Good morning; the count begins. We are having fun and learning a great deal. I'm so happy to do this and I'm so happy you've joined the entire time. Let us begin in Romans chapter 15 today.
Romans 15
2Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
3For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
Paul tells us that those who are strong in the faith should have patience with those who are not as strong. It is the same thing in the physical world, men should have patience with women, strongest military men should bear the infirmities of the weak and go to war instead them, and do this until the weak have grown in faith. Because it is good to please your neighbor although the world has totally forgotten about doing this. In verse three we see the prophecy written in the Psalms and in Songs of Songs chapter 1; the reproaches of the children of Israel and the world have fallen on Jesus Christ.
8Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
Jesus was the minister of the circumcision for the truth of God and He confirmed the promises made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is the covenant that the circumcision was a token of; you can read about it in Genesis 17 and 22. Daniel chapter 9 confirmed that Jesus the Messiah would confirm these covenants for us when He died for our sins.
Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles
16That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
Romans Chapter 16
Paul is greeting a bunch of saints in his farewell letter to the Romans; but here is a verse that stands out:
20And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
In day one of this reading; we saw Eve deceived and Adam disobedient and Satan lying, and they all received punishments from God. Satan's punishment is shown here, the God of peace shall bruise Satan's head doing so under your feet, and Satan will bruise the Lord's heel. Once again; this was Jesus in the very beginning.
The Truth Kept Secret Until Revealed by the Prophets Through Scriptures
25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
We're moving right into 1st Corinthians chapter 1
1 Corinthians 1
I just like to point out how Paul has no respect for God the Holy Spirit because he always greets us through God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. He never makes mention of God the Holy Ghost. It is because, perhaps, the Holy Spirit is not part of the Godhead.
While there started to be much disputes in the church over different topics, and many churches get into this in our days where they say, "pastor Xyz says this," but another will say "well pastor Abc does this and says it is this way," and no one ever says "well what does the Bible say about it?" Paul had to remind them that he does not have a kingdom to put anyone in nor a lake of fire to dump anyone into; so they should focus on pleasing God.
13Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
We were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ; so it is Him we should take all questions to.
The Father Gave It to the Babes and Not the Wise & Prudent
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
You'll notice that those who are celebrity, wise in the world, rich, it is hard for them to walk the true path of God. If they do you almost instantly see them drop from the celebrity lime light and the media will begin to make them look foolish; but the ways of God are hid from the prudent and are given to people of simplicity.
1 Corinthians chapter 2
Paul tells the Corinthians that their faith should not be by the wisdom of men; but in the power of God. If you believe in the power of God, then your faith is very strong because you will be able to believe the resurrection from the dead, you can believe that although men like you and I have written the pages in the Bible thousands of years ago; but with the direction of God have they preserved it and passed it down intact for us to read and believe today. That is certainly the power of God.
Paul expresses that people of the world will look at us with biblical understanding as we are knowledgeable but they are wondering how we know so much about the bible? It is because the spirit of God is in us, revealing to us the things we ask for; but also we walk in the Spirit so it is pleasing to the Lord to give.
14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
A man who does not believe you can read this entire bible to him with understanding but he won't understand so the Lord will not give him anything spiritually because he does not believe. Did Jesus heal anyone who did not believe that He could do it? No.
1 Corinthians 3
Divisions in the Church!
1And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
Paul again talks about people saying they follow Paul, while others follow another; Paul says make sure you follow Christ.
11For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
In the word of God; you may have read a book that made you think about following the Lord, or a friend took you to their bible study and certain things discussed there intrigued you, and then you were inspired to read the entire bible. These are all foundational things that brought us to the word of God; but everyone has to remember that the first foundation was laid by Jesus Christ. No man comes to Jesus unless the Father draws him.
18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
If you think you are wise in this world, humble yourself and call yourself foolish so the Lord can actually make you wise. No additional water can be poured into a full bucket without it over flowing. And who knows, the water that overflows could be the good knowledgeable water. So empty out first, get rid of all your past wise inclinations and be foolish before God.
1 Corinthians 4
There is no reason to judge; but to wait on the Lord to return and do the judging because we are sure at that time all judgment will be righteous and not slighted. We also should not think we are oh so great because God has given us understanding in His word. REMEMBER, we read it so we obviously did not discover it! So what wisdom is in us? Just the wisdom to read it and accept it as true.
1 Corinthians 5
If this is the case; it is probably youngsters, not officially married, probably with no plans to marry, and no covenant agreement to marry. They are just having sexual intercourse. This is not good because any woman who is penetrated is defiled so in spiritual reality, there is no such thing as fornication. When you lie with a woman, she becomes yours and you become hers. Jacob had to keep all four women because he penetrated them. David had many wives but was only punished for penetrating one that was not his. So if you believe you can "hanky-panky" around because you are not married with an agreement, think again and pray to the Lord for understanding with this.
6Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Just a little sin makes the makes the whole body sinful.
7Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
8Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
In a duality of meanings, purge out the old leaven; in other words, get rid of the old person you were before you knew the Lord and become new with the baptism because Jesus Christ is our Passover, sacrificed for us, for our sins. Jesus was the Passover lamb whose blood covers our sins; so it is important to make sure you take the Passover at its time, in its season as Leviticus 23 outlines for us. The Passover ceremony represents Jesus.
If we get rid of our past lives filled with fornication and other immoral ungodly acts then we can enjoy and keep the feast of the Lord with sincerity and truth.
1 Corinthians chapter 6
Saint's Will Judge the World, Even Angels
2Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
We should be able to make good judgment today being that if we are resurrected with Christ we will judge angels and many others. Paul is attempting to help the people prepare for judging big things and not pertain to small matters. A man will become God at the resurrection and make a judgment on Satan the devil. Isn't that something? So stop taking your brother to court and make a good judgment on the issue.
The Wicked Do Not Inherit the Kingdom of God
9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
I saw effeminate in there and had to look it up. It means not manly, or men having softness or traits of a woman. I think Paul is referring to your local homosexual hangouts. These do not enter into God's kingdom.
Fornicators
14And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
15Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
16What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
19What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
When you lay with different people, you are joining together with these; a man go deal with a harlot and boom you have joined Christ to a harlot. Paul says to flee from this and not sin against your own body because you are still in a rent to own situation. God is the bank that bought the house, you are in the flesh renting it; hoping to own it on the last day. Do not defile the house while waiting for ownership; follow the rules of the lease before the whole house is burned to the ground.
1 Corinthians 7
The Answer to Fornication is Marriage
1Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
If you feel you have to have sexual intercourse regularly, then Paul recommends a woman find herself a husband and a man find himself a wife. And render benevolence to each other; for this is one of the chief reasons for marriage, the intimacy.
Paul tells the unmarried and the widow to refrain from marrying unless they just feel they have to. 9But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. It is better to marry then to commit adultery or fornication and burn in the fire.
10And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
We read where the Lord said this when the Sadducees and Pharisees were trying to tempt Him. Only for adultery; other than that, there is no such thing as divorce to the Lord. Your husband beats you or is abusive; leave but do not remarry. Give him time to get help for that; report it to the elders, if he doesn't get help send him to the dept of corrections, let some men beat on him. The thing is pray and fast very hard before you think of getting a divorce.
Paul also address marriages where both were not into the word but suddenly you see the light and are into the Lord's word. Your spouse is not; do not leave your spouse because they do not want to deal with the Lord. If they want to leave, then you allow them to leave; but do not push them away.
19Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
Paul is referring to people here and not the actual circumcision. Being an Israelite is nothing, being a non Israelite is nothing, all that matters is the keeping of the commandments of God. This is what Paul is illustrating in verse 19.
32But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
Paul is telling the virgins and unmarried their advantage; and it is quite true. A man is focused on pleasing God; and a part of pleasing God is pleasing your wife. The only thing is your wife is more tangible to your physical than God is; so at times men get caught up in pleasing their wives more than they please God. Do not let this be you. The unmarried have the ability to focus on the Lord. However, it is a blessing from the Lord to send a man a good wife, and a woman a good husband.
1 Corinthians 8
Stop it. There is only one God, the Father, so offering anything to anyone or anything else is not to be done.
13Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
In other words; drinking wine is not a sin but many consider it offensive. If you are ministering to someone who believes drinking is bad; then do not drink when that person is around. Do no ill-perceived functions so people do not turn away from the word of God at your behavior, which may not be sin, but appears so to the unlearned in the word of God.
1 Corinthians chapter 9
Paul says he is worthy of his pay and worthy to teach being an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He became all things to all people in order to teach them and it become important as we teach other that we do what we are teaching unless we get thrown out for being a hypocrite.
27But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
1 Corinthians 10
2And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
This is a big chapter in the New Testament by Paul, because although we have already prove it many times, and read it many times, this confirms it and it screams volumes to the average bible reader.
When the children of Israel came out of Egypt under the cloud, do not be ignorant of the fact they passed through a sea that parted for them and were baptized to Moses (he was the intercessor). Those in the wilderness at the same bible food we are eating today, they ate the same spiritual meat and drink, that drink was the spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament He was not known as Jesus, He was Jehovah or Yahweh. He came in His Father's name that is why He was Jesus while here in the flesh.
