1 Corinthians 14:26 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.
INTRODUCTION
• The early Church walked in Pentecostal power. Church services were powerful and what we call today “Spirit-filled or Full Gospel”. They featured spiritual worship, anointed preaching, teaching, and the supernatural gifts of Holy Spirit.
• Sometimes people wonder why we worship the way do. Here are some Biblical explanations.
• When a congregation gathers for worship services (“comes together”) there are certain things, outlined in the Bible, that should take place.
• A psalm, a doctrine, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation.
• “For the strengthening and edification of the church”. Let’s talk about it!
I. A PSALM [KJV]... a HYMN [NIV]
• The American Heritage Dictionary defines a hymn as: “A song of praise or thanksgiving to God.”
• Vine’s dictionary of Greek words says that a psalm is “A sacred song, sung to musical accompaniment.”
A. Spirit-filled worship is songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
1. Ephesians 5:18-20 ...be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
B. Spirit-filled people worship God in “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs”.
1. Spirit-filled people gather to “sing and make music in their hearts to the Lord.”
• What’s in their heart will be reflected in their life. (Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (sings).
• This is why Gospel music is so important. When we listen to or sing secular music we are being entertained. When we listen to or sing spiritual music we are worshipping.
2. All music originated from heaven.
• Not all music is Godly. Some has been desecrated. (Example: All humanity was created for God’s pleasure and His glory but sin desecrated the human race establishing the need for a Redeemer)
3. The Big Question: SHOULD A CHRISTIAN LISTEN TO SECULAR MUSIC?
• Some would say no. I ask you… Where is your Biblical defense?
• My Answer: There are some secular songs that are not bad. We need to be discerning. Here are two Scriptures to help us.
Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
C. Holy-Spirit-prompted (prophetic) worship, sung from our hearts, strengthens and edifies the church.
II. “A DOCTRINE [KJV], a WORD of INSTRUCTION [NIV]”
A. There are different purposes for Preaching and Teaching.
1. We Preach to the lost and Instruct the faithful.
• Preach to the lost with power and conviction, demonstrating the power of the Spirit with signs, wonders and miracles, so that they may be saved.
• Instruct the faithful consistently, with simplicity and understanding, teaching the whole counsel of God, being prepared to give a defense for the faith in which we stand.
1 Peter 3:15-16 NIV - 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
B. Acts 13:1 “In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers…”
1. Those who carry a prophetic gift should function in, and flow out of, a local church.
• Prophets are bold, Therefore they need consistent instruction and oversight.
• Prophets can Pastor but they need to understand the difference in the anointing and how these two gifts function. (a Pastor needs to be merciful)
2. If a prophet feels God calling them to Pastor they should submit their prophetic gift under the anointing to Pastor.
C. Holy Spirit is our Teacher.
1. 1 Corinthians 2:13 NIV - This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words.
2. 2 Timothy 2:7 NIV - “Reflect on what I am saying [Paul was saying God’s Word], for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”
D. Holy Spirit Teaching is INSTRUCTIVE and should fall into one or more of these four categories.
1. 2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
• for teaching - A, B, C, line upon line…
• for rebuking - with Godly love and Spiritual Clarity
• for correcting - More than affirmation…
• for instruction in righteousness - We have been “made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!”
2. The Goal - To Strengthen the Church
III. A REVELATION, a TONGUE or an INTERPRETATION”
A. Our worship services are incomplete when Holy Spirit does not operate.
1. God has no shortage of things to say.
2. God is always wanting to speak to us. We must position ourselves to hear!
B. God speaks to us in many ways.
1. Individually through our senses.
2. He speaks into our Spirit through prayer.
3. He speaks through His Word.
4. He speaks through other people.
5. He speaks by Holy Spirit.
C. The Gifts of Holy Spirit should operate in every service! They are given to the Church for profit!
1 Corinthians 12:7-11
7. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9. To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10. To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11. But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
1. The Modern American Church focuses a lot on Worship, and some on the Word, but we are lacking in Spiritual Demonstration.
2. When the church comes together we need to be strengthened and edified. There are some things that only Holy Spirit can achieve.
• As believers we should be open to God interacting with us through Holy Spirit.
• We are naturally natural and our natural man needs natural things. The same is true of our spirit.
3. The church at Corinth was challenging, to put it politely. (I would not have wanted to pastor that church). Still the Apostle Paul said “…they do not lack any spiritual gift.”
1 Cor 1:7
CLOSING:
• I have been to a lot of conferences, church growth seminars and been involved in a lot of roundtable discussions with my peers on the subject of Church growth. Most of the time I set in silence and listen to them wax eloquent on how to get “the crowd”. I have heard very little of what I would call “spiritual discussions.” There is never anything said about Holy Spirit manifestation…
• Let’s build a Church after God’s heart. Let’s follow the New Testament pattern.
• 1 Corinthians 14:26 What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church.
• We should come prepared to share as well as receive.
• True, God inspired, God pleasing worship requires our participation.
