Greater than the gift of tongues is love

1 Corinthians 14:1-12 (New King James Version)  (NKJV)

Prophecy and Tongues

14 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 But he who prophesies speaks edification and 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.

Tongues Must Be Interpreted

⁶ But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by 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 for battle? ⁹ So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, 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 shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. ¹² Even so you, since you a re zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

1 Corinthians 13:1-8 (NKJV)

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. ² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. ³ And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

⁴ Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV)

¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

My Comments: Many today seem to be concerned with speaking in tongues, as if this were the greatest gift given to man from God. Religions have sprung up centered around speaking in tongues and those in it say one without the gift is not really a Christian or true believer. There are others who say the gift is dead or was only for a time and that time has gone. There are others who say it must only be done when one has the gift, in a closet. There are several places in the Bible that address the gift of Tongues which would make this a very long posting so I have chosen Paul’s discourse on it in 1 Corinthians. I encourage all to search the Scriptures and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit for understanding and I hearin give my understanding from the Scripture, the Holy Word of God.

First off let me say there are many gifts of which one may read about in the Scripture, the gift of teaching, healing, leading and so on. Each person when they become true Believers of Jesus Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit are given gifts to do the work God has for them to do (they are equipped) and all gifts are for the help of the body and always for the glory of Abba Father. The greatest gift He gives us is Love. So why all the discussion, division and dissention in the body of Christ’s believers?

I believe Satan has clouded minds and is doing what he always has done, sown dissention in the body. Dissention comes from discussion that is based on what we want to believe rather than what the Word states and then because of human pride there is division. I encourage all to read the Bible closely. Nothing hinges on one passage but on a reading of the full Word of God. If you read the passages I have offered for you, you will see not everyone has or will have the gift of tongues and it is not the most important gift. If one has it then it should not be used unless there is someone to interpret and never more than three at a time in Church and it says nothing about only for their (the beginning Churches) time. Yet, the Word Paul gives us shows that it is a gift. Yet not as important, as none are, as Love. A Church full of people speaking in tongues is as a clanging cymbal. Done without someone prophesizing is not to be done. Not done for the edification and glory of God is wrong. So if you have the gift of tongues do not brag or use it without someone to interpret and only for the glory of God. Remember if you have any gift and do not have Love you have nothing. For Love is the greatest gift.

Abba Father I would that all would have the gifts You have for them and would use them to help the body, grow Your kingdom and glorify You the Creator of all and the giver of all gifts. May we all be filled with Your Love and may if Your Love flow through us to all for Your glory.

Lord Jesus You sent the Holy Spirit so all may do the things Abba Father gives us to do. Thank You for ascending and sending the Holy Spirit to fill us with Your words, Your Love so we may bring and give glory to God the Father.

Holy Spirit, Teacher, Comforter, Giver of Wisdom, Knowledge and Understanding fill us with the gifts the Father desires for us and guide us to use them for the edification and growing of the body for the glory of God the Father Almighty, the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End the First and the Last.

In Jesus name I pray in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen

Rebishka