So if Jesus Christ is the so-called mean Old Testament God, who killed people for picking up sticks on the Sabbath day, who sent serpents to bite and kill people who grudged against Him and His servant Moses, He gave the Ten Commandments from the mount, He separated the clean and unclean beast we can eat, He gave Israel the blessings and curses, He punished David for adultery, and He gave us the feast days and High Sabbaths to observe, then ended it with He does not change, what do you think we have to do?
Take warning and take heed and follow the commandments of God. It has been JESUS the entire time that is why He said we have never heard the Father nor seen His shape.
6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
Not everyone that left Egypt entered into the land. In fact if you were over twenty when you came out of Egypt, you didn't get into the land. This is why it is good to read; so we learn from other people's mistakes and not just our own.
The Old Testament Were Written for Our Warnings
9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
20But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.
21Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.
The Gentiles still sacrifice to devils and not God. You have to pick a table to eat from; you can't sit at the Lord of the Sabbath's table and at the 1st day of the week's table at the same time; you must pick one.
1 Corinthians 11
3But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
4Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
While in church woman should have her head covered and a man should have his uncovered for the reasons in verses 3.
7For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man. 8For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man. 9Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
Man is in the image of God and woman was taken from man. For this cause, a woman should have power on her head, she should have her covering because of the angels. Satan, a fallen angel, came and deceived Eve because she did not have her head (the man) covered. She was deceived because of this.
1 Corinthians 12
8For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
11But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
12For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
We all have different gifts we bring to the table spiritually. You may be able to heal, or you may just put a smile and comforting word in the mouth of those who see you; who knows; but we all have spiritual gifts from the Lord and should be thankful to Him for them.
Since we are all the body of Christ and all members we are all just as important.
21And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Just think of it in terms of your body, if you were to lose just your baby toe you'd feel the awkwardness in losing that member.
1 Corinthians 13
Here is Paul's chapter on love. It is important to have love and charity. Many people do not know how to love and have a kind heart because the Gentiles exercise authority over each other. So that mentality is one that wants to rule over others; and it is hard to show love when you want to rule over others and when you are being ruled over harshly.
11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Every man today needs to adopt this and end being childish.
1 Corinthians 14
This chapter is about the spiritual gifts and of speaking in tongues. Whenever we speak, we are using our tongues so we all speak in tongues to say the least. However, tongues can mean languages in some instances, and then it can mean speaking in a way no one understands as you see some preachers and church members do.
3But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 4He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.
When you speak clearly prophesying, you edify men; when you speak in an unknown tongue, you edify yourself. So far in this reading the words are in the English language, the official language of the countries I am citizen of. But if I type this: akdadk;akd adafkad akd;adka;dak. Perhaps, you cannot understand it (I can't either); that does not edify you. If I told you that it means, peace on earth (it does not); then it would be edifying. So when someone has a moment and they utter things that clearly no one can understand, i.e, speaking in tongues, then it will be profitable for you to explain what you said to the edifying of others listening.
5I would that ye all spake with tongues but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.
Paul spoke many languages; this is probably one of the many reasons the Lord used Him to be an apostle to the Gentiles. One has to be able to communicate the Lord's word. This is what Paul is referring to when he says he wish we could speak with tongues. He is not referring to the babbling of the mouth seen in some churches today (I do write this not to offend but to educate and edify).
11Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.
If you speak and non can understand you; you are barbaric in nature.
13Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. Just as a man who speaks Spanish to another man who does not understand Spanish, it is pointless unless he or someone interprets it for the listener. The same way it should be done when one speaks in tongues, they should explain what they are saying.
19Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
To a Japanese crowd that speaks no English, I'd rather be able to say in Japanese "Peace be with you all." than to preach two hours of what is written in the book of Romans in English. I believe that makes sense? If you are going to speak the tongues you should have the people understand what you are saying.
20Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
21In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
Now understanding this, that the Lord wrote with other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; so if they spoke the old Hebrew language, then another tongue or language qualifies English, French, Spanish, etc to be spoken to this people.
27If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
28But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.
Women Preaching?
34Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.
35And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.
Not today with all the women preachers on television; but there is room on this one; it is that, concerning the word of God, a woman should not preside over a man.
22Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Speaking in tongues, the babbling in the zeal for God, Paul categorized that as people wanting to give or have a sign from God and Jesus said a evil generation seeks after a sign. Therefore speaking in tongues is a sign for people who actually do not believe. It is a sign for non-believers and not believers. If you speak in tongues and do not edify the church in what you said, that is a sign of non believers.
Peace and grace today; we have read another 14 or 15 chapters and we are done for today. We will resume tomorrow in the name of Jesus Christ.
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