How to Use Spiritual Gifts to Build Up the Church
Love must lead every spiritual gift. Learn how to walk with Christ by pursuing love, desiring the gifts, and using them to build others up, not yourself.
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1 Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. 2 For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit. 3 On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation. 4 The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. 5 Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.
6 Now, brothers,[a] if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching? 7 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me. 12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
13 Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays but my mind is unfruitful. 15 What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also. 16 Otherwise, if you give thanks with your spirit, how can anyone in the position of an outsider[b] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving when he does not know what you are saying? 17 For you may be giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not being built up. 18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 19 Nevertheless, in church I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20 Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature. 21 In the Law it is written, “By people of strange tongues and by the lips of foreigners will I speak to this people, and even then they will not listen to me, says the Lord.” 22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign[c] not for unbelievers but for believers. 23 If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.
Walking with Christ: Pursuing Love and Spiritual Gifts
One of the regular questions pastors receive is this: Help me learn how to walk with Christ. First Corinthians 14:1-25 isn’t the only pattern for walking with Jesus, but what we find here is essential and empowering for your Christian walk.
A Walk That Pursues Love
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Pursue love” (1 Corinthians 14:1), and when he wrote these words, he was referencing agape, which is love not rooted in emotions, but in choice. Agape love is when you choose to love. You may not feel it, but you’re choosing the God-honoring way. You’re choosing to forgive. You’re choosing to honor. You’re choosing to do what Jesus would do. That’s the pursuit of love, the pursuit of agape.
The Apostle Paul was reminding the Corinthian church and us that agape love undergirds all spiritual gifts. Without love, service in the body of Christ is worthless. You’re a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).
A Walk That Earnestly Desires Spiritual Gifts
“Pursue love and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts.” 1 Corinthians 14:1
Walking with Jesus is a walk that earnestly desires spiritual gifts. As you’re walking with Jesus, make it your goal to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts of God to operate in your life and through your life for the glory of Christ and the building of the body of Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:8-10 lists nine spiritual gifts:
Wisdom: The ability to apply spiritual truth to meet specific needs or situations.
Knowledge: provide truth by revealing critical information, biblical understanding, or supernatural insight.
Faith: confidence in God that he will provide, protect, and answer prayers.
Healing: ability to pray, touch, or speak words that produce spiritual, physical, or emotional healing.
Miracles: show God’s power through supernatural action.
Prophecy: guide others by speaking truth to cause correction or repentance.
Discernment: able to distinguish between truth and error, fact and fiction.
Tongues: talk in a language unknown to the speaker for the purpose of prayer, worship, or for others.
Interpretation: tell others what someone said in tongues.
Paul Adds Four More Gifts (1 Corinthians 12:28):
Apostleship: oversee and lead a ministry or missionary effort.
Teaching: understand and explain biblical truth to help others apply it to their lives and grow in faith.
Helps/Service: assist a ministry or person to meet needs and accomplish objectives.
Administration: organize and execute ministry goals.
Romans Lists Four More Spiritual Gifts (Romans 12:6-8):
Exhortation/Encouragement: encourage people through words of comfort, inspiration, and reassurance.
Giving: generously provide money and resources for ministry.
Leadership: cast vision, motivate, and build teams to advance God’s kingdom.
Mercy: provide compassion to the poor and hurting.
Other Considerations from Scripture:
Evangelism: build relationships and engage in spiritual conversations to tell people about Jesus (Ephesians 4:11).
Shepherd: nurture, care for, and guide people in their spiritual journey (Ephesians 4:11).
Celibacy: to not marry and abstain from sex (Matthew 19:10-12 Matthew 19:10-12 and 1 Corinthians 7:7).
Hospitality: offer food, housing, or relationship to provide a comfortable environment (1 Peter 4:9-10).
Craftsmanship: creativity to design or build items for ministry (Exodus 31:3).
Intercession: pray for others in response to the Holy Spirit prompting (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
The Apostle Paul instructed us to earnestly desire spiritual gifts. These are to be desired seriously, and not taken lightly, casually, or flippantly. For a follower of Jesus, as you walk with Him, part of that growth is making it your goal to pursue the development of spiritual gifts in your life.
This has everything to do with what Jesus said:
“I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7
You have been given the Helper, the Holy Spirit, and He has many ministries in and through your life, but He has two primary ministries.
The first ministry is the development of the fruit of the Holy Spirit. This is the character of Jesus—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). These are fruits of the Holy Spirit. This is the development of Jesus’ character in your life so that there is an inner strength that outweighs what’s going on outside of you.
