BUILDING UP THE TEMPLE - PART I
I Corinthians 14:1-5 NKJV
I chose this title, not because of a children’s worship song, but because it holds a double meaning for us in this study
In the N.T. The Temple was seen as two-fold
In I Corinthians 6:19 the temple refers to our physical body
In II Corinthians 6:16 the temple refers to the church body
In this study we will see how the Gifts of the Holy Spirit affect both
Many of you grew up in cessationist churches
Meaning churches that taught the Gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased or that they died out with the Apostles
I will make a strong Biblical case as to why they, not only, still exist but why they are needed
I Corinthians 14:4 is very key to where we will be this week and next
Notice how Speaking in Tongues edifies you and prophecy the church
So both Tongues and prophecy edify
Why is that so important?
Because the word “edify” means to build up
This word pictures the building of a house in construction
So much so that this word means to build to inhabit
Both our bodies and the church are temples of the Holy Spirit
In I Peter 2:5 says we are living stones building up a spiritual house
Turn to Jude 20 to see this same language
Notice we build ourselves up by praying in the Spirit
Also see that praying in the Spirit is a part of the armor of God in
Ephesians 6:18
Back to I Corinthians 14:14-15 to see what praying in the Spirit means
Can you see in I Corinthians 14:2 tongues is praying in the Spirit
Theologians believe Paul gave us a glimpse of his devotional life in I
Corinthians 14:15 that he prayed and sung in tongues as well as with
his understanding
Water Baptism and Spirit Baptism are two separate experiences
Look at Acts 10:44-48 notice Spirit Baptism happened first then Peter
commanded them to be Water Baptized
Look at Acts 19:1-6 see two different baptisms spoken of here
Also we can clearly see in both, Acts 10 and 19 these were believers
Belief in Jesus must come before Baptisms in water and Spirit