Get Your House in Order!
1 Corinthians 14:20-40 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. 21 In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,” says the Lord.
22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are [a]out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 [b]And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. 26 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 [c]edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of [d]confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.
34 Let [e]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. 35 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. 36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 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. 38 But [f]if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant. 39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. Let all things be done decently and in order.
Paul quotes Isaiah’s OT prophecy concerning the coming of the Holy Spirit
Isaiah 28:11-12 For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people,
12 To whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”; Yet they would not hear.
This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost, when spoke in other languages that they did not know in order to fulfill this sure word of prophecy.
Acts 2:1-8 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all [a]with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them [b]divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each in our own [c]language in which we were born?
EX: Ps Kirby preaching, lady heard him in Japanese
Paul’s reason for writing concerns order in the church. He is not coming against the gifts, or their use, or the women using the gifts- he writes to set things in order. God is a God of order, not of chaos and confusion. The way they were running their services was promoting chaos, not order. Not only was it not edifying to the body of believers, it was scary and weird to the unbelievers.
EX: I came from a church that was a bit crazy. Do I think it was wrong or ungodly? Not necessarily, it was just out of order.
Of course, the charismatic gifts can be “scary and weird” to anyone. These things are supernatural and therefore by implications are beyond our reason to fully understand. But, at the same time they are a beautiful treasure when used in love and to the edification of the Body.
Explain the “I do not permit a woman to speak”. Talking to disrupt service promotes confusion and disorder among the church. Just two chapters ago, Paul said women pray and prophecy in the church. Here he says, “ALL have a gift to use”, that’s men, women and even children. Paul was not condemning women from ministry as some claim, he was promoting order. Ps Seaward and women on the mission field.
At FVC, we like an orderly church. We refer to ourselves as Pentecostal with a seatbelt. We agree with Scripture and we teach that you should ask for the gifts and then learn how to use and develop that gift. I think it is always a good thing to preach on tongues. So many people are confused. It is not evil to speak in tongues loudly, neither is it necessarily wrong to have a crazy Pentecostal experience; Paul is telling them it is confusing to the lost of this world. Like everything we do, we seek to glorify God and shed light on Him. Misuse + abuse does not = disuse.
We use the gifts orderly and properly so that God’s house is in order. We submit to authority so that God’s house is in order. You are asked to reframe from speaking loudly, talking or playing on your phone, or eating during the service because it is disruptive. We have a pastor and leadership that addresses sin and rebellion. We do not allow division. We are structured so that God’s house is in order. Some people say that this is “religious”, but God ordered the sun to come up everyday and go down every night and for the moon to shine its light. The ocean follows it prescribed boundaries. Creation follows a specific order and so does the operation of God’s house.
This church is in order. WE have people that speak in tongues and prophecy, we have gifts of healing and discernment. We use these gifts to edify the body, not ourselves. This is also means that not everything needs to be in front of the whole church for a public world. It is good to go to the person to deliver a word, a song, a prophecy. Do not forbid these things, just operate in an orderly manner for the sake of those who do not understand. This is true love.
Faith and Victory church is in order. But is your house in order? I continue to hear the voice of the Lord from multiple sources for the church to get our houses in order. What does your house look like?
In the book of Ezra, during the time of reformation, there was a set apart time for fasting and prayer. This was the prayer of the people:
Ezra 8:21 “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.”
This is a perfect three point sermon. Get your house in order.
First, seek from Him the right way for us
Where are you at?
In this season, are you where you need to be with the Lord? How is your prayer life? How is your Bible study? What is going on with you?
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourself as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified. (reprobate)
Test yourself. Put yourself to the test. Reject the easy answer and demand the truth. What are you doing well and where are you failing? Often we want to maximize our strengths and minimize our weaknesses. But it is those weak areas, those cracks in our foundation where the enemy attacks. Those are the areas that need the most help. You are probably not going to trip over a truck in the parking lot, but a small stone or a defect in the pavement can trip you up. It is the little foxes that spoil the vine. Check your blind spots.
I am evaluating myself in the season- 21 years into this thing and do not want to coast. It would be easy to let off the gas and just coast. But God requires that I finish well and I finish strong. There is more work to be done. Honestly asses where you are doing well, and where you need help.
Are you doing what you need to be doing in your marriage? Husbands are you loving your wife as Christ loves the church? Are you providing for her, protecting her, cherishing her? Or do you degrade her and tear her down
Ephesians 5:25-26 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
Men, are you providing for your house?
Wives are you submitting to the authority of your husband? You are not the leader of your house, the husband is. If you are not married, then the Lord is your head. If you are living with someone and not married to them, you are out of order. Do you ask your husband what he needs from you? You are his helper. Do you take better care and show more concern for others than for him? How do you talk about one another?
