1 Corinthians 14:32 Commentary - Dr Peter Masters

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1 Corinthians 14:32

Comments

It is possible for both a tongues speaker and a prophet to speak or abstain from speaking according to their own will. They are in control of their own gift. The Spirit does not so inspire them that they are driven to speak against their own will. The spirits of the prophets which are being inspired by the Holy Spirit remain subject to the will of those prophets at all times. If anyone therefore says, ‘The Spirit came upon me in such a powerful way that I was not able to resist. I had to speak and could not hold back,’ then they are deceived. If anyone is not able to exercise their gift or not exercise it when they wish, then it is not the Spirit of God speaking through them. He is that still small voice which does not set aside or overwhelm the faculties of the one he inspires. The apostle Paul certainly knew this for God used him in the church as an inspired instrument more than all.This has been implicit in all Paul’s instructions, for otherwise what would be the point of telling the Corinthians how they should or should not use their gifts. They could always reply, ‘I lost control of myself when the Spirit came upon me.’

Application

When the Charismatic Movement clams that some new spectacular gift of the Spirit has been given to the church, and that those who receive this gift are led to do things that clearly show they are out of control, God’s people should not be deceived. This principle is enough to show that being slain in the spirit, drunk in the Spirit, or giving way to holy laughter, are phoney experiences that have nothing to do with the true gifts of the Spirit. They reduce the church to absurdity, and true believers should not be so gullible as to have any involvement in these things. That does not mean that they are immediately of the devil; even true believers can be deceived and led to generate such forms of behaviour out of their confused understanding. But this verse ought to correct and set people free from such foolish practices.

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1 Corinthians 14:32 Commentary and Bible Study