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Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 3 * PART 1 * BOOK 28
RESURRECTION OF THE BODY
Now let's open our Bibles to I Corinthians Chapter 14. Also remember the reason, I think, the Holy Spirit prompted Paul to write the love chapter, which is Chapter 13, and to sandwich it in between 12 and 14, which are filled with problems. So as we pick up our study in Chapter 14 don't lose sight of what he wrote in the love chapter. Verse 1:
I Corinthians 14:1
"Follow after charity, (love) and desire spiritual gifts, (gifts is italicized, and personally I like to use the word `things' instead of gifts) but rather that ye may prophesy."
Remember the greatest spiritual thing at this time was to prophesy or to speak forth the Word of God, because at the time that Paul is writing to these early Churches there is still no New Testament written. Where would we be today if we didn't have the Book. Gifted men. So Paul realizes through the Holy Spirit that this was the most important thing a local Church could have, and that was men who could proclaim the truth of God's Word without benefit of having it in print. Paul said in Chapter 13 and verse 10 that the time would come when that gift would fade away. That you are the only one who has received the revelation of the true Word of God?" I Corinthians 14:2a
"For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue..."
And we defined all that in our last lesson, and when you see the word "tongue" in these two chapters, 12 and 14, in the singular, and with the added word unknown italicized by the translators, it's talking about a bunch of sounds that cannot be reduced to print. Now here he's speaking of the tongues movement, it's an unknown language that no one can print, so this is why the translators call it an unknown tongue. I Corinthians 14:2
"For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: (God is the only One who can make anything out of it if it were possible.) for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit (small "s" so that's man's spirit) he speaketh mysteries,"
Now verse 3:
I Corinthians 14:3,4
"But (the flip side) he that prophesieth (or speaketh forth the Word as a gifted individual) speaketh unto men to edification, (lift them up) and exhortation, and comfort." Now reading on in verse 5.
I Corinthians 14:5
"I would that ye all spake with tongues, (That's plural, which means languages. Paul is saying it would be nice if you could just go up into northern Greece, or other countries and speak the dialects that those people do. So Paul knew what he was talking about. He said, "It would be great if you all spoke several languages.") Now there were probably some even in Corinth that couldn't understand Greek, all they could understand maybe was Hebrew or Aramaic. Paul says, "Now it would be great if you could come into this congregation and be able to teach and preach in a language that they could all understand." My, what a great gift that would be, because that's what people needed, they had to hear the Word, because they couldn't go home and read it.
I Corinthians 14:6
brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, (these different languages) what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?"
People even today need doctrine as very few professing believers today have a good solid understanding of doctrine. So Paul says:
Now verse 7.
What is the Apostle Paul is saying here? A bunch of noise. Well here, Paul is saying the same thing. I Corinthians 14:7
And even things without life giving sound, (Musical instruments, when they're giving sound) whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, (The right note at the right place) how shall it be known what is piped or harped?"
I Corinthians 14:8
"For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?"
Now what if the trumpeter didn't know his command? What if he was just blaring out a bunch of sounds, what would the poor troops do? Now verse 9:
I Corinthians 14:9
except ye utter by the tongue (this organ in your mouth) words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air."
Yeah. The Word of God is simple, I explained just yesterday the Gospel (Ref. Of course not, most people haven't. Now verse 10:
I Corinthians 14:10
Do you know what Paul is talking about here? Communicating. Men, whatever the background, whether we're European, or Asiatic, we all communicate and this is what Paul is saying, and that's why God gave us that ability to communicate.
I Corinthians 14:11
I Corinthians 14:12
"Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying (or promoting, or the lifting up) of the church." I Corinthians 14:13
Verse 13 again:
"Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret."
To communicate.

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