WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.859 So that's from 1 Corinthians chapter 14, beginning at verse 26, and that's page 1155 of the Red 00:00:13.859 --> 00:00:14.359 Church Bible. 00:00:17.940 --> 00:00:19.719 What then shall we say, brothers? 00:00:20.260 --> 00:00:26.300 When you come together, everyone has a hymn or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue, 00:00:26.300 --> 00:00:27.539 or an interpretation. 00:00:28.539 --> 00:00:31.199 All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 00:00:32.179 --> 00:00:39.140 If anyone speaks in a tongue, two, or at the most three, should speak, one at a time, and 00:00:39.140 --> 00:00:40.119 someone must interpret. 00:00:41.340 --> 00:00:46.179 If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself 00:00:46.179 --> 00:00:46.719 and God. 00:00:48.099 --> 00:00:52.659 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 00:00:52.659 --> 00:00:59.599 And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 00:01:01.079 --> 00:01:06.399 For you can all prophecy in turn, so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 00:01:07.840 --> 00:01:11.179 The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 00:01:11.180 --> 00:01:14.480 For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. 00:01:15.820 --> 00:01:21.000 As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. 00:01:21.740 --> 00:01:25.980 They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 00:01:27.260 --> 00:01:31.420 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it 00:01:31.420 --> 00:01:34.440 is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. 00:01:34.439 --> 00:01:40.739 Did the word of God originate with you, or are you the only people it has reached? 00:01:41.420 --> 00:01:46.539 If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am 00:01:46.539 --> 00:01:48.280 writing to you is the Lord's command. 00:01:49.200 --> 00:01:51.879 If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored. 00:01:53.340 --> 00:02:00.739 Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues, but everything 00:02:00.739 --> 00:02:03.120 should be done in a fitting and orderly way. 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:12.400 Thank you, Christine. 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:16.060 Well, should Christine have read or not? 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:18.300 That's the question. 00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:20.879 We'll get to that a little bit later on. 00:02:21.379 --> 00:02:22.500 Keep your Bibles open. 00:02:23.139 --> 00:02:24.520 1 Corinthians 14. 00:02:24.520 --> 00:02:37.140 And there's some pens and sheets. 00:02:37.300 --> 00:02:41.820 If you'd like to be able to take notes, then you can do that, or you simply use the back 00:02:41.820 --> 00:02:42.620 of the new sheet. 00:02:42.820 --> 00:02:47.020 There's spaces there if you'd like to be able to take notes as we work along. 00:02:47.020 --> 00:02:54.260 So, just a reminder, we did have a little break from 1 Corinthians last week, but we've been 00:02:54.260 --> 00:02:58.920 looking at a series which we're entitling The Gathering, which takes us from 1 Corinthians 00:02:58.920 --> 00:03:06.040 11 through to the end of 14, which is asking the big, big question, what should we do when 00:03:06.040 --> 00:03:09.080 we gather together, just as we're doing now? 00:03:09.080 --> 00:03:12.360 What should our meeting, our gathering be like? 00:03:13.800 --> 00:03:15.960 And we come to the very end of that. 00:03:16.020 --> 00:03:20.360 It's almost like a conclusion to all that's been spoken about. 00:03:20.360 --> 00:03:27.040 Thanks, Alex. 00:03:27.100 --> 00:03:30.940 We're going to pray and ask for God's help to us. 00:03:40.620 --> 00:03:47.700 Our Father God, we thank you for your word, and we thank you that you have spoken clearly 00:03:47.700 --> 00:03:49.200 to us. 00:03:50.360 --> 00:04:01.240 We ask that in the midst of the chaos of this world and the confusion that we face, that 00:04:01.240 --> 00:04:10.120 you would speak truth to us, your people today, so that you bring order out of disorder. 00:04:10.120 --> 00:04:19.620 You bring hope in times of darkness, that you bring peace where there is turmoil. 00:04:20.360 --> 00:04:27.960 So, Father, by your Holy Spirit, speak through your word, through your servant today. 00:04:27.959 --> 00:04:28.959 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:04:28.959 --> 00:04:29.959 Amen. 00:04:29.959 --> 00:04:31.879 Amen. 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:40.719 So, what did you say to the person you're sitting next to this morning? 00:04:40.720 --> 00:04:46.640 Or what was your conversation like over tea and coffee? 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:54.460 Well, the writer of Proverbs reminds us about our words. 00:04:54.459 --> 00:05:06.099 He says this, reckless words can pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise or the words 00:05:06.099 --> 00:05:08.979 of the wise brings healing. 00:05:08.980 --> 00:05:13.840 You see, our words have great power. 00:05:13.840 --> 00:05:17.540 They can either build up or they can tear down. 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:20.800 They can hurt or they can heal. 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:24.460 And I'm sure we've all experienced both. 00:05:24.460 --> 00:05:34.360 That sharp word that crushes us and breaks us or the gentle word that restores and renews. 00:05:35.400 --> 00:05:37.699 Our words have great power. 00:05:40.300 --> 00:05:47.280 Well, in the church at Corinth, they were well known for their, what we might term, their word 00:05:47.279 --> 00:05:48.419 gifts. 00:05:49.339 --> 00:05:50.939 So, look at verse 26. 00:05:52.299 --> 00:05:54.139 Chapter 14, verse 26. 00:05:55.839 --> 00:05:58.559 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? 00:05:59.159 --> 00:06:04.599 When you come together, so just as we're gathered together like this in this meeting place. 00:06:04.959 --> 00:06:14.119 So, he's saying when you come together, everyone has a hymn or a song or a word of instruction 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:21.660 or a revelation, that is a prophecy, a word from God, a tongue, that is another language, 00:06:21.800 --> 00:06:23.920 or an interpretation of that language. 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:29.000 You see, they've got these wonderful word gifts. 00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:34.720 But the problem is, as we've seen, their words are causing division and disorder. 00:06:34.720 --> 00:06:41.360 And in particular, throughout chapter 14, we've seen that if you had the gift of tongues, 00:06:42.180 --> 00:06:49.380 speaking in an unknown language, the assumption was that your words were more powerful, perhaps 00:06:49.380 --> 00:06:53.840 you were more spiritual, and therefore you should have more speaking rights. 00:06:56.660 --> 00:06:59.540 The church was like question time in Dolaran. 00:06:59.540 --> 00:07:05.240 Everyone wanting to have their say, and no one quite understanding what was being said. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:06.920 It was chaotic. 00:07:07.920 --> 00:07:10.640 There was complete disorder. 00:07:13.960 --> 00:07:22.620 Well, as we gather together as church, we've come here today with all of our word gifts. 00:07:22.620 --> 00:07:31.459 Everyone might have something to say, but how we use our words with each other is of crucial importance. 