1 Corinthians 14:13 .......... For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says.
The Apostle Paul, who wrote this letter to the church in Corinth, speaks a lot about tongues and their interpretation; especially in the context of prophecy.
Of the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12, five of them are oral gifts and two of them are tongues and the interpretation of tongues. The other three are the word of knowledge, the word of wisdom and prophecy.
Prophecy is speaking forth the revelatory word of God for the building-up of those who hear it. Prophecy is powerful and creative.
Jesus, the word of God who lived among us, created the whole universe and its entire contents by speaking forth the word of God that His Father gave Him to say.
When Christian believers, under the anointing of the Holy Spirit, prophesy in the name of Jesus, we unleash the power of God to work through us with unlimited creative potential.
Privately, as we speak in tongues, we edify ourselves. Not only that, we clear the lines of communication between heaven and earth and we are able to clearly hear what God is saying to us.
It is crucial that we take note and we take heed of what God is saying (more about Spiritual Journals later). Important as it is that we hear God, it is equally important that we do what He says.
Corporately, tongues are for building-up and speaking into the lives of the gathered group who hear us. The interpretation of the tongues often comes from the speaker of the tongues. The interpretation is a prophetic word from God and should be treated as such.
We must not treat prophecy with contempt but respectfully respond as unto the Lord.
Private tongues are for our personal edification; corporate tongues are for the edification of everyone else.
Lord Jesus, thank you for baptising us in the Holy Spirit and teaching us how to prophesy. Amen
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