1 Corinthians 14

In the last chapter we saw that two of the manifestations were distinctly different to the others in that speaking in tongues and the manifestation of believing are there for our own personal use and profit, while the rest are there so we can help others. We learned that from those usages of allos and heteros.

1 Corinthians 12:7-10
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another [allos] the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

To another [heteros] faith [believing] by the same Spirit; to another [allos] the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

To another [allos] the working of miracles; to another [allos] prophecy; to another [allos] discerning of spirits; to another [heteros] divers kinds of tongues; to another [allos] the interpretation of tongues:

Now this might come as a bit of a surprise and a shock, it certainly was for me when I first saw it, but the revelation manifestations are not there for our own personal use and profit. You might want to sit down and read that a couple of times to let it sink in. The revelation manifestations are not there for our own personal use and profit. Interpretation of tongues, prophecy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, miracles and healing are not there for our own personal use and profit, they are there so we can help others. There's quite a bit of new light coming in the next couple of chapters, so track with me and take the time to study the bible to see if these things are so.

1 Corinthians 13 clearly falls within the context of the spiritual matters of 1 Corinthians 12:1, so the love of God is a spiritual matter and as such has nothing whatsoever to do with emotion or intellect.

1 Corinthians 12:1
Now concerning spiritual [pneumatikos - spiritual matters] gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

As renewing your mind is a human ability it can't therefore lead you to the love of God. The renewed mind is the key to unlocking spiritual matters, but it is not a spiritual matter in and of itself. The bible is the instruction manual on how to walk by the spirit. Reading the manual and doing what it says is the key to walking by the spirit. Unless we walk by the spirit, reading the manual is a waste of time. If we study the bible every day for the rest of our lives and develop our human abilities to become the most personable people on earth, but never walk by the spirit with Christ as our head we will never get to the love of God. That's why chapter 13 is sandwiched in a parenthesis between chapters 12 and 14.

As chapter 13 is a parenthesis, we can basically read from the end of chapter 12 to the first verse of chapter 14 without losing the flow of the narrative. Huh? I'm not going to teach chapter 13? Listen up you 1 Corinthians 13 fans, are you aware that the entire chapter is a parenthetical insertion into the context of chapters 12 and 14? It isn't even part of the immediate context. You can't stick chapter 13 on a pedestal and praise it to the skies while ignoring chapter's 12 and 14 and stand approved before God as a workman rightly dividing the word of truth. If you don't live chapters 12 and 14, your definition of the love of God is horseshit.

If we live chapters 12 and 14, then yes, chapter 13 takes on beautiful depth and meaning, and the parenthetical figure of speech highlighting the entire chapter for special emphasis can be enjoyed. Those who worship chapter 13 while ignoring chapters 12 and 14 can be likened to people who daydream about living with the love of God but never do what it takes to get there. The love of God is a spiritual matter that grows from what we do with the gift of holy spirit. Read from chapter 12 to chapter 14 and see how the word flows.

1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1
But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

Follow after charity [agapē - the love of God], and desire spiritual gifts, [pneumatikos - spiritual matters] but rather that ye may prophesy.

The context of chapter 14 is still in the church from chapter 12. Not only that, but if you read the flow of the context, walking with the love of God is something that grows and develops from operating the manifestations. We follow after, we earnestly pursue the love of God by desiring spiritual matters as they relate to helping others in the church. This ties in beautifully with Galatians where the fruit of the spirit is listed. Note that this is fruit of the spirit, not fruit of the good works of man. If you don't walk by the spirit, you will never cultivate this fruit and you will never walk in the love of God.

Galatians 5:22,23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

If you want to walk with the love of God and manifest this kind of fruit, look for opportunities to manifest the gift of holy spirit. Get serious about living chapters 12 and 14 or you'll never experience chapter 13 in your life. These spiritual qualities are not human qualities we can develop by simply renewing our minds or doing any other works of the flesh.

1 Corinthians 14:1
Follow after [diōkō] charity, and desire spiritual gifts, [pneumatikos - spiritual matters] but rather that ye may prophesy. 

