From the record, we learn that the church in Corinth had a turbulent history. It began with a riot when the founding apostles were hauled to Gallio’s judgment seat by opposing Jews. But Gallio refused to hear the case, dismissing it with these words: “If it were a matter of wrong or wicked lewdness, O ye Jews, reason would that I should bear with you: But if it be a question of words and names, and of your law, look ye to it; for I will be no judge of such matters” (Acts 18:14-15).
We should pay attention to what lay behind this riot. Some people, as we say, couldn’t care less. Nothing matters. Anything goes. But some people believe very deeply what they believe. Both of these probably should modify their positions a bit, and yet I must say to you there are beliefs worth dying for.
My counsel is to believe what you believe. And be ready to modify when new truth is learned. Be sure you heard me right. I said, Be ready to modify when new truth is learned. The caution I leave is, Not everything new is truth.
The message of I Corinthians 14 is controversial and has split many congregations. Properly understood it need not. This time I have called my message THE PRIORITY OF PROPHECY. The text is I Corinthians 14:1-9:
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
My desire is to bring from this text several DISTINCTIVES that I find in Paul’s words so we may more clearly understand The Priority of Prophecy.
The first distinctive is we need to seek:
1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
2For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Most of us consider prophecy as a prediction. There are hundreds of examples in the Bible of predictive prophecy. Let me give you several illustrations:
For example, in Genesis 17:19 God promised Abraham and Sarah a baby boy. They had no children and they were hoping for a son. Genesis 17:19 states:
And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: an...
