The Unconditional Love of God Toward Those that Love Him

 A Better Love

Book of Hebrews Chapter 12 Verses 1 through 11

How can we describe the love of another person?

We could say that love is showing affection to that person, accompanied with an ardent desire to promote this person's happiness!

1) By abstaining from all that could cause injury to that person.

2) By doing all that can promote that person's welfare, that person's comfort, that person's interest, whether that person appreciates that effort or is indifferent to that effort.

Love must be something personal, coming from one person and directed toward another person.

A relationship develops when both these persons feel the same toward each other.

As Christians we know that God is "Love" and He portrays to us absolute, never ending, enduring, love!

God proves His love for His creation by the things He says, and He does!

1Jn 4:9  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 

1Jn 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

1Jn 4:11  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 

It is because God has this love that we also should learn to love as God loves!

Joh 17:22  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 

Joh 17:23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 

Joh 17:24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 

So when we begin reading this passage that talks of a race, then we must accept that our race in the will of God is a LOVE race, to promote the love of God to this unloving world.

*****Heb 12:1  Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 

It is a race to know God and His love and to commune with and fellowship with God both now and forever.

If we love God as He loves us then, we will believe Him and all the Words He has given to us, and be obedient to Him and all the Word of God!

We will believe in all the promises of God, and we will believe the love He has shown us in His Son!

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

There is so much we can learn from the Word of God, but if we can just believe He has this love as described here, the rest will be easy!

There is great power in faith.

There is even great power when our faith is combined with our true love for Him.

It is the baggage of a wicked world that has lost its affection for regular people and serves only the elite and powerful, that drags down each of us, unless we can lay aside these things and strive to match the pace God has given to us in His Son Jesus.

God has provided something much better for those who love Him!

Heb 11:40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 

You see we must continue to fight that good fight of faith just as those in the previous chapter!

1Ti 6:12  Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. 

When we read of the New Testament saints, we should see them as witnesses for the faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We must clearly understand that anything that does not build us up, is then tearing us down!

Anything that does not improve our Christian life, is then detrimental to our Christian life and our faith!

When we attend a Church service, then it must be to hear the message God has for us that day and fellowship with our likeminded brothers and sisters, and not for entertainment.

If we miss that service, then we have missed God's message for that day and the importance of it!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Author of our salvation and without Him there would be no salvation!

*****Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

**Looking; we are to fix our eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ as the object of our "faith"!

We are to fix our eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ as "the only" means of our "salvation"!

**Author; the Lord Jesus Christ is the "Originator" and the "Preeminent Example" of a life in Christ, being obedient to our Heavenly Father.

**Finisher; the Lord Jesus Christ is our "Perfecter"! It is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that will carry us through to "perfection". 

The Lord Jesus Christ does not start something that He does not finish!

Php 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that "he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ": 

**The joy; The Lord Jesus Christ got no pleasure in the pain He endured. He got no pleasure in the way the very humans He created treated Him.

Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and "was heard in that he feared";

Remember the Lord was 100% man and 100% God. He absolutely did fear the scourge, because it caused the death of so many before they reached the cross. The Lord Jesus had to die on that cross!

Joh_3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

He got joy in knowing that He had completed the work of salvation for every human who has ever existed.

His work for our salvation is finished:

Joh_17:4  I have glorified thee on the earth: "I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do".

The Lord Jesus Christ felt joy knowing that salvation was now in our hands for He had completed the payment for our salvation that we did not have the power to do.

Our part is to believe Him and what He has done. This is why "faith" is so critical!

God will not tolerate those who reject His Son because of the work He had to do.

There is still joy in Heaven every time some lost soul is saved.

Luk_15:10  Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner "that repenteth".

You will notice that it is not just salvation that brings joy to Heaven, it is that fact of repentance!

The joy of the Lord came to Him because He had accomplished His Father's will.

What is His Father's Will?

1Ti 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 

1Ti 2:4  "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth". 

**Right hand; His work completed, Our Lord Jesus returned to His place at the right hand of God, but not just as Sovereign God of all His creation, but also as the High Priest and Mediator and Intercessor for each and everyone who have now committed to having that "Saving Faith".

