When The Road Is Marked With Suffering

                             WHEN THE ROAD IS MARKED WITH SUFFERING

            One of the Christian Classics, the book Hinds Feet on High Places, is a parable, a modern allegory similar to Pilgrim's Progress. But instead of dealing with the overall Christian journey, it focuses on a life of fear, anxiety, and self-loathing.

            The main character is named Much-Afraid. Her family, the Fearings, constantly harass Much-Afraid. They oppress and criticize her all the time. But Much-Afraid loves the Shepherd, who wishes to take her to the High Places, a good land in the far mountains.

            For her journey, the Shepherd gives her two companions; two sisters named Sorrow and Suffering. There comes a moment in Much Afraid's Journey when she is tempted to give into Pride, to listen to his temptation, and abandon her journey. But she calls to the Chief Shepherd, who comes and rescues her. He gently rebukes her that she should not have let go of the hands of Sorrow and Suffering on her Journey." Sorrow and Suffering can be helpful companions.[1]

            Last week we began our journey on a path of hope which led us to Jesus, the hope of all the world. To bring hope to all the world, Jesus had to travel through a road marked with Suffering. We learned that Jesus healed a sick man on the Sabbath day. The Pharisees planned to kill Him. Knowing their plans, he left that area and headed up to Jerusalem. Why Jerusalem? 

            Let's find out. I title this message, "When The Road Is Marked With Suffering." One day God willing, Wilma and I would love to go to Jerusalem. Our past, present, and future is tied with Jerusalem. What do we know about Jerusalem from the Bible? Over 1027 references in the Bible related to Jerusalem show its historical and future significance in the lives of humanity.

I. JERUSALEM THE HOLY CITY OF GOD. In Genesis, God said to Abraham, "Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah.

            Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you." (Gen 22:2). In Hebrew, Moriah means "Seen of Yahweh." We all know what happened when they got there. At one point in history, "King David led his men to Jerusalem captured the fortress of Zion. He made the fortress his home, and he called it the City of David." II Sam 5:1-5.     Jerusalem, in Hebrew Yĕrūshalayim means "possession of peace" It was also known as a place where God dwells. Fast forward to Jesus' time; now, Jesus was heading towards Jerusalem. What was awaiting him in Jerusalem, and how did he prepare His disciples?

II The Road of Hope For Jesus was marked with Suffering.

            Matthew 20:17-19, "17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. "Listen," he said, "we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die. Then, they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day, he will be raised from the dead." Was Jesus' trip to Jerusalem random or intentional and pre-determined?

            Luke, the historian who wrote the Book of Acts, explained the purpose of Jesus' visit to Jerusalem. Luke 18:31, "Taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus said, "Listen, we're going up to Jerusalem where all the predictions of the prophets concerning the Son of Man (It was the name Jesus gave to himself) will come true. So, this trip was anything but random.

            In Jerusalem, not one prophecy but all the prophecies concerning him would be fulfilled. Here are a couple of prophecies by the prophet Isaiah 50:6, "I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting." Isaiah 53:3-7, "He was despised and rejected a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.

            He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.

            He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word.

            He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth." Can you imagine Jesus being God yet subjecting himself to humans' cruel treatment? We have no clue about the Roman torture tactics of their criminals. You and I would have no idea of the pain Jesus endured by the 39 lashes of a Roman guard's whip.

            If you want to know what it was like for Jesus to endure all that he suffered because of your sin and mine, I encourage you to watch the Passion Movie produced by Mel Gibson. I know it may be a gory movie, but you might get a glimpse into Jesus’passion and suffering. 

            The road of Hope for Jesus was marked with Suffering. The prophets prophesied long ago, and He knew it when he began his ministry. At least three times, he prepared his disciples by warning them what would happen when they went to Jerusalem. But they did not understand.

            Knowing fully well what was coming, Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem. How would you have responded to Jesus' announcement if you were there? You may have been filled with grief and skepticism, like Peter, who rebuked Jesus privately, saying, "Heaven forbid Lord this will never happen to you. These responses were merely human and natural to any suffering.

            Jesus predicted what would happen to him and what would happen to all his followers. If Jesus’s Road to bring hope to the world was marked with Suffering, would you expect anything less? Our road to life in this world is marked with Suffering. It is called the narrow way. 

