God Is Not The Author Of Confusion

God is not the Author of Confusion

Study Text: 1 Corinthians 14: 31 - 33

Introduction:

- The Bible states categorically, that God is not the author of confusion. This is true not only in the case in our text, but in all aspects of life.

- Confusion divides, separates, and destroys God’s Truth in the life of a man. If there is no peace in situations in your life as a child of God, then it is not from God.

- The Holy Spirit helps us to believe God’s Truth over the lies and confusion of this world. This gives us joy and all-round peace both within and without.

- We shall be discussing the topic under three subheadings:

1. The Clarification on Confusion

2. The Categories of Confusion

3. The Cure for Confusion

1. The Clarification on Confusion

- It is very important to know that God is not the author of confusion, not just for the church in Corinth but for the church today.

- The word confusion has different meanings. This word can mean instability, upheaval, disturbance, or being out of control.

- In 1 Corinthians 14, Paul is giving instructions to the Corinthian church about how they should maintain order in their services.

- The church in Corinth was a gifted church. They clearly operated and flowed in the gifts of the Spirit, but often their gifting was being operated in a manner that was simply out of control.

- Because of this, Paul had to give them instructions so that when they came together as a church, everyone could be edified, built-up or encouraged.

- There are two reasons why it is important to know that God is not the author of confusion.

1. It is a confirmation of the move of God.

- When the Holy Spirit is really working and moving within a service or gathering, there is unity and harmony about his work, since God is a God of order. 1 Corinthians 14:32

- When God is really moving, there may be emotions displayed, but it will be under control which will confirm that God is moving in that place.

2. It is a confirmation of the purpose of God.

- The purpose that God has for any gathering of believers in a corporate worship setting is that everyone in the meeting be instructed and encouraged.

- This type of instruction and encouragement does not happen if there is confusion. God’s purpose cannot be accomplished in this type of environment.

- God doesn’t just want to minister to one, he wants to minister to all. This is his purpose and when there is confusion, it distracts from this purpose.

- Paul is not condemning speaking in tongues nor is he condemning prophesying. He is emphasizing that the need to prophesy or speak in tongues must not be over the need to bless the body as a whole.

- In a corporate worship setting the needs of the congregation, as a whole, take precedence over the needs of the individual. 1 Corinthians 14:26-28

- When it is fitting and orderly then you know who the author is because God is not the author of confusion.

- Paul is exhorting the church to seek orderly worship where the time would be shared between singing, revelations and prophecy, and testimony.

- While these are gifts of the Spirit that are good to share among believers, Paul is teaching that God would not want the use of gifts during church to be confusing and hinder true worship.

- Whatsoever does not bring peace and leads to the blessings of the people of God can not be from God.

2. The Categories of Confusion

- There are various categories of confusion we need to take caution from, because no confusion comes from God.

1. Believing a Satanic Manifestation as if it is from God

- It is a great confusion when people are made to believe that a Satanic manifestation is from God.

- We have an example in Samaria, where the people believed the lying wonders from the magician as manifestation of God's power, until the real power of God came into action through Philip. Acts 8: 5 - 10

- A similar situation was the case of the slave girl who was testifying to the mission of Paul and Silas, but with a spirit of divination. Acts 16: 16 - 18

- We have a caution in the scripture not to believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. 1 John 4:1

2. All Information, Revelation and Operations that can lead to Destruction of God's people or Good Fellowship

- Whatsoever brings division among the people of God is a confusion from the Devil.

- We have the example in the Corinthian Church on the division among the people over Paul and Apollo. 1 Corinthians 3: 3 - 6