‘How is it then, brethren? When you come together, every one [please note: EVERY ONE] of you has a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done [again, please note: LET ALL THINGS BE DONE] unto edifying.’
Whatever you bring to the gathering in order to obey the Word in this regard, the important this is to come and be a blessing to your brother and sister. That is, we are to edify, or, to build up and encourage one another. Our words must always be edifying and encouraging –not argumentative, provocative or controversial. They must edify. It is important we do this because the Bible still says,
‘Not giving up our meetings, as is the way of some, but keeping one another strong in faith; and all the more because you see the day coming near.’ Hebrews 10:25 BBE.
Since we meet fortnightly each one of us has two full weeks of reading and meditating on the Word of God to draw from. There must be something that the Lord by His Spirit has quickened to your heart that you can share that will encourage and ‘edify’ your brothers and sisters. Refuse to be a passive spectator and obey the Word and ‘bring’ something. Remember, these are ‘believers’ meetings. They are gatherings for those who profess to know and love the Lord Jesus. Therefore, each one of us should be seeking to obey 1 Peter 3:18 and be ‘growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ’. That being so, 1 Peter 4:10 comes into focus, ‘As each one has received the gift, (i.e. the particular ‘charisma’ or enabling from the Lord, a favour or gracious enabling/gift) even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God’. Some may think that ‘the gift’ mentioned here by Peter may refer to something not suited to sharing with one another in our gatherings together. If so, I would like to refer you to Romans 12: 6-8 where Paul lists a range of gifts, the majority of which relate very specially to the times of shared ‘edification’ when believers gather for this very purpose. Here is the list as Paul gives it in this passage. First, ‘prophecy’, or ‘inspired utterance’. We should all seek to be inspired in our utterance –i.e. uttering things ‘in breathed’ by the Holy Spirit. Then next,‘Ministry’, diakonia –lit, service or serving one another. This is sandwiched between prophecy and teaching which, to me suggests and includes among other obvious things, serving one another by our encouraging remarks, by our manner and demeanor and our presence. Ministry is, literally ‘service’ –to the Lord and then to each other. The next one in the list is ‘teaching’ or simply ‘an instructive word’. Then comes ‘exhorting’. Again, this is simply encouraging one another, and, most often, by an encouraging word from the Word. Then ‘giving’. I.e. something that you can provide from your resources. This could be many things. E.g. money, material things, and/or help and assistance in a time of need. We need to be alert to areas of need in the lives of our brothers and sisters so that we can help out when needed. The next one is ‘ruleth’. The thought here I believe is not in the sense of being ‘in charge’ because we are told by the Lord Jesus very clearly that we are not to emulate the gentiles in this regard. See Mat 20:25-27 where in verse 26 the Lord Jesus says very clearly, ‘it shall NOT be so among you…’ Read the whole passage for yourself –and the preceding context. See also Mat 23:8. Paul’s reference in our passage in Romans 12 is to those who ‘help, guide and lead –by example’. This is a role that should be practiced by every mature believer in all the gatherings of the ‘out-called’ ones (i.e. the ekklesia of God). The final one in the list is, ‘He that shows mercy’. This refers to the practice of ‘compassion’ or care for those who may be in need of help and pity. Again, this arguably refers to each and every one of us. We are all called to be on the alert to help, assist and support one another when the need arises. This, we are told in the passage, must be done with ‘cheerfulness’. I.e. not grudgingly, resentfully, but quickly and willingly as the opportunity arises.
All of these find their focus and fulfillment in our gatherings together. They can, and should be practiced all the time as opportunity offers, but many of them find their fulfillment in the times of fellowship when the body gathers together to obey Hebrews 10:25 in particular.