Daily Bible Study

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Day 123 1 Corinthians 14:1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 He who prophesies speaks edification, exhortation, and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. 6 Now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, knowledge, prophesying, or teaching? 7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9 So likewise you, unless you utter words easy to understand by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. 13 Therefore, let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. 20 Brethren do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. Have you attended a church while on vacation and found it strange, even though you attended the same denomination you do at home? What did you do? Did you walk out or stay to the end? I was a young girl when my parents, who would never attend an unfamiliar church, attended one that was different from everything familiar. I found it strange with all the hand clapping, dancing, and form of worship unfamiliar to me. I also found it intriguing. We stayed to the end of the service, but I remember my father saying he would never attend there again. We didn’t. Paul told the Corinthians they made their worship unfamiliar because they all wanted to speak in tongues. He told them when they did no one understood them. They edified no one. It was better to edify with prophecy and words of knowledge than to speak in tongues, though he also told them he wished they all spoke with tongues as he did, but for edification only. He told them when they spoke in tongues no one would know if they gave a blessing to the church, and no one could say ‘amen’ because they wouldn’t know what they said. It was better to be mature in their understanding. Many Christians don’t know how to deal with those Christians who use spiritual gifts. Many churches don’t teach on spiritual gifts, promoting the idea that they were for a bygone era and no longer profitable in the church. The reality is that spiritual gifts are as important to the church today as they were when the Holy Spirit gave them on the first Pentecost. You need to know when and how to use the gifts, so you edify the church. Otherwise, no one is edified, and you are as Paul showed, speaking to the air. Are spiritual gifts evident in your life? Use them to edify the church. Do you speak in tongues? Pray for edification and an interpretation or speak only in prayer to God. Be wise in spiritual gifts so you edify one another and build up the body of Christ. Let’s pray: Father, give me wisdom when I am with people who don’t know about spiritual gifts. Let me edify the body of Christ in everything I say and do, bringing glory to You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 16 November 2023 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.