The Ability To Say Amen

Glory be to thee, O Father everlasting, who didst send Thine only-begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. Glory be to thee O Jesus Christ, who hast brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Glory be to thee O Holy Spirit, who quickens us together with Christ, and does shed abroad his love in our hearts. Come to us now thou Blessed Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; Blessed be thy glorious name now and forevermore.

†OPENING PSALM OF PRAISE #5

“Hear My Words, O Lord”

†CORPORATE CONFESSION OF SIN

““Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster.” (Joel 2:12–13, ESV)

Let us take a moment for silent and personal confession of sin

TIME OF SILENT CONFESSION

Let us confess our sins together, praying

Congregation: Almighty and most merciful Father, we are thankful that your mercy is higher than the heavens, wider than our wanderings, and deeper than our sin. Forgive our careless attitudes toward your purposes, our refusal to relieve the suffering of others, our envy of those who have more than we have, our obsession with creating a life of constant pleasure, our indifference to the treasures of heaven, and our neglect of your wise and holy law.

Help us to change our way of life so that we may desire what is good, love what you love, and do what you command, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

ASSURANCE OF PARDON

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:17–18, ESV)

CONTINUAL READING OF SCRIPTURE Exodus 13:1-22

Paul Mulner, Elder

THE OFFERING OF TITHES AND OUR GIFTS

CONGREGATIONAL PRAYERS

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

†HYMN OF PREPARATION #399

“For Your Gift of God the Spirit”

SERMON 1 Corinthians 14:1-25 The Ability To Say Amen // Pastor Austin Prince

PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION

Heavenly Father, may you grant us to comprehend your holy Word according to your divine will, that we may learn from it to put all our confidence in you alone, and withdraw it from all other creatures; moreover, that also our old man with all his lusts may be crucified more and more each day, and that we may offer ourselves to you as a living sacrifice, to the glory of your holy name and to the edification of our neighbor, through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. —Zacharias Ursinus

TEXT

1 Corinthians 14:1–25 ESV

1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. 6 Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church. 13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

AFTER SCRIPTURE

As for God, His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is flawless.

INTRO:

It’s easy to miss, but the start of this section of scripture is a call to “pursue love” (v.1).

That is, Paul is framing the entire conversation of tongues, and the regulation of tongues, through the lens of love. And raising the question, is what the Corinthians are practicing loving?

To really understand where we are in this passage we must remember that chapter fourteen ends a section of this letter dedicated to spiritual gifts that Paul began in chapter twelve. And if I were to briefly summarize that section, it would be something like this:

We have all been given gifts for the common good - to build one another up. (ch.12)

No one can say that he isn’t needed or useful, and no one can say that someone else’s gift isn’t needed or useful — not all are hands, not all are feet, and the eye shouldn’t be jealous of the ear. We all work and serve together. (ch.12)

But a still more excellent way is love. (ch.13)

All of our gifts are merely aiding us as we are built up in love. They will one day all pass away but love will remain (ch.13)

So as we serve one another and (getting to this chapter) pursue love, does that square with the practice of tongues in the church? (ch. 14)

And here Paul seems to very clearly say, no.

All-in-all, the Corinthian congregation were suffering from great immaturity (1 Cor. 14:20). They were apparently speaking in tongues that were not understood by the other members of the congregation, these tongues were not being translated into anything that would build them up, and these tongues served to confuse outsiders who might otherwise hear the gospel (1 Cor. 14:23).

As we have seen earlier, the Corinthians prided themselves upon their gifts and likely used tongues as a frequent way to further divide the congregation. The super spiritual spoke in tongues, they were closer to God, they had a deep, emotional connection, etc. They were childish, and like children they are distracted by the spectacular - but it didn’t build up. And if there is one thing that Paul has hammered over and over again throughout this book, it is that love builds. Love serves. Tongues do not.

A brief history or statements on why I think tongues have ceased.

