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20 Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; rather, be infants in evil, but in thinking be adults. 21 In the law it is written,

‘By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people; yet even then they will not listen to me,’

says the Lord. 22 Tongues, then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, an unbeliever or outsider who enters is reproved by all and called to account by all. 25 After the secrets of the unbeliever’s heart are disclosed, that person will bow down before God and worship him, declaring, ‘God is really among you.’

 

In this chapter Paul is contrasting speaking in tongues and prophecy, which N.T. Wright defines as “speaking God’s word intelligibly both under spontaneous prompting by the Spirit and after mature and careful thought and is designed to further the work of bringing people to faith”.

 

I have heard of speaking in tongues but never witnessed it myself. I have, however, listened to Christian brothers and sisters, whom I greatly respect, explain profound Christian concepts in logical and meaningful ways. I agree with Paul that prophecy is the more “adult” and worthwhile experience. It shines a spotlight on your innermost being, “the secrets of the heart” and makes you realize again the extent of God’s love, care and forgiveness. It produces the desire to bow down in worship and in thankfulness.

 

Dear Lord, thank you for the gift of prophecy which you give to some that benefits all the body of Christ as well as unbelievers. Amen

 

Linda Giesen

linda.giesen37@gmail.com

 

Prayer concern: That Living Lord Church would be a place where people would say “God is really among you