1 Corinthians 12 & 13 Study Guide/Psalm 22 (23) Study Guide/Protect The Children at all cost...

SPIRITUAL GIFTS

1 CORINTHIANS 12:1-26

12:1: THE CORINTHIANS were IGNORANT not of the spiritual gifts but how they were to be used in service to God...

12:2: IT IS POSSIBLE to get CARRIED AWAY and LED into error ...For not all gifts are from the Holy Spirit...Demons lurk behind DUMB IDOLS-(v. 2), speaking evil prophecies through the religious ecstasies' of their priests-(see Acts 16:16): Religious ecstasty or enthusiasm is no proof of spirituality...

12:3: THE SIGN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT speaking is when Christians say from the heart, JESUS IS LORD: Every time we say the Nicene Creed sincerely at the Divine Liturgy, for example, we are gifted by the Holy Spirit to do so...

12:4-6: EVERY TRUE GIFT AND MINISTRY in the Church manifests the Holy Trinity: THE SPIRIT-(v. 4), the Son, THE LORD-(v. 5) Jesus Christ, and the Father, GOD-(v. 6): While the working out of our chrismation is primarily the grace of the Holy Spirit, it is the work of the Trinity as well: Note there are DIVERSITIES OR DIFFERENCES OF GIFTS AND ACTIVITIES; no two Christians are alike...

12:7: THE PURPOSE of spiritual gifts is the growth of the whole Church...

12:8-10: THIS LIST of nine gifts is not exhaustive-(see 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Romans 12:6-8; Ephesians 4:7-12):

12:12-13: PAUL here moves from the gifts in the Church to THE MEMBERS OF THE ONE BODY of Christ: Note how the MANY MEMBERS ARE TO WORK AS ONE...

12:14-18: A REMARABLE PASSAGE that leaves no room for a spiritual inferiority complex-(see also vv. 22-24): Every member of Christ's body is important to the overall life and work of the Church...

12:26: THERE IS NO SUCH THING as an individual Christian: Being knit together in love-(Colossians 2:2), we are called in Christ to SUFFER TOGETHER, BE HONORED TOGETHER, AND REJOICE TOGETHER...

LOVE, SUPERIOR TO GIFTS

1 CORINTHIANS 12:27-31

12:28-31: THERE IS A HIERARCHY of honor in the Church of the NT as there is in the Church today: The apostolic work, that of the bishop, sets the pace for all the rest: When the oversight is in order, the rest of the Church is free to function at the optimal level: But even with all the gifts in place and operative, there is something MORE EXCELLENT- (v. 31): It is the love of God, the true sign of the presence of the Holy Spirit...

1 CORINTHIANS 13:1-13

13:1: ST. BASIL THE GREAT teaches there are three reasons, all biblical and all God-given, that people follow the Lord: (1): FEAR-(Proverbs 1:7); (2): OBEDIENCE, a recognition that because He is God we must follow Him-(Acts 5:29); and (3): LOVE-(1 John 4:19): And while we must aim to do all things out of love, we also should never cease fearing God and obeying Him: To a church preoccupied with TONGUES, Paul teaches the ultimate gift which is love...

13:2: LOVE outshines PROPHECY AND ALL FAITH...It is of far greater value than the miraculous ability to REMOVE MOUNTAINS...

13:3: JESUS URGES us to give to the poor-(Matthew 19:21) and to lay down our lives for others-(John 15:13): But even such selfless act done without LOVE PROFITS US NOTHING...

