The most explosive power known to man lies in the dreaded detonation of a nuclear devise. An awesome, frightening wonder arises at the sight of that singularly ominous, mushroom silhouette... a cloud shadowing beneath its vast canopy the release of energy so intense that material at “ground zero” simply vaporizes.
The secret of this “Mother-of-all-Bombs” is nothing more than the gathering together into one small place some thirty or forty ounces of highly enriched uranium. Dispersed, the metal can do no more than excite a Geiger counter. When smashed together, one energy charged atom excites another in an instantaneous chain-reaction... and in one split-second of time, the powers that hold the universe together unleash.
Nature’s lessons teach us about the manner in which the early, New Testament Church met together. Like an atomic bomb, the gathering united uncontrollably, explosively and dangerously. Endued with power equal to their commission they turned the known world upside down (Acts 17:6), destroying the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and setting free those held in slavery through fear of death (Hebrews 2:15).
It was said of those who inhabited the first century that they were a crooked and perverse generation (Philippians 2:15). Twenty centuries later, the flowering of evil in the heart of man blossoms evermore full. The Bible predicts that in the end days “men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power...” (2 Timothy 3:2-5). What kind of church is able to fulfill Christ’s Great Commission in a world awash in a flood of evil, an evil seemingly near high tide?
Considering the assembly of the Church, we benefit by reflecting on the Sadducees’ bold argument. The Sadducees convinced themselves, and perhaps some of us as well, that the resurrection of the dead could never occur. Ponder the absurdity of seven men married to the same woman in the eternity of resurrection life. The practicality of resurrection life appears impossible to the natural reasoning mind. Likewise impossible, the total impracticality of the Ministry of the Many in the assembly and spiritual life of the Church. Indeed, the teachings of The New Testament prove the impossible not only possible but practical as well.
One particular chapter in the New Testament focuses on the mechanics of assembling as a Church. The entire chapter follows:
1 Corinthians 14: “1Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation. 4One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church. 5Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
6But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what will I profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching? 7Yet even lifeless things, either flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp? 8For if the bugle produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9So also you, unless you utter by the tongue speech that is clear, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning. 11If then I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be to the one who speaks a barbarian, and the one who speaks will be a barbarian to me. 12So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.
13Therefore let one who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also. 16Otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fills the place of the ungifted say the “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? 17For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified. 18I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; 19however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
20Brethren, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature. 21In the Law it is written, “By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to me,” says the Lord. 22So then tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is for a sign, not to unbelievers but to those who believe. 23Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
26What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; 28but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; 33for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.
36Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only? 37 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. 38But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
Those inclined to disregard this chapter may point to “tongues” or perhaps “women talk” as the key problem. However, these issues serve only as “red herrings,” for by and large the tradition of man in conducting church meetings makes void the Word of God, especially as it relates to verse 26 which is the focus of the entire chapter:
“What is the outcome then, brethren?”
We should pause and consider, “the outcome of what?” Chapter 14 follows the famous “LOVE” chapter of 1 Corinthians 13. We need to ask, “What is the outcome then, brethren, of having the flame of the pure Love of God burning in our hearts?” Not an ordinary love but the pure LOVE without which I can say nothing, I am nothing, and I can accomplish nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). How will God’s Church assemble if true LOVE is allowed to express itself in fullest measure?
Let us consider what the outcome should be, as we are instructed to “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:1).
Words speak high value in God’s kingdom; particularly, God’s Words. “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). The Word of God took on material form in Jesus Christ. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God... And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us...” (John 1:1,2,14).
Prophesying involves speaking words of edification (to build-up), exhortation (to charge-up or stir-up) and consolation (to bind-up) (1 Corinthians 14:3). Prophesying words are God’s Words, spoken in the Holy Spirit by God’s people as they meet together. No imagination could utter more wonderful speech than this, sharing words that build and strengthen the saints in their faith, in knowledge, and in wisdom. Words spoken that stir up our hearts and convictions and determination and perseverance and courage to obey God and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Words spoken that lift-up and bind-up the weak in faith or bruised or heavy hearted; discouraged souls wax strong when they hear God’s words spoken in the assembly.
And concerning tongues, love expresses itself in the assembly of the saints in words understood by those present. Words spoken in tongues only edify if someone interprets the message, thereby speaking words of prophesy. Otherwise, speaking in tongues builds up a saint’s own inner man (spirit) but cannot edify, exhort or console the brethren. In the assembly of the saints, five words of prophesy are worth ten thousand words spoken in tongues, if the tongues are not interpreted (1 Corinthians 14:19).
And now, “What is the outcome then, brethren?”
1 Corinthians 14:26: 26What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
Some might wonder how long a Sunday service would last if each one present prophesied as the Bible defines it. Others might be concerned with the orderliness of the meeting. Maybe we should simply obey.
The first letter to the Church in Corinth, Chapter 14, provides specific instructions on how to conduct ourselves in an assembly of the saints.
Relating to prophecy: There is adequate time for all to prophesy; no more than two or three should speak consecutively; (interruptions are perfectly in order and to be expected); then what is spoken is subject to the review of the saints. There’s no hurry and no presumption as to the truth or value of what will be spoken.
1 Corinthians 14:29-32: 29Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. 30But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent. 31For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; 32and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;
1 Thessalonians 5:20,21: ...20do not despise prophetic utterances. 21But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
1 Corinthians 14:5: 5Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.
Speaking in tongues is linked in the assembly of the saints with interpretation of tongues so that the words spoken become prophecy to those present. Again, two or three should speak in turn and then some gifted one should interpret. Notice that the “limit” of two or three relates to the number of consecutive messages in tongues and not to the total number of tongues allowed in a meeting.
