| I Corinthians 12-14 continued...
1 Corinthians 14
On December 7, 1941 353 Japanese enemy aircraft
appeared in the sky over Pearl Harbor. Eight battleships were
lost, 6 airfields were put out of action and 2400 men and
women were killed. The lieutenant in charge of the two radar
operators working our first radar looking out over the Pacific
in Hawaii said to the operators when they saw the massive
flight of unidentified aircraft coming, "Don't worry about
it." Many of our overseers in the Christian Church (collectively)
are misreading the signs of the times and saying "Don't worry
about it." The leaders in the Church, the body of Christ,
need to be looking at that radar scope and see the enemy that's
on the screen. [The proper understanding of prophecy has a
lot to do with looking at that radar scope, of discerning
the urgency of the times.]
No matter how great the spiritual gift, the ministry you're
in, without agape love it means absolutely nothing (1 Corinthians
13:4-8). Some day the gifts will disappear. Chapter 13 wasn't
a side thought put in there. The mission of the gifts is to
edify all. Love edifies all. Knowledge [without love] puffs
up. Chapter 14 goes on the show that everything is to be done
decently and in order. The emphasis is on prophecy and not
on tongues. First let's just read through what Paul said.
Verses 1-25, "Follow the way of love and eagerly desire
the spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 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 [margin: or by the Spirit]. But everyone who prophesies
speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.
He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies
edifies the church. I would like every one of you to speak
in tongues [margin: "other languages", also in verses 6,18,22,23
and 39], but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies
is greater than one who speaks in tongues [other languages],
unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. [Remember
Queno. His prophesying is converting the population of a Federal
Prison in Guatemala!]
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? Even in the
case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute
or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless
there is a distinction in the notes? Again, if a trumpet does
not sound a clear call, who will get ready for battle? So
it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your
tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will
just be speaking into the air. Undoubtedly there are all sorts
of languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.
If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying,
I am a foreigner to the speaker, and he is a foreigner to
me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual
gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.
For this reason anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray
that he may interpret what he says. For if I pray in a tongue,
my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall
I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with
my mind; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing
with my mind. If you are praising God with your spirit, how
can one who finds himself among those who do not understand
say "Amen" to your thanksgiving, since he does not know what
you are saying? You may be giving thanks well enough, but
the other man is not edified.
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.
Brothers, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be
infants, but in your thinking be adults. In the Law it is
written: "Through men of strange tongues and through the lips
of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they
will not listen to me," says the Lord [Isaiah 28:11-12].
Tongues then are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers;
prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks
in tongues, and some who do not understand [margin: "or some
inquirers"] or some unbelievers come in, will they not say
that you are out of your mind? But if an unbeliever or someone
who does not understand comes in while everyone is prophesying,
he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be
judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare.
So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming 'God is really
among you!'"
There are four major themes about these two gifts that Paul
addresses here:
- The gift of prophecy (or prophesying) is very desirable
in a corporate setting.
- The gift of tongues without interpretation in a corporate
setting is not desirable.
- The gift of tongues with interpretation in a corporate
setting is desirable.
- Tongues is to be desired in our private time with God.
- PROPHECY: The gift of foretelling and forthtelling the
Word of God--teaching and preaching. Paul brings out in
verses 7-8 that even musical instruments need to be played
correctly to be of any value. The gift of prophecy is desirable
because it is clear and understandable. [And in today's
setting you find more of the teaching and preaching
form of prophecy than of foretelling a future event. In
the last chapter we saw the powerful example of prophesying
by Eugene Nij, down in the Federal Prison in Guatemala.]
Joshua 6:1-5,16. "Now Jerecho was tightly shut up because
of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then
the Lord said to Joshua, 'See I have delivered Jerecho into
your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March
around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for
six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams' horns
in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the
city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have
all the people give a loud shout; then the wall of the city
will collapse and the people will go up, every man straight
in...The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the
trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, 'Shout! For
the Lord has given you the city!..." When the trumpet makes
an uncertain sound who's going to know to be warned by it,
Paul says. When the worship service is not simple, clear
and distinct, with clear and distinct teaching, this is
not a clear gift of prophesying. The gift of prophesying
is a very clear and understandable trumpet call that calls
us to spiritual battle. Prophesying equips, exhorts, warns
and comforts. A famous preacher once taught younger ministers,
"Always preach to a broken heart and you won't lack an audience."
Prophecy has the gift of comfort in it. Verses 6,18-19 show
us this is teaching and instruction in the Word of God,
"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?...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."
The gift of prophecy is greater than the gift of tongues.
It comforts and edifies the whole church. Tongues basically
edifies one person. Tongues is basically for the non-believer.
