Gifts
Of Prophecy And Tongues
FOLLOW
THE WAY OF LOVE
AND
EAGERLY DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS,
ESPECIALLY
THE GIFT OF PROPHECY.
2
For anyone who speaks in a Tongue
DOES
NOT SPEAK TO MEN BUT TO GOD.
Indeed,
no one understands him;
HE
UTTERS MYSTERIES WITH HIS SPIRIT.
3
But everyone who Prophesies speaks to men
For
their Strengthening, Encouragement and Comfort.
4
HE WHO SPEAKS IN A TONGUE EDIFIES HIMSELF,
BUT
HE WHO PROPHESIES EDIFIES THE CHURCH.
5 I
WOULD LIKE EVERY ONE OF YOU TO SPEAK IN TONGUES,
BUT
I WOULD RATHER HAVE YOU PROPHESY.
HE
WHO PROPHESIES IS GREATER
THAN
ONE WHO SPEAKS IN TONGUES,
UNLESS
HE INTERPRETS,
SO
THAT THE CHURCH MAY BE EDIFIED.
6
Now, brothers, if I come to you and speak in Tongues,
What
good will I be to you,
UNLESS
I BRING YOU SOME REVELATION OR KNOWLEDGE
OR
PROPHECY OR WORD OF INSTRUCTION?
7
Even I the case of lifeless things that make sounds,
Such
as the Flute or Harp,
How
will anyone know what tune is being played
Unless
thee is a Distinction in the Notes?
8
AGAIN, IF THE TRUMPET DOES NOT SOUND A CLEAR CALL,
WHO
WILL GET READY FOR BATTLE?
9
So it is with you.
Unless
you speak Intelligible words with your Tongue,
How
will anyone know what you are saying?
You
will just be speaking into the air.
10
Undoubtedly there are all sorts of Languages in the World,
Yet
none of them is without meaning.
11
If then I do not Grasp the Meaning
Of
what someone is saying.
I
AM A FOREIGNER TO THE SPEAKER,
AND
HE IS A FOREIGNER TO ME.
12
So it is with you.
SINCE
YOU ARE EAGER TO HAVE SPIRITUAL GIFTS,
TRY
TO EXCEL IN GIFTS THAT BUILD UP THE CHURCH.
13
For this reason the man who speaks in a Tongue
Should
pray that he may Interpret what he says.
14
FOR IF I PRAY IN A TONGUE,
MY
SPIRIT PRAYS,
BUT
MY MIND IS UNFRUITFUL.
15
So what shall I do?
I
WILL PRAY WITH MY SPIRIT,
BUT
I WILL ALSO PRAY WITH MY MIND;
I
WILL SING WITH MY SPIRIT,
BUT
I WILL ALSO SING WITH MY MIND.
16
If you are praising God with your spirit,
How
can one who finds himself among those
Who
do not understand say 'Amen' to your Thanksgiving,
Since
he does not know what you are saying?
17
You may be giving Thanks well enough,
BUT
THE OTHER MAN IS NOT EDIFIED.
14
I THANK GOD
THAT
I SPEAK IN TONGUES MORE THAN ALL OF YOU.
But
in the Church
I
would rather speak five Intelligible words to Instruct others
Than
ten thousand words in a Tongue.
20
BROTHERS STOP THINKING LIKE CHILDREN.
IN
REGARD TO EVIL BE INFANTS,
BUT
IN YOUR THINKING BE ADULTS.
21
In the Law it is written:
'Through
men of strange tongues
And
through the lips of Foreigners
I
will speak to this people,
But
even then they will not listen to Me,'
Says
the Lord.
22
TONGUES THEN ARE AS SIGN,
NOT
FOR BELIEVERS BUT FOR UNBELIEVERS;
PROPHECY,
HOWEVER IS FOR BELIEVERS,
NOT
FOR UNBELIEVERS.
23
So if the Whole church comes together
And
everyone speaks in Tongues,
And
some who do not understand
Or
some Unbelievers come in,
Will
they not say that you are out of your mind?
24
But if an Unbeliever
Or
someone who does not understand comes in
While
everybody is Prophesying,
He
will be Convinced by all
THAT
HE IS A SINNER AND WILL BE JUDGED BY ALL,
AND
THE SECRETS OF HIS HEART WILL BE LAID BARE.
SO
HE WILL FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP GOD,
EXCLAIMING,
'GOD
IS REALLY AMONG YOU!'
Orderly
Worship
26
What then shall we say, brothers?
WHEN
YOU COME TOGETHER,
EVERYONE
HAS A HYMN, OR A WORD OF INSTRUCTION,
A
REVELATION, A TONGUE OR AN INTERPRETATION.
ALL
OF THESE MUST BE DONE
FOR
THE STRENGTHENING OF THE CHURCH.
27
If anyone speaks in a Tongue,
Two
or at the most three--
Should
speak, one at a time,
AND
SOMEONE MUST INTERPRET.
28
if there is no Interpreter,
The
speaker should keep quiet in the Church
And
speak to himself and God.
29
TWO OR THREE PROPHETS SHOULD SPEAK,
AND
THE OTHERS SHOULD WEIGH CAREFULLY WHAT IS SAID.
30
AND IF A REVELATION COMES TO SOMEONE
WHO
IS SITTING DOWN,
THE
FIRST SPEAKER SHOULD STOP.
31
FOR YOU CAN ALL PROPHESY IN TURN
SO
THAT EVERYONE MAY BE INSTRUCTED AND ENCOURAGED.
32
THE SPIRITS OF PROPHETS
ARE
SUBJECT TO THE CONTROL OF PROPHETS.
33
FOR GOD IS NOT A GOD OF DISORDER BUT OF PEACE.
As
in all the Congregations of the Saints,
34
Women should remain Silent in the Churches.
They
are not allowed to speak,
But
must be in Submission, as the Law says.
35
If they want to Inquire about something,
they
should ask their own husbands at home;
For
it is Disgraceful for a woman to speak in the Church.
36
DID THE WORD OF GOD ORIGINATE WITH YOU?
Or
are you the only people it has reached?
37
IF ANYONE THINKS HE IS A PROPHET OR SPIRITUALLY GIFTED,
LET
HIM ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT
WHAT I AM WRITING YOU IS THE LORD'S COMMAND.
38
IF HE IGNORES THIS,
HE
HIMSELF WILL BE IGNORED.
39
THEREFORE, MY BROTHERS, BE EAGER TO PROPHESY,
AND
DO NOT FORBID SPEAKING IN TONGUES.
40
BUT EVERYTHING SHOULD BE DONE
IN
A FITTING AND ORDERLY WAY.
(1
Corinthians 14)
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