1 Corinthians 14:26-40

1 Corinthians 14:26-40
²⁶ What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 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 to God.

At this time the church is new.  The structure of how a service was to run had not yet been developed.  I'm not sure they even had specific pastors in each church yet, so everyone shared.  And being human, everyone wanted to share.  Which, even among those who were serving the Lord was devolving into chaos.  Our God is a God of order, so Paul is leaving instruction of how a gathering should be run.

²⁹ Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. ³⁰ And 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—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

Each was to take their turn speaking and those gathered were to evaluate what was said.  When we are in a service we too need to evaluate what is being said.  Bible should be out and we should be weighing what the speaker is saying compared to what they are reading.

³⁴ Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. ³⁵ 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.

The man is still the head of his home, how ever women being silent in church was a cultural thing along the same idea of the wearing of  head covering that we addressed several chapters ago. 

³⁶ Or did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? ³⁷ If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord’s command. ³⁸ But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored.

Paul knew he was speaking the words of God.  Therefore those who agreed with his instructions were true prophets and those his did not were not.   This is THE test for us.  Does a person, preacher or pastor agree with what is written in the Bible.  If they do not we can dismiss what they have to say.

³⁹ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

People who wish to speak should be given a chance.  My church does this very well.  If I had something I wanted to share, I would speak to my elders who would weigh what I had to say and see if it is appropriate for the entire church.  Then they would find a time that I could share with the congregation.

God Bless.