This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "The Word Of God Should Cause Grief and Restoration", 8/10/14

 

THE WORD OF GOD SHOULD CAUSE GRIEF AND RESTORATION

 

2 Corinthian 1:23,24,2:1-11

 

The Apostle Paul was addressing the previous issue of adultery that was allowed in

Church that should have been corrected. A man in the Church was having an affair

with his father's wife. Paul's decision was firm. The unrepentant member had to be put out of the Church to shame him into repentance. Some of the members were grieved over this decision.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

V:23. " I call God as my witness that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to   Corinth."

 A. Paul in consideration of the grief of the congregation decided to delay his return

      to check on the progress of the Corinthians.

     1. The hearts of the members of Corinthian Church were obviously pierced by what

          they were required to do in order to restore Christian order and unity in the

 

          Church.

     2. Paul did not want to grieve them any more by his presence.

 B. Sometimes it is best to give the Church time to heal from the wounds of their

     punishment before challenging them to move forward. 

    1. It takes time for people to get comfortable with doctrines of God that had not

        been previously enacted.

    2. Sometimes we get distracted by what we want or feel rather than following the

        commands of God.

        a. Our attachment to someone can cause us to loose focus on what is right before

            God.

        b. You can't let a fire burn down a house because you like the color of the flame.

        c. Adultery is a fire that will destroy the family.

        d. The fabric of the Church is based on family unity.

 

V:24. "Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it  is by faith you stand firm."

A. Since Paul was the shepherd of the Corinthian Church, he had the authority to

    command the Church to conform to the doctrine of Jesus Christ.

   1. Paul wanted the Church to return to their formal joy before returning to visit with

       them.

    2. Paul encourage the Church to stand firm in their faith.

       a. Standing firm in our faith means following God's commands.

       b. Standing firm in our faith means role modeling the righteousness of God.

 B. The Church should derive their joy from following the commands of God.

    1. When we get comfortable with the Lord's commands we will find joy in

         our obedience.

    2. Some of God's commands does not agree with our fleshly desires.

    3. What God commands us to do always works to good of the body of Christ.    

 

V.2:1. " So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you."

  A. It may be that Paul was disappointed with the failure of the Church to follow the

       the doctrines he had taught them.

     1. May be Paul wanted to get his mind right before he addressed the congregation

         again in person.

     2. When get angry and upset, it takes time for us to calm down.

     3. When you are upset with another person, you may say the right thing in the

 

          wrong   tone.

          a. Instead of reconciling others back to the body we can easily push them away.

 B. Paul decide in himself that if he came to the Church it would be painful for them

     and for him, especially if order had not been restored.

   1. Paul considered  the state of the Church and his affect on their joy. 

   2. He would rather stay away until he could be comfortable in their

       presence.

   3. We should always be considered of how our actions might affect other

       believers in the wrong direction.

 

 V.2:2. "For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved?"

  A. Paul derived his joy from the spiritual growth and development of the believers.

       1. If he grieved other believers, he would also be grieved.

       2. As parents, we can understand when we have to discipline our children, we are

           also grieved.

          a. Sometimes we have to relive what we have done to see if their is any change

 

              in  behavior.

         b. Sometimes we have review what we have done to reevaluate the effectiveness

 

            of our own actions.

   B. There is no way to discipline someone without feelings being hurt.

       1. There will always be someone criticizing what you do in the name of the Lord.

       2. As the shepherd of the God's people, you have to follow God's commands

           not the desires of others.

      3. God is not concerned about our feeling. But He is concerned about our

 

          obedience.

          a. God does not want anyone to perish because of their sins.

 

 V:3. " I wrote as I did so that when I came I should not be distressed by those who ought  to make me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy."

 A. Paul wrote in strong language  to get the Church body to clear up any disorder and

      deal with the sin that was continuing among them.

    1. Paul expressed his confidence that after being given Godly instructions, the

        members of the Church would act quickly to restore the unity in the body.

    2. God is no respecter of person.

        a. No matter who the disruptive person is related to, he must be counseled and

            disciplined when necessary.

        b. The Word of God was not given that we may feel good in our sins.

        c. The Word of God was given so that we are convicted of our sins and

            run toward the righteousness of God.

 B. We should be joyful when love is shown in the Church body through

         necessary discipline.

     1. Love requires discipline when necessary to keep the body reconciled to Christ.

     2. The Bible says that a man who does not discipline his child, does not love him.

 

V:4. " For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears,

 

   not   to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you."