I want to share what I believe tongues to be and my conviction on their existence now, but I want to do this briefly because we could easily miss the forest through the trees in this text. I’m happy to discuss this anytime, but I also want to make sure that with our time this morning we are seeing what Paul is saying about the regulation of tongues and not necessarily their continuation or cessation.

Here are my convictions:

Tongues were known languages that served to advance the gospel and authenticate the work of the Spirit (Acts. 2)

Miracles and signs mark significant events

I believe that it was for the Apostolic age to spread the gospel and authenticate the Apostles’ teaching, just as Jesus miracles testified to His authenticity or Moses’ miracles testified to his.

Paul said they would cease 1 Cor. 13:8

The use of known languages was one thing, but the practice of speaking gibberish and then having it translated served no purpose. Why not cut out the middle man and simply prophesy (1 Cor. 14:5)?

1 Cor. is an early book, most of the New Testament is silent on the subject, and Paul doesn’t even list them when he lists the gifts in Romans, one of his later books. Tongues is mentioned in Acts 2 and 1 Cor.

The practice is almost completely unmentioned in the early church

Was only largely reintroduced in some Christian spheres in the 1700’s but now mainly in the form of unintelligible utterances and vague interpretations that often contradict themselves or scripture. (Chelsea and I being told that we were pregnant but were not)

Paul acknowledges the authentic gift. He was there in the early church after-all and he saw the gifts legitimately used. So, while it would be nice if he were very clear about the gift remaining or being gone, I don’t think he can do that. He saw the gift, and he said that he has the gift, and yet he gives regulations on it. And that itself is strange and telling. What other gift has regulations on it?

Paul also suggests of a private use of tongues for prayer or singing, but scolds the congregation for the uselessness of it without interpretation. Overwhelmingly, his answer on the use of tongues is in the negative, as we will see in v.19

The crux of the matter is intelligibility. Look at vv. 6-12:

“Now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.” (1 Corinthians 14:6–12, ESV)

If you utter unintelligible speech, how will anyone know what is said? You are simply speaking into the air.

If we can’t understand what is being spoken, then we will sound like barbarians. Barbarian is a word of onomatopoeia; a word that sounds like what it defines. Like whizz, bang, or zip, barbarian means someone who sounds like “bar, bar, bar”.

So that’s what was happening in Corinth, and that’s not a way to pursue love.

And that seems to be what is happening in the modern charismatic movement, and that’s not love.

And what’s lost is the ability to say “amen”.

In v.16 Paul says, “how can anyone in the position of an outsider say “amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying?

The word Amen is a Hebrew word which means “it is the truth!” It is a word preserved throughout church history as a way of building one another up. It takes the words spoken by another - a preacher, a teacher, or another member, and we can latch onto it, saying, “Yes! That’s right! Amen to that.” Or when we pray together, we collectively say, “amen”. Effectively saying, “that prayer is my prayer, too, Lord”.

To be able to share with one another in this way and to build one another up, it’s obvious that we must be able to understand what each other say, something that wasn’t happening in Corinth with their practice of tongues.

And another aspect of this dynamic, this ability to say ‘amen’, suggests that we should be frequently letting others know what is on our hearts and minds in ways that stir one another up to love and good works.

This is one of the reasons why we get together for prayer on Tuesday nights and why we take the time in the service each week to ask for updates on prayer needs and praises. There is a corporate nature of the church. We are not spectators of the service, nor are we here only for ourselves and our own benefits — we are here with one another, building one another up. Saying, ‘amen’ together when we hear the truth of the gospel, and saying ‘amen’ together when we sing praise, and saying ‘amen’ together when we bear each others burdens.

And this intelligibility is why Paul would Rather five words of clarity than then thousand in a tongue - v.19

“Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.” (1 Corinthians 14:19, ESV)

This is an example of a text that leads us to place so much focus on the word of God as we do. When Paul is speaking about prophesy here, saying that prophecy is to be preferred over tongues (v.5), he isn’t using the word to suggest that prophesy is telling the future, but rather that prophecy is disclosing the will of God. And how do we know the will of God? Certainly not from our whims and emotions as gnostics (those who believe that they have a secret wisdom from God), but from His revealed word.