III When The Road Is Marked With Suffering

            Does anyone particularly enjoy Suffering? No one! However, most people across the globe recognize that suffering is a normal part of living. On the other hand, Western culture has glorified the values of freedom, safety, comfort, and convenience. In America, we talk about life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I wonder whether the pursuit of happiness is Biblical?

            I remember vividly how my mother suffered from a heart condition as a child. Some nights she would stay up all night groaning with pain. She often asked why Lord, why me, why now? She never got any clear answers to her questions. She died of a heart attack at age 47.

            Do Christians only suffer or everyone else? Why do people suffer? I could think of five reasons. Firstly, suffering is part of human fallen nature. We suffer from natural calamities such as floods, earthquakes, volcano eruptions, heavy rains, snow blizzards, tornadoes, etc. When these things happen, all are affected one way or the other.

            Secondly, we suffer because of our wrong and sinful choices such as sexual immorality, adultery, drunkenness, gluttony, etc. Thirdly, others’ choices cause us many suffer. For instance, a drunk driver killing your child by causing a divorce, gun violence, rape, etc.

            Fourthly, we suffer due to sickness and ill-health due to the natural process of aging. Fifthly, some people are under the influence of the evil one commits atrocities to inflict much pain and suffering on others—for example, the war of Ukraine. How many people have died, and millions are suffering because of one man’s ego and Pride to build an empire of himself?

            Regardless of who you are, we all are fellow travelers on the road marked with suffering. Jesus predicted that the suffering in this world would only increase as the time nears his second coming. Matthew 24: 6-9, “And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately.

            7 Nation will go to war against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. 8 But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come. 9 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. 10 And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other.” Let us develop a proper attitude towards suffering.

IV. Biblical view on Suffering.

            Developing a biblical view on suffering helps us cope with it and possibly endure it till the end. The Bible promises us persecution and suffering for our faith. The world is in rebellion against God and hates God. If it hates God, it persecutes those who believe and follow God.    When we suffer for our faith, it would be helpful to know that many of our brothers and sisters worldwide are going through similar suffering. I Peter 4:12-15, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.       Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. If you are insulted because you bear the name of Christ, you will be blessed, for the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. If you suffer. However, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs.” Suffering remains a mystery to me.

            As I read through the Bible, I realize that God uses these moments of suffering to draw people unto himself. In his book, “The Power of Pain," C.S Lewis notes, “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” If it is not for pain and suffering, we may never hear the voice of Jesus that says to us come to all those who are weary and burdened I will give you rest. Therefore, let us draw near our wounded savior and be healed and comforted by Him in our pain and suffering. Amen. 

 

 

             

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Source: Hannah Hurnard, "Hinds' Feet on High Places," (Christian Literature Crusade, 1955), n.p

Jesus, The Hope of All The World

                                             JESUS, THE HOPE OF ALL THE WORLD

         Japan Appoints' Loneliness Minister" It sounds rather funny. But it is true Japan appointed on February 12, 2021, a "Minister of Loneliness" to try and reduce loneliness and social isolation among its residents as the country deals with rising suicide rates.

            In October alone, more Japanese died from suicide than had died from COVID-19 in all of 2020. There were 2,153 suicide deaths that month and 1,765 total virus deaths until the end of October." [1] In the U.S., 45,979 died by suicide in 2020. On average, 130 people die by suicide.

            Studies show that loneliness has been linked to a higher risk of health issues like heart disease, dementia, and eating disorders. We all may have experienced mild to intense loneliness and isolation during this Pandemic. Psychiatrists often agree that prolonged loneliness and isolation could lead to hopelessness. When a person arrives at that stage of hopelessness, they might commit suicide to overcome the pain of despair unless intervened.

              These days wherever you turn, we see hopelessness, especially as we look at the escalating war situation in Ukraine. Could this trigger a third world war? When that happens, what would be the fate of the world? More at a personal level, are you or your loved one struggling with hopelessness? Do you or someone you know struggle with thoughts of committing suicide? Can suicide be preventable? What is the solution to hopelessness?

            Who can help us? Can we appoint "Ministers of Loneliness" worldwide to help tackle hopelessness? During this Lent season, you may find some answers to these questions. We will walk on the ancient path of hope for the next few weeks to find hope. Today we will look at someone who can truly understand the pain you are going through. He is eager to intervene if you let him into your hopeless situation and pull you out of your pit of despair and depression.