 A. It should be out love that we correct a believer who is going astray.

     1. It is not our job to criticize, but it is our job to bring to ones attention

         the errors of their ways to bring them back to right fellowship with the Lord.

     2. We are our brothers keeper and we should do everything we can to direct them

          in the ways of the Lord.

 B.    Paul was grieved and distress when he heard that the Church was falling away

 

        from   God.

     1. He was grieved and distressed to burden the Church with the truth of the Word

         regarding their sins.

     2. Paul's grief and distress was do to his love for the body of Christ.

  

V:5. " If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of  you, to some extent — not to put it too severely."

 A. Paul states that those who grieve the Church with their disobedient behavior, also

      grieve him.

     1. Paul was made to suffer by Christ for the sake of preaching the Gospel of Jesus

         Jesus Christ.

     2. Just as Jesus grieved for his own people who rejected him. Paul also grieved for

         those who rejected the Gospel after hearing the Gospel.

 B. Individual Churches grieve for their own, but Paul's grief was for all who rejected

      the Gospel though out his missionary trips.

     1. The grief of the Churches were not more than they could handle.

     2. God will not put more on you then you can handle.

     3. Personal grief is necessary for spiritual growth and maturity.

     4. Handling problems in the Church according to the Word of God strengthens

         the Church.

 

 V:6. " The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him."

  A. Paul turned his attention to the man in the Church that had to be disciplined

       for the sin he brought into the Church.

     1. The punishment inflicted fitted the sin.

         a. A man was put out of the Church to bring him back to the church.

         b. He stepped away from God in his adultery.

         c. The punishment was designed to cause him to quit his adulterous

             relationship, repent and return to fellowship.

  B. It is normal for believers who don't have a good understanding of the

       Word  to get upset when the truth is applied to them or someone they

        favor.

      1. The problem is that we have a fleshly definition of love. 

          a. Some think that love means not hurting someone's feelings.

      2. God's love is designed to cure the soul not ones feeling.

      3. God's love is always just and fair and has as it's objective the kingdom of God.

      4. The Word of God is not given to make you feel better, but make you more

           like Christ.   

 V:7. " Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be

   overwhelmed by excessive sorrow."

 A. Forgiveness is automatic.

     1. All our sins were nailed to the cross with Jesus and covered with His blood.

     2. Repentance and restoration to body is up to the believer in sin.

  B. When we are wronged, we should not be unforgiving, because God is

       constantly forgiving us.

     1. The man in sin should be comforted with the truth that he has been forgiven

         and can return to fellowship in the Church as soon as he repents of his sins.

     2. Once he returns, the Church should treat him as God's redeemed.

        a. Once we repent and ask for forgiveness, we are restored to fellowship

            with the Father.

 

 V:8. " I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him."

  A. As a body of believers we must comfort those in sin with the knowledge that they  

       were never without our love even though they are not in fellowship with us.

      1. Those who repent of their sins need to know that it was because of God's love

          for them that they were punished.

      2. There are consequences for our disobedience,

          a. The consequences are a result of God's love.

   B. Those that God called out of  the darkness will be chastised for their sins.

       1. Like the potter, God may have to shatter our lives to reshape us into useable

           vessels.

       2. Sin is rebellion against God. The God  we serve is a jealous God.

          a. The God we serve will act on our behalf with discipline to restore us

               to Himself.

 

 V:9 "The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in

  everything."

 A. The Christian life is a test that will result in a testimony to the goodness of God.

     1. At the start of the earthly ministry of Jesus, He was led to the wilderness to be

         tempted.

     2. It was The Father's design to temp His Son before His preaching ministry

         begun.

     3. We are not exempt from temptations but assured that temptations will come our

         way for our strengthening and spiritual maturity.

  B. In the Garden of Eden, Adam was given one command to test his obedience to the

       Father.

       1. The Word from the Lord was not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge and of

             Good and Evil.

       2. The command came with a punishment for disobedience; death.

       3. Because of Adam's sins, we were all born in sin.

  C. It is God's design that we should live.

       1. The way to eternal life is faith in His Son which is  evidenced by our obedience

            to God's commands.

 

 V:10. " If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven — if there

   was anything to forgive — I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake."

 A. The love of our brothers is the command of God.

     1. We show our love by our willingness to forgive and move forward to comfort

 

          and  restore the brother to fellowship.

     1. Our love for others cannot be conditional on their behavior.

     2. God's love for us is not conditional on our behavior but on our redemption.

     3. The redemption we have is through the Son, Jesus Christ.

 B. All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

    1. Love and redemption glorifies God the Father.

    2. There should be no one we can't forgive, because their forgiveness does not rest

        with us.

