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REFLECTION

Making peace is the theme for our reflection. Peace is the state of quiet and orderliness without any form of disturbance. Paul turns his attention after teaching about the significance or functions of prophecy over speaking tongues to the orderly use of these gifts in the church to ensure that there is peace during corporate worship. For purpose of orderliness and a peaceful worship atmosphere, Paul wrote, “If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. If a revelation is made to another sitting there, let the first be silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:27-33).

Dear friend in the Lord, in corporate worship there must be order in the exercise of our spiritual gifts, there is no excuse for a believer to say that he or she has no control over the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in him or her. It is disorderly for preaching to be ongoing while someone all of a sudden begins to speak tongues so loud that it interrupts the hearing of the Word of God. It is chaotic, when two or three people purport to give a revelation and they all shout and proclaim the message they have at the same time. Who do we listen to and who do we take directions from? It is important to separate ecstatic emotions from the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit even as we exercise great self-discipline and spiritual maturity during corporate worship to ensure that there is orderliness and peace. Some churches have encouraged chaos at corporate worship services to the extent that it has become the normal way of worship. Members of such churches hardly hear the voice of God and sound teaching for their edification and encouragement. For the voice of God to be heard in corporate worship there must be orderliness and a peaceful atmosphere.  Let us remember that “the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.” (1 Corinthians 14:32-33) In other words, we do not lose our consciousness, sanity and senses when exercising the gifts of the Spirit therefore we must put great emphasis on orderliness and making peace during corporate worship. Shalom.  

PRAYER

Holy Spirit, strengthen and direct us to use our spiritual gifts in an orderly, reasonable and peaceful manner so that the Church of Christ will be edified and encouraged and the name of God glorified.  Amen.