“What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret” (1 Corinthians 14:28-29)

The purpose of the working of the Holy Spirit in the midst of the congregation is for edification. It is not a matter of any one person being lifted up, but that the Lord should be Lord of all who are gathered. Let your worship be orderly and in the Spirit and truth. Let your praise be to the One who makes all things possible. Be led by the Spirit in all things and turn your attention to what He is doing.

Lord, take my eyes off of me and let them be upon You. Guide me in thought, word and deed that I may now and always praise You in all things. Where you would have me do something, lead me to see that it is You who is doing it and worthy of all praise. Guide my heart, mind, and soul to live in the truth of Your goodness and mercy all the days of my life. You are the One Who always leads us!

Lord Jesus, You ascended that the Holy Spirit would come to lead us in and through all things in this age. In Your goodness, You have already provided all that is needed. Lead me, O Lord, that I may now and always abide in the truth of Your goodness and mercy. Teach me and lead me to be humble and use all the good things You give for the sake of the fellowship You are building. Amen.

“But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you” (1 Corinthians 14:24-25).

Take care with these words and keep them in the context of the whole. When we are in fellowship together, it is not to know each other’s business, but to reveal the glory and goodness of Christ. If we speak to one another in Christ’s goodness and share what is good, right and true, who is able to resist the tug of the Holy Spirit to come into grace? Let others declare that the Lord is present.

Lord, take me out of the picture that I would decrease and You would increase. Help me to see that in You alone is all hope and that when You are shining through me, others might see and proclaim Your glory. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I would forever abide in the goodness of Your presence, purpose and power. Lead me according to what You know needs to happen that I would abide in You.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way. It is by Your leading that grace and mercy abound in this world. Lead me, O Lord, that I would walk in the steps for which You are guiding me, doing those things You place before me and shine Your presence to those around me. In all things, may the focus be upon You and nowhere else. May others know that You are present when I come in Your name. Amen.

“So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? (1 Corinthians 14:22-23)

There is a reason for everything the Holy Spirit does. The devil tries to make a mess of it. Do not look to yourself, but to the Lord. Be guided by what the Holy Spirit asks you to do. Do not look at what the Spirit is asking another to do. In the Lord is our hope. In all you do, do it as serving the Lord and not as serving yourself, not even others. To God be all glory now and forever.

Lord I look in the mirror and that is how I often take my first wrong step. Help me to look to You that what others see is You and not me. You know what is needed in all circumstances. Your Spirit flows through those who believe that the saints would be instructed and those who do not yet believe would have a witness. Lead me, Lord, to simply reflect the truth of Your light in my life.

Lord Jesus, You came and died for all the nonsense we sinners get caught up in. Guide me, O Lord, that I would live into the life of faith that You have given me. Help me through all the trials and temptations that come that I would not look to myself, but to You, and see how You are always there as my example and guide, but above all else, my Lord and God to whom I should always bow. Amen.

“Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. In the Law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me,” says the Lord” (1 Corinthians 14:20-21).

No matter how you speak, there are those who will not have ears to hear. Do not be childish about things. Worse yet, do not pretend ignorance. We are called to mature in thought, word, and deed. Be firm in your faith and speak from knowledge. Do not back away from the truth you have received, but live in it, grow and mature. In the Lord is all hope. Live in Him fully.

Lord, You know where I need to be matured. Guide me, Lord, in the way of truth that I would live into the life You have given me by grace. Let me not remain content with where I am, but instead lead me into growing maturity that I may not be childish. Keep me from that place where I ignore evil and pretend it does not exist. In all things, help me to see through the temptations of this age.

Lord Jesus, without You, these things would be impossible. With You, all things are possible. Guide me in the way You would have me go that I may now and always look to You as the example. Teach me to listen to Your Spirit that I may grow in understanding. In all things, take me where You know I need to go that I may be faithful in this call You have given me, doing what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. Amen.

“For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue” (1 Corinthians 14:17-18).

It often happens that the primary sin of pride enters and the old Adam comes to life (knowing the old Adam is not dead in us in this age). We then think of ourselves and then justify our actions inwardly. We are called to die to self and think of the other before ourselves. Do not get caught up in self-think, but in the Spirit of the Lord who will use all things to edify His body, the church.

Lord, convict me when I am caught up in myself. Help me in those times where You have given me a task and I run off in my own direction. Guide me to be aware of whom You are making me to be and to live into the life of faith to which You have called me. Guide me now and always that in all I do I would live knowing that it is You who is Lord, not me. Lead my new heart into You.

Lord Jesus, You are the Savior and You know I need to be saved. Guide me, O Lord, that I may now and always abide in Your goodness. Help me to see through the temptations that come my way. Guide me to live for others, loving them and learning to love as You love. Grant this new heart You have given me by grace through faith would always abide in You, doing what is pleasing to the Father. Amen.