    3. We should forgive because it clears our conscience.

    4. We should forgive because it makes us right with the Father.

 

 V:11. "In order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes."

    A. Satan is the author of all sin.

         1. Sin in mankind begin with Satan deception of Eve in the Garden of Eden.

         2. Satan is the father of lies.

         3. There is no truth in him.

             a. He seeks to steal, kill and destroy.

             b. Satan's objective is to destroy any relationship with Jesus.

    B. We know of some of his schemes to deceive man into rejecting the Word of God.

         1. By ourselves, we are no match for his deceptions.

         2. With the power of the Holy Spirit we can recognize his presence and reject

             his schemes.

    C. One of Satan's tools of deception is an unforgiving spirit.

        1. Satan will use our unforgiving spirit against us.

        2. When we can't forgive, we can't see our own sins.

        3. When we can't forgive, we destroy our own fellowship with the Father.

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "God Comfort's Us So We Can Comfort Others", 8/3/14

GOD COMFORTS US SO WE CAN COMFORTS OTHERS

 

2 Corinthians 1:3-11

 

V:3.  " Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of

   compassion and the God of all comfort."

 A. Defn:  We need to be reminded who we are dealing with when we preach Jesus.

      1. Praise = Eulogetos= blessed

      2. God = theos = Supreme deity

      3. Father = pater = parent

      4. Lord = kurious = Supreme authority

      5. Jesus = Isesou = Jehoshua

      6. Christ = Christos = anointed = messiah

      7. Comfort = paraklesis= exhortation

 B. We have a duty to speak well of our God, the Supreme deity.

       1. The God we serve is above everything and everyone.

       2. There is none higher.

 C. God is our Father by blood and by spirit.

     1. God is the original parent of all creation.

     2. We have earthly parents as guardians until God gets us ready for His mission.

     3. God chose our earthly parents, but He is our eternal parent.

 D. The God we serve is Lord, the supreme authority.

     1. He has all the power.

     2. God has power over heaven and earth.

     3. God allows man to exercise some authority under His Supreme Authority.

 E. His Son Jesus was anointed to be the Savior of all mankind.

 F. The God we serve strengthen us in our trouble.

 

V:4. "Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble

  with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

 A. Defn: Comfort = parakaleo = to call near, invite, to the side of

     1. The God we serve comes along side of us in our troubles so that we can

         come along side others in their troubles.

     2. Life is not all about us.

     3. God gives to us so we can give back to others.

         a. God gives us love so we can love others.

         b. God gives us mercy, so we can show others mercy.

         c. God forgives us so we can forgive others.

         d. God is tolerant with us so we can be tolerant with others.

  B. Notice the Lord says "all" our troubles.

      1. The "all" means the troubles we cause ourselves and the troubles that come our

           way that we didn't have anything to do with.

      2. The "all" means sins of omission and the sins of commission.

      3. Hurting people do hurting things.

          a. Sometimes people have been hurt so many times in the past, that they

              expect that more trouble is around the corner.

          b. We don't always know what someone has been through.

          c. We have to come along side others, as Christ has come along

              side us.

          d. We have to be companionate to others.

          e. Sometimes people just need a listening ear.

          f. Sometimes people need our council.

               

V:5. " For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through

  Christ  our comfort overflows. "

 A. Christ who knew no sin, died on the cross for all of our sins.

      1. The moment we try to help someone, we will enter into their suffering.

      2. Christians should suffer when they see others in the household of faith

          suffering.

         a. Because of the great love Christ has shown us, we are expected to show

             love to others.

      3. Christians should be grieved for those we know who have no knowledge of

           our Savior.

          a. Our grief ought to move us to preach Jesus to them.

          b. We should come along side of them with a word from God.

  B. The sufferings of Christ overflows into our lives.

      1. The blood of Christ covers our past, present and future sins.

      2. It took a lot of suffering to cover all of our sins.

      3. God has strengthen us to suffer with others.

  C. People don't change over night.

      1. Once we start on a mission to help someone, it is a continuous mission

          until they recover.

      2. The love of God never stops for us.

         a. Therefore, we should never stop loving others.

         b. We all have been helped and are continuously in need of God's help.

         c. Therefore, we should be continuously helping others.

      3. The reward we receive for our kindness may not be in this life, but

          stored up as treasures in heaven.

