July 27, 2020

Over the next 16 days we will be reading through the book of 1 Corinthians together. The church in Corinth was an absolute mess! They were plagued by serious issues of arrogance, division, sexual immorality, and confusion concerning doctrine as well as the particulars of their moral living under the gospel. This church needed a wake-up call, a call to repentance and purity, to renewed devotion to Christ, to love and unity, and to zeal for the gospel. The church has changed little over the last 2,000 years, but praise God that there is abundant grace for the mess! Each of us needs this same call to humility faithfulness, unity, and fervor today as much as they needed it then. Let’s heed this call which God gave the church at Corinth through the apostle Paul and let it shape the way we live as Christ’s body!

After urging the Corinthians to pursue love above any spiritual gift, Paul turns his attention back to the gifts themselves as well as their use in corporate worship. Paul commends the gift of speaking in tongues and its usefulness for building up the person who does it, but commends the gift of prophecy even more because it does not build up the individual who prophesies but rather the whole church. He goes on to explain how corporate worship ought to be conducted in an orderly fashion so that everyone present is built up.

Paul’s point in all of this is that the building up of the church as a whole is of far greater importance than the building up of the individual. When we gather together for corporate worship our goal ought not to be to see what spiritual benefit we can get out of it, but rather how God can use us to see everyone else built up in their faith! This flies in the face of everything our culture tells us and, far too frequently, what our church culture here in America tells us too. But God’s Word is clear, and we are to put others before ourselves that they may be built up, following the self-sacrificing way of Jesus in corporate worship as in everything else!

Paul, in describing how the supernatural way of the gathered body of Christ ought to affect unbelievers who witness our worship services, says that it ought to cause them to fall on their faces, worship God, and acknowledge that God is really among the church (v.24-25). What would it look like if, in our corporate worship services, our devotion to the Lord was so undivided, our worship so passionate, our desire to see God move on behalf of others so fervent, our prayers so zealous, and our dependence upon the Holy Spirit so real, that it would force people who don’t even believe to acknowledge the presence of God among us? What would it look like for our corporate worship to look this supernatural to the outside world?

When the citizens of God’s kingdom, those who live in the world but do not belong to the world, gather together to worship the One whose kingdom is not of this world, shouldn’t it look otherworldly?

1 Corinthians 14

Prophecy and Tongues

14 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For 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. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.5 Now 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.

6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.

13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret.14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, 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? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

Orderly Worship

26 What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent.31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Family Discussion Question:

  • If we serve a supernatural Lord and are empowered by a supernatural Spirit, why don’t we expect our gathered times of worship to look more supernatural to the outside world? How can we pursue this vision for corporate worship when we gather together, a vision of selfless giving so that everyone else is built up and a vision of supernaturally empowered worship?

19 thoughts on “Daily Devotional-July 27”

  1. Father, God, in heaven, please give my husband, Ernest, the strength to fight through this Covid. It seems to be depriving him of sufficient oxygen saturation percentages. He spent from noon time yesterday through last night with his cPap machine on for forced oxygen. The nasal oxygen tube was not enough. I have spoken to his nurse once. I have no idea what has happened over night. I just ask for Your strength for him..and that this situation will turn around for the better. I ask this for Ernest in your son’s precious name. Amen.

    1. Dear Lord hear the prayers of your Saint. Touch Ernest with your healing supernatural strength. Hear the prayers of his beloved wife. Strengthen her and give her wisdom and knowledge to help her husband in his struggle against this virus. Dear God you are the God of love and healing. Please intercede and heal Ernest.

    2. Gracias padre por tú palabra te damos toda la honra y gloria, SEÑOR tú que nos has amado desde antes de ser engendrado te pido por favor de sanar todas las personas que están sufriendo de esta terrible enfermedad ten misericordia por cada uno de nosotros perdona nuestros pecados ayúdanos serte fiel cada día y ser luz de bendición para otros, santificamos tu nombre te amamos te bendecimos te adoramos y embocamos tu santo nombre bendice nuestras naciones declaro sanidad en nombre de tu precioso hijo amado Jesús amén y amén ?

  2. (v33) For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

    Heavenly Father, enable us to order our lives to honor You and to benefit others.

    1. AMEN and HALLELUJAh!! Dear Lord I want to worship you and live by your word. I pray to be able to learn more about you. I want my spirit to overflow in your word and your love. In Jesus name I pray Amen

  3. Father God,
    May we walk into Your sanctuary expecting the supernatural to happen. Remove our self-complacency of worship. Let us enter Your Holy Ground expecting to feel Your Holy presence. In this time, we need the real worship of God and not rituals.
    May we all surrender our wills to the Most High God, to be used of God so others may come to know Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Give us your sustaining power to live our lives so others will see Christ in us! We love You and praise the Holy Name of Jesus. We ask it all in the most powerful and precious name of Jesus. Amen!

  4. Lord God
    Help us to do your will today.
    Please stop the plague and make it go away.
    I love you and honor you.
    Thank you, God
    Amen

  5. Dear Heavenly Father,
    Please heal Pat Hill’s husband Ernest of this terrible virus. Give him the oxygen he needs to breathe dear LORD. Be with him through these rough hours and days and the strength to carry on. I can’t imagine the fear that he must have and the lonliness being in isolation from his sweet wife. Please give the doctors and nurses exceptional knowledge to care for him and a sensitive touch that will bring him some feeling of compassion and love. Surround him with Your peace. You love us all and want only the best for Your children. I cant wait til we can once again be together in church where we can rise up and praise Your holy name. The name of Jesus, our LORD and KING! Amen

  7. Good morning Lord!
    We believe that, if we abide in you, and your words abide in us, then we ask what we desire, and it is done for us. John 15: 7

    What we ask Lord is that you surround Ernest Hill, a child of God, with your steadfast love.

  9. I love this passionate example, from God’s word and the way that it is expressed in the devotional. We should be meeting in person, and this is why…

    For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

    We worship joyously, and from the heart, by raising our hands, bowing, kneeling, and giving into a posture of prayer. We love and support each other. We actively engage each other and inquire and seek opportunities to fellowship and get to know each other to build up that community. We make eye contact. We interact…and we don’t get comfortable when we have acquainted ourselves with a few or a clique, but endeavor to have a relationship with all. God will send us our “Ruths.”

    We open up and we are loving, so that those in fear and timidity will lose their blinders and be built up in strength and confidence by our love, one for another.

    There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:18

    What a beautiful world it would be❤

  10. Father, i agree in prayer for Ernest. Please heal.
    I also acknowledge what today’s writer said regarding “Paul’s point in all of this is that the building up of the church as a whole is of far greater importance than the building up of the individual. When we gather together for corporate worship our goal ought not to be to see what spiritual benefit we can get out of it, but rather how God can use us to see everyone else built up in their faith! This flies in the face of everything our culture tells us and, far too frequently, what our church culture here in America tells us too. But God’s Word is clear, and we are to put others before ourselves that they may be built up, following the self-sacrificing way of Jesus in corporate worship as in everything else!” Please Father, call out teachers and volunteers to leave the comfort zone of building up themselves individually when we return, in order to literally build the faith of the children in our church, the next generation of worshippers, by faithfully teaching and volunteering in Kids Ministry. Amen.

  11. Lord, thank you for those in our church with the gift to preach. Use them to speak to us, teach us and lead us to do your will as individal members, and as the whole body of Christ. Let everything we do, benefit the body.

  12. Paul never in vision being able to worship in front a election device but help us worship you at our home during this pandemic

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