Biblical knowledge is the key to truth, but also the key to true evangelism, a lifestyle of worship, prayer, and full-filled prophecy through the Scriptures.
Paul confirmed this letter of instruction to the church in his letter of Corinth in 1 Corinthians 14:37-38 saying,
“If anyone thinks he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment. But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.” – The Apostle Paul
To continue, Paul does encourage his brethren in the church of Corinth to earnestly desire to prophecy, and to not forbid speaking in tongues. But as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 14:40 “But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.”
Remember this IS the instruction for the Corinthians as it is for churches today. Because Paul instructs us “to do ALL THINGS in a proper, and orderly manner.” But through what:
The things Paul writes to us are the “Lord commandments.” – 1 Corinthians 14:37-38 once more in summary.
But sadly; tremendous amount of the global church have abandoned Paul’s instructions to the church. They have lost sight of proper and orderly spiritual worship.
Why? Because they do not “recognize the Lord’s Commandments.” They only recognize their self-centeredness opinion of their sinful flesh desires just like Corinth did, and ignore instruction. Examples:
Some Christians entitle themselves to be known as Prophets just as Paul or simply spiritual . . .
Of course there is nothing wrong with desiring this position in us in our orderly worship to God as Paul said, “let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.”
But it’s the complete opposite; instead some Christians DO NOT want to recognize Paul’s instructions to the church, which are God’s word. Because remember Paul was the Prophetic writer here, not you, or me. We are only servants of Christ (Colossians 1), not prophets. But with Paul’s instructions of orderly instructive worship in light of the Bible we are to be recognized. But, now Christianity is growing to be recognized without scripture, and didn’t Paul stress to us, to abide in HIS instructions, along with Christ, and the rest of the 66 books of the Bible, and not our own. Yes, indeed Paul did!
But the problem is how can we recognize this people who are stealing of The Apostle’s Paul’s credibility from our Lord. Well I’ll throw out some helpful tips of how they normally act within the church.
These self-centered lost Christians:
1) They ignore and make all the excuses to not abide in biblical knowledge and to stay rooted in scripture (Didn’t Satan do this to Christ in Matthew)?
2) They completely abolish the Lord’s Commandments (do not recognize it) – 1 Corinthians 14:37-38
3) And they worship in their own immoral, childish, explicit manner. Not orderly instructive manner as Paul instructed the church.
Leading to what? Not be recognized. Instead, their version and false philosophy of their god is recognized them which they think IS God himself. But in reality, their flesh is the only style of worship being recognized in the first place. Satan and the Demons even use the Bible to make worship? Didn’t Satan do the tempter, who is crafty deceive Eve in the Garden by misquoting Genesis 3 when the fall of man happened? Yes! And it was all because Eve did not have the Word of God by her side. Who say fake Christians won’t as well? But Satan also denies, biblical knowledge of Scripture just like he told Eve to do so in the Garden of Eden, and lives an open lifestyle of his own worship. Didn’t God create us to worship HIM and HIM alone? Yes, but since we are all sinners we have to continuously be in HIS WORD to know HIS TRUTH! Which these Christians are not!
Psalms 150:6 tell us, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!”
And doesn’t John 4:24 tell us,
“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth?”
Absolutely! Furthermore didn’t Paul consistently remind the early churches to love another, by also loving God the father? By abiding in HIS instruction which God gave Paul the words? YES!
The point is, these Christians label themselves as spiritual prophetic prophets who can grant down revelation, spiritual gifts, prayers, blessings, healings without Paul’s biblical instruction from the Lord Commandments as see in Corinthians 14. When this happens, they lose recognition of God, and recognition of themselves. The reason churches have been growing is because we are losing sight of God’s true word and given them RECOGNITION, rather then God, when Paul did stress DO NOT RECOGNIZE THEM! I am completely guilty of this even myself, and my prayer today is, that as followers of Jesus Christ we would rise to the table, and 1 John 4:1 tells us, and “test the spirits” if the church! See if there is any biblical instruction, if there is no recognition of God’s instruction, but only recognition of their selfish instruction, deceit, and eternal damned man-made doctrine. Challenge their doctrine, and see if its God’s Word that is in-control of that church, if it isn’t flee! Because they do not have the Lord’s commandment’s, on their own, so they are not to be recognized as Paul said. And eliminating their popularity, their credibility and directed back to God’s word, would even possibly lead them to Salvation, and what a glorious place the church can be in light of scripture if every church abides in its roots!
Remember as Paul said, “but all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.” – 1 Corinthians 14:40