The right hand is the place power, authority, and honor.

Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 

Rom 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 

Rom 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Rom 8:36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

The Lord Jesus Christ is our example of the results of "faith" as we will also return to the Father if we can show this same "faith"!

*****Heb 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Heb 12:4  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.  

How can we survive this cruel world? By keeping our focus on the things that the Lord Jesus Christ had to accomplish so that we can have this great salvation that is for eternity!

If we compare our own suffering to the suffering of Christ Jesus, we will see that there is really no comparison to the suffering and shame of our Lord as He paid our sin debt.

This will keep us from getting weary, meaning exhausted, tired, worn out, or even just relaxing as we go about the work that the Lord Jesus has given us to do.

There is no neutral ground when we serve the Lord.

We either are or we are not !

Discouragement can ruin our testimony for Christ!

Mat 10:22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

We must resist the temptations of this world and focus on Christ who has already defeated this world!

Most all of us can say we have not resisted until death.

1Co 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 

1Co 10:14  Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 

We must never count the chastisement of the Lord toward us as punishment, when it is only the Holy Spirit who is keeping us on that narrow path to victory.

We must never question the love of God for His children!

If we would just take the time to study all the things our Lord has done for us simply because of His Great Love, we would not hesitate to show Him our love.

*****Heb 12:5  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 

Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 

We should also be clear on this issue. God will discipline His believers!

God will not discipline non-believers, they are already condemned to eternal death!

It is Satan who cause havoc in the lives of unbelievers, yet they continue to worship him.

God chastens, corrects, and rebukes believers!

God cannot be tempted with evil, nor does God tempt any human being.

Jas 1:13  Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 

Jas 1:14  But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 

Notice it is lust that conceives, that brings sin into our lives.

It is the lust between a man and a woman who refuse to take responsibility that makes a need for abortion.

It is the lust between two people male or female that cause the queer life style.

It is the lust for power that ruins politicians.

It is the lust for riches that has corrupted our world!

Jas 1:15  Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 

It is sin that alienates us from God!

God does not cause temptation, nor does He cause us to sin.

God does not cause devastation, accidents, destruction, sickness, death or sufferings, trials or troubles and problems.

These are all things of this world! 

God will go through these things with us if He allows them!

God does not cause terrible things to happen, nor does He cause evil!

God's concern for us is not to  cause us problems!

**God allows some of these things to happen to us to teach, to train us, and instruct us, on how to deal with these type things, to make us stronger.

We are to stand on the truth of God!

God does not want any of these things to defeat us and they will not, if we stand firm upon the Word of God, for He will be with us at all times.

Php_4:13  I can do "all" things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

There is a reason for that word "ALL".

These things will only make us stronger if we allow God the Holy Ghost to do His work of sanctification!

When we come under attack we must immediately turn to God and ask for help!

All these things are only directed at us to allow God to work in our hearts to make us stronger.

We must never lay around in self-pity.

Many things are blamed on God that are just not true.

For instance, a small innocent baby is crippled in an automobile accident by a drunk driver. This is not being chastened or corrected by God!

This happens because we live in a corrupted world full of sin.

This is the same for drive-by shootings and other such things.

God simply does not cause such things, "love" simply does not act this way!

We will not see the wrath of God during this period of the "Grace"

All of God's instruction is to teach us to trust and depend more upon the Lord Jesus Christ!

**When we fail or cave into a trial or sin, God will let us reap what we have sown!

We will always bear the results of our sin, but it does not cause God to love us any less.

When we deal with the bad and evil things of this earth, God did not cause them!

We must not despise discipline!

When we are being taught by God, we need to cherish it and know that God is using these things to make us stronger so we will be able to help others who may go through the same thing.

We must get accustomed to the tug and pull of the Holy Spirit and even the little tugs can have critical meaning.

Jer 32:33  And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.

When we endure the chastening of the Lord it shows we trust our Savior and our love will grow even stronger.

*****Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 

Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

We must understand that when we are going through a period of chastening and suffering because of it, and we see someone else going through  something similar with relative ease we must not get confused.

If God has received us as His children, we should expect our Heavenly Father to keep us straight just as we try to do to our own children.

