1 Corinthians 14:20-40
Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. Be like babies as far as evil is concerned. But be grown up in your thinking. In the law it is written,
“With unfamiliar languages
and through the lips of outsiders
I will speak to these people.
But even then they will not listen to me.” (Isaiah 28:11,12)
That is what the Lord says.
So speaking in other languages is a sign for those who don’t believe. It is not a sign for those who do believe. But prophecy is not for those who don’t believe. It is for those who believe. Suppose the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in other languages. And suppose visitors or unbelievers come in. Won’t they say you are out of your minds? But suppose unbelievers or visitors come in while everyone is prophesying. Then they will feel guilty about their sin. They will be judged by all. The secrets of their hearts will be brought out into the open. They will fall down and worship God. They will exclaim, “God is really here among you!”
Proper Worship
Brothers and sisters, what should we say then? When you come together, each of you brings something. You bring a hymn or a teaching or a message from God. You bring a message in another language or explain what was said in that language. Everything must be done to build up the church. No more than two or three people should speak in another language. And they should speak one at a time. Then someone must explain what was said. If there is no one to explain, the person speaking should keep quiet in the church. They can speak to themselves and to God.
Only two or three prophets are supposed to speak. Others should decide if what is being said is true. What if a message from God comes to someone else who is sitting there? Then the one who is speaking should stop. Those who prophesy can all take turns. In that way, everyone can be taught and be given hope. Those who prophesy should control their speaking. God is not a God of disorder. He is a God of peace, just as in all the churches of the Lord’s people.
Women should remain silent in church meetings. They are not allowed to speak. They must follow the lead of those who are in authority, as the law says. If they have a question about something, they should ask their own husbands at home. It is shameful for women to speak in church meetings.
Or did the word of God begin with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? Suppose anyone thinks they are a prophet. Or suppose they think they have other gifts given by the Holy Spirit. They should agree that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. But anyone who does not recognize this will not be recognized.
Brothers and sisters, you should want to prophesy. And don’t stop people from speaking in languages they had not known before. But everything should be done in a proper and orderly way.
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