THE ABUSE OF TONGUES
I Cor. 14:1-25
As Pentecostals we tend to look upon 1 Cor 12 and 14 as instruction for Pentecostal worship
The reality is that it is really correction not instruction.
The problem that needed correction was their unbridled use of tongues in church which is specifically dealt with in I Cor. 14:1-25.
In the larger context of this Problem – Paul talks about 9 gifts – He says Tongues are just one of 9 gifts specifically given by the Spirit.
Christians that have sought after and received the Baptism in the Hoy Spirit have received the gift of God “Power for Service” evidenced by speaking in other tongues.
It is the first gift we become familiar with and flow in
Paul says he spoke in tongues more than anyone else
But when it comes to church
He says it is unintelligible and has no place
I believe that God wants us, like the Corinthians to get a handle on this issue of tongues…
In my opionion, he is certainly not going to allow us to move in gifts of miracles, signs, wonders, healing, etc…, if we can’t even get the use of this most basic of gifts in order.
So tonight I want to go step by step through Paul’s teaching
and as we accept his words
I believe God would have us grow in this area and stop abusing tongues
A. Follow the Way of Love.
1 Cor. 14:1
Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.
This verse is a transitional statement
All that he has said in Ch 12 and 13 build up to these 25 verses
1. The Gifts are to be governed by Love.
We know that Love is patient, kind, gentle etc…
No matter how spiritual you may think you are if you do not likewise manifest love then what you do counts for nothing
The way of Love Builds up the church – so no matter how much spiritual zeal you have if you don’t also build others up Your spirituality is nothing…
2. Desire Spiritual Gifts to be manifested among us
This a restatement of
1 Cor. 12:31
But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
And now I will show you the most excellent way.
Thus showing its unity
3 Especially Desire Prophesying
IS PROPHECY BETTER THAN TONGUES WITH INTERPRETATION?
The words especially the gift of prophecy really fit best with verse 2 which adds to the context
Which leads me to answer – NO
We should desire prophecy over just tongues speaking
1 Cor. 14:2-5
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.
B. What Paul sets out to do is contrast tongues/interpretation &
Prophecy against Tongues speaking
C. Tongues are addressed to God
1 Cor. 14:2
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.
When I speak in tongues my Spirit is in communication with God’s Spirit
The content of our communication in tongues is mysteries.
WHY IS IT MYSTERIES?
It is a mystery because the language is not understood.
An understanding of the words lies outside the understanding of the hearer and the speaker
D. (VERSE 3) - Prophesying in contrast is addressed to humans/people,
WHY?
(1) For edification
(2) For encouragement
(3) For comfort
E. (Verse 4) When one speaks in tongues who is edified (ie. Built up)
a. Those who speak in tongues in church edify themselves
b. Those who prophesy in church edify the whole church
Remember this is a contrast…
1 Cor. 14:5
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.
F. Paul says, I want everyone to speak in tongues
I want everyone to edify themselves in this way
I want everyone to make Spirit communication to God
G. In order to build up the church though, prophesying is better.
Prophesying is guaranteed to edify the church
Tongues alone never edify the church unless - unless interpreted – then they are equal to prophesying.
H. Why must tongues be interpreted
If I speak to you I need to give you something good.,
1 Cor. 14:6 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?
1. Revelation – AN utterance given by the Spirit for the benefit of the church
2. Knowledge – probably the same as rev.
3. Prophesying – Probably the same as rev.
4. Teaching – Spirit inspired instruction that takes the form of an utterance
Then he gives some illustration
I. If I play music it must be intelligible
1 Cor. 14:7-8
Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? [8] Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?
Instruments must utter distinguishable notes otherwise no one will enjoy or respond
1 Cor. 14:9
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.
Whats he saying?
Tongues must be interpreted to be useful to the church
Then He continues the illustration
J. In the realm of language, No human language is mere babble
1 Cor. 14:10
Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
But if it is not understood by those who hear it has the same effect
K. We should make it our goal to function in gifts that build up the church
1 Cor. 14:12
So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
L. Therefore if you speak in tongues in a church service you should pray that you interpret.
1 Cor. 14:13
For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says.
If there is no interpretation to the tongues – What’s Happening?
1 Cor. 14:14
For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.
I am praying - but my mind does not understand
M. SO what should I do?
1 Cor. 14:15-17
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.
I will pray with my Spirit – meaning in tongues – Where do I do this? – In Private
I will pray with my mind – I will pray in Greek/English – This is for the sake of others – therefore it is done in public – and of coarse in private
I will sing with my Spirit – That is sing in tongues
Col. 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Ephes. 5:19
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,
These corollary verse indicate that this singing in tongues that is in the spirit was done in a corporate setting. – it was music….and understandable
I will sing with my mind – This was of coarse done in public. The singers sang known songs as well as spontaneous songs of praise from the heart.
Singing in English and tongues is ok
Praying in English is ok
But speaking in tongues is not -
No one around me can understand
No one around me is edified
No one around me can say AMEN
N. Speaking in tongues is great
1 Cor. 14:18
I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.
Paul here is referring to private devotion
O. In church 5 words with my mind are preferred to 10, 000 in tongues
1 Cor. 14:19
But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Tongues edifies me
Words from my mind edify you
Now the Big finish……….
P. Stop thinking improperly about tongues
1 Cor. 14:20
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.
Stop being like children
The spiritual quality of their church is childish
as long as you continue to think wrongly about the gifts you will never mature
Of course he tells them to be innocent as babies about evil – probably because they were also having some sin problems
Q. He directs them to Adapt there thinking about tongues
He points them to Isa. 28:11-12 –
Which he quotes 1 Cor. 14:21
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,"
But it is intresting, when you compare the two they are diff.
Isaiah 28:11-12
Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues
God will speak to this people,
[12] to whom he said,
"This is the resting place, let the weary rest";
and, "This is the place of repose"--
but they would not listen.
What has Paul done
But notice that Paul inverts the order of the first sentence
and he change foreign lips to lips of foreigners,
and instead of saying God will speak he says “I will speak” and then he skips a bunch of the passage to get to the point “
They will not listen”
by placing this verse from Isaiah here in 1 Cor. 14 Paul is saying, that this verse is fulfilled…
Just as the Israelites would not listen to the words of the Lord
So now Unbelievers will not listen to your tongues speaking
Why, because they don’t understand
R. Tongues/Interpretation and Prophecy are the signs needed for the church and the unbeliever
1 Cor. 14:22
Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
Tongues/ with interpretation are sign
To show unbelievers that God is present among us
Prophecy is a sign also
More directly for the Believer
S. Tongues speaking alone is crazy
1 Cor. 14:23
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?
T. But Tongues with interpretation is going to do a powerful work
1 Cor. 14:24-25
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, [25] and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"
Verse 25 end Paul’s argument against uninterrupted Tongues ends
This is where I will end
Now – what must we do
Keeping in view that all tongues speaking w/o Interpretation is considered prayer Is there ever a time where tongues speaking w/o interpretation would be welcome in the church?
If we restrict the use of tongues in church to the gift of tongues with interpretation how are we sure we have the interpretation or that someone else does
You can be sure – by the anointing
Should we have messages in tongues with interpretation every service?
They would be welcome, but since they are for the unbeliever Lost – or doubting they may not happen every time and that’s OK
__________________________
We should continue to eagerly desire spiritual gifts – in fact if we have this basic one in good order we should desire and expect God to move us forward to the place where we begin to see Healings and miracles taking place
bottom line, if he can’t trust us to function in this basic gift correctly he is not going to give us anything more…