This really is quite a verse. Diōkō is more usually translated as to persecute, and it means to earnestly pursue. We are to earnestly pursue the love of God. How we earnestly pursue the love of God isn't by ignoring chapters 12 and 14, it's by doing our best to live them. It's like getting out of debt. Unless you earnestly pursue that goal by refusing to go further into debt, refusing to buy on impulse, keeping to a rigid budget, living within your means and controlling your expenses, you will never get there. If you want out of debt, you have to do what's required. Sure, God will help you, but don't expect all your problems to be waved away by magic. If you do the word and fight to get out of debt with commitment and faithfulness, you will get there with God's help. What do you think being a super conqueror means? Daydreaming and all your problems magic away? If you get serious about living chapters 12 and 14, you will eventually experience what it is to live with the love of God. If you don't give of your life in service to others by manifesting the gift of holy spirit with commitment and faithfulness you won't ever experience the love of God. If you want to walk with the love of God and enjoy fruit of the spirit in your life, this is how you get there.

1 Corinthians 14:1-3
Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

We've already established that the context here is in the church, and that none of these scriptures can be taken out of that context. Keeping this in mind it's easy to make sense of this. In the church our perspective changes from operating manifestations for our own personal use and profit to operating manifestations that help others. When we go to a church meeting where believers are gathered we are to seek to edify and build them up with the manifestations of tongues with interpretation and prophecy. When we speak in tongues we edify ourselves, but when we manifest tongues with interpretation and prophecy we speak words of edification, exhortation, and comfort which builds up the church.

When you speak in tongues, you're not speaking to men you're speaking to God. You have no idea what you're saying, you're speaking mysteries, divine secrets with God. When you energise the manifestation of prophecy in a church meeting, you're speaking in your own language or in the language of the believer's present so everyone there understands what you're saying.

Prophecy, as well as interpretation of tongues, will always edify, exhort and comfort the church. The manifestations are given for profit, and the profit arising from prophecy and interpretation of tongues is that we are edified, exhorted and comforted. This means of course that there will never be reproof or correction in any interpretation of tongues or manifestation of prophecy.

At this point, let's consider the profit of the manifestations. The uses of allos and heteros define who the manifestations profit, either ourselves or others. However, there is an amazing distinction here. For example, when we speak in tongues, we are edified spiritually, no one else is, but others do profit from that as we grow spiritually and become more effective ministers. Speaking in tongues is for our own use, but the profit is actually shared in the church in different ways. When we speak in tongues and interpret or prophesy, it is for the edifying of the church. Well, it just so happens that the person speaking is also part of the church and those words edify, exhort and comfort their minds as well. The profit is actually shared!

The distinction here is that the primary profit of each manifestation is tied closely together with to whom each manifestation is for. See the distinction here? The usages of allos and heteros therefore are quite unique in that they define there is a primary profit for each manifestation together with an emphasis on who they are for.

1 Corinthians 12:7-10
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another [allos] the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

To another [heteros] faith [believing] by the same Spirit; to another [allos] the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

To another [allos] the working of miracles; to another [allos] prophecy; to another [allos] discerning of spirits; to another [heteros] divers kinds of tongues; to another [allos] the interpretation of tongues:

In verses 8-10 God isn't just telling us there is a profit for this and a profit for that, he's showing us who each manifestation is primarily profitable to by those usages of allos and heteros. To illustrate, consider the record of Tabitha being raised from the dead by Peter.

Acts 9:36-42
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

The manifestations Peter operated here were not for his own profit, they were for Tabitha's. However, did anyone else profit from it? Sure, the word says many believed in the Lord, that's profit isn't it? Peter and the other disciples would have profited from Tabitha's life after she was raised from the dead don't you think? The usages of allos and heteros only refer to the primary profit of each manifestation, so we can safely conclude that God's real intent wasn't just to string together a list of differing profits, but so we would know that speaking in tongues and believing were for our own personal use and profit while interpretation of tongues, prophecy, the revelation manifestations, miracles and healing are only there to be used to help others. So the revelation manifestations are not there for our own personal use.

By the way, while we're here, the manifestation of prophecy is different to the gift ministry of a prophet. A man or woman with the gift ministry of a prophet may be given information about future events by revelation, like Agabus in the book of Acts.

Acts 21:10,11
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus.

And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.

The gift ministry of a prophet has absolutely nothing to do with the manifestation of prophecy. Every born again believer can operate the manifestation of prophecy because we all have the gift of holy spirit, but the gift ministry of a prophet is a special extra gift to the church. Of course, a man with the gift ministry of a prophet would obviously be able to operate the manifestation of prophecy as well. We are dealing here with the manifestation of prophecy, not the gift ministry of a prophet. The manifestation of prophecy will always, without exception, provide edification, exhortation and comfort. I can assure you that is very different to what a prophet usually delivers when he's energising his gift ministry.

