City Life Starter

The Word (1 Corinthians 14:20-25)

20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.

By Blesson C Selvanesan

In this chapter, Paul is addressing about spiritual gifts particularly speaking in tongues and prophesy and its usefulness in the kingdom of God. He exhorts believers to grow up in their thinking and not to be selfish but to be mature and righteous. Various spiritual gifts are given by God for various God intended purposes. In these verses, Paul is addressing the purposes of speaking in tongues and prophecy. One of the aspects of speaking in tongue is supernaturally speaking in a native language of some other culture. God could empower his people to use this sign to reach unreached people. This gift can be used to communicate the gospel to unbelievers in their native language so that they will become believers. It also displays God’s supernatural ability to an unbeliever. Paul further says that if this gift were to be used in church during a gathering for worship, it will not be very useful, rather will cause confusion. However, speaking in tongues is also a gift of communicating with God. This edifies the one who speaks and not others unless there is an interpreter inspired by the Holy Spirit. Both of these categories of tongues are gifts from God. Prophesy on the other hand reveals mysteries and edifies anyone who listens to it. If an unbeliever walks in, it is easy to understand, and this may lead to repentance.

Application: Spiritual gifts are to be desired and nothing to be scared or ashamed of! Although many aspects are shrouded in mystery, we know well that God has promised us these gifts. They have not ceased as some churches and theologians claim, it is still alive and well. It is true though that it is poorly understood by many and sometimes abused. When applied biblically, it is a tremendous blessing for believers and church as a whole. Spiritual gifts like speaking in tongues and prophesying are to edify believers and glorify God and certainly not to arrange believers on a maturity scale. Certainly, it is not a qualification for being a believer in Christ. Speaking in tongues is a gift, if used as intended is to bring glory to God. Prophesying is a gift that is useful for the edification of people, both believers, and non-believers. God reveals hidden things for us to intercede or to repent. However, it always needs to be assessed in the light of scriptures. Any prophecy inspired by the Holy Spirit will not contradict the written Word of God. One needs to be careful how and when to use these gifts and should assess carefully what our motives are. These gifts are not to display how fabulously spiritual we are, but to show God’s love in action in our lives and churches.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for today! Thanks for adding one more day to my life. Help me to love you and others. Help me to be a model for fellow believers and for people who do not know you. Lord, let me have a desire for spiritual gifts and let my gifts be used for your glory. Let my life display so much of you that they may see you in my life. Help me to lead others who do not know you into your light. In Jesus Name. Amen.