Corinthians: God's Divine Order — Stephen Kaung

Corinthians chapter 11. Corinthians chapter 11. We begin with verse one. Be my imitators. Even as I also am of Christ now I praise you that in all things ye are mindful of me and that as I have directed you ye keep the directions.

But I wish you to know that for Christ is the head of every man that woman's head is the man and the Christ's head. God every man praying or prophesying having anything on his head put his head to shame.

That every woman praying or prophesying with her head uncovered put her own head to shame. For it is one and the same as a shaved woman. For if a woman be not covered let her hair also be cut off. But if it be shameful to a woman to have her hair cut off or to be shaved let her be covered.

Divine Order in Creation and the Church

For man indeed ought not to have his head covered being God's image and glory. But woman is man's glory for man is not of woman but woman of man. For also man was not created for the sake of the woman but woman for the sake of the man.

Therefore ought the woman to have authority on her head on account of the angel. However neither is woman without man nor man without woman in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man so also is the man by the woman.

But all things of God judge in yourself. Is it calmly that a woman should pray to God uncovered. Does not even nature itself teach you that man if he has long hair it is a disgrace dishonor to him. But woman if she has long hair it is glory to her for the long hair is given to her in lieu of avail.

But if anyone thinks to be contentious we have no such custom nor the churches of God. We have been fellowshipping these few times on some very important that need to be applied to the various issues we mentioned first about this matter of discipline how the church of God today needs this principle and application this discipline that really establishes.

Then we mentioned this morning about christian conduct how we should conduct ourselves towards one another and the various principles that govern our conduct. All things are lawful but not all things are profitable.

All things are lawful. But Paul says I am not under the power. We do all things to the glory of God brothers and sisters all things are lawful but not all things. And these principles should govern our conduct our relationship with one another.

The Principle of Divine Order

And tonight we want to enter into another very important and that is the matter of divine order. We are not going to enter into this matter of head. When Paul mentions this matter of head covering he mentions it on the basis of it is out of that principle.

He talks about this matter of head covering now of course concerning this matter of head covering there are many many opinions. Some said it is a corinthian habit because it is a habit among the corinthians.

Why should Paul be bothered to even mention to them. Because they have their custom already now. Other people say it is a jewish custom but we know among the jews the men cover their head not the women in the synagogue and the church is not judaism.

So it is impossible for Paul to impose jewish custom upon gentile believers. That is entirely contrarily to Paul's ways. As i say we are not tonight entering into this matter of head covering but we would like to go back to this vital basic principle.

He applied not only to this matter of head covering but this principle is much much bigger and it is the principle of divine order. Our emphasis tonight will be on verse three of every man he is the head of woman.

My brothers and sisters our god is a god of order. He does not believe in disorder. Everything he does when you think of god created this earth. If you read the first chapter of the book of genesis you find when god created this world he created everything after its kind and by after its kind.

It simply means everything has its order. On the third day god said let the earth cause grass to spring up. Herb producing seed fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind the seed of which is in them on the earth.

And it was so. And the herb brought forth grass. Herb producing seed after its kind and trees yielding fruit the seed of which is in them after their kind. Whether it is herb or whether it is fruit bearing tree you will find everything is after its kind.

There is a definite order. Then on the fifth day god created the great sea monsters and every living soul that moves with which the water swarms after their kind and every winged fowl after their kind.

And god saw that it was good. Whether it is the sea monster or the fishes each after its kind saw the fowls of the air, the birds of the air. After then on the sixth day let the earth bring forth living souls after their kind.

Cattle and creeping things and beef of the earth after their kind. All the living animals on the earth were created after their kind a definite order. And at the very end of the last day sixth day god created man because man belonged to another order.

So you will find that god is a god of order. When he created the universe he created everything after its kind according to it and especially in the creation of man the bible says god created man after his own image.

His own image he created male and female created he them. In other words man in the original thought of god is in the original thought of god according to god's image man is composed of male and female.

He created original thought is concerned. There is no inequality between man and woman because with male and female god created his man. Today we sometimes say she is the better part or the other is the worst part.

But scripturally speaking there is no worst part or better part. They are equal parts. God created man with equal parts the male and the female they are equal. So far as god's original design is concerned so far as life is concerned they are equal.

