Introduction

Good day to all. Today, we turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 14. This chapter is a source of considerable confusion, with its verses often misused. The theme here is pursue the gifts that build up the church. I've mentioned before that the overarching theme of the New Testament is the building of God's glorious church. Grasp this, and you've grasped the most crucial point; if building the church is mishandled, the consequences are dire. You've witnessed pastors succumbing to cancer. To label such deaths as dying for the Lord is preposterous. I cannot accept the notion that God inflicts disease as a means of death, claiming it as martyrdom. If someone is willing to be martyred, very well, but to suggest that dying of cancer is dying for the Lord, returning to the Father's house, is questionable.

This necessitates revisiting Deuteronomy chapter 28, which states that if one does not diligently obey the Lord your God, He will inflict upon you the diseases of Egypt, and even beyond those, other ailments. Whether cancer or arthritis, these are undeniably hardships. We must firmly grasp the concept of building the church, refraining from constructing it according to our own whims. Building the church requires divine revelation. Moses' construction of the Tabernacle, David and Solomon's construction of the Temple, all followed divine revelation. Likewise, building God's glorious temple today must adhere to divine revelation, God's Word. God revealed the building of the church to the Apostle Paul, and also to others, yet they received the revelation but failed to act upon it. Only the Apostle Paul built the church according to the revelation.

Regarding 1 Corinthians chapter 14, the foremost principle is to pursue love. However, this love often overshadows the gifts that build up the church. I've observed that people are prone to folly: pursuing spiritual gifts while neglecting love, or pursuing love while neglecting spiritual gifts. It is indeed a perverse tendency. This is my own observation: the pursuit of love often descends into Santa Claus-like sentimentality, with constant pronouncements that God is love, even to the point of incorporating divine love into business ventures, which is utterly disastrous.

We must understand that an excessive pursuit of love can lead to indulgence of the flesh. Spiritual gifts, such as prophecy, often involve delivering harsh pronouncements rather than soothing words. Those who incessantly declare that God is love are not necessarily demonstrating love; their words are often empty and self-serving. Consider how absurd our understanding can be. Paul declares love to be the most excellent way, but this is not the same as the boundless love we imagine, nor is it akin to romantic love. Don't interpret Ephesians solely through the lens of marital relationships; Paul clarifies that his discourse is not about marriage but about Christ and the church, anchoring everything he has stated in the context of building the church.

1 Corinthians chapter 14 presents numerous areas of confusion. The pursuit of spiritual gifts can devolve into the pursuit of unintelligible utterances, ultimately diminishing understanding. Conversely, the pursuit of understanding can eclipse the gift of speaking in tongues. These phenomena are perplexing. This chapter elucidates the complexities of speaking in tongues, yet people often misinterpret it, quoting passages out of context. Therefore, today I will address the gifts that build up the church, the speaking in tongues, and the confusion surrounding women remaining silent in churches.

I. Pursue Love

The following words immediately anchor the central theme: Pursue love. Paul thoroughly explains this in the preceding chapter. He begins this chapter by stating that we should pursue love, in order to introduce the succeeding statement – that we should also eagerly desire spiritual gifts.

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. (1 Corinthians 14:1)

Pursuing love and eagerly desiring spiritual gifts can be viewed as opposing directions: pursuing love to the left, and eagerly desiring spiritual gifts to the right. The pursuit of love is the most challenging to articulate. The previous chapter taxed me greatly, and I only managed to explain the paramount importance of love with considerable effort, because mentioning love often conjures images of cloying romantic love. Yet, disciplining children constitutes love, even though many perceive it otherwise, believing that love entails solely praising a child, which can produce either an incompetent individual or a disaster.

We face genuine confusion today. The previous chapter instructed us to pursue love, yet the very concept of love perplexes us. This is difficult to comprehend because of the ambiguity surrounding the term. What is love? It is God's kind of love. God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, yet allowed six hundred thousand men of fighting age to perish in the wilderness. Is this love? This is perplexing. After reading the Old and New Testaments, one might conclude that the God of the Old Testament was voted out of office, replaced by the loving Jesus Christ. Many hold this view. However, our Jesus Christ and the God of the Old Testament are one and the same.

Our God brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, causing them to wander in the wilderness until their feet were blistered. Do you consider this love? It is indeed love, aimed at subduing the flesh. Our understanding of love must be recalibrated. I have said this repeatedly, yet I struggle to articulate it clearly. Building a tabernacle in the wilderness required numerous components, such as rolling up sealskins and dyeing them in the required colors, which sometimes faded. At God's command to move, they had to scramble to pack up and depart, without questioning the order. At God's command to depart, they had to strike camp. Were we among them, we would undoubtedly be perplexed: unable to camp near water sources, yet forced to camp in arid locations. Do not question the logic; this is the logic of subduing the flesh.

We have yet to devise a system as effective as wandering in the wilderness for subduing the flesh. Even before confronting the flesh, people feel unjustly treated. To subdue the flesh, how much more grievance must one feel? Walking with tears, feeling aggrieved – yet this is love. Therefore, the pursuit of love must be properly directed. Scrutinizing the entire Old Testament reveals that subduing the flesh is a central concept. Our ailments, poverty, struggles, and misfortunes all stem from the flesh. To be carnally minded is death, and yielding to the flesh reaps corruption – a simple truth. Those who lament the absence of God's blessings should spend time wandering in the wilderness.

The love described here is vastly different from what people generally refer to as love. My neighbor has two sons, both scrawny and thin. Their mother, like Rebekah, favors the younger son and dislikes the elder, sending him to serve in the armed police force while keeping the younger son at home. This is her maternal love, shared by some among us. Consequently, the elder son returned from the armed police force as a robust young man, while the younger son remained scrawny and weak. Which approach constitutes love?

If you are to pursue love, I am adept at verbal correction. I have a repertoire of derogatory terms: fool, blockhead, cabbage-brain, and inquiries into one's mental processes, or comparisons of speech to a padded winter trouser (which implies clumsiness of expression). If it were not motivated by love, I would not dare do this. Were I to utter these words to a random passer-by, I would likely be assaulted. I yearn for you to emerge from foolishness and break free from curses – this is love. However, those who are carnally minded are unable to accept such criticism. If you are concerned about saving face, I will deny you that courtesy, stripping away all pretense for the sake of edification.

One of the gifts vital for building up the church is assisting individuals who are verbally clumsy, mentally deficient, intellectually small, or emotionally limited. These shortcomings must be addressed; one must dismantle their pride. If you are to pursue love, this is love.

II. Eagerly Desire Spiritual Gifts

The eager desire for spiritual gifts often breeds confusion, making it difficult to discern which gifts are lesser or greater. I've noticed that traditional churches emphasize intellectual understanding, admiring those who speak in tongues. Yet, speaking in tongues is a minor gift, easily acquired through imitation. I can mimic a North Korean news anchor, assuming the proper demeanor. Though what I say is incomprehensible to Koreans, the tone is approximated. Today, we often invert the order of importance, deeming mighty the gifts that truly build up the church. People are told to eagerly desire spiritual gifts, but they assume that healing and exorcism are paramount gifts, while in actuality, healing and exorcism are minor gifts, easily accomplished with faith. The problem lies in a lack of faith.

Many charismatic churches exaggerate the significance of healing and exorcism to outlandish proportions. Such embellishments are unwarranted. A four-year-old in our congregation heard that his mother had a high fever. He remembered that he could pray for her. His prayer resulted in the expulsion of the feverish demon, and his mother was completely healed. Healing and exorcism are simple enough for even a four-year-old to perform. It boils down to an exercise of faith: God works according to the faith of those who believe. The process is simple – you exorcise in the name of Jesus.

Once, my dog's face suddenly swelled, resembling a case of Down syndrome. The sight was both alarming and pitiable. I held him in my arms. Unable to respond, I covered his face with a cloth. The dog submitted obediently. After prayer, the dog recovered. However, this did not build up the church, but merely benefited a dog. My testimony inspired a man in our church who raised over a hundred head of cattle. When his cattle fell ill, he remembered my account and began praying over them. Unable to embrace all one hundred cattle, he prayed over one at a time. Consequently, all of the cattle recovered fully. Inspired by this, another instance occurred among us. A sister had two sons. The elder son was still bedwetting, so they sought our help. Before that ailment could be resolved, their dog became terminally ill. Remembering the testimony, the two brothers embraced the dog in prayer. The dog recovered completely and never fell ill again. While the bedwetting persisted, the dog was healed first. These are not extraordinary gifts, but merely the result of faith. Such occurrences, though significant, do not build up the church.

Relying on miracles to build the church is ineffective. Once a demon has been exorcised, it may return if the individual’s understanding is not enlightened. A pastor once told me that my exorcisms were futile. They would repeat without end. However, the issue is not the futility of exorcism, but the individual's lack of understanding, which necessitates truth. Therefore, the gift that truly builds up the church is paramount, as it is that which truly liberates people. Eagerly desire spiritual gifts, and do not jumble the order of importance. Chinese Mingding Destiny truly seeks to meticulously clarify these matters.

III. You Must Eagerly Desire Gifts That Build Up the Church

Does this chapter convey the imperative to eagerly desire gifts that build up the church? If not, return to elementary school. I say this, knowing that such words can be misunderstood, expressing contempt in a subtle manner. Can you discern that we should eagerly desire spiritual gifts, and even more so, eagerly desire gifts that build up the church?

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. (1 Corinthians 14:1-5)

This passage underscores the importance of God's Word, God's truth. Articulating God's Word clearly for the edification of others is what builds up the church. Building up the church is a vital gift, because the entire New Testament focuses on establishing a victorious church. If you don't quite grasp what I've said, feel free to leave comments online, and I'll address them in turn. We must eagerly desire gifts that build up the church. Once an individual's past sins have been forgiven and their ailments have been healed through God's grace, the work has only just begun.

Our church's ministry is particularly demanding, because we strive to clarify people's understanding and instill God's Word in their hearts, which is an arduous task. It cannot be accomplished by simply copying files from a USB drive. One can utter one sentence, yet it will be interpreted as something else entirely. How can we communicate effectively? Therefore, articulating God's Word and eliminating the garbage or foolishness from within others is the essence of building up the church. Henceforth, practice the gifts that build up the church. We have a range of ministries to guide you in clearly expounding Genesis, Ecclesiastes, and the 101 Course. The return of expelled demons is not a cause for bewilderment. Jesus does not merely prune; complete removal requires comprehensive spiritual understanding. Some simultaneously ingest antidotes and poisons, trapped in an endless cycle. Cease ingesting poison, and the issue is resolved.

Therefore, carnality, love of the world, and the knowledge of good and evil are the root causes of many problems. Even today, many individuals are trapped in the mundane, considering trivial matters of this life as profound. In reality, they are insignificant. One must develop the capacity to study and comprehend God's Word; teaching others how to learn is taxing. Transforming people from foolishness is difficult, often necessitating several confrontations. Some dislike my approach, and I find no joy in constantly offending others. Offering grace, yet being rejected after one single remark of “foolishness” is disheartening. However, many wise brothers and sisters accept criticism, regardless of my missteps. Serving others requires a diligent pursuit of gifts that build up the church.

I eagerly desire gifts that build up the church. Therefore, we've developed a series of pastoral tools, including those that address the flesh. Our thorough exposition of Genesis aims to transform Genesis into an effective pastoral tool. I've also crafted a series of linguistic and rhetorical styles, though they do not align with my innate disposition. I have always been a docile child, uttering words, never causing distress or trouble. However, building the church has transformed me into a troublemaker. Troublemaking is necessary to be pleasing to God. I thank God that my brothers and sisters grow stronger and more resilient with each passing day. Resisting in this simulated environment enhances resilience for the genuine challenges that lie ahead.

Because I eagerly desire the gifts that build up the church, I deeply recognize that my lifelong destiny is to build God's glorious church, seeking to stand before Jesus Christ and receive His commendation as a faithful and good servant. Even at the cost of offending some, I will unyieldingly bless as many as possible, delivering them from curses.

IV. Edifying the Church Through Understanding

What does it mean for the gifts that edify the church to be entirely based on understanding? Consider that some of our brothers and sisters may struggle to learn, so we must teach them how to learn. If they cannot find a job, we must teach them how to find one. Are we to simply tell them to launch into a session of tongues-speaking prayer during a job interview, assuring them that God will surely bestow a gift upon them? The result would be that they would be perceived as foolish or deranged. People suffer injustice in the workplace because of their own foolishness. The fear of being PUA’d in the workplace arises because they have already PUA’d themselves, feeling wronged by the way they are treated. Some are so dense that they are unemployed, yet they engage in discerning good and evil with their employers. All these situations require understanding, teaching people how to learn, how to find work, and even how to adopt a good work ethic, conduct themselves, manage affairs, and manage people. Every aspect requires understanding.

But in the church, I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue. (1 Corinthians 14:19)

Paul said that he would rather speak five words that edify in the church than ten thousand words in a tongue. Coming to our church should be like attending university; your work attitude will inevitably be adjusted for the better. I once harbored a hope, though my heart was willing but my strength was lacking, that all brothers and sisters could ascend to management positions. Someone who is already competent in their work and in their dealings with people can bless many others by becoming someone who can manage people and affairs. This is truly a deep desire of my heart. In our series of teachings based on understanding, the most crucial is the foundation of faith, which is not difficult to teach. We teach everyone to learn from Joseph, not to feel aggrieved even when sold into slavery in Egypt. As it turned out, Joseph had good Mingding Destiny; he attended a “slave university,” then a “prison university,” and after graduating from these institutions, he even learned how to become a prime minister.

Discerning good and evil is exceedingly foolish. Brothers and sisters, do not dabble in discerning good and evil, for it is to punish yourselves doubly. All these things require understanding. In the future, we will offer courses in human resources management, career planning, communication skills, work skills, and the ability to focus, learn, and innovate. I have poured my heart and soul into my work as a preacher because, to be honest, it pains me to see the hardships of our brothers and sisters. Recently, I visited a brother who weighs over three hundred pounds. He has been with us for eight years, and we have not yet effectively addressed his challenges and issues. But this time, we cannot fail him again; I must work with my colleagues to pull him out of his situation. I do not know if we will succeed, but I have faith in God that He will grant us wisdom and intelligence because this is about edifying people.

Understanding is crucial; do not engage in metaphysics, making everything mysterious and secretive. Closing your eyes, drawing several circles in the air with your finger, and then suddenly pointing to declare that the arrow came from that direction, only to find out it was a brother. The brother pointed to was devastated, not knowing how the arrow could have possibly come from him. Then, after repeating the same actions, this time pointing to a sister, the sister was bewildered, wondering when she had ever shot an arrow. It was simply your finger pointing. Such erroneous teachings are frightening, scaring one of our sisters so much that she came to us for deliverance, expelling heaps of rubbish from her mind.

Understanding is crucial, and the learning ability of pastors is essential. If pastors do not know how to learn, how can they lead others to learn? If pastors are foolish, how can they make others wise? I am determined to edify our brothers and sisters and train our pastors to be knowledgeable, understanding, and acquainted with God and the truth. Although we are still some distance from this goal, I know that with God, all things are possible for those who trust in Him. After training, we will become glorious vessels, and how wonderful it is to be used by God. Understanding is so important, but speaking in tongues is also important, even though it is a small gift, it is a foundation.

V. The Perplexity of Speaking in Tongues

Many people think that speaking in tongues is not important because they cannot understand it, but it was never intended for you to understand. There are many confusions surrounding speaking in tongues, so I will gradually re-explain it to everyone. Actually, I addressed these confusions over a decade ago, and it seems that those who come to our church now no longer have these issues. If you still have such confusions, see if what I say resonates with you.

For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries in the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 14:2)

Speaking to God with Mingding Destiny is highly important, but it is a small gift used to edify oneself.

Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but anyone who prophesies edifies the church. (1 Corinthians 14:4)

If you do not edify yourself, it is difficult to edify others. Many great pastors are so great that they do not speak in tongues, relying solely on understanding. Before meals, everyone gathers in a circle, taking turns to pray, each one praying longer and using more elaborate words. By the time they finish praying for an hour, the food is cold. Why not start praying before the food is ready, so that when the dishes are served, they can be eaten while still hot? Doing otherwise is simply not thinking clearly, and this is a kind of confusion. Speaking in tongues is a small gift, but it is speaking to God, so it is important. It is uttering mysteries in the Spirit. When you speak in tongues daily, you are perhaps coming before God to ask Him to resolve your mental dullness, but I cannot tell you this directly because it is speaking mysteries, telling God all your problems. For example, your selfishness or foolishness—you would not normally pray about these things with your understanding, but when you speak in tongues over and over, you are uttering all kinds of mysteries. When God hears you asking for this, He resolves your foolishness and laziness. If you lack self-control, God gives you some strength. Of course, this is just my speculation. Speaking in tongues is edifying yourself, so how can you edify others if you do not edify yourself?

I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. (1 Corinthians 14:5)

This verse does not say that you are not allowed to speak in tongues, nor does it prohibit you from speaking in tongues. One pastor put up a long banner in his church that read, “Speaking in Tongues Prohibited.” It seems that he did not read the Bible properly and should go back to elementary school and start over. If you did not do well in elementary school, you cannot understand the texts. If you preach all day and prohibit speaking in tongues in the church, you will soon be arrested. People may think you were arrested for God’s sake, but it is not so; you were arrested for offending God by prohibiting speaking in tongues.

Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but anyone who prophesies edifies the church. (1 Corinthians 14:4)

Speaking in tongues is a miraculous phenomenon. Although it is a minor gift, it edifies yourself. Hopefully, everyone understands this. If a group of people gathers to speak in tongues, unbelievers who happen to walk in might think they are a bunch of madmen. If a pastor speaks in tongues on the stage instead of preaching, those who enter will not understand anything, which will cause confusion. Paul said he spoke in tongues more than all of them, so there is no confusion here. It is not that you do not need to speak in tongues because you should pursue love, nor is it that you should only earnestly desire the gifts that edify the church. You should also earnestly desire the gift of speaking in tongues because it is very important.

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. (1 Corinthians 14:18)

Additionally, let me mention the interpretation of tongues. In the churches of that era, there was a peculiar structure: gatherings were held in someone's home with a dozen or twenty people sitting in a circle. Whoever had something to say would speak. Someone might prepare a message in advance and share it on the day of the gathering. Others would then share what they had prepared, and that was how things operated. God can certainly manage such situations. If those Corinthians were sitting in a circle and someone stood up and began speaking in tongues, and the person in charge could not get them to stop but they continued to speak in tongues, even louder, completely causing disruption, attending such a church would be distressing. Therefore, Paul addressed this situation in the Corinthian church.

So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they will be convicted of sin and judged by all, and the secrets of their hearts will be disclosed, so they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” (1 Corinthians 14:23-25)

If someone in the gathering receives a revelation and someone who is troubled and distressed walks in—perhaps they have been deceived or owe a large amount of money for some reason—and the person with the gift directly points out that the person owes a lot of money and is feeling troubled, the person being addressed would be stunned, thinking, “This is amazing! God is truly among you!” But if everyone in the gathering were speaking in tongues, it would be chaotic.

What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. (1 Corinthians 14:26)

The goal must be to edify people. If you are just speaking in tongues for your own enjoyment, speaking enthusiastically but preventing others from doing anything but listening to your prayer, that would be distressing.

If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God. (1 Corinthians 14:27-28)

It is not that you cannot speak in tongues, but it is important not to cause disruption. We should not be confused about this. Not all speaking in tongues needs to be interpreted; if you are speaking to yourself, you should pray slowly if you are feeling weak, in need of being filled with the Holy Spirit, and in need of power. But at such times, do not cause disruption. Others need to hear the word of God so they can understand it, but you are shouting and causing chaos.

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. (1 Corinthians 14:29-30)

This describes a group of about a dozen people sitting in a circle, similar to today's small groups, operating in that way because there was no leadership.

For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. (1 Corinthians 14:31)

Each person speaks one by one for fifteen minutes, two people for thirty minutes. This is the model for our small groups today. There are many confusions about speaking in tongues, such as the interpretation of tongues. If you are speaking to yourself, no one should force you to interpret. If everyone is praying—a thousand people praying in the church—and you are also speaking in tongues, that is fine. But it should not be a free-for-all. If there is no arrangement, remain quiet; otherwise, the gathering will become chaotic.

This chapter has addressed these confusions about speaking in tongues. In fact, speaking in tongues is given to enable people to receive power within. We are all weak. For example, those among us who lack self-control—if you lose momentum while working, feeling completely drained—you should find a quiet place to speak in tongues, and you will surely receive strength. Even if your speaking in tongues is imitated from me, it will still work because we have all tried it. It is not about emphasizing one thing while neglecting another, or wanting this but not wanting that; everything is important and part of a complete system.

VI. The Confusion About Women Remaining Silent

Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35)

After reading this, our sisters may feel hurt. However, this actually involves a problem in translation. The women here does not refer to all women, but rather, according to my translation, refers to busybody women. However, there is no term for “busybody women” in English, so translation becomes difficult. Not all women are busybody women; rather, busybody women are those who gossip and chatter all day long. When they come to church and gather in a circle of a dozen people, they talk about whether they bought eggs in the morning or whether they saw Old Zhang's child bringing a girl home. Especially the women at the entrance of the village, with rows of small benches, put great stress on anyone passing by, as everyone is scrutinized and judged.

People who avoid such individuals are called busybody women. When they come to church, they should keep their mouths shut and not talk nonsense. But if someone is like a female prophet in the Old Testament, it is impossible not to speak; not speaking would be unreasonable. The women Paul refers to can be equated with busybody women. Once translated in this way, everyone will no longer be confused. In fact, some of our sisters, especially some of our pastoral zone leaders, are doing well.

VII. This Is the Lord’s Command

If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. (1 Corinthians 14:37)

Everything I have just discussed is the Lord's command. The Spirit of God does not cause confusion. When the church becomes as chaotic as a marketplace and someone even brings seafood purchased from the seafood market to the church, the church is filled with the stench of rotten fish, causing many people to faint. This is not a marketplace or a seafood market; this is a church, a place where people are edified. If you bring a pile of seafood to the classroom, people will kick you out. This is the logic. The church cannot be chaotic. The Corinthian church at that time was somehow in such a chaotic state. People's minds were confused, and they were all pursuing various spiritual gifts. The place where the Spirit of God dwells is orderly and disciplined. Do not think that if you have the spirit of a prophet, you must speak out. The spirits of prophets submit to prophets. You can choose to control yourself, and if you cannot control yourself, that is from a demon; it is not from the Spirit of God, but from an evil force.

Our theme today is Earnestly desire the gifts that build up the church. I am telling everyone that we must re-examine the erroneous teachings within us. I will definitely create many opportunities for brothers and sisters to exercise their gifts of edifying the church.