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1 Corinthians 14:21-25
As we follow Paul’s teaching to the congregation of the church at Corinth, he is concentrating on leading them in the proper way of worship. He reveals that, as it would appear, that the worship service of the church at Corinth consists of speaking in tongues. With this type of worship, and without an interpreter, there would be no learning as there would be no understanding (1 Corinthians 14:16-17). Some scholars have interpreted this passage as being that this type of church service would only cause unbelievers to have no interest of returning as they too would have no understanding of what was said. Paul states in 1 Corinthians 14:23 (NKJV), “23Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” But Paul is trying to lead the “saints, sanctified, and those who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:2) to prophesy in the church to gain guidance from God through His Holy Spirit working through their lives. We must also understand what prophesy means. Merriam-Webster defines prophesy as, “To speak or utter by divine inspiration.” Divine inspiration is what every priest, pastor, and teacher of God’s word should be relying on through their salvation and calling from God to spread the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ!
This is a command to seek divine inspiration from God for everyone who speaks and teaches His word.
This teaching is no different for us today; for our priests and our pastors, for our Sunday school teachers and Bible study leaders, and for our small group leaders and everyone else who teaches the Bible. We must not get side-tracked with our worship services and have our focus drawn to ourselves, as was the “saints, sanctified, and those who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord” from the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:2). I am sure that they meant well, but their efforts were to express things that were focused on themselves and not on the church as a whole. I once heard a pastor say that Satan goes to church, and I believe it. Satan tries his hardest to cause division and contentions in the church, just as was the case with the church at Corinth (1 Corinthians 1:10-11). How do we overcome this? Put your focus on Jesus…and keep it there!
Dear LORD,
Please indwell in our hearts the desire to feed on Your word that we may grow in our relationships with You through our salvation in Christ Jesus – that we would not have any other reasons than to learn of Your great love for us and how we can share that with others so they too may learn of Your great love for them. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit LORD and lead us as You will – in Christ. In Jesus name I pray, amen.