1 Corinthians 14:32-33 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.
Control, understanding, clear communication, and building up the church should characterize all Christian gatherings. Ministry through the gift of prophecy is the example Paul highlights in this chapter. The Corinthian church valued the gift of tongues. The exact reason is not clear, but the implication is that they thought this gift showed their spiritual maturity and that they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul turns that assumption over and shows how tongues speaking in worship times actually becomes a hindrance and fails the criteria he sets up in this chapter. It lacks control because the mind is not engaged. It is not understandable and cannot be understood by people, and it causes scandal to unbelievers who think believers are crazy fools. Prophecy, however, passes the test because those who prophesy are in control of their thinking and are able to communicate this clearly to people. It will convict people and lead them to repentance and salvation.
Verse 33 gives the general principle: since God is orderly, so should His people be. Two key words appear in this verse. “Disorder” results when established patterns that serve the common good are disrupted and authority is challenged. When this happens in a church, people cannot grow in their faith very well. The result may be hurt feelings and division like what happened in Corinth. “Peace” is one of the outcomes of the work of the Holy Spirit and should characterized the sanctified life (Rom 15:13; Gal 5:22-23). Peace will create an environment where people can hear well, listen, and can respond in appropriate and expected ways because the Holy Spirit will be at work in the midst of the group. Peace creates the perfect setting for growth and encouragement to take place.
Paul writes that this is the characteristic of the “churches of the holy ones.” Those who are holy, sanctified completely with Christ as Lord (12:3), and filled with the Spirit will be marked by peace. If there is no peace in a church, then there is likely spiritual issues going on. If the worship times and any other gathering of more than one person are chaotic and not building up people, then the church must spend time in prayer, repentance, and confession in order to recognized its selfishness and sin and seek the fullness of the Spirit for each person.
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