YouTube: https://youtu.be/rdm2aA2AThw

Download Audio: https://od.lk/f/MV8yOTkyOTMyNjJf
Download Video: https://od.lk/f/MV8yOTkyOTMyODJf
Download PDF: https://od.lk/f/MV8yOTkyOTMyNzBf

Priscilla: I Corinthians 14:1-12
Prophecy and Tongues – Part 1

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I offer You my praise and gratitude. Each day, I continue to live in love and grace through the omnipotent power of the Triune God. I pray that the Holy Spirit guides me into all truth as I contemplate the Eternal Living Word of God. I am thankful for the Holy Spirit.

Father, today I would like to present my meditation on I Corinthians 14:1-12.

1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

Verse 1: I understand that the Apostle Paul advises the people of God to eagerly pursue love, which is the highest gift from God. However, they should also desire the spiritual gifts given by God. Among them, the gift of prophecy is highly valued because it benefits the entire Church.

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.

Verse 2: I understand that “an unknown tongue” refers to one of the various human languages that the Holy Spirit inspires someone to speak, expressing the mysteries of God and giving Him glory. Those who listen will not understand unless they have learned those languages or have the gift of interpretation. Therefore, speaking in different languages does not benefit or edify the Church; it only benefits the speaker personally.

3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Verse 3: I understand that a prophet speaks in a language that both the speaker and the audience understand. A prophet is someone whom God uses to rebuke individuals, nations, or local churches for their sins and to call them to repentance. They may also express deep insights into the Word of God that are directly revealed by God Himself, whether through dreams, visions, or direct messages. The purpose of prophecy is to encourage and edify the understanding and faith of God’s people. Therefore, the gift of prophecy is a gift that brings collective benefits to the Church in many ways.

4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

Verse 4: I understand that during the time of the Apostle Paul, the Church did not have the New Testament Scriptures. At that time, there were believers who were still weak and did not have enough of the Word of God to build their faith and participate in the ministries of the Church. Therefore, the Holy Spirit bestowed upon them the gift of speaking in various languages, which is the least valued among the spiritual gifts because it only benefits the receiver, so that they could edify themselves. However, for those who had strong faith, the Holy Spirit bestowed upon them other gifts to serve the Church. The gift of prophecy is considered the most esteemed gift because it greatly benefits the Church. Nowadays, the Church has the complete Bible, including the Old and New Testaments, which helps God’s people understand and firmly believe in their redemption and their position within the Church.

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.

Verse 5: I understand that the Apostle Paul desires for the people of God in the Corinthian Church to all receive the gift of speaking in languages so that each individual can be edified personally. However, above all, he wishes for them to receive the gift of prophecy because a prophet holds greater significance than someone who speaks in languages. The words of a prophet are heard and understood by the Church, benefiting its edification. On the other hand, the Church does not understand the words spoken in languages, so those words do not build up the Church unless someone can interpret them and help the Church understand the divine revelations expressed in those languages.

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?

Verse 6: The Apostle Paul questions the people of God in Corinth, asking them what benefit it would bring them if he were to come to them speaking in languages they do not understand, unless he speaks to them about the revelations of God, whether through dreams, visions, or spiritual understanding. This means that he desires to provide them with a deeper understanding of God’s Word to strengthen the faith of God’s people within the Church.

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?

Verses 7 and 8: The Apostle Paul gives an example of lifeless musical instruments, such as a flute and a harp, which produce different sounds. Listeners can distinguish between the sound produced by the flute and the sound produced by the harp. However, if the trumpet player does not play the correct notes, the soldiers will be confused and unsure of how to act. Therefore, the speech of God’s people must also benefit the listeners.

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.

Verse 9: I understand that when the people of God speak to humanity, they should do so in a language that the listeners can understand. Otherwise, the listeners will not comprehend what the people of God intend to convey. It would be futile, like words being carried away by the wind and never reaching the minds of the listeners.

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.

Verses 10 and 11: I understand that languages in the world all have meaning, but those who do not understand the meaning of a particular language may perceive the speaker of that language as belonging to a strange and uncivilized nation. Similarly, the speaker of that language may also view the listener who does not understand their language as ignorant and uncivilized.

12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Verse 12: The Apostle Paul advises the people of God in Corinth to earnestly seek the spiritual things of God. I understand that this seeking refers to each person coming to God in prayer and asking God to reveal what He desires them to do in the work of building the Church. When they know God’s will for them, the people of God will recognize the gifts bestowed upon them by the Holy Spirit.

Father, I am grateful to You for this lesson. May You grant that each and every person in the Church, as children of God, diligently pursue love and fervently desire the spiritual things of God, so that the entire Church may benefit. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Priscilla Christian Huynh
05/26/2023