00:07:31.980 --> 00:07:33.220 So, look at verse 33. 00:07:35.939 --> 00:07:41.600 For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. 00:07:43.579 --> 00:07:47.920 You see, when God speaks, he doesn't bring disorder. 00:07:48.819 --> 00:07:50.540 God brings peace. 00:07:50.540 --> 00:07:54.120 God's word doesn't bring confusion and chaos. 00:07:54.580 --> 00:07:56.560 God's word brings clarity. 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:04.800 Think about the creation story, that passage at the very beginning of the Bible in Genesis 1. 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:11.920 In the beginning, we're told, there was, what, there was like chaos and disorder, and then God spoke. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:16.080 And his word brought order. 00:08:16.420 --> 00:08:18.620 And his word brought harmony. 00:08:18.620 --> 00:08:21.379 He had everything in its place. 00:08:22.079 --> 00:08:23.379 Everything as it should be. 00:08:25.660 --> 00:08:35.460 Now, the point is, as we gather together, our gathering here should reflect something of the character of the God we worship. 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:46.160 So, as we come this morning, our words to one another should bring clarity, not confusion. 00:08:47.160 --> 00:08:53.120 The words that we speak to one another should bring peace and harmony into each other's lives. 00:08:53.120 --> 00:09:01.419 It brings peace to the brokenness and the disorder that our world and our lives face. 00:09:01.419 --> 00:09:06.740 So, in conclusion, he will say in verse 40. 00:09:07.879 --> 00:09:15.939 But everything, that is, as we meet together, everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way. 00:09:16.039 --> 00:09:17.839 Because God is a God of order. 00:09:17.840 --> 00:09:23.259 And God brings clarity, not confusion. 00:09:25.639 --> 00:09:32.940 Well, as we gather together, there are two big things that we need to keep in mind. 00:09:33.399 --> 00:09:34.600 Here's the first one. 00:09:34.600 --> 00:09:40.840 All our words should build up the church. 00:09:41.220 --> 00:09:43.460 All our words should build up the church. 00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:45.460 Go back to verse 26. 00:09:47.180 --> 00:09:49.440 What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? 00:09:49.440 --> 00:09:59.040 When you come together, everyone has a hymn or a song, a word of instruction, a revelation, that is, a prophecy, a tongue, or an interpretation. 00:10:01.020 --> 00:10:11.180 All of these, and not just those, but indeed all word gifts, must be done for the strengthening of the church. 00:10:12.940 --> 00:10:16.040 So, what's that going to look like for us here in Carragallion? 00:10:17.400 --> 00:10:18.440 Well, three things. 00:10:18.440 --> 00:10:23.020 First, we should come ready to participate. 00:10:24.460 --> 00:10:26.520 Again, look at verse 26. 00:10:27.560 --> 00:10:31.120 Do you see in the middle it says, when you come together. 00:10:31.320 --> 00:10:33.440 When you come together, everyone. 00:10:34.700 --> 00:10:42.820 So, the expectation is, is that we actually do make it a priority, as God's people, to meet together. 00:10:42.820 --> 00:10:49.460 And when we come together as church, we come to participate. 00:10:50.740 --> 00:10:52.820 That's been encouraged all the way along. 00:10:52.900 --> 00:10:55.720 Look at verse 12 of chapter 14. 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:57.720 So it is with you. 00:10:57.720 --> 00:10:59.779 So it is with you. 00:10:59.779 --> 00:11:09.139 Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church or strengthen the church. 00:11:09.139 --> 00:11:10.360 What are they? 00:11:10.360 --> 00:11:12.539 Well, go down to verse 18. 00:11:14.720 --> 00:11:18.559 He says, I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:21.459 So it's not wrong or bad to speak in tongues. 00:11:21.459 --> 00:11:22.779 Verse 19. 00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:52.779 00:11:52.779 --> 00:11:54.779 To comfort those who are struggling. 00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:59.799 And to instruct those who perhaps are drifting in their relationship with God. 00:11:59.799 --> 00:12:06.519 So we don't come waiting to be spoken to by somebody else and sitting in our seats going, 00:12:06.819 --> 00:12:08.259 why isn't anybody talking to me? 00:12:09.279 --> 00:12:12.599 We come ready to participate. 00:12:15.799 --> 00:12:19.679 Second, we come thinking of others. 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:28.719 The gifts that God gives to us are primarily to strengthen other people and not self. 00:12:28.720 --> 00:12:30.940 So look at verse 27. 00:12:33.899 --> 00:12:39.100 If anyone speaks in a tongue, that is, in an unknown or unlearned language, 00:12:40.019 --> 00:12:43.720 two, or at the most three, should speak. 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:45.960 One at a time. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:49.779 And someone must interpret. 00:12:51.580 --> 00:12:54.639 You see, if someone speaks in an unknown or unlearned language, 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:57.899 it's not going to benefit the church at all because 00:12:57.899 --> 00:13:00.459 no one understands. 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.220 Verse 11. 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:08.279 If then I do not grasp the meaning of what someone is saying, 00:13:08.879 --> 00:13:10.779 I'm a foreigner to the speaker. 00:13:11.319 --> 00:13:13.039 And they're a foreigner to me. 00:13:14.199 --> 00:13:15.100 Verse 13. 00:13:15.199 --> 00:13:16.000 For this reason, 00:13:16.340 --> 00:13:17.779 anyone who speaks in a tongue 00:13:17.779 --> 00:13:19.159 should pray 00:13:19.159 --> 00:13:22.899 that he may interpret what he says. 00:13:22.899 --> 00:13:27.519 So anybody who has the gift of tongue should, 00:13:27.779 --> 00:13:30.480 well, they should be praying for that interpretation. 00:13:32.100 --> 00:13:35.000 Or somebody else should interpret 00:13:35.000 --> 00:13:37.860 so that all the church, 00:13:37.959 --> 00:13:40.079 so that everybody benefits. 00:13:40.639 --> 00:13:41.500 Verse 28. 00:13:41.500 --> 00:13:45.019 If there is no interpreter, 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:47.919 the speaker should keep quiet in the church 00:13:47.919 --> 00:13:50.419 and speak to himself and God. 00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.820 You see, the point I think here is 00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:54.799 is that we use our word gifts 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:59.240 to think of ways of building other people up. 00:13:59.240 --> 00:14:01.159 It's really not about me. 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:07.320 In contrast then, 00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:09.259 he goes on to talk about prophecy, 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:13.100 which is others-centered. 00:14:14.560 --> 00:14:16.299 It's about thinking of others. 00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:18.579 So again, verse 27. 00:14:18.699 --> 00:14:20.559 Let's just read the first part of verse 27. 00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:20.959 It says, 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:24.240 if anyone speaks in a tongue. 