1Corinthians 12-14 - Prayer Tents

1Corinthians 12

Spiritual Gifts

12Now, dear brothers and sisters

, regarding your question about the special abilities the Spirit gives us. I don't want you to misunderstand this.G1161G4012G4152G80G2309G3756G2309G5209G502You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept along in worshiping speechless idols.G1492G3754G2258G1484G520G4314G880G1497G5613G302G713So I want you to know that no one speaking by the Spirit of God will curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit.G1352G1107G5213G1107G3754G3762G2980G1722G4151G2316G3004G2424G331G2532G3762G1410G2036G2424G2962G1508G1722G40G41514There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.G1161G1526G1243G5486G1161G846G41515There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord.G2532G1526G1243G1248G2532G846G29626God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.G2532G1526G1243G1755G1161G2076G846G2316G3588G1754G3956G1722G39567A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.G1161G5321G4151G1325G1538G4314G48518To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice

; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.G1063G3739G3303G1325G1223G4151G3056G4678G1161G243G3056G1108G2596G846G41519The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.G1161G2087G4102G1722G846G4151G1161G243G5486G2386G1722G846G415110He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages

, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said.G1161G243G1755G1411G1161G243G4394G1161G243G1253G4151G1161G2087G1085G1100G1161G243G2058G110011It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.G1161G3956G5023G1754G1520G2532G846G4151G1244G1538G2398G2531G1014

One Body with Many Parts

12The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ.G1063G2509G4983G2076G1520G2532G2192G4183G3196G1161G3956G3196G1520G4983G5607G4183G2076G1520G4983G3779G2532G554713Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles

, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.G1063G2532G1722G1520G4151G907G2249G3956G907G1519G1520G4983G1535G2453G1535G1672G1535G1401G1535G1658G2532G4222G3956G4222G1519G1520G415114Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.G2532G1063G4983G2076G3756G1520G3196G235G418315If the foot says, "I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand," that does not make it any less a part of the body.G1437G4228G2036G3754G1510G3756G5495G1510G3756G1537G4983G2076G3756G3844G5124G3756G1537G498316And if the ear says, "I am not part of the body because I am not an eye," would that make it any less a part of the body?G2532G1437G3775G2036G3754G1510G3756G3788G1510G3756G1537G4983G2076G3756G3844G5124G3756G1537G498317If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?G1487G3650G4983G3788G4226G189G1487G3650G189G4226G375018But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it.G1161G3570G5087G2316G5087G3196G1538G1520G846G1722G4983G2531G230919How strange a body would be if it had only one part!G1161G1487G2258G3956G1520G3196G4226G498320Yes, there are many parts, but only one body.G1161G3568G3303G4183G3196G1161G1520G498321The eye can never say to the hand, "I don't need you." The head can't say to the feet, "I don't need you."G1161G3788G3756G1410G2036G5495G2192G3756G5532G4675G2228G3825G2776G4228G2192G3756G5532G521622In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary.G235G4183G3123G3196G4983G1380G5225G772G2076G31623And the parts we regard as less honorable are those we clothe with the greatest care. So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen,G2532G3739G4983G1380G1511G820G5125G4060G4055G5092G2532G2257G809G2192G4055G215724while the more honorable parts do not require this special care. So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity.G1161G2257G2158G2192G3756G5532G235G2316G4786G4983G4786G1325G4055G5092G530225This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other.G3363G5600G3363G4978G1722G4983G235G3196G3309G846G3309G5228G24026If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.G2532G1535G1520G3196G3958G3956G3196G4841G1535G1520G3196G1392G3956G3196G479627All of you together are Christ's body, and each of you is a part of it.G1161G5210G2075G4983G5547G2532G3196G1537G331328Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church: first are apostles, second are prophets, third are teachers, then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, those who can help others, those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages.G2532G3739G2316G5087G3303G1722G1577G4412G652G1208G4396G5154G1320G1899G1411G1534G5486G2386G484G2941G1085G110029Are we all apostles? Are we all prophets? Are we all teachers? Do we all have the power to do miracles?G3361G3956G652G3361G3956G4396G3361G3956G1320G3361G3956G141130Do we all have the gift of healing? Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? Of course not!G3361G2192G3956G5486G2386G3956G3361G2980G1100G3361G3956G132931So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.G1161G2206G2909G5486G2532G2089G1166G5213G2596G5236G3598

