Paul here gives the strongest warning possible. If a church member does not recognize his instructions as coming from the Lord, the church member himself is not recognized as a prophet or a spiritual person. While he might imagine himself to belong in these categories (see 1 Corinthians 14:37, If anyone thinks...
), the truth is that God does not recognize him. He is a false prophet and, worse still, not truly a member of Christ’s church.
38 If anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized.