The importance of the words. We already talked about the importance of the word of God. Now I want to get into practical things of how to read the word. And the first thing when you practically start reading the word is you have to recognize it's really easy to read without actually reading the words. And I want to give you an example. And this is from Matthew 22, starting with verse 23. The same day, the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him, saying, teacher, Moses said that if a man dies having no children, his brother shall marry his wife. and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were with us seven brothers. The first died after he had married, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother. Likewise, the second also. And the third, even to the seventh. Last of all, the woman died also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be? For they all had her. Jesus answered and said to them, you are mistaken, not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels of God in heaven. But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? Understand what Jesus Christ is saying there. If you miss the tense of that verb, you didn't understand that there had to be a resurrection. His whole argument is based on the tense of a verb. He goes, if you've read the scriptures and you read that I am. Not I was. I am. that proves the resurrection. Christ is telling us, if you want to rightly understand the word of God, You have to read it with care. The Bible isn't written to be skimmed. Because Christ said, as soon as you hear I am the God of Abraham, you know there has to be a resurrection. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. The first thing that you have to do if you want to hear from God is not assume what he's saying, but actually read the words. We talked about that last night. In what is it, John chapter 6? Where it never says there's wine without alcohol. Because something was believed, when the passage was read, it was inserted into the passage. You always have to be careful not to read things and insert your interpretation. And I want to use tongues as an example. Because tongues are a great example of so many of these things. Verse 2 of 1 Corinthians 14. For he who speaks in a tongue Does not speak to man but to God. For no one understands him. However, in the spirit, he speaks mysteries. But he who prophesied speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. Most people, when they hear about Paul saying that he who speaks in a tongue, they add in there and put unknown tongues. And they think that this is some language that no one can understand. But did you hear what I just read? Because what I just read proves that is wrong. I want you to think about this. You have Paul going to Corinth. Corinth was a Greek-speaking city. When Paul spoke religious things, What was his natural language to speak of religious things? What had he spoken in when he was speaking to Gamaliel? Hebrew. All the scriptures that he had were written in Hebrew. If he was going blah, blah, blah, speaking in a tongue he didn't understand, do you see what it says in verse four? He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself. But he who speaks prophecy edifies the church. What's required to be edified? You have to understand. You have to understand. Or it might build up your pride. But it doesn't edify you. If you're speaking words you don't know, your understanding is not increased. The people who say Paul was speaking in some unknown language. It doesn't make sense based on the words that are written. But imagine this instead. Say Paul wanted to speak great mysteries. What would his natural language be to speak great mysteries? We've talked about the issues between Greek and English, Paul could be much deeper in his speaking if he spoke Hebrew. So if he came in, His natural inclination would be to explain it better by speaking in Hebrew. As I preach this conference, I have preached many times. I've preached many hours in many days. I'm preaching the same verses that I preached a hundred times before. But I have had new thoughts. I've come to new revelation about the Word of God preaching to you. Anybody who faithfully preaches the word, they understand more things about God when they finish a sermon than when they start, unless they just teach basic things. I've been edifying myself as I preach to you. So let me propose a different way to read this passage. For he who speaks in a tongue, and let's not call that tongue something that Paul didn't know, but let's call it Hebrew. He does not speak to man, but to God. for no one understands him. He's saying truths about God in Hebrew, but he's only saying them to God and to himself, because everybody sitting there has no idea what he's talking about. However, in the spirit, he speaks mysteries. God can be leading him to deep, deep theology. Because he's building on the Hebrew theology he knows. So he's learning things about God. He's coming to deeper revelation. By the way, in Greek, a mystery is something that was hidden that is now revealed. It's like when Paul writes the church in Ephesus. He says, do you understand back in Genesis 2? When God said a man will leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, I'm speaking a great mystery. and then he says what it is. That was always about Christ and the church. Mysteries are not about things that continue to be unknown. He's in the Spirit, led by the Spirit. He could be preaching good, sound doctrine that is causing new things to be revealed to him. But then he says, Nobody understands him. He's speaking Hebrew. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to man. The one who goes to the church in Corinth And instead of showing off by speaking in a different language, he comes and talks them in Greek. Then he's a blessing. Do you see the point? Nowhere in here does it talk about unknown tongues. So he who speaks in a tongue, meaning not the normal language of the people, He edifies himself. He learns new things. He gets deeper understanding, which is what happens when anyone faithfully preaches the word. He who speaks in Hebrew, in this case, in my example, edifies himself. But he who prophesies edifies the church. When you read the words, unknown tongue doesn't make sense. Let's read the passage again. And put in unknown tongue. For he who speaks in an unknown tongue does not speak to man, but to God. For no one understands him. However, in the spirit, he speaks mysteries. He's saying things that he has no idea what he's saying. But he's speaking in an unknown tongue. Nobody there can understand it. He can understand it. But God somehow is having him say things that are great mysteries that would be very useful to know. But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to man. He who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself. He doesn't know what he's saying. How does he build himself up when he has no idea what he's saying? He can speak great mysteries that God understands. But if he doesn't know what he's saying, he is not edified. When you read the words, when you read what God is saying, his argument is, if Paul spoke in a tongue they didn't know, the only one that would grow in understanding is the one who knew that language. They would be built up. Paul would edify himself. But why would that ever be in the church? Because the purpose of the church, God says in Ephesians 4, verse 11, he himself gave some to be apostles. Some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors, and teachers, for the equipping of the saints For the work of the ministry, and the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God. God put Paul in that pulpit to build up the body and knowledge. If he spoke in Hebrew, he would build up himself. If he spoke in Greek, he would build up the congregation. If he spoke in a tongue that he didn't know, he wouldn't build up anybody. His edification is being built up in knowledge. People want to look at this passage and pretend like this tongue is something that he doesn't know. If you read the words, if you use your mind, if you don't take interpretation to the Bible, instead you take the interpretation from the Bible. All this stuff that's brought into the church, that are brought into the church, are brought in because people won't read the words carefully. He's comparing the two. Another example of that is people go, oh, I wish I had the gift of tongues. Some denominations. They go so far as to say you don't have the Holy Spirit unless you speak in tongues. But that's easily defeated by one verse. And the most obvious verse or chapter about tongues One verse completely destroys that idea. Verse five, I wish you all spoke with tongues. But even more, that you prophesy. For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues. If it's greater to prophesy, which is better understood to be preach. Again, our language has been modified. In the 17th century, The books that were written on preaching were called things like the art of prophecy. So what's actually being said here, it would be great if you all spoke with tongues. You know what? I wish I had the gift of tongues. I really wish I had the gift of tongues. Because then he wouldn't be on stage. Not that I don't appreciate him being on stage. But every time I say something, He changes it to Hausa. And every time that happens, if he translates with all sincerity, if he's the best translator in the world, he has to make it in Hausa. Which means it has to change a little bit. How much better would it be if I could speak to you in Hausa? That's the gift of tongues. Everybody should desire the gift of tongues. But the gift of preaching is greater. The denominations that say you have to speak in tongues to be saved. He said the person who prophesies is greater, or the gift of prophecy. For he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues. The Bible says, if you'll just read the words, the gift of prophecy is given to people who don't speak in tongues. Even if you twist what prophecy means, it still says to prophesy is greater than the one who speaks with tongues. The only way you can come up with a doctrine that says that you have to speak in tongues to have the Holy Spirit You have rejected the clear teaching of scripture. You've rejected it. It's totally a man-made doctrine. Let's read the next. Let's read the rest of the verse. Unless, indeed, he interprets. What it's saying is the gift of tongues is only useful in conjunction with the gift of prophecy. If he stood up here and just went blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, you wouldn't be edified. The only time the gift of tongues has any value is when the church is built up by it. And why are pastors and teachers and prophets and apostles and evangelists given? They are given to build up the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. If there is no one to prophesy, there's no use of the gift. There's no use of the gift. Right, it says, he who speaks with tongues. The prophecy is the important thing. The preaching. Tongues is only important if he is interpreting so that the congregation is built up. What we are doing right now is tongues in the church. If there is no preaching to be interpreted, then there's no use for the tongue. That's what it says. But people read this, and they get all kinds of weird explanations. Do you see how simple and logical my explanation is? It's as direct as you can get. He's just saying, what does the word say? The first thing to do when you need, and we all need, when you need to correct your doctrine is to read the words. and trust God preserved his word. Let me give you another example. Because you can read it and skip over things. You can read it and add to the words that are there. And another thing you can do is just not read it. Because your doctrine When you believe false things about God, it blinds the eyes. 1 Corinthians 14, 22. 