 

I. The Opposition To Jesus Got Intensified!

            From the beginning, Jesus faced stiff resistance and opposition from the devil and people. It got intensified toward the end of his ministry. The Pharisees were looking for an opportunity to trap and kill Jesus. They followed him everywhere. On a Sabbath day, while walking through the grain field, his disciples were hungry and picked up some grain and began to eat.

            Some Pharisees who saw it protested, saying, "Your disciples are breaking the law." What Law did they break? All the disciples did was they ate a few grains. According to the Pharisees, it was like harvesting the grain. They blew things out of proportion.

              Jesus reminded them what king David and his companions did when they were hungry. They broke the Law of Moses and went into the Temple and ate the sacred bread that was only permitted for priests. He challenged their wrong interpretation and selective reading of the Law.

            Jesus said, Mat 12:5, "And haven't you read in the law of Moses that the priests on duty in the Temple may work on the Sabbath?" He asserted that he was greater than the Temple. Then he put them in their place by saying if only you knew the meaning of the scripture, you wouldn't accuse my disciples. The problem we see here is not the Law but how it was interpreted.

            Then He laid out a higher and far more significant order that we all should follow. Vs.7-8, "I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath." In their zeal to follow the Law of Moses, the Pharisees have forgotten the very fundamental principle of God, which is to show mercy rather than offer empty sacrifices.

           

 

            Jesus' accurate interpretation of the Law must have only aggravated the Pharisees further. They followed Jesus from the field into the Synagogue, looking for an opportunity to catch him saying or doing something wrong on the day of the Sabbath so that they could bring charges against Him. In contrast, Jesus looked for an opportunity to show mercy and bring hope.

 

II. Mercy Overrides the Law (9-15)

            Vs. 9-10, "Then Jesus went over to their Synagogue, where he noticed a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, "Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?" (They were hoping he would say yes, so they could bring charges against him).

            I wonder how the man with a deformed hand ended up in the Synagogue on the day of Sabbath? It appeared that sick people were only permitted to come and be healed during the six days of the week but not on the Sabbath Day (Lk 13:14). So, this man must have been a setup.

            Whether he was a setup or genuinely in need of healing, Jesus saw an opportunity to demonstrate his power to heal and teach the Pharisees a critical lesson of the value of people. He silenced His accusers with a logical answer. Vs.11-12, "If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn't you work to pull it out? Of course, you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Yes, the Law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath."

            Three times in this gospel, Jesus argued by showing a contrast between animals and people (cf. 6:26; 10:31). He elevated the worth of human beings as they alone were made in the image of God (Gen 1-2). On the other hand, the Pharisees showed no such regard for people.            Jesus assumed that Pharisees would have no hesitation to work on a Sabbath day to pull out their sheep from a pit but had no compassion for a sick man who needed healing. Jesus interpreted the Law rightly, saying, "Yes, the Law permits a person to do good on the Sabbath."

            Vs. 13. "He said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So, the man held out his hand, and it was restored, just like the other one! Here we see an example of God's Mercy overriding the Law. Does it mean that God's Law was bad? No! The Pharisees misinterpreted it for their advantage. Jesus broke several legalistic and selfish laws and showed mercy to people by healing all those who came to Him. In contrast, the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

            What does this all mean for us today? God wants us to be merciful and compassionate to others than legalistically following certain laws and regulations. When it comes to doing good to others, it is okay to break undue laws. For example, be kind to immigrants and accept refugees fleeing war. There is no law against practicing love, goodness, and kindness. Gal 5:22-23

            After healing the man with a deformed hand and many others who came to him, Jesus warned them not to reveal who he was. Unlike the Pharisees who trumpeted their charity and good works in public, Jesus quietly wanted to slip away without any publicity even after performing all those miracles. He did all that to fulfill an old prophecy of Isiah concerning Him.

 

 III. Jesus, The Hope Of All The World (Vs. 18-21)

            "Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, who pleases me. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. Finally, he will cause justice to be victorious. And his name will be the hope of all the world." Is 42:1-4

            Many things that Jesus said and did were to fulfill the ancient prophecies. These four verses reflect Isaiah's prophecy of 600 B.C. They show us the nature, what, and how the Lord Jesus would accomplish His mission. Let us unpack this ancient hope-filled prophecy.

