This entry will touch on yet more controversial issues within the churches of different denominations. In 1 Corinthians 14:26-40, Paul touches mainly on the issue of an orderly worship; in the process touching on the issues of tongue-speaking, prophesying and the role of women in church.
v26
We should come prepared to worship the Lord in church. We should come with our hearts prepared and with expectations to meet God. If we come half-heartedly to church eg: dragged by parents to go to church, we shall not receive any revelation. We should have the eagerness and do it in order to strengthen the church.
v27-28
There are three limits, Paul puts on the tongue-speaking issue.
1. Two or three people must have the gift of tongue-speaking or even to speak in tongues.
2. They must take turns to speak in tongues.
3. There must be an interpretation of tongues or rather someone with a gift of tongue-interpretation.
But however some *churches* claim to speak in tongues. Is this the work of the Holy Spirit, can the Holy Spirit contradict God? Is this really the work of the Holy Spirit or just the human spirit caused by peer pressure? Feeling left out because your friends are doing it thus you have to do it too.....
v29-33
We must not allow prophecy to take over preaching. The definition of prophecy to some of us means foretelling aka to predict the future, but actually in the Biblical sense, it is primarily to communicate clearly God's word.
In the 1st century, those prophets who prophesy exercise their gifts based on the Old Testament Scriptures due to the Bible being incomplete at that time. Another part of their 'insight' is also based on the existance of the apostles who communicated directly with Jesus. And from when Jesus was raised and gone into heaven, the apostles continue to have direct revelation from God.
Due to the Bible being complete, "revelation from God has stopped but Illumination has not". There are new insights from God everyday.
v29-31
There are also three limits on the gift of prophesying Paul mentioned. It is somehow similar to that of tongue speaking.
1. Two or three must have the gift of prophecy. When wanting to use their gift, two or three must be present.
2. They must take turns to prophesy.
3. When the prophets give the message, the others ( meaning the congregation) must weigh carefully what is being said. Which means not to take it in blindly.
In regards to point 3, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 defines the others as in the congregation.
Before the coming of Jesus, women were regarded as second class, property etc. But after the coming of Christ and during the period of Jesus, women gained a level and some were made disciples, or even ministers.
v34-35
Paul here is dealing with married womean in the Corinth church who during worship chatter away among themselves and ask their husbands questions.
1 Corinthians 11:5-6
Women are allowed to pray in public and even to prophesy, but they must do so with their head covered. For the women who cover their head, it is a sign of authority. Women should keep long hair too to reflect the glory and beauty of God.
v39-40
We should place our priorities in a clear, context way of God which is through the preachings. We must not forbid the speaking in Biblical tongues. We must have a sense of authority, submission and order in church.
A proper and orderly fashion of worship reflects the character of God. We must have a passion of order and not disorder because we live in a disorderly world.
Submit and place your lives in the authourity of God.
v26
We should come prepared to worship the Lord in church. We should come with our hearts prepared and with expectations to meet God. If we come half-heartedly to church eg: dragged by parents to go to church, we shall not receive any revelation. We should have the eagerness and do it in order to strengthen the church.
v27-28
There are three limits, Paul puts on the tongue-speaking issue.
1. Two or three people must have the gift of tongue-speaking or even to speak in tongues.
2. They must take turns to speak in tongues.
3. There must be an interpretation of tongues or rather someone with a gift of tongue-interpretation.
But however some *churches* claim to speak in tongues. Is this the work of the Holy Spirit, can the Holy Spirit contradict God? Is this really the work of the Holy Spirit or just the human spirit caused by peer pressure? Feeling left out because your friends are doing it thus you have to do it too.....
v29-33
We must not allow prophecy to take over preaching. The definition of prophecy to some of us means foretelling aka to predict the future, but actually in the Biblical sense, it is primarily to communicate clearly God's word.
In the 1st century, those prophets who prophesy exercise their gifts based on the Old Testament Scriptures due to the Bible being incomplete at that time. Another part of their 'insight' is also based on the existance of the apostles who communicated directly with Jesus. And from when Jesus was raised and gone into heaven, the apostles continue to have direct revelation from God.
Due to the Bible being complete, "revelation from God has stopped but Illumination has not". There are new insights from God everyday.
v29-31
There are also three limits on the gift of prophesying Paul mentioned. It is somehow similar to that of tongue speaking.
1. Two or three must have the gift of prophecy. When wanting to use their gift, two or three must be present.
2. They must take turns to prophesy.
3. When the prophets give the message, the others ( meaning the congregation) must weigh carefully what is being said. Which means not to take it in blindly.
In regards to point 3, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 defines the others as in the congregation.
Before the coming of Jesus, women were regarded as second class, property etc. But after the coming of Christ and during the period of Jesus, women gained a level and some were made disciples, or even ministers.
v34-35
Paul here is dealing with married womean in the Corinth church who during worship chatter away among themselves and ask their husbands questions.
1 Corinthians 11:5-6
Women are allowed to pray in public and even to prophesy, but they must do so with their head covered. For the women who cover their head, it is a sign of authority. Women should keep long hair too to reflect the glory and beauty of God.
v39-40
We should place our priorities in a clear, context way of God which is through the preachings. We must not forbid the speaking in Biblical tongues. We must have a sense of authority, submission and order in church.
A proper and orderly fashion of worship reflects the character of God. We must have a passion of order and not disorder because we live in a disorderly world.
Submit and place your lives in the authourity of God.
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