Is revival coming ?

phipps

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Could this be why one might be speaking in an unknown tongue?

"He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself"

It's not supposed to be understandable by men. It's something between you and God. It's a mystery.

"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"
I explained in this post above how Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 14. I posted, "In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul is writing to the Corinthians about the misuse of the gift of tongues. The way he writes is first he says something to emphasize his point then its followed by a contradictory statement. He writes how it should be, then how it shouldn't be."

I then posted the first five verses to show how Paul wrote chapter 14. I'll repost them.

Verse 1 is how it should be, "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy." Prophesy in this context means preaching or proclaiming the gospel and no one can do that without love.

Verse 2 is how it should not be, "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." Paul does not agree with this statement. If one speaks in a different language only God can understand them and no one else. The purpose of speaking in a different language is to preach the gospel not for only God to understand.

Verse 3 is how it should be, "But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men."

Verse 4a
, how it should not be, "He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself,"

Verse 4b, how i should be, "but he who prophesies edifies the church."

Verse 5a, how it should not be, "I wish you all spoke with tongues,"

Verse 5b, how it should be, "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." No gift is greater than the other but the one who prophesies is greater than someone who speaks in tongues without an interpreter to make him understood.

Verse 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" is a negative. Paul does not approve. We should not be speaking in tongues/languages where no one understands what we are saying except God. The purpose of person having the gift of speaking in tongues/languages is to preach the gospel. In fact Paul wrote in verse 9 and 28, "So likewise ye; except ye utter by tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air." "But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God." If one has no interpreter they should communicate with themselves and with God quietly otherwise they'll speaking into the air. Also Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:7, "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all." Its for the profit of man not God, when one has the gift of speaking in tongues.

Verse 3, "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort." Paul is saying when a person speaks in tongues and prophecies (teaches or preaches) its for the encouragement and comfort to others.

Verse 4, "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself;" this is the first part of verse 4. Those that speak an unknown tongue/language where no one understands speak to themselves. He does not agree because in the second half of verse 4 he starts with a "but", "but he that prophesieth edifieth the church." Preaching God's Word builds up the church. In order for people understand what a person is teaching or preaching about, they've got to be speaking in a language the congregation understand or have someone interpret as Paul mentions later in verse 27, "If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret."

Paul was not contradicting himself. Once we understand how he wrote the chapter it becomes clear that he is not saying speaking in tongues is not to be understood by men, only by God and its a mystery. He would be contradicting himself and the whole Bible if that is what he was saying. Babbling incoherently is not biblical and is not of God.

On the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, the disciples spoke in tongues that the native speakers of those languages understood. The disciples had never spoken in those languages before too. That is the gift of tongues. Those who had the disciples speak were astonished, they said, "Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? ..., we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God" (Acts 2:8-11). As a result, thousands of these visitors were converted and baptised.

Also the churches that "speak in tongues" have everybody do it but Paul made it clear that we all get different spiritual gifts. He wrote, "for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills" (1 Corinthians 12:8-11). If everyone has the same spiritual gift something is not right in that church I'm afraid. And its definitely not the Holy Spirit making them babble incoherently and act as though they are possessed. The Holy Spirit (God) does not work like that according to God's Word.
 
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