And yet in the process of creating man you find there is a difference of time man the male was first created and the female the female was created to be the help. In other words so far as the image is concerned so far as life is concerned the man and the woman are equal in function the function there is.

Just remember that this divine order is not a matter of life. This divine order is a matter of function. And for this reason god created man first because man is to be the head of the family and the woman is to be the body is to be the support is to be the help.

And with the cooperation of man and woman god's work that is entrusted to man as a corporate being will be so brothers and sisters you'll find in the very creation of man there is an order there. And if this order is kept there is not only protection but there will be the performance of god.

The Fall and the Restoration of Divine Order

Therefore you'll find satan came into the garden of eden. Instead of going to adam he went. He knew there was a divine order there and if the divine order was kept there was no way for him to attack man.

Therefore he did not go to adam. He went to eve. Somehow we don't know why adam and eve were separated at that moment. So satan tempted eve and said if you eat this forbidden fruit you will be. You will know.

You don't need god anymore. You will be god yourself. And the result is eve instead of keeping her place in the divine order instead of going to adam she made her decision. In other words she a false position of action.

She took the initiative. She ate the forbidden fruit and she gave it to her husband to eat. Here you'll find the divine order. And because the divine order was interrupted the whole world entered into this world.

You know we often think of the tension in terms of personal individual. And that is true. We were once dead in sins and transgressions and yet god redeemed us. Our sins are forgiven. We are given new life now.

That is true. But let us remember when you really come to the work of redemption of our lord jesus actually redemption is far more than just something personal. Redemption goes way back. Redemption is for the purpose of original design.

So in the redemption of our lord jesus you find that this order that has been overturned is to be brought back in the church. In the world you see this order. In the world you cannot expect the divine order to be established.

But in the church the redeemed of the lord the order is to. And this is the reason why you'll find in first corinthians chapter eleven there is the mentioning of this divine order. Paul uses this matter of head covering just as an illustration.

If we argue about head covering and forget that divine principle of order we miss the whole point because paul based everything upon this principle of divine order. If we can see this divine order then brothers and sisters many things are easily solved.

Anyway there is a divine order. Divine order must be seen in all spiritual things. You have to go back to christ. Christ is the foundation of all spiritual things. If we try to solve this matter of the divine order between man and woman without seeing christ we won't be able to solve it.

And even if we may do it it is technical mechanical legal and it is not spiritual. Everything spiritual has to find its origin in christ. So in this matter of divine order we have to go way back beyond man and woman.

We have to go back to christ because it is in christ that we find the foundation of divine order. Aside from christ there is no order. Everything is this order. It is only in christ that there is a divine order.

Christ’s Voluntary Submission to the Father

So paul in his presentation of this divine order he bases everything upon christ. He said the head of christ for the time being. Let us forget about man and woman. Let us go back to christ. For the son of god came to this world.

He god the father and god the son are one. God the father and god the son are equal. There is no sense of inferiority or superiority. There is no sense of who is superior and who is inferior. No it does not exist in the godhead.

God the father and god the son are one and they are equal. And we say it is not a matter of inequality. So far as life is concerned god the son and god the father share the same life in the spirit completely the same for the sake of god's purpose plan offered himself to the father to come to this world to be by simply means anointed one.

And we know in the old testament who is anointed one is anointed for a special purpose. One may even may be anointed to be a king or may be anointed to be a prophet or may be anointed to be a priest. In other words it is a matter of function.

It is a matter of fulfilling a function. And because there is a tremendous need there god needs to redeem the man the people that he has created. So the son offered himself to the father to come to this world to become a man to be Christ to be sent to be anointed for a special purpose to accomplish a special work.

When the son of god comes to this earth to become a man to be Christ immediately you find a divine order is set and the son of and the father in eternity there was Christ. He takes voluntarily takes an inferior place a lower position.

He accepts. He does not empty himself. He couldn't do that but he emptied himself and he took upon himself the form of a slave and being made the likeness of a man. He further humbled himself becoming obedient to the father even unto death.

And that's the death of the cross. Brothers and sisters this is the story of Christ. You know today we think of Christ only in certain area and that is Christ. He is the glorious Christ. He has come to accomplish god's purpose.

There is another area of Christ and that is not to be his own head. He learns to cover his head before god. There can be only one head in a sense our lord Jesus as Christ covers his head before god in order that god may be his head.

