“²⁷If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; ²⁸but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. ²⁹Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. ³⁰But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. ³¹For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; ³²and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; ³³for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

Being led by the Holy Spirit is not to be confused with complete spontaneity lacking any order. Movement of the Spirit is not mutually exclusive of human intentionality. Paul wrote to another church, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25 ESV, NIV). Conscious human choice is required for spiritual living. We freely choose to obey the Spirit—it is not forced on us, as though we become puppets.

From the earliest times in Paul’s ministry he has understood this spiritual partnership, for Scripture records that he and Barnabas were sent out by the believers and also by the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:3–4). So also we are to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in our use and regulations of the spiritual gifts He gives. Paul uses tongues and prophecy as two examples, but the teaching applies to all church activity. To use the gifts for our own purposes, or to fail to regulate them with human reasoning and wisdom, results in “confusion” and, as the Corinthians have proven, lack of peace.

Both tongues (prominent in Paul’s corrective teaching, but not to be exalted in the church) and prophecy are to be coordinated. Paul’s instructions are clear: if there’s no interpreter, the tongues speaker should remain silent. Whatever message he had to say, he should keep it to himself for his own personal worship. This passage does not refer to a private prayer language, but simply describes a call to silent worship that is intelligible to the individual. How often in worship do we converse with God individually in the silent conversations of our mind and heart? If people of other languages are present, then tongues may be used, but only by two or three people—it must not become a free-for-all.

Prophetic speaking also should be regulated and not a free-for-all. Those speaking should interact with each other’s messages (not dissimilar to what often happened in Jewish synagogues). And one should not dominate all the preaching. The image here is of multiple teachers or preachers of the Word, interacting for the benefit and exhortation of all.

Lord, help me mature to the point where I attend church for the benefit of others and not only myself. Help me discover and use my gift for the greater good.