I Corinthians 14:1-25Tongues: Three Greek words for tongues: glossa (language); dialectos (dialect) and glossalalia (fabricated and non-meaningful speech - not used in the New Testament).
Prophecy [from Ancient Greek verb προφημι (prophemi)]: A prophecy is a message that has been communicated to a prophet, by God, which the prophet then communicates to others.
01. 1-5 Paul opens with a declarative: “Follow the way of love…” He asserts that we should desire all of the spiritual gifts. He does NOT assert that we will receive all of the spiritual gifts. But the gift(s) we have must be administered with love.
Verse 4 tells us that the use of glossa (language) edifies (builds up) himself, whereas the use of prophecy builds up the church. This makes sense, because the theme of I Corinthians is Unity in the Body of Christ.
If you speak in a foreign language, nobody will understand you unless your have an interpreter. We will be demonstrating this on our next Great Day.
02. 6-12 The point here is that speaking in a foreign language to the church is useless, since nobody will understand. (verse 9). This also means that we should speak intelligibly…making sense in what we say. In verse 10 Paul recognizes the world’s many languages all meaningful to those who speak that language. In verse 12 he admonishes us to excel in the gifts that build up the church.
03. 13-17 When pastor Dax or pastor William (our Spanish speaking pastors) speak to us, sometimes they struggle to get the English right. We might be spiritually correct in what we are trying to convey, but if we can’t convey it intelligently, we are just flapping our lips. Say something that somebody can say, “Amen” to. You may be spiritual, but you are basically useless to other church members if you don’t. Does this lack of usefulness create unity in the church?
04. 18-19 As a missionary, Paul had spoken in at least a dozen different languages. But in the church, he spoke whatever language the congregation of the church spoke. If he could not, he got an interpreter.
05. 20-21 He admonishes the members of the Church of Corinth to stop acting like children. Grow up!
06. 22-25 As a missionary, Paul had to speak the language of those in whose country he was preaching…to unbelievers…trying to bring them to Christ. In the church, Paul spoke in prophecy…a message given to him from God for the church.
If the church is engaged in some form of gibber jabber, or if each person is speaking in his native language (we have 18 nationalities represented in our church), and an unsaved person walks in, that lost person will not know what is going on.
On the other hand, if we stay on message and speak in a language everybody understands, the lost person will have his heart softened and will be receptive to the prodding of the Holy Spirit to come to Christ.
We are to clearly present the gospel in terms people can understand…ALL OF US, not just the preacher. What a powerful witness THAT would be!
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