1 Corinthians 14:18-21 

¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. ²⁰Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. ²¹In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”

Radio

Someone said, “Listening to story or drama on a radio, you can imagine beyond actuality.” Have you wondered how radio functions? Not just drama, we also listen to newscasts, podcasts or music through the radio transmitted from radio stations. The airwave or transmission of music from radio station to a radio is invisible reality that cannot be seen by naked eyes. Anyone who listens to radio accepts it without a doubt. They don’t have to say, “To see is to believe.”

We cannot see the wind, but it is real. Switch on the light to know if there’s power or not but cannot see electrical current. Yet about God, they still say, “To see is to believe,” why? Maybe, they intentionally deny for denial’s sake or they want to believe a contradictory theory or they have not experience his power.

Ever since you accepted in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, have you personally experienced his power? Jesus Christ says in Acts 1:8, ⁸You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses

One instantaneous proof when empowered by the Holy Spirit is to witness for Christ. If you sincerely accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you also received the Holy Spirit, and he empowers you to witness for Christ. The Lord may allow struggles, problems, difficulties and challenges to test our faith in him.

Someone said, “Trial or test becomes our testimony.” When you sense some sort of trial or test, pray to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. To experience his mighty power, the Lord tests our faith in him for us to have a testimony to tell.

The intensity of our testing reveals the intensity of our faith in the Lord.

Can you recall an instance when the Holy Spirit empowered you to resist a temptation to commit sin? For instance, you are tempted to be lazy and slack at work. Then, you sense the Holy Spirit say, “You’re a child of God. Don’t be lazy like those people who don’t believe in God.” So, you pray that the Lord helps you perform your best at work; even if nobody watches you, you still work diligently.

After you overcome and resisted the temptation of laziness, your heart is filled with praise, why? You thank God that he empowers you to perform well.

1.  Thank

¹⁸I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than 10,000 words in a tongue.

Apostle Paul can speak in tongues more than all the Corinthians. So, he knew that if we cannot understand what has been spoken in tongue, we can be confused. He didn’t oppose speaking in tongue but he avoided praying in tongue in church gatherings; he avoided speaking in tongue during worship services.

Certainly, he avoided causing confusion in the church. He preferred to preach the good news of salvation even with only few intelligible words. Why?

He wanted believers to thank God and pray mindfully. Simultaneously, we petition God for our need if we understand what we pray for. We can agree to praise God together if church attendees understand what we praise God for.

For effective testimony, we should seek empowerment by the Holy Spirit. Naturally, we follow our human instinct. We do what we think as best for us but who knows what is best for us? Our Creator knows what’s best for us. Together, let us reflect on what Apostle Paul testified in Romans 7:7, ⁷I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.”

Fatal

It’s winter time! Accidents dominate the headlines. Few weeks ago outside the city, a motorist was going the wrong direction and collided with a pickup truck. Both drivers died on the spot according to police report.

Road accidents can happen anytime anywhere. There are drivers who just instinctively follow what is best for them. It’s tragic, but what can we do? Traffic rules and regulations are supposed to guide motorists for safer road driving.

Likewise, godly commands are designed for our good if we obey, and God keep us secure until his mission purposes for us are accomplished. What do you think? Let us reflect on what happen in Acts 23:13-14, ¹³More than 40 men were involved in this plot. ¹⁴They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, “We have taken a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul.”

A prophet warned Apostle Paul against possible tragic circumstance that awaits him in Jerusalem. It happened! Paul was persecuted in Jerusalem. They wanted to kill him. Paul was not bothered by any threat of his life. He still went to Jerusalem. Why? Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit, and God kept him alive.

No one is spared from difficult struggles. Nobody can ever find comfortable and perfect life here on earth. Perfect life is reserved in heaven. So, we’ve got to prepare for eternity. We may not control our circumstances but we can enjoy life on earth as we live, behave and follow the prescriptions of Christ our Lord.

When the Corinthians followed their preferred leader, they were divided. Maybe, they followed a leader who spoke the same language they understood.

Apostle Paul preached intelligible words to educate and edify the church. He said, “In the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than 10,000 words in a tongue.” Unless there are interpreters to explain it, speaking in tongue cannot edify the church but confuse anyone. Speaking in tongue confused the first century believers; it can happen in this generation.

Confusion can be avoided if interpreters explain what is spoken in tongue.

Apostle Paul advised us to speak in intelligible words so that everyone in the church may understand, build up, edify, educate and train for spiritual growth. As we grow mature, we prefer to speak in understandable words in the church to avoid confusion. We could educate, edify and mindfully think like adults.

2. Think

²⁰Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 

Confusion that caused division practically proved that church attendees in Corinth were not thinking like mature adults. Similar confusion caused division of churches in our generation. Does division imply a necessity of spiritual maturity?

How can Christians think like adults? As we mature spiritually, our mindset should focus on being responsible, sensible and caring children of God. But, “In regard to evil be infants!” How should we explain that to children? Infants do not ponder upon which behavior is right or which lifestyle is wrong. To behave like infants in regard to evil, we should not promote or plan for evil deeds.

Home

Certainly, infant babies cannot prepare for their food. They wait for food to be given to them. Caring parents prepare food for the family. Sensible children who are able may even cook food; they help prepare food for the whole family.

