1 Corinthians 14 (4)

Pray Psalm 142.1-3.
I cry out to the LORD with my voice;
With my voice to the LORD I make my supplication.
I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble.
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk
They have secretly set a snare for me.

Sing Psalm 142.1-3 (5, 6).
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
With my voice, O LORD, I cry—hear my plea for mercy, LORD!
My complaint mounts up on high, bringing You my troubled word:
Refrain vv. 5, 6
LORD, You are my Refuge strong! O receive my plaintive song!

When my spirit faints away, You my falt’ring pathway know;
where I take my journey they traps have hidden to my woe.
Refrain

Read 1 Corinthians 14.1-28; meditate on verses 26-28.

Preparation
1. What did people then bring to the worship of God?

2. What was the guiding principle for worship?

Meditation
Paul did not miss an opportunity to remind the Corinthians that life in the Body of Christ is all about building-up one another and the church in the Lord. Mutual edification was obviously missing in the churches in Corinth, so Paul taught about it in nearly every topic he addressed.

But what does it mean to be built-up in the Lord? Who should do this? How?

Individual believers are built-up in the Lord as they become more and more like Him. The Spirit of God, working with the Word of God, seeks to renew us in Jesus throughout our soul and body (2 Cor. 3.12-18).  As that renewal continues and advances, we become more like Jesus. This is the great privilege we have with one another, to be instruments in the Spirit’s hands for helping others grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus (2 Pet. 3.18).

The local church grows as a body as it increases in unity and maturity unto the measure of Jesus Christ (Eph. 4.12-16). True church growth is not necessarily numerical. It is in the first instance spiritual. Our churches increase in becoming the Body of Christ as unity and maturity characterize all we are and do.

In each case, growing in love is the primary fruit of true growth. We contribute to growth in others and in our church as we identify and use our gifts for the building-up of our brethren and our church. And this is everybody’s calling and privilege in the Kingdom of God and Christ.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
God’s hope for us is that we grow up in all things into Him Who is the head of the Church, Jesus Christ, “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Eph. 4.15, 16).

There are many amazing artists in our family, I am not one of them.

Today when I was finishing up my quiet time with the Lord, I received a text from our granddaughter, Evalena, who is one of the amazing artists in the family. I was still meditating on and ruminating about a line from Psalm 81, where God says: “You called in trouble, and I delivered you; I answered you in the secret place of thunder…” (vs.7). In my mind, “secret” and “thunder” did not coalesce.

God whispered to me, “Evalena is an artist, ask her what she sees in My words.” So, I did.
“I don’t know how to see this. What are your thoughts?”
Here is her response: “Possibly only in the eardrums of those willing to hear? You know that quote, ‘if a tree falls in the forest and there’s nobody around to hear it, does it make a sound?’ Maybe He answered all those willing to hear the sound?”

In her artistic mind’s eye she saw that secret place as the personal eardrum, and the thunder as God’s Word—powerful and majestic—but heard only by those who choose to listen. Are we personally there when the tree falls in the forest to hear its whooshing sound? Do I hear His thundering Word when He speaks it?

Evalena edified my mind and heart and taught me how to see that verse.

The Body of Christ is full of believers who can edify one another. Some bring a psalm, some offer teaching, others a word of revelation and prophecy, and the couple who bring a tongue and an interpretation (1 Cor. 14.26). But all the gifts are centered and focused on the truths found within the Word of God. “Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar” (Prov. 30.5, 6).

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13.8).
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3.16).
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2.8-10).
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5.8). These are all pure and true words that we put our full trust in.

Open up the secret place in your life and hear the whooshing sound of God’s love for you. According to Evalena’s theory, it can be as loud as thunder, but if we do not listen, we will not hear.

Be edified by God’s Word. Be edified by the Body. Then seek to edify others.
“Let all things be done for edification” (1 Cor. 14.26).

For reflection
1. Ultimately, God causes all our growth (1 Cor. 3.7). How is God speaking to you these days? What are you hearing from Him that is edifying your soul?

2. Whom will you be able to encourage and edify today? How should you prepare for this important opportunity?

3. Where do you need to grow? How are you praying that God will send people to edify you in the Lord?

Religious exercises in public assemblies should have this view; Let all be done to edifying. As to the speaking in an unknown tongue, if another were present who could interpret, two miraculous gifts might be exercised at once, and thereby the church be edified, and the faith of the hearers confirmed at the same time. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on 1 Corinthians 14.26-28

Pray Psalm 142.4-7.
We are to build others up in the Lord and to have people in our lives who build us up as well. Ask the Lord to give you some fellow believers whom you can edify and who will edify you.

Sing Psalm 142.4-7.
(Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
LORD, look to my right and see: None takes notice of my plight.
Is there refuge left for me? Is my soul out of Your sight?
Refrain vv. 5, 6
LORD, You are my Refuge strong! O receive my plaintive song!

Hear my cry, LORD, I am low! They are strong who seek my soul.
Jesus frees from every foe; He will keep and make me whole!
Refrain

Out of prison lead me, LORD; thanks and praise to You shall be.
Righteous men armed with Your Word will Your grace bestow on me.
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore

The Church in Corinth needed revival. But there was much to be done before that would happen. The Church today needs revival, and the same is true for us. Our book, Revived!, can help us to discern our need for revival and lead us in getting there. Order your copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter, available by clicking here.