August 22
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ORDER IN WORSHIP FOR EDIFICATION OF CHURCH
26 What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret; 28 but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God. 29 Have two or three prophets speak, and have the others pass judgment. 30 But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33 for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.
– 1 Corinthians 14:26-32
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According to bibleodyssey.org, the Corinthian church was a mixed-gender group. 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 reveals that women were fully involved in church life, participating vocally in gatherings for worship by praying aloud and prophesying. The article says that it isn’t easy to know the size of the Corinthian church, but scholarly estimates range from 40-150 persons. It is assumed then when the “whole church” came together for worship (1 Corinthians 14:23), it did so in a believer’s home, but Paul’s distinction between church and home in 1 Corinthians 11:22, may suggest otherwise. The meeting place may have been a rented dining hall, a large garden or some other venue.
In this letter, Paul gives the Corinthian church a guideline to use for church gatherings. Because of the predisposition of the Corinthian believers to misuse the spiritual gifts they have received; he gives them direction how to go about the order of using such gifts when they meet. Can you imagine if they are meeting in homes, halls or gardens and they were all praying aloud all at the same time and prophesying simultaneously? It would be chaos.
He reminds them in verse 26 that all must be done for the edification of the church. How often does our flesh interfere in the growth of the whole body of Christ? Our selfish nature wants to point to our gifts and forget the reason why it was given to us in the first place. He clearly instructs them in verses 27-32 how to go about giving each other room to speak in tongues, prophesy, exhort, pray aloud and interpret. In verse 33, he reminds them that they serve a God of peace, not of chaos or confusion. It is sad to watch many churches today not following the order that Paul spoke about in this letter.
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REFLECTION
• Why is order in a church worship very essential in a church?
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FOCUS ON THE GIVER NOT THE GIFT ILMA’S VLOG
August 21
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FOCUS ON THE GIVER NOT THE GIFT
20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written: “BY MEN OF STRANGE TONGUES AND BY THE LIPS OF STRANGERS I WILL SPEAK TO THIS PEOPLE, AND EVEN SO THEY WILL NOT LISTEN TO ME,” says the Lord. 22 So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you. – 1 Corinthians 14:20-25
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In this letter, Paul once again addresses the issue of the desire of the Corinthian believers to use the gifts of tongue for their own gain instead of edifying the body of believers. So, in verse 20, Paul reminds them of the importance of focusing on growing in their faith so they can mature and ensuring the they are infants when it comes to evil. What did Paul mean? He was correcting their thinking that were fascinated by this gift and using it for self-seeking reasons. Paul redirects their thoughts into a higher perspective where they won’t focus on using such gifts for their own gains but to bring glory to God with the use of the gift.
He repeats to them the prophet Isaiah’s words in chapter 28:11-12 which says “For by the people of the strange lips and with a foreign tongue, the Lord will speak to this people, to whom he has said, ‘This is rest; give rest to the weary; and this is repose’;yet they would not hear. David Guzik comments “They did not receive the word of the prophets who spoke to them in Hebrew, so now they will hear the voice of men with other tongues and other lips. The Assyrian invaders spoke a language the Israelites could not understand, and it was an example of judgment to the Israelites. The tongues were a sign of judgment upon the Israelites. Foreigners who spoke in unknown tongues invaded their country.”
Clarke also comments “The strange tongues were not a blessing, but a curse, “Take heed that it be not the case now: that, by dwelling on the gift, ye forget the Giver; and what was designed for you as a blessing, may prove to you to be a curse… God may curse your blessings.”
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important not to lose sight of the Giver when we receive gifts?
PRAY THAT YOU MAY INTERPRET ILMA’S VLOG
August 20
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PRAY THAT YOU MAY INTERPRET
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive. 15 What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also. 16 For otherwise, if you bless God in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the outsider know to say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying? 17 For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. 18 I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19 nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
– 1 Corinthians 14:13-19
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In this letter, Paul brings the importance of being able to interpret rather than speaking in a tongue. In verse 14, he says that speaking it tongue doesn’t involve the mind, but just the mouth. This bypassing of the understanding is not beneficial to the edification of the body.