1 Corinthians 14:3
But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

Edification means to build up, exhortation means to encourage, and comfort means just that, to speak kindly. The words spoken while interpreting tongues and prophesying in the church will always fall clearly within these boundaries. This is an example of a possible interpretation of tongues or a prophecy as could be spoken in a home church meeting.

I am your God, your father, and I love you. My heart is written in the words of my word, so study them, be diligent to search out my heart for you for then you will truly understand my love for you. Walk fearlessly, knowing that I am with you and will never leave you or forsake you.

1 Corinthians 14:4
He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.

Here we can clearly see differences in profit between speaking in tongues and prophecy. Speaking in tongues edifies the person doing the speaking, while prophecy edifies those listening in a church meeting. Speaking in tongues is how we build ourselves up spiritually. When we get to a church meeting with other believers we are to think more in terms of building them up. That's exactly what Paul says in the next verse.

1 Corinthians 14:5
I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

Interpretation and prophecy are only greater than speaking in tongues when we are in the church. This makes complete sense because speaking in tongues is for our own personal use, while interpretation of tongues and prophecy are to be used to profit the church. We are to speak in tongues much in our private lives, but when we get together as a church we are to prefer tongues with interpretation and prophecy so others can be edified and built up in their minds with words they can understand, words of edification, exhortation and comfort.

1 Corinthians 14:6
Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

The logic here is that if we simply just speak in tongues out loud at a church meeting, what good is it to anyone? All they hear are words that mean absolutely nothing to them. If we want to help people, they have to understand what we're saying.

1 Corinthians 14:7-9
And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.

Unless we speak in the language of the people present our words will be meaningless.

1 Corinthians 14:10,11
There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification.

Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

If we go to our church meetings and we all speak in tongues out loud to each other it would just be a noise. We would be as well grunting like animals for all the good it would do for the church.

1 Corinthians 14:12
Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual [pneuma - spirit] gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

I think the reason pneuma was translated spiritual here was so they could insert the word gifts into the text. Scratch it out, it's a forgery. We're zealous to energise the gift of holy spirit which includes all nine manifestations. People in the world are zealous for television, for computers, for music, for education, for politics, for cars, for relationships, for clothes, for family, for books, for movies and a million other things, but we are to be zealous to energise and manifest holy spirit. When we meet with other believers in a church meeting, we should be excited about having an opportunity to edify them by way of manifestations. That is, after all, how we develop fruit of the spirit and grow into walking with the love of God.

1 Corinthians 14:13
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

To pray here is in the essence of we are to believe for God to inspire us to interpret tongues at the meeting. If there are forty people there, God isn't going to inspire everyone to prophecy or give an interpretation, so we are to quietly speak in tongues and believe and pray for that open door. Inside we should be champing at the bit for God to inspire us to manifest at church meetings. That's being zealous of spirit and seeking to excel to the edifying of the church.

This brings up an intriguing aspect of how we are to conduct our church meetings when it comes to manifestations. The word clearly states here that we are to be zealous for and to pray that we get an opportunity to interpret tongues and prophesy at our church meetings, right? How does God answer that prayer? By telling your home church leader to pick you? No, that's not how walking by the spirit works in this administration. God does not dwell in temples made with hands, we are all to walk by the spirit. Christ is our head, not men. If God wants you to speak in tongues and interpret at a church meeting, he will tell you through the Christ in you, not through your home church leader. That's why we are to pray that we may interpret.

1 Corinthians 11:3
But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man [her husband]; and the head of Christ is God.

It's God in Christ in you, and Christ is our head. That's how we walk by the spirit. The Christ in us is the gift of holy spirit. God communicates to the Christ in us, and the Christ in us communicates with our minds. Where does man come into that? Man does not determine who manifests, Christ does because Christ is our head. Do home church leaders pick people to receive revelation? Do home church leaders pick people to perform miracles? Men picking people to manifest is just ridiculous. Christ is our head.

Manifestations should be operated by those inspired by God, not those instructed to by men. We don't pick people to manifest prior to a home church meeting, we make it available to manifest and those who are inspired speak. Anything else is a religious ceremony and it will profit you nothing. As soon as men start dictating who does what in home church meetings when it comes to manifestations, Christ is not our head and we are following men.

I know this from experience. When I used to run a home church for a temple made with hands, I didn't get revelation on who to pick to manifest, I picked people out of my own head, sometimes days in advance. That's not how we do things in the church, not if Christ is our head. If our home church leader is responsible for who manifests, what is the point of praying that we may interpret? Why not just go ask the home church leader if you can do it at the next meeting? See, these verses only make sense if we're walking by the spirit. Christ has to be our head, not men.

