Free Daily Devotional For WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2022

WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2022

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 14:13-25

13. Therefore the person who speaks in [another] language should pray that he can interpret.

14. For if I pray in [another] language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15. What then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with my understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with my understanding.

16. Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will the uninformed person say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?

17. For you may very well be giving thanks, but the other person is not being built up.

18. I thank God that I speak in [other] languages more than all of you;

19. yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, in order to teach others also, than 10,000 words in [another] language.

20. Brothers, don’t be childish in your thinking, but be infants in evil and adult in your thinking.

21. It is written in the law: By people of other languages and by the lips of foreigners, I will speak to this people; and even then, they will not listen to Me, says the Lord.

22. It follows that speaking in other languages is intended as a sign, not to believers. But prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.

23. Therefore if the whole church assembles together, and all are speaking in [other] languages, and people who are uninformed or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

24. But if all are prophesying, and some unbeliever or uninformed person comes in, he is convicted by all and is judged by all.

25. The secrets of his heart will be revealed, and as a result he will fall down on his face and worship God, proclaiming, “God is really among you.”

(Holmans CS Holy Bible)

TOPIC: ORDERLINESS IN PUBLIC WORSHIP (II)

Paul exhorted the Corinthian as well as today’s church that anyone who has the urge to speak in tongues should also pray for the gift to interpret.

Lots of arguments abound in many churches today on the place and the use of tongues to the extent that uniformed members feel that speaking in tongues is the only gift of the Holy Spirit and all believers must show evidence of it before they are recognized as ‘arrived’ believers.

Some churches make it a prerequisite to becoming a church worker. They say, “You must be born again, baptized with the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.” This position has led to the subject been taught around as ‘Baptism of fire’ where attendees are taught how to speak in tongues! Young ones in the faith or many students in higher institutions struggle to learn it and try to mutter some syllables in unknown languages to impress the guest speaker or other members of the assembly.

Paul struggled with this confusion in Corinth and instructed for the purpose of orderliness: “Make sure that all the people who attend the service can understand what you say, as you speak one after the other.” Read vs. 18-25 again.

QUESTION: How is the use of tongues ordered in your church for the edification of the congregation?

PRAYER: As I worship You, O Lord, may the reverence of Your name guide my conduct, in Jesus name, Amen.