This shows the great love that God has for us!

He may even spank us to get our attention, but it is still done in love.

It is such a great honor to know you are a child of God and many times as we go through these things, thank spanking hand feels more like a comforting hand because this is the way God is to His children.

We must endure the discipline of God.

We are to stand fast in our trials and troubles.

We must become soft to the feel of the Holy Spirit!

We are to follow the Word of God and the Holy Spirit will direct us by the Word of God.

The Holy Spirit will never lead us away from Jesus Christ!

Our Heavenly Father is a Loving Father!

Now that one who is going through something similar with relative ease may not even be a child of God.

God does not discipline those who do not love Him!

They too are subject to the curse upon this world and exposed to the wickedness and corruptness of it.

God does not discipline those who do not love Him because they are already subject to His "wrath" to come!

This person is the child of Satan.

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

These people will act just as Satan acts!

The Bible says these are "bastards" and not sons.

Bastard used here means the offspring of non-believers who have rejected the truth of God and not taught their children the Word of God!

Pro_22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Furthermore.

*****Heb 12:9  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 

Heb 12:10  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

If we have grown up having a father who loves us, then we have surely been disciplined by him and maybe that mother or both and we know it was done out of love.

Much of the troubles we have today are caused because of broken families and this is the work of Satan!

What we see today is children raised without discipline and it shows up so much that it is changing this entire world.

In fact, many of them have grown up to become leaders who now have no respect for the law and choose to not discipline those who break the law.

Living in this world of today we see that love of life has truly little meaning.

Rom_1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

2Ti_3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

The discipline of God brings life and life eternal!

The discipline of this world brings death, maybe not physical death but eternal death and separation from a Holy God!

They will be delivered to this death the very moment they leave this world, whereas the child of God knows that death is just a steppingstone to eternal life in the glory world.

Pro 11:19  As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

As we were growing up, our parents only had a few days to try to get us to grow up in a righteous manner in ways they thought were good, and many times they used too much discipline for the wrong things and too little discipline when they should have been tougher.

God does not ever make this mistake and God has our lifetime after salvation to get us ready for Heaven and useful for the work He has for us in this world.

If we are not partakers of His holiness, how do we ever expect to come face to face with Him.

There are no places to hide in Heaven! We either are or we are not!

Any move we make toward sin is a good reason to see the discipline of God!

*****Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. 

It could be said that pain teaches us our nothingness.

We do not have it in power to stop our pain especially that mental pain for a terrible situation that is going on in our lives.

Health permits us to swell in pride and self-esteem, but pain knocks us down a level and shows us our feebleness.

Pain shows us we are not in charge even of our own bodies!

The fact of the matter is that we need solid "Grace" when we are thrown into the furnace of affliction and if Jesus is not there with us, we will be burnt to a crisp!

It is "faith and love" that teaches us to bear all things good and bad because we trust in a perfect Savior!

There is peace that comes to those who are going to the trials and temptations of this world because we know we are not alone.

There is a lot that can be said of that person who can stand and face God and say, "be merciful to me God, I am but just a sinner that loves you".

There is "Mercy and Grace" at the Throne of Love!

Amen

Selfish Christians

The Problem Of Self-Centered Followers

1 Corinthians 13:1-14:40


The be self-centered is to be centered on yourself!

To be self-centered is to be all about yourself, your own self interest, or the love your own private interest and is also known as selfishness.

This self-centeredness is destroying the America that we know and love.

Small groups of people in America are claiming that they deserve to be better treated than all others and that the world should be given to them while the others pay for it.

No matter what you think, that is being self-centered and it is selfish of them!

Selfishness is always contrary to the Word of God!

Jas 2:8  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Jas 2:9  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Selfishness is forbidden in the Word of God!

Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Increasing selfishness is another sign we are in the end times!

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2  "For men shall be lovers of their own selves", covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3  "Without natural affection", trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Let's begin:

1Co 13:1  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co 13:2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

We must understand that the most important trait of the Christian is a giving love!

The tongues of men are human languages, every angel that is mentioned in the Bible also spoke in human languages or their message would not have been understood.