00:14:25.319 --> 00:14:25.679 If. 00:14:25.779 --> 00:14:27.079 So it's not essential. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:29.819 But, look at verse 29. 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:33.000 Two or three prophets 00:14:33.000 --> 00:14:35.359 should speak. 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:41.299 And why is the priority 00:14:41.299 --> 00:14:43.539 or the emphasis placed on prophecy? 00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:45.339 Well, we're told in verse 31. 00:14:46.299 --> 00:14:49.179 For you can all prophecy in turn 00:14:49.179 --> 00:14:51.939 so that everyone 00:14:51.939 --> 00:14:53.799 may be instructed 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:55.939 and encouraged. 00:14:57.339 --> 00:14:59.500 You see, prophecy is a priority 00:14:59.500 --> 00:15:00.779 within the church 00:15:00.779 --> 00:15:03.079 because it is always thinking 00:15:03.079 --> 00:15:04.179 of other people. 00:15:04.359 --> 00:15:05.539 It is others-centered. 00:15:06.939 --> 00:15:08.500 You might remember that 00:15:08.500 --> 00:15:10.859 from chapter 14 and verse 4. 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:13.620 He who speaks in the tongue 00:15:13.620 --> 00:15:14.740 edifies himself, 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:16.899 but he who prophesies 00:15:16.899 --> 00:15:20.060 edifies the church. 00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:22.019 It builds up the church. 00:15:24.820 --> 00:15:25.539 Now you say, 00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:27.299 well, that's all great, isn't it? 00:15:27.680 --> 00:15:29.299 All this talk of prophecy. 00:15:31.159 --> 00:15:31.980 Well, let me ask this. 00:15:32.019 --> 00:15:33.200 When was the last time 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:36.220 someone in this church 00:15:36.220 --> 00:15:38.860 brought a prophecy? 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:41.480 Never mind two or three. 00:15:41.480 --> 00:15:43.259 Can you remember? 00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:48.060 Well, 00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:50.480 we need to think about that, 00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:50.960 don't we? 00:15:51.580 --> 00:15:52.940 Because if we understand 00:15:52.940 --> 00:15:54.340 prophecy as this, 00:15:55.100 --> 00:15:56.019 and we looked at this 00:15:56.019 --> 00:15:56.980 the other week, 00:15:57.340 --> 00:15:58.899 as being a revelation 00:15:58.899 --> 00:15:59.899 from God, 00:16:00.220 --> 00:16:01.460 that is a word 00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:03.220 that is tested 00:16:03.220 --> 00:16:04.200 against scripture, 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:06.560 that strengthens, 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:07.920 encourages, 00:16:08.840 --> 00:16:09.759 comforts, 00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:11.000 instructs, 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:11.860 the church body, 00:16:12.179 --> 00:16:13.279 and can lead 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:14.080 unbelievers 00:16:14.080 --> 00:16:15.200 to Christ. 00:16:19.460 --> 00:16:20.360 So what's that 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:20.960 going to look like 00:16:20.960 --> 00:16:21.500 for us? 00:16:22.899 --> 00:16:23.879 Well, it could be 00:16:23.879 --> 00:16:25.159 as we've just done 00:16:25.159 --> 00:16:26.319 over tea and coffee. 00:16:27.120 --> 00:16:28.120 We don't look at 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:28.679 tea and coffee 00:16:28.679 --> 00:16:29.819 as break time, 00:16:30.819 --> 00:16:32.620 but as perhaps, 00:16:32.740 --> 00:16:33.139 do we say, 00:16:33.279 --> 00:16:34.179 prophecy time? 00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:34.939 An opportunity 00:16:34.939 --> 00:16:35.879 to build 00:16:35.879 --> 00:16:37.019 one another up? 00:16:37.019 --> 00:16:38.960 to comfort 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:39.860 and instruct 00:16:39.860 --> 00:16:40.579 and encourage 00:16:40.579 --> 00:16:41.059 each other 00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:41.939 with our words? 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.939 It could be. 00:16:45.939 --> 00:16:46.879 But it seems 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.639 as we read 00:16:47.639 --> 00:16:48.159 through this, 00:16:48.259 --> 00:16:48.960 this is talking 00:16:48.960 --> 00:16:50.000 about two or three 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:51.079 speaking to the 00:16:51.079 --> 00:16:52.759 whole church. 00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:54.639 Not just one-to-one 00:16:54.639 --> 00:16:55.419 conversations, 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:56.919 but someone speaking 00:16:56.919 --> 00:16:58.439 to all the church. 00:16:59.240 --> 00:16:59.960 So what's that 00:16:59.960 --> 00:17:00.799 going to look like? 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:04.079 Well, in some sense, 00:17:04.259 --> 00:17:05.319 preaching is prophetic, 00:17:05.559 --> 00:17:06.259 as we're doing 00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:06.819 right now. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:07.720 As we hear 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.420 God's word 00:17:08.420 --> 00:17:10.640 explained and applied, 00:17:10.839 --> 00:17:12.259 it brings instruction, 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:13.900 it brings encouragement, 00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:15.519 it brings comfort. 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:18.759 Those who led 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:19.440 the songs, 00:17:20.140 --> 00:17:21.019 in some sense, 00:17:21.079 --> 00:17:21.859 were also being 00:17:21.859 --> 00:17:22.379 prophetic, 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:24.720 as they spoke 00:17:24.720 --> 00:17:25.480 truth. 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:27.599 Even the words 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:28.619 that we sang 00:17:28.619 --> 00:17:30.079 today bring us 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:31.140 comfort and 00:17:31.140 --> 00:17:31.879 encouragement 00:17:31.879 --> 00:17:32.940 in the midst 00:17:32.940 --> 00:17:33.779 of chaos and 00:17:33.779 --> 00:17:34.579 turmoil and 00:17:34.579 --> 00:17:35.879 unknowns of 00:17:35.879 --> 00:17:36.279 what's going 00:17:36.279 --> 00:17:36.740 to happen. 00:17:39.539 --> 00:17:40.359 But again, 00:17:40.419 --> 00:17:41.059 as we read 00:17:41.059 --> 00:17:41.579 through this 00:17:41.579 --> 00:17:42.299 section here, 00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:43.099 it seems to be 00:17:43.099 --> 00:17:43.859 that this is 00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:45.059 not just 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:46.539 planned speech, 00:17:47.039 --> 00:17:48.699 but there's 00:17:48.699 --> 00:17:49.240 also a 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:50.199 spontaneity. 00:17:51.359 --> 00:17:52.139 So look at 00:17:52.139 --> 00:17:52.839 verse 30. 