Day 31: 14:26-40 (Spiritual Gifts Practiced in Order for Corporate Worship)

1. SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. 27 If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. 28 But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. 30 If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.
As in all the churches of the saints, 34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
36 Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached? 37 If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. 38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39 So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40 But all things should be done decently and in order.

2. OBSERVATIONS :
a.  What did this passage mean to its original audience? 

• The church in Corinth met in homes for worship. They apparently were struggling with conducting their worship in an orderly manner so Paul wrote to provide them with some guidelines so that everything that was expressed was done decently and in order. 

b. What does this passage reveal about God?

• The reason christian gatherings need to be orderly is because we meet to honor our God who is a God of peace and not confusion or chaos. The reason Paul emphasized that a public prayer or praise in tongues needed to be interpreted was because the church needs clarity and without an interpretation there would be confusion.

c. What does this passage reveal about people?

• When we are not led by the Spirit our tendency is to be preoccupied with ourselves. The lack of order in the gatherings of the church at Corinth was a symptom of self-centered worship. Because they had adopted the expressive individualism of the pagan culture they were not being considerate of others like they needed to be.

 3. APPLICATION: What does this passage impact my affections, attitudes and actions?
  If I am walking in the Spirit I will not seek my own good but the good of others. I will make room for others to use their gifts to minister to the church and not think all the “ministry” needs to be done by me.  

4. PRAYER:
Lord, help me to recognize the ministry gifts of others and to equip them to use those gifts so that there will be mutual edification in the church. Remind me that I need others to minister to me, just as much as I need to minister to them. Amen.

Pastor. Randy