OUR FATHER WHO SPEAKS TO UNBELIEVERS USING MEN WHO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES

1 Corinthians chapter 14 verses 20 - 25 continues with the Apostle Paulˋs advice to the Corinthian church were he adjures them to be mature in understanding of spiritual things and yet to be like children in things like malice and vengeance. Paul then points to an old testament scripture that references the speaking of other tongues and with foreign lips that would be used to speak to the children of Israel and yet they would not hear the Lord.

20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

21 In the law it is written:

“With men of other tongues and other lips to

I will speak to this people;

And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.

22 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. 23 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? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 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.

Paul tells the Corinthians that the gift of tongues is not a sign to believers but to unbelievers while prophecy is a not a sign to unbelievers but to believers. He envisions a scenario where a believer who does not know of tongues or an unbeliever enters a building where all members are speaking in tongues,  would they not say that the people are out of their minds and reject them?  This is what the scripture why the scripture was saying that those who heard the speaking of tongues would not listen to the voice of the LORD.

On the other hand, Paul says that if they all prophecied instead of speaking in tongues, the unbelievers and skeptical people might hear the prophetic excavation of their lives and fall down and worship God which would contradict the scripture.

Thus Paul says that speaking in tongues is the proper prescription for public spiritual expression if unbelievers and skeptics are present. Prophecy is for the edification and guidance of believers and not unbelievers or skeptics.

Amen.

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