00:17:55.539 --> 00:17:56.539 So in the 00:17:56.539 --> 00:17:56.919 gathering, 00:17:57.079 --> 00:17:57.639 we're talking, 00:17:57.779 --> 00:17:58.379 verse 30, 00:17:58.380 --> 00:17:59.260 and if a 00:17:59.260 --> 00:18:00.160 revelation comes 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:00.680 to someone 00:18:00.680 --> 00:18:01.340 who is sitting 00:18:01.340 --> 00:18:01.840 down, 00:18:02.780 --> 00:18:03.220 the first 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:03.800 speaker should 00:18:03.800 --> 00:18:04.540 stop. 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:06.980 So it 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:08.060 seems to me 00:18:08.060 --> 00:18:08.980 that when 00:18:08.980 --> 00:18:09.520 the church 00:18:09.520 --> 00:18:09.940 gathers 00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:10.480 together, 00:18:10.940 --> 00:18:12.200 there should 00:18:12.200 --> 00:18:12.860 be times 00:18:12.860 --> 00:18:13.440 when there is 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.320 opportunity 00:18:14.320 --> 00:18:16.260 to bring a 00:18:16.260 --> 00:18:17.000 word from God 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.720 to build up 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:18.660 the whole 00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.180 church. 00:18:20.120 --> 00:18:20.720 And again, 00:18:20.820 --> 00:18:21.220 we could say, 00:18:21.320 --> 00:18:21.820 well, we could do 00:18:21.820 --> 00:18:22.320 that in home 00:18:22.320 --> 00:18:22.580 groups. 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:23.560 Yes, yes, 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:24.079 we could do 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:25.139 that, but it's 00:18:25.139 --> 00:18:26.039 not the whole 00:18:26.039 --> 00:18:26.819 church gathered, 00:18:26.899 --> 00:18:27.299 is it? 00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.639 Now, I 00:18:31.639 --> 00:18:32.099 haven't got my 00:18:32.099 --> 00:18:32.700 head completely 00:18:32.700 --> 00:18:33.419 around all of 00:18:33.419 --> 00:18:34.299 this, still 00:18:34.299 --> 00:18:34.839 thinking it 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:37.359 through, but I 00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:37.679 think it's 00:18:37.679 --> 00:18:38.279 something we do 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:38.859 need to think 00:18:38.859 --> 00:18:39.119 about. 00:18:39.399 --> 00:18:39.980 But what 00:18:39.980 --> 00:18:40.899 would it look 00:18:40.899 --> 00:18:41.279 like? 00:18:42.319 --> 00:18:42.899 Well, it 00:18:42.899 --> 00:18:43.460 might mean, 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:44.319 and this is 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:44.759 what I do 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:46.440 think, instead 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.339 of having time 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:48.259 for announcements, 00:18:49.319 --> 00:18:49.919 which we did 00:18:49.919 --> 00:18:50.519 this morning, 00:18:50.859 --> 00:18:51.240 and which 00:18:51.240 --> 00:18:51.919 everybody else 00:18:51.919 --> 00:18:52.419 can actually 00:18:52.419 --> 00:18:53.079 read from 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:53.599 their new 00:18:53.599 --> 00:18:53.899 sheet. 00:18:54.059 --> 00:18:54.359 We don't 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:54.879 need to do 00:18:54.879 --> 00:18:55.119 it if you 00:18:55.119 --> 00:18:55.579 just read 00:18:55.579 --> 00:18:56.039 carefully. 00:18:57.699 --> 00:18:58.399 Maybe we 00:18:58.399 --> 00:18:59.000 need to think 00:18:59.000 --> 00:18:59.980 about having 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:00.819 time where 00:19:00.819 --> 00:19:02.319 church members 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:04.619 have the 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.480 opportunity to 00:19:05.480 --> 00:19:06.099 speak a word 00:19:06.099 --> 00:19:06.699 of encouragement 00:19:06.699 --> 00:19:07.519 to the church. 00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:09.099 It's not 00:19:09.099 --> 00:19:10.279 necessarily all 00:19:10.279 --> 00:19:10.819 the time, it 00:19:10.819 --> 00:19:11.379 doesn't say that 00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:12.039 everybody has 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:12.679 that gift, 00:19:13.759 --> 00:19:14.779 but it might 00:19:14.779 --> 00:19:15.399 be a word of 00:19:15.399 --> 00:19:16.960 encouragement in 00:19:16.960 --> 00:19:17.500 line of what 00:19:17.500 --> 00:19:17.879 we've been 00:19:17.879 --> 00:19:18.299 thinking. 00:19:20.879 --> 00:19:21.659 I leave that 00:19:21.659 --> 00:19:22.379 for discussion. 00:19:22.380 --> 00:19:23.220 we can talk 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:23.620 about it 00:19:23.620 --> 00:19:23.860 again. 00:19:24.200 --> 00:19:24.640 So come 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.520 to participate, 00:19:26.820 --> 00:19:28.300 think of 00:19:28.300 --> 00:19:29.000 others, 00:19:30.200 --> 00:19:31.960 and third, 00:19:33.880 --> 00:19:34.440 learn to 00:19:34.440 --> 00:19:35.040 be silent. 00:19:36.740 --> 00:19:37.860 Verse 33, 00:19:39.180 --> 00:19:40.020 for God is 00:19:40.020 --> 00:19:40.480 not a God 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:41.020 of disorder, 00:19:41.100 --> 00:19:41.380 but of 00:19:41.380 --> 00:19:41.820 peace. 00:19:43.060 --> 00:19:43.740 As in all 00:19:43.740 --> 00:19:44.580 the congregations, 00:19:44.700 --> 00:19:45.000 all the 00:19:45.000 --> 00:19:45.560 churches of 00:19:45.560 --> 00:19:46.080 the saints, 00:19:47.140 --> 00:19:47.760 women should 00:19:47.760 --> 00:19:48.560 remain silent 00:19:48.560 --> 00:19:48.920 in the 00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:49.280 churches. 00:19:49.279 --> 00:19:49.440 churches, 00:19:50.019 --> 00:19:50.839 they are 00:19:50.839 --> 00:19:51.539 not allowed 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:52.059 to speak 00:19:52.059 --> 00:19:52.519 and must 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:52.980 be in 00:19:52.980 --> 00:19:53.440 submission, 00:19:53.980 --> 00:19:54.440 as the 00:19:54.440 --> 00:19:55.160 law says. 00:19:57.259 --> 00:19:58.039 So that's 00:19:58.039 --> 00:19:58.319 clear, 00:19:58.440 --> 00:19:58.839 isn't it? 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.700 Men are 00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:01.359 encouraged to 00:20:01.359 --> 00:20:01.899 participate, 00:20:02.440 --> 00:20:03.019 and all the 00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:03.460 women have 00:20:03.460 --> 00:20:03.819 to keep 00:20:03.819 --> 00:20:04.279 quiet. 00:20:05.799 --> 00:20:06.279 Well, 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:06.879 before I get 00:20:06.879 --> 00:20:07.539 something thrown 00:20:07.539 --> 00:20:07.940 at me, 00:20:08.399 --> 00:20:08.940 we need to be 00:20:08.940 --> 00:20:09.539 very careful. 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.759 I don't think 00:20:10.759 --> 00:20:11.980 that's exactly 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.859 what it means. 