1 CORINTHIANS ~Chapter 14

So …

This chapter always causes a firestorm in church between men and women.

So, let me clarify the hot potato topic: v. 34 – women talking in church. When this book was written Jewish men and women were separated in the synagogues by a partition: Greek men and women freely mingled, and Greek women were very vociferous; that lead to chaos. Greeks thrived on chaos – chaos was their religion. ALL THIS VERSE IS SAYING IS: save the loud and boisterous questions for later on – at home. When in a public house of worship, let calmness reign: do not shout across the room for your husband to clarify something for you! Ask for clarification at home.

Obviously, women spoke in fellowship gatherings – some women were even ministering women. There are many, many instances where Jewish women were placed in positions of leadership. THIS PARTICULAR VERSE DOES NOT SPEAK TO THAT ISSUE.

It is okay for women to speak in fellowship – it is not okay for women to shout across the room to get their husband’s attention.

That said, let us commence to reading today’s Study ;-)

1 CORINTHIANS ~Chapter 14

Make love your goal, and aspire to all the spiritual gifts, especially that of prophesy. For when one speaks in a strange tongue, he speaks not so much to men as to Elohim, because no one understands him. He is really telling mysteries of The Ruach Ha’Kodesh. He who prophesies, on the other hand, speaks to men for their upbuilding, encouragement, and consolation.

When one speaks in an unknown tongue, he may edify himself, but when he prophesies, he edifies the whole congregation. Surely, I wish that all of you could speak in tongues; but I would much rather have you prophecy. He who prophecies is more important than the man who speaks with tongues, unless he interprets what he says so that the faith of the congregation may be strengthened.

Brethren, suppose I come to you speaking in tongues, what good could I do if I did not bring you some revelation, or information, or prophecy, or teaching? Even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, might give some distinct sound, foe how else can anyone know what is played? So also, the bugle – if it does not give a clear note, who will be ready for battle? Therefore, in speaking, you too must use a language that men can understand, otherwise how would anyone know what you say? You would just be talking into the air!

Truly, there are in the world many different languages, and none without meaning. But if I do not understand the meaning of a language, I am a foreigner to the man who speaks it, and he is a foreigner to me. So it is with you. Since you are eager to acquire spiritual gifts, ask for them in abundant measure, for the upbuilding of the church. Therefore, the man who speaks in a tongue should pray for the power to interpret his message.

Now, if I pray in a strange tongue, my spirit does the praying but my understanding is blank. What must I do? I will pray with my spirit, but also with my understanding. And I will sing praises with my spirit, but also with my understanding. Otherwise, if you pronounce a blessing in The Ruach, how can an unlearned man say “Amen” to your thanksgiving if he does not understand what you are saying? It is well enough for you to give thanks that way, but it is of no value to the man who cannot understand you.

I am thankful to Elohim that I speak in tongues, more than all of you. Still, in public worship I would rather speak 5 words that are understandable, so as to instruct others, than 10,000 words in a strange tongue.

Brethren, do not be children in your thinking. In matters of evil, be as babes: but in understanding you must be grown up. In the Law it is written. “I will speak to this people in other languages and by other lips, and yet not even so will they listen to Me, says the Lord”.

So, this speaking in tongues is intended for a sign, not for the Believers – but for the unbelievers; whereas prophesying is a sign for the Believer rather than the unbeliever. For if the whole congregation is assembled and everyone speaks in tongues, and some untaught persons or unbelievers happen to come in, would they not say that you are demented? But if everyone prophesies, and some unbeliever or untaught person should come in, then he may be convinced of his sin by all, and all will put questions to him. In short, the secrets of his heart will be revealed and he will fall upon his face and worship Elohim, declaring, “God is truly among you!”

What can we learn from this my Brethren? When you come together, each one may have a part to contribute – a song, a teaching, a speaking in tongues, a revelation, or an interpretation … Everything should aim at building up The Faith. If anyone speaks in a tongue, let it be done by 2, or at most, 3 speakers, one after the other, with an interpreter. And, if there is no one present to explain what was said, let them remain silent in the meeting and each speak his message to himself and to Elohim.

The number of prophets to speak should be limited to 2 or 3, while the others should consider carefully what is said. If a revelation comes to someone seated, let the first speaker stop talking. You can all witness, one by one, and in this way, all may learn and all may be stimulated. The prophets should exercise control over themselves. For Elohim is a God of peace, not of disorder, as can be seen in all the assemblies of saints.

Your women must keep silent at the church meetings. They must take a subordinate place, as the Law says. If they have questions to ask, they may ask their husbands at home. For, it is considered a disgrace for women to speak in the church. Did the Word of Elohei originate with you, or, are you the ones whom it has reached?

What I am writing to you is at Adonai Yeshua’s command. If any one of you thinks that he is a prophet or inspired, let him recognize the fact. If he does not admit it, let him remain in ignorance. Anyway, brethren, strive to prophesy and, as for speaking in tongues, do not forbid that. And always see to it that everything is done properly and in orderly manner.