            Here Jesus was referred to as God's beloved and chosen Servant who was always going to do what pleased His father. In Jesus' own words, John 8:29, "For I always do what pleases Him." What pleases our heavenly father and how we might follow the example of Jesus?

            During his ministry, Jesus was loving and kind to the sinners. He reached out to those who were rejected by society. He was called the friend of sinners. At the same time, he pointed out the wrongs that the religious community was doing in God's name. He preached the good news of the Kingdom. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and raised the dead.

            The Prophet Isaiah used a double metaphor to convey how Jesus would do his ministry. "He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle." These metaphors indicate that Jesus would move in compassion and mercy towards the weak and vulnerable people.

            We see how often Jesus was moved with compassion during his ministry. For example, in Matthew 9:36, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." Out of such compassion, He invites the weary and the burdened to come to Him so that He would give them rest. (Matthew 11:28)

            Isaiah foresaw that the root of Jesse (Jesus) would one day become a banner of salvation to all the world. (Is 11:10). In Matthew 12:21, we read, "And his name will be the hope of all the world." There is no one earthly leader; however great they may be can bring hope to the world. Regardless of who they are, all people can only find hope in Jesus. Through His ministry of love, mercy, and compassion, Jesus offers hope to the hurting and broken people. There are so many people living without hope these days. What causes such hopelessness among people?

            It is their ignorance and willful denial of God's existence. Scripture tells us when people live without God; they live without hope (Eph 2:12) because the God we serve is a God of Hope.   Are you or you know someone feeling hopeless today? Are you in need of physical, emotional, and mental healing? Do you feel like giving up altogether on life? Don't worry. If you are here in the service or listening to me on the Livestream, I want you to listen to this truth carefully.

            Jesus, the hope of all the word, is here today, walking among us by the power of His Holy Spirit. He knows your thoughts, the intense pain of despair. He understands your sorrow. He takes note of you as he gazes through the pews, your homes, and wherever you might be listening to these words. He is not going to ignore you. Like he told the man with a deformed hand, he will say to you, stretch your hand to me, and you will be healed and restored. Amen!

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Katie Warren, "Japan has appointed a 'Minister of Loneliness' after seeing suicide rates in the country increase for the first time in 11 years," Insider (2-22-21)

A CALL TO ORDERLY WORSHIP

                                            A CALL TO ORDERLY WORSHIP

              Over the past two years, we were hindered from worshipping together in our Churches due to the Pandemic. We have been isolated yet have grown comfortable attending Church from our couches. God never meant us to be that way. Christianity is not a solitary religion but a community of broken but redeemed people. They come together to worship and share their lives with others for the glory of God. The Church has always been a community.

            Ekklesia is a Greek word defined as "a called-out assembly or congregation." Ekklesia is commonly translated as "church" in the New Testament. What are we called out from, and what are we called out to do? I Peter 2:9-10, "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession.

            As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. "Once, you had no identity as a people; now, you are God's people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God's mercy."

            We once had no identity; we were lost; we lived in darkness and just lived for ourselves. But thank God, out of His great love and mercy, God transferred us from the Kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Light of His Son Jesus Christ. God restored our dignity and gave us a new identity. We are now His royal priesthood, a holy nation, and his very own possession. For what purpose? So that we can show the goodness of God to others, as He has shown us His goodness. That was why the Corinthian Church existed, and that is why you and I and Hope Church exists. We also recognize whenever people come together; there may be potential for disorder and chaos because we all carry our strong wills and temperaments.

            For the past several weeks, we have been studying some of the Corinthian Church's problems and what lessons we can learn. Today we will look at how the Apostle Paul called for Orderly Worship in the Corinthian Church and its impact on our Worship services.

            In general, people like order and not chaos. Not many enjoy disorderly behavior in meetings, public places, school boards, etc. In some cases, unruly behavior is punished. Why do we feel that way? Why do we appreciate order and frown upon disorder? Because our God is a God of order. Therefore, He desires order in our lives, not chaos and confusion.

            On the other hand, the Devil is the author of confusion and lies. He is known as the deceiver. The premise for our study is I Corinthians 14:33, "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God's holy people." Let us keep this in mind as we work through this passage. God through Paul gives the Church "A Call To Orderly Worship."

