1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.
Notice it says, that with love as the motivation it's okay to desire spiritual gifts—to desire the things of the Holy Spirit.
Ever since I was a kid, I've always desired to be in meetings where not only was the Word of God spoken, but the Spirit was also in manifestation.
I can remember kneeling by my bed many times as a young teenager, and telling God, "When I grow up I want to have a supernatural ministry, not a natural one!"
You can experience the Holy Spirit working through you—we can be a church marked by the manifest presence of God—and it can all start with desire.
Don't say to yourself, "The Spirit will show-up for someone else, but not for me". God will do for any one of us, whatever we ask for and say, when we believe that what we say shall come to pass - that is, when we simply and deliberately make room for it, in our lives and meetings.
God will give you the desires of your heart!
Notice also, that the word gifts is in italics (in King James Bibles)—that indicates that the word gifts wasn't in the original Greek.
It's the same in chapter 12 verse one, where Paul said:
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant".
Inserting the word gifts was probably a suitable option for the translators, because saying "Now concerning spirituals, brethren..." or something like that, would sound a bit awkward in English.
One modern version puts it this way: "But about spiritual things..."
And another version says:
"Now concerning what comes from the Spirit..."
So, these chapters were speaking not just about what we call the nine 'gifts' of the Spirit, but about matters to do with the Holy Spirit broadly speaking.
Concerning such matters—things to do with the Holy Spirit, etc—Paul said: "...I would not have you ignorant".
And God doesn't want us ignorant about Holy Spirit matters either!
You know, it's possible to be a Christian and yet be ignorant about the things of the Spirit.
But what's worse, is when someone thinks he knows about it, and what he thinks he knows about it isn't the full story, or it's even wrong!
We don't want to be ignorant about this!
Like the Corinthians, we want to come behind in no gift.
So let's observe what Paul had to say about it all.
Don't say to yourself, "The Spirit will show-up for someone else, but not for me". God will do for any one of us, whatever we ask for and say, when we believe that what we say shall come to pass - that is, when we simply and deliberately make room for it, in our lives and meetings.
God will give you the desires of your heart!
Notice also, that the word gifts is in italics (in King James Bibles)—that indicates that the word gifts wasn't in the original Greek.
It's the same in chapter 12 verse one, where Paul said:
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant".
Inserting the word gifts was probably a suitable option for the translators, because saying "Now concerning spirituals, brethren..." or something like that, would sound a bit awkward in English.
One modern version puts it this way: "But about spiritual things..."
And another version says:
"Now concerning what comes from the Spirit..."
So, these chapters were speaking not just about what we call the nine 'gifts' of the Spirit, but about matters to do with the Holy Spirit broadly speaking.
Concerning such matters—things to do with the Holy Spirit, etc—Paul said: "...I would not have you ignorant".
And God doesn't want us ignorant about Holy Spirit matters either!
You know, it's possible to be a Christian and yet be ignorant about the things of the Spirit.
But what's worse, is when someone thinks he knows about it, and what he thinks he knows about it isn't the full story, or it's even wrong!
We don't want to be ignorant about this!
Like the Corinthians, we want to come behind in no gift.
So let's observe what Paul had to say about it all.
2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries
Notice Paul said that someone who speaks in tongues isn't speaking to men, but to God, because no-one understands him.
Speaking to God—in other words, prayer: that means you can pray in tongues.
Over the years I've had some people tell me instead that the purpose for speaking with tongues was really only so early Jewish believers could instantly understand foreign languages so they could preach the gospel to the nations.
Speaking to God—in other words, prayer: that means you can pray in tongues.
Over the years I've had some people tell me instead that the purpose for speaking with tongues was really only so early Jewish believers could instantly understand foreign languages so they could preach the gospel to the nations.
Certainly, on the day of Pentecost when 120 people were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke with other tongues, a multitude from every nation under heaven heard them in their own languages.
(I've seen the same thing happen. In one place many were filled with the Spirit and spoke in tongues—and one teenager was so full of the Spirit that when she went to her State high school, she was still speaking in tongues in the classroom! And her teacher said she recognised the language.
The teacher was so amazed, she asked the girl to explain her experience; and she watched as the student laid her hands on all her classmates, and every one of them fell to the floor under the power of God, and got up in tears either speaking in tongues, prophesying, or asking, "What have I got to do to be saved?" I saw it with my own eyes.
Another time someone spoke in tongues, and a visitor from Hong Kong said she heard a remote Chinese dialect which she understood. To say it made a tremendous impact would be an understatement.
