Supernatural Speaking
(I Corinthians Chapter 14)

The three types of Supernatural Speaking

The three types of Supernatural Speaking
are Gifts of the spirit.

1. Gift of Prophecy
2. Gift of Tongues
3. Gift of Interpretation of Tongues
   
   

I Corinthians 14:1-4

Prophecy edifies the Church
more than un-interpreted tongues.

1. I Corinthians 14:2
   This verse indicates that the principle use of tongues, whether in the Church or in private, is to speake primarily onto God and not to men. When tongues are directed unto God, they involve communing with God by the Holy Spirit and can take the form of prayer, praise, singing, blessing, and thanksgiving. What is spoken are mysteries or things not understandable to the speaker or hearers. The interpretation of the utterance in tongues can be to edify the church (verse 5) or so the congregation can enter into this manifestation of the Spirit-directed worship and thus say "Amen" (verse16).
   
   
2. I Corinthians 14:3
   The gift of prophecy in the Church is motivated by the Holy Spirit, not primarily to foretell the future, but to strengthen the believer's faith, spiritual life, and moral resolve to remain faithful to Christ, and His teachings. Prophecy is not preaching a prepared sermon, but giving a spontaneous word under the impulse of the Holy Spirit for the edification of the congregation.
   
   
3. I Corinthians 14:4
   Tongues without interpretation edify the speaker because it puts him in direct communion with God by the Spirit, bypassing the mind. (verses 14-15)
   
   

I Corinthians 14:5

Prophecy and tongues with interpretation
are equally important to the Church.

1. "I would that ye all spake with tongues. . ."
   Paul's wish here refers to tongue-speaking in private devotion to God. Clearly such tongues have value for the individual Christian's personal worship and prayer. (verses 2 and 4) Paul adds that tongues accompanied with interpretation in the assembly bring edification to the Church, just as prophecy does. However, speaking in tongues without interpretation does nothing for the Church. (verses 7-9)
   
   

I Corinthians 14:6-13

Speaking in tongues in public worship services
without interpretation is of no benefit to others.

1. I Corinthians 14:6
   Speaking in tongues can at times be directed toward the Christian community. Paul describes the hypothetical situation of coming to the Corinthians and speaking in tongues in the worship service. Such speaking would be of no benefit to them except he brings some revelation or knowledge. The construction of this verse suggests that his speaking in tongues, when interpreted, would consist of a message containing revelation, knowledge, prophecy, or instruction to the congregation. This interpretation finds support in verse 8, where Paul gives the analogy of a trumpet which brings a message and warns to prepare for battle. In other words, speaking in tongues can bring a message to prepare for spiritual warfare with Satan, sin, and the ungodly elements of the world, or it can challenge us to be ready for the imminent return of Christ.
   
   
2. I Corinthians 14:7-12
   When a person is used by God to interpret the tongues that are spoken, it should be with sounds that are clear, distinct, and easy to be identified (verse 7). Like a trumpet they must convey a clear message (verse 8). Thus when tongues are spoken in the Church they should be interpreted so that the body can be edified.
   
   
3. Those who speak or pray in tongues in the Church should seek to edify the Church by praying for the gift of interpretation.
   
   

I Corinthians 14:14-19

In Paul's personal life speaking in tongues to God
is an important means of worship and spiriitual growth.

1. I Corinthians 12:7 Paul refers to his own experience, to his own private use of tongues unto God. "I will pray with the spirit" means to pray in tongues with one's own spirit under the impulse of the Holy Spirit. The believer's spirit prays as the Holy Spirit gives the utterance (Acts 2:4).
   
   
2. I Corinthians 14:14-16 Paul used tongues not only for praying, but also for singing, praising, and giving thanks unto God. To "pray with the understanding" means to pray and praise with one's own mind in a learned language, also under the impulse of the Holy Spirit.
   
   
3. I Corinthians 14:18 Paul considered the gift of tongues an important part of his spiritual life, which was frequently given to praying, singing, praising, and giving thanks in tongues. He speaks in reverence and gratitude for this manifestation of the Holy Spirit. Paul did not say I speak in more languages, but, I Speak in tongues more than all of you.
   
