Daily Bread 2011 - 1 Corinthians 14
Daily Bread 2011 – 1 Corinthians 14
Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 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. 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.
What Does This Mean?
In this last chapter on spiritual gifts, Paul clarifies the use of the gifts of “tongues” and “prophesy”. It seems in the Corinthian church there was a lot of energy around “speaking in tongues”, and it caused some confusion because some had the gift and some didn’t. Because the tongues were foreign languages, unless they were interpreted, they weren’t much good to anyone except the person speaking. In that sense, it was more like a personal prayer between the person and God, but not much use in the public service.
Prophesying, on the other hand, was spoken usually in one’s native tongue that all could understand and be strengthened and encouraged. Sometimes we hear the word “prophecy” and assume it means making a prediction of a future event, but it is better translated speaking a Word of God for today. Of course, the Old Testament prophets did speak a word about a future event, namely the coming of the Messiah, but in the New Testament the word was more used for a time of strengthening the body of Christ with a word from God. Notice too that it was not just one person who did the prophesying, much like our churches today where usually only the pastor speaks. But differing people might offer a prophecy and then feed off of each other’s proclamations. But you’ll notice that Paul says everything should be done in an orderly way so as not to create mass confusion and also tested by the saints for content.
What Does This Mean For Us?
I believe it means we need to encourage more of the prophetic gift usage in our churches today. Often I think we believe only someone with a seminary education can speak the Word of God. We must remember there were no seminaries around in the early church. These were ordinary men filled with God’s Spirit, speaking not with human wisdom but in God’s power. Imagine how this might transform our services and build up the body of Christ.
As our churches have gotten bigger, logistically and practically this would be difficult. It shows the need for a more “mid-sized” community, say 30-40 people, where this type of thing might be more feasible.
There are many churches experimenting with mid-sized communities that meet weekly for worship, small groups at other times, and outreach in the community on other weeks. This might be a great way to encourage the prophetic gift in the church.
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending us the Holy Spirit and its many gifts, which are designed to bring us to faith and then build us up in our faith through gifts like speaking in tongues and prophesying. Help us to eagerly desire these gifts and support them in our churches, so that we might look more like the 1st century church that grew in numbers and strength. Amen.
Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 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. 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.
What Does This Mean?
In this last chapter on spiritual gifts, Paul clarifies the use of the gifts of “tongues” and “prophesy”. It seems in the Corinthian church there was a lot of energy around “speaking in tongues”, and it caused some confusion because some had the gift and some didn’t. Because the tongues were foreign languages, unless they were interpreted, they weren’t much good to anyone except the person speaking. In that sense, it was more like a personal prayer between the person and God, but not much use in the public service.
Prophesying, on the other hand, was spoken usually in one’s native tongue that all could understand and be strengthened and encouraged. Sometimes we hear the word “prophecy” and assume it means making a prediction of a future event, but it is better translated speaking a Word of God for today. Of course, the Old Testament prophets did speak a word about a future event, namely the coming of the Messiah, but in the New Testament the word was more used for a time of strengthening the body of Christ with a word from God. Notice too that it was not just one person who did the prophesying, much like our churches today where usually only the pastor speaks. But differing people might offer a prophecy and then feed off of each other’s proclamations. But you’ll notice that Paul says everything should be done in an orderly way so as not to create mass confusion and also tested by the saints for content.
What Does This Mean For Us?
I believe it means we need to encourage more of the prophetic gift usage in our churches today. Often I think we believe only someone with a seminary education can speak the Word of God. We must remember there were no seminaries around in the early church. These were ordinary men filled with God’s Spirit, speaking not with human wisdom but in God’s power. Imagine how this might transform our services and build up the body of Christ.
As our churches have gotten bigger, logistically and practically this would be difficult. It shows the need for a more “mid-sized” community, say 30-40 people, where this type of thing might be more feasible.
There are many churches experimenting with mid-sized communities that meet weekly for worship, small groups at other times, and outreach in the community on other weeks. This might be a great way to encourage the prophetic gift in the church.
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending us the Holy Spirit and its many gifts, which are designed to bring us to faith and then build us up in our faith through gifts like speaking in tongues and prophesying. Help us to eagerly desire these gifts and support them in our churches, so that we might look more like the 1st century church that grew in numbers and strength. Amen.
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