I. Worship in the Early Church.

            Before we talk about what Paul was trying to rectify in the Corinthian Church, how do we define Biblical Worship? It is not just singing a few songs of praise and thanksgiving on a Sunday morning or whenever we get together as believers. It is more than singing songs. It is offering all of ourselves both individually and as a community to love, honor, and do God's will.           One of my seminary professors, David Curry, defined Biblical Worship this way. "Biblical Worship is raised up, when the whole word of God guides, the whole person, together with the whole people of God, into the full presence of the Father, in full union with the Son, through the full power of the Holy Spirit to further the fulfillment of the whole mission of God."[1]

            We see this pattern of Worship in operation in the Early Church. Acts 2:42-47

The believers met together in the temple daily for Worship, the Apostle's Teaching, Prayer, and Fellowship. They responded to God by serving one another and the community at large.

            We see the Apostle Paul and subsequent church planters following this model. According to Paul, everything we do, even more so when we come to Worship, should be done in an orderly way. 

II. A Call To Orderly Worship

            What comes to your mind when you see this gavel? It represents order. A judge uses it in the court to start the orderly proceedings and control the unruly behavior. By reading Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, we understand that the Corinthians were a disorderly congregation.

            In Chapter 11, he addressed their disorderly behavior during Communion or the Lord's Supper. In Chapter 14:26-40, he addressed unruly worship practices. As it were, Paul took out a Spiritual gavel in a loving way and instructed the believers during public Worship.   

            Vs.26, "Well, my brothers and sisters, let's summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you." Remember, the Corinthian Church was a mixed congregation in several aspects.

            Probably they were meeting in several houses, including the households of Chloe and Stephanas. (1:10-16) In their worship meetings, four components were present: singing songs, teaching God's word, speaking in tongues, and prophecy.

            When it came to speaking in tongues and prophecy, it appears that several people were out of step with the Holy Spirit. They spoke in tongues without an interpreter and prophesied randomly without allowing others to prophesy. It was one chaotic and disorderly service.

            Paul laid out a structure to restore order in the worship service. He allowed no more than two or three to speak in tongues taking turns one at a time. They were to wait for someone to interpret. If no one was to interpret what was said, they must be silent in the church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately. Remember, the tongues are meant for personal edification.

            Similar guidelines were given to those who prophesied. Two or three were allowed to prophesy, and others were to evaluate whether those prophecies were of the Lord or not.

            He admonished those who prophesied to be self-controlled and not get carried away in a disorderly manner. He reminded them, saying, Vs. 32, "Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns." Why was Paul insistent that those who speak in tongues and give prophecy must exercise restraint and follow a specific order?

            Vs. 33, "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God's holy people." By this, we understand God is a God of order. How do we define order? Order implies a neat and logical organization of items, tasks, or people.

            When a room is in order, it has been tidied, and everything is properly in place. We see order and precision in everything God does. For example, God's universe is orderly. He created everything in an orderly sequence in a six-day span that set the world into motion (Gen 1:1-31). God created all that was necessary for man to live before He created humankind.

            He created the sun, moon, and stars to regulate time and seasons (Genesis 1:14–18; Psalm 104:19), and the heavenly bodies operate with precise predictability. Look at the human body, is there order in it? When every organ in our body functions to its optimum, we live in good health. But if one organ goes haywire, the body cannot defend itself or thrive.

            If this is how it works in the universe and our body, it works the same way in the body of Christ the Church. We are members, and Christ is the head of the Church. Because God is a God of order, He deals with us in orderly ways and expects us to live orderly. On the other hand, the Devil comes to rob, steal and destroy. He disrupts order by sowing seeds of contempt.

            The Corinthian Church was divided over several seemingly unimportant matters. Paul's goal in writing this letter was to rectify disorder because disorder breeds contempt, and contempt breaks down unity. I see order and respect for one another in Hope Church. Let's not give up on this good trait. When we maintain order, it pleases God and strengthens all of us.

III. Did Paul hate women?

            Vs. 34-35, "Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says. If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings."

            The questions frequently asked does the Apostle Paul forbid women to speak, pray or prophesy in Church? Did Paul hate women? How do we understand these verses? To understand, we will look at the verses, the letter's context, and Paul's relationship with women. These verses do not address all women, nor say women should never speak or prophesy in Church.