So, we can and should expect to see this, on occasion, too!)
However, if we say that the purpose for tongues was to preach the gospel, we’d be making those 120 people the worst preachers in the Bible! Because, after the multitude heard them, it says they were left confounded, in doubt and asking one another, “What does this mean?” (see Acts chapter 2).
(I've seen the same thing happen. In one place many were filled with the Spirit and spoke in tongues—and one teenager was so full of the Spirit that when she went to her State high school, she was still speaking in tongues in the classroom! And her teacher said she recognised the language.
The teacher was so amazed, she asked the girl to explain her experience; and she watched as the student laid her hands on all her classmates, and every one of them fell to the floor under the power of God, and got up in tears either speaking in tongues, prophesying, or asking, "What have I got to do to be saved?" I saw it with my own eyes.
Another time someone spoke in tongues, and a visitor from Hong Kong said she heard a remote Chinese dialect which she understood. To say it made a tremendous impact would be an understatement.
So, we can and should expect to see this, on occasion, too!)
However, if we say that the purpose for tongues was to preach the gospel, we’d be making those 120 people the worst preachers in the Bible! Because, after the multitude heard them, it says they were left confounded, in doubt and asking one another, “What does this mean?” (see Acts chapter 2).
No, Peter still had to stand up and preach the gospel. It was only once the multitude heard Peter preach, that they were able to respond. Hearing the 120 speaking in their languages didn’t quite do it.
The multitude heard them talking about the wonderful works of God, in their languages—but it was those who accepted what Peter said when he preached, who believed and were baptised. And there were 3,000 of them! So, in Acts 2, tongues and preaching served two distinct functions with two distinct effects. Tongues wasn't for preaching.
It was the same when the Spirit later fell on Cornelius' household (while Peter was still speaking, mind you!). The Spirit fell on them, and Peter and company heard them all speaking with tongues, and magnifying God. But notice the tongues wasn't the preaching—Peter had already preached - the speaking in tongues was done next, by those who had been preached to! So again, the purpose of tongues wasn't for preaching per se.
And now here in Corinthians, Paul explains, "...for no man understandeth him".
It evidently wasn’t always the case then even in Bible-times, that whenever someone spoke in tongues the audience always heard their own languages.
The multitude heard them talking about the wonderful works of God, in their languages—but it was those who accepted what Peter said when he preached, who believed and were baptised. And there were 3,000 of them! So, in Acts 2, tongues and preaching served two distinct functions with two distinct effects. Tongues wasn't for preaching.
It was the same when the Spirit later fell on Cornelius' household (while Peter was still speaking, mind you!). The Spirit fell on them, and Peter and company heard them all speaking with tongues, and magnifying God. But notice the tongues wasn't the preaching—Peter had already preached - the speaking in tongues was done next, by those who had been preached to! So again, the purpose of tongues wasn't for preaching per se.
And now here in Corinthians, Paul explains, "...for no man understandeth him".
It evidently wasn’t always the case then even in Bible-times, that whenever someone spoke in tongues the audience always heard their own languages.
In fact, in the meetings at Corinth, it seems tongues usually were not understood. Otherwise—think about it: the gift known as the interpretation of tongues would never have been needed, would it!
If tongues were always understood, then the very scenario Paul addresses in this chapter could never have arisen in the first place; and the advice Paul proceeds to give in this chapter wouldn’t have made sense—in fact, it would have been flat wrong.
So, tongues were often not understood, and therefore they were speaking to God, not to men—that is, praying. You can pray in tongues.
If tongues were always understood, then the very scenario Paul addresses in this chapter could never have arisen in the first place; and the advice Paul proceeds to give in this chapter wouldn’t have made sense—in fact, it would have been flat wrong.
So, tongues were often not understood, and therefore they were speaking to God, not to men—that is, praying. You can pray in tongues.
______________________
As you pray in tongues, you're praying-out mysteries, it says—that means you're praying with the added advantage of things which the Spirit of God knows that you don't know: and the Spirit of God knows everything God knows.
I remember when I was staying in Toowoomba in a house with some students, one weekend they each left town and I was left alone in the house. So one evening I decided to spend time praying in the lounge room. I didn't even turn the lights on: I just prayed out loud in tongues.
After a few minutes I began to have a sense of urgency in my tone even though I had no idea what I was praying about. I found myself pacing the floor, battling in the spirit, in prayer.