 

V:6. " If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it

        is  for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same

        sufferings we  suffer. "

 A. Paul and those who labored with Paul suffered greatly for their mission to preach

     the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews and the gentiles.

    1. They suffered not for themselves but for all believers call by the Father through

        the blood of Jesus Christ.

    2. Their distress for the Church led to their comfort in Jesus Christ.

    3. Their distress for the Church led to their reward in heaven.

 B. They preached the Gospel with the constant threat to their lives for our salvation.

    1. The comfort of Christ constantly flowed through them as they fulfilled the

        mission of Christ.

    2. Paul and his co-laborers worked tirelessly to bring light to a darken world.

 C. Paul and his co-laborers had to trust God and not themselves.

    1. They had to learn to wait on the Lord.

    2. They had to learn to wait expecting the Lord to see them through troubling

        situations.

  D. Trusting the Lord mean waiting expectantly when you don't see a good return

        on your efforts.    

      1. Trusting the Lord means working to help when the person you are

          trying to help don't appreciate your help.

      2. Trusting the Lord means working to help when the person you are trying

          to help is fighting against you.

      3. Paul and His co-laborers derived their satisfaction from knowing that their

          preaching of the Word could never return void.

      4. When there is no evidence, we have the assurance that God is in control.

 

V:7. " And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."

 A. Christian workers need the prayers of the Church.

     1. When the saints pray for others, God acts on their faith to bless

          others.

     2. The Intercessory prayers of the saints are always effective.

     3. Jesus prayed to the Father for our salvation on the cross.

         a. "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." Luke 23:24

         b. Because Jesus intercedes for us, we must intercede for others.

 B. Because Jesus suffered for us, we must suffer for others.

    1. Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit to be our comforter.   John 14:26

    2. When we understand the comfort of the Holy Spirit, we can comfort others

         with our knowledge.

 

V:8. " We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life."

 A. God has a plan for each of us and it includes suffering. Philippians 1:29

     1. Using Paul as an example.

         a. He was trained to know God but not to see the Jesus in the scriptures.

         b. He persecuted the church until God knocked him off his high horse.

         c. God brought him to the light and commission him to preach Jesus.

     2. Throughout his ministry, he suffered the same persecution he did to the

          church before his call by God.

        a. What "Goes around comes around."   Acts 9:16

        b. His suffering was the foundation for his confidence in the comfort of Jesus

            through his troubles.

 B. Paul said, "I have learned to be content in whatever situation I am in." Phil 4:11

     1. He learned that he could trust Jesus through trials and tribulations.

     2. His troubles became his testimony to the love of Christ.

 

V:9. " Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we

   might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead."

 A. In order for us to trust Jesus we have to have a reason to rely on him.

     1. As long as we can handle life's troubles ourselves, we will see no need to

         call on Jesus.

     2. We have no power other than that which Jesus gives us.  John 15:5

         a. We will learn that we need his power when we get into a situation we can't

              handle.

         b. Trouble causes us to realize  that without Jesus we can do nothing.

         c. When we thought we could handle things, it was Jesus who strengthened us.

  B. Jesus affects change in our hearts before He affects change in our actions.

      1. Jesus breaks down our pride to humble us for His use.

      2. God hates the proud, but He uplifts the humble.

  C. While we were being disobedient, God was designing trouble for out lives, to

       teach us to rely on Him and not ourselves.

      1. No one can come to Jesus unless he is drawn by the Father.  John 6:44

      2. The trials and tribulations we can't handle will draw us to Jesus.

      3. The Lord and master of all troubles and tribulations is Jesus.

      4. Jesus specializes in handling the trials and tribulations of all who believe in Him.

 

V:10. " He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us."

 A. Our testimony is what Jesus has delivered us from.

      1. When we reflect back over our lives, we will discover that we did not survive on

           our own and we are not presently surviving on our own.

      1. When we know we can't handle the trials and tribulations of our lives and trust in

           in Jesus, our faith grows.

      2. Our confidence in Jesus is based on what He has done and what He is doing,

          and what He promises to continue to do.

         a. Jesus said, "I will never leave you or forsake you."

         b. Jesus said, "I will place on you no more than you can bear."

  B. What God has done in the past for us, He will continue to do in the future.

       1. The Lord said, "I change not."  Mal 3:6

       2. The Lord is the same today as He was yesterday and will be in the future.

 

V:11. "As you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for

          the  gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."

  A. Prayer works.

      1. We should never cease to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who labor

           for Christ.

      2. When the prayers of the saints go up, the blessings of the Lord rain down on

           them.

