“Then He brought him (Abram) outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.””
Genesis 15:5 NKJV
Vision…
How many books have been read, sermons heard and delivered, and conference sessions attended over just this subject?
Can anything more be said?
I guess I’ll try…
“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,”
Philippians 3:13 NKJV
Some one needs to hear this…
It’s time to move on…
Like most people, I have experienced my fair share of challenges in 64 years of life, 45 years of being a Christ follower, 44 years of preaching the Gospel, 35 years of local church pastoring, and 5 years of pastoring pastors…
“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. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
I Corinthians 14:26-33 NKJV
This will be the last installment on Paul’s treatment of tongues within the Corinthian Church.
“I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. 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.”
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. 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? But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 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.”
I Corinthians 14:18-25 NKJV
It’s important to continually remind the reader that Paul is not setting up the argument of tongues or no tongues, but rather personal edification and corporate edification along with some “rules” for both in order that non-believers are not left confused or misinterpreting the reason for the manifestation. It seems reasonably clear that private or public tongues may indeed be expected, even within the corporate gathering. Understanding each one’s usage is what helps bring the edification.
“Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.”
I Corinthians 14:13-17 NKJV
The Church of Corinth was not a perfect church. Most of Paul’s letters had significant aspects of correction for the churches to which he was writing. Corinth had much to be corrected, in this chapter mostly due to their zeal rather than any blatant rebellion, especially in the area of spiritual gifts and specifically in the area of tongues. Paul wasn’t dousing their zeal, but rather trying to define it and direct it.
