Biblically "Authorized" Worship

HP: Often we try and hire in the most talented preacher, singer, player, songwriter, etc, and then allow those individual to control almost every aspect of the worship service, often dominating every service as if though to ‘lord over the flock.’ They take it upon themselves to control every aspect of worship under the guise of “God has put me here to protect the flock from all other influences other than those of my own.” They are often arrogant, self-willed, and will not tolerate or entertain any insight, God forbid any correction, from anyone other than possibly the highest donor.

The attitude is often if you don’t like my program, go find yourself another church. Be warmed and be filled………..but somewhere else. Don’t try and edify us with your babblings. We know it all, and do not need or desire your input unless it is supportive of what we say and do here.

Did that attitude prevail in many of the NT congregations, including some Paul tried in vain to instruct and help?

 

Pentecostals often make wild claims, none of which can be verified. The Benny Hinn type of claim--that he has raised people from the dead, cannot be verified. The only thing that is verified that it was a hoax. The same is true of other such claims. The Apostles were given such gifts. They have never happened since that time. It is the excuse of some: "I don't want to limit God." It has nothing to do with limiting God. God chooses to speak and act in some eras differently than in other eras. This is evident by what he says in Hebrews 1:1,2

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
--In the OT, he spoke at different times and in different ways to the prophets.
To Moses he spoke through a burning bush. He doesn't do that today.
To Joseph he used a series of visions. He doesn't do that today.
To Samuel, he spoke audibly so he could hear Him. He doesn't do that today.
To Jacob he spoke in the midst of a wrestling match. He doesn't do that today.
To Daniel he spoke in dreams and visions. He doesn't do that today.
To Manaoh, he spoke via an angel. He doesn't do that today.

He has in these last days spoken to us through his son. He speaks to us through His Word, by which His Son is revealed. His Son promised to send us a Comforter, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would guide us into truth. He does that as we read His Word. Everything that we need to know about God is contained within the pages of the Scripture. God doesn't not use the same methods that He did during the OT, or during the time of Christ, or during the Apostolic Age. If you study the Bible carefully you will find certain times in the Bible where God did miracles (many of them), and every one those periods were associated with the giving of revelation.
1. During the time of Moses. Moses gave the Law (and other revelation). Associated with that were the plagues of Egypt, as well as many other miracles throughout the wilderness wanderings.
2. During the time of the Prophets. We can see the miracles of Elijah and Elisha, representative of the prophetic age.
3. During the time of Christ--miracles that established his divinity. These miracles were of such a nature that they could never be duplicated by any man. Walking on water, calming the sea, Feeding the 5,000, etc. Man cannot duplicate such miracles.
4. During the time of the Apostles. Again revelation was being written. The miracles attested them and their message as being from God. They are no longer in operation today. God's revelation has ceased. The Bible is complete.
God speaks to us through His Son (through His Word by which the Son is revealed).

Have you heard of the prosperity gospel? The health and wealth gospel? The gospel of the Third Wave movement? Would they be in error? Yes, their gospel is a different gospel. It becomes a gospel of works and not of grace. If a person is not healed it is because the "sick" person does "not have enough faith" when in James the opposite statement is found. "The prayer of faith (pastor's prayer) shall save the sick." The whole movement is built on fraud.
Don't get me wrong. God does miracles. God heals. But he does so through answer to prayers; not the gifts of the Spirit which have ceased. There is a difference between an answer to prayer and the gift of the Spirit.

Like Billy Graham, that is in spite of their error, not because of it.

And the devil does. And many are deceived by him. But nowhere in this world can anyone point to the sign gifts as operational today just as they were in the time of the Apostles. I have yet to see that evidence. I have challenged Pentecostal after Pentecostal, and they all have come up short.

 

Look at what Barnes says on this matter:

It is evident that every one did not have a psalm; every one did not have a revelation, etc. This is what Bob has been so strongly advocating. Some had a Psalm; some a doctrine; some a revelation. Not all had a revelation. They were all speaking at the same time, and an ensuing chaos resulted. The verse is a rebuke, not an encouragement.