Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy

1 Corinthians 14:1-19

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.

Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified.

Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? 

So it is with you. Since you are eager for gifts of the Spirit, try to excel in those that build up the church.

I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

Spiritual gifts are not the essence o the Christian life. Had it not been for their misuse at Corinth we should have heard little about them in the letters of the New Testament, though of course, they are very evident in Acts. Prophecy: High valued in the early church, this was the gift of speaking directly from God into a situation. It might be predictive or encouraging. Prophecy differs from scripture, though both come from God Prophecy is for a particular situation, whereas scripture has universal validity.

Why?

All of our gifts of Spirit should be good to build up the church, if it is good for personal, we should not do it to others.

Paul suggested speak prophecy is better than speaking in a tongue. Unless there is an interpreter then you may say in a tongue.

Be humble, if I have any Spiritual Gifts if it is not good to build the church, but actually I didn't have such gifts so I don't worry about it. But God gives us different gifts, it is our capability, that we should humble ourselves to build the church and other's life.

How?

May my life could be better than yesterday and closer to the Lord and could be good to others.