Severally, as He wills, to each of us it is given the Scripture says.  Be ready to bring that ministry and let everything be done to edify.  He gives the restrictions here.  He tells us in verse 27, “If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.”  “And that by course…”  The Greek there just means “an allotment or a share of what is taking place.”  In other words, we do not possess this full…  How can I say it?  There is a teaching today that wants to have resident prophets.  Every church must have an apostle.  Every church must have a prophet, and every church must have an evangelist.  Well, being distinct from that doctrine, we are talking here about gifts of the Spirit.  We are talking about prophecy, but none of us has the corner on the market, we are getting a share.  We get to take our turns, and the Spirit uses us.  Every one of us is eligible.  Can you say, “Praise God for that”?

This is what he is trying to let us know.  And by course...  It is almost like the priests that had their course or their time when they would go in and serve in the temple.  Be ready to be used of God; amen?  Be available.  Come believing to be used to edify.  Let it be by two or by three at the most.  Is there no interpreter?  Keep silent.  Speak to yourself and to God.  Some people say there is not to be tongues in the service unless it is interpreted.  “You cannot speak in tongues in this room unless there is an interpreter, and it is interpreted.”  That is not what Paul is saying.  We can speak and pray in tongues to ourselves.  If you are praying in tongues, muttering, praying, and believing that God will be edified and that He will edify you in the midst, it says, “Speak to yourself and to God.”

How many of you remember the young man that was here a few weeks back, that shared for a few minutes concerning the book distribution?  He was one of the men that was hosting us in Malaysia.  The Lord is using this young man in a great way.  I do not know how young he is.  Everybody is getting young now, it seems.  I do not know.  Anyway, it is a blessing.  He did not say a whole lot, and he went on his way.  He said they were in Malaysia, and he was just introducing the ministry to the other men that were there.  He shared a few different things, general pieces of information, etcetera.  Then he said, “I was at the church in America.”  As he is saying this, it is almost as if he is saying, “You guys wouldn’t believe it.  There’s a church in America where people show up thirty minutes early, and they’re praying.  In America….”  This is their view of America, and sadly, it is true.  All they see of America is people who “ooh” and “ahh” over these mega-churches, and it is just a circus.  As the true spirit, he said, “They’re praying, and then there were thirty minutes of great worship.  And then, they taught the Word for forty-five minutes or more.”

Almost everywhere they go, some of these people here in America only allot fifteen minutes for teaching, and that is pretty much it.  You might have some of the worship experience groups that have a longer worship service, but their discernment of what is going on and their experience is pretty accurate.  He just laid that out for these other men.  He was just saying, “In America….  In America….”  Thank God for His presence here.  Thank God for His mercies to us and the grace that He has shown us as a people.