Any other sound coming from the mouths of man are as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal that can only lend themselves to music with the proper tone and sequence.

No gift of human expression is more important than the gift of charity!

Charity is then the supreme love of God and a benevolent love and universal good will to all men!

The love of God is "agape" love!

Remember to be benevolent is to promote happiness and prosperity to all those you come in contact with!

The charity of the Christian must be unstained without any semblance of evil!

Many men possess the power of speaking but without charity their words are meaningless!

Many will come to Jesus at the judgment saying, "have I not prophesied in thy name" and Jesus will tell them, "depart from me I never knew you".

Many possess the knowledge of the mysteries of the Old Testament that are revealed in the New Testament.

Some may even possess the faith to move mountains but without "agape" love, that faith cannot accomplish the desired goals of God!

Judas Iscariot had faith that Jesus Christ was indeed the Messiah but he was rejected because he did not have the love of God nor the love of man.

To be nothing is to be non-existing in the eyes of God, who looks into the heart of all men!

Though you give away all you own to feed the poor but do not know the "Grace" of God that gave you those things and show "His Grace in your life as you give those things, then it is not real love.

Though you become a Martyr but do not know the love of God, you have sacrificed your life for nothing in return!

Without repenting and giving of your soul to God, He will reject anything else you have to offer!

Mat 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Mat 16:27  For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

It is the laws of King Jesus that we are to obey above all else!

Jas 2:8  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Jas 2:9  But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

What is the truth of Godly love?

*****1Co 13:4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1Co 13:5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
1Co 13:6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
1Co 13:7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Charity is defined by "what it does" rather than "what it is"!

If we want to earn rewards in Heaven then it is essential to have a real love for God and also for our fellow man, without these things then every thing else is valueless!

Agape love shows patience not jealousy.

Agape love is not proud and boastful but is courteous, unselfish, good natured.

Agape love is not suspicious. It does not rejoice in wickedness but rather rejoices when truth and purity prevails.

Agape love looks on the bright side, is hopeful and patient even in persecution and does not complain!

Agape love endures all things because agape love is the love that God has shown to each of us as an example of the love we are to have as Christians!

*****1Co 13:8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Charity never fails because the love of God can never fail!

Fail is the same as vanish away and become useless and come to and end.

When the Lord Jesus returns to take us home and then sit on His earthly throne, prophecies will fail, tongues shall cease, and spiritual knowledge will be done away with, because it will be Truth that will fulfilled!

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2  The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

God's love is the most permanent trait that He has shown to us!

When we see "Perfection" we will truly understand just how sinful we really are!

*****1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

It is true that God has given us this love letter that we call the Bible and it is all we need to know to get us into Heaven but the Apostles clearly understood that this world we now live on could not contain all the knowledge of God!

Joh 21:25  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

We can only know a small part of the knowledge of God!

The prophecies of men can then only be partial because we have the complete Word of God!

But when we see the Perfect Lord, face to face, the partial knowledge we have known will be of no great concern because Jesus said, all things will be new!

All the things we know of the present state of things will be lost in Perfectness when we have at last attained the fulness of Jesus Christ!

Eph 3:19  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Paul was telling these Corinthians it was past the time of being "Babes in Christ" and it was time for them to begin maturing in the Word of God.

It was time to end the divisions in the Church and unite in one mind and in one accord!

It was time to properly use the "Spiritual gifts" given to them for the betterment of the Church and glorify God by the building up of the Church!

It was time to grow in the Lord and put away childish things!

It was time to stop relying on the gifts of God and rely on the pure Word of God which is the most reliable thing we possess in this world!

We absolutely cannot see clearly if we focus on the the things of this world!

*****1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

The completed Word of God which we now have, are like a mirror which shows us as we are!

It is the Word of God that can encourage us to make the needed changes in our walk in this life!

We cannot know the fulness of Christ until God's plan is complete as revealed in the Scriptures!

Jas 1:23  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
Jas 1:24  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
Jas 1:25  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

The three traits of the Christ should be faith, hope, and charity!

*****1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

These three things are fundamental to the Christian walk and these three things are the only permanent things in this world!

It takes faith to please God!

