Speaking in Tongues and Prophecy

Bottom line

If the church is going to grow, we need to create space in our lives and our gatherings for the gifts to operate.

Opening Line

How many people have ever watched an old movie that was originally in another language and English has been superimposed over top?

Introduction

When I was growing up, I had the privilege of having my grandparents on the same farm yard as me. That meant there were a lot of days at grandma’s house eating cookies and robbing raspberries out of her bushes.

But one of things I remember doing with my grandpa was watching old Godzilla movies. I mean the good ones, where Godzilla was just a guy in suit, stomping around the scale model of Tokyo, and the really bad CGI of the atomic breath coming out.

Of course in Japan, Godzilla was a monster, and most of movie was the people trying to figure out how to stop the monster. So all the dramatic scenes of people crying out in Japanese, only for the English guy or girl to say a few words just felt weird. At times it made the movie hard to watch and just hoped that the big lizard would come back onto the screen.

Main Point

Now I know that they still do that to movies. You can watch most Disney movies in any language you want, and you can tell the person is not actually speaking Spanish or French.

My point is that the movie is way more enjoyable when you can actually understand what is going on. In fact, most of life is more enjoyable when you understand what is going on.

When Michelle and I were pastoring in Medicine Hat, I took a group of teens to Barbados for a missions trip. The thought was that going to a country where everyone spoke English might enhance the experience of doing missions. Great idea. How many people know that just because you speak the same language in theory, doesn’t mean you actually speak the same language? We took the teens on an outreach to promote an upcoming VBS, and the two guys I was walking with were speaking English, but it wasn’t any English I had ever heard!

Why it matters

When we talk about the idea of understanding, there are two levels to it. There is understand how something is being is said, and understanding what is being said. I understand all the words coming out of your mouth, but I don’t understand how they all fit together. Do you understand?

This is why Paul takes a whole chapter to unpack the spiritual gifts or abilites of speaking in tongues and prophecy. The purpose of the gifts is to make known the things of God, or for the purpose of special revelation, to use the words Paul is going to use in the chapter. But if you don’t understand the revelation, it will do you no good.

This morning my hope is to help you see the value of these two gifts specifically, and my hope is to see them at work a little bit more in our times together. I earnestly believe that if the church is going to have a deep impact on our communities in the days to come, we need to use all the gifts Jesus has given to us, not just the ones we are comfortable with.

So with that, we are 1 Corinthians 14 this morning if you want to turn there in your bibles.

Scripture

1 Corinthians 14:1–5 NLT

Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy. For if you have the ability to speak in tongues, you will be talking only to God, since people won’t be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious. But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them. A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church. I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.

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So Paul kicks off this chapter by picking up where he left off, to let love by your highest goal. Above spiritual gifts, above achievement, above anything, may growing in love be the priority.

However, you should also desire the special abilities the spirit gives, especially the ability to prophesy. Why does he emphasize the gift of prophecy? Because it has the ability to strengthen the whole church. Not that speaking in tongues can’t help the church, but it requires someone to interpret what is being said. Prophecy is greater because it is the more helpful gift, refering back to how Paul ended chapter 12.

So before we get too far, I need to explain what I mean by speaking in tongues and prophecy. Speaking in tongues is the ability to speak in a heavenly language. Paul confirms this when he says that when you use the gift, you will be talking to only God. This is why it requires the complimentary spiritual gift of interpretation. So on one hand, you have spiritual gift of speaking in tongues, which only God can understand. On the other hand, we have prophecy. At times prophecy has been connected to knowing or speaking about things to come or the future. More accurately, the ability to prophesy is the ability to recceive a word of knowledge from God and pass it along to others. A prophet communicates the heart of God to God’s people, essentially becoming the mouth piece of God.

Paul says that he wishes everyone had the ability to speak in tongues, and he will unpack that in a moment, but because it is not always understood, the greater, more helpful gift is prophecy, and he longs that all would prophesy. I want you to hear that. Not the select few; Paul desires that all would prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:6–12 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful. Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody. And if the bugler doesn’t sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? It’s the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don’t understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space. There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning. But if I don’t understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me. And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.

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So Paul is reenforcing the whole idea of why prophecy is better in the church setting than speaking in tongues on the basis of comprehension and understanding what is being said. A musical instrument does not invite people to worship if the notes aren’t played clearly. Musicial instruments are beautiful when placed in the hands of someone who knows how to use them. Same with singing. In my house, when mom sings, everyone jumps in and sings along. When dad sings, the children run away in terror, screaming, “Make it stop!” If my own children can’t tolerate my singing, then why would I ever make you suffer through it?

1 Corinthians 14:13–14 NLT

So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said. For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying.

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There have been some critics of when someone in service speaks in tongues and then provides their own interpretation. Now I will admit, if one person speaks in tongues and another interprets, it adds some power to the moment. However, Paul doesn’t say it can’t be the same person. However, I will suggest that Paul is talking the setting of speaking in tongues in a private setting. As someone who speaks in tongues, I do admit it is nice to receive some revelation at times.

1 Corinthians 14:15–19 NLT

Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don’t understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don’t understand what you are saying? You will be giving thanks very well, but it won’t strengthen the people who hear you. I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you. But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.