 B. We should always remember that someone in the Church is praying for our success

      in the ministry.

    1. We should continue to give God thanks for the prayers of the saints.

    2. We may never know who is praying for us, but we should give God thanks for the

         prayers of others.

 C. Because Satan loves to attack those who serve the Lord, the Church should always

      be in prayer.

    1. We should continue to pray for the building up of the Church through the workers

         of  the Lord.

    2. Every believer should look at his/her life and determine if you are sitting on the

         side lines or in the field working for Christ.

    3. We should never get weary serving the Lord, because in due season we will reap

        a harvest of love.  Gal 6:9

    

    LIFE IS NOT ALL ABOUT US, IT IS ALL ABOUT JESUS

 

Rev. Mitchell Asst Pastor of GMBC

 

 

NIV

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "One Language, One Understanding", 7/27/2014

ONE LANGUAGE, ONE UNDERSTANDING

 1 Corinthians 14:13-26

 

V:13. " For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says."

A. One of the gifts of the spirit given to the early Church was the gift of languages.

     1. The gift to speak in an unlearned language different from their native language.

     2. The gift of languages was first displayed in the early Church in Acts chapter 2.

     3. Some members of the Church begin thinking that this gift was  the most

 

       important    gift.

     4. Even today some Churches seem to think that this gift is the evidence of having

         the Holy Spirit.

     5. The word "tongue" is the Greek word glossa which means a specific language

          not acquired naturally.

 B. The Apostle Paul sets the ground work for utilizing the gift of tongues (languages)

      in public.

     1. Obviously this is a gift that is Holy Spirit controlled.

     2. Paul says that you should pray that you will be able to interpret what you are

 

        saying.

     3. How can you know what you are saying if you can not interpret?

 

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

 A. If I used by gift to pray and I don't understand what I am saying, then

     I am not fruitful to myself.

     1. Here is the misunderstanding of the use of the gift.

     2. It is not us that is controlling the conversation, but the Holy Spirit.

     3. It is the Spirit speaking through us to a particular person or group

        of  people who do not speak our language.

     4. We think the words of God as a witness and the Holy Spirit controls our

         speech in the language of the hearer.

 B. The only way the mind can be unfruitful is if I don't have an understand

      of the language that I am speaking.

 

 V:15. " So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind;   

   I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind."

 A. To be fruitful I must pray in the language that I know and others around me know.

    1. To be fruitful, I must talk in a language that I know and others know.

    2. To be fruitful, I must sing in a language that I know and others know.

 B. If we all know the same language, why speak in an unknown language?

    1. To whose benefit is an unknown language?

    2. If no one knows what I am saying, who is being edified?

 

 V:16. " If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying?"

 A. If we are exercising the gift of language of the spirit and some outsider comes in

      who do not know the language, how will the outsider be brought to Christ?

    1. When we abuse the gift to puff ourselves up, there is no gain.

    2. It is possible to drive the unbeliever away from Christ when we abuse our

       gifts.

 B. God did not gives us the gift of language to make ourselves look good before

 

    others.

    1. God does not give us gifts so that we may  boast.

    2. God does not give us gifts for a display of our abilities.

 C. We are given gifts so that the body may be built up.

    1. God did not give us gifts to lift ourselves up.

    2. God did not give us gifts to impress others.

    3. God gave us gifts so that others may be drawn to Christ.

 

V:17. " You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified."

 A.  Our praise and worship should be in a language that every one can understand.

     1. If we praise God in an unknown language, who would know that we are actually

         praising God?

     2. Our language of praise must be common for all to be edified.

 B. If  I speak French and you don't know French, will you be edified?

    1. If my native language is English and someone who speaks only French

        comes to me, the gift of language becomes a useful tool to witness for

        Christ.

    2. Every believer has gifts, but not always the same gifts.

    3. Any gift we have should be held in reserve until the time comes that it

        can be useful to edify the body of Christ.

    4. Any gift can become disruptive if it is not used appropriately.

 

 V:18. " I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you."

  A. The Apostle Paul journeyed to many different cities and countries,

       preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the languages of  the people.

     1. Paul spoke many languages.

     2. Paul only spoke in the language of the people in front of him.

 B. Because Paul was commission by God to preach the Gospel to the

     Gentiles, he was gifted to preach in different languages.

    1. The native language from country to country was different.

    2. Paul spoke the native language of each country.

 C. Paul gave thanks to God for his gift of languages.

     1. Paul glorified God with his gifts.

     2. Paul edified the body with his gifts.

 

 V:19. " But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others

    than ten thousand words in a tongue."

