Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

“The people who were encamped heard that Zimri had conspired, and had also killed the king. Therefore all Israel made Omri, the captain of the army, king over Israel that day in the camp. Omri went up from Gibbethon, and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah. When Zimri saw that the city was taken, he went into the fortified part of the king’s house and burned the king’s house over him with fire, and died, for his sins which he sinned in doing that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, in walking in the way of Jeroboam, and in his sin which he did to make Israel to sin. Now the rest of the acts of Zimri, and his treason that he committed, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts: half of the people followed Tibni the son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. But the people who followed Omri prevailed against the people who followed Tibni the son of Ginath; so Tibni died, and Omri reigned. In the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, Omri began to reign over Israel for twelve years. He reigned six years in Tirzah. He bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill. Omri did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight, and dealt wickedly above all who were before him.”
(1 Kings 16:16-25)

“What is it then, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has another language, or has an interpretation. Let all things be done to build each other up. If any man speaks in another language, let there be two, or at the most three, and in turn; and let one interpret. But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God. Let two or three of the prophets speak, and let the others discern. But if a revelation is made to another sitting by, let the first keep silent. For you all can prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be exhorted. The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets, for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints. Let the wives be quiet in the assemblies, for it has not been permitted for them to be talking except in submission, as the law also says, if they desire to learn anything. “Let them ask their own husbands at home, for it is shameful for a wife to be talking in the assembly.” What!? Was it from you that the word of God went out? Or did it come to you alone?”
(1 Corinthians 14:26-36)

These people going this way, those people going that way. This man claiming the kingship, that man pulling him down. Assassinations. Sieges. Suicides. And through it all, we don’t see ANYONE in leadership following God. We don’t see repentance. Renewal. We don’t see anyone leaning into doing what God said to do the way God said to do it. As a result, the nation wasn’t connected to the Lord. They weren’t prospering. They weren’t secure. They weren’t leading peaceful lives. This was the opposite. They had left God’s yard and moved into the weeds. Tumultuous lives. Attacks and defeats. Turmoil politically, individually, and nationally. This was NOT the promise they had been given. This was evidence of the covenant they had REJECTED.

Paul was pleading with the church in Corinth not to embrace turmoil. Everyone speaking in tongues at once. Or speaking out the tongues they were praying for themselves, but in public and not sharing the interpretation. The synagogues were segregated into two sections with a divider running floor to ceiling separating them. But women were crying out questions to their husbands and the husbands were obviously responding. This isn’t crying out a prophesy or a tongue interpretation. This wasn’t responding to an aspect of the service. This was personal inquiry and response to their spouse – but in public, with volume, while the service was going on. This was a CHAOTIC assembly. But God isn’t the author of confusion. He is the God of order. Of peace. And things were meant to operate in a way that was beneficial to EVERYONE. That way the whole body could be encouraged and built up. That way, should an unbeliever stumble in, they would be a witness to the world of the love, peace, and kindness of the Lord toward everyone – instead of assaulted with a cacophony of unintelligible noise.

Summary

Church is not meant for the unbeliever, but for the believer. It doesn’t mean the unsaved are unwelcome. Far from it. But the unbeliever won’t understand the deeper things of the Lord. Church is meant to be an encouraging environment. It is meant to instruct and build up the believer – while also opening arms to the unbelievers. It is a witness of how our loving Father instructs, guides, helps, loves, and takes care of us. It is a worship of Him. It is a celebration of everything He does. It is meant to be orderly, without needing to be a strict lifeless agenda to walk through point by point. It is an opportunity to be BLESSED and to BLESS. It is a microcosm of what our lives are meant to be. Everything about us is designed to bring God glory and bless those around us. To be a witness of His goodness and peace and love. None of this is meant to inhibit the flow of the Spirit, but to increase the opportunity for us to be led by Him.