I wondered who or what I was praying about: and straightaway the wife of a very good friend of mine came to mind.
Then after about half an hour the burden lifted, and I stopped praying.
Not too many days later I happened to be speaking to my friend on the phone:
"A few days ago I was praying in tongues, I had a feeling of urgency, and your wife came to mind—is everything okay with your wife?” I asked.
"A few days ago I was praying in tongues, I had a feeling of urgency, and your wife came to mind—is everything okay with your wife?” I asked.
"When was that?" he replied.
So I told him the day and time.
Then he told me that that very night his wife suffered a complication with her pregnancy.
“I had to rush her to hospital, at that exact time!” he told me.
My friend’s precious wife’s need was unknown to me, but known by the Lord.
You can make yourself available to the Spirit for Him to give you utterance to pray for things you don't know about but He knows.
That's a great weapon to have in prayer, isn't it!
3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
Speaking in tongues also edifies you.
If ever your heart and mind are too overwhelmed to even know what to pray for, in such moments you can always speak in tongues.
Often it only takes a few sentences in tongues before you begin to feel something virtuous well-up deep inside. It restores your soul—let's you know again that everything is okay.
You might even begin to laugh! Your spirit is being built-up, by speaking in tongues.
Thank God for speaking in tongues!
Thank God for speaking in tongues!
5 I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Paul wanted everyone to speak with tongues, because of its benefits.
One of the best pieces of advice I feel I could ever give anyone is: spend time speaking in tongues. Because the benefits are invaluable! Speaking in tongues edifies you.
______________________
Now notice Paul said that someone who speaks in tongues can also interpret.
We can experience the interpretation of tongues: and we don't need to be unfamiliar with what it is and how it works.
We can experience the interpretation of tongues: and we don't need to be unfamiliar with what it is and how it works.
6 Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
A lot of modern meetings tend to major on what we call the sermon, don't they—but Paul mentions tongues and interpretation as another tremendously helpful way of speaking in a meeting (along with revelation, knowledge, prophesying and doctrine).
One time I was invited to speak at a church on the Gold Coast; and as soon as I stood to the pulpit, I felt inspired to speak in tongues. I kept going, and everyone sat there looking at me.
After some time I felt I better stop and let something come which the congregation could actually understand. Straightaway I felt inspired with a message for the congregation. It wasn’t anything I’d premeditated. I just carried on speaking out of the inspiration of the moment.
After the meeting one of the church-elders remarked, “That was exactly what we needed to hear!”
I laid hands on a number of them, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
One dear lady was observably filled with joy.
“I haven’t experienced that for a long time,” she said.
Smith Wigglesworth reportedly often spoke with tongues spontaneously during his preaching, intermittently with interpretation. It brought a whole 'nother dimension into his content, and no doubt helped set the stage for other things which the Spirit wanted to do next in the meetings, like give gifts of healing, and the working of miracles.
Next, we have some verses which illustrate the value of interpreting tongues.
Then let's scroll down to verse 12.
Then let's scroll down to verse 12.
7 And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?
8 For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?
9 So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.
10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.
11 Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
It's okay to be zealous for the things of the Spirit to be expressed—because it can truly edify the church.
When the Holy Spirit is in manifestation in a meeting, it is Jesus at work in the meeting—and no-one ministers to the needs of people quite like Jesus!
Love therefore compels us. The church is edified when a meeting is a Holy Ghost meeting.
It's okay to be zealous for the things of the Spirit to be expressed—because it can truly edify the church.
When the Holy Spirit is in manifestation in a meeting, it is Jesus at work in the meeting—and no-one ministers to the needs of people quite like Jesus!
Love therefore compels us. The church is edified when a meeting is a Holy Ghost meeting.
13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
If you speak in tongues, you can also pray that you may interpret.
You can. You can ask for the gift of the interpretation of tongues.
That's exciting, if you ask me!
If you speak in tongues, you can also pray that you may interpret.
You can. You can ask for the gift of the interpretation of tongues.
That's exciting, if you ask me!
14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
This is another proof-text that the gift of tongues didn't mean acquiring the intellectual capability of preaching in a new language—your understanding is unfruitful, it says.
You don't understand what you're saying, when you speak in tongues—usually no-one does—it is your spirit praying, as the Spirit gives you utterance.
This is another proof-text that the gift of tongues didn't mean acquiring the intellectual capability of preaching in a new language—your understanding is unfruitful, it says.
You don't understand what you're saying, when you speak in tongues—usually no-one does—it is your spirit praying, as the Spirit gives you utterance.
15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
So, there are two ways we can pray: (1) We can pray with our spirit, that is, in tongues; and (2) We can pray with our understanding—and notice, you can do so whenever you wish.
Some people have told me over the years that they can only speak in tongues when the Holy Spirit especially inspires them to. But notice it says, “I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also…”
The words I will indicate volition. That means you can decide whether you’ll pray in tongues or whether you’ll pray with your understanding.
Once you've initially spoken in tongues, you can keep speaking with tongues as often as you like after that!
The words I will indicate volition. That means you can decide whether you’ll pray in tongues or whether you’ll pray with your understanding.
Once you've initially spoken in tongues, you can keep speaking with tongues as often as you like after that!
You can also sing with your spirit, that is, in tongues–just like we sing with our understanding—you decide when.
If that wasn’t the case—if it wasn't up to us—Paul could not have made the Corinthians responsible for when and how they spoke with tongues, could he.
If it's only the Holy Spirit who sovereignly decides, then no-one at Corinth could have ever gotten it wrong—they would always have expressed the gift appropriately everytime.
Consider what an enormous privilege this is: you can choose to speak, pray or sing in tongues, with utterance given to you by the Spirit of God Himself, with the whole advantage of all of His knowledge, as often as you like!
If that wasn’t the case—if it wasn't up to us—Paul could not have made the Corinthians responsible for when and how they spoke with tongues, could he.
If it's only the Holy Spirit who sovereignly decides, then no-one at Corinth could have ever gotten it wrong—they would always have expressed the gift appropriately everytime.
Consider what an enormous privilege this is: you can choose to speak, pray or sing in tongues, with utterance given to you by the Spirit of God Himself, with the whole advantage of all of His knowledge, as often as you like!
16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
Bless with the spirit—that's another function of speaking in tongues: we can bless people, situations, a meeting—by speaking in tongues.
Bless with the spirit—that's another function of speaking in tongues: we can bless people, situations, a meeting—by speaking in tongues.
17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
We can also give thanks, in tongues.
Notice there are a lot of functions of speaking with tongues mentioned in this chapter which don't have to do with preaching.
We can also give thanks, in tongues.
Notice there are a lot of functions of speaking with tongues mentioned in this chapter which don't have to do with preaching.
Notice also that Paul never said the Corinthians’ tongues were illegitimate even though no-one understood them.
“Thou verily givest thanks well,” Paul said—nothing wrong with unknown tongues in and of themselves: Paul was just pointing-out how beneficial it can can be when it's also interpreted.
“Thou verily givest thanks well,” Paul said—nothing wrong with unknown tongues in and of themselves: Paul was just pointing-out how beneficial it can can be when it's also interpreted.
18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:
More than ye all. I don't know whether we've realised what a massive part of Paul's life tongues was!
I know an evangelist who regularly expressed the Holy Spirit powerfully with words of knowledge, healings, miracles and casting out demons—he recommended speaking in tongues an hour a day.
Brother Hagin also said that when he was a young boy-preacher, he often went out into a hay barn and spent time praying in tongues.
One day while praying he felt God tell him that when he'd reach his 60s, a major thrust of his ministry would be the printed page.
And it came to pass: by the time brother Hagin was in his 60s his ministry published a monthly magazine, a daily devotional, and over a hundred books with millions of copies in multiple languages. His books helped lay a foundation in ministers all over the world.
Brother Hagin said later in his career that most of the blessings in his life and ministry could be attributed to two things: acting on the Word; and praying in other tongues.
By praying in tongues, we can set-up our day with Divine appointments.
More than ye all. I don't know whether we've realised what a massive part of Paul's life tongues was!
I know an evangelist who regularly expressed the Holy Spirit powerfully with words of knowledge, healings, miracles and casting out demons—he recommended speaking in tongues an hour a day.
Brother Hagin also said that when he was a young boy-preacher, he often went out into a hay barn and spent time praying in tongues.
One day while praying he felt God tell him that when he'd reach his 60s, a major thrust of his ministry would be the printed page.
And it came to pass: by the time brother Hagin was in his 60s his ministry published a monthly magazine, a daily devotional, and over a hundred books with millions of copies in multiple languages. His books helped lay a foundation in ministers all over the world.
Brother Hagin said later in his career that most of the blessings in his life and ministry could be attributed to two things: acting on the Word; and praying in other tongues.
By praying in tongues, we can set-up our day with Divine appointments.