00:20:14.420 --> 00:20:15.700 Three things 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:16.940 in response 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:17.480 to that. 00:20:18.620 --> 00:20:19.080 First, 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:19.660 Paul is 00:20:19.660 --> 00:20:20.420 actually given 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:22.140 instructions to 00:20:22.140 --> 00:20:23.000 all the 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:25.200 church about 00:20:25.200 --> 00:20:26.059 being silent. 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.000 So look back 00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:28.920 at verse 28. 00:20:33.340 --> 00:20:34.420 If there is 00:20:34.420 --> 00:20:35.460 no interpreter, 00:20:36.700 --> 00:20:37.400 the speaker 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:39.720 should keep 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:41.200 quiet in the 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:41.660 church. 00:20:42.360 --> 00:20:42.740 In other 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:42.960 words, 00:20:43.360 --> 00:20:44.259 be silent. 00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.480 It's the 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:46.860 same in 00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:47.539 verse 30. 00:20:49.039 --> 00:20:49.799 And if a 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:50.680 revelation or 00:20:50.680 --> 00:20:51.180 a prophecy 00:20:51.180 --> 00:20:51.740 comes to 00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:52.180 someone who 00:20:52.180 --> 00:20:52.519 is sitting 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:52.840 down, 00:20:53.519 --> 00:20:53.779 well then 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.299 the first 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.420 speaker should 00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:56.400 stop. 00:20:56.580 --> 00:20:56.900 That is, 00:20:57.039 --> 00:20:57.539 be quiet, 00:20:57.660 --> 00:20:58.279 be silent. 00:21:00.299 --> 00:21:01.019 So it's 00:21:01.019 --> 00:21:01.539 not just 00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:02.319 women that 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:02.779 are to be 00:21:02.779 --> 00:21:03.140 silent. 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:03.980 We all 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:04.539 need to 00:21:04.539 --> 00:21:05.019 learn to 00:21:05.019 --> 00:21:06.279 be silent 00:21:06.279 --> 00:21:08.080 and quiet. 00:21:11.799 --> 00:21:12.559 The second 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.039 thing is, 00:21:13.120 --> 00:21:13.940 Paul actually 00:21:13.940 --> 00:21:14.900 does encourage 00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:15.519 women to 00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:15.980 speak. 00:21:16.840 --> 00:21:17.320 He's very 00:21:17.320 --> 00:21:17.880 clear about 00:21:17.880 --> 00:21:18.060 that. 00:21:18.140 --> 00:21:18.480 We saw 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:18.940 that back 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:19.360 in chapter 00:21:19.360 --> 00:21:19.759 11, 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.580 verse 5. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:21.540 You can 00:21:21.540 --> 00:21:22.019 flick back 00:21:22.019 --> 00:21:22.519 a page. 00:21:23.420 --> 00:21:23.720 It's a 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.000 different 00:21:24.000 --> 00:21:24.700 situation, 00:21:24.860 --> 00:21:25.200 a different 00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:25.880 context. 00:21:26.540 --> 00:21:26.800 If you 00:21:26.800 --> 00:21:27.100 want the 00:21:27.100 --> 00:21:27.660 whole sermon, 00:21:27.780 --> 00:21:28.000 you can 00:21:28.000 --> 00:21:28.440 listen to 00:21:28.440 --> 00:21:28.980 it online. 00:21:29.120 --> 00:21:29.740 But just 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.340 the first 00:21:30.340 --> 00:21:30.780 part of 00:21:30.780 --> 00:21:31.320 verse 5, 00:21:31.420 --> 00:21:32.040 chapter 11. 00:21:32.880 --> 00:21:33.680 And every 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.540 woman who 00:21:34.540 --> 00:21:35.500 prays or 00:21:35.500 --> 00:21:36.440 prophesies. 00:21:37.400 --> 00:21:38.100 So the 00:21:38.100 --> 00:21:39.240 implication is 00:21:39.240 --> 00:21:39.820 that women 00:21:39.820 --> 00:21:40.400 are gifted 00:21:40.400 --> 00:21:41.040 just as 00:21:41.040 --> 00:21:41.500 much as 00:21:41.500 --> 00:21:42.420 men to 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:43.720 pray and 00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.380 prophesy 00:21:44.380 --> 00:21:45.220 within the 00:21:45.220 --> 00:21:45.780 gathering of 00:21:45.780 --> 00:21:46.340 the church. 00:21:46.540 --> 00:21:47.080 There's no 00:21:47.080 --> 00:21:47.620 restriction. 00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:50.860 So why 00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:51.400 then, when we 00:21:51.400 --> 00:21:51.720 get to 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.540 chapter 14, 00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:53.360 verse 34, 00:21:53.620 --> 00:21:54.500 are we 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.180 reading women 00:21:55.180 --> 00:21:55.820 aren't allowed 00:21:55.820 --> 00:21:56.480 to speak? 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:57.560 Has he 00:21:57.560 --> 00:21:58.240 forgotten what 00:21:58.240 --> 00:21:58.740 he's written? 00:21:59.400 --> 00:21:59.820 Is he a 00:21:59.820 --> 00:22:00.160 little bit 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.880 confused? 00:22:02.320 --> 00:22:02.980 I don't 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:03.500 think so. 00:22:03.820 --> 00:22:04.340 I think the 00:22:04.340 --> 00:22:05.200 answer thirdly 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:05.860 comes in 00:22:05.860 --> 00:22:06.900 verse 35 00:22:06.900 --> 00:22:08.480 of chapter 00:22:08.480 --> 00:22:09.100 14. 00:22:11.500 --> 00:22:12.380 If they, 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:12.759 who are 00:22:12.759 --> 00:22:12.980 they? 00:22:14.420 --> 00:22:15.360 Well, in 00:22:15.360 --> 00:22:16.039 particular, I 00:22:16.039 --> 00:22:16.519 think the 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.059 wives. 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.019 If they 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.500 want to 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.380 inquire 00:22:19.380 --> 00:22:20.160 about 00:22:20.160 --> 00:22:20.900 something, 00:22:21.700 --> 00:22:22.400 they should 00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:23.039 ask their 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:23.940 own husbands 00:22:23.940 --> 00:22:24.539 at home, 00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:28.019 for it was 00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:29.440 disgraceful for 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:29.980 a woman to 00:22:29.980 --> 00:22:30.539 speak in the 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:30.940 church. 00:22:33.299 --> 00:22:34.059 Now let me 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:34.480 try and give 00:22:34.480 --> 00:22:35.140 a picture of 00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:36.060 what I think 00:22:36.060 --> 00:22:36.980 and what 00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:37.560 certainly some 00:22:37.560 --> 00:22:37.820 of the 00:22:37.820 --> 00:22:38.720 commentators 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.620 point towards. 00:22:40.259 --> 00:22:40.840 The scene is 00:22:40.840 --> 00:22:41.480 probably something 00:22:41.480 --> 00:22:42.160 like this. 00:22:43.060 --> 00:22:43.840 A man would 00:22:43.840 --> 00:22:44.759 stand up to 00:22:44.759 --> 00:22:45.340 give a word of 00:22:45.340 --> 00:22:45.920 encouragement, 00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.600 an instruction, 00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:48.560 a prophecy. 00:22:49.860 --> 00:22:50.600 And then his 00:22:50.600 --> 00:22:52.040 wife would 00:22:52.040 --> 00:22:53.020 publicly start 00:22:53.020 --> 00:22:54.020 questioning or 00:22:54.020 --> 00:22:54.920 disagreeing with 00:22:54.920 --> 00:22:55.560 what he had to 00:22:55.560 --> 00:22:55.900 say. 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.540 So husband and 00:22:57.540 --> 00:22:58.080 wife were having 00:22:58.080 --> 00:22:58.580 a little bit of 00:22:58.580 --> 00:22:59.320 a spat in the 00:22:59.320 --> 00:22:59.840 front row. 00:23:01.520 --> 00:23:02.400 Not only was 00:23:02.400 --> 00:23:03.200 that disrespectful 00:23:03.200 --> 00:23:04.140 to the husband 00:23:04.140 --> 00:23:05.340 whose role it 00:23:05.340 --> 00:23:06.380 was to lead, 00:23:06.860 --> 00:23:07.520 verse 35, 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:08.060 we're told it 00:23:08.060 --> 00:23:09.300 was disgraceful. 00:23:10.300 --> 00:23:10.880 In other words, 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:11.920 the questioning 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.920 was bringing a 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:15.120 disorder to the 00:23:15.120 --> 00:23:15.600 church, 00:23:16.060 --> 00:23:17.259 instead of 00:23:17.259 --> 00:23:18.060 building up 00:23:18.060 --> 00:23:18.840 the church. 00:23:21.220 --> 00:23:21.880 Look at the 00:23:21.880 --> 00:23:22.320 middle of verse 00:23:22.320 --> 00:23:22.900 34. 00:23:23.560 --> 00:23:24.340 They, the 00:23:24.340 --> 00:23:25.100 wives, are not 00:23:25.100 --> 00:23:26.120 allowed to speak, 00:23:26.820 --> 00:23:27.720 but must be in 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:29.300 submission as the 00:23:29.300 --> 00:23:30.580 law says. 00:23:30.579 --> 00:23:31.939 Well, what does 00:23:31.939 --> 00:23:32.539 the law say? 00:23:32.639 --> 00:23:33.659 What law is he 00:23:33.659 --> 00:23:34.319 referring to? 00:23:34.699 --> 00:23:35.319 Well, it's the 00:23:35.319 --> 00:23:35.740 law, the 00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:36.519 scriptures. 00:23:38.519 --> 00:23:39.419 And I think it's 00:23:39.419 --> 00:23:40.179 a reference back 00:23:40.179 --> 00:23:40.879 to Genesis 00:23:40.879 --> 00:23:42.039 chapter 2, 00:23:42.119 --> 00:23:42.699 where we learn 00:23:42.699 --> 00:23:43.599 that women 00:23:43.599 --> 00:23:45.220 and men 00:23:45.220 --> 00:23:46.720 are equal in 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.519 value and 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:48.519 worth before 00:23:48.519 --> 00:23:50.279 God, but 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:51.699 they've been 00:23:51.699 --> 00:23:52.519 given different 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:53.179 roles. 00:23:54.119 --> 00:23:54.740 The husband 00:23:54.740 --> 00:23:55.599 is to give 00:23:55.599 --> 00:23:56.220 loving, 00:23:56.859 --> 00:23:57.899 sacrificial care 00:23:57.900 --> 00:23:58.340 for his 00:23:58.340 --> 00:23:59.259 wife, to 00:23:59.259 --> 00:24:00.120 protect, to 00:24:00.120 --> 00:24:00.960 protect and to 00:24:00.960 --> 00:24:01.340 provide. 00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:02.500 He is to give 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:04.340 of himself for 00:24:04.340 --> 00:24:05.480 his wife, to 00:24:05.480 --> 00:24:06.700 serve his 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.060 wife. 00:24:08.600 --> 00:24:09.320 And the wife 00:24:09.320 --> 00:24:10.220 in response is 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.460 to live in 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.259 submission, that 00:24:12.259 --> 00:24:13.280 is to live under 00:24:13.280 --> 00:24:14.360 the loving and 00:24:14.360 --> 00:24:16.000 sacrificial care of 00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:17.140 the husband, which 00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:18.100 is to be a good 00:24:18.100 --> 00:24:19.480 and orderly care. 00:24:21.860 --> 00:24:23.019 So to start 00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:23.960 questioning and 00:24:23.960 --> 00:24:24.820 disagreeing in 00:24:24.820 --> 00:24:27.259 public was in 00:24:27.259 --> 00:24:28.240 some way a 00:24:28.240 --> 00:24:29.140 rejection of 00:24:29.140 --> 00:24:29.920 God's good and 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:30.720 beautiful design 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:31.579 for marriage. 00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:35.379 And that's 00:24:35.379 --> 00:24:36.099 why I think he 00:24:36.099 --> 00:24:36.579 gives this 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:37.720 specific instruction 00:24:37.720 --> 00:24:39.339 here. 00:24:40.339 --> 00:24:41.240 So I think 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:41.720 what we can 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.359 take from all 00:24:42.359 --> 00:24:44.259 of this, we're 00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:45.599 all encouraged, 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:47.039 women and 00:24:47.039 --> 00:24:48.140 men, we are 00:24:48.140 --> 00:24:48.960 all encouraged 00:24:48.960 --> 00:24:50.019 to pray and 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:51.339 prophesy to 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:52.200 one another for 00:24:52.200 --> 00:24:52.839 the building up 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:53.559 of the church. 00:24:54.720 --> 00:24:55.579 And there are 00:24:55.579 --> 00:24:56.799 times when all 00:24:56.799 --> 00:24:57.500 men and 00:24:57.500 --> 00:24:58.679 women need 00:24:58.679 --> 00:24:59.579 to learn to 00:24:59.579 --> 00:25:00.199 be silent. 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:04.639 As we gather 00:25:04.639 --> 00:25:05.439 together, it's 00:25:05.439 --> 00:25:06.639 not about me and 00:25:06.639 --> 00:25:07.599 what I want to 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.279 have to say and 00:25:08.279 --> 00:25:09.139 what I want to 00:25:09.139 --> 00:25:10.220 have to share and 00:25:10.220 --> 00:25:11.379 give me the mic and 00:25:11.379 --> 00:25:12.720 let me say what I'm 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.240 going to say. 00:25:15.019 --> 00:25:16.460 It's about respect 00:25:16.460 --> 00:25:17.399 for each other 00:25:17.399 --> 00:25:19.119 and letting others 00:25:19.119 --> 00:25:20.559 speak and letting 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:22.319 them strengthen and 00:25:22.319 --> 00:25:22.740 encourage. 00:25:22.740 --> 00:25:23.400 and that 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:24.299 everything we 00:25:24.299 --> 00:25:26.120 do, we do 00:25:26.120 --> 00:25:26.519 for the 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:27.299 strengthening and 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:29.359 building up of 00:25:29.359 --> 00:25:29.880 the church 00:25:29.880 --> 00:25:30.319 family. 