Monday 012025
Don’t let me or my writings influence or scare you in any way, instead, allow me to be used as a vessel to open the Word, just a little bit, and hopefully, together we are going to read and study His Word, and let God teach us what He wants us to hear.
Since the beginning of this study, our vision has been that we are ONLY going to follow what is found in the Holy Bible, that pertains to us, and we realize that it’s ONLY from our own effort that we put into this study, that we’re going to take anything away for our own use.
The verses we are going to study tonight:
1 Corinthians 14:12; Ephesians 2:8-9, 1:9-10; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Jonah 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 14:33, 14:1-40.
So, after beginning this lesson, and searching through some very intriguing letters by Paul, I have concluded that the direction that I’ve been heading towards is right in line with what I have been shown.
Maybe the clearest reality for me is in my desire to teach the importance for us to read our Bibles. This morning, as I was studying and writing this lesson, I came across a word which intrigued my desire to search its meaning, the word was ‘edification.’
I found the word used in 1 Corinthians 14:12 ‘…So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
In the Biblical sense of the word, edification means to build up and strengthen one another – it means to help someone along in their walk with Christ – it means to promote spiritual growth and maturity. Simply put, edification means to help one another become more like Christ.
That is exactly what I want to do, I don’t want anyone to miss out on what God has freely given each one of us … all we must do is accept the Gift that He has already given us.
Ephesians 2
vs8 ‘…For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…’
vs9 ‘…not a result of works, so that no one may boast…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Why is this not the number one verse known by us, that’s found in the Bible?
Why are we not reminded of this verse throughout every week?
How many times have you heard someone say that they believe in God, they prayed to Him throughout their lives, they pray to Him every day?
Do you think they could recite Ephesians 2:8-9?
No one will admit anything other than there is zero UNBELIEF in their body regarding God, but I must ask then, why don’t they know of this one passage found in the Bible?
Do you believe Jesus chose Paul to be the teacher to the Gentiles?
Do you believe that it was possible for God to change Saul’s mind from destroying the Christians on his way to Damascus and instead, become Paul and begin saving the Christian believers?
Do you believe God could possibly have the power to give us the Gift of GRACE and save us from an Everlasting death?
This all falls under the sub-title of MYSTERY.
Do you believe that can God give us a MYSTERY?
Do you believe that God can keep secrets from us?
Can we keep secrets from God?
Maybe we should begin at the very beginning … God, Himself is a MYSTERY.
Everything that God has ever done, the creation of the entire existence found in Genesis 1, cannot be defined as anything other than a MYSTERY.
The thing is, God let us know some of His mystery early.
Google explains it this way: but one of the spiritual blessings we have received in Christ is the unveiling of that mystery. According to his good pleasure, God has chosen to share with us the result of his work in creation. He is giving us a glimpse into what the future holds.
Eph 1:9-10
‘…He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He set forth in Him…’ ‘…regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Today, there is not an individual that can say for sure what is going to happen in the future.
They might be very lucky, and they could guess what might happen but, what are the odds they’ll be right?
Who knows, there may be a second set of MYSTERIES yet to happen, other than God, who can say for sure?
We are confronted with a predicament, we can stay in the spot where we are right now, and believe what we currently believe in or, we can move away from that UNBELIEF, that most all Christians have today and move on with what is written in the Word.
I’m not saying how we interpret what the writer tried saying, if we do that, then we obviously, don’t believe in 2 Tim 3:16-17.
vs16 ‘…All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness…’
vs17 ‘…so that the man or woman of God may be fully capable, equipped for every good work…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
As these letters were written, centuries ago, the authors of these letters were inspired by God to write what has been written. We haven’t been told to dissect what we’ve been given and then plan what we want to believe in, but at the same time, we haven’t been told to add words to the Scripture either, or the example I always use is ALL Scripture has been Inspired by God but, we haven’t been told to FOLLOW all Scripture.
And my clearest example of that is Jonah 1
vs1 ‘…The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying…’
vs2 ‘…Arise, go to Nineveh, the great city, and cry out against it, because their wickedness has come up before Me…’
vs3 ‘…But Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship that was going to Tarshish, paid the fare, and boarded it to go with them to Tarshish away from the presence of the Lord…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
On one hand, we can believe in what we have learned since birth; believe in the God that we know and pray to Him, or we can believe in what the Word tells us.
