(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.

(1Co 14:4) “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.”  “Unknown”: not a language never heard on earth; but a language unknown to those of the congregation. Point: You are I are there to be “edified, encouraged, and comforted” (V.3). Not only is it to be received by us, but we are also to seek to minister such to those around us.

(1Co 14:3) “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” The Spirit of God today speaks to the heart of these things through the revealed Word of God. Both in the Old Testament and the New Testaments one is warned against adding to the Word of God (Duet 4:2; Rev 22:18). There is no new revelation from God today, only enlightenment upon that which has already been written, said by God.

(1Co 14:2) “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”  “Unknown”: unknown to those present. If no one  understands, why stand forth and speak? He may be speaking wondrous things. Yet it profits no one if they do not understand the words.

(1Co 14:2) “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” Chapter Fourteen is written to correct a misuse of the church meeting. Chief among this misuse was this gift – tongues: the ability to speak the gospel to the lost of another language (Acts 2).

(1Co 14:1) “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.”  Remember: they had no completed Bible. So, if one was to seek anything, it should be a greater knowledge of God’s will and direction, not only for himself, but for others. This agrees with the previous chapter, for Godly love seeks to love God as He should be loved and others as much as ourselves. We can only achieve this through a greater knowledge of what God desires.

 (1Co 13:13) “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”  True love for the Lord could never imagine evil, or wrong, of Him and thus always holds to Him in faith. True love for Him longs for Him, to be closer to Him, to be in His presence, and thus hopes, looks for His Coming. Therefore it is greater than faith or hope.