According to Guzik’s commentary, Paul emphasizes the essential function of the gift of tongues which is to communicate to God and not to man. This is probably why he cautions the Corinthian believers to pray that they have the gift to interpret. Some people want to relate to God only through their own understanding. While it is important that we use our intellect and ability to understand, we also need to appreciate our limitations to comprehend and thank the Lord for a way to relate to Him that goes beyond intellect. Enduringword.com says that the language of tongues works much like languages we understand. A word or a sound occurs to our mind, and we vocalize that word or sound. In the gift of tongues, one simply continues to speak the words and sounds coming into their mind, trusting God is prompting them, and He understands what they say, and that in the Spirit what we say is perfectly appropriate for the moment. The Holy Spirit does not make us do strange, bizarre things. He will never make someone shout in tongues, or speak in tongues in a strange manner, though they may do it on their own initiative. God can give us the freedom to exercise the gift of tongues in a melodic way, so it flows in with worship. However, based on the principles in this chapter, if this is done, it should never be done in a way that would draw attention to itself or distract others.
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REFLECTION
• Why do you think the Corinthian believers were so fascinated by gift of tongue?
STRIVE TO EXCEL IN ORDER TO EDIFY THE CHURCH ILMA’S VLOG
August 19
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STRIVE TO EXCEL IN ORDER TO EDIFY THE CHURCH
6 But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophecy, or of teaching? 7 Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8 For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be talking to the air. 10 There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning. 11 So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible to me. 12 So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church. – 1 Corinthians 14:6-12
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In this letter, Paul rebukes the Corinthian believers who were fascinated by the gift of tongues and tells them that it doesn’t really build up the church but they need to strive to excel in the following in order to edify the church:
• Revelation- Easton bible dictionary defines it as an uncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously wholly hidden or only obscurely seen; to make a supernatural revelation of himself and his purposes and plans, which, under the guidance of his Spirit, has been committed to writing. The Scriptures are not merely the “record” of revelation; they are the revelation itself in a written form, in order to the accurate preservation and propagation of the truth.
• Knowledge-The Hebrew root yada [[;d”y],translated “know”/”knowledge, ” has a wider sweep than our English word “know, ” including perceiving, learning, understanding, willing, performing, and experiencing. Knowledge is not the possession of information, but rather its exercise or actualization.
• Prophecy- or prediction, was one of the functions of the prophet. It has been defined as a “miracle of knowledge, a declaration or description or representation of something future.
• Teaching- the process of disciplining and training men. As teaching is both a condition and an accompaniment of disciplining.
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REFLECTION
• Which among the gifts mentioned here have you been edifying the church with?
PROPHETIC GIFT EDIFIES THE CHURCH ILMA’S VLOG
August 18
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PROPHETIC GIFT EDIFIES THE CHURCH
Pursue love, yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification. – 1 Corinthians 14:1-5
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In this letter, Paul once again reminds the Corinthians believers to pursue love earnestly so they may prophesy. Blue Letter bible defines the gift of prophecy as a special ability to speak forth the message of God. A prophet is basically a spokesman for God. He or she delivers the Word of God to people by means of direct revelation. Prophetic utterances can deal with certain individuals, the church, or a larger context. It does not always refer to the future. The word is used far more to proclaim the Word of God rather than to predict the future. Farnell, cited in Kistemaker also comments that “Preaching is essentially a merging of the gifts of teaching and exhortation, prophecy has the primary elements of prediction and revelation. Paul emphasizes in verse 1 that we seek after agape love so that we can deliver God’s Word through prophecy for edification, exhortation and comforting the body of Christ.
Guzik comments that “Edification is “building up.” A word of prophecy will build someone up, not tear him or her down. Exhortation is encouragement. A word of prophecy will encourage someone, not discourage him or her. Comfort has the idea of not only consoling, but also strengthening. A word of prophecy will strengthen, not weaken someone.” In this letter, Paul differentiates the difference between the recipients of the two gifts in verse 4. The gift of tongues builds up oneself because it is used to communicate with God in a different language while the prophecy targets to edify the body of Christ. The tongues is useful to grow in your prayer life and intimacy with the Lord, but the prophetic gift will grow the whole family of believers because the revelation will reach the hearts of each member of Christ’s body and help them grow into maturity to bring forth the kingdom of God on earth.
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REFLECTION
• How can the pursuit of love grow us in our prophetic gifts?