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Paul circles back to his main point, which is making sure that the gift being used is for the strengthening of those around you. If you are going to sing or speak or pray in tongues, be sure to also inlude some words that the everyone else can understand, so that they can join you in your praise.

1 Corinthians 14:20–25 NLT

Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. It is written in the Scriptures: “I will speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to me,” says the Lord. So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy. But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say. As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, “God is truly here among you.”

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So important point before I address the confusion of what I just read. Paul implores the church that they must be as innocent as babies when it comes to evil, and mature in understanding when it comes to spiritual things. This is so important because I have seen the body of Christ chalk things like spiritual gifts and the rapture and any other hard to understand concepts within Christianity as too hard to understand so we will just pretend they aren’t there. NO! Paul implores the church to grow in understanding because these are gifts given to us by God for the advancement of His kingdom. Do not avoid hard topics, but seek to understand them maturally.

Now, to address what kind of read like a mild stroke on Paul’s part here. Why is it that Paul starts by saying that speaking in tongues is for the unbeliever and prophecy for the believer, but then switches and says that speaking in tongues is for the believer and prophecy is for the unbeliever. So what is going on here?

Based on the Isaiah reference, Paul probably isn’t talking about unbelievers. The Isaiah reference is talking about how the people of Israel had become so numb to the things of God, that when God started to move among the other nations, they ignored it.

This is what Paul is trying to say about the church. Speaking in tongues isn’t so much for the unbeliever, but the believer who has become dull to the things of God, and needs a little wake up to the reality that God is still at work.

Which brings us to the second part of the chapter.

1 Corinthians 14:26 NLT

Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

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So Paul says that when the believers get together, there are certain things that should be done. So let’s see how we’re doing this morning. One should sing, check. Another will teach, check. Another will tell some special revelation from God… who’s on special revelation this morning? No one, we seemed to have missed that. OK, one will speak in tongues… anyone willing to speak in tongues this morning? No no takers… ok. Another will interpret… well since no one spoke in tongues, we don’t need an interpretation. Of course, Paul comes back to the thing he has said repeatedly this chapter, that everything is done to strengthen the body.

So then Paul would go on to unpack the order of things in a gathering of believers. Only two or three should speak in tongues, and that’s only if someone is able to interpret.

Only two or three should prophesy, and let other evaluate what is being said. Just because someone claims to have a word from God, doesn’t necessarily mean it is a word from God. It should be tested and evaluated by those who are mature in the faith. Paul also says in verse 32 that those who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. He means that one prophet shouldn’t dominate the time, and that a prophet can’t say, “I couldn’t help myself, the spirit made me do it.” No, that’s not how that works. Why?

1 Corinthians 14:33 NLT

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.

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This is such an important reminder. I think there are some in the body of Christ who are nervous about the spiritual gifts because they think that chaos will ensue. This is not the case because we serve a God of order, not disorder. If God has given these gifts, they are for strengthening the body, not causing division, and they are to be done in order, not in chaos. If we’re honest, order and strengthening are not words that are typically connected to spiritual gifts. Which is why I believe it is time to revisit and reinstitute the spiritual gifts into the church. These gifts were given to advance the gospel, so why wouldn’t we take advantage of the privilege of using them to have the impact we are called to have?

Verse 34 talks about women being submissive and silent during the meetings. This is a cultural dynamic. The men and women would follow the Jewish tradition of sitting on opposite sides of the room. The word ‘speak’ could also be translated chatter or interupt. So what Paul is actually addressing was the habit of some women to be listening to the teaching, and either start chattering amongst themselves, or interupt by saying, “Hey Joe, I don’t understand! Can you explain it to me?” Paul is saying, don’t do that.

He finishes the chapter with this.

1 Corinthians 14:39–40 NLT

So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.

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Transition to Application

Be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues.

Main To Do

Be eager to prophesy, as opposed to being nervous about it. Be eager to receive a word from God to share with the body of Christ. Be eager to be the mouthpiece of God!

But how do you do that? There are two ways. One involves making some adjustments as a church. I believe we need to make space to be silent, to linger as was said at the retreat Michelle and I were just at. As a church, we need to create space in our gatherings to hear God speak to us.

But it also involves creating space individually. When you do your devotions, its not just rattling off your prayers requests and speed reading the word. It is about actually allowing yourself to be silent, to wait to hear from the Lord so that you actually have something to share. The idea is that sharing a word of prophecy is a privilege that you get to participate in, not a burden that ways you down.

Why it matters

If the church begins to lean into these spiritual abilities as Paul calls them, the church should expect to see some spiritual growth. We should expect to see the other spiritual gifts flow such as healing and other miracles. We should see people’s lives impacted as the Spirit convicts and moves in a way that’s not possible without these revealing gifts.

Closing Line

If we want to grow, we need to use the tools and gifts that God has given us to strengthen and grow the church.

Discussion Questions

What stood out from the message?

How can we create space in our lives for the spiritual gifts to operate more effectively?

In what ways can understanding our spiritual gifts help us in our daily interactions and leadership?

How can you personally practice being a mouthpiece for God in your school or community?

How can you encourage others in your church to actively seek and use their spiritual gifts?