“If a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.” (1 Corinthians 14:30-31.) This is one of the most ignored Scriptures in the Bible. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it done in a church service. I’ve always been afraid to do it.
Many times, while I’ve been hearing a sermon in church, a revelation of insight has come to my mind. However, I’ve never had the courage to ask the preacher to stop and give me a turn to share what God put on my heart.
I think it would take an overwhelming move of God in my heart to get me to obey that Scripture verse. I’ve pictured it before. I would raise my hand until the preacher asked me what I wanted. Then I would tell him that God just showed me something and the Bible says that he should stop so I can share it. Then I pictured the preacher getting mad and the ushers asking me to leave. Do you know anyone who has obeyed that Bible verse? Would you obey it? (Quakers used to actually visit a church and then stand up in the middle of the message and begin to preach.)
Perhaps a meeting of the body of Christ should be a team of Christ-followers working together, not an audience passively watching a professional preacher work. It’s easy to get Christians to be a Sunday morning audience; hard to get them to work together as a Spirit-led team. Church is like a team (in whatever sport) that meets once a week to hear a talk from their coach but never plays a game.
True worship is when praise and adoration for Christ the risen King gushes forth from your heart to His. Abide intimately in Christ the Vine so that God’s incoming kingdom can bear much fruit in your heart and through your life. King Jesus woke me up this morning with this poem developing in my heart.
Jesus came to remove
Your alienation
From the presence of God
To make you a part of
His holy nation
And call you to follow
Christ the risen King
In every situation.
Make the kingdom of God
Your destination.
(1 Peter 2:9 / Matthew 6:33.)
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Love this!
Steve, how can I send you a private message? Candace Darden
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I used to attend a charismatic church where those in the body of the congregation were free to speak if they had a word from the Lord. Most of the time this happened at some point other than the sermon. But once someone had a word from the Lord in the middle of the sermon and the pastor sat down to allow the message to be heard.
I go to a church which does not have a pastor by design. Anyone may sign up to speak but also congregants feel free to add something during the service when they feel it appropriate. I’ve never seen that not respected. Wide participation is part of the basic culture of the church.
Wow! Both of those churches sound like they are open to the Spirit leading and using ordinary people, not just the professional pastor. That’s awesome!