"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I don't want you to be ignorant...." (1 Corinthians 12:1)
"The manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all...."(12:7)
"Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel...."(14:12)
"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? For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified" (built up by recognizable manifestation of the Holy Spirit). (14:16,17)
"I (Paul) thank my God that I speak in tongues more than you all; yet in the church (implying that he speaks in tongues for personal edification outside the church) I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue...."(14:18,19)
"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. Therefore, if the whole church comes together in one place and all speak with tongues (rendering the clear, piercing manifestation of God through the spiritual gifts UNRECOGNIZABLE), and there come in uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are 'out of your mind'?" (14:22,23)
"How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification (the building up of all gathering, believer or uninformed)" (14:26)
"If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant."(14:38) In the margin of the bible I use(NKJV), the last sentence is described this way: 'If anyone does not recognize this(as the commandment of the Lord), let him be UNRECOGNIZED'. Paul is showing us how to resist that which could serve to make us look spiritual, albeit disorderly, so that all engaged may RECOGNIZE God by his Spirit!
"Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order."(14:39,40)
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