Proverbs 14:1 “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pluck it down with her hands”
The english does not do it justice. IN the Hebrew, it is better translated as “a wise woman works to the saving of her house”
For all- Are you doing all God has given you to do? You are not responsible to do my work, just yours. Are you doing it as unto the Lord? Do you make excuses why you cannot be in the house of God?
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Are you toying with sin? I like to all these “pet sins”. Dabbling with something you should be avoiding. Lukewarm and apathetic?
Psalm 119:59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto Your testimonies
Do you need to forgive anyone? Are you bitter or resentful? Are you divisive or a gossip? These things will destroy you, your house and the house of God.
Lamentations 3:40 Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the Lord
Secondly, seek from Him the right way for our children
Proverbs 19:18 Chasten your son while there is hope, and do set your heart on his destruction.
Another translation reads, “do not let your soul spare for his crying”
Chasten your children while there is a hope that they can still be corrected. Discipline them early before they get set in their ways and it is too difficult and they are too far gone to be corrected. The parent is warned that to forbear from chastening and correction is to expose your child to a far worse penalty.
Let me give you an example from my own life- when I was 14 my mom tried to discipline me, but I was too far gone. I already had years of doing what I wanted with no repercussions. On the other hand, my grandmother was a strict disciplinarian. I obeyed her. I felt safe with my grandparents and respected them, even more now that I am older.
John Piper on the plane. Training your children to be shot.
Do not let their crying and whining keep you from the discipline you must enforce on them. You can do nothing as well. TO not discipline will produce fruit of rebellion.
If I may speak to the parents for a min.- your children are under your authority and protection until they leave the house. YOU must protect them from even themselves. Stop trying to be their friends and be their protector. Fathers- stop being passive with your daughters. Protect how they dress- the father in Chicago playing chess with his kids, great; but the teenage girl was dressed like a prostitute.
TEN (10) Parenting Foundations we have adhered to… (from Dr. Baird, but I agree and we raised our kids under the same premise)
- Children are a gift, not a problem.
- My children are not exempt from inheriting the sin nature. They will act selfish and they will need a personal salvation experience. They were not immaculately conceived.
- When children are dedicated to the Lord a parent is stating that they will be the primary discipler in that child’s life. The church may and should assist, but ultimately their spiritual foundation is my responsibility. Their spiritual state is tied to mine. (Your first ministry is your household! If my kids because of passive parenting miss heaven, I have failed)
- I am a parent first, a friend second to my children. They will have many friends, butonly two parents.
- The Lord “owns” my children; I am a steward of that ownership. I raise them to reflect His glory, not my design.
- I evaluate and direct all my children’s decision making not out of a need to control their present but a responsibility to steward their future. I am responsible to protect all future possibilities of the Will of God by intervening as necessary in present decision making processes. Some people are short-sighted
- Because I love my children I correct and discipline them appropriately now lest later in life the state is forced to do it because of justice.
- I help my children pick their friends. They are developing their discernment and should not be immediately seen as missionaries to the culture.
- My children will receive the whole counsel of God with regards to encouragement and edification along with admonishment and rebuke. All will be needed.
- My children will understand that our standards and expectations may not be the same as their friend’s homes. Our house is committed to personal character, integrity, holiness and excellence. Our priorities and values are reflected in everything we do. What others do, we may not.
I want to add- you may have started late in life. It is not too late to discipline your children in the Lord. Always have hope in the Lord. Never stop praying for the prodigals! God hears your prayers for your lost children.
Third, seek from Him the right way for our possessions (substance)
You are a steward of “your” possessions. These things do not belong to you, we are to steward well our possessions. Take for example money. 10% belongs to God, but the other 90% does not belong to you to do with it what you want. It still belongs to God. Blowing it at the casino is not good stewardship of your finances.
Get rid of idols! Show me your calendar and your bank account and I will show you what it is that you love. Americans love their toys, sports, kid’s sports, etc.
AN idol has the ability to control you. Get rid of it. Phone, tv, job, money, success, your own philosophy….. We need to seek Him for the right use of our possessions.
Stop financing things you cannot afford. If you cannot buy it now, you do not need it. Live within your means.
You should pray about going on a vacation. EX: years ago prayed about a trip to Disneyland, ended up having a mole removed on my leg and got 5 stitches. I couldn’t walk for a month
Pray about buying any large purchase. Do not run out and buy a new car, new toy, etc. without putting it before the Lord.
Ask the Lord how to use your substance to bless others. I have heard it said, God will not get to you what He cannot get through you. We are blessed to be a blessing.
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