The other ministry is the development of the gifts of the Holy Spirit within you. These are the ministry of Jesus, because He isn’t only interested in developing Christlike character in your life, but He’s also passionate about developing His ministry through your life.
The reality means there’s a lot at stake, including in the health of the church and the ministry of the body to the world.
God gifts His body and weaves love for God and love for people with the giftings He places in His body. We are instructed in Scripture not only to walk in love, but we’re also instructed that walking with Jesus involves a walk that earnestly desires spiritual gifts that will bring glory to God and build up the body of Christ.
A Walk That Builds Others Up Through Prophecy
In our walk with Jesus, the Apostle Paul instructs us that this is a walk that builds others up through a particular gift: the gift of prophecy.
“Pursue love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1
What is prophecy? From Genesis to Revelation, you find three forms of prophecy in Scripture.
One is foretelling, when the future is predicted. We see that in the lives of Moses, Daniel, Isaiah, John, Malachi, and Jesus.
Another form is forth-telling, proclaiming the truths of Scripture. Your pastor does this each Sunday morning when they teach a congregation. A person charged with proclaiming God’s Word with a teaching gift or preaching gift has a responsibility to teach the Word accurately. In fact, “teachers will incur a stricter judgment” (James 3:1). That’s sobering when you think that one day you will stand before Jesus and be judged for how you taught His Word.
We, as believers, also have a responsibility, too. We are always to search the Scriptures for ourselves to see if what’s being taught is true (Acts 17:11), so that we may grow in our walk with Christ.
Then there’s a third category—the prophetic word. This is a gift of prophecy where a person has the ability to receive a divinely inspired message and deliver it to others for the sake of building them up.
Look at verse three: “On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation” (1 Corinthians 14:3). That word “consolation” also translates “comfort.” “Upbuilding” means edifying, to build people up, through strengthening, encouraging, and comforting them. This gift should be expressed in humility, in alignment with Scripture, always tested by Scripture, and discerned by the body of Christ.
There are guidelines for how spiritual gifts work. Let me share four of them.
First, the prophetic word never trumps Scripture.
It never trumps Scripture. 1 Thessalonians 5:20 tells us that when there is a prophecy, test everything. Test and discern it. Just because somebody says they’re hearing from God doesn’t necessarily mean they are.
Second, the prophetic word should never be elevated to the level of Scripture.
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book.” Revelation 22:18
Whether John was referring specifically to the entire Bible or just the book of Revelation, we recognize that we must exercise caution before adding to the canon of Scripture.
Third, the prophetic word should never be despised.
The word “despised” means to regard as unworthy of one’s notice or consideration, to feel contempt or deep repugnance. If someone you know is mature in Christ and says they sense they may be hearing from God, we’re not to despise that. 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 teaches, “Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.”
Finally, the prophetic word should build up, encourage, and comfort the body of Christ.
The Apostle Paul says it more than once in chapter 14. “The one who prophesies builds up the church” (1 Corinthians 14:4). And verse three says, “The one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation.”
Can it go wrong? Yes. It went wrong at Corinth, and that’s why the Apostle Paul is giving correction. Some became prideful and boastful about their spiritual giftings. But, here’s the kingdom principle: Use your spiritual gifts for building, not boasting. Use them to build up the body, glorify God, and build up the church.
Can people be misguided when they use a prophetic gifting? Absolutely. But if you sometimes sense you’re hearing from God and there’s something you need to share with the body or with somebody, and you’re thinking, “What if I make a mistake?”—trust Jesus and let the body discern. We can risk that.
Instructions on the Proper Use of Tongues
To be faithful to the text, the Apostle Paul gives instructions regarding the proper use of tongues. He emphasizes that prophecy is far more critical than tongues. He shares, “For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 14:2).
The Scriptures affirm that there are two expressions of the gift of tongues. One is tongues followed by an interpretation. The other is tongues manifested through prayer, which is what we often refer to as a prayer language. This is why verse 14 says, “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays.” He’s distinguishing that there’s an expression in prayer, and there’s an expression where an interpretation follows an utterance of tongues.
Verse four says, “The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself.” He’s not referencing a person being arrogant. He’s talking about a person’s development. He has said that when I pray in a tongue, my mind is unfruitful, but my spirit benefits. He’s saying those who speak in tongues are talking to God, not to people, while those who prophesy are prophesying to people, strengthening, encouraging, and comforting others.
In verse four, those who speak in a tongue edify themselves. Those who prophesy edify the church.
When you came to know Jesus, your spirit was made alive. God is seeking to develop you, not just physically, not only your soul (your mind, will, and emotions), but God is also developing and growing your spirit. When the Apostle Paul is talking about a person praying in an unknown language privately, not publicly, their spirit is being developed.
