Pause for thought

Everything we do in our worship services must be done in love and for the benefit of all the worshippers.The spiritual gift God has given you is never meant for are own sake or status! It is for another. Tongues is prayer to God, all the other gifts of the Spirit are for the benefit of others including none believers 14:26.

If a service is chaotic it is difficult for God to work, being led by the Spirit does not mean that we lose self control, this is what is meant by “the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet” the Holy Spirit will never lead us into disorder 14: 32-33.

In 11:5 it is clear that women prayed and prophesied so why does Paul say that women should be silent in church? Remember Paul is giving instructions about orderly worship in church services. I think he was referring to some of the wives who were interrupting the service by chattering or by shouting out questions to their own husbands in doing so they were not showing love and their conduct was not beneficial to other worshippers. These verses have been quoted to try to stop women from ministering I don’t believe this is the case if we read these verses in context with the rest of this letter 14:34-35.

Memory verse

So dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophecy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:39-40 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

Some see the gifts of tongues or prophecy as a sign that they have been “baptised in the Holy Spirit” and there is much scriptural evidence for this Acts 2:1-4, 10:44-46, 19:6. However wonderful our initial experience was I don’t believe the Lord wants us to rest on our spiritual laurels so to speak! Paul makes it clear that while he speaks in tongues more than any of the Corinthians his desire was to be used by God to teach others. While praying in tongues benefits the speaker, prophetic words that includes prophetic preaching benefits the whole church 14:6

I find tongues to be a very helpful gift in private worship I feel lifted up in my spirit, speaking in tongues kind of primes the pump within me in preparation for further ministry with other gifts of the Holy Spirit.

In verses 21-22 Paul takes us back to the Old Testament to a time when Israel and then Judah had consistently refused to obey Gods voice. Consequently speaking through the prophet Isaiah God promised His disobedient faithless people that because they had chosen to disregard the voice of God, He would no longer speak to them in an understandable language, but through their being taken into captivity by the Babylonians, foreigners whose languages they did not understand. This is why Paul said that tongues is a sign for unbelievers, He was not being disparaging about tongues just that in a church meeting there should be an interpretation given or else the tongue would mean nothing to those gathered. Our aim should be like Paul’s, in that we earnestly desire that God will give each us such spiritual gifts as He supplies to build each of us up in the Lord 14:24.

Memory verse

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in a church meeting I would much rather speak five understandable words that will help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language. 1 Corinthians 14:18-19. N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

The gift of interpretation of tongues is not the same as prophecy, they are two distinct gifts that the Holy Spirit gives for the building up of the church. A Christian speaking in tongues is praying to God, where as one prophesying is God speaking to men. In Acts 2:7-11 visitors to Jerusalem for the festival of Pentecost heard in their own languages “ the wonderful things that God has done” this was the gift of tongues which the hearers from many different lands heard the messages (praises) being spoken to God in their own languages.
It’s important that we understand that the gift is interpretation of tongues not translation of tongues, the interpretation gives the ‘sense’ to the tongue not a word for word translation. also a genuine interpretation will not have a prefix such as “thus says the Lord” why because tongues is towards God, and Prophecy is a word for Men. Often following a time of “singing praises to God in tongues” at a worship service, words of exaltation can be heard from the mouths of the worshipers in their own languages, these words I believe should be understood as the gift of interpretation. When we speak in tongues we build ourselves up, pray for courage to bring an interpretation so that the church will be built up as they hear about the wonderful things God is doing 14:5

The gift of prophecy builds up, encourages, and brings comfort to the church, The Holy Spirit is called “the comforter” He comes alongside to empower us as we live for Christ. A prophetic word will always align with the revealed word of God in the Bible and the character of Christ. In my own experience the Holy Spirit will often prime the gift of prophecy by bringing a thought a picture or a sentence to my mind, after a prayer check and if I get the green light I will share what I believe the Lord has given me.. If we are given a “Prophecy” that pulls us down instead of building us up, we should ask the question is this really Gods word?. If we are given a “word” that is directional always check it out with other mature believers, this does not mean all directional words are false sometimes it’s simply a matter of Timing.

Memory verse

I wish you all had the gift of speaking in tongues, but even more I wish you were all able to prophecy. 14:5 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

Love is an attribute of God, who is Love 1 John 4:8, AGAPE Gods kind of love is a choice it involves unselfish service to others. It is no mistake that this part of Paul’s letter to a selfish church should come between chapters 12 and 14 of 1 Corinthians. The scriptures teach us that all things are to be tested this includes how spiritual gifts are being ministered, 1 Corinthians 13 is a wonderful yardstick 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Mathew 7:15-20.

“That which is perfect” 13: 10 refers to when Christ himself returns and to the eternal state, some believe it refers to the completion of the canon of scripture, but this incorrect assumption forgets that the scriptures instruct us to receive the Holy Spirit and His gifts 12:4-6.

Faith Hope and Love and all the fruit of the Spirit are absolutely necessary in the church today, but just like the gifts of the Spirit even these will on that day when Christ returns be in the past, faith will give way to sight, Hope will at last be our experience, that is except for Love which is eternal for God Himself is Love 13:13.

memory Verse

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance 13:7 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

As you sent me into the world , I am sending them into the world. John 17:18

“He has no hands but our hands To do His work today; He has no feet but our feet To lead men in His way: He has no voice but our voice To tell men how He died; He has no help but our help To lead them to His side.” Annie Johnson Flint 1866-1933.