1 Corinthians 14:27-28: 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; 28but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.
All things done –the saints words and actions in the assembly– should edify the brethren. The list given does not exhaust the permissible. The exact opposite is true. The Holy Spirit in one small verse pulls the rug out from under those who seek preeminence in the assembly and who wish to limit the participation and content of God’s message.
1 Corinthians 14:26: 26What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification.
Order maintains simply by the Holy Spirit’s leading and the saint’s individual obedience to Jesus who is present where two or three gather in His name. The role of elders ensures that saints can freely minister and guards against those who would dominate the assembly or otherwise act out of order. The Law of Perfect Love produces a perfect order in the midst of what should by all rights be utter chaos. Can you imagine?
1 Corinthians 14:33: ...33for God is not a God of confusion but of peace...
1 Corinthians 14:40: 40But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
The instruction cannot relate to prophesy for “your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Joel 2:28). Philip the evangelist had four daughters who prophesied (Acts 21:8,9). The speaking that is disruptive and improper is the kind that interrupts the assembly with a blizzard of questions that can be addressed later at home. Clearly, the speaking referred to by Paul was other than that which would edify, exhort or console.
1 Corinthians 14:33b-35: ...33bas in all the churches of the saints, 34the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says. 35If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church.
Acts 21:8,9: 8On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him. 9Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.
1 Corinthians 14:36-40: 36Was it from you that the word of God first went forth? Or has it come to you only? 37If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. 38But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized. 39Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. 40But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.
Dear Saints, ours is to believe. Ours is to choose. Ours is to obey. Believe in your heart’s hunger... follow after God. Our Lord stands ready to meet with us in ways more wonderful than we have experienced, if we follow Him into His plan for His Church. His beckoning is gentle, leading into a path of life. Can you imagine?
His hand extends, not as a threat, but as an offer of life giving mercy. The majority of the mercies of God open when obeying Him. Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John 14:23). The heart tugs to believe God and obey Him.
Matthew 19:9-12: 9And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.
10The disciples said to Him, “If the relationship of the man with his wife is like this, it is better not to marry.” 11But He said to them, “Not all men can accept this statement, but only those to whom it has been given. 12For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb; and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are also eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this, let him accept it.”
The ability to receive Jesus’ sayings awaken to the Many. But if we are like the Scribes who loved salutations in the marketplaces, chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts; who devoured widows’ houses, and for a pretense made long prayers (Luke 20:46,47), His sayings are unreceivable. If we are like the Sadducees who set their hope on this life (Mark 12:18) and who understood not the scriptures or the power of God (Matthew 22:29), His sayings are void. If we are like the Pharisees who were lovers of money (Luke 16:14), hypocrites (Matthew 23:13), who loved to be seen by men (Matthew 6:1), who “strained out the gnat and swallowed the camel” (Matthew 23:24), and who did not have the love of God in their hearts (John 5:42), His sayings go unheard.
In holding to religious traditions we can also find ourselves rejecting God’s instructions. As our Lord explained...
Mark 7:6-13: 6And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their heart is far away from me.
7But in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines the precepts of
men.’
9He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 10For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who speaks evil of Father and Mother is to be put to death’; 11but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God)’, 12you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”
Successfully navigating the hindrances outlined above, leave us with still other potential pitfalls. We cannot truly receive His sayings if our hearts are like the thorn patch in Jesus’ parable of the sower and the seed. The thorns choked the word of God in the saint’s heart rendering him weak and unfruitful. Jesus identified the thorny culprits as the worries of the world, the deceitfulness of riches and the desire for other things (Mark 4:18,19).
With this in mind, a simple prayer taught at Hebron Gospel Fellowship, in Hebron Kentucky, may be useful:
Judge us, each one, in our hearts, O Lord,
Separate the evil from the good.
Make us poor in spirit,
Fill and possess us with the Holy Spirit,
And make us to know Jesus, more and more.
Make us ready for your soon coming.
Send forth workers into Your harvest field,
And fill the earth with your glory. In Jesus’ name.
As we meet in God’s order of assembly, the saints are built up, unbelievers brought face to face with God, and Jesus leads his Church forward in victory.
1 Corinthians 14:23-25: 23Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad? 24But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an ungifted man enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all; 25the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you.
Hebrews 10:25: ...25not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
1 Corinthians 11:20-34: 20Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, 21 for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22What! Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you? In this I will not praise you.
23For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
27Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. 28But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. 30For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. 31But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.
33So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. 34If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment. The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.
Luke 22:19: 19And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 20And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.”
To Him and His leading, we must give full sway.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-22: 16Rejoice always; 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not quench the Spirit; 20do not despise prophetic utterances. 21But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22abstain from every form of evil.
Special honor or preferential treatment based on worldly values has no place in God’s Church.
James 2:1-9: 1My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?
8If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
The leadership and love of our Lord bloom in the assembly of His people.
Speaking through the assembled believers, Jesus, the Chief Shepherd, pastors His flock, exercising the tender care only the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls can give. Like a diamond of many facets, our Lord ministers to His Church in ways too wonderful to be effectively related by any one person or even a handful of persons. He chooses the MANY to minister. Only one thing stands to be seen: Will you and I take our place in His Church?