Built up Through Prophecy and Tongues

This morning I admit was a learning moment for me. The verse and passage of my study is in 1 Corinthians on prophecy and tongues. Paul writes of the two and their meaning and impact to the individual and church.

“²³If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?” – 1 Corinthians 14:23 (ESV)

I will say that I have always been leery of places of worship where there is speaking in tongues. Paul even addresses this in the above verse that when an outsider encounters this, they are likely thinking the same as I.

“²For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.” – 1 Corinthians 14:2 (ESV)

But, this does not mean that speaking in tongues is a bad thing. You can see that Paul addresses the speaking in tongues is for one to speak with God. What a wonderful thing that I and God have our own language to commune together. God speaks directly with me for my benefit. I even pray that God will reveal to me (with a knock on the head as I need it that way) His will in my life.

“²⁴But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, ²⁵the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.” – 1 Corinthians 14:24-25 (ESV)

It is prophecy that is better than speaking in tongues. Not because the individual is not important, but because prophecy can be heard by all, believers and unbelievers. Prophecy is for all where speaking in tongues is for the one. It is our goal as followers of Christ to bring His Word to all and provide for them the opportunity to follow Him. When we prophesy, we are bringing the revelations God has provided to all the people and working to fulfill our role in this world.

Now, again, speaking in tongues is that personal revelation of God’s Word to the individual. We have to remember that God has provided our gifts and one of those may be the gift of interpretation. So, speaking in tongues can be beneficial to all when the interpreter is present, using his gift to share the revelation of the one with the church and all. But without the interpretation, the speaking in tongues is for the one and not the many.

“⁵Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.” – 1 Corinthians 14:5 (ESV)

And now to the verse that led to my study of this passage and my learning. Paul makes it clear here that speaking in tongues and prophecy are both part of the building up. One, speaking in tongues, for the individual and the other, prophecy, for all. He would rather for prophecy than for speaking in tongues for the benefit of all “so that the church may be built up” and we can fulfill our work assigned by God.

What are your thoughts on prophecy and the speaking in tongues? Are you partial to one or the other? What if you were to keep the speaking in tongues to be between you and God and prophecy to be for all “so that the church may be built up”?

Built up By and Through the Word

Jesus is the Temple. And we go to Him to worship and find our direction and our comfort and our mercy and our grace.

“¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1 (ESV)

Not only is Jesus the Temple where we worship, He is the Word of the LORD. I (we) have the pleasure of having the LORD with us always in Jesus. When we make our way to Him for worship we are not just entering the place where the LORD will “find” us, we find Him there as the word and can rely on Him for our everything.

“³²And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” – Acts 20:32 (ESV)

Here we find Paul speaking to the elders of the church at Ephesus. He is laying out to them that they have all they need in Christ, and that he will be leaving them never to return again. Even as he will not be there to guide and carry them through the trials they will continue to face, He reminds them that they are not alone and that it was not he who was building them up and will continue to do so, but God.

We too often I believe feel as though we need someone at our side building us up and when we do not, we feel as though all is lost. Paul takes special care to ensure that the church at Ephesus know that they are not alone. They have the LORD by their side as He has always been and will always be. I (we) have to remember that as well. The LORD is always by my side and building me up.

“⁶Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, ⁷rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” – Colossians 2:6 & 7 (ESV)

Above you see that Paul reminds the church of Colossae of the same. They have the Temple that is Jesus and the Word of the LORD to build them up. They are not left to themselves trying to make it. They have Christ by their side at all times, when they received Him and as they move forward in Him.

I am not alone. I may be by myself physically, but alone I am not. Christ is always with me as the Temple and the Word of the LORD. He provides me with all I need to make it in this world. He is my provision and certainly a blessing to me. He builds me up when I am in need, not just in the past, but now and in time to come.

What are you in need of to be built up? Are you looking for that one to be with you and when they are not, you feel all alone? What if you turned to Christ to be built up as He was with you before, is with you now, and will be with you always to build you up?

My Authority, God’s Word

God’s Word is not just a book we pick up from time to time to read a few passages to get us through. It is and should be the ultimate authority in our life. We should be looking to and living out the instructions found in God’s Word in all situations.

It is easy to pick and choose different passages when we “need” them or to “justify” some action that we have taken or are considering. But, if we are cherry picking passages we are not really obeying God’s Word as the authority it is. We are simply using God’s Word and not living it.

God’s Word is more than a collection of actions we can take to relieve some ailing we have. It is not just a collection of positive reinforcement actions to keep us moving in the right direction. God’s Word is a way of going through life at all times.

I am over 50 years old and see the value of God’s Word for my daily life. I study or am led in God’s Word seven days a week. I look for how His Word can lead me in life. I look for how I can apply His teachings daily. I know that God’s Word can do all things in my life. His Word accomplished all things and will accomplish all things. By full faith in His Word there is nothing that cannot be done.