LOVE IS THE GREATEST OF ALL ILMA’S VLOG
August 17
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LOVE IS THE GREATEST OF ALL
8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with. 9 For we know in part and prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away with. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. – 1 Corinthians 13:8-13
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In this letter, Paul highlights what is the greatest of all the gifts: Love. The Corinthian church was so much fascinated by spiritual gifts that Paul had to draw their attention out of it to what is more important than all of these gifts. In verses 8-10, he compares the gifts of prophecy, tongues and knowledge that are all fleeting whereas love is eternal and perfect.
We know that in 1 John 4:16 that God is love. As John gets this revelation from the Holy Spirit, Paul reiterates this truth in this letter. God is love and love is God, therefore, God is Supreme of all these gifts. He created them all and above all of it. The purpose of these gifts is to edify Love who is Himself. When Paul mentions in verse 10, “when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away” he speaks of the fact that all these gifts will be surpassed by the perfect one, who is God himself. He means that since we are still in this world, we will not fully know God but when we are in heaven or when we see Jesus in his second coming, our knowledge of God (Love) will be complete. 1 John 3:2 tells us that when we get to heaven, we will be able to fully see Him as He is and have no more hindrance to our intimacy with Him. Spurgeon comments that “If we knew more of our own sinfulness, we might be driven to despair; if we knew more of God’s glory, we might die of terror; if we had more understanding, unless we had equivalent capacity to employ it, we might be filled with conceit and tormented with ambition. But up there, we shall have our minds and our systems strengthened to receive more, without the damage that would come to us here from overleaping the boundaries of order, supremely appointed and divinely regulated. In verse 13, Paul is saying that faith and hope is only needed in our earthly life. These two are not attributes of God but love is, and so it is the greatest of all.
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REFLECTION
• Why does Paul over-emphasizes in this letter the greatest of all the gifts?
WHAT AGAPE LOVE IS ILMA’S VLOG
August 16
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WHAT AGAPE LOVE IS
4 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. 5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
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In this exposition, Paul defines to the Corinthian believers what love is and what it is not. Previously, Paul mentioned that we are nothing if we do not have love (agape). In these passages, he clearly illustrates what constitute this unconditional love which is very different from the worldly view of love.
In verse 4, he uses the virtues of patience and kindness as a manifestation of agape love. He contrasts what its opposite which is envious or jealous. When a person exhibits agape love, there is no room for comparison who is better or not. There is acceptance of the other person and there are no expectations which usually leads to frustration and impatience and unkindness. In the same verse, he also mentions that it does not boast about things and is not proud, but humble.
In verse 5, Paul paints a clearer picture of love in the context of forgiveness and sacrificial giving and thinking of others instead of oneself. He says that love always gives grace and mercy as they have received from God. It does not self promote or seek one’s own agenda. It does not easy get angered or keep a record of what has been done to him or her. In other words, forgiveness erases the offense done to you.
In verse 6, the focus on truth is emphasized. Paul says that if someone is truly loving, they do not tolerate evil and sin, but promotes righteousness and truth. Love is not letting others go on with their sin, but leads them into the truth found in God’s word.
In verse 7, love means that you cover up for others’ weaknesses and have faith that God is working in them and never give up or lose hope in whatever situation you experience. Instead, agape love makes us focus on the growth we can get from suffering. Love means that you are not avoiding hardships and trials, but that you embrace it as it is a form of suffering that may lead us to endure and never give up. Endurance leads to growth and eventually, spiritual maturity.
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REFLECTION
• How is the concept of love different from agape love that Paul is describing in this letter to the Corinthians?
IF I DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I AM NOTHING ILMA’S VLOG
August 15
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IF I DO NOT HAVE LOVE, I AM NOTHING
If I speak with the tongues of mankind and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and if I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good. – 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
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In this chapter Paul follows up the spiritual gifts given to the body of Christ may have many members but one body. This 13th chapter of the letter of Paul to the Corinthians have been a favorite passage that most people in their wedding vows or readings for their matrimonial ceremony. I had it read by someone in my own wedding as the reading for the sermon. When I was married, I wasn’t yet born again, so the way I understood this chapter is so carnal. I didn’t know how to study the bible then yet and I used to take some of the verses out of context and just extract something and use my own understanding without really consulting the Holy Spirit and further studying the passages in context to who is talking and who is it addressed to.
