July 14, 2023 | Be On Mission
Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14(NIV)
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 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. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. 5 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 the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.
6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 7 Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? 8 Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? 9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air. 10 Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. 11 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.
13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. 21 In the Law it is written:
“With other tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,
says the Lord.”
22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 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? 24 But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, 25 as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”
26 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. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.
29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.
34 Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 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.
36 Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37 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. 38 But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.
39 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.
Devotional
For several chapters, Paul has been instructing to the Christians in Corinth on what it means to be a congregation. In 1 Corinthians 11, he wrote about wearing head coverings in worship and approaching the Lord’s Supper with the right attitude. In chapter 12, he said that Christians have a variety of spiritual gifts, just as a human has a variety of body parts. Chapter 13 reminds us that love is more important than every spiritual gift combined. And here in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul gives instruction on the proper use of prophecy and speaking in tongues, especially in the context of a worship gathering.
Keep in mind that the Christians in Corinth had zero role models for how to conduct themselves in worship, other than Paul and the other evangelists who came through and went away. None of them grew up in the church. There were no preacher’s kids. Nobody left a church down the road to try their church out. There were no forty year members. The entire church was made up entirely of new believers with no church memory.
As Corinthian Christians were experiencing what it means to follow Jesus and be filled with the Spirit, they were experimenting with their newfound spiritual gifts. In particular, the gifts of prophecy and speaking in tongues were causing confusion among believers and inquirers alike. Paul gave them straightforward instructions for more orderly worship.
First, regarding speaking in tongues in public worship, Paul wrote, “If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the 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” (v. 27-28). Paul was not dismissing speaking in tongues at all. He himself spoke in tongues, and others that he ministered to did as well (Acts 19:6). Rather, he was saying that this prayer language to God should not be utilized in a way that causes confusion in the gathered church.
Second, Paul addressed prophecy. He said, “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. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged” (v. 29-31). Paul believed that chaotic worship would lead to confusion, but orderly worship would benefit “people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort.”
One final word on orderly worship. Paul encouraged the women of the Corinthian church to remain silent in public worship. It is important to note that women in Corinth were not allowed to have a formal education, nor to confront a man in public. Earlier in 1 Corinthians 11:5 Paul had said, “But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head.” It is hard to juxtapose this teaching that women could pray and prophesy in public worship with the one that women should remain silent in church.
Perhaps the overall theme of orderly worship gives a clue. In the end, Paul concluded, “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way” (v. 39-40). Paul wanted the men and women of the Corinthian Church to experience the full blessings of all the spiritual gifts, while at the same time not jeopardizing their orderly worship and public witness.
Poem
Hounding
Pursue
Chase after
Don’t give up
Pant for
Long for
Pray for
Yearn for
Give all
Press on
Die for
Hound
Love