“⁸But the centurion replied, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed.’” – Matthew 8:8 (ESV)

The centurion from the passage above knew that Jesus only need to speak healing to happen. He knew that Jesus was the authority and that as God, His Word would do as spoken. The centurion understood the authority that was God’s Word.

“¹²For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

I have to have the faith that God’s Word will do all things. It is not just there for me to pick up when “needed”. God’s Word should be in my bones and leading my every move. I have to lean on the authority of God’s Word to point me and guide me and lead me and protect me as I move along in this world.

What is your relationship to God’s Word? Are you using it to pick and choose how it can help you? What if you were to lean on God’s Word for all things and used it as your authority to point you, guide you, lead you, and protect you as you go along?

Human Happiness and Joy

Where do you go to find happiness? Wouldn’t it be great to have a blueprint or an instruction manual to get to happiness. Well, there is, God’s Word. All that is needed is to keep it close to be able to reference and refer to when things get a little sideways, or you want to make sure that you are taking things on in the right manner. God’s Word has all we need to start and make it through the day and life in general.

“⁴But he answered, ‘It is written,

“Man shall not live by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’” – Matthew 4:4 (ESV)

“⁷Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.”’” – Matthew 4:7 (ESV)

“¹⁰Then Jesus said to him, ‘Be gone, Satan! For it is written,

“You shall worship the Lord your God

and him only shall you serve.”’” – Matthew 4:10 (ESV)

This morning I was reminded that Jesus depended on God’s Word as He worked through this world. In the above verses, Jesus was being tempted by Satan in the wilderness, and yes, Satan was using scripture to distort the truth to get Jesus to give into the temptation. But, Jesus did not fall into that trap. Even as He was weak from a 40 day fast, Jesus went back to the instructions or blueprint to make it through. He consulted God’s Word to find the strength and just what was what. Jesus quoted God’s Word in refute of the lies from Satan. Jesus was able to find happiness in the Word of God as to how to proceed.

But what did Jesus do after fending off Satan, He began His ministry. Jesus was able to get back (or started) to work doing what He loved, teaching and caring and loving and leading and healing and all that came with His ministry. He had consulted the blueprint that got Him through the sticky spot and stuck with the blueprint to move forward into that which brought Him joy.

If you remember, happiness is a momentary emotional thing. Joy is more lasting and internal. With Jesus in our lives and God’s Word to lean on daily, we are able to find joy in all things and circumstance. We will however need happiness from time to time in a moment to get back to the joy. Joy and happiness are found in the instructions for our lives that was laid out by God through His Word. Jesus used it and certainly if it was good enough for Jesus, then it is good enough for me.

Where do you go for encouragement and life giving instructions? Do you look for momentary happiness and then back to the grind? What if you found the instruction on how to get through things and then used those instructions to get you back on track and moving forward into joy, God’s Word, Jesus did can’t we?

Who and/or What to Follow

I have been studying leadership for a while, especially in the corporate world I work. I have wondered about the “leaders” that have been over me and the leader that I am. Yes, the quotation marks surrounding the word “leaders” is intentional as I do not believe that everyone in a position of overseeing a group or task is a leader. As I also believe that you do not have to be an overseer of people or tasks to be a leader.

This morning I have begun a new process or structure to my daily bible study. I am working through a series titled “MasterWork”. This series is from 2011, and where that may seem a bit ago, I went through the first lesson this morning and realized the value even today. There was reference to the speed of technology and the Information Age that we are currently right in the middle. The first section of this quarter’s (as the guide is structured into quarters) is on Spiritual Leadership.

The first question asked in the lesson is who are the leaders who have had an impact and why in my life. I gave this some thought and found a couple to men that helped to shape who I am. I gave some real thought to the who and you know, I am a bit embarrassed that I did not first think of the leader that we should all be shaped by, God/Jesus/Holy Spirit. I first thought about man. Why did I not reference our LORD as the one leader who is the perfect example to emulate.

Now, I know that I am doing a bible study and writing in reference to following the Word of God. Shouldn’t I be also looking first to Him for the answers to questions. It was not until later in the reading that I found the better questions that led me to turn to God as the one true and complete one to serve as my example to follow, “But where does one begin? Which book does a leader read next? Which seminar is a must?” My answer, God’s Word.

Isn’t it true that we are always looking for the next gimmick or quick fix to things. We want things to be done with the wave of a few questions or actions to generate results. But, the truth is not in the quick fix, but in the slow and steady application of the proven approach. And where is that proven approach? Who derived the approach that stands the test of time? Why that is God/Jesus/Holy Spirit. The LORD has done it all and not just once but with many. There are so many from time that have followed the will of the LORD and been great leaders in their own right. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Moses, David, Paul, and Peter to name just some were men who followed the LORD.