You can pray your destiny into being, years in advance—by praying in tongues.
A good habit to get into might be to begin praying in tongues whenever you get into a car by yourself; or while you're out for a walk; or even silently, lying in bed.
Time spent praying in tongues is never wasted time!
A good habit to get into might be to begin praying in tongues whenever you get into a car by yourself; or while you're out for a walk; or even silently, lying in bed.
Time spent praying in tongues is never wasted time!
________________________
Now, Paul addresses a matter which I think still causes many contemporary Charismatic/Pentecostal ministers to swing one way or the other, in regard to Holy Ghost meetings.
I've seen many ministers feeling conflicted between whether to abandon themselves fully to having Holy Spirit meetings, or instead reining it in, going with a run-sheet, and screening-out manifestations from the main meetings, all for the sake of visitors. Understandable, perhaps—but a great pity too, I think.
It's as if they felt they had to choose between two important sets of values instead of holding the two together. It's possible to have meetings where you always let the Holy Spirit move as He wills, that are also thoroughly edifying and 'normal', if I can use that word—at the same time. It's not a one-or-the-other proposition, as Paul proceeds to show.
19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
For all our moving in the Spirit, people still need to get something out of it that they can understand. That wasn't spiritual advice, it was just practical common sense. We don't have to sacrifice common sense for the sake of expressing spiritual gifts.
For all our moving in the Spirit, people still need to get something out of it that they can understand. That wasn't spiritual advice, it was just practical common sense. We don't have to sacrifice common sense for the sake of expressing spiritual gifts.
20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
You'll never have to abandon basic maturity, in your pursuit of excelling at letting the Spirit have His way in the church. It doesn't have to be one-or-the-other.
You'll never have to abandon basic maturity, in your pursuit of excelling at letting the Spirit have His way in the church. It doesn't have to be one-or-the-other.
21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
It sounds like individuals in the church at Corinth were jostling for their chance to stand up in the meetings, hold the floor, expecting the whole audience's undivided attention, and address everyone at length in languages no-one understands, without giving others much of a chance, not even caring that no-one understood them, not thinking of whether anyone was getting anything out of it, but just putting their own giftedness on display. Any reasonable person would know that lacked common sense and maturity. That wouldn't even be a spiritual judgment: it's just normal.
In order to excel at spiritual gifts, you won't have to sacrifice 'normal'. You can and should still have normal manners, politeness, maturity and considerateness.
In order to excel at spiritual gifts, you won't have to sacrifice 'normal'. You can and should still have normal manners, politeness, maturity and considerateness.
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
These verse show how profoundly a visitor can be impacted by the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in a meeting. The manifestation of the Spirit is for visitors too: we're not meant to shield visitors from it. There is no better soul-winner than the Holy Spirit. Imagine wanting to shield visitors from the Holy Spirit!
26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
Everyone can contribute something from the Spirit, in a meeting. In doing so, you don't have to lose the goal that everyone, including a visitor, benefits from it in a very real way.
27 If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
Two or three people addressing a congregation in languages no-one understood, was probably enough before someone with the gift of interpretation should be given the chance to speak, don't you think? Just common sense.
Paul didn't mean though, that there couldn't be meetings where the Spirit falls and everyone gets filled with the Spirit and filled with joy and everyone speaks with tongues at once. Because that's exactly what happaned at Jerusalem, and among Cornelius' household, and at Ephesus!
Paul's advice here didn't contradict that. In those instances no-one was impolitely jostling to address the whole crowd in tongues. Unbelievers could readily see that something wonderful and profound was happening, even if they didn't quite know what yet; and many even came to the Lord as a result—thousands of them, at Jerusalem.
Paul didn't mean though, that there couldn't be meetings where the Spirit falls and everyone gets filled with the Spirit and filled with joy and everyone speaks with tongues at once. Because that's exactly what happaned at Jerusalem, and among Cornelius' household, and at Ephesus!
Paul's advice here didn't contradict that. In those instances no-one was impolitely jostling to address the whole crowd in tongues. Unbelievers could readily see that something wonderful and profound was happening, even if they didn't quite know what yet; and many even came to the Lord as a result—thousands of them, at Jerusalem.
So it was entirely okay to have meetings where the Spirit moved and everyone was touched by the Lord at once. But at Corinth, when individuals were seemingly wanting to directly addressing the congregation as a whole, they needed reminding that the goal of such activities is that others get something out of it, not just that you show-off your giftedness.
