(1Co 14:13) “Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.”  It is amazing to me the person having this gift spoke by faith to the lost, not knowing what they were saying. They were completed trusting the Lord. Cannot you and I trust the Lord to give us the words to speak to the lost. Instead, we say, “I cannot. I am not trained.”  There’s not a lot of faith in such an excuse.

(1Co 14:12) “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”  To benefit another is the ultimate fulfilling of, “Love Thy neighbor as thyself”.  Our prayer should be, “Lord, please give me the ability to uplift those around me. Please guide my mind towards this goal.”

(1Co 14:10) “There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. (11) Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.”  “Voices”: languages. Without doubt he is speaking of the language of man. If I come to church and a person does not speak English, there is no communication among us. We are ignorant of each other’s words. Nothing fruitful is accomplished. Why did we come? To be edified through God’s Word.

(1Co 14:9) “So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air.”  Years ago a group of preachers loved to hear a certain man speak, for he used large words few understood. That’s entertainment, not edification. You and I need to be fed the precious Word of God, whether we be new in the Lord or long in Him.

(1Co 14:7) “And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?”  The subject here is the need within the church for only that which spiritually benefits God’s people. This subject can be applied to music. There are times a person ministers upon an instrument without verbiage. If the majority of the people do not know the song, the only one praised is the performer.

(1Co 14:6)  “Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?”  “What shall I profit you”: in what manner are you blessed. Each person entering the doors of their church are to have the mindset of Christ Jesus: (Mat_20:28)  “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” I’m afraid most of us enter with the mindset, “What will I receive”, rather than “What can I give”.

 (1Co 14:5) “I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.”  Again, the point is, it is better to seek that which is for the good of others. Some feel they have no gift of which to minister to others. Each saved person has the Spirit of God living inside them, waiting to teach them the Word. He waits to love others through us (Chapter 13). You have all you need to minister. You just have to do it.