13:4-8: HOW DO WE KNOW we are acting with LOVE-(v. 4)??? This passage gives specific characteristics of love: (1): IT SUFFERS LONG, is patient-(1 Thessalonians 5:14); (2): IT IS KIND, gentle, especially with those who hurt-(Ephesians 4:32); (3): IT DOES NOT ENVY, is not jealous of what others have-(Proverbs 23:17); (4): IT DOES NOT PARADE ITSELF, put itself on display-(John 3:30); (5): IT IS NOT PUFFED UP, arrogant, proud- (Galatians 6:3); (6): IT DOES NOT ACT RUDELY, brashly, mean-spiritedly, insulting others-(Ecc 5:2); (7): IT DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN way, act pushy-(1 Corinthians 10:24); (8): IT IS NOT PROVOKED OR ANGERED-(Proverbs 19:11); (9): IT THINKS NO EVIL, does not keep score on others-(Hebrews 10:17); (10): IT REJOICES NOT IN INIQUITY, takes no pleasure when others fall into sin-(Mark 3:5); (11): IT REJOICES IN THE TRUTH, is joyful when righteousness prevails-(2 John 4); (12): IT BEARS ALL THINGS, handles the burdensome-(Galatians 6:2); (13): IT BELIEVES ALL THINGS, trusts in God no matter what-(Proverbs 3:5); (14): IT HOPES ALL THINGS, keeps looking up, does not despair -(Philippians 3:13); (15): IT ENDURE ALL THINGS, puts up with everything-(JohnChr), does not wear out-(Galatians 6:9); (16): IT NEVER FAILS: The only thing love cannot do is fail-(1 Corinthians 16:14):

13:8-13: THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, wonderful as they are, are temporary and incomplete: They are for this age, while we are children-(v. 11): BUT LOVE continues into the age to come: it is eternal, complete, and fulfilling...

13:11: THE SCRIPTURES differentiate between being dependent on God, or childlike-(Matthew 18:3), and being CHILDISH OR IMMATURE...

PSALM 22 (23)

PSALM 22 (23): The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not [a]want. 2 He makes me to lie down in [b]green pastures; He leads me beside the [c]still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will [d]dwell in the house of the Lord [e]Forever.

PSALM 22 (23): Is the Church speaking about the Lord Jesus-(vv. 1-3) and to the Lord Jesus-(vv. 4-6): In speaking about the Lord, the Church-(The sheep; see also John 10:1-5) identifies Him AS MY SHEPHERD-(v. 1; see also John 10:14), thus indicating a close relationship with Him: And in this relationship of Shepherd and Sheep, the Church lacks nothing, for example, THE GREEN PASTURES OF KINGDOM LIFE-(v. 2; see also John 10:10); THE STILL WATERS OF BAPTISM-(v. 2; see also John 10:3, 4, 7): And in speaking to the Lord, the Church is grateful to Him (1): FOR DELIVERANCE FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH-(v. 4; see also Hebrews 2:14-15); (2): FOR THE EUCHARIST-(v. 5; see also Luke 22:14-20); and (3): FOR A LIFETIME OF MERCY-(v. 6; see also Luke 1:50, 54):

PROTECT THE CHILDREN AT ALL COST EVIL IS AFTER THEM AND HAS BEEN FROM THE BEGINNING...

JOHN 16:21

A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world.

CHILDREN ARE IMPORTANT THE BIBLE SAYS SO HERE ARE FEW MORE EXAMPLES...

Job 31:15 KJV

Did not he that made me in the womb make him? and did not one fashion us in the womb?

Exodus 21:22-25 KJV

If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.

Matthew 19:18 KJV

He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

Proverbs 6:16-19 KJV

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

Isaiah 49:5 KJV

And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength.

Psalm 82:3-4 KJV

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 127:3 KJV

Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

JPCE SPIRITUAL TALK WILL NEVER COMPROMISE WHAT'S RIGHT TO FIT IN WIHT THIS FALLEN WORLD...I SERVE GOD AND ANSWER ONLY TO HIM, JPCE SPIRITUAL TALK IS 100% COMMITED ON PROTECTING ALL CHILDREN AGAINST THE FORCES OF DARKNESS!!!

END WITH THE LORD'S PRAYER: LET'S DEPARRT IN PEACE MY BROTHERS SISTERS IN CHRIST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD...