All the People Said Amen

As I’m going through this life leaning more closely on the grace of God, I’m finding more and more that it’s not about me. My life is NOT all about me. Hearing that statement from me 30 years ago, my closest loved ones would have said, “Who are you, and what have you done with Merrie?!” All I can say is, “God’s grace and mercy is having its way and I’m just delighted to be on the receiving end.”

God places us into our space and time for His purpose. When He allows us to be in the presence of witnesses, He delights in our using the gifts He has given us and connections with Him for the greater good of all. He uses our joys and our trials, our praises and our fears, our stories and our silences – if only we are willing to share what He is doing in our lives. Every circumstance is filtered through His loving hands.

Paul is teaching about using spiritual gifts, particularly the gifts of speaking in tongues and of prophesy in this case, for the greater good of all. We will be looking at three verses of thanks today all at once because they all work together and I’m adding one extra verse to finish the thought.

Corinthian believers needed correction once again. They were apparently using the gift of speaking in tongues (praying in a special prayer language that only the individual and God can understand – a very special and intimate gift) as a sign of spiritual superiority rather than as a means to spiritual unity. Paul was teaching them that Spiritual gifts are a benefit only when properly used to help everyone in the church. Public worship must be understandable and beneficial to all.

“If you are praising God with your spirit, how can one who finds himself among those who do not understand say ‘Amen’ to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but the other man is not edified. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.” 1 Corinthians 14:16-19

Paul shares God’s desire for all the people present to be able to agree and be a part of the thanksgiving and praise that the worshipers were lifting to the Lord. They would do this with their “Amen!” But if they didn’t understand what was being said, how could they agree? Paul asks. Amen means, “It is true” or “So be it” – it is the believer’s confession agreeing with the words of the speaker.

Paul also teaches that all, especially the newcomer or unbeliever, deserve the opportunity to be edified which means- instruct or benefit, especially morally or spiritually; to uplift. If we are participating with God in what He is doing, we must concentrate on helping everyone in the church. We should be praying for insight and ability to bring others into an intimate relationship with God. Sharing the truth in love speaks to all. We can do this by singing, teaching a lesson, telling a story, leading a prayer or sharing an insight. When we submit to God’s leading in these things, He doesn’t cause confusion; he leads us in unity and harmony.

“but everything that is done must be useful to all, and build them up in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 14:26b (TLB)

The primary motivator of all that serve in worship must be love – being useful to strengthen the faith of others.

“All The People Said Amen” by Matt Maher speaks this truth to a catchy tune. Check out this link: https://youtu.be/T9ifzzMD7zk

Give thanks to the LORD

For His love never ends

And all the people said Amen!

In my past, while living fully in “me me mode,” I can totally see myself being very blessed had I received the Spiritual gift of speaking in tongues. Though I know I would not have used it to edify others or bring glory to God. Only to myself. Perhaps to fully enjoy the intimacy with God or more likely to try to convince others that I was extra spiritual and deserved attention and praise. Thank God that He chose to clean me up a bit through the refining fire of the hard knock life before He turned me loose on you all! Whew!

God wants all His children to hear and understand and receive His great redeeming love through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Let’s listen to God. Use our gifts to serve others well. Love because God first loved us (1 Jn 4:19).

"In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost." Matt. 18:14

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b