Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(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.

(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.