Speaking in Tongues

Our final day of the spring fundraiser at The Family and so I'm taking a break from the verse by verse exposition of Timothy to share some other devotional thoughts from my journal. (By the way, if you would like to support the ministry of The Family, you can do so at www.supportthefamily.net) Today's Prime Time Devo comes from a journal entry on January 16, 2009 and it contains some thoughts of “speaking in tongues.” The text is from 1Co 14:6-8, “ 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 himself for battle? This gift of the Spirit is quite a spectacular gift. The Apostle Paul had this gift and was quite thankful for it! He said in 1Co 14:18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 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. He seemed to indicate here that he would rather use this gift in his prayer closet than in church. Paul was more interested in clarity in the public worship setting. Clarity that the Holy Spirit would use to bring revelation, knowledge, proclamation (thus saith the Lords) and teaching to all within earshot. He didn't want to be like the teacher in the Peanuts cartoon, that blathered on with “wah, wah, wa wa wah” and no one in the class was receiving what was being said. Better to speak with clarity. If tongues are used in the public worship setting, they must be accompanied with a clear interpretation for the benefit of all. This underlines the point that when the Holy Spirit speaks, He speaks with clarity! His revelations, His shared knowledge, His declarations, and His teachings are not muddled! They are meant to be crystal clear and not a collection of random vagueness. His clarity of speech brings revelation, knowledge, proclamation, and teaching into every situation, and is meant to edify, (build up) God's children!.