BRINGING BIBLICAL CHURCH BACK

AUDIO 03NOV26 

REDEMPTIONCORPS INTERNATIONAL 

BRINGING BIBLICAL CHURCH BACK 03NOV26

By Evg. Salvatore Frisella  

“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God"  

— Ephesians 3:10

Church, we have an assignment from the Lord to reveal His manifold wisdom to the principalities and powers. So, how important is it to be the Church as laid out by the Word of God. 

This is the only way we will be the powerhouse we all are called to be. 

Let’s establish one thing— Church is not a solo-ministry but an ensemble of believers who abide in the Lord and operate in the Holy Spirit. 

Yes, there are bonafide field ministries that travel. Yes, there are missionaries and Evangelists that are called to the highways and byways. As Samuel had an itinerary so do contemporary New Testament prophets. But the Church is not made up of solo-artists but an ensemble of believers famous for their love for one another operating in their respective Gifts & Callings. 

A biblical Church service has the gathering unto the Lord, not a celebrity minister. It centered on the direct GOD under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, scriptural teaching, and corporate edification rather than a rigid or man-made program. 

“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying."

• 1 Corinthians 14:26 (KJV)

The overarching rule in New Testament gatherings is that every expression, gift, or message must strengthen, encourage, and comfort the Body of believers. And the Scriptures teaches active participation of spiritual gifts such as prophecy, teaching, and corporate tongues, however, brings balance "the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets," GOD is not an author of confusion therefore there must be bylaws to govern how a real Church meeting is to be done. and order so confusion is avoided 

26How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. 

27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 

28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 

29Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 

30If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 

31For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.

32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 

33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

[IT IS THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF REDEMPTIONCORPS INTERNATIONAL THAT PAUL WAS RESPONDING TO A QUESTION AND WAS NOT GIVING AN INSTRUCTION FROM THE LORD. THIS IS CALLED TRADITIONALLY A “RESPONSA” (known in Hebrew as She'elot u-Teshuvot [שאלות ותשובות], meaning "questions and answers"]

34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 

35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. [END OF QUESTION]

[RESPONSA]

36What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? [END IF RESPONSA] 

(We will discuss the doctrinal position that women can teach, preach and prophecy as equal to men with certain authentic biblical restrictions later) 

37If 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. 

38But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 

40Let all things be done decently and in order.

—1 Corinthians 14:29–40 KJV. 

Authentic New Testament Church operates in conjunction with sound doctrine; letting the "word of Christ dwell in you richly" informs how believers teach, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs together (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:18–19)

Biblical Church requires properly trained believers to create an atmosphere of faith, humility, and responsiveness to God’s unction rather than ritualistic performance (Galatians 3:5; Romans 8:9). 

This requires the Pastorship to have classes that train the vetted believer understand these biblical protocols and etiquette. Pastorships who fail to train the Lord’s flock will undoubtedly have issues with those who speak out of turn and out of the Holy Spirit. 

There are no scriptures that say the Church is for unbelievers and must be visitor friendly thus keeping the Holy Spirit quiet and the spiritual gifts dormant. However, there are plenty of Scriptures that instruct us to have Church that is visitation friendly and we are referring to the Holy Spirit. 

If per adventure an unbeliever were to visit the Scriptures are very clear what should happen:

“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: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.

1 Corinthians 14:25-25 KJV. 

No, compromise of the preeminent of the Holy Spirit to coddle a visitor but because of the Visitation and properly trained believers— GOD spoke to that person in a way that transcends theology or any other sales tactic. 

AI’s rewrite:

REDEMPTION CORPS INTERNATIONAL

BRINGING BIBLICAL CHURCH BACK

03NOV26 | By Evg. Salvatore Frisella

“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.”

— Ephesians 3:10 (KJV)

The Church Has an Assignment

Church, we have an assignment from the Lord: to reveal His manifold wisdom to the principalities and powers in heavenly places. That raises an important question: How important is it that we become the Church described in the Word of God?

It is essential. This is how the Church becomes the spiritual powerhouse God intended it to be.

Let’s establish something from the beginning: The Church is not a solo ministry. It is an ensemble of believers abiding in Christ and operating together through the Holy Spirit.

Yes, there are legitimate traveling ministries. Yes, there are missionaries and evangelists called to the highways and byways. Scripture even gives us examples of prophets with established itineraries. But the local Church is not a collection of solo artists. It is a Body of believers known for their love for one another and their participation in their respective gifts and callings.

The Gathering Is About the Lord, Not a Celebrity

A biblical church gathering centers on the Lord Jesus Christ, under the direction of the Holy Spirit. It is devoted to sound biblical teaching, spiritual participation, and the edification of the entire Body—not the performance of a celebrity minister or the execution of a man-made program.