Paul is saying that it is better to have five words of clear revelation than countless babbling.

And this is why our services are structured the way that they are. This is why we preach the word, and sing the word, and read the word, and listen to the word read, and pray the word. We have anchored ourselves to God’s truth, leaning not on our own understanding but in all of our ways acknowledging Him! He is the light of our path.

When someone says “I have a word rom the Lord”, it better be from the scriptures. We get no benefit from babbling, and we get no benefit from your feelings, but we get life from even five words of the scriptures. As the proverbs say, “Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.” (Proverbs 30:5, ESV)

Applications

So tongues were to be regulated by translator, and aligning with the scriptures, and limited to a few people, and largely not present the way that it was in Corinth or in the church at large.

And for us, tongues really isn’t a part of our culture, but the dynamics that surround tongues and why they are a problem still exist for us.

For example:

It’s still easy to favor personal experience over building up others in truth and love. That church is for me and my growth (which it is), while neglecting to ‘consider the body’ (1 Cor. 10:29) as a whole that we are accountable for.

It’s easy to rely on a “professional” class of minister to do the building for you. Instead of speaking in tongues, our fault may be more on a lack of speaking - of keeping to ourselves when we should open up to care and be cared for.

A mature church knows that it serves on another. It doesn’t ask as its primary question, ‘how did I like the service today?’, but ‘how was God honored today? Was he pleased with our worship and how we served one another in His name?’

It’s easy to seek personal excitement or euphoria/ecstasy can be manufactured, unbiblical, and unhelpful.

Conclusion

And so Paul has pulled the Corinthians attention back to the question of love. Love isn’t boastful and arrogant, bombastic or exclusive - love serves and builds up. Therefore, tongues should fall in line.

This dynamic of intelligibility versus unintelligibility brings to mind the way that Jesus is described. As the world wondered at what God was like, Jesus entered the world as the Word of God (John 1:1). Revelation describes Heaven opening and the rider on the white horse, the one who is called Faithful and True, who in his righteousness judges and makes way, whose robe dipped in blood, is called the Word of God. First John opens with John saying that which was from the beginning which we have heard, seen and touched, is the Word of life.

We are not left to mere hypothesizing as to what God would be like.

We are not fanatics who are whipped up without substance. We are those to whom God has revealed Himself through the Son. And it is in that revelation that we find the ‘amens’ in our congregation.

As 2 Corinthians 1:20 says,

“all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”

†HYMN OF RESPONSE (Hymnal Insert)

“Yet Not I, but Through Christ In Me”

WHY MEMBERSHIP?

The Yacoub and Routly families

The common analogy Jesus uses for this kingdom is that of a body. As a body has many parts, so a church has many members, each with their own purpose and giftedness. One of the benefits of joining as a member to a local body is that it comes with a nervous system — we feel each others pain and we run to their defense, and we feel each others joys and join in the celebration. As we have been looking at for many weeks now, body life is for building each other up.

And as we are one body, Christ is the head of this body, the church. And through him we have unity: one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism.

The establishment and preservation of that unity with Christ’s body is the primary mission of the church. Only by doing so can we fulfil our duty to paint for the world a visible picture of an invisible reality. Would you like a preview, a shadow or reflection of what the kingdom of God will look like when Christ returns and rules over all? Look at the church. We are that shadow. We are that preview.

We then must guard membership in the church carefully. If we allow just anyone in, with no regard for what they believe or how that belief is lived out, we do not paint a truthful picture of Christ’s kingdom for the world. This is why church membership is accompanied by vows.

The first three vows establish the basis for membership: you join this body of Christ because you, by faith, are already a part of the body of Christ. You believe that you are a sinner deserving of wrath and without hope except for a savior come for you. You believe that Jesus is that savior; the only savior. And you believe that God’s perfect word is the way you come to know him and to walk with him.

