REVIEW-
SUMMARY FOR THIS WEEK…
1. Tongues build up the believer privately.
2. If tongues are loudly and publicly spoken in a group meeting, it needs to be interpreted to the congregation, and the whole church will be edified.
Edification, exhortation, comfort…..built up, stirred up, warmed up.
3. Tongues are directed to God, not to man.
4. When tongues are interpreted, the message is praise to God, nothing else.
OTHER THOUGHTS CONCERNING TONGUES…
1. Not all Christians speak in tongues. 1 Cor. 12: 7,10
Given acc. To the H.S.
2. Tongues is therefore not a proof of salvation.
3. In a public meeting, if tongues are spoken, it should be followed by an interpretation. The interpretation might come from the one who spoke in a tongue, or from someone else.
4. If tongues are spoken in a meeting, and a message other than praise follows it, then what was heard was prophecy, not an interpretation of the tongue.
The church should continue to wait for an interpretation.
The motivation for all we do is love for God and love for one another.
We do not bless others by our speaking in tongues in their hearing, w/o there being an interpretation.
Usually, it ends up being a distraction, at the least.
Other times, it could be a stumbling block.
The motivation for everything we do should be for the glory of God, and for the benefit of others.
THIS MORNING’S PASSAGE IS DIFICULT…
2 Pet 3:15 “…our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
2 Pet 3:16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand,…
1 Cor 14:20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.
Do not be overly impressed w/ tongues, just because they may be exciting.
Understand what the use of tongues is for.
1. Personal edification.
2. A sign to the unbeliever.
Rather than being childish and undeveloped in your ease of being impressed by tongues, be childish and undeveloped in malice: ill will, envy.
1 Cor 14:21 In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.
A loose paraphrase of Isaiah 28.
Isaiah 28 not a prophetic passage on tongues.
But Paul, inspired of the H.S., makes a parallel application.
The Israelites would be rebellious, and go into captivity under the Assyrians.
God had warned them, and sought to instruct them.
They would not listen to the instruction of God, which came through the prophet Isaiah.
So God would make his point to them through a language they did not understand.
They would be under the domination of those whom they did not understand.
God would “speak” to them in a tongue they did not understand.
This was a much poorer way of being instructed about the truths of God.
God had tried to instruct them in their own tongue.
B/c they were rebellious, God now made his point to them in a strange tongue.
This was kind of a last resort for those who were stubborn and carnal towards God.
Paul likens this to the attitude which the Corinthians embraced.
They could have been clearly and richly taught in their own language, through the gifts of teaching, and through the word of prophecy.
Instead of yearning for the clear teaching of the Word of God, and the clear message that came through prophecy, they chose the lesser way to speak and learn.
Tongues profited them little, unless there was interpretation of the tongue.
In their carnality and rebellion against God, they were reducing themselves to the place of rejecting the clear word, and yearning for an unclear word.
1 Cor 14:22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.
Tongues is not be a sign among Christians.
Some Christians make it a sign of spiritual maturity.
Others make it a proof of salvation.
Paul did teach that the church was edified if a tongue was spoken and interpreted.
That is a valid exercise of the gift. See verse 5
A tongue interpreted then become a word of prophecy as it builds up the body.
Interpretation can become like an exhortative or comforting prophetic word.
But Paul said that tongues was a sign to unbelievers.
The classic example is Acts 2.
The disciples spoke in languages unknown to themselves, but known by the hearers.
The miracle of tongues built up the speakers, but was a sign to the hearers.
Though tongues is directed to God, it is used to convince the unbeliever.
But only if it is understood by the unbeliever.
1 Cor 14:23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?
Unless those tongues are intelligible, it will seem as madness, whether angelic or human language.
Whether those who are unfamiliar w/ tongues, or the unsaved.
1 Cor 14:24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.
1 Cor 14:25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.
When clear prophecy is brought forth, the forthtelling of the things of God, then…
When the message becomes clear, the conviction goes to the heart.
Tongues do nothing to bring an unbeliever closer to God; they may instead turn him off
But prophecy has the potential to speak directly to the unbeliever’s need
God may speak a message about certain people.
Things only God could know, and speaks forth.
Could overlap here w/ word of knowledge.
1 Cor 14:26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
Instructions for public worship
When the Corinthians gathered, everybody felt that they had to speak, or sing, or prophesy, or speak in a tongue, or teach.
It seems as though they were more concerned for using their gift, than they were concerned about the edification of the church body.
They did not come to edify the body.
They came to exhibit their gifts to the body.
Instead of edification, they wanted exhibition.
The first rule for church services is that everything should build up Christ.
1 Cor 14:27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.
The biggest offenders seem to be those who spoke in tongues.
All speaking at once, and not being concerned about interpretation, or anyone being built up.
1 Cor 14:28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.
Instructions for speaking in tongues publicly
Paul makes it plain: “let’s all speak in tongues” is not the order the Holy Spirit calls for; in public service, tongues is only to be one at a time, and not more than two or three
And with any tongue, an interpretation–one that will be shown to be speaking to God, not man.
Paul isn’t sanctioning “messages in tongues”.
1 Cor 14:29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
1 Cor 14:30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.
1 Cor 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.
1 Cor 14:32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
We have control whether we speak aloud or keep quiet when the Spirit tells us something.
Therefore, if we interrupt a service, we’re responsible, not the Holy Spirit (v. 32).
Prophecy also is to be conducted in order
All prophecy is to be judged, and judged by scriptural standards; it is never to be received just because it is dramatic or given by a certain person–God will never contradict Himself
Nobody is “overwhelmed” by prophecy; the Holy Spirit does not take control like demonic possession!
Many of the actions of those “overwhelmed by the Spirit” are better understood as reactions caused by resisting the Holy Spirit
1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
Confusion and chaos in a church does not comes from the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Even the miraculous spiritual gifts were exercised decently and in order.
1 Cor 14:34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says.
1 Cor 14:35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.
The men and women were separated and seated on either side of the assembly during services. The women were calling to their husbands to ask questions during the service. so Paul asked the women to wait until they were home to discuss the message.
Women’s shouldn’t be judging prophecy or disrupting meetings
Paul has already assumed the right of women to pray or prophecy publicly
See 11:1-16; here he probably is emphasizing the right of women to judge prophecy, something restricted to the male leadership of the church
1 Tim 2:12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.
As well, women (or men for that matter) shouldn’t be disrupting meetings with questions or chatter
1 Cor 14:36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?
1 Cor 14:37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.
1 Cor 14:38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Paul’s insistence on his authority in these matters
Some think it “spiritual” to defy God’s order; others rationalize a “call” to do so – Paul rejects the truth of these possibilities
If we are really spiritual, we will stick to the Word of God, and not go “beyond” it
1 Cor 14:39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
1 Cor 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Tongues is not be despised; it has its place in personal devotion; but the gatherings of the church should emphasize prophecy and mutual blessing
decently- decorously:–decently, honestly.
order- regular arrangement, i.e. (in time) fixed succession, official dignity:–