IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

For the Worship of God

Date: Oct. 23, 2015

Passage

1 Corinthians 14:13-25 

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.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 14:25b

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.

First, with my spirit and with my mind (13-17). Speaking in tongues and praying in tongues is not fruitful unless it is accompanied by some interpretation. Paul wanted the Christians in Corinth to do all things with their spirits and their minds. His point was for the Corinthian church to build each other up, not just themselves. They could do this when they did all things, whether praying or singing or praising God, with all of their being, with both spirit and mind.

Second, speak intelligible words (18-25). Paul spoke in tongues; he also preached the gospel so that the Gentiles and all people might be brought to the worship of God. The point of Christian life is to speak the word of God to bring unbelievers to the worship of God. If others don't understand our language they can't come to know God. Only the word of God can convince an unbeliever that they are a sinner in need of God's cleansing. Only the word of God can bring an unbeliever to the worship of God.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, help me to use the Spirit you gave me to worship you with my spirit and mind, and to bring others to the worship of God.

One Word: Do all things to worship God

Daily Bread

God is Our Deliverer

Psalm 78:40-72

Key Verse: 78:65

Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
like a strong man shouting because of wine.

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