding -
Vs. 5 – edification is the result of understanding.
Throughout this text Paul has emphasized how, within the
assembly, “prophecy, revelation, etc.” is better than tongue speaking.
The reason is that it helps the membership better understand
God’s word. He
followed that statement with the illustration of making a distinct sound
(14:7-9) – something that was not mere noise, but rather something
people would know what it was and what it meant (i.e. the trumpet).
And where there is understanding there is the ability to obey.
A general rule of life is that ignorance is detrimental to growth.
Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”
As Christians we are expected to GROW! 2 Pet. 3:18, “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
To grow we need knowledge.
That knowledge needs to be understandable.
Gibberish or a foreign language is totally useless if you are
trying to learn how to do something.
IF we want to grow we need “input”.
And that is also true as we seek to build each other up – the
more we know about each other the better able we are to help each other.
That fits well with the description of the church as a body, with
each member being important and working WITH each other.
What causes the body to function?
What causes each part to do what it is supposed to do?
It is “input”. WE now
know that the brain is a communication center that sends information to
various parts as needed. A
study of the cell has indicated the very same thing (which is actually
an argument for a creator).
3.
Let there be earnest
desire to build up the body
-
Vs. 12 – zeal for the church will cause you to excel in such a way that
the she will be edified.
We have noted continually throughout the book of 1 Corinthians the
“party spirit” that was prevalent there.
We have addressed self-seeking motives, arrogance, and division.
Our very text in dealing with these spiritual gifts finds a
competitive spirit that produced jealousy and envy.
These attitudes tear down the body instead of building it up!
Paul also calls for EXCELLENCE in this verse – he says we OUGHT
TO excel.
The word means “to abound, to be in abundance, to be a lot of, to exist
in a large quantity,…” (Louw-Nida, 59.52)
The word is often translated “abound” – 2 Cor. 8:7, Phil. 1:9, 1
Thess. 3:12
Titus 2:14 speaks of us being a people “zealous for good works.”
Are we?
ONE of the ways we can edify the body is by becoming the absolute best
at what we do! This was
mentioned earlier in this lesson and it STILL applies here!
Are we truly giving the work of the Lord our BEST efforts?
Will He accept anything less?
4.
Let there be concern -
Vs. 17 – you give thanks, but the
other is not edified.
This verse comes after Paul observes one who in displaying his gifts is
thinking about himself rather than the rest of the body.
What he does benefits him and that is all that matters.
Such an attitude is NOT productive to growth.
How often did Jesus rebuke the self-seeking?
They were talented and had abilities, but they were
self-righteous and arrogant.
A case in point is Luke 18:9-14 where the Pharisee BRAGGED about his
accomplishments.
Paul calls for HUMILITY in this verse – in essence he is telling
them to think about their brethren as they act.
This accords with such passages as:
Phil. 2:3-4, “Let each of you look
out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of
others…”
1 Pet. 5:5 “Be clothed with
humility, for ‘God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Matt. 18:4 Jesus said the he who humbles himself will be greatest in the
kingdom of God.
We need to think about others for the sake of edification.
Are we trying to build them up or achieve our own agenda?
5.
Vs. 26 – let ALL things
be done for edification!
In all we do for the body, we need to step back and ask, how will
this affect the body? How
will this affect my brother (individually)?
If you think about the work of the body of Christ – EVERYTHING we
do builds up the body:
a. Whether it be worship to God – He is glorified and we are
strengthened
b. Evangelism builds up the body physically – adding more members
c. True benevolence removes obstacles that hinder our ability to do more
spiritually
d. Discipline builds up the body by keeping it pure and hopefully builds
up the one being disciplined.
f. Teaching God’s word builds us up by preventing ignorance and
instructing us in the way we should go.
Truly, we need to give due consideration to edification in the body of Christ. That is Paul’s concern as he thinks of the church in Corinth and everywhere. May it be our concern as well! Are we doing our part to edify this body? Think about it!