by Timothy W. Burnett
"Even so, forasmuch as you are zealous of spiritual gifts [matters], seek that you may excel to the edifying of the church" (1Corinthians 14:12). It's God's will that we zealously hold on to and live by the spirit of God in all nine manifestations and the different gift ministries. At the same time it is important to understand that we must seek to excel in those areas that are edifying to the church, which in context incudes prophecy and interpretation of tongues.
"Wherefore let him that speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret" (1Corinthians 14:13). this clearly shows that to interpret falls within the category of prophecy and would be edifying in the church. To pray, in essence means to believe God in advance. If speaking in tongues is permitted during church time, anybody who speaks should believe that after they finish, the spirit of God will give the interpretation as that one starts speaking.
"For if I pray in a tongue, my sprit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful" (1Corinthians 14:14). When we speak in tongues, the spirit that is in us is praying, but our mental understanding of what is spoken bears no fruit. When we include verse 4, it can be seen that the spirit of God is praying, and is also being edified.
Verses 15-17 expounds on verse 14, "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. Else when you shall bless with the spirit how shall he that occupies the room of the unlearned say, 'Amen' at your giving of thanks, seeing he understands not what you say? For you give thanks well, but the other is not edified."
We as Christians can pray with the spirit and we can pray with our understanding. We can sing with the spirit and we can sing with the understanding also. Many Christians know about praying with the understanding. We pray aloud or in our minds using languages that we understand. What about praying with the spirit? I thank God I speak in tongues more than y'all!
Think that sounded bad? Read the next verse, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all" (1Corinthians 14:18). It says what it means and means what it says. Paul challenged the believers to speak in tongues often in their personal prayer lives.
Without nullifying verse 18, Paul says in verse 19, "Yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue [which is not edifying for the assembly of believers]."
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