SPIRITUAL GIFTS - I CORINTHIANS 12-15

Using the Spiritual GIfts: 1 Corinthians 14:26-33. How do we makes sure the Spiritual gifts are used wisely and responsibly? Here are 6 principles:

1. Encourage Freedom
A key verse in this chapter is verse 26 “What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.” There was an openness and expectation that the Holy Spirit would be present as the church gathered for worship.  We must make sure there is room and space given for people to contribute their gift when we meet.

2. Encourage Leadership:
Even though Paul stresses the ability of the tongues speaker to be in control of their utterances, and likewise for the prophet (28 & 32), it is not necessarily their responsibility to be counting the number of contributions.  Their contribution is the tongue or prophecy and it would be helpful to have others to bring control and clarity to proceedings. 

3. Encourage Weighing
The passage encourages the evaluation of the prophecy or tongue.  The main question is who does the weighing when Paul says “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said“?    Who are the ‘others’? It is unlikely the ‘others’ are other prophets.  Paul is clearly addressing the whole church and not just prophets.  So the words must be given publically and all the people weigh them. 

a) Is it Biblical? 2 Peter 1:20-21)
b) Is it God honouring? (1 John 4:1-3)
c) Is it Encouraging and strengthening, (1 Cor 14:3)
d) Is it what God wants to say now? (Acts 15:28)

So Paul says three things about Tongues when we use them in gatherings:
i) First there must be an interpreter present
ii) second only one person can speak at a time and
iii) thirdly, only two or three may speak in one go. 

4 Encourage Edification:
1 Cor 14:26 ‘All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.’
It seems to obvious to state but edification is the stated purpose of spiritual gifts.  It means encouragement and building up.

5. Encourage Order:
The passage concludes with a clear appeal to structure (40) “But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.”  This ordering has it’s foundations in the nature of God (33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.). 

6. Encourage Intelligibility
Our final guideline is to encourage intelligibility, especially for guests and unbelievers. Look to explain, promote understanding, create safe environment. Paul was concerned for unbelievers was huge (see verses 22-25).

Questions:
1) Is there anything you don’t understand about using the spiritual gifts in our gatherings?
2) Spend some time this week at mission group practicing using the Spiritual gifts then feedback to each other about the experience.