1 Corinthians 14:1-5 NKJV
“1Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.”
A Controversial Topic
Now this is a very controversial topic, and one I don’t
generally want to delve into, but it needs to be discussed, for in our world
today there is a lot of abuse of the gifts in these two areas of prophecy and of
speaking in tongues, in both the areas of the teachings on these gifts and in the
operating of these gifts. But prophecy is not just future telling, as many
regard it, but it is preaching (proclaiming) the Word of God, which is how Paul
was using it here, which to me is obvious by his description of it.
First of all, there are many people today falsely teaching
that to receive Christ you must speak in tongues. Just not biblical! And some
church gatherings will not allow certain people to participate in their
gatherings unless they speak in tongues. But in the lists of the gifts of the
Spirit, tongues are generally listed last as one of the lesser gifts. And it is
the Spirit who determines who gets what gifts. And they are to be used
according to the teachings of the Scriptures, and not according to human
beings.
The Gifts Defined
Prophecy – Paul defined prophecy as speaking edification and
exhortation and comfort to the people. And to edify is to teach, to instruct,
to give constructive criticism, and to say what will help other believers in
Christ to grow to spiritual maturity in Christ and to live the life that God
has for them to live for God’s glory. And an exhortation is an appeal, a holy urging,
urgent request, counsel, caution and strong encouragement to do what is right.
And comfort is to give them strength and support in their walks of faith in
Christ.
Tongues - And then he went on to say that those who prophesy
edify the church, and that they are greater than those who speak with tongues,
not as a matter of superiority or pride in giftedness, but having to do with
what prophecy produces in comparison to what speaking in tongues produces. For those
who speak in tongues speak to God, not to the people, for no one understands
what they are saying. And he who speaks in a tongue edifies himself. But he who
prophesies edifies the church, which is what is needed.
Tongues Interpreted
Now, if we keep reading in 1 Corinthians 14 we will learn
that tongues must be interpreted or otherwise they serve no valuable purpose in
the gatherings of the church. But even the interpretations of the tongues must
be tested against the teachings of the Scriptures, just as we would test
prophesies, too, to make sure they are of God and not of human flesh. For there
are all sorts of people out there who are prophesying over other people falsely
and who are using tongues in an unbiblical manner which causes confusion.
For the purpose of our gatherings is for mutual edification
in words we can understand which we can then put into practice in our daily
lives, if what we are receiving is from God, and it is supported in the
Scriptures, and it does not contradict the Scriptures. And all of this must be
done in an orderly and godly manner. But regarding the speaking in tongues in a
public gathering, one person should speak at a time and there must be an interpretation
and it must be tested against the Scriptures, so that lies are not being spread.
[Matthew 5:13-16;
Matthew 28:18-20; John 4:31-38; John 13:13-17; John 14:12; Acts 1:8; Acts
2:14-18,42-47; Acts 26:18; Romans 10:14-15; Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians
12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians
4:1-16; Ephesians 5:11-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians
3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20; 1 Peter
2:9,21; 1 John 2:6]
Teach Me, Lord
An Original Work /
June 12, 2011
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
Teach me, Lord, to
walk in Your ways,
And observe all You
command.
May I ever hasten to
You,
And desire to not
offend.
Teach me how to
follow Your steps,
Gently guiding me
each day.
May I love and serve
You always,
Loving others, this
I pray.
Teach me, Lord, to
listen to You
Speaking Your words
to my heart.
May I never stray
from Your truth,
And from Your law
ne’er depart.
Teach me how to
instruct others
In the way that we
should go,
Leading them by my
life witness,
So that Jesus they
should know.
Teach me, Lord, to
be a light in
This dark world of
grief and sin.
May I always care
for others;
Share their burdens;
help to mend.
Teach me how to
share with them that
Jesus came to set
them free,
So that they could
be forgiven;
Live with Christ
eternally.
Prophecy and Tongues
An Original Work / June 15, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love
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