This letter was addressed to the Corinthian church who are so fascinated by the spiritual gifts and Paul gives them this warning that if you have all the various gifts given by the Holy Spirit and not have love (agape), you are nothing. Verse 1 mentions the gifts of tongues which may be amazing, but without love, it is just noise. In verse 2, the prophetic gift is mentioned; no matter how much visions and mysteries unfolded by the prophet, and do not have love, he amounts to nothing. Paul also mentions that if you have much faith but do not have love, again, he says that you are useless. In verse 3, it talks about the gift of giving and giving up one’s life, but do not love, it is pointless.
The “love” that Paul refers to here is agape which is unconditional love. This is the highest form of love. In 1 John 4:16, we get a glimpse of God’s character. He is love. It didn’t say he is loving. It says he is the source of “agape”. So, without him, no one can ever love unconditionally. So, I would like to paraphrase Paul’s verse “if I do not have love, I am nothing” to “if I do not have God in my life, I am non-existent.” It is so misunderstood when it is used in the context of romance, because it is a very different kind of love. In other words, when a couple marries and use this verse as a vow, they are actually making God the third person in their marriage, which will make that covenant a forever vow.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it important to ensure that the gifts we receive is used for God’s purpose?
VARIOUS GIFTS AND OFFICES IN CHRIST’S BODY ILMA’S VLOG
August 14
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VARIOUS GIFTS AND OFFICES IN CHRIST’S BODY
27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually parts of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, and various kinds of tongues. 29 All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30 All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they? 31 But earnestly desire the greater gifts. And yet, I am going to show you a far better way. – 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
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In this letter, Paul mentions the different appointments based on the different gifts the Holy Spirit gives to each believer. These are the following appointed gifts to believers:
1. Apostolic- Guzik comments that apostles are “special ambassadors” of the church. Paul and others in his day had a unique apostolic authority, which will never be repeated because the foundation of the church has already been set. However, God still has His “special ambassadors” in the church today, though not with the same authority as the original apostles.
2. Prophetic-these are the gift for speaking out for God. Like apostles. They prophesy only that which come to be true and to happen based on Deuteronomy 18:19-22.
3. Teaching- those who labour in word and doctrine, whether with pastoral charge or without it.
4. Workers of Miracles- Guzik further comments that those used by God to do miracles but done on the Holy Spirit’s initiative, not the initiative of the individual.
5. Healers-those who had power to heal diseases;
6. Helper-Spurgeon comments that they are useful anywhere and stops a gap, and can make themselves serviceable to the church of God in any capacity whatever.”
7. Administrative-governments, or such as had the disposal of the charitable contributions of the church, and dealt them out to the poor
8. Various gifts of tongues- a communicative gift, used in speaking to God, the gift of tongues should be desired when the individual feels a lack in their ability to communicate with God.
Paul explained that each believer is given gifts according to God’s plan and purpose, but believers can desire and ask the Lord to be granted such gifts.
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REFLECTION
• Are you aware of your spiritual gifts and have you been actively doing your office?
UNITY IN THE BODY BY ONE SPIRIT ILMA’S VLOG
August 12
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UNITY IN THE BODY BY ONE SPIRIT
12 For just as the body is one and yet has many parts, and all the parts of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.14 For the body is not one part, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has arranged the parts, each one of them in the body, just as He desired – 1 Corinthians 12:12-18
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In this letter, Paul likens the body of believers to the human body where all the parts of the body contribute something to make the entire body work together and be unified. In verse 12, he illustrates the similarities of the body which have a head who leads the other different parts of the body to work together for the health of the entire body. Paul compares it to Christ who is the head of the church (which is the body of Christ) and brings all the members of the church together for the purpose of God’s kingdom to come here on earth. In verse 13, he emphasizes the importance of unity in the body since we were all baptized into this church and though there may be differences in culture and background or origin, they are all gathered as one by the Spirit of God when they accepted the invitation to believe and commit to the Lord Jesus Christ.
In verses 14-17, Paul describes each body part in accordance to their function in the entire wellness of the body. He creatively brings this conversation between the body parts talking to each other, assessing what would happen if they decide to isolate themselves from the entire body or if one part would think that they are the only important part of the body and minimize the other parts. Without each part that has its own unique function, the body won’t be healthy. Just like in the church, each member of the body of Christ has their own roles to play to ensure that the church is equipped to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth and fulfill the coming of the kingdom here on earth. There is no room for division in Christ’s body for each member is motivated by the Holy Spirit whose role is to bring everyone to give God all the glory.
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REFLECTION
• What may cause division in the body of Christ? Why is it important to be unified?