**1 CORINTHIANS 13: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/10/1-corinthians-chapter-13.html

1 CORINTHIANS ~Chapter 13

1 CORINTHIANS ~Chapter 13

If I speak with the tongue of men and even of angels, but have not love, I am like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And, if I could prophesy, and could understand all the mysteries, and knew everything, and if I had perfect faith so that I could remove mountains, but lacked love – I would be nothing. Again, if I gave away all my goods to buy food for the poor, and gave my body to be burned, yet had no love, it would be no profit to me.

Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not envious, or vain-glorious, or arrogant. Love is not unmannerly, does not pursue selfish aims, is not quickly irritated, does not think evil. Love takes no pleasure in wickedness, but rejoices in the truth. Love is considerate in all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. Prophesies will come to an end, speaking in tongues will cease. Knowledge will pass away. For our knowledge is only in part, and our prophesies are likewise imperfect. But, when the perfect comes, then the imperfect will disappear. So, when I was a child I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned as a child; but when I became a man I gave up my childish ways. At present, we seem to see only blurred reflections in a mirror, but then it will be face to face. Now, I know only in part – but then, I shall understand fully, even as Elohim has fully understood me. And now we still have faith, hope, love … these 3 remain, but the greatest of all these is love.

**1 CORINTHIANS 12: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/10/1-corinthians-chapter-12.html

1 CORINTHIANS ~Chapter 12

1 CORINTHIANS ~Chapter 12

Brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant in regard to spiritual gifts. This you know, that while you were pagans you sought to worship dumb idols, just the way you had been taught. For this reason, I want you to know this: no one who speaks by The Ruach says that Yeshua is accursed, and no one confesses Him as *Adonai except by the same Ruach.

There are different kinds of gifts, but it is the same Ruach who gives them. And there are different kinds of service, but it is the same Adonai to be served. And again, there are different ways of doing things, but it is the same God Who uses these ways – **different ways in different men – throughout.

To each one is given the manifestation of The Ruach, for the good of all concerned. To one, The Ruach gives a word of wisdom. To another, the same Ruach gives the word of knowledge. One man receives faith and another receives the gift of healing; both from the same Ruach. And so on … one can perform miracles, another can prophesy, another can discern between spirts, another can speak in different tongues; another can interpret the tongues. It it is the one and same Ruach Who is at work, distributing His gifts to each one individually according to His good Will.

A man’s body is a unity, though it has many members. All the members of the body, though many, are one body. So it is with Mashiach. And by one Ruach we have through baptism been made members of one body – Jews and Greeks alike, slave & free – and all have been given to drink at one Source, and the one Ruach.

However, the body, does not consist of only one member, but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not part of the body”, would it any less belong to the body? And, if it could say to the ear, “I do not belong to the body”, is it not part of the body just the same? If the whole body were an eye, for example, where would be the hearing? Or, if the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? Now, as things are, Elohei has placed the organs of the body, each one of them according to His own Plan.

If all the parts were 1 single organ, where would the body be? As it is, though, we have many parts, yet only 1 body. So the eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you”; nor again the hand to the feet, “I have no need of you”. But much rather it is the members of the body which seem to be the weaker that are the most indispensable. And those organs of the body which we regard almost devoid of honor, are those we surround with special honor, and the more private parts are treated with the greatest modesty and respect. Those parts in us which are more beautiful have no need of such care; and so Elohei has built up the body harmoniously, giving more honor to those parts that need it the most. There was to be no lack of unity in the body. All the members of it were to be concerned about their common welfare. Then, if one of the parts suffers pain, all the other parts feel that pain; and if one part is honored, all the other arts have found joy in it.

Now you are the Body of Mashiach, and individually you are members of it. In His Church, Elohei has made arrangements: first, Apostles; second, Prophets; third, Teachers/ Also, workers of miracles, men with the gift of healing; helpers and administrators; speakers in foreign tongues, & interpreters. Are all the members apostles? Are all of them prophets? Are they all teachers? Do they all work miracles? Do they all have the gift of healing, or speak in foreign languages, or interpret? As for you, desire earnestly the higher gifts. I will show you a far better way.

**1 CORINTHIANS 11: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/09/1-corinthians-chapter-11.html

*NOTE: Yeshua IS God … and yet, Yeshua is A SEPARATE ENTITY FROM God – There are 3 in the Godhead: Father, Son, Holy Spirit – ALL ARE GOD; yet, all are unique and have defining attributes that work in harmony to make The One True God.

I say this so clarify this link:

http://www.hebrew-streams.org/works/monotheism/2-lords.html

**Though we are all part of the family of God when we get saved, we are not all called to minister in the same manner … and even then, what we are doing now in ministry will change as necessity arises: we no longer belong to ourselves; we belong to Elohim; and He will use us as pleases Him to accomplish His goals for His Supreme Plan. It takes different ways to reach different people, and wise Christians understand that and lend themselves to the winds of The Ruach. We are never to engage in sin, and yet we are to “become all things to all men” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) that we may reach them with the Good News. In this, we are to be wise. We are to example Mashiach Yeshua in ALL ways - Who is the embodiment of the fullness of Elohei. We do this by relying on The Ruach, Who teaches us all things concerning the way

THE BOOK OF ROMANS ~Chapter 10

This chapter has been used by many self-righteous and arrogantly ignorant  Christians to defame and smear Jews, as well as the nation of Israel.