1 Corinthians 14:14
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding [nous - my entire mind] is unfruitful.

When we speak in tongues, it is that spirit of Christ in us that is praying and we're edified when we do it, but our understanding is unfruitful, which means our minds get nothing out of it. The Greek word nous is our entire minds. Our minds get absolutely nothing out of speaking in tongues. That's right, speaking in tongues edifies our spirit, how we build up our minds is with faithful study of God's word and by hearing words of edification by way of manifestations at church meetings. Speaking in tongues will do absolutely nothing for your mind because your entire mind is unfruitful, it gets nothing out of it. If you want a strong mind, you need to put the word in there and believe it.

1 Corinthians 14:15
What is it then? 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.

Singing with the spirit is a lot of fun, and it's a great way to build yourself up through the day.

Ephesians 5:18,19
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Making melody in our hearts with spiritual songs is singing in tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:16,17
Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

Paul has made his argument well and clearly explains why interpretation of tongues and prophecy are profitable in our church meetings while speaking in tongues is not. Speaking in tongues is giving thanks well and it's profitable to you, but no one else in the meeting gets anything out of it because our minds get nothing from speaking in tongues. This doesn't mean speaking in tongues isn't important, or is less important than interpretation of tongues or prophecy, it simply means it's not directly profitable to the church. It's for our own personal use and profit.

1 Corinthians 14:18,19
I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

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.

There's nothing difficult about this. Paul isn't saying here that speaking in tongues isn't important, he's saying that when he's in the church he'd rather interpret tongues and prophecy so that others would benefit.

When you're not with other believers, the manifestations you can operate for your own profit are speaking in tongues and the manifestation of believing. As interpretation of tongues and prophecy are not for our own personal use, it logically follows then that we are not to ever attempt to manifest them on our own to ourselves. If we do, the words we speak will not be coming from God they will be coming from our own heads. Those manifestations are not for us, they're to be used in church meetings to edify, exhort and comfort the church.

1 Corinthians 14:20-22
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

Speaking in tongues is a manifestation which we can use as a demonstration of God's power to those who have no understanding of spiritual matters. Hearing men and women speaking languages they don't know and then giving the interpretation is going to get their attention. If there are no new people at your home church, prophecy would be just fine. There wouldn't really be a need for speaking in tongues as it is the interpretation that carries the edification, exhortation, and comfort. Speaking in tongues with interpretation serves more as a sign to new people that you're manifesting the power of God.

1 Corinthians 14:23
If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

If we speak in tongues out loud without giving any interpretations and someone new is there, they might think we were lunatics speaking gibberish. It's appropriate to speak in tongues together without interpretation in controlled sessions for practice and to teach people how to do it, but not if someone new has just walked in off the street. Chances are they'd walk right back out again, so use your head when operating manifestations during church meetings. Everything must be done decently and in order, for edifying.

1 Corinthians 14:24-27
But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

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.

At church meetings, two or three people speak in tongues and interpret. Similarly with the manifestation of prophecy. By course means one after the other, decently and in order, not all at the same time, which would not be by course and would be out of order.

Here we have a standard within which the manifestations are profitable. From these verses we can see that between two and six people manifest at a church meeting, with two or three people speaking in tongues and interpreting and between two and three people giving prophecy. Remember, we're not talking about preparing a ceremony in advance and selecting a few individuals out of our own heads to manifest, as home church leaders we simply make it available and those inspired to manifest get their opportunity to excel to the edifying of the church. Rather than ask specific people to speak in tongues and interpret or prophesy, make it available and then shut up and enjoy seeing and hearing people inspired by God speak messages that edify, exhort and comfort.

Let one interpret means the same one who did the speaking in tongues does the interpretation, not someone else. If someone speaks in tongues, and then someone else gives what they call the interpretation, all they're doing is energising the manifestation of  prophecy. Those who do that should read the next verse, because the non interpreter is obviously the person who would be doing the speaking in tongues.

1 Corinthians 14:27
But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

By the way, this establishes the truth that we do not select beforehand those who are to manifest at a church meeting. Choosing people beforehand and picking on them in a meeting introduces fear into believers, especially new people. Don't think it doesn't happen either. I've met young believers who practiced messages before a meeting and memorised them because they were terrified of being asked to manifest. Even as a mature believer, there were days I really just did not want to manifest and dreaded being asked because I was not in the right frame of mind. So instead of going to church meetings and believing to be inspired by God to manifest, folks go there worried about whether or not they're going to be picked on to do it? How is that edifying to the church? It also encourages ego as folks who are picked the most are often tempted to think they're really spiritual or something.

