DLCM DAILY MANNA-USE GOD’S GIFTS WISELY

DAILY MANNA DAILY DEVOTIONAL

USE GOD’S GIFTS WISELY

21^ST ,FEBRUARY 2022

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Judges 11-13

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 14:1-25

1 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 

2 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. 

3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 

4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 

5 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.

6 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 for battle? 

9 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. 

10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 

11 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. 

12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 

14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 

15 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. 

16 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? 

17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

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.

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 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.

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KEY VERSE: 1 Corinthians 14:19

“Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.”

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:

Make your message simple and understandable.

THE MESSAGE:

The arrival of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost marked the beginning of a new era. It was in fulfilment of the Lord’s promises to send “another Comforter”. It also marked the beginning of the “latter days”. The 120 disciples, who tarried in Jerusalem as the Lord had commanded, were all baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.

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Apostle Paul, in our text, gave instructions to the Church on the proper usage of the gift of speaking in other tongues. He counsels the Church to specialise in prophesying to edify the brethren rather than speaking in a language people will not understand except there is an interpreter. A person speaking in unknown tongues will look like “a Barbarian” to an audience that does not understand him. So it is better to speak a few meaningful words that edify than “ten thousand words in an unknown tongue”.

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The essence of communication is to convey messages that can be understood. If the message is not clear or understandable, then that essence is lost. In many assemblies, language churches are established to make the message of God clearer to those who may not understand English. God wants us to understand His purpose for us so that we can benefit from His power, mercy and grace.

Speaking in tongues, therefore, is not for showmanship or a mark of high spiritual attainment. Since the mysteries of God may be revealed through tongues, believers are admonished to “forbid not to speak with tongues”, but to ensure it is done decently and in order.

DO HAVE A BLESSED DAY

©2022 DAILY MANNA IS a daily devotional by PASTOR W.F KUMUYI (General Overseer, DEEPER LIFE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY )