Paul Defines Order in the Worship Service Part 1
1
Corinthians 14:26-28 How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one
of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an
interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. If any man speak in an unknown
tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that
by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep
silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. KJV
Paul now confronts their chaos in their collective
worship services by making them aware of the inability for anyone present in
the meetings to be edified or built up in their faith and instructed in the way
of righteousness if people are standing up all over the building and speaking
in tongues or prophesying or giving some incite from the Old Testament without
it being done in order under a hierarchical structure in the church. Paul is
not here writing to discourage them from prophesying or speaking in a tongue or
giving a teaching or instruction from the Old Testament Word, but what he is
doing is rebuking their disunity, disrespect, and disorder in the way their
worship services are conducted. Paul
wants to see all things, everything, or the whole collective worship service
carried out in a manner that would not lead any unbeliever entering in the
service to conclude the people in that place were mad as Paul used this English
word in 1 Corinthians 14:23 and it
is translated by the Greek word mainomai and
this is the word we get our English word maniac from and it means an insane
person, a madman, or to rave of one who so speaks that he seems not to be in
his right mind or wildly disordered.
These Corinthian believers were conducting their
worship services in just this manner and Paul is writing here for the expressed
purpose to quickly correct this stupid, rash, senseless, and foolish behavior
on their parts. Paul knows that these men and women are representatives or Ambassadors
of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and such chaotic worship is not
honoring to Him nor does it in anyway bring Glory to His Name. As believers we
must at all times and always be aware that everything we say and do inside of
the church and outside of the church brings good God honoring attention to us
or it brings bad and God dishonoring attention to us, for we are at all times
and in any place to be cautious of our words and behavior by being reminded of
these words from our Lord Himself when He said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on
a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a
basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let
your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).
In these wonderful words spoken by our Lord Jesus
Christ in Matthew 5:16 He used the
English word good and this word is translated by the Greek word kalos which means beautiful but chiefly
it means morally valuable, morally virtuous, and morally excellent. These
Corinthians and us today will never reach full Christ-likeness down here, but
our constant and continuous direction or goal should be to be pleasing to Him
in our collective or corporate worship together with other believers in the
church and to carry ourselves outside of the church with our speech and deeds
to not bring a reproach upon His Name. The Corinthian believers were bringing a
reproach to our Lord’s Name while they were assembled together with one another
by many individuals desiring preeminence and their miss-use of the gift of
tongues in the assembly and their unorganized order in their worship service
that left everyone to operate in a sort of spiritual free for all with no
apparent structure at all. This was a poor testimony to unbelievers as they
would enter into their assembly and Paul wanted nothing to be a hindrance to
the Holy Spirits work of convicting sinners of their sinfulness and bringing
them to repentance and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul again reiterates his earlier point he made of
instructing them to not allow anyone in the congregation to speak in tongues
aloud and openly before everyone to hear except there is someone present in the
assembly that the Holy Spirit has given the gift of interpretation of tongues.
Paul’s words reminds me of a good Elementary School Teacher patiently but
firmly instructing and directing his or her 1st or 2nd grade students on how they should line up one
at a time to go to the cafeteria or to the library. Paul once again never
denies those in the Corinthian church who were given this gift of tongues but
he commands them that it must not be exercised “in the church” without an
interpreter present. Paul’s command is stern and serious to them because he is
aware of their previous carrying on in a free for all as we referred to it
earlier and so Paul uses the English phrase to make his point clearly
understood “let him keep silence” and this English phrase is translated by the
Greek word sigao which means to be
muted or hushed or to stop speaking or to hold one’s peace. Paul wanted to
leave no ambiguity or words left open to two or more interpretations or
uncertain words or misleading words. Paul’s command is clear and without
ambiguity he wants the open public speaking in tongues to stop in the assembly
unless God the Holy Spirit has someone present to interpret the speaker’s words.
Paul then encourages the one who has a tongue to speak to himself and to God as
we pointed out two studies ago when Paul wrote this to the Ephesian believers, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord”
(Ephesians 5:19).
“The Holy Spirit is the author of order, and not of
confusion 1 Corinthians 14:33; and
true religion prompts to peace and regularity, and not to discord and tumult.”
Albert Barnes
“It seems more likely that, when the whole Church
came together, among whom there were many persons with extraordinary gifts,
each of them wished to put himself forward, and occupy the time and attention
of the congregation: hence confusion must necessarily take place, and perhaps
not a little contention. This was contrary to that edifying which was the
intention of these gifts.” Adam Clarke“The Apostle Paul is so unyielding in his command to these Corinthian believers to operate their worship service with structure and order because he knows that order is the father of unity and growth but disorder is the father of chaos, confusion, and immaturity.” Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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