While the Holy Spirit is present, He’s not a wildfire. God’s a God of order. Fire is a good thing when it’s functioning the way it’s supposed to in a fireplace. If it gets outside the fireplace in the house, it causes damage. That’s why the Apostle Paul gave this instruction. The Holy Spirit is among us, but we need instruction.
He writes this letter to the Corinthian church, which isn’t meeting in formal sanctuaries or worship centers. It’s meeting house to house, smaller gatherings. Church buildings didn’t exist until 300 A.D. Here are the guidelines he gives:
Only two or three should speak the prophetic word. Don’t overdo it (1 Corinthians 14:29).
They all need to speak one at a time. God’s a God of order, not confusion (1 Corinthians 14:29).
Anytime someone spoke out loud in a tongue, it should be followed by an interpretation (1 Corinthians 14:27).
If there were no interpreter, the tongue speaker should be quiet (1 Corinthians 14:27).
Those listening to the prophetic word or interpretation should weigh carefully what is said, compare it to Scripture, and the body should discern (1 Corinthians 14:29).
If someone else has something to say, the first person needs to stop so that one person is speaking at a time (1 Corinthians 14:29).
As these gifts were used, they were to acknowledge that the gifts were under the control of those whom God had gifted because God’s not a God of disorder, but one of peace (1 Corinthians 14:32-33). A person cannot cop out by saying, “I’m out of control because God’s got a hold of me.” God’s a God of order. The person who God is using is under control.
“Brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or teaching?” 1 Corinthians 14:6
The Apostle Paul emphasizes not only God’s order, but that God is active among us. 2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us, “The eyes of the Lord look to and fro across the earth that God may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.” Additionally, Psalm 34:15 shares, “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and His ears toward their cry.”
God Is Still Working
A church once called asking me to lead them in a churchwide prayer summit. I asked a follow-up question: Why do you want to do this?
They said, “We are tired of business as usual. We are hungry for God among us. We lack the depth within us to address the problems we are encountering in families. We do not have within us what it takes to deal with the brokenness in our community, and we want to cry out to God.”
Today’s complacency is tomorrow’s captivity.
Jesus reminds us He is working. He said, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working” (John 5:17). God has never stopped working; He’s still working. God never stopped being all-powerful. He continues to instill and give gifts to His church, reflecting His character and ministry. The church of Jesus Christ needs to be in ministry, not in a power of her own, but in the power of God. This has always been true, but it’s more true than it’s ever been true.
In John 14:12, Jesus shared, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these.” That has a very practical expression, because Jesus has gone to the Father and sent the Holy Spirit, and it’s Jesus in His presence that dwells in you. When Jesus was on earth, that wasn’t possible, but now the ministry of Jesus has the capacity to have an exponential impact through the body of Jesus Christ.
Most people who own running shoes don’t run. But every Christian has spiritual gifts, yet the majority don’t use them. Many of us have been conditioned by the lack of spiritual gifts operating in our lives. We have accepted abnormal as normal. Sometimes growing in your relationship with Jesus Christ involves unlearning some things so that we learn what God has for us.
Listen to the benevolence of Jesus:
“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Matthew 7:9-11.
God is willing to demonstrate His power, love, ministry, and fruitfulness in and through your life.
How is the Corinthian church doing in her sanctification? Not very well.
However, even though the Corinthians weren’t yet sanctified, this didn’t prevent God from being willing to demonstrate His grace and power through the giving and igniting of spiritual gifts in the church. Gifts of the Spirit are not symptoms of maturity, but they are signs of God’s availability.
1 Corinthians 12:7 tells us that “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” That means you have a work of the Spirit in you. You have gifts that God has placed in you that are designed to function, to bring God glory, and to build up His people and affect your community.
“For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as He wills.” 1 Corinthians 12:8-11
We often share 1 Timothy 1:7, which states: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.” However, upon reviewing the context, we see that it’s rooted in young Timothy, who had allowed his gifts to be stifled. The previous verse states, “Fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:6).
God hasn’t given you a spirit that will cause you to shrink back. God has given you a spirit of love, power, and a sound mind.
Rise up, church. Rise up in the gifts that God has placed in you for His glory.
TL;DR
Love comes first. The Holy Spirit’s gifts mean nothing without the foundation of agape love—a choice to honor God and others above self.
Gifts are meant to serve. Prophecy, tongues, and every spiritual gift exist to build up the church, not to boast personal spirituality.
Power and order go hand in hand. True spiritual fire burns within the fireplace of God’s peace, not the chaos of pride or competition.
God still gives gifts today. Spiritual gifts are not proof of maturity—they’re signs of God’s availability to work through surrendered hearts.