And if you read the gospel especially the gospel according to John you'll find what a life he lived as Christ. He said I cannot do anything by myself. I do it because I've seen my father doing it. I cannot say anything by myself.

I say it because I've heard my father have said it. It is not my will but my father's will. My time is not in my hand. My time is in my father's hand. Here you'll find throughout the life of Christ there is one thing that is persistently true and that is refuses to be his own head.

His head is always covered because he has taken his father, his god. You remember the temptation in the wilderness. Satan came to tempt him and said now if you are the son of god you can turn the stone into bread.

If you are the son of god you can jump down from the temple pinnacle. Everybody will see someone descending from heaven and they will believe you as Christ, as Messiah right away. You don't need to go to the cross.

And certainly god will take care of you. He will not let you be. He will send his angels to hold your head. If you worship me I'll give you the whole nation the whole world. In other words Satan was trying to tempt Christ his own boss be disqualified.

He will be disqualified. It can never happen. Lord Jesus answered man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of god. If god has not commanded me to turn the stone into bread even if I'm starving I won't do that.

Able to multiply five loaves and to choose fishes to feed the five thousand. He refused to turn the stone into bread for his own brother in temptation. If you want to make famous of yourself don't stay and hide yourself in Nazareth.

Go to Jerusalem during the feast. That's where the people are. Show yourself to them and they will acclaim you as the Christ. Why don't you do that. And our Lord Jesus said your time is always ready for mine is not.

I have to wait for my father. I cannot do things according to what I think is right and good. Brothers and sisters this is Christ. This is Christ. This is an aspect of Christ that sometimes we overlook.

God is the head. So how our Lord Jesus had his head covered. God had two heads. You know if you have two heads there will be chaos. There will be struggle and things cannot be done. Therefore for the work of God to be accomplished on earth Christ must subject him.

All the sons had to learn obedience through the things he suffered that he may be the author of our eternal. Now brothers and sisters here you'll find a divine order throughout the world. There is this order.

Order between God and man has been overturned from the days of Adam. So far as the order between God and man is concerned it has been overturned. Man has rebelled against God. Man tries to be his own head in this man in Christ the divine order.

And because this divine order is restored in Christ therefore he has become the source of our salvation. And then you'll find Christ is the head of all men. The all men here in the first place refer to those who are redeemed.

Why? Because to those who are not redeemed not yet redeemed they will not accept Christ as their head. You remember when Christ was on earth? How they cried out. We do not want this man. We do not want this man to be our king.

Away with him away with him crucify him. We don't want him. We want to be our own head. But to all who are redeemed Christ is the head. And the man here is not the word used to differentiate man from woman.

The man here includes man and woman male and female. It is mankind in a sense. Here you'll find Christ is the head of all men. He is the head of everyone of those whom he has redeemed. Now brothers and sisters this divine order is established.

Christ as the Head of Every Believer

The foundation is Christ is the head of Christ. And then upon that foundation you'll find another step is built. And that is Christ is the head of all men. Whether you are a brother or you are a sister Christ is your head is an order that has to be restored and established.

You know with many believers even though they have believed in Christ in accepting Jesus Christ as their savior and yet they have not yet accepted Jesus as their Christ as their Lord they are saved. And yet they still are their own head.

They have not covered. Now I'm not talking about the sign upon the head. Now I'm talking about a reality. Many believers even though they are saved said to say they have not yielded their lives to Christ.

They have not covered their head before Christ. They have not yet taken Christ as their. In other words they have not yet come to their point to see that they are only a body. The head you know something.

I don't know whether I'm overstretching it or not. But you remember in Psalm 40 it's a Messianic Psalm and David he is projecting to the one who is greater than David. And he says offering and sacrifice.

You do not want. But you have prepared me a body. Lord I come to do your will and your law is written upon my heart is my delight. Here you'll find it is said of Christ that God has prepared him a body.

And what is this body for? This body is to do the will of God. Now where is the head? God is the head. God is the head. You know this is what our body is. Why do we have a body? Our body is to do the will of the head.

That's what our body is for. So here you'll find this is literally fulfilled in Christ. Because in the body of Christ as he walks on earth he does the will of the head. His father in Romans chapter 12 Paul exhorts her saying that brethren by the compassion of God present your bodies a living sacrifice.