Now, were all those listed above perfect leaders. NO! But they were leaders that followed the direction or example of the LORD. Each of them had their faults and failures, yet ultimately are considered great men who led under the direction of the LORD. They followed the LORD and His direction, teachings, and/or example in leading during their time.

The same can be said of a more modern age of leaders. Whether Billy Graham or John Maxwell, these men and countless others follow(ed) the example, teaching, and/or direction of the LORD as their guiding principle to leading. So, who and/or what to follow, that would the LORD and His Word.

Where are you looking for your leadership example? Are you looking for the next quick guide? What if you looked to true, tested, work and example of our LORD and His Word?

“The Word of God Stands Forever”

The title of my writing this morning comes directly from my English Standard Version (ESV) Bible. Three verses in Isaiah to denote the eternity of the LORD.

“⁶A voice says, “Cry!”

And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass,

and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

⁷The grass withers, the flower fades

when the breath of the Lord blows on it;

surely the people are grass.

⁸The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever.”

— Isaiah 40:6-8 (ESV)

No matter the beauty that comes from or that is you and me, the LORD will be more. What I see in the verses are beautiful meadows of soft green grass. There are flowers standing just above the grass to bring color and even more beauty to the eye. I imagine seeing cars stopped on the side of the road with moms, dads, and children in this field taking family photos together and enjoying the beauty and wonder that is being displayed.

Yet, this is only during a small window of time and then it is gone. Withered by the weather and the new season that has come. The green grass is now a shade of brown or withered away altogether. The flowers have lost their petals and turned to nothing. Gone from the eye to see and body to experience. It has move on to the next season and is just a memory caught in the mind or in the photos taken.

Although all of the beauty that is the meadow of grass and flowers is gone, there is one that is always there regardless of the season. There is one standing tall for all to experience. That is our LORD. His Word is always before us and guides the current and next season. Just as I am in His word this morning I am to be in His Word every morning. From God’s Word I will find the beauty that is constant and forever. His Word never fades and never turns. The Word of the LORD is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow and I can stand high on its strength and beauty.

Too often we find ourselves looking other places when what is found in our eyes fade away. We tend to focus on that beauty in our eyes and miss the beauty in our hearts. The beauty of God’s Word, never withers and fades and is always and forever standing tall in our heart.

Where are you turning your eyes? Are you looking to the grass and flowers expecting them to be there always? What if you were to turn to your heart instead to find the beauty in the Word of God, as it is there always and forever?

Overcome Through Maturity

Accepting Christ as my savior was great and certainly needed in my life, yet this is only the first step in overcoming the evil one. This morning I am in 1 John and have been reminded of the stages of Christian maturity.

“¹²I am writing to you, little children,

because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

¹³I am writing to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I am writing to you, young men,

because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, children,

because you know the Father.

¹⁴I write to you, fathers,

because you know him who is from the beginning.

I write to you, young men,

because you are strong,

and the word of God abides in you,

and you have overcome the evil one.”

– 1 John 2:12-14 (ESV)

First, you have the “children” who have just learned of Christ and are beginning their relationship with Him. They have no history with Him and only now have opened their eyes and are on the journey to spiritual maturity. This can be the young or the older that have found Christ as their savior.

Second, you have the “fathers” who have been in the faith for some time and are fully comfortable as they work through the world. These know that Christ is in control and have dedicated themselves to His mission in their lives each day for some time. Again, this does not have to be the older, but those who have spent valuable time with Christ for some time.

Third, you have the “young men” who have been learning in their relationship with Christ, and yet still find persecution at every turn. They are building their strength in Christ and every day will grow stronger and stronger to overcome the evil one. These again may be youthful or older, but they are in the growing phase of maturity.

The further along we get in our maturity, the more fluid will be our strength to overcome. It does not mean that we will not face persecution or challenges as the evil one is around every corner. It is the light of the LORD in us that will overcome the darkness and keep the evil one at bay. It is our maturity in Christ through His Word as we meditate on it day and night that gives us the strength and wisdom to overcome. Whether you are the “little child”, the “father”, or the “young man” it is always the time to continue in our growth to and into maturity in Christ through His Word.

“¹Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

²but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and night.”

— Psalm 1:1-2 (ESV)

Where are you finding your strength to overcome the evil one? Are you looking to yourself and believe that you have already arrived with the strength? What if you were to realize that you are still maturing and should look to continued growth and maturity through God’s Word?

Righteous are Strong in Faith

The righteous live by faith as I have studied in God’s Word (Romans 1:17 and Galatians 3:11) and written my thoughts here. So, there is not the question of faith and righteousness. What I see this morning is that when our faith is strong, righteousness stays.

“’³⁸but my righteous one shall live by faith,

and if he shrinks back,

my soul has no pleasure in him.’

