Empowered: Living in the Spirit (2)

Scriptural and Practical Guidelines (version 2)

Have you ever heard a symphony prepare for a concert?

Warming up

Getting in tune

Mass confusion of sound

When the conductor steps on the podium . . .

The conductor draws everyone’s attention together.

The conductor establishes the tempo.

The conductor directs the composition.

The beauty of the composition is experienced as 2 aspects come into place:

The conductor (Holy Spirit)

The musical score (Scripture)

Review:

I used the analogy of learning how playing music together creates a dynamic unmatched with that of an individual musician.

We bring the best out of each other

We learn how to find our groove

After playing music together we reach a place of improv where we complement one another.

Today, our study is found in 1 Corinthians chapter 14.

[1Co 14:7-12 ESV] 7 “If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played?

8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.

10 There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, 11 but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.

12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.”

Prayer . . .

Opening Observations:

Paul uses the imagery of instruments being played.

He instructs the church that in order for the “music” to be beneficial, it must be played in a certain way.

He uses the analogy of playing an instrument with the use of spiritual gifts.

His primary thought is: “strive to excel in building up the church.”

The way we build up the church is by following the Conductor of the composition.

The conductor . . .

[Jhn 16:13-14 ESV] 13 “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

The Spirit of Truth

He will guide you

Whatever He hears He will speak

He will glorify Me

The Holy Spirit will never lead us off score.

Playing off score sounds like the symphony warming up.

When congregations go off score, confusion results.

What would happen if the conductor walked in during the warm up and decided to leave the concert hall?

We would miss out on the beauty of the composition.

Is the answer for misuse disuse?

In order to accommodate a Pentecostal doctrine, some have chosen to limit the ministry of spiritual gifts to either a private setting, or a specified “believer’s” service where guests will not attend.

Their fear prevents them from inviting the presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Sunday morning corporate gathering.

This however is not our approach.

**We must always remember, the Holy Spirit will never direct the use of any gift that will drive people away from Christ.

A fear based on the belief that non-believer’s will be turned off by the gifts of the Spirit in operation lacks an understanding as to the Spirit’s motivation and purpose.

Getting to the downbeat of the musical score . . .

[1Co 14:26, 29, 31-33 ESV] 26 “What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. ... 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said. ... 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged, 32 and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets. 33 For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints.”

When we come together, each one has [a musical instrument]

Let all things be done for [playing the composition]

You can all play your instrument

The rests in a musical composition are as important as the notes . . .

Places of silence and pause

Waiting our turn to play our part

The musical score provides opportunity for each instrument according to the composer’s creativity.

The composer is not a Director of confusion but of [harmony] . . .

“The word 'harmony' comes from the Greek word harmonia meaning agreement. Musical harmony deals with how pitches relate (or agree) with one another.

Pitches relate in many ways. Groups of pitches can be played at the same time forming chords. Or, groups of pitches (chords) can be played successively forming chord progressions. And, individual pitches can be played successively forming melodies. Harmony is the theory behind all of these musical relationships.”

Spiritual gifts relate in many ways.

“Chords”

“Progressions”

“Melodies”

Practice and play your instrument:

What would happen if symphony musicians swapped instruments?

The quality of the composition would suffer

Time spent practicing a specific instrument results in proficiency on that instrument

Although I may be able to produce a sound on someone else’s instrument, I will not be able to generate the musicianship that has been acquired through years of practice.

Practical guidelines . . .

[1Co 14:40 ESV] 40 “But all things should be done decently and in order.”

Much of what happens in a service that would produce a sense of disorder has to do with timing.

Paul began his practical instruction with the statement: “when you come together.”

This simple statement indicates that the teaching to following is designated for the corporate setting.

We must understand and acknowledge that there are principles which apply to the corporate setting which differ from what an individual does in their private time of prayer and devotion.

A good pastor friend and mentor of mine says it this way; “the gift is for the church, the church is not for the gift.”

Secondly, Paul teaches that when the gift of tongues is given in the corporate setting, it must be interpreted.

Without the interpretation, the gift of tongues only benefits the individual.

We have the ability to control the timing.

This is not an act of disobedience or of quenching the Spirit, it is an act of recognizing God’s order for the corporate setting.

The heart of the Father is for those who seek Him to be rewarded.

There is no “reward” for the congregation as a whole if someone speaks in tongues without the benefit of interpretation for the body.

Paul’s statement: “let everything be done decently and in order.”

The word “decent” simply means: “in a proper manner.”

And the word “order” indicates both “arrangement and authority.”

The aspect of arrangement would suggest a proper sequence of events, but authority has to do with one’s character, resources, and experience.

An example of this for the corporate setting when operating in the gift of prophesy would indicate that the pastor who has been placed in authority for the congregation bears the responsibility to test and verify the prophetic word.

This is why we ask that those who sense a word from the Holy Spirit simply approach the pastor and share the word prior to delivering the prophetic utterance to the congregation.

In some instances, I have been approached by individuals wanting to share a word with the congregation on their first Sunday in attendance.

Due to the fact that we have no relationship with them to determine their level of character, we ask that they hold their word until a later time at which we have had the opportunity to get to know them and their walk with the Lord.

I have had conversations with these individuals which have led to an accusation of “quenching the Spirit” because they were not allowed to share, and often they leave never to return again.

When a spirit of this nature is revealed, it only serves to verify that their character is not in a proper place. If or when there is a lack of humility and submission, the motive can be questioned.

In summary . . .

We truly desire the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s gifts to be in operation in our corporate gatherings.

The way in which we will pursue this fullness is through the guidelines of Scripture and the direction of the Holy Spirit.

To do less would willingly submit ourselves to the attempt of the enemy to “steal, kill, and destroy” through acts of confusion and disorder.

As we continue to find our groove following the direction of the Holy Spirit, glory and honor will go to Jesus alone.

The end result will be a beautiful composition written by the Great Composer for our congregation.