Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. And 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. The spirits of the prophets are subject to the control of the prophets. For God is not a God of disorder but of peace." I Corinthians 14 v 26 - 33.

Can we handle this scripture and the demands that it imposes on the believer in Jesus?

We worship God because He is worthy of our worship. However, we do know from His character and practice that He delights in drawing near to people who are worshipping Him in spirit and in truth. When God presence's Himself amongst His people He normally makes Himself known to them in various ways which include enhancing the quality of their worship, speaking to them in clear, tangible and recognisable ways, and, by demonstrating both His love and His power.

Therefore, when we do come to worship God we should do so in the expectancy that He will draw near and make Himself known in these various ways.

The New Testament pattern is that we should worship God for who He is in the full expectancy that He will want to talk with and to us, and to demonstrate His presence, power and love to us. This will affect the way in which we publicly worship as a body of believers. We will want to make certain that God is able to say and do what He wants to without any human interference. We will prepare ourselves in such a way that God is made to feel welcome and amongst friends!

This is almost certainly not restricted to hymns as such but would also incorporate all kinds of singing.

There is much misunderstanding in the Christian Church regarding the words "worship" and "praise" and as such there is often an incompleteness in our worship. The word "worship" is normally used to describe the total congregational involvement in a service or fellowship meeting i.e. the singing of hymns/spiritual songs, prayer and the spontaneous reading of Scripture. As such it covers both singing about God and singing to Him ; it includes songs sung with great gusto and excitement , and those almost whispered in reverence and awe. In its widest (and probably most usual) sense the word WORSHIP is used to generically cover praise, adoration, expressions of love and all the other emotions felt by a believer towards their Lord.

However, the terms PRAISE and WORSHIP can be used in more specific ways to describe various stages in our drawing near to God.

Longman's Modern English Dictionary describes praise and worship as follows:-

PRAISE "to speak of with approval or admiration, to glorify (God or a deity)"

WORSHIP "reverence, homage or honour paid to God"

Essentially PRAISE is speaking about a person and their actions, WORSHIP is speaking in reverence to that person. PRAISE can take place without the person being present, whilst WORSHIP in its fullest sense demands that the person is there.

We therefore normally use the term PRAISE to describe the expression of enthusiastic joy and appreciation that comes when we think of God and His gracious dealings with us. The term WORSHIP is best reserved for the times of quiet intimacy when we adore the gracious God who is there.

PRAISE should involve the emotions of excitement and joy. It is a time of remembering the goodness of God and encouraging one-another to speak out to men, angels and demonic powers of the greatness of God. It involves the joy of sins forgiven, the excitement of being a child of God and the thrill of being secure in the loving arms of an all-powerful Saviour and King.

WORSHIP should involve the emotions of awe and wonder. Our magnifying of God in our praise has led us to see Him with our eyes of faith. We know that He is present with His people as they draw near to Him. His people are overcome with a sense of awe that such a holy majestic God should so love them that He was willing to provide the means by which they might be forgiven and be at peace with Him. A sense of reverence invades them because they realise that they are in the presence of the King. He is here to make His presence known and to say, do and demand whatever He so wishes. He is here as father, friend, master and Lord.

"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed no-one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort." I Corinthians 14 v 1-3.

TONGUES are an extension of our God-given capabilities. It is praying (in its widest sense) what we cannot put into words either because we have insufficient knowledge or insight (supplication, intercession, pleading etc), or because we cannot find the words to express what we feel towards God (adoration, reverence, longing desire). TONGUES are for the benefit of God.

INTERPRETATION is the expression in the natural tongue (English in England, Spanish in Spain etc) of the underlying meaning of the TONGUE. It may or may not be an exact literal translation but it will always cover the main salient points incorporated in the prayer directed towards God. The interpretation is given by God in order that we might be involved in the dialogue between man and God. The bringer of the TONGUE will be blessed in their spirit regardless of whether there is no interpretation (the regular private useage of the gift) or if there is an interpretation (public use of the gift). Those who listen will only be properly involved and blessed if they hear the interpretation. INTERPRETATION is therefore for the benefit of man.

PROPHECY is God bringing to His church, or part of it, things that He wants to emphasis today. PROPHECY is for the strengthening of the church and as such will incorporate encouragement and comfort. There may be an element of direction (on either the congregational or individual level), disclipline that builds up and does not destroy, comfort in difficult circumstances, encouragement to continue in faith and trust and assurance of God's continuing love, care and protection.

" For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction , that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope" Romans 15 v 4

" Now these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages is now come." I Corinthians 10 v 11

confute those who contradict it." Titus 1 v 9

" instructions about ablutions, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgement" Hebrews 6 v 2

 INSTRUCTION is the explanation of the meaning behind what God has already revealed. It is the explaining of eternal truths to people in such a way that they understand more about God and His ways. The apostles were unique in that they were able to bring instruction from the existing scriptures (the Old Testament), existing letters to the churches from other apostles and to bring further instruction that was new revelation that would be incorporated in the canon of scripture i.e. the New Testament. Instruction today is limited in its scope to the doctrines and practices (both explicit and implicit) that are recorded in scripture.

A good example of instruction is found in Nehemiah where it states that "the Levites .... instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read". Neh.8 v 7,8.

Instruction is therefore the making clear to people what scripture says about them, God, creation, the church, the world etc. It is aimed at instructing believers how to live a righteous, holy, victorious Christian life within the background of a loving care for all of mankind. It is the explanation of eternal truths that are changeless throughout the ages. It may be presented in a general way as part of an on-going teaching scheme but will always be enhanced by the Spirit of God in its application to either individuals or groups. It will often include a revelatory input.

REVELATION is the revealing in a contemporary setting of the thoughts and heart of God towards specific people, places and issues. It is a drawing back of the curtain to allow people to see situations through God's eyes and to know something of His heart, purposes and plans for/within that situation.

Revelation is never in disagreement to the written Word because it comes from the same source and God is not a god of confusion. Revelation gives new insight to the individual (or church) that could not be gained by rational thought or deduction. It is not irrational but it is on a plane higher than normal (or abnormal) human thought.

Revelation may be in the form of prophecy or in the gifts of "the message of wisdom" or "the message of knowledge".