Like our human bodies, How strange the body of Christ would be if it had only one part. Every Christian is only one part of Christ’s body, however we became fellow member of the body of Christ the moment we believed in Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and made Him Lord of our lives. Nothing in this life can change your position as a member of Christ’s body. 12: 12-13. Every Christian is a member but not every Christian is active in the body of Christ.Your spiritual gift can help your church grow. 12:21.

The gifts of the Spirit which are many and varied are each distributed by the will of the Holy Spirit and often vary according to the one ministering the gift. As an example not every teacher teaches in the same way, In His wisdom God allows His children to be taught in many varied ways but it is the same Spirit that gives wisdom to the teacher and revelation to the listener. 12:29-31.

William Barclay writes “ The person who cannot see beyond his own organisation , the person who can’t see beyond his own congregation, or worse still, the person who can’t see beyond his own family circle and connections , has not even begun to grasp the real unity of the church.

We need each other there must be no such thing as isolation in the church. If any one part of the body is affected all the others will feel it , we suffer in sympathy because we can’t help doing so. 12: 26, Romans 12:15, Mathew 11:33-35,

memory verse

For in fact the body is not one member but many. 1 Corinthians 12:14 N.K.J.

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Pause for thought

This is our second week on 1 Corinthians 12:1-13, I understand that some of you while reading the notes sometimes skip the audio, as the teaching is in two parts you might find it worth while to listen to the audio message on this occasion. You can do this simply by tapping where it says click here to hear an audio clip

Only the Holy Spirit decides which gift each Christian should have, although a true spiritual gift will be recognised by the local Church 12:11. This does not mean that we are given a only one gift, All of the gifts of the Spirit reside in the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts, This is why if we ask and are available He will always give the best gift, That is the most needed gift in a given situation that the believer finds themselves in 12:31.

Memory verse But we have all been baptised into Christ’s body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit 1 Corinthians 12:13 (b) * Greek We were all given one Spirit to drink N..L.T.

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Pause for thought

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are never to be feared or ignored, a church or an individual who does these will dry up spiritually because by rejecting the Spirit’s gifts they are choosing to live devoid of the power of God.

The Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit always work together there are different activities, different ministries, and many different gifts but it is God in three persons who distributes to each one. We are so blessed 12:4-6

The Gifts of the Spirit are a manifestation of Holy Spirit activity they do not spring from any human source. Nor are they an extension of any natural human abilities 12:3

We do well to remember that the Holy Spirit never drives His people to do compulsive acts causing a loss of self control, unlike those under the control of dumb idols 12:2

Holy Spirit activity in a believers life will always glorify Jesus, and bring them under the Lordship of Jesus 12:3

Sometimes we can be tempted to glory in “our” particular gift, but no matter what gifts a person has been given by the Holy Spirit we can take no credit for what God in His Grace has freely given us 12:11

memory verse

But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all 12:7

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Pause for Thought

What was the reason Paul said that their communion services were doing more harm than good? In a word ‘division’ in the previous chapters Paul dealt with differences of opinion ranging from which ministers they should follow to women’s head coverings. Now we read that some of them had forgotten what the Lords supper signified, in the rush to satisfy their own carnal desires. In the early Church communion was often celebrated at the end of a fellowship meal, a lovely idea but it had turned into a demonstration of selfishness as some ate and drank excessively while others went without. 11:17-22

Discerning the Lords body 11:29 refers both to the physical body of Jesus and the corporate body of believers. Holy Communion is first and foremost a remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus, as we partake of the bread and wine we partake in faith of the full redeeming power of Jesus Christ toward us spirit, soul and body. We partake with our brothers and sisters we are members together of Christs body, if we bring division to the Lords table and fail to honour the corporate body of Christ we bring judgement upon our selves 11:29-30.

Paul doesn’t say that we should stay away from communion but that we should examine ourselves, and so eat of the bread and drink of the wine 11:28

When we partake of the Lords Supper we strengthen our faith because we are fellowshipping with Jesus Christ and with members of His body 11:23-26

A verse to remember

For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lords death until He comes again. 1 Corinthians 11:26. N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

When we come together to worship God we are to come before God in reverence and fear. Anything that causes us to become distracted needs to be addressed. The female Jewish Christians wore head coverings while the female Corinthian Christians did not. Paul was addressing an issue that was causing division and distracting the congregation in Worship. These verses are about more than head coverings or culture wars, a women with short hair or a man with long hair at that time in Corinth might depict a person of loose morals. We don’t have to avoid every practice of our culture but we should avoid appearances and behaviour that detract from our worship and service for God 11:13-14

Submission is the Key element in all Christian relationships. True submission does not mean that the one submitting is inferior. Never forget we were all created in the image of God. The order in creation is that man is responsible to Christ, a women is responsible to her husband and Christ is responsible to God the Father. We all have equal value, submission is about mutual commitment and cooperation, Paul reminds us elsewhere Ephesians 5:21 that we are to submit to each other out of reverence for Christ.

Memory verse

But in relationships among the Lords people, women are not independent of men, and men are not independent of women.
1 Corinthians 11:11 N.L.T.

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Pause for thought

There is only One God. demons can often masquerade as gods.

. When we eat the bread and drink the cup symbolising the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ we give Him our total allegiance. We commune with Jesus and identify with His death. We cannot be living for Jesus and secretly following the crowd. We need to examine our hearts and having done so partake of the communion 10:21

.Every Christian who partakes of the covenant meal are also joined together with other Christian’s, we have all become “partakers “ of the body and blood of Christ, we really are “one bread” we are part of that mystery the body of Christ 10:17

The key to Christian liberty lies in 10:24. We are free to serve the Lord in any way that is consistent with His word 10:31

Memory verse

Imitate me, just as I imitate Christ 1 Corinthians 11:1 N.k.J.

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