Here again you'll find the word body or bodies is mentioned. Present your bodies a living sacrifice. Why? Because this body as it is presented to Christ is to do the will of Christ is to accept Christ as its head.

The body is not to be the head. The body is to do the will. For dear brothers and sisters many believers have never presented their bodies a living sacrifice. They still live. They do their own will they seek their own pleasure.

In other words this divine order is yet to be established. But remember the redemptive work of Christ has not only brought in forgiveness of sins has not only brought in eternal life but the redemptive work of Christ has also brought in the divine order.

And if we have accepted Christ then this divine order must be established in our life whether you are a brother or a sister a man or a woman. Because Christ is said of all men oh every one of us needs to hold fast.

And if we all hold fast ahead then the whole body will be fitly framed and rightly joined. And each part will function according to the gift that God has given to the building up of the body in love. When you see a brother or sister who is not taking Christ as his head who is trying to stick up his head you know what happens immediately.

Disorder confusion is brought into you. That's the reason why it is so so important that we must learn to have our head covered before Christ. We must learn to yield ourselves to Christ and say now Lord you are the head not me but you.

And it's only when we are covered and when there is divine order that this is the second step in this matter of divine order being established upon this second step which is based on the foundation of the first step.

Christ's head is God and Christ is the head of all men. Then on this step you find another step is built and that is man is the head of the woman is the head of all men. Christ is the head of the brother as well as of the sister.

Christ is the head of the male as well as of the female. Everyone cover his or her head before Christ. But on that basis you'll find another is built and that is man is the head. Is there any inequality in it?

Because so far as life is concerned a man and a woman a brother or a sister they are equal. Because so far as life is concerned a man and a woman a brother or a sister they are equal. You remember in Galatians it is said chapter 3 we are one in Christ we are all clothed with Christ.

There is neither male nor female. You know there is a difference here in 1 Corinthians it says there is neither Jews nor Gentiles neither freemen nor born men. In Colossians it says neither Scythians or barbarians circumcised or uncircumcised.

But only in Galatians it says neither male or female. Why? Because in Galatians Paul is not talking about the church. Paul is talking about Christ in Christ so far as life is concerned there is no male and female.

It is the same life of Christ. The life that is in you is the same as the life that is in me. Christ that is in you is the same as the Christ that is in me whether you are a brother or you are a sister it is the same life so in Christ there is neither male nor female equal.

Therefore a dear brother said male brother or female brother we are all brothers. You know, sometimes I find some difficulty. I hesitate very much to speak on these things, you know. If I am a sister, I feel more, I feel freer to talk about these things.

But I have no choice. You will find, so far as life is concerned, there is no difference whatsoever. There is perfect equality. It is not necessarily that a man, I mean, it is not that a man must be more spiritual than a woman.

A sister can be more spiritual than a brother. Why? The grace of God is open to all. Whoever seeks Him more will get more. If you are a sister who is seeking after God, who loves God with your whole heart, surely you will have a greater measure of grace.

Not because you are a sister, therefore, you must have a less measure of grace. Not so. Not so. There is no partiality here. It is perfect equality. So far as life is concerned, brothers and sisters, it is equal.

It is equal. And praise God, in the history of the Church, you will find more sisters than brothers. The Church is concerned. That is to say, when you come down to function, when you come down to task, the Church on earth has a work to be done.

Equality in Life and Distinction in Function

The Church on earth is entrusted with a mission, with a work to do. And when you come down to this matter of function in the Church, there are men. Again, I will repeat, it is not a matter of life. It is a matter of function.

There is an order that governs in order that we may function well. God sets an order. So I do hope that when we are talking about this matter, the sense of superiority or inferiority never comes in. We should not allow this thought to come in.

It is for the sake of God's work, willingly a lower position. It is for the sake of the glory of God that a woman in the Church voluntarily, voluntarily, willingly takes the supporting part instead of the leading part.

Now that is the order. It is for the sake of completing the function as the head of the family, and Eve as the housemaid, and with the cooperation of both, God's commission to man. Unfortunately, this order, and because this order was broken, man was not able to fulfill God's.

And that is the reason why you find in the redemptive work of Christ, He is to restore this order. He is to restore this order not only in the family, but in the Church too. Because the Church is the family.