Paul gives us a picture of this in 1 Corinthians:

“How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.”

— 1 Corinthians 14:26 (KJV)

Notice the emphasis: participation and edification.

The New Testament gathering was not designed for a congregation of spectators. Believers were expected to participate through the gifts God had given them. Teaching, prophecy, tongues, interpretation, and other spiritual expressions were welcomed—but they were to serve one purpose: building up the Body of Christ.

Spiritual freedom does not mean spiritual disorder.

Paul establishes clear guidelines. Tongues must be interpreted. Prophecies must be weighed. Speakers must take turns. Even prophetic revelation must operate within the boundaries of self-control.

Why? Because the Holy Spirit is not the author of confusion, but of peace.

Spiritual Gifts Require Biblical Order

First Corinthians 14:26–40 provides the governing principles for orderly participation in the gathered Church.

Paul instructs that:

• Tongues in the corporate gathering must be interpreted.

• Prophetic messages must be weighed by others.

• Speakers must take turns so everyone can learn and be comforted.

• The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

• Everything must be done decently and in order.

These are not instructions to suppress the Holy Spirit. They are instructions for allowing the Holy Spirit to operate without confusion.

Order does not extinguish the Spirit. Biblical order protects the purpose of the gathering.

RCI’s Interpretive Position on 1 Corinthians 14:34–36

Redemption Corps International recognizes an important interpretive question surrounding Paul’s statements in verses 34–35 concerning women speaking in the churches.

RCI’s proposed interpretation is that verses 34–35 represent a question or position being addressed within Paul’s response, rather than a universal prohibition issued by the apostle. Verse 36 then challenges that position:

“What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?”

— 1 Corinthians 14:36 (KJV)

This interpretation must be examined through the immediate context, the broader teaching of Scripture, and the textual history of the passage.

The Greek New Testament manuscripts do not supply modern quotation marks or punctuation to establish this proposed dialogue. Consequently, RCI will develop the textual and contextual case for this interpretation in a separate doctrinal treatment.

We will also examine the biblical qualifications and restrictions governing women who teach, preach, and prophesy. This discussion must account for the whole counsel of Scripture rather than isolating one passage from another.

Sound Doctrine and Spiritual Participation

An authentic New Testament Church operates through the gifts of the Spirit while remaining firmly grounded in sound doctrine.

Paul instructs believers to let the Word of Christ dwell in them richly, teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:18–19).

Spiritual gifts and biblical instruction are not competing interests. They belong together.

The Church needs believers who are properly taught, spiritually mature, humble, and responsive to the Holy Spirit. Faith must be cultivated, the Word must be understood, and spiritual expressions must be exercised according to biblical instruction (Galatians 3:5; Romans 8:9).

This places a responsibility on pastoral leadership.

Pastors must do more than conduct services. They must equip the saints.

Church leadership should provide instruction and training so believers understand the biblical protocols governing spiritual gifts and corporate gatherings. An uninstructed congregation is more likely to experience confusion, interruptions, and expressions that are not genuinely led by the Holy Spirit.

We cannot expect people to operate properly in what they have never been taught to understand.

The Church Must Not Silence the Holy Spirit to Please Visitors

There is no biblical instruction requiring the Church to suppress spiritual gifts to make its gatherings more appealing to unbelievers.

Certainly, visitors should be welcomed and treated with love. Everything should be done with clarity, dignity, and consideration. But being welcoming does not mean compromising the purpose of the gathering or keeping the Holy Spirit’s gifts dormant.

Interestingly, Paul addresses precisely what should happen when an unbeliever visits a gathering where spiritual gifts are operating:

“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: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.”

— 1 Corinthians 14:24–25 (KJV)

Think about that.

Paul does not instruct the Church to silence prophecy because an unbeliever might be present. Instead, he describes how the genuine operation of the Spirit can expose the condition of a person’s heart and bring that person to worship God.

This is what happens when the Church is functioning biblically.

We do not compromise the preeminence of the Holy Spirit to accommodate a visitor. We welcome the visitor while allowing the Holy Spirit to work through properly equipped believers, in accordance with Scripture.

No sales pitch can replace divine conviction. No man-made presentation can manufacture the revelation of the heart that Paul describes.

The Church should be visitor-friendly, certainly. But it must first be faithful to the One who inhabits it.

The objective is not to entertain an audience. It is to reveal Jesus Christ, edify His Body, and demonstrate the manifold wisdom of God—even to the principalities and powers in heavenly places.

That is biblical Church.