Proclamation:
“… 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. 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.” 1 Corinthians 14:26-28 (NIV)
Explanation:
These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the
influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Corinth . In this chapter Paul addresses how they
should conduct themselves during the worship services regarding speaking in
tongues and prophecy. (Corinthians 14:1-3)
Both of these gifts should be done so that the church may be edified. (1
Corinthians 14:4-5) Paul states that
speaking in tongues is not helpful if no one understands it and there is no one
present to interpret it. (1 Corinthians 14:6-18) He says that speaking in tongues is a sign
for unbelievers while prophecy is for believers. (1 Corinthians 14:20-22) Speaking in tongues should be done by one
person at a time and someone must be present to interpret it. He ends by saying that everything must be
done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40)
Application:
These words are presented as Paul presented his discussion
regarding Spiritual Gifts, that you would not be uninformed. (1 Corinthians
12:1) Speaking in tongues has been taken
out of context in many worship services.
Some churches even require speaking in tongues as a condition of
membership. Speaking in tongues first
occurred on the day of Pentecost, so that everyone in the crowd heard the
disciples speaking in their own language. (Acts 2:1-11) Speaking in tongues is a gift from The Holy
Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 12:7-11) which is to be used to help non-believers
hear The Word of God in their own language.
The speaker has not studied or learned this foreign language but speaks
it by the power of God. Let us not claim
to have this gift in order to impress men.
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