There are stories of children who do not want to share their food with their brothers or sisters. In comparison, loving parents can sacrifice and give their own food to their children as long as their children can eat and be satisfied. Right?

Together, let us reflect on what it addressed in 1 Corinthians 11:21-22.

²¹For when you are eating, some of you go ahead with your own private suppers. As a result, one person remains hungry and another gets drunk. ²² Don’t you have homes to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God by humiliating those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? Certainly not in this matter!

Division in the Corinthian church was obvious during the Lord Supper. To learn from their mistakes, the letters of Apostle Paul to the Corinthians circulated among other churches, and it’s also read all throughout church history.

As solution for possible inconsiderate Corinthian behavior during Lord’s Supper celebration, individual shares in the bread and cup are distribute equally.

A problem of eating and drinking among the Corinthians during the Lord’s Supper celebration shed light to problem during fellowships. Don’t you think so?

Here’s a reflection for everyone. As a church, we belong to the family of God. Amen? As member of the family of God, we care for each other. Amen?

In our own family, infant babies just want to drink milk, eat food and be satisfied, that’s all. Infants are not concerned if other members of their family have eaten or not yet. Infant babies are not concerned about helping in household chores.

Of course, sensible adult children help responsibly in household chores.

But as church family, care for each believer should be more obvious. We can be more considerate and mindful during fellowship. We readily help in church ministries. Surely, we pray that everyone who attends church will be blessed.

As sensible children of God, we care for each other. We encourage each other to participate in ministry activities. We want all of us to be satisfied during fellowships. We also help in cleaning our building. And together, we grow in faith.

As we mature spiritually, may we remember Philippians 1:27, ²⁷Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

The gospel of Christ is this: Jesus Christ died on the cross. All our sins were crucified with him. His shed blood on the cross washed away all our sins. That is the mysterious demonstration of God’s love for us. By faith, we believe it.

To practically prove our gratitude to God, we behave in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Transformed behavior manifests deep gratitude to his sacrifice.

The Lord cares for our life on earth and in heaven. God sent the Holy Spirit into our life to inspire us and care for others, especially, the family of believers.

Sin like insensitive selfishness cannot control us anymore. Sensibly, we build each other up in the church instead. Prayerfully practice your spiritual gifts to build up, educate, encourage and edify each other. It’s great testimony for us.

3. Testify

²¹In the Law it is written: “With other tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.”

The Lord himself testifies that the Israelites disregarded him. So, he let other nations conquered the Israelites; he sent them into exile in foreign lands. He also testified that they ignored him when he talked to the Israelites in foreign tongues. Maybe, they thought his messages were irrelevant and nonsense.

Surely, it makes sense and relevant to understand a foreign language. Likewise, speaking in tongue can be sensibly relevant if we understand what we heard. It may edify the church if there’re interpreters to explain what’s spoken.

If you’ve clearly understood the gospel of salvation, if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you also want to testify about your faith in him. Are you apprehensive to talk about the good news? Well, many believers can identify with Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah testified as it narrated in Isaiah 6:5-8,

⁵“Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” ⁶Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. ⁷With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” ⁸Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

People say, “Tell me who your friends are, and I tell you who you are!”

If you hang out with friends who talk about politics, probably, you will be talking about politics. If they use dirty words, sooner, you’ll speak similar foul language.

Isaiah testified as man with unclean lips. He may have cursed and used dirty words or foul languages. But Isaiah responded and readily said, “Here am I. Send me!” when the Lord asked, “Whom shall I send?” after one of the seraphim touched his mouth and took his guilt and atoned or removed his sins away.

According to experts, seraphim are fiery angels of the Lord. The seraphim touched the mouth of Isaiah with power like fire, and Isaiah was changed. What happened next? Isaiah quit speaking dirty words or foul languages. Instead, he’s willing to be sent off without hesitation; he did not even bother to ask where.

The seraphim with fiery power from the Lord transformed Isaiah, and he respond, “Send me!” Christ promised the same power in Acts 1:8, ⁸You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses.

If you seriously believe that the Lord took your sins and crucified them with Jesus Christ, if you sincerely accept that the shed blood of Jesus on the cross washed away your sins, sin cannot pressure or control you anymore.

Every sincere believer of Christ is transformed and changed. We behave in a manner worthy of the sacrifices of Christ. How is that? The Holy Spirit inspires us to talk about our transformation and avoid using dirty words or foul languages.

Do you sense any desire to tell others how Christ transformed your life?

We see infants giggle and cry but cannot talk, just yet. Infants in the faith are not ready yet to testify. Prayerfully asked God to fill and empower you with the Holy Spirit, why? When we are empowered by the Holy Spirit, we avoid dirty words or foul languages. Instead, we talk about how Christ transformed our life.

The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to bring glory to Christ. And, he helps us grow mature spiritually. He inspires us to testify for Christ. We praise God for the sacrificial love of Christ for us. We are advised in James 3:10, ¹⁰Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Prayerfully desire and practice spiritual gifts, especially the spiritual gift of prophecy to educate, encourage and edify the church. A spiritual gift of prophecy enables us to mindfully understand, interpret or explain clearly a divine message.

I hope that all of us will hear Christ says, “Well done, good and faithful servants!”

Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!

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