Lighthouses are fascinating. Their lens are rotating and emit light to show the ship captain the direction he is to use to navigate a treacherous channel to safety. The church is to be a lighthouse for the lost. Therefore, it is crucial that the lenses are cleaned often and they are operational 24/7. The Corinthian church was a lighthouse in that decadent city with its idolatry and immorality. And yet still the members were asking questions as to what their purpose was in this life as a church member. What is my role? Why should I be a contributing member? Paul addresses all of these in chapter 14 that their purpose was to be prepared to guide the lost to THE LIGHT.
Part 1: Pursue Love and Desire the spiritual gifts. Seek to prophesy [to teach, refute, reprove, admonish, comfort others] because in doing so you edify, exhort, and offer consolation. These gifts are to build up the Body.
Edification literally means building up of the soul. Barnabas is a biblical character that was nicknamed Encourager because he was an edifier. He was always ready with an encouraging word and did not miss a divine opportunity. So to edify we must keep our eyes and ears open. Take a moment and edify someone even right now!
Exhortation literally means pleading, persuading, inspiring. Its purpose is to strengthen and establish, or ground believers in their walk. This is important to avoid false teaching, to renew our walk, and lead others out of spiritual quagmires. This is more than a meeting time for worship, it is an intentional meeting time to hear from another’s lips words that encourage and sharpen each other’s skills so that we become more like Christ. Take a moment and exhort someone who is struggling spiritually…do it even now.
Consolation is comfort. It is looking for those times to pray, encourage in person those who are hurting, going through rough times. Look at your calendar and ask whom did I console this past week and why? How did I do it in action and what words did I use? Take a moment and console a brother or sister who is in need of comfort. Share a word in a phone call, a note, a word that you are praying…do it now.
Part 2: Be Mature Thinkers. When others enter your worship do they hear intelligent conversation or the buzz words using Christian lingo? Speak the Word for it is the Word that convicts. [John 16:8, 2Tim 3:16] Then“If an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all. The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.” Take a moment and search your conversations and note how many buzz words you are using…ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you speak to a non-believer…do it now. Pray that God give you a divine opportunity to be His witness.
Thus as a Body member we need to be about the Master’s business of edifying, exhorting and consoling others. We need to be instructed so that we can instruct others intelligently. This chapter convicts and instructs. Is our lens operational? Is it leading the lost to the LIGHT? Does this “wordable” reflect me to the world and to others around me?
Today as we watch the news our hearts are filled with much sadness by the many atrocities around our world. But God wants us to see that it is at times like this that we must be bold in our prayers for those who are blinded by the enemy and do NOT know the truth so that they may come to the knowledge of who Jesus really is and who God is.
