Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle lesson just read, from 1 Cor. 14. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- All three of our Scripture Lessons highlight the same thing – the calling of God for people to do His bidding, to speak His Word, to be “fishers of men,” and to “STRIVE TO EXCEL IN BUILDING UP THE CHURCH.”
- Obviously, this is extremely important to God. In fact, it is the most important thing to God, for by speaking His Word, telling others about God’s glorious love for us in Christ Jesus, God the Holy Spirit can change hearts and minds, bringing about repentance and faith.
- There are obviously many things that we can do within the life of the church that do not directly accomplish this purpose of God. In fact, we can become involved in many activities which absolutely do not help the church grow, and these things can become an agenda unto themselves. These may not be bad, but they may not be what is most important to God.
- We need to see that we are confronted today by this same reality, this same “calling” of God. And hopefully we are just as excited about others coming to repentance, faith in Jesus, and eternal salvation as were the prophets, the apostles, and Jesus Himself.
- If so, then we must remember that:
I. It Is The Manifestations Of The Spirit Of God, His Spiritual Gifts, That Enable Us To Excel In Building Up The Church
Text: “Since you are eager for manifestation of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.”
Statement: Earlier in this same letter, Paul wrote that “to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” [1 Cor. 12:7] He was writing about the gifts that the Holy Spirit bestows on members of the church. They are given for the common good, the building up of the church. So we should seek these “gifts” from God and use them for the common good.
Application: The common good, includes most importantly, that people are coming to faith in Jesus, and that believers are being strengthened in their faith. This is accomplished by means of the Word of God, for “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” [Rom. 10:17] So the most important things at church are Bible Studies, sermons, devotions, and our worship service! These serve to “build up the church” by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Transition: And this is why:
II. Everything In The Church Is To Be Done For The Benefit Of The Church, For Ourselves, And For Others Around Us
A. All Speech And Language Must Intelligibly And Truthfully Inform People About God
Text: “One who speaks in a tongue [another language by the power of the Holy Spirit] should pray for the power to interpret [translate]. If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. . . . I will sing with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. Otherwise, if you [only] give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, if he does not know what you are saying? . . . I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue [a foreign language].”
B. The Goal Is That All Be Instructed And Informed Of God’s Great Love, So That They Also Say “Amen” To It [that is, ‘yes, yes, it shall be so.’ Sm. Cat.]
Text: “Otherwise, if you [only] give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, if he does not know what you are saying?”
Statement: Again, if we understand God’s primary and central will and purpose, “TO EXCEL IN BUILDING UP THE CHURCH,” then we will eagerly crave and pray for those manifestations of the Spirit which do in fact “BUILD UP THE CHURCH.” This is God’s will for us, His will for the whole world, for all mankind.
Application: So while our own edification and growth in faith, knowledge, wisdom, and love is wonderful and important, even more important is it that we then utilize these gifts of God for the common good, the “BUILDING UP OF THE CHURCH.”
Transition: So we see that:
III. God Seeks Workers, Fishers Of Men To Speak His Word To Others
A. To Seek Gifts Selfishly Is Evil
1 Cor. 12:7 “to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
B. To Use Gifts For The Sake Of Spreading God’s Word To The Benefit Of Others Is Wise And Mature
Text: “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.”
Statement: Jesus said it as well: “To whom much is given shall much be required.” [Luke 12:48] So the things that God gives us to benefit the church and others cannot be utilized for selfish purposes, but belong to the common good. And the real snag in receiving much is that it puts us in a position of having to give more. But if we know the blessedness of giving and serving, this is a truly wonderful thing!
Application: The apostle commends it – being eager for manifestations of the Spirit. He reminds us, however, that having these gifts from God we should “strive to excel in building up the church.” Not our retirement portfolio, not our collection of expensive toys and luxuries, not our bank account balance – but rather “the building up of the church.”
Conclusion: Again, remember that this is important to God. His greatest desire is that all men be saved by coming to the knowledge of the truth.” [1 Tim. 2:4] This should also be our greatest desire, and our love for others should compel us! May we also be eager to do what we can to build up the church! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.