            Paul made it clear in Gal 3:28, "there is no difference between male or female, we all are one in Christ. So, any discrimination is ruled out. In I Cor 11:5, Women were allowed to pray and prophecy, covering their heads. So, we don't see Paul forbidding women to speak at all.

            Paul often addressed the congregation, saying, "Brothers and sisters." Several women ministered alongside Paul, and some were House church leaders like Priscilla and Chloe. (Acts 18). In his final greetings in Romans 16, he mentioned nine women who helped him in ministry.      What was going on when Paul said, "women should be silent during the church meetings? In the Corinthian culture, women were not allowed to confront men in public. Some of the women who had become Christians thought their Christian freedom gave them the right to question the men in public Worship. That caused divisions in the Church.

            In addition, women may have raised questions in the worship services that could have been answered at home without disrupting the services. Paul was asking the women not to flaunt their Christian freedom during Worship. The Big idea of this passage is that both men and women can participate and contribute in Church worship and other meetings. They both are equally responsible for promoting and maintaining order and strengthening the Church. Amen!

           

 

 

  

 

 

             

 

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[1] David A. Currie, “The BIG Idea of Biblical Worship.”

GIFTS OF PROPHECY & TONGUES

                                          GIFTS OF PROPHECY AND TONGUES

Introduction: One of the more humorous quirks of scientific history is the debate over who should be credited for discovering oxygen. Joseph Priestley, an English scientist and clergyman is often honored because he was the first to publish his findings in 1774. Interestingly, Priestley originally called the gas "dephlogisticated air."

            However, in 1772, two years before Priestley's finding, a Swedish chemist named Carl Scheele independently discovered the vital gas for human existence. Strangely enough, the term oxygen didn't come into use until 1775, when yet another chemist, Frenchman Antoine Lavoisier, discovered and named the gas we breathe.

            Lavoisier was the first to recognize oxygen as one of our natural elements. Regardless of who gets the credit, it's odd to think of a human being "discovering" oxygen. Does a fish discover water? The truth is that oxygen surrounds us every day, and even if we choose to call it "dephlogisticated air," we can't live without it. The same is true of the Holy Spirit.[1]

            Last week we looked at the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, His nature and work in the life of a believer. Please refer to the notes on my sermon blog. Today we will look at two gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Gift of Prophecy and Tongues. I want to address some confusion surrounding the Holy Spirit and these two gifts. We will also look into their use both in personal and corporate worship. Gifts of Prophecy And Tongues. I Corinthians 14:1-25

            We must remember Paul's fundamental teachings to the Corinthian church believers. The Holy Spirit gives all the unique, ministry, and motivational gifts. You and I could do absolutely nothing to earn them except desiring and asking God for them. The Holy Spirit decides when and whom to give. We use these gifts to serve one another and build God's Kingdom on the earth. 

I. CONFUSION SURROUNDING THE HOLY SPIRIT

            These days we are confused over many things. One such confusion is gender dysphoria. Some have a hard time identifying who they actually are. To be sensitive to gender dysphoria, we use pronouns to identify people and ourselves. In our interfaith Zoom meetings, some clergy use pronouns such as he/him/they or she/her/they next to their names. I write just my name.

            Similarly, how do we address the Holy Spirit? What gender does the Holy Spirit have? How do we call the Holy Spirit? Can we call the Holy Spirit an "it," a "force," or something else? What names does the Bible give to the Holy Spirit? How did Jesus address the Holy Spirit?

            The Holy Spirit is not a force or a thing but a person. What is the Holy Spirit's gender? I know this may be hard for feminists to accept, but the Holy Spirit is referred to as "He not as She Biblical writers, including Jesus, addressed the Holy Spirit as "He."

            John 16: 13-15, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, 'The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me."

            If Jesus called the Holy Spirit as He, we are safe to address the Holy Spirit as He. The Biblical writers gave various names to the Holy Spirit to describe his nature and work and to make us relate and understand him better. Here are some names of the Holy Spirit:

            1. The breath of the Almighty (Job 33:4) The Holy Spirit is the life-giving breath of God. 2. Counselor, Comforter (John 14:16, Romans 8:26). The Holy Spirit comforts us. 3. Eternal Spirit (Heb 9:14) 4. Good Spirit (Neh 9:20). God's good Spirit will teach and lead us in all that is good. 5. Lord (2 Cor 3:16-17). Like Jesus and the Father, the Holy Spirit is worshipped as the Lord. 6. Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of the Triune God. So, He is God. I Cor 2:11

II. THE GIFT OF TONGUES (1-2)

            I Cor 14:1-2, “Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.”

