151 Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues

1 Corinthians 14, TBC Book Two, Chapter 151
Two spiritual gifts were being practiced in ways that created chaos and confusion at the church in Corinth—prophetic utterances and speaking in tongues. What was God’s intention for using these gifts in the worship assembly? Paul addressed this question by providing guidelines.

Follow the way of love in all things, even using spiritual gifts, for the purpose of those gifts is to edify or build up the body of Christ in love—to do what’s best for the common good. So I affirm your desire for spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy, even more than the gift of tongues.

A person who speaks in tongues is communicating to God through his or her spirit, and no one understands what is being said. But a person who prophesies becomes the mouthpiece of God, communicating to the whole assembly, building them up in encouragement and comfort. Whoever speaks in tongues is benefitting himself or herself spiritually, but whoever prophesies is benefitting the whole church. It would be great if everyone spoke in tongues, but prophecy benefits the church more, unless you can interpret the tongues. . . .

Personally, I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. For when I’m in church, I would much rather speak five words everyone can understand, in order to instruct them, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

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

(See THE BIBLE CLICKS, Book Two, Chapter 151, for the rest of the story.)
​​Available in book, e-book, and audiobook formats, sold by Amazon and your favorite bookstores/vendors.​

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Today’s Takeaways
     A proverb to guide you: Prophecy guides believers, tongues convinces doubters . . . but only when done God’s way.
     A promise to cling to: “Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers.” 1 Corinthians 14:22 NIV
                “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 1 John 4:1 NIV
               “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.” 2 Peter 3:17 NIV
     A praise to fill you: Sometimes Alleluia  Chuck Girard     [Can skip ad after first 5 seconds]

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