March 21
Guidelines for Gifts
1 Corinthians 14:27-28

 

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.
28: But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.

He gives a guideline here for those speaking in tongues and interpreting tongues.  Let 2 or 3 people give a message in tongues and let one interpret.  But if no one is there with a gift to interpret then there’s no sense in giving the tongue. Instead, they can speak/pray quietly to themselves.

Note that anyone who is filled with the Holy Spirit can pray quietly to him/herself in tongues during a church service.  He’s not putting a restriction on praying in tongues if you pray quietly to yourself.  He’s talking about a gift of tongues which is a message for the whole church.  This differs from the prayer language of tongues any believer can receive when filled with the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-46, Acts 19:6).

It’s interesting to note that we should be able to recognize each other’s gifts.  Otherwise how would we know if someone with a gift to interpret is present (Apart from us praying to interpret the tongue ourselves)?

 

Confession:

I will follow the guidelines of the Bible concerning the gift of tongues and interpretation of tongues.

Obedience is a tree of life!