Decently and in Order
by Randy Bach

In First Corinthians 14:40 Paul writes, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” This is Paul’s summary on the operations of the Holy Spirit in our church services. The subject is described in verse 39 where Paul writes, “Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophecy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.” The theme Paul is referring to is the balance between prophecy and tongues in a church service.

Let’s understand what "decently and in order" means. Paul was not referring to absolute control by a pastor. He also was not referring to a pre-planned order for a church service, as some refute. But rather, he was referring to the moving of the Holy Spirit in our midst. Chapter Fourteen in its entirety is giving us examples of this balance between prophecy and tongues in a church service.

“Decently” means honestly, or, honorably. “In order” however, is the combination of two Greek words. “Order” refers to an arrangement in time or a fixed succession. “In” comes from the Greek word KATA which literally means, DOWN. If you put the two words together, you see that Paul is talking about a downward progression—from the most important to the least important. But who determines this list of importance? By implication, Paul says, the order is determined by the Holy Spirit not man!

The beginning of chapter 12 Paul declares “I don’t want you to be ignorant concerning ‘spirituals’", in other words, the way our Holy Spirit operates. Paul begins to describe the functions and operations of the Spirit in that chapter. He then follows that with chapter thirteen, the love chapter. For our Holy Spirit is Love. He only moves by love. This must be the foundation upon which we live and move as well. Only then can Holy Spirit move in our midst. Then, in chapter fourteen, Paul brings these two thoughts together explaining the operations of the Holy Spirit through the believer in our church meetings. The context throughout all three chapters is the Holy Spirit, or, spirituals, as it is written in the Greek. Some translations write this subject as spiritual gifts but the word gifts does not appear in the writings. The emphasis is on the uniqueness of the Holy Spirit’s moving. What are the things that are of greater importance to the Holy Spirit? Chapter fourteen is revealing them to us.

First, Paul declares in chapter fourteen to pursue love and secondly, to desire the things of the Holy Spirit, especially that you may prophesy. Prophecy is not a hyper-spiritual experience reserved only for the spiritual elite, as some surmise. No, it is the simple communication of a God-thought in English. Now God thinks differently than man, doesn’t He? Remember, He always “speaks of those things that are not as though they were.” (Romans 4) Now Paul is urging every believer to prophesy. He then compares the function of prophecy with the function of tongues in a church service. Think of prophecy as speaking God-words in English, whereas, tongues is speaking God-words to God.

Paul declares in verse 5 “I wish you all spoke with tongues.” The question is not whether tongues are a valid expression for the church today. It is valid and very necessary. The Holy Spirit wants to flow through each of us in prayer in this manner. He wants access to every one’s heart. Paul explains in verse 2 that “he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God … he speaks mysteries.” The role of tongues in a church service releases mysteries between God and man. Now, verse two reveals that “no one understands him!” But that is okay! It does not mean that speaking with tongues is out of order at church. Paul is explaining what order, or, what level of importance it holds in the heart of God. In verse 4 Paul explains that one who speaks in tongues edifies himself. Every time you speak to God in tongues, your inner man grows stronger. Paul is saying that everyone should speak with tongues. But Paul continues, “He who prophesies edifies the church”. The Holy Spirit is revealing His priorities!

Paul continues in that fifth verse, “I wish that you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied. For he who prophesies is greater that he who speaks with tongues”… The Holy Spirit puts a greater value upon prophecy in a church service than He does speaking with tongues. In terms of “order”, it is a higher order. Why? Because the unlearned and unsaved can hear and understand! The Holy Spirit is into producing fruit. He wants our lives overflowing with abundance. Did not Jesus declare, “Abide in Me, and I in you? As the branch cannot bare fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me… You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you.” (John 15:4, 16) Prophecy always will bear fruit. Remember prophecy is speaking God-thoughts in English to others. Tongues keeps God-thoughts in the realm of the spirit, speaking God-words only to God. However, speaking God-words in English affects all those who hear and understand! Now, verse 6 shows different ways that the Holy Spirit orders a service: by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, by teaching. The common thread in all of these is clarity. They all will produce understanding in the hearts of those who hear.

For this reason, in verse 12, Paul challenges those that are pursuing love and desiring the spirit to make the edification of the church a greater priority than the edifying of one’s self. (You can always pray in tongues at home, by yourself! But you cannot edify the church when you are alone.) How do we do this? Verse 13 tells us. If you are speaking with tongues, pray that God will give you understanding so that you can edify all who hear! As you pray in church, the Holy Spirit will give you God-thoughts. But these God-thoughts take on greater value to the Holy Spirit when they transfer from the spirit to the understanding! Paul’s conclusion in verse 15 is to do both: pray with the spirit (in tongues) and pray with the understanding, also, in our worship, to worship with the spirit and worship with the understanding. Then he places a proportionate value upon the effectiveness of our words—five words with your understanding are as effective as ten thousand words in tongues!

What is the Holy Spirit’s highest objective? To see the lost saved. Look at verse 24 and 25:

But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

If we will prophesy, if we will let God’s words come to our understanding, the Holy Spirit will flow through us. When we speak God-thoughts with understanding the unlearned and unsaved who may be present will hear the “secrets of their heart” revealed. The power of God will show up, and, falling down under the power and presence of God, [pipto—involuntarily falling down] they also will worship [proskuneo—to kiss towards] God. When they leave the meeting they will report “God is truly among you!” This is happening in our midst. And this is God’s greater purpose!

Verses 26 through 36 reveals everyone has a part to contribute in this—a psalm, a teaching, a tongue, a revelation, an interpretation, etc. “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged!”

When we are moving by the Holy Spirit, every time we come together it will be fresh, it will be exciting, it will be unique. And there will be order and purpose. But it will come from God, not from us. When Paul writes, “let everything be done decently and in order”, he is saying: To be a vessel that the Holy Spirit can flow through, first, make sure that the words and actions you are saying and doing are honest and pure statements from your heart, with no hidden agenda except love. Secondly, make sure you are always deferring to that which is of greater importance to the Spirit of God at any time, that all may learn and that all may be encouraged. What are the things that are of greater importance to the Holy Spirit? The edifying of the Body of Christ and the saving of the lost soul.