City Life Starter

I. The Word: 1 Corinthians 14:26-33

26 Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you.

27 No more than two or three should speak in tongues. They must speak one at a time, and someone must interpret what they say. 28 But if no one is present who can interpret, they must be silent in your church meeting and speak in tongues to God privately.

29 Let two or three people prophesy, and let the others evaluate what is said. 30 But if someone is prophesying and another person receives a revelation from the Lord, the one who is speaking must stop. 31 In this way, all who prophesy will have a turn to speak, one after the other, so that everyone will learn and be encouraged. 32 Remember that people who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. 33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people.

By Aisha Darwesh

Today’s verses dispel the widely held myth that the Holy Spirit is chaotic or out of control. Nothing could be further from the truth. These verses make it perfectly clear that there are a variety of gifts the Lord moves through that are designed to bless many, but there’s a certain order that must be followed to deliver these gifts in a beneficial way.

Verse 33 states God is not a God of disorder but of peace. Verse 32 states that those who prophesy are in control of their spirit and can take turns. This shows us God’s heart. He’s all about developing a culture of honor and respect. Although there’s plenty He wants to share at any given meeting, He will not arbitrarily take over someone’s body and force the words out of that person’s mouth. That’s just not the kind of God we serve. Most likely He will breathe His inspired words into whomever He chooses and that person will wait for His prompting at the appointed time and follow the order of the meeting to deliver that message.

I admit when I first came to the Lord, I viewed the gifts as a status symbol and would think that whoever operated in the gifts must be a spiritual giant. However, I’ve since adopted the mindset that although the gifts are a blessing to the person moving in them, the gifts are not just for that person’s own satisfaction, but for strengthening all. The spiritual gifts are not only God’s gift to us, but they’re also our gift to others. Speaking in other tongues, prophesying, singing, teaching, sharing revelation, and any other gift the Lord gives us are meant to bless everyone, not just one particular person.   

The way Paul describes how the gifts are to be administered in today’s verses remind me of how a conductor would lead an orchestra or band. It’s like he could be saying “first the trumpets, then the flutes, then the violins come streaming in.” There’s a beauty, simplicity, and order to everything he’s saying. In a way, I think he’s trying to say that Christian gatherings should play out like a song. They should be welcoming and inviting and flow in a melody of different sounds–each with its own meaning and purpose.

There is a time and place to practice the gifts individually as well as in a public gathering. However, in a public gathering, the gifts flow and come together in a beautiful harmony.

I used to play the trumpet in middle school. This involved a lot of practice at home, which was great for me to learn how to play, but it was not any particular blessing to those around me. However, I did need to practice to develop this gift. Then when it was time to play my trumpet in a recital or summer concert, my family members came to see me play as part of the band, and it blessed us all.

The same could be said about praying in tongues. It’s absolutely wonderful to pray in tongues as much as you possibly can. However, it will only be a blessing to you personally, unless the Lord sees fit to work it into a public service. If you are speaking in tongues, there will need to be an interpretation for others to be blessed by it. If you don’t have an interpretation or an interpreter, then speaking in tongues should be reserved for your own devotional time with God in private.

Application

Make space for God to be able to use your gift. Do you sing, speak, prophesy, or teach? If not, is that something you would like to do? Find an outlet to practice your gift. Come to a church prayer meeting, try out for the worship team, write about the revelations God has put on your heart, or consider speaking up at a bible study or even starting one of your own.

Remember the gifts are not only for us individually, but for others as well. Allow God to flow through you, but make sure you are respecting the leaders of the church and honoring the order and procedure the church sets up.

Prayer

Father God, I thank You for the gifts You have placed inside me. I thank You that YOU are dwelling inside me. It’s an honor and privilege to have You in my life. Lord, I am willing to follow Your lead. I trust You to show me the way. In Jesus Name, Amen.