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Hope is what anchors our soul!

Heb 6:19  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

But greater than all these is Charity!

We believe in things that we love!

We hope in things that we love!

Faith and hope are mainly for ourselves but love is for God and our neighbors.

Faith and hope are human but God Is Love!

We must follow our Love of God!

*****1Co 14:1  Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

The chief aim of each of us is first to possess that giving benevolent love that God shows to each of us!

The chief aim of the Church is first to possess that giving benevolent love that God shows to His Church!

No spiritual gift is of any importance until we have and show "the agape love of God"!

Then Paul says if we desire a spiritual gift, then desire to prophesy.

To prophesy in this verse means to speak and exhort under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit!

This does not mean for all of us to desire to be a preacher because this is a special calling from God. It does means for us all to study the Scriptures and be able to witness to the lost world, and be able to help disciple those that are "babes in Christ"!

It appears that this church in Corinth all had such a great desire to speak in different languages that many of them spoke in unknown languages.

*****1Co 14:2  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
1Co 14:4  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
1Co 14:5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

There was such a strong tendency at Corinth to magnify the use of tongues(languages), these members spoke in utterances that no one could understand, let alone interpret.

This was rebuked harshly by the Apostle Paul.

Studying the Scriptures and being able to lead some lost soul to the Lord is of far greater importance in the Church!

To edify is to build up in the truth of God!

To exhort is to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ.

To comfort is to help those who are distressed and weary in this lost world.

These are the things that show the love of God much more than speaking some other language especially some unknown utterance that no one can understand except maybe God who looks into the heart and then they can only edify themselves.

We are to pick up our own cross and die daily to ourselves!

If it is possible that you know some foreign language that is a benefit to those in the church then you must also be able to interpret what you have said so that all others can be edified or just be quiet and learn the truth!

The truth is that what comes out of our mouths can carry no real meaning unless it can be understood by those around us!

If we are to edify, exhort, and comfort those we are around then we must speak clearly the Words Of God!

We can be sure of one thing, the Holy Spirit will never inspire any message that cannot be understood by those He has already brought under conviction.

Salvation is a two part event. The Holy Spirit brings conviction and the Gospel will lead them to Jesus for forgiveness and salvation.

On the day of Pentecost everyone heard the message in their own language!

Act 2:6  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, "because that every man heard them speak in his own language".

And Paul continues:

*****1Co 14:6  Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
1Co 14:7  And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
1Co 14:8  For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
1Co 14:9  So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
1Co 14:10  There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
1Co 14:11  Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

The truth is unless we speak what has been revealed to us by the Holy Spirit and/or by thoughtful study of the Scriptures, what we say as a teacher or preacher or just to witness is useless if it cannot be understood!

Even instruments of music must be sounded with distinction and melody and in tune for the music to pleasant to the ears. Much more the human voice!

If God's people do not proclaim the Word of God in it's truth and in it's fulness, without compromising with the standards of worldly conduct then the Church will be unfit for the service of God, and this is what we are beginning to see in most churches today!

If an army is prepared for battle and they receive an uncertain order they will not move when they are supposed to or they will move to soon and either way the battle could be lost!

When our words are not distinguishable then we are only polluting God's air!

What is the real "climate change" in our world? The falseness and deceit that comes out of peoples mouths!

In 2009 there were 6909 known languages in our world and that number should be declining as times passes.

Each of these languages are understood by those who live within each family and each one has it's own significance.

Therefore:

If we do not clearly understand each other we will each be seen as barbarians to each other!

Barbarian in this verse means a foreigner.

If we remember the Tower of Babel when God caused there to be many different languages, it brought confusion and those that spoke the same language separated themselves from all the others.

Gen 11:7  Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
Gen 11:8  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.

This same thing has happened to the Church because of the many denominations that speak the Word of God by their own interpretation when God commands us not to!

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

We are all to accept what God says as the complete truth, rightly divided!

If we truly want to be useful servants in the Church then we should desire better gifts of the Holy Spirit than some ability to speak in some language that no one else can understand!

