MEMORY SCRIPTURE
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the Saints.
(1 Corinthians 14:33)
The Holy Spirit doesn’t operate in confusion. His gifts in your life must not become source of confusion in Christ’s body.
DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READINGS
Mon. Nov.25: God’s Distribution To Every Believer (1 Cor,7:17,18)
Tue. Nov. 26: God’s Commandments. Are What Matters (1 Cor, 7:19)
Wed. Nov. 27: God’s People’s View About Their Leaders (1 Cor. 3:1-4)
Thur. Noy.28: God’s Perspective Of Christian Leaders (1 Cor, 3:5-10)
Fri. Nov. 29: God’s Son: Basis For Our Activities (1 Cor.3:11-13)
Sat. Nov. 30: God Will Reward Every Work (1 Cor. 3:14,15)
DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT
God is incomparably organised. His Spirit won’t stay where there is confusion; organise your services orderly.
INTRODUCTION
TEXTUAL SOURCE: 1 Corinthians 14:32FF
We thank God for the grace that sustains us to study at Christ’s feet W again this week. May His name be forever praised. Last week under the topic: THE EXPEDIENCY OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY, we learnt a lot from the effects of maturity amidst the Corinthian brethren and the call for maturity in using our God-given gifts. May God assist us to internalise the lesson we have learnt, in Jesus’ name.
The topic under discussion this week is an eye opener to the fact that the Spirit of God operates in an orderly manner. He carries out His activities systematically without an iota of confusion. Our God-given gifts must be used in an orderly manner with God, the Giver in view, in our worships, services and fellowships. May we not falter, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
LESSON OUTLINE
- HOLY SPIRIT IS ORDERLY
- CALL TO ORDERLINESS IN WORSHIP
LESSON EXPOSITION
HOLY SPIRIT IS ORDERLY (1 Cor. 14:32,33)
For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
(James. 3:16)
a) From its Greek origin, confusion’ means instability, disturbance, or being out of control. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of orderliness. He illustrated orderliness in creation, providence and redemption.
b) 1 Cor. 14:32,33: The Holy Spirit doesn’t take the believer over in the sense that he loses control of himself and the awareness of the environment. The individual under the Spirit’s influence is controllable–an indictment on those causing confusion with their ecstasy.
c) God is the Source of all gifts. Every godly gift is meant to achieve the same goal. Read 1 Cor. 3:5-8. No gift is superior to others. The gifts should bring us closer to other believers to complement one another. No gift can work independent of others (1 Cor. 12:14ff).
d) Confusion sets in when we allow undue comparison of gifts, unhealthy rivalry and utilising gifts wrongly has become the order of the day in the recent times. This is the manifestation of the flesh and ungodliness.
e) v. 33: God values peace. He acts in ways that promote peace, not confusion and chaos in the use of spiritual gifts. Satan is the author of confusion, to distort the Truth that is coming into our minds (cf. Jas, 3:14-16).
CALL TO ORDERLINESS IN WORSHIP (vv. 26-40)
a) Paul sharply rebuked the Corinthian brethren as they conducted their worship services disorganised. He therefore laid down the much- needed principle to create an orderly worship environment (1 Cor. 12:1ff).
b) vv. 26-32: There should be order in the exercise of our gifts in our church meetings. Everyone cannot be teaching, praying, prophesying, healing, etc, at the same time, lest our worship become a clownish activity, causing the Church to lose its focus.
c) v. 34: Does Paul command women to shut up in Church services today? Absolutely No! He won’t contradict himself (11:1-5). He isn’t stopping women from using their gifts, but was addressing a certain situation in the Corinthian Church-a contextual command.
d) Some in Corinth were wild with the gift of speaking in tongues as a mark of superior spirituality. Paul’s comment prohibits some less formal speaking and insubordinate talk. The ministry is not for competition or rivalry.
e) His purpose is to promote the spirit of unity, not mainly to stop women’s role in the Church (cf. Jdg. 4:4ff; 2 Kgs. 4:8ff; Mk. 15:40-41; Rom. 16:1ff). He aimed to stop the gossip, envy, strife, etc. that brought disunity and had been over-associated with those women.
f) vv. 36,37: The basic principle that should guide the orderliness of our worship is that our service MUST be centred on the Scripture, both in content and form. So, our worship services shouldn’t be ‘Anything goes (cf. Rev. 2:19, 20).
g) V.40: Our worship should take us wholly out of self-sphere; everything done must strengthen everyone (Eccl. 5:1ff), hence the need to maintain order and decorum in our services (Hab, 2:20).
LESSONS DERIVED
- God gives varieties of gifts for mutual respect, honour and peace, not for competition or self-glorification. All gifts are equal.
- The Hloly Spirit only operates where there is unity and orderliness. Use your gifts to promote these.
QUESTIONS
- God is not the Author of confusion. He gives different gifts to complement one another. Explain.
- According to 1 Cor. 14:34, is God asking women not to talk, or participate in Church activities?
