We continue on in Chapter 14 today.
"Now, brothers and sisters, 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? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if the trumpet does not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle?" (1 Corinthians 14:6-8) Paul spoke several languages that he had been taught, but he also spoke by the Spirit in other languages, as he will say later on in verse 18. He had been given the gift of the Spirit to speak in other tongues. But many scholars believe he did not use this gift in public, or at least not around believers. He feels displaying this gift in the church will be of little use to his listeners, but he believes teaching them and advising them is far more beneficial. If he stands up in the assembly and speaks in a language no one is familiar with, they will not receive any instruction. They may be impressed and amazed, but they won't learn anything.
"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." (1 Corinthians 14:9) Paul is writing this letter from Ephesus. He's not present with the church. He plants churches and then expects them to conduct themselves as churches should, with encouragement and instruction from him and from the other apostles, and with the help of the Lord. This is why he gives them advice about how to conduct themselves, and today he advises them that gifts other than tongues are more important for helping those who are already believers. This means that the church members who have the gifts of preaching, teaching, and prophecy are more helpful to the church than a thousand members speaking in tongues. There are times when I'm overwhelmed by the presence of the Holy Spirit, but I have never spoken in tongues. If I did, it would no doubt be an amazing experience for me. It would probably amaze those around me. But unless I could explain to them what I said, or unless someone was present who could interpret what I said, no one in the church would learn anything from it.
The gift of tongues is primarily a sign to unbelievers as they hear the word of God spoken in their own language by a person who has never learned that language. For an example of this, we have only to look at Acts 2. In Acts 2 the gospel of Jesus Christ had not yet been written down. There was no Holy Bible translated into various languages as we have today. The only way the foreign visitors to Jerusalem could understand the gospel was to hear it proclaimed in their own languages. They recognized that this was a miraculous thing, and therefore it was a sign to them that the gospel message was true.
"Undoubtedly there are all sorts of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning. If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, I am a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church." (1 Corinthians 14:10-12) Even if Paul were sitting in an assembly of his own countrymen, if one of them suddenly started speaking in a language Paul did not know, it would be the same as if he and his fellow countryman were foreigners to each other. The person speaking in tongues might be saying great things, but Paul would have no way of knowing that. He urges the believers to seek other types of gifts, saying something like, "I know all of you desire gifts of the Spirit. The gift of tongues seems very dramatic and exciting, but you should not focus on praying for this particular gift. You would be better off praying for gifts that will help to build up the church. You should pray for the ability to minister to the church in effective ways. Speaking in tongues does not instruct your brothers and sisters in Christ how to deal with hardships in their lives. Speaking in tongues does not help them to honor the Lord. Speaking in tongues does not offer them encouragement. So seek the gifts that are able to do these things."
We have permission to pray for gifts of the Spirit that we can use to build up the church of our Lord Jesus Christ. There's nothing wrong with asking the Lord to continually improve the talents we have, as long as we are asking Him to do it for His glory and for the benefit of others. The preacher can pray to be a better speaker. The teacher can pray for more insight into the lessons. The person who ministers to others can pray for more compassion and understanding. The person who likes to encourage others can ask the Lord for effective counseling skills. There are many more examples we could use, but the Lord gives all of us natural talents, and He is able to help us develop these talents more and more. I believe He will honor the prayer of the one who asks to become better at whatever the Lord has given him to do.
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