We can study for centuries what the word is telling us, or we can read what has been written, use our common sense and follow what we have been given.
1 Corinthians 14:33 ‘…When we meet together as God’s people, he wants there to be peace among us. He does not want to bring trouble. This is what happens in all the churches where God’s people meet together…’ EASY (Easy English Bible)
Here are a couple of other versions of this same verse.
‘…For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints…’ KJV (King James Version)
‘…for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
The entire chapter of 1 Corinthians 14 is a treasure to read.
1 Corinthians 14
vs1 ‘…Pursue love,yet earnestly desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy…’
vs2 ‘…For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit, he speaks mysteries…’
vs3 ‘…But the one who prophesies speaks to people for edification, exhortation, and consolation…’
vs4 ‘…The one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but the one who prophesies edifies the church…’
vs5 ‘…Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but rather that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edification…’
vs6 ‘…But now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation, or of knowledge, or of prophecy, or of teaching…’
vs7 ‘…Yet even lifeless instruments, whether flute or harp, in producing a sound, if they do not produce a distinction in the tones, how will it be known what is played on the flute or on the harp…’
vs8 ‘…For if the trumpet produces an indistinct sound, who will prepare himself for battle…’
vs9 ‘…So you too, unless you produce intelligible speech by the tongue, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will just be talking to the air…’
vs10 ‘…There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and none is incapable of meaning…’
vs11 ‘…So if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be unintelligible to the one who speaks, and the one who speaks will be unintelligible to me…’
vs12 ‘…So you too, since you are eager to possess spiritual gifts, strive to excel for the edification of the church…’
vs13 ‘…Therefore, one who speaks in a tongue is to pray that he may interpret…’
vs14 ‘…For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unproductive…’
vs15 ‘…What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit, but I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit, but I will sing with the mind also…’
vs16 ‘…For otherwise, if you bless God in the spirit only, how will the one who occupies the place of the outsider know to say the ‘Amen’ at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you are saying…’
vs17 ‘…For you are giving thanks well enough, but the other person is not edified…’
vs18 ‘…I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all…’
vs19 ‘…nevertheless, in church I prefer to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in a tongue.
Instruction for the Church
vs20 ‘…Brothers and sisters, do not be children in your thinking; yet in evil be infants, but in your thinking be mature…’
vs21 ‘…In the Law it is written: By men of strange tongues and by the lips of strangers I will speak to this people, and even so they will not listen to Me, says the Lord…’
vs22 ‘…So then, tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophecy is not for unbelievers, but for those who believe…’
vs23 ‘…Therefore if the whole church gathers together and all the people speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are insane…’
vs24 ‘…But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all…’
vs25 ‘…the secrets of his heart are disclosed; and so, he will fall on his face and worship God, declaring that God is certainly among you…’
vs26 ‘…What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification…’
vs27 ‘…If anyone speaks in a tongue, it must be by two or at the most three, and each one in turn, and one is to interpret…’
vs28 ‘…but if there is no interpreter, he is to keep silent in church; and have him speak to himself and to God…’
vs29 ‘…Have two or three prophets speak, and have the others pass judgment…’
vs30 ‘…But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, then the first one is to keep silent…’
vs31 ‘…For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn, and all may be exhorted…’
vs32 ‘…and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets…’
vs33 ‘…for God is not a God of confusion, but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints…’
vs34 ‘…the women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says…’
vs35 ‘…If they desire to learn anything, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is improper for a woman to speak in church…’
vs36 ‘…Or was it from you that the word of God first went out? Or has it come to you only…’
vs37 ‘…If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual, let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment…’
vs38 ‘…But if anyone does not recognize this, he is not recognized…’
vs39 ‘…Therefore, my brothers and sisters, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues…’
vs40 ‘…But all things must be done properly and in an orderly way…’ NASB (New American Standard Bible)
Keep your Bibles open and keep yourself studying what He has for us to know.
Open your arms and accept this Gift that He has given us in Ephesians.
I love all of you. Always remember that Jesus loves each one of us even more than we know.
Jesus, I pray that those ears and eyes, either listening or seeing this message today would be opened to the very fullest and allow Your love to come inside their lives and comfort them. Teach us Jesus. Protect us. We love You. Amen
InHIM. ><)))o>