According to God's order, God put a man, a brother, as the head, the leading. His function rightly is not covered. In other words, here you'll find a serious, covered, covers his head before God. And under this covering he is able to fulfill the work that God has.

And then you'll find the man will cover himself under Christ. And it's only when he is covered under Christ he is able to fulfill his function as the head of the family, as the leading part. You know, the trouble today is, I'd like to say something about the brothers, and I feel very free to say that.

The trouble with brother is, so when you come to certain, when you're cornered, may I say that, when you're cornered, you have a weapon. And the weapon you use is on the head. Brothers and sisters, is this the way to be the head?

I'm afraid. When you claim yourself to be the head, you lose it, your authority. Lose it, respect. He is the head of the church. But does our Lord Jesus impose himself upon the church that I'm the head?

And gave himself. And in his sacrificial love he proves his head. It is in love that his authority is manifested. It is in love that conquers us. So we gladly... Brothers and sisters, this spirit of opposition never comes into the church.

Should never come into the church. Because if we are under authority, if we are not under authority, we have no right. If the brothers will really be covered, have their heads covered. Do not stick up their heads.

But have their heads covered before Christ. God's order is, you shall have. Do not draw back. It is God's order. By his grace, you should. But remember, God is a spirit. You cannot break it. It is continuous.

Fortunately or fortunately, the sign of authority falls upon... And in representing Christ, he cannot cover his head. How can we cover it? As the church is concerned, Christ is the head. So the head cannot be covered.

But the woman in the church represents the church. And as representing the church, there is a sign of authority. In other words, head. I remember dear brother me, having her head covered, it reminds him he needs to be covered.

So he said, it is a privilege to them. God uses the sisters to remind the brothers. Now I'm taking my place. How about you? Are you taking your place? Your order is the divine order. And brothers and sisters, you know, when that order is...

Spiritual Rather Than Legalistic Order

This divine order is not given to us. It's a rule. Why? Because if it is a rule or regulation, the inevitable result will be either it is rejected or it will be kept. But only technically, mechanically and legalistically.

And the latter. Here you'll find a very important principle of divine order. But brothers and sisters, don't take it as latter. Do not reject it because you don't like it. Nor you accept it and practice it mechanically or technically.

No, it will be dead. It will be dead. But this divine order is a principle. And if we will accept this principle with an open and humble spirit, the Holy Spirit will lead us in its application. And when that application comes forth, it is spiritual.

Living. I'm not talking about her covering tonight. I'm talking about something far bigger than head covering. Because head covering is only one of to manifest this divine order. I'm talking of in this universe.

The divine order is... Therefore nothing can be built. As the redeemed, brothers and sisters, we need to see this divine order. And by His grace and through His Spirit, we must. Divine order. And this divine order is the order of life.

Not an order of organization. You know? You can organize and have an order. Just like in an institution. How can an institution work? They have to set up an order. An order of command. They have their rules and regulations.

Laws and bylaws. And everyone is clearly defined as to his privilege and his duty. And everyone is given a certain area of responsibility. Then you know the chain of command there. In other words, you have to set up an order in order to keep the organization operating.

If you have an organization and there is no order, there is no defining of what is the work of the executive, the work of the secretary or the treasurer and so on and so forth, then how can that organization run?

You cannot accomplish anything. Now this is one way to set up an order. But dear brothers and sisters, in the Church, it is a spiritual order of life. Just like our body, there is an order here. But it is not organized.

It is organic. It is organic. As we yield ourselves to Christ, take Him as our head, we will fall into place. There will be that organic order. Gradually. Do not try to organize. Do not go out and try to set it up.

The Church is an organism, not an organization. But if we can see this divine order and all learn to walk in this divine order, you will find organically this will, this order. This order is set up by touching something that is very touching.

Lord, we just ask Thee to cover us with the precious blood. We ask Thee that Thou will put our flesh under the cross. We pray that Thy Spirit will open our eyes to see this divine order. And may Thy Holy Spirit apply it.

Do not allow us to go out and set to order. But Lord, may Thy Holy Spirit bring this divine order so that Thy Church may have peace, may be strengthened, that Christ have His headship in the Church. O Lord, it has to come from Thee because Thou art the source of divine order.

Bless ourselves to Thee, sisters, in Thy precious name.