#gospel

Saturday 18

TONGUES AND INTERPRETATIONS

“But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.”

1 Corinthians 14:28 (NKJV)

READ: 1 Corinthians 14:6–19,26–28

Here in our text, Apostle Paul was saying that if there was no interpreter in a gathering to interpret whatever is said in tongues, the person who wants to speak in tongues should keep it to himself and communicate with God (1 Corinthians 14:28).

Now, tongues can be communicated between yourself and God.

It is not until you are speaking in tongues at the top of your voice that you even be heard from a far distance before you know that God has heard you.

The Bible says: “LET HIM SPEAK TO HIMSELF AND TO GOD.” You can be speaking in tongues to yourself and to God in any place—in the midst of a congregation of believers, in a public bus, in a beauty parlour or barber’s shop, or wherever.

Some people thought they could only be heard by God when they shout in tongues at the top of their voice. But the Bible says let him speak to himself and to God (1 Corinthians 14:28). Endeavour to learn how to pray in tongues always, in every situation and circumstance, and let it be done by speaking to yourself and to God. This can be done throughout the day as you go about your daily activities. You can be speaking in tongues without disturbing the person who is sitting next to you. Speaking in tongues is not only done by shouting at the top of your voice.

Interpretation of tongues is needed when a tongue is spoken or given as a message in the gathering of believers (1 Corinthians 14:27,28). If you are praying alone in tongues, in your prayer language, you might not need any interpretation; you are simply communicating with God and edifying yourself (1 Corinthians 14:2,4)

A tongue being spoken in a congregation of believers as a message

to all would need an interpretation if the whole congregation is to be blessed by it or benefit from the message being passed across.

It is in such a situation that Apostle Paul was saying in the passage that if there was no interpreter, the person should just speak to himself and to God (1 Corinthians 14:28).

A tongue being spoken while you are praying personally may necessarily not need any interpretation because you are communicating with God and edifying yourself (1 Corinthians 14:2,4).

Furthermore, if someone speaks in tongues and an interpreter is not available in the meeting, the person can equally interpret the message himself (1 Corinthians 14:13).

The wisdom demands that you start interpreting your messages in tongues privately before you endeavour to do that in the congregation of believers. When you apply this wisdom, you

would have trained yourself in the operations of the spiritual gifts privately before you ventured to be used in public meetings of believers. When this precaution or wisdom is not applied, you tend to embarrass yourself and others in a congregation.

The conclusion is: let all things be done decently and in order (1 Corinthians 14:40).

Re f l e c t :

• Are you practising the gifts of the Spirit in your private prayer life before seeking to use it in a public setting?

• In the gathering of believers you usually join, is there order and decency in the operation of spiritual gifts?

Peace.

July 2026 Edification Daily Devotional is here. Download your free copy:

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