If we did things God's way, things like this wouldn't happen. Only those who believe and who desire to do so should be operating manifestations at church meetings. You don't know who those people are, but God does and he certainly isn't going to tell you the day before who to pick off the top of your head. That's walking by the senses, and it turns what should be inspiring and edifying messages from God into dry ceremonial horseshit. If people don't want to manifest at a church meeting, that's fine according to the word. Read verse 27 again.

1 Corinthians 14:27
But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Believers who don't have the confidence to interpret tongues or prophecy are to speak in tongues quietly to themselves, and that's okay with God, it's no big deal. You speak in tongues to yourself by speaking quietly in your head. In the meantime, keep studying the word and strive towards excelling in the church by building your believing to get there. There's no fear or coercion or ego in this if it's done according to the word. You home church leaders, stop picking on people to manifest. It breeds fear in young believers and ego in those with flashy nametags.

Are you struggling with this new light? I did at first until I realised how loving it is. Haven't you had enough of ceremonial horseshit yet? Don't you want to walk with Christ as your head instead of men? Don't pick people to manifest, let those who are seeking to excel, those who are praying and believing, those who are zealously desiring spiritual matters and who want to walk in the love of God interpret tongues and prophesy. Let's make Christ our head again and start walking by the spirit and strip all that broken cistern horseshit out of our lives and out of our home churches.

By the same token, if you're at a church meeting and God inspires you to speak up, don't hold back in fear, open your mouth and speak, get that Christ in you energised with believing. The home church leader will call on folks to manifest and make it available, so if you're inspired, get in there and edify the church.

Verses 29-36 deal specifically with the gift ministries of a prophet and how they are to be properly conducted at home church meetings. The prophets take their turn, and their wives are not to interrupt them during the meetings. Paul then concludes this whole section dealing with how we conduct our affairs within the church.

1 Corinthians 14:37
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

Everything Paul has written throughout chapters 12 and 14 are commandments. If you want to know what the will of God is in our day and time, you've just read some of it.

1 Corinthians 14:38
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

A couple of things here before we close. First of all, the same mechanics of speech are involved when you interpret tongues and prophesy as when you speak in tongues. The only difference is that the words you speak are in your own language. You don't make the words up, you just speak the interpretation of the tongue or the prophecy and the words will be there. If you can speak in tongues, you can interpret just as easily. If you can speak in tongues you can prophesy just as easily because it's coming from the same Christ in you as the tongues came from. You don't make up the words as you go along, you simply speak and the words will be there. As you speak words forth, the rest will follow just as they do when you speak in tongues.

Secondly, when it comes to interpretation of tongues, the interpretation will be approximately the same length as the speaking in tongues because that's how language works. It doesn't matter in which language I say, it's a lovely day, the length of the sentence will generally always be the same. It wouldn't take a minute to say it's a lovely day in any language.

If someone says five sentences in tongues, the interpretation should be five sentences as well, not two or ten, with me? If someone speaks in tongues for a minute and then interprets for ten seconds, they are not manifesting accurately. If someone speaks in tongues for ten seconds and then interprets for a minute, they're not manifesting accurately. As you speak in tongues in a church meeting, be conscious of how long you're speaking for and aim to give an interpretation of about the same length, don't cut it short and don't go on repeating yourself over and over.

How you accomplish this is up to you. How I do it is by counting on my fingers how many sentences I'm saying in tongues so I have an idea when I'm done with the interpretation. I don't get it right every time, no one does, but on the rare occasion when I do cut an interpretation short or go over I always know and make sure I don't do it the next time.

You can also cut short prophecy or go over and beyond the message. Don't worry about it though, it's all part of the learning. This isn't about being perfect and being judged by men, it's about children learning to walk by the spirit and growing in the love of God. It's no big deal. How many young children do you know get up on their feet and walk perfectly the first time they try it without falling down? It doesn't happen. If you cut a message short, just smile and enjoy it anyway, at least you're learning and growing. If you go over with a message, you'll find you just keep repeating yourself anyway, saying the same thing over and over again. Learn and grow.

When you learn by experience, you'll eventually get it right just about every time. You mature believers, quit frowning at the kids as they're learning. Do you frown and scold toddlers with reproof and correction when they fall over as they're learning to walk? How cold and religious is that? Come on folks, let's get back to loving people again and walking with the love of God.

1 Corinthians 14:38-40
But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Let all things be done decently and in order.

Chapter 74 - The Revelation Manifestations