00:25:31.940 --> 00:25:33.900 So, first, all 00:25:33.900 --> 00:25:34.880 our words should 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.980 build up the 00:25:35.980 --> 00:25:36.559 church. 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.420 The second, and 00:25:38.420 --> 00:25:39.059 it's a little bit 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:40.000 shorter, all our 00:25:40.000 --> 00:25:41.880 words should be 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:42.579 submitted to 00:25:42.579 --> 00:25:42.900 scripture. 00:25:42.900 --> 00:25:43.000 scripture. 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:46.380 So, as we 00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:48.500 come together and 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:49.360 somebody has a 00:25:49.360 --> 00:25:50.660 prophecy, does 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:51.720 that mean we 00:25:51.720 --> 00:25:52.440 can say whatever 00:25:52.440 --> 00:25:53.120 we like? 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.759 Well, I don't 00:25:56.759 --> 00:25:57.680 think prophecy is 00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.340 an excuse to 00:25:58.340 --> 00:25:58.860 share with the 00:25:58.860 --> 00:25:59.580 church anything 00:25:59.580 --> 00:26:00.380 that just pops 00:26:00.380 --> 00:26:01.580 into our mind and 00:26:01.580 --> 00:26:02.460 we can confidently 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.180 stand before 00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:03.759 everybody and 00:26:03.759 --> 00:26:04.880 say, thus says 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:06.380 the Lord, and 00:26:06.380 --> 00:26:07.140 out it comes. 00:26:09.080 --> 00:26:10.220 Verse 36. 00:26:10.220 --> 00:26:13.920 Did the word of 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:15.079 God originate 00:26:15.079 --> 00:26:16.039 with you? 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:19.140 Are you the 00:26:19.140 --> 00:26:19.740 source of 00:26:19.740 --> 00:26:20.759 everything that 00:26:20.759 --> 00:26:21.380 God has to 00:26:21.380 --> 00:26:21.680 say? 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.319 Verse 36. 00:26:24.519 --> 00:26:25.740 Or are you the 00:26:25.740 --> 00:26:26.940 only people it 00:26:26.940 --> 00:26:27.440 has reached? 00:26:28.220 --> 00:26:29.059 Are we the 00:26:29.059 --> 00:26:29.860 last word on 00:26:29.860 --> 00:26:30.900 what God is 00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:31.799 and what God 00:26:31.799 --> 00:26:32.519 is not? 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:33.839 Like, is it 00:26:33.839 --> 00:26:34.559 up to us? 00:26:34.559 --> 00:26:38.519 It seems to 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:39.839 me that it's 00:26:39.839 --> 00:26:41.679 arrogant for 00:26:41.679 --> 00:26:42.299 us to think 00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:42.679 that our 00:26:42.679 --> 00:26:43.819 thoughts and 00:26:43.819 --> 00:26:45.240 our imaginations 00:26:45.240 --> 00:26:46.440 have the same 00:26:46.440 --> 00:26:47.480 authority as 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.259 God's word, 00:26:48.379 --> 00:26:50.000 the Bible, and 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:50.519 it's very 00:26:50.519 --> 00:26:51.319 dangerous to 00:26:51.319 --> 00:26:52.139 speak to other 00:26:52.139 --> 00:26:52.839 people as if 00:26:52.839 --> 00:26:53.700 your words are 00:26:53.700 --> 00:26:54.460 coming directly 00:26:54.460 --> 00:26:55.159 from God and 00:26:55.159 --> 00:26:56.200 your words should 00:26:56.200 --> 00:26:57.079 be obeyed. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:02.480 Two things, I 00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:03.460 think, will 00:27:03.460 --> 00:27:04.119 help us here. 00:27:04.119 --> 00:27:06.379 First, the 00:27:06.379 --> 00:27:07.239 authority of 00:27:07.239 --> 00:27:07.619 Scripture. 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:08.559 Verse 37. 00:27:11.159 --> 00:27:13.319 If anybody, if 00:27:13.319 --> 00:27:14.399 anyone thinks he 00:27:14.399 --> 00:27:17.159 is a prophet or 00:27:17.159 --> 00:27:18.500 spiritually gifted, 00:27:19.939 --> 00:27:20.579 let him 00:27:20.579 --> 00:27:21.339 acknowledge that 00:27:21.339 --> 00:27:22.379 what I am 00:27:22.379 --> 00:27:23.439 writing to you 00:27:23.439 --> 00:27:25.319 is the 00:27:25.319 --> 00:27:25.719 Lord's 00:27:25.719 --> 00:27:26.039 command. 00:27:27.679 --> 00:27:28.899 So Paul is 00:27:28.899 --> 00:27:29.639 claiming that 00:27:29.639 --> 00:27:30.479 his words, 00:27:31.419 --> 00:27:32.359 he's written 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.379 words to this 00:27:33.380 --> 00:27:33.940 church in 00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:34.860 Corinth, and 00:27:34.860 --> 00:27:35.580 the words that 00:27:35.580 --> 00:27:36.200 we are reading 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:37.240 right now, he 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:38.740 says, are the 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:40.160 Lord's commands. 00:27:41.520 --> 00:27:42.220 In other words, 00:27:42.300 --> 00:27:43.060 what Paul is 00:27:43.060 --> 00:27:44.800 saying, God 00:27:44.800 --> 00:27:45.400 is saying. 00:27:46.320 --> 00:27:47.240 His words are 00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.100 Scripture, which 00:27:48.100 --> 00:27:49.040 is why we have 00:27:49.040 --> 00:27:50.320 them preserved and 00:27:50.320 --> 00:27:51.260 recorded for us 00:27:51.260 --> 00:27:51.900 today, and which 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:52.560 is why we're 00:27:52.560 --> 00:27:53.240 reading them and 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.900 looking at them. 00:27:54.340 --> 00:27:55.200 This is God's 00:27:55.200 --> 00:27:55.920 voice to us 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.280 today. 00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:58.379 God's 00:27:58.379 --> 00:27:59.279 writing. 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:01.319 And not 00:28:01.319 --> 00:28:01.839 God's 00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:03.420 responsibility to 00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:04.339 write Scripture. 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:06.220 It was consigned, if 00:28:06.220 --> 00:28:07.319 you like, to the Old 00:28:07.319 --> 00:28:08.639 Testament prophets and the New 00:28:08.639 --> 00:28:09.460 Testament apostles. Their 00:28:09.460 --> 00:28:11.139 writing is God's word to 00:28:11.139 --> 00:28:11.559 us. 00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:13.899 So again, verse 37, if 00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:14.960 anyone thinks he's a 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:15.879 prophet or spiritually 00:28:15.879 --> 00:28:16.980 gifted, let him 00:28:16.980 --> 00:28:18.200 acknowledge that what I am 00:28:18.200 --> 00:28:19.720 writing to you is the 00:28:19.720 --> 00:28:20.960 Lord's command. 