 A. Paul did not boast in his language skills.

    1. He boasted in preaching the Gospel in whatever language necessary for

        hearers to understand Christ Jesus. 

    2. Someone with a large vocabulary who cannot communicate is of no use

        to anyone.

 B. The Gospel must be preached in the language of the people for God to get

      the Glory.

    1. We must be able to adapt our gifts to the person we are witnessing to.

    2. Gifts that are not uses out of love for the hearer will not be effective.

 

V:20. " Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your

  thinking be adults."

 A. It is children that like to show off their talents for the sake of themselves.

     1. Children like attention for their edification.

     2. Children like the praise of those around them.

 B. Mature Christians should not seek the praise of man, but seek to give

     God praise.

    1. Mature Christian should not seek to display their gifts as a sign of their

        spirituality.

    2. Mature Christians should seek every opportunity to use their gifts to

        draw others to Christ.  

 

V:21. " In the Law it is written: "Through men of strange 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."

 A. We have to be careful of what voice we listen to.

      1. The voice of the flesh says take every opportunity to edify ourselves.

      2. The voice of the Spirit says take every opportunity to edify the

          body of Christ. 

 B. If I speak with an unknown language , I must be careful that I speak

      for Christ and not for myself.

    1. If I speak with an unknown language, I must be careful that body of Christ

        is edified and not the flesh of men.

    2. We all have gifts, but not all gifts should be used at all times.

 

 V:22. " Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy,

  however, is for believers, not for unbelievers."

  A. God gave us the gift of languages so that we can communicate with none

       believers who speak a different language.

      1. All gifts are to be used to draw unbelievers to Christ.

      2. If I speak to an unbeliever who only speak French, I need the gift

          speaking French to witness to him/her.

      3. If I and the unbeliever speak English, I don't need to use my gift of speaking

          French.

      4. If a group of believers all speak the same language, why speak a different

          language?

  B. If we all speak English, and I speak English words that you don't understand,

       am I communicating with you?

      1. For example: The ambience of the situation produced a calming effect on my

 

          inter   man.

          a. This is English, but do you have any idea what I said or what I meant by the

              statement?

          b. It may sound good, but I don't understand it.

      2. When we witness for Jesus, we must speak the language of the unbeliever.

 C. Prophecy which is proclaiming or teaching the Word must done in the language of

 

     the  believers so that they my be enlighten, encouraged and built up.

      1. Any gift used for selfish reasons will be ineffective.

      2. Every gift of God must be used with love for the brethren.

      

 V: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?"

 A. We are all in the body of Christ and must be unified with the Word of God in a

       language we can all understand.

     1. God did not gives us gifts to display as some trophy we have won, but to use

 

        them  in love so that body is built up.

     2. As an example, during one of our revivals, a visiting Pastor brought his ministers

         with him who prayed in some unknown language (tongue).

         a. After the message people come up to the altar for prayer.

         b. The visiting Pastor's ministers came and laid hands on us and prayed in this 

             unknown language.

         c. I had no idea what they were saying, so I was not enlighten, uplifted or

             encouraged.

         d. I didn't know if they were praying for me or against me.

         e. Since I didn't know the language, I was not sure they were praying to my

 

             Jesus.

 

         f. They did not bring an interpreter, so they disregarded God's command.  V:28

 B. God makes His Word plain to us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

     1. The Holy Spirit interprets the Word of God as we study.

 

 V:24,25  " 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, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and

   worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

  A. The better gift is to teach the Word in the common language of the people.

      1. An unbeliever will not be impressed of convicted by our gift of language

          that he does understand.

      2. Love is the key that should guide our use of gifts.

  B. Preaching the Word is for unbelievers.

      1. Teaching the Word is for believers,

      2. Preaching gets us into the Church.

      3. Teaching keeps us growing in the Church.

 

V:26. " What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn,  or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must   be done for the strengthening of the church."

 A. We must keep our focus on the purpose of teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

      1. Jesus laid down His life to save the souls of all sinners.

      2. The believers mission is given in the great commission Jesus gave His disciples.

           Matthew 28:19-20

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  

 

B. If we teach in an unknown language that people can't understand, are we fulfilling

 

     the  great commission ?

    1. Do we edify ourselves when we display our gifts for the purpose of show

        when we speak in a language that is uncommon to the church.

    2. Our job at all times is to speak a plain language so that the body is built up.  

 

Rev. M. Mitchell