   
4. I Corinthians 14:19 Yet in the Church Paul preferred to speak a few words that people could understand than ten thousand words in tongues without interpretation. Verses 18 and 19 imply that Paul spoke tongues more in private devotion than in public worship.
   
   

I Corinthians 14:20-25

Prophecy is more useful than un-interpreted tongues
because prophecy brings conviction of sin and the
knowledge of God's presence.

1. Tongues within the congregation become a negative sign to unbelievers in that they signify that the unbeliever is separated from God and cannot understand what is occurring (I Cor. 14:21-23). Prophecy, however, is a sign to the believer, for he recognizes that it is a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit and a proof that God is at work in the Church (I Cor. 14:24-25). Tongues may also be a sign to believers indicating that the Holy Spirit is being poured out and manifested among God's people (Acts 10:44-46, Acts 11:15-17, I Cor. 12:7).
   
   
2. One of the surest signs that the Holy Spirit is present and at work in any congregation is His conviction of sin (I Cor. 14:24, John 16:8).
   
   
   1. Through the manifestation of the Spirit among God's people, sin will be exposed, repentance called for, and sinners convicted. Where there is no exposing of unrighteousness, no conviction of sin, or no plea for repentance, the Holy Spirit is clearly not at work according to the Biblical pattern.
      
      
   2. The exposing of sin within a person's heart does not require a special gift of revelation or "mind reading". The word of prophecy and its moral truth when proclaimed under the impulse of the Holy Spirit is sufficient to convict the heart of a sinner (I Cor. 14:25, Heb. 4:12)
      
      

I Corinthians 14:26-40

Speaking in tongues and prophesying must be regulated
so that order may be maintained in the church.

1. The principle purpose of all spiritual gifts is to edify the Church and the individual (I Cor. 14:26). Edify means to strengthen and promote spiritual life, maturity, and Godly character in believers. It is a work of the Holy Spirit through spiritual gifts by which believers are increasingly spiritually transformed in order that they may not be conformed to this world (Rom 12:2-8).
   
   
2. In the use of spiritual gifts there must be order and balance. The guidelines for speaking in tongues within the Church are:
   
   
   1. Any time tongues are spoken in a meeting there must not be more than two or three who speak, pray, or praise in tongues before the interpretation. These are to be done one at a time and then one should interpret (I Cor:14:27).
      
      
   2. If there is no interpreter after the three have spoken in tongues, the person with the tognues should keep silent in church but he may talk in tongues to himself and to God (I Cor.14:28).
      
      
3. All prophecy that is spoken should also be by two or three and must be judged.
   
   
   1. At times prophecy and speaking in tongues might not be a word from God (I John 4:1). Even evil spirits, through the presence of false teachers or prophets, can work in the congregation. Prophesying, speaking in tongues, or possessing any supernatural gift is no guarantee that one is a true prophet or a true believer, for spiritual gifts may be counterfeited by Satan (Mat. 24:24, II Thes. 2:9-12, Rev. 13:13-14).
      
      
   2. If the Church has not set up proper and orderly ways to evaluate and judge prophecies, it has failed to follow Bible guidelines (I Cor. 14:40).
      
      
   3. Prophecy was not considered an irresistable impulse of the Holy Spirit, for only one prophet could speak at a time (I Cor. 14:29-32).
      
      
4. I Corinthians 14:34-35 Here Paul is talking about the women in the Corinthian Church that were interrupting the services by asking questions which could be asked at home. Paul assumes that women do pray and prophesy in public assemblies (I Cor. 11:5).
   
   
5. If the Churches refuse to recognize that Paul's instructions are the commandments of the Lord, then they prove they are neither prophets nor the people of the Holy Spirit (I Cor. 14:37).
   
   
6. Churches today that claim to follow God's Word must not forbid speaking in tongues and must earnestly desire that their people prophesy (I Cor.14:39).