1 Corinthians 14:13-17 Body>Self

Here’s a brief overview of verses 6-11 that I didn’t do. It’s straight out of my journal so…yea

6-11) It’s the idea that there needs to be understanding in order to build the church (You don’t need understanding in order to build your relationship with God. Prov 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. Faith is all that’s needed to please God Heb 11:6). How can anyone tell a song if the notes are distinct? How can anyone know when to retreat and when to attack if the trumpet call is not clear? This can lead to disaster, those who attack when the others retreat would probably die… How can one understand if the other is speaking another language? Understanding between people seems to be the key in building a church (tower of babel), faith is all that’s needed to progress your life with God.

1 Corinthians 14:13-17
13 For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my mind. 16 If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? 17 You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified.

I think the key verse is 12 (…try to excel in gifts that build up the church) and 13. It gives it a good overview and application of this passage and so far, the whole chapter. When you read the beginning of the 14, Paul gives the idea that tongues are between you and God. Although that is good, Paul would rather have you gain a gift that helps others (hence prophecy, which (v3) strengthens, encourages and comforts men…v4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.)

When you look at verse 13, he says that anyone who has a gift that benefits himself should pray that he would get a gift that upgrades their gift so that the whole body can benefit from it. When you really think about it, the whole reason for gifts is to make the body work better (the foot, the calf, the leg, they all do different things, but them working together allows the body to walk). What use does a gift that benefits oneself have in a body that uses every part?

Therefore gifts that benefit body>gifts that benefit self.

Application: Think of the gifts God has given you. Does it only benefit yourself? If yes, think of ways to make it benefit the church. If that’s not possible, pray for a gift that, when cuppled with your gift, makes it accessible to the body. An example for me is my guitar playing. I’ve prayed and will be praying for the gift of teaching. I’ve benefitted the body with my playing, but I think it would benefit it more if I help others learn how to play (well, those who want to learn). I found that I’m not the best teacher, but that’s where God comes in

1 Corinthians 12:14-20 I Do Belong Here….

1 Corinthians 12:14-20
14 Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

This is something I find myself saying when I first started coming to church. This passage basically talks about people who compare themselves with others, and because of this comparing, you see yourself not belonging to the body. Well, have no fear Mr (ms) Reader… God has a purpose for you for it is God that “has arranged the parts in teh body, every one of them, hust as He wanted them to be.”

It also focuses on the idea that the body of Christ needs to be diverse. How can we all be the same thing? What if we were a church of just cooks, where would the teaching be? What if we were a church of just teachers? Where would the cook and the greeters and the worship band and the (keep adding) be? Going back to my last post, if we all shared the same strength, then we all share the same weakness with no one backing us up. It’s like playing football with all quarterbacks. I don’t see that team going to the superbowl any time soon….

We need to be a diverse group and whether you are something big (like the back of the church) or something small (like a toe), you are a part of the body, God has placed you there, and that you are of great worth to the body of Christ.

So where do you belong? What part of ministry do you belong to? Are you a leader? Are you a backstage kind of girl/guy? Are you just a simple greeter that makes others feel welcomed?

I’ve been in a rut asking God where my giftings are. I know music is something God has placed in my heart, but I’ve been really thinking…is that what God wants me to do? What other giftings do I have? Well, I’ll just have to wait upon the Lord…