In doing so, those use Scripture as a battering ram and a whip of malice are themselves becoming the very thing that Paul is making a point of pointing out …

NO WHERE in Scriptures does it ever say that Elohim rejects the Jews. N.o.w.h.e.r.e. It does, however, state that Elohim rejects those who do not acknowledge HIM and those that think doing good deeds and adhering to a rigid set of rules will gain them entrance into paradise without accepting the atoning blood of The Lamb which covers them with grace and sanctifies them by faith – and that is a warning to everyone: Jew or Gentile.

Do not attempt to read more into Scripture than there is written clearly. In doing so, many have erred from the straight and narrow and gone down that long and twisting road of heresy and perdition. Be sure always to read Scripture in context – that is why I post Scripture as it follows, by chapter and verse – to be understood correctly.

THE BOOK OF ROMANS ~Chapter 10

Brethren, it is my heart’s desire and my prayer to Elohim for Israel, that they may be saved. That they have a zeal for Elohim, I know from experience, but they lack certain knowledge. They are densely ignorant about Elohim’s Way of justification and, while they try to earn justification in their own way, they will not submit to Elohim’s Way of becoming justified. The end of the struggle for justification by Law is Mashiach, and it comes to everyone who believes in Him.

Moshe does not say, concerning justification by law, that if a man does what The Law commands, he will live. But the way of getting justification by Faith is different. It speaks thus: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who shall go up to Heaven?’ – that is, to bring Mashiach down; or, ‘Who shall descend int o Hell?’ – this is, to bring Him back from the dead.” But what does it say? It says, “The Word is near you, in your mouth, and in your heart.” That is The Word of Faith which we preach. “If you will say with your mouth that Yeshua is Lord, and believe in your heart that Elohei has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” For with the heart we believe to righteousness, and with the mouth we make confession to salvation. For it is said in Scripture, “No one who believes in Him shall be put to shame.”

In this there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile. They all have the same Lord, and He bestows His riches upon all who call on Him. And everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

But how can people call on Him in whim they have not believed? And how can they believe in One of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent to do it? Scripture says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach good news!” (Isaiah 52:7).

Still, they have not all accepted the glad news, even as Isaiah said, “lord, who has believed our message?” So, faith comes by hearing a message, and the message must be from the Word of Mashiach. Now, I ask, have the people not heard? Yes, indeed they have. “Their voices were heard in the whole earth, and their words to the very ends of the inhabitable world” (Psalm 19:4). And again I ask, did not Israel understand? I will let Moshe answer first. He says, “I will let a people that is not a nation make you jealous, and I will let a foolish people make you angry” (Deuteronomy 32:21). And next, let Isaiah speak. He is very bold when he says, “I have been found by some who were not looking for me, and have made Myself known to some who were not seeking to know Me”; But about Israel, He says, “All day long I have stretched out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate People!” (Isaiah 65:1 & 2).

**ROMANS 9: https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-book-of-romans-chapter-9.html

PSALM 43 (a musical setting)

Yesterday the hospital Chaplain visited Hubs in his room and read this Scripture with him and prayed with him; Hubs also asked prayer for me – he is always thinking of me, even  in this time of great pain & suffering to himself. At first when heard of the visit I was naturally concerned and asked the primary nurse why a Chaplain had visited my husband - my stomach was throwing fits yesterday so I stayed home in case it was catchy; turns out it wasn't. I was told that Chaplains routinely visit patients, and if the patient wishes, remains with them to comfort them as requested: that eased my mind because normally Chaplains visit patients that are very near death. And Hubs has been giving his medical team concerns not only with this horrific pancreatitis ordeal, but also with a rash of racing heart palpitations all week long – twice since I visited him throughout the week one of the CNAs came in to give him a dose of metoprolol to calm his heart down. Guesses are that the pain is causing these rash of palpitations, but it is concerning just the same.

When Hubs told me the Chaplain had read Psalm 43 to him, I was puzzled. “Why?” I kept asking myself each time I read it and reread it; it didn’t make any sense. I read it again tonight … and suddenly (!) it (((clicked))); it made perfect sense :-D And while it does not specifically deal with healing, it sums up EVERYTHING we have been dealing with since August 30^th. While we logically KNOW that Elohei has NOT ‘cast us off’, it feels like it sometimes when we are at our lowest ebb physically & emotionally. But when we turn our eyes to Him and remember that He is our 'exceeding joy' especially in turbulent times, He ministers peace of mind and soothes our troubled souls with His light and His truth that upholds His children. And because of His great love towards us, we will not stumble and fall over the hurdles the enemy throws in our path hoping to trip us up:

PSALM 43

Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! For You are the God of my strength. Why do You cast me off? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?

Oh, send out Your light and Your truth! Let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your tabernacle. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.

Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him – the help of my countenance and my God. 

I like this beautiful musical rendition …