1st Corinthians 14

  1. Tongues vs Prophecy

    1. Pursue love first of all

    2. Wish for spiritual gifts! They are blessings after all

      1. Especially prophesy

    3. Those who speak in tongues talk to God, not men, and nobody understands them

      1. They speak the mysteries of the spirit

    4. But those who prophesy talk of moral instruction, encouragement and comfort to men

    5. Those who speak in tongues benefit themselves but those who prophesy benefit others

    6. Nothing wrong with speaking in tongues! But wish better to prophesy

    7. Those who have the gift of prophecy are higher in gifts than those of tongues

      1. Unless the speaker interprets the tongues for the church’s benefits

    8. Speaking in tongues is beneficial and good for the speaker but is not good to have in terms of helping the church unless you translate

    9. Speaking in tongues at the church is just saying random sounds for others

    10. There are many languages in the world and none are insignificant

    11. If you seek spiritual gifts, let it be for one that benefits those around you

    12. Let tongue speakers pray that they may interpret

      1. Because it benefits the spirit, but is otherwise unfruitful to the understanding

    13. Speak with tongues in prayer or in singing praise, but in the church or with others, speak so they can understand and learn

    14. Tells the Corinthians not to be children in this understanding as they places an immature emphasis on tongues

      1. “Be babes in malice”

    15. Tongues is for not believers

      1. Acting as a sign for the believers when they heard a language they did not know enter their land

        1. Judgment

      2. Tongues is a sign to nonbelievers

    16. Prophesying is a sign to believers

    17. If the whole church speaks in tongues and a nonbeliever sees is, he will think they’re crazy

    18. But if a nonbeliever comes in to see the church prophesying, he will be convicted and be closer to God

  2. Application of Principles

    1. Therefore, when everyone in the church gathers and they have something to share, remember to clarify so that everyone can understand!

    2. If you will speak in tongues at church, let there be two or three statements and then let there be an interpreter.

      1. If there’s no interpreter, don’t speak tongues.

      2. Keep it between himself and God

    3. For prophecy, let 2 or 3 speak and then let the others judge

      1. If anything is revealed to another, let the first keep quiet to listen

      2. Go one by one so everyone can speak and learn

      3. Prophesying is not like a possession or being overwhelmed by the spirit, the prophet is still in full control

    4. The big “Women Keep Silent” verse

      1. Paul says, in the context of the chapter, that women are not to judge and to keep quiet. If they have questions, ask their husbands at home.

      2. Because, thanks to Jesus, women have been given rights never before had. They can get an education and can get closer to God personally. But this is new. And a lot of women hear this and think they can disrupt before they even get the knowledge. Paul is saying they don’t have the knowledge or authority yet to do this since they were just now allowed to pursue biblical knowledge.

      3. So women can absolutely prophesy or pray in a church, but they can’t be a judge to others prophecy because they don’t know.

    5. Any disagreement from the Corinthians?

      1. Those who are truly prophets and spirituals will agree with Paul, let those who don’t even now be ignorant

    6. Final Notes

      1. Desire earnestly to prophecy and let others speak in tongue

      2. Just do it in a proper and orderly manner