1 Corinthians 14:29-33 You May All Prophesy One By One

1 Corinthians 14:29-33 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.  If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Prophecy has been wonderfully restored to the church since the outpouring of 1948.

This entire chapter is speaking of a Spirit-led church service.  This form of worship is what God intended, but it was lost to the universal church.  God has restored this life-giving flow to the church in the years following the move of the Spirit of God that began in 1948.  Many churches are still bogged down with form and ritual services or entertainment show services, however.

1 Corinthians 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.

1 Corinthians 14:3-6 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.  Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?

Generally, prophesy is used for edification, exhortation, and comfort in the Church.  We all may prophesy.  Some have the gift of prophecy.  The ministry of the prophet carries a greater authority in the Spirit.

Note: the gift of tongues and interpretation is not the same thing as the unknown tongue which no man can interpret.

1 Corinthians 14:24 But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all:

1 Corinthians 14:36-40 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.  Let all things be done decently and in order.

The following is instruction for the man to keep his head covered and the woman to keep her head uncovered.  It only applies to when praying or prophesying.  Some strange twists have been given to this passage in 1 Corinthians 11, but it should be read very plainly and applied today.  Some have said that women need to do everything with their heads covered.  That isn't what this says.

1 Corinthians 11:4-11 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.  For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

1 Corinthians 11:7-12 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.  For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.  Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.  For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.  Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.  For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Some have said that this is all out of date.  The purposes given do not go out of date.  As Paul says, "But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God."

1 Corinthians 11:13-16 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?  Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?  But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.  But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

Some have said that the woman cannot cut her hair because she would be cutting off the glory of God.  That isn't what this says.  It doesn't say a woman's hair is the glory of God.  It says that, if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her.  It is her glory, not God's glory.

Some have taken the words, "for her hair is given her for a covering." and said that the woman's hair is the covering that Paul is referring to when he says, "For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered."  That makes no sense.  If we just substitute the word, bald, in here, no one would say such a thing.  "For if the woman be bald or have short hair, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her have longer hair." 

The word, shorn, speaks of using a razor to shave the woman.  It's an extreme example, but Paul is not saying that if a woman has short hair it's the same as if she had very short hair.  This is a head covering.  That is one of the truths that was revealed early in the move of the Spirit that began in 1948.