1Follow after love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in another language speaks not to men, but to God, for no one understands, but in the Spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, exhortation, and consolation. 4He who speaks in another language edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the assembly. 5Now I desire to have you all speak with other languages, but even more that you would prophesy. For he is greater who prophesies than he who speaks with other languages, unless he interprets, that the assembly may be built up.
6But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking with other languages, what would I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophesying, or of teaching? 7Even lifeless things that make a sound, whether pipe or harp, if they didn’t give a distinction in the sounds, how would it be known what is piped or harped? 8For if the trumpet gave an uncertain sound, who would prepare himself for war? 9So also you, unless you uttered by the tongue words easy to understand, how would it be known what is spoken? For you would be speaking into the air. 10There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without meaning. 11If then I don’t know the meaning of the language, I would be to him who speaks a foreigner, and he who speaks would be a foreigner to me. 12So also you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek that you may abound to the building up of the assembly.
13Therefore let him who speaks in another language pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in another language, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.
15What should I do? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who fills the place of the unlearned say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, seeing he doesn’t know what you say? 17For you most certainly give thanks well, but the other person is not built up. 18I thank my God, I speak with other languages more than you all. 19However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
20Brothers, don’t be children in thoughts, yet in malice be babies, but in thoughts be mature. 21In the law it is written, “By men of strange languages and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people. They won’t even listen to me that way, says the Lord.” 22Therefore other languages are for a sign, not to those who believe, but to the unbelieving; but prophesying is for a sign, not to the unbelieving, but to those who believe. 23If therefore the whole assembly is assembled together and all speak with other languages, and unlearned or unbelieving people come in, won’t they say that you are crazy? 24But if all prophesy, and someone unbelieving or unlearned comes in, he is reproved by all, and he is judged by all. 25And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. So he will fall down on his face and worship God, declaring that God is among you indeed.
26What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up. 27If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern. 30But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent. 31For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted. 32The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, 33for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints. 34Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says, 35if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.” 36What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?
37If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize the things which I write to you, that they are the commandment of the Lord. 38But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.
39Therefore, brothers, desire earnestly to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking with other languages. 40Let all things be done decently and in order.
Not a God of Confusion
33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
Almost every day, I can look on the internet at a news channel or on X.com (formerly Twitter), and I can see chaos breaking out somewhere on planet Earth. It might be anarchists in Portland, Oregon, burning up buildings and setting up war zones. It might be illegal migrants and leftists throwing bottles and rocks at police officers. It might be chaos in the courts as they try to determine whether men can pretend they are women and compete in women’s sporting events. It might be drug cartels taking over Mexico and supplanting the police. It might even be leftists in America screaming and complaining that legitimate enforcement of laws is a “threat to democracy”, while the truth is that they are the greatest threat to democracy in our nation’s history. And yes, it might be the police usurping their authority and waging violence on innocent civilians.
WHEREVER, WHENEVER, AND WHATEVER the chaos might be, it has its origins in the bowels of hell. It always partners up with fear. It is a product of the enemy of our souls. Jesus cautioned, he comes to “steal, kill, and DESTROY”. Anarchists are hell-bent on destruction. They want to “bring down the system,” but they never articulate clearly what system they want to put in its place. The enemy has no plan. He desires to steal, kill, and destroy. However, God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. Paul adds that this especially includes the goings-on inside the church. When war and division break out in the church over the color of the carpet or some complaint about the music, the enemy is at work. Confusion and chaos don’t come from God. This theological understanding will help us to identify and attack the enemy’s plans of operation. When we see chaos, the enemy is at work, and spiritual warfare is in order.
And reader, this goes for your life as well. When you see chaos in your life accompanied by fear in your heart, reach out to God. God is not a God of confusion, but of sanity and order. Scripture tells us clearly that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7) That’s pretty much the opposite of chaos. That’s where we’re supposed to abide and rest. Ask God to turn down the static in your life. Ask Him to give you clarity. Ask Him to remove the chaos. He will do it.