“What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying?” (1 Corinthians 14:15-16)

We begin with the old Adam who thinks of the self and moves in the way of the self. When the Spirit is in our lives, we do not loose the self, but the self is enhanced so that it is both the self and the Spirit. If you pray with the tongues of angels, it is the Spirit who intercedes. Join in what the Lord is doing that others may join with you in praise which belongs to the Lord alone.

Lord, keep me from those moments where I am seeking glory. In all that You give for me to do, may my praise and adoration point to You. It is You who makes all of these things possible. Guide me into understanding that I would magnify You in all things knowing that apart from You I can do nothing. Lead me, O Lord, and I will be led. Speak through me and teach me to join You and not the other way round.

Lord Jesus, You constantly showed humility and gave all credit to the Father. Help me to follow Your example that I would be guided by Your Spirit in all things. Keep me from the temptation that because I say or do anything, it is done solely on my ability. It is not. In You all things are possible. Teach me to be like You, O Lord, that I would grow in Your likeness day by day. Amen.

“Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful” (1 Corinthians 14:13-14).

I suspect even Paul joins us in trying to figure out how the Lord works. The Holy Spirit blows where it will. This should be enough from Jesus for us. However, the principle that we are given through the Word is that all things have a purpose and we should not just do things without purpose. At all times, we need the help of the Holy Spirit.

Lord, even in this devotion am I doing the very thing that Paul does in speaking of the mystery of You working in each one of us? Help all of us to trust You, live by faith, and see the work that You are doing in each one of us. Lead Your faithful beyond speculation and meaninglessness to see that there is great purpose in all that You do. You are creating a marvelous thing through grace.

Lord Jesus, You said the words simply for all of us to understand. We are blind and You give us sight. We are lame and You make us to walk. We think of ourselves and You show us those around us. Help me learn, even in times where my mind is unfruitful, to walk in the faith You have given me, doing those things You give me to do that I may live pleasing the Father. Amen.

“If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church” (1 Corinthians 14:11-12).

The purpose of all the movement of the Spirit is not for your sake, but for the sake of the body which is being built by the One who makes all things. Keep this in mind lest you give into the temptation of thinking more of yourself than you ought. Give thanks that the Lord has equipped you for the tasks He gives you. Know that He who is saving you knows what you need before you ask.

Lord, help me to see that all that I am is because of who You are. You have created me to fulfill Your will. Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth that I may now and always live in Your presence, doing what is according to Your will. Help me resist any temptation which would take me out of Your will that I may always abide in You as You abide in me. Abide in me for Your glory.

Come, Holy Spirit, and not only empower me to do what You have called me to do, but also to remain fully in You and not see any of Your working through me as anything other than faithfulness. Thank You for the gifts You give. Guide me according to the Father’s will to live into this life to which You have called and empowered me to live for the sake of the Gospel. Amen.

“So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning” (1 Corinthians 14:9-10).

The Lord does not want to make us great to impress other people. He gives the gifts He gives that His will might be done, and others join in coming to Him. Do not think too highly of any abilities you have, but use all the Lord has given you for His purpose. Walk humbly with the Lord and be all He is creating you to be. We need to help others understand as we ourselves have received understanding.

Lord, help me to be teachable and to be one who is willing to teach, Guide me in the way of goodness that I would walk humbly in Your sight and use all You have given me for Your glory. Guide me, O Lord ,that I may now and always walk in Your presence as one who is Your servant. Keep me from pride that I would simply use all You have given to Your glory always.

Lord Jesus, You have shown us by Your example how to walk in this world, listening to the Father and doing what He gives us to do. Let me not be caught up in the ways of this world which seek notoriety, but instead receive a humbleness of purpose which sees that You are equipping each of Your saints for the task at hand. May I walk in Your example and do what is pleasing in the Father’s sight. Amen.  

“Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle?” (1 Corinthians 14:7-8)

In this world, there is the tendency to not be whom the Lord made us to be. Each person is distinct and wonderfully made. Do not hide behind complacency, but become who you have been made to be. Play your instrument, so to speak, with distinction and clarity that others may know you belong to the Lord.

Lord, help me to see more clearly where I bury Your light in me under a bushel basket. Help me learn to let the light of Your presence shine in me, Keep me from hiding within complacency that I may learn to humbly yet boldly be whom You are making me to be. You have called for those who follow You to not be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world to save all those who turn to You and believe. Remove my doubts and fears that I would play the tunes You have given me to play. Help me to be persistent that I would be led by Your goodness and mercy and share the same with others. Through Your presence in my life, lead me in the upward call You have given me to be all You know I can be. Amen.