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. Do you understand what he's saying? Just read the words. Believe the words. Don't skip the verses you don't like. Tongues are a sign for unbelievers. If you have tongues in your churches, That's what God says. And I want to make sure that you feel the weight of the insult. Because I'm standing up here telling you, you need to grow up. Tongues are a sign of unbelief. Many of you are pastors. Some of you are theology professors. But he's speaking tongues. And tongues are a sign for unbelievers. Do you hear what the Bible is saying? In my church, we would never, never have a translator. We just find somebody who speaks English that can say the things I'm saying. Make sure you read this verse and hear it as a rebuke. Why do I have to stand here? Why do we have to do this clumsy thing with translators? It's because you won't read the word of God. You don't trust the word of God. You shouldn't need me. The eight-year goal for Rise and Walk is to raise up pastors. They can speak to you so I don't ever have to come here again. Not because I mind coming here. God can pour me out like a drink offering. I'm his slave. He can use me however he wants. But the goal for the ministry is for you to do it yourself. Look at how inefficient it is. Nothing wrong with your translation. But it is more efficient when Zingak and I do it, because he's been translating for me for 10 years. I love this interaction. Because it's making my point. He's having trouble understanding me. So I have to repeat what I'm saying. Then we go back and forth a little bit. And then he says it to you. If I could speak Hausa. We can cover twice as much material. The fact that you will sit here and listen to a tongue speaker. It's a sign you're not trusting God the way you should. You're not practicing your faith the way you should. Because I shouldn't need to be here. There should be a house of speaker. that is saying the same things I'm saying. And he could say it clearer than I could ever say it, even through the perfect translator. Tongues are a sign for unbelievers. They are a sign of a sick church, not a healthy church. Before I close, I want you to ask yourself a question. Why could Paul say, I have the gift of tongues more than any man? Or let me reverse that question. Why would God give Paul the gift of tongues more than any man? Which is what the Bible says. Do you think it was so he could go blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, and go eek, eek, eek, eek, eek? And maybe also in wah, wah, wah, wah, wah. No. But say you are God. And you said, I think I will appoint an apostle. That will go to Lystra. Ephesus. Philippi. He went to all these different cities. He went to all these different villages. If you go to different villages in Nigeria, does every village speak the same language? No, they each have their own language. Maybe a few together have a language. But each area has its own language. Paul had the gift of languages more than any man. Because every city he went to, he would first go to the Jews. Frequently, he would reject them. And then he would go to the Gentiles. Did speaking in unknown tongue help with the Gentiles? Or do you think speaking in Laodicean, or Philippian, or whatever the place he was, God gave him the ability to hear their language and be able to speak it. He had the gift of tongue greater than any man. Because he was sent to all these villages in Asia. Well, yeah, the elite spoke Greek. They spoke Latin. But all the common people, they only spoke their village language. Paul had the gift of tongues more than any man. because he spoke to more unbelieving people in their language than any man. The apostle to the Gentiles. The word Gentiles in Hebrew translates to multiple things. It could also be translated, the apostle to the nations. So he had to know multiple languages. Because he went to multiple people. I'll throw this out as a teaser before lunch. While we disturb or while we distribute your lunch. Which was judgment? Before the Tower of Babel? When God had only all people have one language, or after the Tower of Babel, when men spoke with all different kinds of tongues, additional tongues are a sign of cursing. I want you to go away with this thought. Jesus Christ came so we would speak with one The gospel makes us speak with one voice. That's what the gospel has been doing for 2,000 years. Don't think it's a blessing when the opposite is happening in Nigeria. Tongues are a sign for unbelievers. Let me pray. Oh, Lord God, I pray that you allow the people here to handle your word like a two-edged sword, to be careful with it, to recognize how easily they can cut and hurt themselves. Let them not just treat it like it's just this thing laying on the ground, that if they hit their foot on it, it will cut and cut deeply. We pray that they use it to purify and to cleanse and to use it the way you want it to be used, to prophesy and not to babble like fools. You are a God of understanding. You are a God of wisdom. You are a God that promises wisdom to your people. We pray that you let them see and understand your love. In Jesus Christ's name we pray. Amen.