³⁹But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” – Hebrews 10:38-39 (ESV)

The writer of Hebrews sites from Romans and Galatians, those passages that I have studied and noted above, that the righteous live by faith. We have to know that it is our faith, and not our works that lead to our righteousness. Yes, we are to do the work of the LORD and that work is the demonstration of righteousness. It is not the works, but the faith in the LORD and that we are doing the work for Him and not ourselves that lead to righteousness.

There is the chance of “shrinking back” away from faith. When that does happen, the LORD will not be pleased with our action of falling away. We are human and I know, from experience, that the evil one will pull on us to draw us away from the LORD and our faith in Him. It is easy to be distracted by the world and all that it contains. It is easy to fall away from the LORD as the road to Him is hard and is filled with challenges and what we perceive as delays.

The thing is, we have to read verse 39 above to find encouragement and know that we are on the right path. The writer points out that “we are not of those who shrink back”. We are strong and will remain in the faith and therefore will be preserved in righteousness.

From here I take away that it is in the faith I have to remain. I have to stay in the Word of God for the encouragement to keep on keeping on. God’s Word is filled with that encouragement. In Romans, Galatians, Isaiah, Psalms and frankly all books of His Word. It is in our dedication to His Word that we are able to drown out the noise of the world and build our strength in the Faith that leads to righteousness.

Where are you finding strength for righteousness? Are you looking to the world? What if you were to find your strength in the Word of God to remain in the faith that will lead to righteousness?

Thanks to Jesus the Law is Righteous

I should finish with “in us”. God’s Law is righteous as it comes from Him. It is our now new understanding of what His Law provides that we now sin. It is Jesus, who was sent to die for our sin that brings God’s Law back to righteousness in us.

“³For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” – Romans 8:3-4 (ESV)

I need help each day with my sin. I am predisposed to sinning and “NEED” help with it. I know God’s Law as I read and study each day to ensure of it. But, as noted, knowing the law only drives me to sin. I ask God each day to help me with my sin. I as for His guiding hand through my day to keep me busy with His work so that I can avoid the sin that is surely to come.

I do not have it in my own self to avoid sin. Sin I of the flesh and I am of the flesh. Thanks be to Jesus for taking my sin. Thanks be to Him for giving me the chance to avoid sin. Thanks to Jesus, I have the Word of God to keep me looking to Him that I might be able to avoid the sin. Thanks be to the LORD for providing the Holy Spirit to walk with me.

The Law of God is righteous yet, as I am of the flesh there was a need for the Law to be shown as righteous to me. Jesus was sent to do just that. He took my sin and offered me grace. The Law was demonstrated to be righteous through His actions. As such, I was brought to the righteousness of the Law so that I could use it as the guide it is.

Where do you attribute the righteousness in the Law of God? Are you looking to yourself to avoid sin? What if you were to recognize that the Law of God is righteous thanks to Jesus and you can use it to guide you to avoid sin?

Stick to the Word of God

It is very easy to do things because we have always done it. Here in my house, Lori will cut up cucumbers for us to have, either in a salad or as a side all its own. She seems to take time to peel stripes on them prior to cutting them up. This does nothing for them, yet she does it because that is what she witnessed in her house growing up. It was thought to be of necessity when in fact, it was just a tradition.

This morning I was reminded that we are tasked with sticking to God’s Word and not tradition. Jesus said the following to the Pharisees and scribes as they questioned the actions of the disciples.

“⁵But you say, ‘If anyone tells his father or his mother, “What you would have gained from me is given to God,”a ⁶he need not honor his father.’ So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God. ⁷You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:

^‘8This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me;

⁹in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

— Matthew 15:5-9 (ESV)

The Pharisees and scribes had good intentions it seems, as they were following he law, but that is the thing, it was the law as written, not the Law of God. God’s Law stated the following:

“⁴For God commanded, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’” – Matthew 15:4 (ESV)

God gave His Word to say to “Honor your father and your mother”. Not to speak of your father and mother as you command people to do as you say. It is the Word of God that should be followed and not the law.

I know, there is the thing that if not following the law, one might be held to account and be considered as breaking the law. The consequences of that can be severe, and I for one, would not want to be punished for breaking the law. But, the consequences of not following the Word are much more severe. Remember that this world is temporary and our final home is in heaven and to get there we are held to honoring the Word of God, not the law of man. The punishment for not following the Word of God is documented well in God’s Word, death.

Again, it is easy to fall into tradition and follow the law of man. Yet, that is the way to miss the greatness that comes from the LORD. When we look to tradition, we miss the point of it all as we are simply looking to an end. By sticking to the Word of God, we are opened to the possibilities that He has for each of us.

What traditions are you holding on to? Are you missing the greatness of the LORD for stability in this world? What if you held to the Word of God and allowed Him to guide you?