1Corinthians 13

Love Is the Greatest

13If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.G1437G2980G1100G444G2532G32G1161G2192G3361G26G1096G2278G5475G2228G214G29502If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing.G2532G1437G2192G4394G2532G1492G3956G3466G2532G3956G1108G2532G1437G2192G3956G4102G5620G3179G3735G1161G2192G3361G26G1510G37623If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it

; but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.G2532G1437G5595G3956G3450G5224G5595G2532G1437G3860G3450G4983G2443G2545G1161G2192G3361G26G5623G37624Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proudG26G3114G5541G26G2206G3756G26G4068G3756G4068G5448G3756G54485or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged.G807G3756G807G2212G3756G1438G3947G3756G3947G3049G3756G25566It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.G5463G3756G1909G93G1161G4796G2257Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.G4722G3956G4100G3956G1679G3956G5278G39568Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages

and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!G26G3763G1601G1161G1535G4394G2673G1535G1100G3973G1535G1108G26739Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture!G1063G1097G1537G3313G2532G4395G1537G331310But when full understanding comes, these partial things will become useless.G1161G3752G5046G2064G5119G1537G3313G267311When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things.G3753G2252G3516G2980G5613G3516G5426G5613G3516G3049G5613G3516G1161G3753G1096G435G2673G351612Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity

. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.G1063G737G991G1223G2072G1722G135G1161G5119G4383G4314G4383G737G1097G1537G3313G1161G5119G1921G2531G2532G192113Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.G1161G3570G3306G4102G1680G26G5023G5140G1161G3187G5130G26

1Corinthians 14

Tongues and Prophecy

14Let love be your highest goal! But you should also desire the special abilities the Spirit gives—especially the ability to prophesy.G1377G26G1161G2206G4152G1161G3123G2443G43952For if you have the ability to speak in tongues

, you will be talking only to God, since people won't be able to understand you. You will be speaking by the power of the Spirit, but it will all be mysterious.G1063G2980G1100G2980G3756G444G235G2316G1063G3762G191G1161G4151G2980G34663But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.G1161G4395G2980G444G3619G2532G3874G2532G38894A person who speaks in tongues is strengthened personally, but one who speaks a word of prophecy strengthens the entire church.G2980G1100G3618G1438G1161G4395G3618G15775I wish you could all speak in tongues, but even more I wish you could all prophesy. For prophecy is greater than speaking in tongues, unless someone interprets what you are saying so that the whole church will be strengthened.G1161G2309G5209G3956G2980G1100G1161G3123G2443G4395G1063G3187G4395G2228G2980G1100G1622G1508G1329G2443G1577G2983G36196Dear brothers and sisters

, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you a revelation or some special knowledge or prophecy or teaching, that will be helpful.G1161G3570G80G1437G2064G4314G5209G2980G1100G5101G5623G5209G3362G2980G5213G2228G1722G602G2228G1722G1108G2228G1722G4394G2228G1722G13227Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody.G3676G895G1325G5456G1535G836G1535G2788G3362G1325G1293G5353G4459G1097G832G2228G27898And if the bugler doesn't sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle?G1063G2532G1437G4536G1325G82G5456G5101G3903G1519G41719It's the same for you. If you speak to people in words they don't understand, how will they know what you are saying? You might as well be talking into empty space.G3779G2532G5210G3362G1325G1223G1100G3056G2154G4459G1097G2980G1063G2071G2980G1519G10910There are many different languages in the world, and every language has meaning.G1487G2076G5177G5118G1085G5456G1722G2889G2532G3762G880G84611But if I don't understand a language, I will be a foreigner to someone who speaks it, and the one who speaks it will be a foreigner to me.G3767G3362G1492G3362G1411G5456G2071G2980G915G2532G2980G915G1722G169812And the same is true for you. Since you are so eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives, seek those that will strengthen the whole church.G2532G3779G5210G1893G2075G2207G4151G2212G2443G4052G4314G3619G157713So anyone who speaks in tongues should pray also for the ability to interpret what has been said.G1355G2980G1100G4336G2443G132914For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don't understand what I am saying.G1063G1437G4336G1100G3450G4151G4336G1161G3450G3563G2076G17515Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit

, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.G5101G2076G3767G4336G4151G1161G4336G3563G2532G5567G4151G1161G5567G3563G253216For if you praise God only in the spirit, how can those who don't understand you praise God along with you? How can they join you in giving thanks when they don't understand what you are saying?G1893G1437G2127G4151G4459G378G5117G2399G2046G281G1909G4674G2169G1894G1492G3756G5101G300417You will be giving thanks very well, but it won't strengthen the people who hear you.G1063G4771G3303G2168G2573G235G2087G3618G3756G361818I thank God that I speak in tongues more than any of you.G2168G3450G2316G2980G1100G3123G5216G395619But in a church meeting I would rather speak five understandable words to help others than ten thousand words in an unknown language.G235G1722G1577G2309G2980G4002G3056G1223G3450G3563G2443G2727G243G2532G2228G3463G3056G1722G110020Dear brothers and sisters, don't be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.G80G1096G3361G3813G5424G235G2549G3515G1161G5424G1096G504621It is written in the Scriptures

: "I will speak to my own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to me," says the LORD.G1722G3551G1125G3754G1722G2084G2532G1722G2087G5491G2980G5129G2992G2532G3779G1522G3761G1522G3450G3004G296222So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers.G5620G1100G1526G1519G4592G3756G4100G235G571G1161G4394G3756G571G235G410023Even so, if unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone speaking in an unknown language, they will think you are crazy.G1437G3767G3650G1577G4905G1909G846G2532G3956G2980G1100G1161G1525G2399G2228G571G2046G3756G2046G3754G310524But if all of you are prophesying, and unbelievers or people who don't understand these things come into your meeting, they will be convicted of sin and judged by what you say.G1161G1437G3956G4395G1161G1525G5100G571G2228G2399G1651G5259G3956G350G5259G395625As they listen, their secret thoughts will be exposed, and they will fall to their knees and worship God, declaring, "God is truly here among you."G2532G3779G1096G2927G846G2588G1096G5318G2532G3779G4098G1909G4383G4352G2316G518G3754G2316G2076G1722G5213G3689

A Call to Orderly Worship

26Well, my brothers and sisters, let's summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.G5101G2076G3767G80G3752G4905G1538G5216G2192G5568G2192G1322G2192G1100G2192G602G2192G2058G1096G3956G1096G4314G361927No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say.G1535G5100G2980G1100G2596G1417G2228G4118G5140G2532G303G3313G2532G1329G1520G132928But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.G1161G3362G5600G3362G1328G4601G1722G1577G1161G2980G1438G2532G231629Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said.G1161G2980G4396G2980G1417G2228G5140G2532G1252G243G125230But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop.G1161G1437G601G243G2521G4601G4413G460131In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged.G1063G1410G3956G4395G2596G1520G2443G3956G3129G2532G3956G387032Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns.G2532G4151G4396G5293G439633For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God's holy people.

G1063G2316G2076G3756G181G235G1515G5613G1722G3956G1577G4034Women should be silent during the church meetings. It is not proper for them to speak. They should be submissive, just as the law says.G4601G5216G1135G4601G1722G1577G1063G2010G3756G2010G846G2980G235G5293G2531G2532G3004G355135If they have any questions, they should ask their husbands at home, for it is improper for women to speak in church meetings.

G1161G1487G2309G3129G5100G1905G2398G435G1722G3624G1063G2076G149G1135G2980G1722G157736Or do you think God's word originated with you Corinthians? Are you the only ones to whom it was given?G2228G1831G3056G2316G1831G575G5216G2228G2658G1519G5209G344137If you claim to be a prophet or think you are spiritual, you should recognize that what I am saying is a command from the Lord himself.G1536G1380G1511G4396G2228G4152G1921G3754G3739G1125G5213G1526G1785G296238But if you do not recognize this, you yourself will not be recognized.

G1161G1536G50G5039So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don't forbid speaking in tongues.G5620G80G2206G4395G2532G2967G3361G2980G110040But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.G1096G3956G1096G2156G2532G2596G5010