Last week I shared a message on the importance of church doctrine and how the truth of your doctrine will save you. So, our doctrine must be defined clearly from Scripture.
It is important when reading Scripture, you are seeking to know the mind and will of God by only reading out the meaning of Scripture. Never read into Scripture to manipulate God’s word out of context to benefit what you want God’s will to be or what you want church to be. Never add or take away from God’s word.

Paul teaches what the doctrine of church should be.

1 Corinthians 14: 26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
Paul said the purpose of church is to strengthen the body of Christ through hymns, word of instructions, revelations, and interpretations of tongue. So, each time we gather in Jesus the purpose is to grow stronger in our unity of faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus.

Paul goes on to teach to do this in church.

1 Corinthians 14: 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God. 29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31 For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
We need to remember the early church did not have what we have the spoken word of God written for us in the Bible. They relied on the Holy Spirit speaking to them directly through prophecy and tongues of what the Holy Spirit recalls to them from the apostles and Jesus’ teachings.

Every time we gather it is to hear instructions and encouragement through the teaching of Scripture which focus on building the church up in their faith, knowledge and understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. To have a single mind of Christ with a common purpose and good for His name sake.

That is why Paul said to eagerly desire the gift of prophecy.

1 Corinthians 14, 1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church..

Paul said prophesy and interpreted tongues is speaking God’s word to edify the church to strengthen and encourage everyone and not self.

So, prophecy benefits the church. I do not know of anyone who said they eagerly sought the gift of prophecy, but I know many who eagerly sought the gift of tongues and sought churches that speak tongues, but not its interpretation. Where there are people who say they can give this gift of tongues to anyone who wants it, which Scripture says only the Holy Spirit can give as He determines.

Being caught up with supernatural spiritual gifts and not the word of God does not unite the church in their faith and knowledge of Jesus.

Church doctrine is to gather to edify the church with God’s word to give instructions with the purpose to build up the church in its unity of faith and to mature in their knowledge of Jesus and to be obedient to his Father’s will and acknowledging the interpretation of tongues as with any spiritual gifts for the common good of the whole church.

Paul teaches what we should be doing when we gather.

1 Corinthians 14: 6 Now, brothers, 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?

1 Corinthians 14: 12 So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.

1 Corinthians 14: 20 Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults.

1 Corinthians 14: 22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.

1 Corinthians 14: 24 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, 25 and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!"

Prophecy is the spoken word of God that is led along by the Holy Spirit only found in the Bible. To eagerly seek the gift of prophecy is to eagerly seek wisdom and understanding from the Bible.
You will recognize the gift of prophecy in you when the Holy Spirit recalls to you the heart and mind of Jesus from God’s word.
John 14: 26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
Another doctrine we need to remember when we gather as the body of Christ taught by James.
James 2: 8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Favoritism in church forms cliques with those who having the same spiritual gift or same ministry. Because they favor those who have the same interest, but the only interest that counts is what interest Jesus.
Be safe in Jesus, Ps. Glenn