The last three vows establish your commitment to live as a faithful member of this community. You, relying on the Holy Spirit, will follow Christ’s obedient example. You will support this congregation in the ways you are able. And you will submit yourself, as you have submitted yourself to Christ, to the under-shepherds he now charges with your care.

We rejoice this morning that they desire to join the fellowship of this body to help us paint that truthful picture of Christ’s kingdom for all the world to see. They can join me up here now, along with their children, Nehemiah, Gideon and Miriam.

I will present these vows to the Yacoubs and the Routlys this morning and I also present them to each of you who are already a member of this body (they are printed on the back of your bulletin). And kids, we’re excited for you to hear these vows as well, and it’s good for you to answer with your parents. But, as children of the covenant, your parents are bringing you under these vows and the blessings and obligations of the covenant God has made with us.

That’s why we all do well, reminded what we have vowed to do, to participate. While you remain seated, I’d encourage you to listen carefully to each as they are read and to join your voice with these families by also saying, “We do.”

MEMBERSHIP VOWS

1. Do you confess that you are a sinner in the sight of God; that you deserve His punishment; that you are unable to save yourself; and that you are without hope of salvation except for God's love and mercy?

2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the Savior of sinners; and do you receive and trust in Him alone for your salvation?

3. Do you accept the Bible, comprised of the Old and New Testaments, as the written Word of God; and that it is the only perfect rule of faith and how to live?

4. Do you promise to trust in the guidance and strength of the Holy Spirit so that you can live all of life as a Christian, following the example set by Jesus Christ?

5. Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?

6. In loving obedience, do you submit yourself to the government and discipline of this church, promising to seek the peace, purity, and prosperity of this congregation as long as you are a member of it?

Please take a moment today after the service or at the lunchtime to welcome the Yacoub and Routly families.

THE MINISTRY OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

Minister: Lift up your hearts!

Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.

Minister: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Congregation: It is right for us to give thanks and praise!

THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION Mark 14:22-25

And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

CONFESSION OF FAITH Belgic Confession, Article 35

Minister: This is a table for people of faith. Without faith, we cannot receive Christ here. Let’s confess what we believe about this meal.

Congregation: We believe and confess that our Savior Jesus Christ has ordained and instituted the sacrament of the Holy Supper to nourish and sustain those who are already born again and ingrafted into his family: his church.

This banquet is a spiritual table at which Christ communicates himself to us with all his benefits. At that table he makes us enjoy himself as much as the merits of his suffering and death, as he nourishes, strengthens, and comforts our poor, desolate souls by the eating of his flesh, and relieves and renews them by the drinking of his blood.

With humility and reverence, we receive the holy sacrament in the gathering of God's people, as we engage together, with thanksgiving, in a holy remembrance of the death of Christ our Savior, and as we thus confess our faith and Christian religion. By the use of this holy sacrament we are moved to a fervent love of God and our neighbors.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS

HYMN Amazing Grace! # 433

SHARING OF THE LORD’S SUPPER

The Lord Jesus, the same night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “Take, eat; this is my body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of me.”

After the same manner also, he took the cup when they had supped, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Eat, drink, remember, believe

PRAYER

†OUR RESPONSE #213

“Glory Be to God the Father”

Glory be to God the Father, glory be to God the Son,

glory be to God the Spirit, God Almighty, Three in One!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!, Glory be to him alone!

†BENEDICTION: GOD’S BLESSING FOR HIS PEOPLE

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of God’s son, Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God almighty, the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit remain with you always. Phil. 4:7

GRACE NOTES REFLECTION

It is imperative that the Christian pursue love, especially among those in the household of faith. To fill their meetings with unintelligible tongues, the Corinthians were ostracizing unbelievers, and leaving the members of their congregation discouraged and confused. Paul’s keen pastoral insight here reminds us of how corporate the church really is. Very often, we participate in church as individuals, expecting individual benefit, individual experience, and assuming individual responsibility. But the ethos with which Paul speaks about the church is that it is consistently and fundamentally a network, a “body”, of those who are responsible for one another. How might effect the way we look at our church and our membership in it?

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