AUTHOR…OF PEACE
Paul had just stated that the spirit of the prophet is subject to the prophet (v. 32). He continues, “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33).
Whether your gift is prophecy, encouragement, prayer, or whatever, you must bring your gifts and talents under your own control. We laugh when someone says, “The devil made me do it”. But its just as ridiculous to say, “The Lord told me to do that,” just to justify our own actions. If I’m going to teach something, I’m responsible to have studied that out before I teach it.
God is not the author of confusion, so if what I do, or the timing of what I do, brings confusion, it didn’t come from God. God has never originated a church split! That confusion originates within humans who got out of line or couldn’t wait upon God’s timing. There must be order in His church.
Not only is God not the author of confusion, but He is the originator of peace. In human relationships, there will rarely be peace without Christ. Its our human nature to be competitive and manipulative. We hurt people routinely. But God has given us His Spirit, a Spirit of Love (reread 1 Corinthians 13). And that love always brings peace out of confusion.
This is to be the case “in all churches of the saints“, which includes New Hope. How does Agape Love treat those we disagree with? What kind of patient orderliness does God bring through love? As a new Christian, back in my hippie days, we used to sing chorus with the words: “And they’ll know we are Christians by our love”. What are people seeing from us?
Tags: peace
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