It got the people's attention on the first day of Pentecost,
but it was Peter's prophesying--teaching the Word of God
in power--which brought 3,000 non-believers to repentance.
Acts 2:1-41. "When the day of Pentecost came, they were
all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing
of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole
house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be
tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each
of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak in other tongues [margin: "languages"] as
the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from
every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a
crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard
them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they
asked: 'Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native
language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia,
Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia,
Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from
Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs--we
all hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues
[language]!' Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another,
'What does this mean?'
Some, however, made fun of them and said, 'They have had
too much wine.'
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and
addressed the crowd: 'Fellow Jews and all of you who live
in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully
to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose.
It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken
by the prophet Joel: 'In the last days, God says, I will
pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters
will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old
men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and
women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they
will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heaven above and
signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of
smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to
blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of
the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved [Joel 2:28-32].' [Peter used this quote to
apply to what they just witnessed, but Joel 2 also really
applies to a time just prior and leading up to the 2nd coming
of Jesus Christ. So this great outpouring of God's spirit,
dreams and visions is yet for the future. Exciting isn't
it?!?]
'Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a
man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs,
which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.
This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and
foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put
him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised
him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death,
because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on
him. David said about him: 'I saw the Lord always before
me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body
also will live in hope, because you will not leave me to
the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You
have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me
with joy in your presence [Psalm 16:8-11].
'Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch
David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this
day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised
him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on
his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection
of the Christ [Messiah], that he was not abandoned to the
grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus
to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to
the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the
promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see
and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he
said, "The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until
I make your enemies a footstool for your feet [Psalm 110:1].'"
Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made
this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.'
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and
said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall
we do?' Peter replied, 'Repent and be baptized, every one
of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness
of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for
all who are far off--for all whom the Lord our God will
call.'
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with
them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.' Those
who accepted his message were baptized, and about three
thousand were added to their number that day."
You can see that the gift of tongues (or the gift of interpretation
of tongues, in reality here) drew the people to the apostles
and Peter. Then it was Peter's prophesying--teaching--which
brought 3,000 non-believers to repentance.
- The gift of tongues is not desirable without interpretation.
For one thing, it is vertical to God, verse 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 [or 'by the Spirit]." Tongues without interpretation
only edifies one person, verses 4,17, "He who speaks
in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies
the church...You may be giving thanks well enough [in a
tongue], but the other man is not edified."
Tongues is a foreign language, either another language on
earth, or a heavenly language.
Another important point, tongues without interpretation
will cause non-believers to think you're whacked out, crazy,
verse 23, "So if the whole church comes together and
everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand
or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that your
are out of your mind?" Verses 27-28, "If anyone speaks in
a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in
turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter,
let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself
and to God."
- The gift of tongues is desirable in a corporate setting.
Prophesying is basically for the believer, but it can also
convict the non-believer. It helps you not blow the trumpet
with an uncertain sound. Faith comes by hearing the Word
of God. Verses 24-25, "But if the 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, and the secrets of his heart will be laid
bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming,
'God is really among you!'"
I recall the story of John Corson and a group of ministers
in this rented convention hall that had a bar attached to
it. They didn't need the bar, but these places were set
up for business and social events and so the bar. The bartender
had nothing to do, so he simply wiped glasses while the
ministers talked. Then one of them started to speak in tongues,
but since no one could interpret, he stopped. After they
were done, the bartender approached, and asked who it was
that was speaking a rare dialect of Arabic from his village
in Iraq. As it turned out he understood the tongues because
it was his language. He was led to the Lord by this event
and is a believer now. The tongues wasn't for those ministers
who were present but was a call to this man from God. After
the event they preached (prophesied) the Word to him, and
he became a believer. So if there is an interpretation of
tongues, then tongues has an edifying role. In this instance
it was a sign to the non-believer, verse 22, "Tongues,
then, are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers..."
As Paul brings out in the last part of this verse, prophesying
or preaching would have meant nothing to this unbelieving
bartender until the sign of hearing an American speaking
perfectly in his native Arabic dialect. Then after that
prophesying meant something to him.
- Tongues is to be desired in our private time with God.
Verses 2,4-5, 15,18, "For anyone who speaks a tongue
does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands
him; he utters mysteries with his spirit [margin: Or by
the Spirit]...He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself,
but he who prophesies edifies the church. I would like every
one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather you prophesy...I
thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you."
Romans 8:26-27. "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in
our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for,
but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that
words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows
the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for
the saints in accordance with God's will." That's an interesting
couple of verses. This certainly edifies your spirit, but
you may have no way to influence it so your mind can't really
interfere.
Mark 16:15-18. "And he said to them, 'Go into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes
and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe
will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who
believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will
speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and
if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt
them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
All these signs are to the unbelieving world, to back up
the preaching of the gospel. Again, they are given for the
corporate good of the world, to edify, not to show others
how spiritual we are. 1 Corinthians 14:39-40.
"Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and
do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done
decently and in order."
Order in the Church Meetings
The mission or purpose of the spiritual
gifts is for them to be used in the corporate setting to edify
the church and others. Paul was writing to a church, the Church
of God at Corinth, that was very blessed with the spiritual
gifts, but they, just like some fellowships now, were way
out of balance in the use of those gifts. They were not refusing
the gifts by denying they existed, so God chose to manifest
the gifts through them. The Pentecostals are in a similar
boat. They have the Holy Spirit in abundance, and don't deny
or refuse the spiritual gifts, so God blesses them abundantly
with them. But they, just as the early Corinthians, are not
using them in proper balance. Paul is now laying down the
rules of balance here in the fourteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians.
As the thirteenth chapter shows, the first and primary purpose
we have as Christians is to love others, and manifest God's
agape love on others. To use the spiritual gifts for any other
purpose is a misuse of them. Prideful use is not using them
in love. Verse 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." In
Matthew 22 Jesus was answering the Sadducees and said to them,
"You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power
of God." There is a definite correlation between knowing and
applying the Scriptures properly and the power of God. In
2 Timothy 3:16-17 it states, "All Scripture is God-breathed
and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training
in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly
equipped for every good work." The power of God is in the
Word of God. When we ignore the Word of God on any particular
subject we miss or diminish the power of God in our lives
and walk with Christ. So with that in mind, here are some
rules the apostle Paul laid down for tongues and prophesying.
In verses 27-28 Paul adds some further parameters for speaking
in tongues. He says that at most, two or three in the congregation
are to be allowed to speak in tongues and two or three at
most interpreting. Also, when someone speaks in tongues--one
at a time, the interpretation should come in turn, or follow
the speaking in tongues, and not be done simultaneously, which
would only cause confusion. Verses 27-28, "If anyone speaks
in a tongue, two--or three at the most should speak, one at
a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter,
the speaker should keep quiet in the Church and speak to himself
and God." Does it get any more clear than that? Yet in
some fellowships and congregations these simple rules are
not adhered to, just as in the Corinthian church. It didn't
mean they didn't have the Holy pirit, or weren't really a
Christian Church, they were just unbalanced in the use of
God's gifts, like little children. Finally in verse 28, Paul
shows again that tongues is a vertical thing, between the
speaker and God.
In verses 29-33, Paul lays out similar rules for prophesying.
Two or three prophets are to speak, one at a time. The emphasis
is to maintain order. One should speak at a time, and all
should judge. God is not the author of confusion. Verse 30
states that they are to take turns, one shouldn't go on and
on and on forever. Paul says there's to be order, i.e. don't
hog the mike. And others in the congregation should judge
what they hear. Here is some criteria for judging:
- If what is said doesn't line up with the Word of God
it's not of God and God's Word.
- If what is said doesn't line up with the true facts,
it's not of God.
- Prophecy honors Jesus as the Son of God. If there's not
a spirit of humility watch out. There will be more and more
kooks and wierdo's as we get closer to the end times as
Jesus indicated in Matthew 24. Also Satan's "ministers"
can masquerade as "angels of light." The spirit of discernment
in Christian fellowships is important here. Some who prophecy
may be meeting all the above parameters, but they themselves
may be false. The spirit of discernment will reveal this.
Just like it did between Peter and Annanias and Saphira.
Finally in verse 33, Paul brings out that God is not a God
of disorder but of peace. I like this translation in the
NIV, for there is a movement extant today of "Godly disorder."
There is no such thing as Godly disorder--God is a God of
order. Be aware of the "Godly Disorder" theology that is
extant today. Verses 29-33, "Two or three prophets should
speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.
And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down,
the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy
in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged
[i.e. all two or three of those that are prophesying can
prophesy in turn--not all the congregation. Verse 31 must
be taken in context with verse 29]. The spirits of the prophets
are subject to the control of prophets. For God is not a
God of disorder but of peace." [Pretty clear here, isn't
it? So why all the confusion and disorder? One of the reasons
some of the other parts of the body of Christ want nothing
to do with tongues and some of the other power gifts is
because of the abuse they see in the congregations of the
Christian churches who do exercise them, but with disorder
and in confusion--barking like dogs and howling. This is
totally out of control. So were the Corinthians. You do
a disservice to other Christian fellowships and the world
in what you do. Instead of properly seeing the power of
God and desiring it, they spurn it because of your poor
example. Is this acting as Jesus would have us act? I think
not, and neither did the apostle Paul.]
