Spiritual Gifts 1 Corinthians 14:12-26

We could sum up this section with one phrase, Seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

12 Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual [gifts], seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.

Zealous of spiritual gifts – zealous, same word as in 12:31, 14:1; it is a good thing, a commendable thing, to seek, desire, pray for, expect gifts!

Seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church – Let your motive for gifts not be selfish, but the profit of the church. Sadly, any gift and any ministry can be misused and abused. Walk in love; seek to edify the church, not glorify yourself.

13 Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.

Can’t be any plainer – we can ask to receive gifts. We don’t “get it all” when we are saved, or even baptized with the Spirit. Seek, pursue, ask, expect.

14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.

15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

Pray with Spirit / sing with the Spirit - This is why it is often called “a prayer language.” What happens when I pray in tongues? My spirit, with the help of the Holy Spirit, is praying, bypassing my understanding. I often don’t know how to pray as I ought, so I pray with the Spirit, or in the Spirit.

And notice, I will pray…I will sing. This is how a prayer language works. You can do it any time you want to; you can stop any time you wish. Even if I’m in a group setting and I’m sure the Spirit has given me an utterance in tongues or a word of knowledge, I don’t have to speak it; it’s everybody’s loss, but I’m in control.

16 Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

17 For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

He continues to make his point – aim at the profit of all. If you often feel led to speak in tongues in church, pray for the gift of interpretation.

18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

19 Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

Is Paul against speaking in tongues? Ha! No!! He spoke in tongues more than all of them, and it was through his ministry that they spoke in tongues; but he had rather speak with his understanding, in their language, so he could teach them.

20 Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.

21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.

22 Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying is not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.

I confess, I don’t fully grasp what he is saying here, especially in light of 23-25

23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?

24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

At the very least he is giving another example of how prophecy is better than tongues without interpretation, because more people are edified.

26 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

Another wonderful verse! We had what I called Believers Meeting every 5th Sunday night based on this verse. I wouldn’t prepare anything; everyone would contribute something to the meeting - song, testimony, prayer request, Scripture, and we would trust the Lord to lead us. Wonderful meetings!

NEXT: 1 Corinthians 14:27-33 Guidelines for tongues and prophecy