Based on 1 Corinthians 14:26-40 (New King James Version)
“How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.”
It is undeniable that God is a God of order, as the architect, builder, and Creator that He is. Everything has its place, its function, and its time. There is neither disorder nor confusion in God. And although this world is corrupted by sin, nevertheless, within that corruption, God still maintains order. This is what the Word says about creation and how God is revealed, both His power, His authority, and His order: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:20. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17.
The order that God has established, and which He also teaches through His Word, has a purpose, and it is primarily for our good, for the good of mankind, no matter much people may dislike God's order. God created everything, put it in its place, and keeps it there. For example, let's look at our galaxy, something much smaller than the universe, but gigantic to us. All the stars maintain their position just as God placed them one day, and all the planets remain in their established positions as He decreed. To give you an idea, our own science says that there are between 100 and 400 billion planets in our galaxy alone, in the Milky Way. How would it affect us if all those stars and planets took their own course and moved indefinitely from their positions? Today, our world has temperatures and seasons that allow us to survive, thanks to the way everything is arranged: the sun, the planets within our solar system, the careful revolution of our planet around the sun, as well as its rotation on its axis, which is invisible to the eye but immovable, so that we have day and night. All this majestic, glorious, and powerful precision exists thanks to God, and it continues faithfully to this day through His presence. So many things happen that are completely beyond our control, yet we can trust that they work flawlessly thanks to Him.
As we saw in our main passage today, the Lord teaches about order and structure within our congregations, and for what purpose? So that the church may be built up, and also so that the unbeliever, the one who does not know God, may come to know God through the church. Ultimately, everything is for the good of humanity and for the glory of God. I will not delve into the dilemmas or controversies surrounding certain things mentioned, which the devil himself tries to distort to cause division and disorder, as the agent of sin and chaos that he is. What we should focus on most is that everything, especially within the Church, must be done decently and in order, because if everyone comes to church to show off, to demonstrate to others what they can do, that within itself is disorder, and that's where the problems begin, because it's no longer for edification, but rather to exalt the ego or to take advantage of others. The only clarification I will make is regarding women. The Apostle Paul speaks of women remaining silent at this time because women, in general, were causing a lot of disruption, as we can see in the passage, by making comments or asking questions in the church that distract others. What is the practical application of this? If someone is sharing the Word of God, both men and women should remain silent so that everyone can listen and be edified. This is not the time for conversations, questions, or anything that causes a disturbance. And both women and men were not made to be in competition with each for power, but rather, for mutual edification.
Now, God's order is not only for the local church, but also for every aspect of our lives: in our work or studies, in our family life, in our personal and intimate lives—God's order should be present in everything, if a person has come to Christ. Before we knew the Lord, our lives were completely out of His order. Whether we like it or not, our reality before coming to Christ was a life of disorder. We were completely far removed from and strangers to the kingdom of God, to His promises, and of course, to the eternal life that is found only in Him. All of us, without exception, were completely separated from God, as it is written: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. We become children of God only when we consciously receive, by our own choice, Christ as Lord, as it is written: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12. So, when we come to Christ and accept Him as Lord (because this is a requirement for salvation), we must seek His guidance and ultimately do the Father's will, because this too is a requirement for entering His kingdom, as it is written: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21. God desires that our lives be in order before Him, for our own good, for the good of our neighbor, and, of course, for His glory.
This is what we must understand. God will absolutely bring everything into His order, undeniably, in the end. Every being, even the devil and his hosts, will have to submit to His order, as it is written: “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11. The issue is this: We can either submit to the Lord's order now voluntarily for eternal life and reward, or God will submit you to His will in the end, but for judgment and eternal punishment afterward, when it's too late. The choice is yours. So, will you choose to seek to submit to the Lord in time? Lord bless! John. God bless Israel!