Let’s Put Spiritual Groanings into Understandable Words

1 Corinthians 14

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“What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.”

1 Corinthians 14:15

• Bringing a word from God is more desirable than unknown words.
• Prophesy brings revelation and knowledge concerning the word of God.
• Music is an example of how sounds mean nothing if they are not understood.
• Foreign languages are an example of why sounds need to be understood.
• Let’s express the spiritual groanings with understandable words.
• It’s best to keep spiritual words at home and just between us and God.
• Spiritual tongues are not meant as a sign to Christians.
• Speaking in spiritual tongues is to be kept at a bare minimum, and even silenced.
• Sharing the word of God is a group experience.
• God is the author peace within the fellowship of Believers.

Bringing a word from God is more desirable than unknown words. “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 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.” 1 Corinthians 14:1-2 Prophesy is the most important thing that we can do because it comes from the Bible through Jesus Christ. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus (Revelation 19:10). Prophecy comes with the love of God. Making sounds that no one understands isn’t helpful to anyone. “But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.” 1 Corinthians 14:3 We want to speak words that builds each other up in the Spirit of Christ, exhorts to continue on in the name of Jesus, and to bring comfort. “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:4 Whatever noises someone makes in the spirit is between that person and God, but bringing a word from the Bible builds up the Believers.

Prophesy brings revelation and knowledge concerning the word of God. “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.” 1 Corinthians 14:5 There is nothing wrong if everyone spoke with the unknown words that flow from the spirit, but speaking prophesy is greater. Prophecy is always from the Bible, there is no word of God other than that. If someone does speak with unknown words, it is necessary that someone interprets those words to build others up in the Spirit of Christ. The whole purpose of the Holy Spirit is to lift up the name of Jesus and to share His Gospel. “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?” 1 Corinthians 14:6 There is no value in speaking with sounds that no one understands. In contrast, the word of prophesy brings revelation and knowledge concerning the word of God and Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Sounds mean nothing if they are not understood. “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?” 1 Corinthians14:7 When people are able to enjoy music, it is because the distinct sounds of the instruments are heard. “For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle?” 1 Corinthians 14:8 If the distinct sounds of the instruments weren’t heard, then it wouldn’t be music. and we wouldn’t know how to respond. “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.” 1 Corinthians 14:9 When speaking about the Holy Scriptures, how will anyone know how to respond if all they hear are sounds that no one understands?

Foreign languages are an example of why sounds need to be understood. “There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance.” 1 Corinthians 14:10 There are multiple languages around the world, and they all have significance to those who understand the language. “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.” 1 Corinthians 14:11 If I do not understand the Spanish language, then I am separated from those who speak Spanish. Likewise, if someone speaks with spiritual words that have no meaning, it makes every person around them a foreigner. “Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” 1 Corinthians 14:12 Whatever spiritual gift we desire, those gifts must be to build each other in the Spirit of Christ. “Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret.” 1 Corinthians 14:13 Whatever spiritual words flow from the heart, there must be an interpretation made so that others are built up as the home of the Holy Spirit.

Let’s express the spiritual groanings with understandable words.  “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.” 1 Corinthians 14:14 The groanings and prayers of the spirit are not words that can be understood in any earthly language. There is no way to understand the meaning of those spiritual prayers. “What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.” 1 Corinthians 14:15 Putting the groanings of our spirit into words is something we should make an effort to do. When we have an occasion to pray out loud, let’s try to express the spiritual groanings with understandable words. When we sing, lets express the spiritual groanings into the words of the music we sing. “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?” 1 Corinthians 14:16 The only way to bring bonding in the Spirit of Jesus Christ is to put spiritual groanings into understandable words. Otherwise, our thankfulness is not expressed in a way to build others up. “For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.” 1 Corinthians 14:17

It’s best to keep spiritual words at home and just between us and God. “I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 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.” 1 Corinthians 14:18-19 It is better not to speak with words which nobody understands, and to leave those spiritual words at home. The important thing is to make the word of God understood so that others can learn and be edified. The churches of today don’t have that problem because they kill the Spirit of Christ and the human spirit. They expect others to live by the thoughts, feelings, and emotions given to them by the thing that has power over physiology. It synchronizes people to the mark of the beast. “Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.” 1 Corinthians 14:20 To be a mature Christian is to understand that there is no special esteem, pride, or privilege in speaking words that no one understands. We should never speak spiritual words just to maliciously hold it over those who haven’t a clue what was just said. Making the Gospel of Christ heard and understood is the most important goal.

Spiritual tongues are not meant as a sign to Christians. “In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 14:21 Even with the outward expression of spiritual groanings, the Jewish people refused to listen to the word of God (Isaiah 28:11-12). “Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.” 1 Corinthians 14:22 Spiritual tongues are not intended to be spoken to the followers of Jesus Christ, and prophesying is for those who believe. In other words, Christians share the word of God, but speaking in spiritual tongues is to get the attention of non-believers.

“Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” 1 Corinthians 14:23 Speaking in spiritual tongues is not supposed to be done by a whole gathering of people at the same time. That would just give unbelievers another excuse to slander Christianity. “But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all.” 1 Corinthians 14:24 If a whole gathering of people is sharing the word of God, then an unbeliever would hear the Gospel of Christ and be more likely to come to Jesus for the remission of sin. “And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.” 1 Corinthians 14;25

Speaking in spiritual tongues is to be kept at a bare minimum, and even silenced. “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.” 1 Corinthians 14:26 As a follower of Jesus Christ, everything we do is to build each other up in the Spirit of Christ. Some share a song, some has something to teach, some has a revelation to make, some speak and interpret spiritual tongues, but all things are done to build one another up. “If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret.” 1 Corinthians 14:27 Speaking in tongues should be kept at the bare minimum, never more than three, and only one at a time are to speak. “But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.” 1 Corinthians 14:28 Speaking in spiritual tongues should never be done without someone being there to interpret what was just said, otherwise keep it to self and God.

Sharing the word of God is a group experience. “Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.” 1 Corinthians 14:29 When the word of God is spoken, the hearers will judge the merits of what is said. “But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent.” 1 Corinthians 14:30 If someone has a revelation from the Holy Scriptures which were spoken, then let those who spoke the word keep silent and let the one with the revelation speak. “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.” 1 Corinthians 14:31 Each follower of Jesus Christ has a word to share from the Bible, and we each should have that opportunity to speak. That helps everyone to learn, grow, and to be encouraged. “And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.” 1 Corinthians 14:32 Those who share a word from the Bible are subject to the prophets of the Holy Spirit inspired word of God.

God is the author peace within the fellowship of Believers. “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” 1 Corinthians 14:33 Where the followers of Jesus Christ gather, there is peace and order when sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who live by the mark of the beast create debate, conflict, and arguments wherever the Holy Scriptures are shared. “Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.” 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 “I am woman hear me roar” is the impetus of changing the world to conform to the “democratic” society of the mark of the beast and should not be in the churches.

The word of God is for a global audience, not just a specific group, “Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?” 1 Corinthians 14:36 The Bible originated from God through the Holy Spirit and is about our need for Jesus Christ. God’s word extends to every living person. “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 14:37 If we live by the word of God and are followers of Jesus Christ, then we need to acknowledge Paul’s words as being inspired by the Holy Spirit. “But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.” 1 Corinthians 14:38 If anyone refuses to acknowledge the authority of Paul under the Holy Spirit then they will have to live in their ignorance.

“Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.”

1 Corinthians 14:39-40

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1