When addressing a congregation, whether in tongues, interpretation, prophecy, knowledge, doctrine, revelation, or song, you can do so with common sense, politeness, restraint, maturity, manners and even still comply with certain societal institutions and accepted standards and protocols. The two values—of allowing the move of the Spirit, and of common manners —can and should be held together. They're not incompatible with each other.
Holy Ghost meetings can and should be profoundly full of wisdom, knowledge, edification, exhortation, comfort, learning, revelation, doctrine, tongues, interpretation, prophesying, healing, miracles, deliverance, discerning of spirits, faith, song, organisation, decency, politeness, considerateness, orderliness, selflessness, honour, self-restraint when appropriate, and charity.
I've been in meetings where everyone was filled and ended-up on the floor speaking in tongues. That's entirely Biblical. Then one person stood up from among them, held the floor, and addressed the congregation in tongues; another person also stood, and interpreted: the person who spoke in tongues politiely let her interpret— and then she resumed speaking in tongues, and the cycle repeated. That exactly complied with the sort of thing Paul wanted at Corinth when people were addressing the congregation. But when no-one's addressing the congregation as such, then it doesn't breach common manners even if everyone is getting filled at once.
If there's no-one present with the gift of interpretation, Paul advised to refrain from addressing the congregation in the tongue and to instead pray privately to God in the tongue. That means the tongues were legitimate, even though no-one understood them! Otherwise Paul wouldn't have told them to pray in such tongues. Praying in tongues is a valid function of the gift of tongues.
If there's no-one present with the gift of interpretation, Paul advised to refrain from addressing the congregation in the tongue and to instead pray privately to God in the tongue. That means the tongues were legitimate, even though no-one understood them! Otherwise Paul wouldn't have told them to pray in such tongues. Praying in tongues is a valid function of the gift of tongues.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
One by one. This advice didn't mean there couldn't be times when the congregation as a whole were receiving from God visibly and audibly at the same time. It was about taking your turn politely when address the congregation.
When we've received something from God, we can still control how we express that to the congregation.
It's okay to comply with protocols of expediency, decency and orderliness, and even to wait until another time to share wt God's giving us, if necessary.
Even secular events have to run that way. But a meeting-wide outpouring of the Spirit, when all are touched but no-one is addressing the congregation as such as a whole doesn't conflict with that normal sense of values in the community.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
When we address a congregation, we needn't ever breach acceptable community ways of doing things in the way we are considerate of others, charitable and desire for others to benefit. Being a Holy Spirit church fits nicely. Having meetings when everyone is in the Spirit together, doesn't in and of itself breach those values.
When we address a congregation, we needn't ever breach acceptable community ways of doing things in the way we are considerate of others, charitable and desire for others to benefit. Being a Holy Spirit church fits nicely. Having meetings when everyone is in the Spirit together, doesn't in and of itself breach those values.
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
So don't stop coveting the things of the Spirit.
It's never a solution to prohibit the move of the Spirit from our main meetings. The visible and audible move and manifestation of the Spirit doesn't in and of itself breach common manners. But if individuals are breaching common manners, deal with that—but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Remain committed to being a Holy Ghost church.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
Perhaps we could illustrate it this way:
During a game at Suncorpe stadium, it isn't considered indecent and disorderly when the home-team scores a goal and most of the crowd errupts in adulation, even in multiple languages, at the same time. The crowd are okay with that.
But during the formalities after the game, imagine if the announcer spoke in a language no-one understood; and at the same time other individual officials jostled, pushing one another aside, wanting to address the crowd on the mic in their own languages which no-one understood. The crowd would think the organisers had lost it. Two different scenarios.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I recommit to hungering after the manifestation of your Spirit, in my life and in our church.
Thank you that we don't have to choose between being a Holy Spirit church, or being a sensible and helpful church.
For the two work best together.
Amen.
Perhaps we could illustrate it this way:
During a game at Suncorpe stadium, it isn't considered indecent and disorderly when the home-team scores a goal and most of the crowd errupts in adulation, even in multiple languages, at the same time. The crowd are okay with that.
But during the formalities after the game, imagine if the announcer spoke in a language no-one understood; and at the same time other individual officials jostled, pushing one another aside, wanting to address the crowd on the mic in their own languages which no-one understood. The crowd would think the organisers had lost it. Two different scenarios.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, I recommit to hungering after the manifestation of your Spirit, in my life and in our church.
Thank you that we don't have to choose between being a Holy Spirit church, or being a sensible and helpful church.
For the two work best together.
Amen.