Here in verses 33 last part, through verse
35, Paul gets into an area which in today's world flies in
the face of feminism. And we cannot be totally sure whether
this is being said in a historic context for the local area
or to be applied today in all churches, but in verse 34 the
statement of Paul "As the Law says" indicates it goes deeper
than just a cultural setting. But we do see this theme repeated
in 1 Timothy 2, Ephesians 5, 1 Peter 2 and Titus 2:3, as well
as Genesis 3. So let's read verses 33-35 and those other Scriptures,
and then you judge for yourself, between you and God. There
is an issue of protection here. We in this fellowship have
come to believe that having married women follow this advice
protects the minister from unnecessary temptation and can
actually cause growth and sometimes the actual conversion
of unconverted husbands by having their wives go to them with
their spiritual questions. Verses 33-35, "...As in all
the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent
in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be
in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about
something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for
it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church." We
see in 1 Corinthians 11 that women can prophesy and speak
in tongues. This isn't forbidding them from being an active
part of the worship service. There's something else to this
command, which appears to be pointing the women towards their
husbands for spiritual advice and intimate spiritual communication--building
these bonds in the right direction, building spiritual unity
and cohesiveness between husband and wife, instead of between
wife and the minister or pastor. The intent of this command
doesn't appear to be sexist at all. Let's look at some of
the other Scriptures that back this principle up. 1 Timothy
2:8-15. "I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer,
without anger or disputing. I also want women to dress modestly,
with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold
or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate
for women who profess to worship God. A woman should learn
in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman
to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.
For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the
deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.
But women will be saved through childbearing--if they continue
in faith, love and holiness with propriety."
Next let's look at Ephesians 5:22-32. "Wives, submit to your
husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the
wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which
he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so
also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church
and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her
[or: having cleansed her] by the washing with water through
the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church,
without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and
blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their
wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.
After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds it,
just as Christ does the church--for we are members of his
body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother
and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh
[Genesis 2:4] This is a profound mystery--but I am talking
about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also
must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must
respect her husband." Paul goes on to say this to all: "Slaves,
obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with
sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them
not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but
like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not
men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for
whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free." i.e.
We are all called to submit to someone, both men and women--slaves
to masters, people to government authorities (Romans 13),
women to their husbands. The apostle Peter doesn't differ
from Paul one bit in his advice. 1 Peter 3:1-6. "Wives, in
the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any
of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without
words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity
and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from
outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of
jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your
inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way
the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used
to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their
own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him
her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right
and do not give way to fear. Husbands, in the same way be
considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with
respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the
gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers."
In Titus 2:1-5 Paul is instructing Titus what to teach his
congregation. "You must teach what is in accord with sound
doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect,
self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and endurance.
[You notice he says "older men", perhaps knowing that rash,
exuberant youth has not reached the ability to do or have
such traits of character.] Likewise, teach the older women
to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers
or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then
they can train the younger women to love their husbands and
children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home,
to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no
one will malign the word of God.
Similarly, encourage young men to be self-controlled. In everything
set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching
show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot
be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed
because they have nothing bad to say about us [Paul again
instructing Titus].
Teach slaves to be subject to their masters in everything,
to try to please them, not to talk back to them, and not to
steal from them, but to show that they can be fully trusted,
so that in every way they will make the teaching about God
our Savior attractive. [God our Savior, i.e. Jesus is God
also, not just a good person and wise teacher as some would
have you believe. He was God in the flesh, the Word as John
1:1-4 brings out, the YHVH of the Old Testament--together
with God the Father and the Holy Spirit making up the Elohim
of Genesis 1.]
So what Paul was teaching the Corinthians here in 1 Corinthians
14:33-35 is consistent with what he and Peter taught elsewhere
in letters to other congregations and in the Church as a whole.
The important thing is to take it in context. You notice that
they bring out that everyone is in submission to someone.
No one escapes this command in reality.
Finally Paul adds this thought to what he said about order.
He told them they were interpreting the Word of God for themselves,
and doing it wrongly by the way Paul was saying this in verse
36. Verses 36-38, "Did the word of God originate with you?
Or are you the only people it has reached? If anybody thinks
he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge
that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. If he
ignores this, he will be ignored [Some manuscripts read: If
he is ignorant of this, let him be]."
Paul then finishes up the chapter by saying that no one should
forbid the gift of tongues, and to be eager to prophesy. Then
again he calls for everything to be done in an orderly way.
Verse 39-40, "Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy,
and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should
be done in a fitting and orderly way." [I highly recommend
reading Hank Hanegraaf's excellent book "Counterfeit REVIVAL"
as a supplementary reading with this section of 1 Corinthians
12-14. It is available online at: http://www.amazon.com
. It shows in accurate detail how some counterfeit ministries
have sprung up utilizing slight of hand and definitely a counterfeit
"spirit" which brings discredit to the very real manifestations
of God's Holy Spirit.]
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