*****1Co 14:12  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
1Co 14:13  Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
1Co 14:14  For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
1Co 14:15  What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
1Co 14:16  Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
1Co 14:17  For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

It must be clear to us all that the Church is here to make disciples.

In order to do that, we all must have a clear knowledge of the Word of God and then living our own life according to God's Word.

We will never be able to teach others what we refuse to do ourselves!

To edify is to build up Christian knowledge, instructing that knowledge, so to improve the mind of that one being instructed.

Repenting is not only changing the direction of a lost soul, it is the complete changing of his or her mind!

Only faith in the Word of God can accomplish these things!

It is true that when we pray the Holy Spirit may speak in utterances that only God can understand.

Rom 8:26  Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Rom 8:27  And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

It is also just as true that if we pray in some unknown language, we may be aware that we are praying but we will not even know what we are saying to God, who will certainly not answer such prayers.

Mat 21:22  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Prayer is a most wonderful form of worship, why would we pray in words that we ourselves do not even understand.

Joh 4:24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

When we sing why would sing with words that no one understands.

Psa 47:7  For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.

There are many today who make a practice of these things and they are just as wrong as these Corinthians were wrong!

To say Amen is to confirm the words you have heard and pray for the fulfillment of those words!

How can we say "Amen" to words that we do not understand!

We can understand the truth of the Word of God and say "Amen" to those words!

2Co 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

To be able to say "Amen" is just as important as the prayer itself!

There can be no profit to the Church when someone speaks in an unintelligible manner!

*****1Co 14:18  I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
1Co 14:19  Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

The Apostle Paul was a highly educated man and it is said that he could speak in as many as six different languages.

Paul also had the powers given to him by Jesus.

The truth is if one does not address a congregation in words that they can understand then that speaker is wasting his time and also the time of those who are gathered.

In fact to do so is childish!

*****1Co 14:20  Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
1Co 14:21  In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

Jesus said we are to be childlike in our faith:

Mat 18:3  And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

There is a great difference in being childlike and being childish!

Childish behavior refers to the selfish and ignorant and silliness of children that come from a lack of understanding!

Paul said it was right to be like "infants" in malice, which means causing harm to others!

But in understanding the Word of God, we must all be mature!

Infants cannot cause much harm but grownups acting like children cause much harm wherever they are!

What does the Word of God say?

*****1Co 14:21  In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

Paul quotes directly from the Word of God:

Isa 28:11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

God also said that languages that could not be understood were a sign of trouble!

Jer 5:15  Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

Deu 28:49  The LORD shall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth; a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;
Deu 28:50  A nation of fierce countenance, which shall not regard the person of the old, nor shew favour to the young:
Deu 28:51  And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee.

Therefore speaking in words that could not be understood is not a good sign but a bad sign!

*****1Co 14:22  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

The speaking in an unknown language was then a sign of the coming wrath and punishment inflicted on a rebellious and unbelieving people!

Speaking in an unknown language in this manner is not a sign of the "Grace Gifts" of God!

The speaking of tongues on the day of Pentecost was a major miracle to establish the Church and is not repeated in this day because we have the complete Word of God.

The gift of prophecy in the day of Paul was a much more desired gift to allow church growth and understanding and it to has now been replaced with preaching and teaching because we have the full and completed Word of God!

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15  And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

*****1Co 14:23  If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
1Co 14:24  But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
1Co 14:25  And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

It is the object of the Church to gain souls to the Lord not cause the loss of a single soul!

For those who insist on doing these things then closet prayer is where it should take place!

The English word "maniac" is derived from the Greek word "mainomai" which is used in this verse for "mad".

The natural reaction of anyone who came across someone speaking the gibberish of unknown language would be greatly multiplied if that person entered into a building where they all were doing so!

This thing would drive the precious soul of an unbeliever away.

The gift of prophecy is intended for the believer but the properly spoken Word of God can often bring an unbeliever to conviction to a point where they will also accept Christ Jesus!

What is the truth of every human being, even for those that reject the Word of God?

Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

There can be no true atheist but there are many who just reject this truth!

It is the "Gospel" that can awaken these deep truths and the secrets of the heart be made known to them and then they will humble themselves before God and then begin to worship the Lord!

