“Building Up the church” 1 Corinthians 14:1-12

Introduction:  An I-first generation may be surprised that building up the church, rather than ourselves is a goal of New Testament writers.

God gives spiritual gifts for the equipping and building up of the body.

I.        Building Up Rather than Tearing Down

A.     (v1) “Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.”

1.      1 Corinthians 12:31, “A more excellent way.” = Love

2.      Ephesians 4:29 “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth but only what is helpful for…”

3.      2 Peter 1:5-8, Faith supplement list: “they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful”

B.     (v1) “Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts…”

1.      Some shy from “spiritual” gifts as too weird, while others fake them for leverage.

2.      “…especially that you may prophesy.”

3.      1 Thessalonians 5:20, “Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.”

C.     (v1) “Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.”

1.      (v3) “The one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement”

2.      (v4) “The one who prophesies builds up the church.”  How does prophecy work?

3.      (v12) “Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up.”

II.       To the Prophets

A.     Joel 2:28, “I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.”

B.     Jeremiah 23:18, “Who has stood in the council of the LORD so as to see and hear his word?”

1.      “Who has given heed to his word so as to proclaim it?”

2.      Jeremiah 23:22, “If they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way.”

3.      How much time to you spend in listening prayer, meditating on God’s word?

C.     Ezekiel 13:3, “Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!”

1.      13:6, “They say, ‘Declares the LORD,’ when the Lord has not sent them, and yet they expect…”

2.      How Judas and the Pharisees missed God’s prophetic word.

Conclusion:   Prophecy and building up the body at communion