TONGUES ?

Newsletter 361                                                                               August 18, 2013

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1 Corinthians 14:1-24

This text follows closely on the heels of the Love chapter of the Bible. Corinth had a lot in common with much of today’s world. The historians of the period tell us that the worship of the pagan temples was very noisy, “including ecstatic noises accompanied by gongs, cymbals, and trumpets. Unless the message of the Corinthians was accompanied with love, it was no better than the pagan ritual.” Drums, cymbals, and gongs have always been a feature of pagan worship.

Today. when non-believers are told of the need to restore the church to it’s Biblical roots, ask “Surely you don’t want to go back to the church in Corinth! Of course not! It was not even the beginning. The beginning was in Jerusalem, (Acts 2). Corinth, having many problems, becomes the example to turn to when we encounter similar problems today. What did Paul have to say about those?

Some things have passed away! 1 Corinthians 13:10 reads, “But then that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” That which is perfect is the complete, perfect and unchangeable word of God, the Bible. When that was fully revealed, of what use are all the imperfect gifts in the hands of faulty mankind. 1 Corinthians 13:13 reads, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love) these three, but the greatest of these is love.” That says to me that all the others are passed away, zip, gone! We have managed to do away with them, and even to so corrupt love to the extent that most of the world’s first thoughts on hearing the word are errotic if not actually pornographic.

Now, let’s look at 1 Corinthians 14.

PAUL’S ADVICE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1  Follow after charity (love), and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Basically whatever we do, we need to do with love, Christian love. Paul dives straight into the subject, and I am going to let him do most of the talking If I think the thought is somewhat out of date, I am using the King James Version, I will enter with a few words to clarify.

2  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue, speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

Paul reminds us that tongues is the language one speaks in prayer to God, not to men. I often tell God things, I would never repeat to men, and you should as well. Then there are those times when we do not know how to express our thoughts. Never mind, the Holy Spirit understands us, he lives within us, and he will speak for us. He is more than a friend of God, he is of God, just as much as Jesus is of God.

3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Prophecy, is where we can and should shine. We can learn to use His Word to edify, exhort, and comfort as the need may be. A prophet is one who is carrying the word of someone else, we are the carriers and deliverers God has sent. He did not send angels to preach. He sent us.”Go ye unto all the world, and preach...”

4  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

The church needs us to tell others, but it does not need that we highly self centered, edifying ourselves.

5  I would that all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

SPEAKING IN TONGUES IS UNPROFITABLE

6  brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by doctrine?

7  And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped.

8  For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

9  So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

10  There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

The temptation, when you are trying to speak to someone who speaks another language is to speak louder. If anything speak more slowly and in very simple words.

11  Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

12  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

God gave us special talents, so He could use us more effectually. If you sing, sing unto the Lord. If you are a gifted speaker, become an evangelist of the faith. If you can do nothing else, pray for those who can, and for the lost of your family and of the world.

13  Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

If you are speaking in an unknown tongue, be sure you have an interpreter. On the other hand, if it is truly an unknown tongue, where will you find an interpreter?

14  For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

EVEN THE MOST IGNORANT CAN UNDERSTAND

15  What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

16  Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at the giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

Amen is recommended in the Bible. It means “so be it”. I have reservations about the clapping of the hands in a worship service. I personally find it disruptive rather than inspiring.

17  For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18  I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

19  Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than by ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

20  Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

FOR THE UNBELIEVER

21  In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

22  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not, but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

23  If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, and unbelievers, will they not say ye are mad?

24  But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH THIS YEAR

18th  Sunday  -  2 Chronicles 7,8,    1 Corinthians 13,    Psalm 99

19th  Monday  -  2 Chronicles 9,10,11,    1 Corinthians 14:1-19,    Psalm 100     

20th  Tuesday  -  2 Chronicles 12,13,14    1 Corinthians 14:20-40.    Proverbs 20:11-22

21st  Wednesday  -  2 Chronicles 15,16,17,    1 Corinthians 15:1-29,    Psalm 101

22nd  Thursday  -  2 Chronicles 18,19,    1 Corinthians 15:30-58,    Psalm 102:1-11

23rd  Friday  -  2 Chronicles 20,    1 Corinthians 16,    Psalm 102:12-19

24th  Saturday  -  2 Chronicles 21,22    1 Timothy 1,2,    Proverbs 20:23-30

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MEMORY VERSE FOR TODAY

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the  scriptures: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:“  -  1 Corinthians 15:3-4

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NOW WHAT IS THAT NUMBER?

The minister had a little game he played with the children every sunday as an opening to his children’s sermon. Each week one of the children was instructed to bring something in a box and he would create a message about it for them. One Sunday Patrick brought his box and inside it was a portable telephone.

“We have six members in the hospital now,” the pastor began, “I think I will call God and ask him to help them to get better. Now what is the number? I’ll try 437-2156.” After he dialed the number, he said, “No, that’s not it. What should I dial next. “Try 911” Alex piped up from the back row.