            The Apostle Paul addressed an apparent misunderstanding over the gifts of prophecy and tongues in the Corinthian Church. A similar misconception is present in several churches today. I am not an expert on these matters, but I will share what I learned and experienced with us.

            We must always keep love as our supreme goal in life. Along with love, we should also desire the unique gifts or abilities that the Holy Spirit gives, especially the gift of prophecy. How do we understand this amazing gift of speaking in tongues or unknown languages? There are two types of speaking in tongues. One is a known tongue (language) the second one is unknown.

            Let me explain. I Corinthians 12:10, “Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, (various tongues) NLT. Here, the unknown tongues represent a language unknown to the speaker but may be known to the hearers, as in Acts chapter two.

            Acts 2:1-14. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit gave 120 disciples of Christ the remarkable ability to speak other languages. If you count, over sixteen language groups were in that place. Vs. 7, They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages!” As a result of this ability of the Holy Spirit, the gospel was preached, and 3000 people got saved.

            Paul referred to the other type as a unique language unknown to the speaker and the listener. Therefore, this gift of speaking in unknown tongues, especially in public worship, must be accompanied by a gift of interpretation for everyone's benefit in the Church.

            What is the purpose of this gift of speaking in tongues (unknown language)? Vs. 4, “A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally.” Paul refers to this unique ability as a prayer language that a person uses to pray, praise, and thank God in their worship.

            Vs. 13-15, “So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying. Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the Spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the Spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.”

            Praying or speaking in tongues (unknown language) is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Paul tells us that we don’t understand what we are saying when we pray in tongues. It is meant for you to use in personal worship. The Holy Spirit prays on your behalf when you pray in tongues.          Romans 8:26, “And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. However, there was a problem in the Corinthian Church. Some believers took this precious gift of speaking in tongues used it in public, causing more confusion and disorder in worship. The emphasis here is Paul’s correction of that disorderly worship.

            What can we learn about the gift of speaking in tongues? As with other gifts, it is a gift from the Holy Spirit. Paul thanked God for the gift of speaking in tongues, and he used this gift more than anyone else during his time. Paul wished all the believers spoke in tongues and encouraged us to desire this gift of speaking in tongues.

            As a young Christian, I earnestly prayed to God to give me the gift of speaking in tongues. I thank God, He gave it to me. I use it frequently during my worship and prayer times. Praying in tongues strengthens my faith. I know some of you have this gift too. Having the gift of tongues doesn’t make one superior, and not having it does not make one inferior.

III. THE GIFT OF PROPHECY

            After encouraging the Corinthian Believers to keep love as their highest goal, he urged them to desire special abilities that the Spirit gives, especially the gift of prophecy. The Holy Spirit gave some the ability to prophecy. Paul places prophecy higher and more significant than the gift of tongues. Why? When someone speaks in tongues, they only strengthen themselves.

            One who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. That’s why Paul said, I Cor 14:18-19. “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. But in a church meeting, I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.” God reveals His plan and purpose through the gift of prophecy.

             We are talking about the Holy Spirit and His gifts to the Church because of a prophecy. Joel 2:28-29, “Then after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. In those days, I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, men and women alike.”

            This prophecy is being fulfilled in our days. God is pouring out His Holy Spirit like never before. God is raising another generation of young people who will take the remaining final frontiers with the Gospel of Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that our young men and women will prophesy and do more extraordinary things for the Lord than we have ever done with our lives.

            I am praying for revival in Hope Church. I firmly believe that God has not yet finished with us. Over the years, He has equipped us with His Word, and we thank God for it. Let us not keep these beautiful truths of the Bible for ourselves; let us share with others as well.

            The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in us. As per the promise, all those who the Spirit of God leads are children of God. If we are sons and daughters of God, we have some work to do. We are to go out and bring more people into God’s Kingdom. Amen!

 

 

 

             

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.preachingtoday.com/search/