00:28:20.960 --> 00:28:25.039 That means none of us 00:28:25.039 --> 00:28:26.299 can stand up and say, 00:28:26.900 --> 00:28:30.519 God has told me, or 00:28:30.519 --> 00:28:31.600 God has said. 00:28:33.120 --> 00:28:34.900 No, the only time that 00:28:34.900 --> 00:28:36.100 I could ever speak, or 00:28:36.100 --> 00:28:37.019 you could ever speak, 00:28:37.079 --> 00:28:38.980 with such authority, is 00:28:38.980 --> 00:28:40.120 when we're reading from 00:28:40.120 --> 00:28:41.220 the Bible, when we can 00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:42.240 stand up and say, this 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:43.539 is what God says. 00:28:45.860 --> 00:28:47.980 We must be very wary of 00:28:47.980 --> 00:28:49.140 people who say things 00:28:49.140 --> 00:28:50.940 like this, God told 00:28:50.940 --> 00:28:52.360 me to tell you. 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:59.279 Which means, secondly, we 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.640 must test everything 00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:02.220 against Scripture. 00:29:04.120 --> 00:29:05.180 Verse 29. 00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:09.100 So he's talking about 00:29:09.100 --> 00:29:10.220 prophets. Two or three 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:12.779 prophets should speak, and 00:29:12.779 --> 00:29:13.779 the other should weigh 00:29:13.779 --> 00:29:16.519 carefully what is said. 00:29:17.740 --> 00:29:19.240 So again, let's try and 00:29:19.240 --> 00:29:20.360 picture this. If someone 00:29:20.359 --> 00:29:21.199 brings a word of 00:29:21.199 --> 00:29:22.039 encouragement or 00:29:22.039 --> 00:29:24.279 instruction, well, the 00:29:24.279 --> 00:29:25.379 whole church has a 00:29:25.379 --> 00:29:26.179 responsibility. 00:29:27.599 --> 00:29:29.059 We should weigh what 00:29:29.059 --> 00:29:31.519 the other should weigh 00:29:31.519 --> 00:29:33.639 carefully what is said. 00:29:34.339 --> 00:29:35.240 That is, we should 00:29:35.240 --> 00:29:37.119 carefully discern if what 00:29:37.119 --> 00:29:38.979 they are saying is of 00:29:38.979 --> 00:29:41.319 God. And the best way to 00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:42.639 do that is to test it 00:29:42.639 --> 00:29:43.559 against Scripture. 00:29:44.179 --> 00:29:45.939 Is what the person's 00:29:45.939 --> 00:29:47.919 saying in agreement with 00:29:47.919 --> 00:29:49.259 Scripture? Or does it 00:29:49.259 --> 00:29:50.700 contradict what God has 00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:51.500 already said? 00:29:52.819 --> 00:29:54.019 Are the words that 00:29:54.019 --> 00:29:55.039 they're speaking to the 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:56.539 church an application 00:29:56.539 --> 00:29:58.519 of Scripture? 00:29:59.079 --> 00:30:00.319 A principle that's 00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:01.799 taken, that's being 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:05.619 applied to a specific 00:30:05.619 --> 00:30:06.339 situation? 00:30:06.700 --> 00:30:08.119 So, for example, today 00:30:08.119 --> 00:30:09.900 we're facing Brexit. 00:30:10.299 --> 00:30:11.379 What's going to happen? 00:30:11.599 --> 00:30:12.379 What's the future? 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.480 Well, we speak God's 00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:14.799 Word. 00:30:14.799 --> 00:30:17.480 God's Word says, I am the 00:30:17.480 --> 00:30:18.500 Lord and there is no 00:30:18.500 --> 00:30:18.759 other. 00:30:19.980 --> 00:30:22.680 We can take refuge in 00:30:22.680 --> 00:30:23.399 this God. 00:30:25.319 --> 00:30:26.779 So is what they're saying 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.579 in agreement with 00:30:27.579 --> 00:30:27.940 Scripture? 00:30:28.379 --> 00:30:29.819 Is it an application of 00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:30.200 Scripture? 00:30:31.960 --> 00:30:32.879 Regrettably, it's very 00:30:32.879 --> 00:30:34.200 common today for so-called 00:30:34.200 --> 00:30:35.379 prophets to tell people 00:30:35.379 --> 00:30:36.039 things like this. 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.659 God has told me to tell 00:30:37.659 --> 00:30:39.139 you that you're going to 00:30:39.139 --> 00:30:40.519 be healed or that you 00:30:40.519 --> 00:30:41.480 will be successful. 00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:43.400 Well, the fact is that 00:30:43.400 --> 00:30:44.539 God has never, ever 00:30:44.539 --> 00:30:45.759 promised anywhere in 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:47.839 His Word that guarantees 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:49.799 that you will be healed 00:30:49.799 --> 00:30:51.039 of everything and that 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:52.180 you'll be successful in 00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:52.539 everything. 00:30:52.900 --> 00:30:53.660 It's a lie. 00:30:55.240 --> 00:30:56.440 God can heal. 00:30:57.460 --> 00:30:58.579 God gives gifts of 00:30:58.579 --> 00:30:58.880 healing. 00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:01.200 But we must never, ever 00:31:01.200 --> 00:31:02.480 mess with people's lives 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:04.140 by claiming God said. 00:31:07.140 --> 00:31:08.900 You see, we are not free 00:31:08.900 --> 00:31:10.279 to say whatever we like 00:31:10.279 --> 00:31:11.160 and stick a little 00:31:11.160 --> 00:31:13.420 spiritual God says at 00:31:13.420 --> 00:31:13.899 the beginning. 00:31:15.099 --> 00:31:16.359 That is both arrogant 00:31:16.359 --> 00:31:18.399 and dangerous. 00:31:20.339 --> 00:31:21.500 Verse 38. 00:31:23.839 --> 00:31:25.399 If he ignores this, if he 00:31:25.399 --> 00:31:26.559 ignores the Lord's 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:27.480 command, that is, 00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:31.339 he himself will be 00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:32.059 ignored. 00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:35.160 We should test and weigh 00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:36.500 up everything carefully 00:31:36.500 --> 00:31:38.559 with what God has said. 00:31:38.559 --> 00:31:40.619 And if it is not in 00:31:40.619 --> 00:31:41.779 line, we should ignore 00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:43.859 it completely and do 00:31:43.859 --> 00:31:45.019 not entertain it. 00:31:51.859 --> 00:31:54.579 So, as we gather 00:31:54.579 --> 00:31:57.419 together, we come with 00:31:57.419 --> 00:31:58.940 all of our gifts that God 00:31:58.940 --> 00:32:00.059 has given to us. 00:32:00.059 --> 00:32:04.200 And we use our words 00:32:04.200 --> 00:32:07.339 to build up the church. 00:32:08.200 --> 00:32:09.799 Speaking words of truth, 00:32:09.980 --> 00:32:11.379 encouragement, comfort, 00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:14.200 and making sure that all 00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:15.259 that we have to say 00:32:15.259 --> 00:32:18.019 submits to the authority 00:32:18.019 --> 00:32:18.679 of Scripture. 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:22.859 For God is not a God of 00:32:22.859 --> 00:32:26.000 disorder, but a God of 00:32:26.000 --> 00:32:26.440 peace. 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:30.200 let's pray together. 00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:30.240 Let's pray together.