These things were not happening at Corinth because they all gathered with their own ideas of worship!

*****1Co 14:26  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

How divided was this church?

Everyone had their own special song and wanted all the others to acknowledge it.

Everyone had their own interpretation of the Scriptures and all others were wrong. Each had some hidden mystery that only he or she could reveal.

Everyone had their own unknown tongue and no one could understand what was said.

Everyone had their own interpretation of what was said and no one agreed.

Everyone wanted to take control of the worship service and have it their way!

The Apostle Paul said none of these things were edifying.

To edify is to build up the church and not to tear it apart!

To edify is to instruct, to improve the mind in the ways of the Lord!

God is not the author of confusion and this church at Corinth was a confused church.

*****1Co 14:27  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
1Co 14:28  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
1Co 14:29  Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
1Co 14:30  If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
1Co 14:31  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
1Co 14:32  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

We can see how Paul rid this church of the use of tongues.

First he did not allow more than three to speak and they, one at a time.

The one was to interpret what the other one said.

Since speaking in unknown tongues is gibberish obviously there was no interpreter of what was said.

Since there was no interpreter then they were to keep silent and speak to themselves and to God!

Then Paul said let no more than two or three preach the Word of God and let the congregation judge what was said.

Prophesyings are not to be despised but we are to hold only to those things that are good.

1Th 5:20  Despise not Prophesyings.
1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

We are also to try the spirits!

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
These few things would eliminate most false prophets.

The congregation could then judge which message that was preached was of greater importance to the church.

Paul then said all that think they are called of God should get the opportunity to preach but no more than three in one service.

The truth is, a preacher truly called of God would not be acting like some raving maniac and speaking words that no one could understand.

The true man of God will be ready to preach the truth at all times!

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

God is not the author of confusion, which is also disorder and commotion.

God is the author of peace in the church!

Peace is the freedom from commotion!

*****1Co 14:34  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
1Co 14:35  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
1Co 14:36  What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?

There is a reason these things were preached by the Apostle Paul and remember many questions had been asked that he is answering by the Word of God.

From the beginning God has said this:

Gen 3:16  Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.

God had assigned authority to the man at creation and it is the man who is to first be totally obedient to God before he serve his family.

Remember the head of Christ is God, the head of the man is Christ and the head of the woman is man.

This is the order of things as set by the Word of God!

The woman was given to man as an "help-meet" an aid to man's completeness.

These things do not change within the church!

For women to speak in public "in the culture of that day" would be an act of independence.

Remember in the Book of Acts, the Grecian women had needs that the Jewish women did not have and the first Deacons were brought into the church.

Paul said rather than just speak out in the church let the family discuss these things at home and together they could search for the answers.

Not to ask other men but to ask their own husband keeping the unity of the family which was establish before the church and it must remain that way!

This again was to stop some of the confusion in this church at Corinth!

The family must remain the most important structure in God's creation and then the Church!

In other words it is God, then the family, and then the Church!

It seems that this church in Corinth had adopted things that they felt should be in every church and we see this same thing go on today!

There are those who think the Word of God is out of date with today's culture and seek to change the Church.

The truth is God's Word is alive and is just as true today as it was when it was first inspired and given to the writers.

Not one word is to be changed until the Lord returns and all is fulfilled!

Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

God will never go against His own words!

Neither should we!

*****1Co 14:37  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
1Co 14:38  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
1Co 14:39  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
1Co 14:40  Let all things be done decently and in order.

These words of the Apostle Paul must be seen as the commandments of the Lord!

That being true, then these things are required of us by the Word of God to keep order in the church.

All those that reject the Word of God will still reject the truth no matter what is said.

In fact:

Rev 22:11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

The power to preach is desired by many but only those called of God are equipped to do this but we are all called to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ!

If we forbid the preaching in a foreign language then missionaries could not travel to foreign countries and do what God has called them to do.

God will equip them if He has sent them!

Worship in the Church must be in good order and harmony.

It does not mean we cannot shout and clap our hands.

It does not mean we cannot raise holy hands.

It does not mean we we cannot enjoy the Holy Ghost!

It does mean that the saved of the Lord should say so!

Questions?

Comments.

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