Paul's Epistles - 1 Corinthians Part 27 – Tongues

Paul's Epistles - 1 Corinthians

Part 27 – Tongues

Pastor Bruce A. Shields

House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

INTRODUCTION

Paul, having received word in the form of a letter from the church in Corinth, is responding to that letter, as well as to information he has received from trusted sources about the condition of the Corinthian church.

Adultery, members suing each other, married couples abstaining from physical relations in order to gain a more "spiritual" relationship with God, as well as the misuse, or abuse in the realm of Spiritual Gifts.

Paul addresses these issues in his letter to the Corinthian church and urges them not to go beyond what is written.

He warns them about their sexual immorality, as well as not becoming a stumbling block to those who are weaker in faith. He explains for those who think some foods are not permissible, or that they are not allowed to drink wine, or one day is holier than another, if they believe this for God's sake, then let it go, do not fight amongst yourselves. 

Paul tells them to be self-disciplined, and warns that when the Israelites sinned against God and did not repent, they did not receive forgiveness, and never made it to the Promised Land. Look at them as examples. There MUST be repentance if there is to be forgiveness.

Paul then warned the church that communion was to be taken together as a body, not for eating and getting drunk. The congregation must be one, looking out for each other.

The last few weeks we have been looking at Paul explain certain Spiritual Gifts. This points to the notion, since only a few are mentioned, that these may have been the gifts which they were abusing, or exploiting.

Paul explains that all parts are important, no matter the size or number of gifts. He explains that it is OK to desire and even pray for certain gifts, but there was a way greater than the gifts for bringing people to Christ, rather than use the gifts like parlor tricks, Paul says use I Corinthians 13. Love is the greater way.

This week Paul is going to correct the church on the misuse of the Gift of Tongues.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE I Corinthians 14

                Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. ² For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. ⁴ Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. ⁵ I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

⁶ 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? ⁷ 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? 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 the speaker is a foreigner to me. ¹² So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

¹³ For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 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 understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. ¹⁶ Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? ¹⁷ You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

²⁰ Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults. ²¹ In the Law it is written:

“With other 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 a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

                   I.            TONGUES OF MEN AND ANGELS

a.      Follow the way of Love

                                                                         i.      Follow the way of LOVE

                                                                      ii.      Otherwise all you do is for nothing!

                                                                   iii.      I Corinthians 13:1-3 "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing."

b.     Desire Prophecy over Tongues

                                                                         i.      Prophecies speak to the people, not God

                                                                      ii.      It strengthens, encourages and comforts

                                                                   iii.      Tongues edifies the speaker, Prophecy edifies the Church

c.      Not everyone speaks in Tongues!

                                                                         i.      "I would like every one of you to speak in tongues"

                                                                      ii.      But they did not. Even though Tongues IS a sign one has the Holy Spirit, it is NOT the only sign, and not every believer has this gift.

                                                                   iii.      "The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues..."

                                                                     iv.      "...unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified."

               II.            THE POINT OF TONGUES

a.      What is the point?

                                                                         i.      Tongues must have a point!

                                                                      ii.      It MUST bring some Revelation, knowledge, Prophecy or Word of Instruction.

b.     Speaking intelligible words

                                                                         i.      vs 7 "  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? 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?"

                                                                      ii.      "You will just be speaking into the air."

c.      Excel in ways that build up the church

                                                                         i.      "Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church."

            III.            ORDER IN THE SERVICE

a.      No one but the Speaker is edified by Tongues

                                                                         i.      unless there is an interpreter

                                                                      ii.      If there is no interpreter...stop speaking.

                                                                   iii.      Tongues will be fruitful to no one but the speaker.

b.     Paul would rather speak 5 intelligible words over 10,000 in Tongues

                                                                         i.      Five intelligible words to instruct are greater than 10,000 that no one can understand.

c.      Be mature in this matter

                                                                         i.      Tongues are a sign for unbelievers, not believers.

1.      Again proving tongues is not "the" sign you are saved and have the Holy Spirit and all MUST have it.

2.      It is NOT a sign for believers.

CONCLUSION

Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. ²³ So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, ²⁵ as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

Does God give the Spiritual Gift of Tongues today? Yes.

What is its purpose? To be a sign to unbelievers.

When speaking, there MUST be an interpreter.

And what will be spoken? It MUST bring some Revelation, knowledge, Prophecy or Word of Instruction.

From the sounds of Paul's letter to the church in Corinth, they may have been trying to use the Spiritual Gifts, such as Tongues, to "amaze" and "wow" people into believing.

Paul says there is a more excellent way, which is showing people love.

He then explains exactly what the Spiritual Gift of Tongues is for, and how it is to be used.

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