Service Guidelines for the Supernatural
If we truly want to hear from the Lord, it is important that we take time to allow him to speak to us. There are many ways that the Lord communicates with his people- visions, dreams, revelations, prophetic utterances, words of wisdom, words of knowledge, etc.
As Christians we are always walking in a divine tension. There is the desire to allow complete freedom for the Spirit of God to do what He wants to do when we gather together, and the Biblical admonition for "things to be done properly and in an orderly manner" (1 Cor 14.40).
When we assemble, each one has a psalm, teaching, revelation, tongue, interpretation but let all things be done to edify and build up the body.
Let all prophesy, but the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
God is not God of confusion, but of peace.
Let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner.
Who gets to chose what is the proper order? We believe that is a responsibility of the leaders- pastors, elders, apostles, of each local assembly.
We do not think there is necessarily a right answer or a wrong answer to the question, "what is proper and in order?"
Many different factors will dictate how a local leadership defines that order- what do they believe God is saying or doing at that moment in time, what direction has God given to them for a specific meeting, what is the primary goal or purpose for the meeting (not all meetings are the same), the types of spiritual gifting God has deposited in that particular body of people, the size of the congregation, even the physical logistics of the room might place limitations on what is allowed or not.
The idea that any type of predefined order inhibits the work of the Holy Spirit in a meeting is not a principle well supported biblically.
Some guidelines we have established:
1. Flags and banners can be used in the sanctuary but they are to be limited in their size and use off to the sides of the auditorium either up front or in the back. They are not to be used front center or back center. People using flags are also asked to keep the floor space they use limited to a few feet around them because of the size of our auditorium.
2. Hand motions and dancing in response to worship is also welcome. Again, it is to be limited to sides of the auditorium either up front or in the back. Please do not dance in front center or back center of the auditorium. Dancers are also asked to keep the floor space they use limited to a few feet around them because of the size of our auditorium.
3. We welcome prophetic words, both given in English and in tongues. We ask that all prophetic words be submitted to the elder/pastor in charge of the microphone and be given from the microphone. The elder/pastor in charge will determine the appropriate time during the service for a word to be given or whether the word is more for a personal edification than corporate edification. We also ask a prophecy in tongues be submitted to the elder/pastor in charge at the microphone, who will determine if it is an appropriate time. The tongues should be given at the microphone and then the person giving the word should pause for an interpretation. If someone has the interpretation they are also asked to come to the microphone to give the interpretation so all can hear. If no one comes forward with the interpretation, then the person who gave the prophetic word in tongues can interpret it themselves or sit down. The elder/pastor in charge will give to the congregation a biblical explanation for what has just taken place.
4. We are looking for prophetic words that are meant for the entire church. In general, individual prophetic words are to be spoken to people in private (with an elder or pastor present). We recognize that there may be times when personal prophecy would be given in a corporate setting, but those incidences are more the exception than the norm. Guest speakers, for example, may speak personal prophetic words corporately because of their limited time with the congregation. A personal prophetic word spoken corporately might also be appropriate if there is the sense that it is meant to encourage the congregation in general.
As Christians we are always walking in a divine tension. There is the desire to allow complete freedom for the Spirit of God to do what He wants to do when we gather together, and the Biblical admonition for "things to be done properly and in an orderly manner" (1 Cor 14.40).
When we assemble, each one has a psalm, teaching, revelation, tongue, interpretation but let all things be done to edify and build up the body.
Let all prophesy, but the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
God is not God of confusion, but of peace.
Let all things be done properly and in an orderly manner.
Who gets to chose what is the proper order? We believe that is a responsibility of the leaders- pastors, elders, apostles, of each local assembly.
We do not think there is necessarily a right answer or a wrong answer to the question, "what is proper and in order?"
Many different factors will dictate how a local leadership defines that order- what do they believe God is saying or doing at that moment in time, what direction has God given to them for a specific meeting, what is the primary goal or purpose for the meeting (not all meetings are the same), the types of spiritual gifting God has deposited in that particular body of people, the size of the congregation, even the physical logistics of the room might place limitations on what is allowed or not.
The idea that any type of predefined order inhibits the work of the Holy Spirit in a meeting is not a principle well supported biblically.
Some guidelines we have established:
1. Flags and banners can be used in the sanctuary but they are to be limited in their size and use off to the sides of the auditorium either up front or in the back. They are not to be used front center or back center. People using flags are also asked to keep the floor space they use limited to a few feet around them because of the size of our auditorium.
2. Hand motions and dancing in response to worship is also welcome. Again, it is to be limited to sides of the auditorium either up front or in the back. Please do not dance in front center or back center of the auditorium. Dancers are also asked to keep the floor space they use limited to a few feet around them because of the size of our auditorium.
3. We welcome prophetic words, both given in English and in tongues. We ask that all prophetic words be submitted to the elder/pastor in charge of the microphone and be given from the microphone. The elder/pastor in charge will determine the appropriate time during the service for a word to be given or whether the word is more for a personal edification than corporate edification. We also ask a prophecy in tongues be submitted to the elder/pastor in charge at the microphone, who will determine if it is an appropriate time. The tongues should be given at the microphone and then the person giving the word should pause for an interpretation. If someone has the interpretation they are also asked to come to the microphone to give the interpretation so all can hear. If no one comes forward with the interpretation, then the person who gave the prophetic word in tongues can interpret it themselves or sit down. The elder/pastor in charge will give to the congregation a biblical explanation for what has just taken place.
4. We are looking for prophetic words that are meant for the entire church. In general, individual prophetic words are to be spoken to people in private (with an elder or pastor present). We recognize that there may be times when personal prophecy would be given in a corporate setting, but those incidences are more the exception than the norm. Guest speakers, for example, may speak personal prophetic words corporately because of their limited time with the congregation. A personal prophetic word spoken corporately might also be appropriate if there is the sense that it is meant to encourage the congregation in general.
