A Study of I Corinthians 14 (Part 2)

In our continued study of I Corinthians chapter fourteen we will proceed with verses twenty
three through forty.
Remember we are dealing with the operations of the manifestations of the gift of holy spirit
WITHIN the church (group of believers.)
1 Corinthians 14:23-40 (KJV)
23 If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and
there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?
One of the greatest deceptions by the Devil himself is to use well meaning Christians to queer
the use of the manifestations so that when level headed people, Christians or not, look at the
goings on in the Church that they become repulsed by the insanity. That is what was happening
in the Church in Corinth AND it is happening today in the Pentecostal Churches today. Sheer
insanity. Multiple people speaking in tongues all at one time. In today’s Churches there is rolling
in the isles, slain in the spirit and a multitude of other nonsense that only hurts the church.
24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is
convinced of all, he is judged of all:
“All” at once? No, a thousand times no. Hang in there because Paul is about to tell us HOW and
WHEN to operate the manifestations in the Church.
When faithful believers prophesy people are edified and loving reproved.
25 And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will
worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
26 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.
Let me point out that there is nothing wrong with the manifestations. What is wrong is the
peoples misuse of those manifestations. For example, if someone gave me a trumpet and I played
it in a band or in front of a crowd that paid to see me play that would be proper usage of the
trumpet. But, if I took that trumpet and started blowing it in a library or where someone is giving
a speech it would be wrong usage. Nothing wrong with the trumpet!
27 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.
So, HERE is how it is supposed to be done! If, in the Church, a person speaks in tongues, he
must interpret and let only two or the most three speak in tongues and interpret or prophesy and
let one speak and when he/she is done the next one can speak and after him the third can speak.
“let one interpret” should be let THAT one interpret. There is no such thing as one speaking in
tongues and another interpreting, period.28 But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself,
and to God.
If you don’t know how to speak in tongues AND interpret then you should sit there and be quite.
You can always speak in tongues quietly praying perfect prayers.
29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
If there are men/women with a gift ministry let them speak, in course, first, second, third and let
the others in the congregation weigh their words.
30 If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
That is right! God is at work, by revelation, with in the gift ministries. One prophet may receive
revelation from God and not the other. So, the one that did not receive revelation is to sit there
and be quiet.
31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
“Ye,” ye who? Ye, the prophets, ye the ones ordained of God, may all prophesy, if God reveals
things to you, but it has to be one by one so that the whole congregation is edified and
comforted.
32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
Let me shout this so that you understand THE SPIRIT OF THE PROPHETS IS SUBJECT TO
THE PROPHETS. That means that there is NONE of this stuff of God using or taking over the
person. No gibberish, no crazy antics only harmony and order! Any time you cannot control the
spirit qwithin it is not holy spirit, it is from the devil.
33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
34 Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but
they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
Verse 34 has been used to literally oppress women. People have used this to say women have no
place for leadership or speaking in the Church. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The body
of Christ is made up of both Jews and Gentiles as well as Men and Women! We have ALL
become a member of the body of Christ and as such have inalienable rights within the body. That
includes the operation of ALL of the manifestations of holy spirit as well as God prerogative to
call any one of us, man or woman, to the ministry.
35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for
women to speak in the church.36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
What are verses 34 through 36 saying? Who are they speaking to? In the Church at Corinth men
of God would bring their families to Church. These men of God, prophets, would get revelation
from God and they would start to speak and their wives would interrupt them and try to correct
or ask them something. Could you imagine Moses or Joshua or Elijah standing before the
Children of Israel and laying it on the line as God had told them and right in the middle their
wife interrupts them?? That wouldn’t have lasted more than five seconds. However, it was
happening in the Church at Corinth. God says, you wives be quiet! If you want to talk to your
husbands do it at home!
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that
I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Amen to that! Thousand maybe millions of born again Christians with all the latent abilities that
God put in every Christian and, yet, they refuse to operate, they refuse to listen and they fight
against the commandments of God.
39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.
40 Let all things be done decently and in order.
And the sum of this whole chapter is LET ALL THINGS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CHURCH,
BE DONE DECENTLY AND IN ORDER!
What a wonderful God and what a wonderful opportunity we have to bless the Church when we
know HOW to speak in tongues and interpret AND prophesy