BLESSINGS FOR GIVING TO THE POOR

My Dear Precious Child,
    Paul's instructions to the people in the church at Corinth about giving their offerings in support of the widows and orphans in the church and the priests who did not work professionally like Paul, Barnabas and Apollos did, he wrote to them the same instructions that he wrote to the church at Galatia.   He wrote that on the first day of each week that everyone should put aside what he or she has been able to save so that the collection would not have to be taken up when Paul arrived.  Paul was to take the collection to the church in Jerusalem for the ministry to the poor.  He said it was right that he, himself, should be the one to take the offering to the headquarters of the churches for what Peter, James and John had asked, that Paul's churches help take care of the poor.  (I Corinthians 16:1-4)
   He was expecting to stay at Corinth for a while because of his concern for the lack of maturity of the people in the Corinthian church, but the main reason was so that he could spend the winter with them and they would provide the material goods that he could use for the rest of his journey.  He said that he intended to stay at Ephesus until the feast of Pentecost and that a door had been opened for his ministry but that there were many people opposed to his taking advantage of the invitation.   Just in case, Paul instructed the Corinthians that if he sent Timothy in his place that they should welcome him with open arms and put him at ease without anyone treating him as an outsider by rejection.  Instead of rejecting Timothy, he asked that they let Timothy go back to Paul in peace.  Paul was expecting Timothy to come back and report to him.  Apollos was expected by Paul to go to the Corinthians, but he decided not to go at the time but would go later when circumstances changed for him.(I Corinthians 8:5-12)
    His closing instructions in the long letter to the Corinthian Christians was for them to stand strong in their faith, acting like mature men instead of babies, which was what he had accused them of being at the beginning of the letter.  He accentuated the instructions to stand strong in the faith by saying that they must do everything with love, as he had written in the body of the letter when he explained what Godly Love is.(I Corinthians 13)    He reminded them about the household of Stephanus, saying that they were the first fruits of the saints in Corinth and were to remain in the service of the saints.  Paul wanted the people of the Corinth church to serve under such men and under everyone who toiled with them.  He exclaimed his pleasure at having entertained Stephanas and two other saints because they made up for the absence of Paul's being with the Corinthians.   He remarked that the three men refreshed his spirit just as they did the Corinthians.  Paul recommended that the people of Corinth recognize the worth of those three men.  (verses 19-20)
   As a closing remark Paul wrote that he sent greetings from the group that met in the homes of two of the Corinthians, sending cordial greetings in the Lord.  Paul asked the people in the church at Corinth to always greet other Christians with a kiss.   As one of the  closing phrases Paul professed that anyone who does not love the Lord is cursed.  He sent his love to their congregation and then closed by asking that My favor be upon them. (I Corinthians 16:21-23)
   Paul's instructions, warnings, complaints and insight are pertinent today in My churches.  Heed all of his words from the Holy Spirit so that your life on earth will be filled with My blessings.
   Your Father of Anointed Ministries   

BLESSINGS OF SPIRITUAL, ETERNAL LIFE

My Dear Precious Child,
   In Paul's voluminous first recorded letter to the Christians in the church at Corinth he covered a vast number of subjects, including the difference between spiritual bodies and earthly bodies. Regarding the resurrection of the body of Jesus Christ and the resurrection of human beings who believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ, he said that people ask him how are the dead to be raised up, what kind of body will they have? Paul considered that a ridiculous question.  His answer was that any seed that you sow does not germinate unless it dies.  He also wrote that when you sow seeds you do not sow full grown plants but instead you sow a kernel of wheat or some other grain and that I give body to it as I please, each seed to its own product, or growing into its own nature.  He told them in the letter that not all earthly bodies are the same, that there are animal bodies, bird bodies and fish bodies.  They are all different.
     In his explanation of the difference between human bodies and spiritual bodies he told them that the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one thing and the splendor of the human bodies have another splendor, that the sun has a splendor of its own and the moon and the stars have their own splendor.  He wrote that even among the stars certain ones are brighter than others.  He explained that it's that way with the resurrection of the dead.  He explained that what is sown in the earth is subject to decay but what rises from inside of the seeds are spiritual, therefore incorruptible.  He wrote that what is sown in the earth has no honor because it is prone to die, but what rises out of it is glorious.  He amplified the truth by saying that weakness is sown in the earth but strength rises from the inside of the seeds.  In other words, he wrote that a human body is sown in the earth but a spiritual body comes up and out of it and enters into heaven.  (I Corinthians 15:40-44)
    Paul made it plain that where there is a natural body, the people must be sure that there is also a spiritual body.  He wrote that scriptures say that the first man, Adam,  became a living soul but the last Adam, who is Jesus Christ, became a life-giving Spirit.  He pointed out to the believers that they must take note that it was not the spiritual that came first, but instead it was the natural man.  The first man was of the earth, formed of dust, but the second man, Jesus Christ, came from heaven.  Such is it with every human being who is originally of the earth but becomes born of My Holy Spirit, they become spiritual, heavenly people instead of continuing as earthly people.   Earthly people are like Adam, of the earth, bearing the likeness of the earth with its curses, but the spiritual, heavenly people who are born of My Holy Spirit and baptized in My Holy Spirit are like My Son from heaven, Jesus Christ.  Just like the Christians formerly displayed characteristics of the earth, they shall eventually bear the spiritual likeness of Jesus Christ, My Son from My heaven. (I Corinthians 15:44-49)
     Furthering his explanation, Paul wrote that flesh and blood, meaning the natural man, cannot inherit the kingdom of God any more than corruption can inherit incorruption.   Then Paul wrote that he was going to tell them a mystery, that being that not all people will fall asleep in death, but that all will be changed at the event of the earthly death of their human body.   He said that it will happen in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye at the sound of the last trumpet.   He revealed that the dead would be raised incorruptible and that all people would be changed.  The corruptible body, the human, fleshly body, would put on incorruption, a spiritual body.   At that instant for each person, the corruptible human body will be clothed with an incorruptible spiritual body.  (verses 50-54)
    He quoted scripture  from the prophets, saying, "Death will be swallowed up in victory," and "O, death, where is your victory?  Oh, death, where is your sting?"
     Paul wrote, "The sting of death is sin and sin gets its power from the Law.  But, thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 
    He encouraged the Corinthian Christians to be steadfast, always persevering by being engaged in the work of the Lord, knowing that their toil is not in vain when it's done in the Lord. 
    In the first recorded letter from Paul to the Corinthians, he covered many subjects, subjects that needed to be discussed by their teacher, subjects which many had discussed and wondered about but no one knew the truth relating to them.  Even though Paul had written that he could not talk to the Christians in Corinth about spiritual things because they were spiritual babes instead of mature people who needed to personally gather their harvest of wisdom from Me, he felt obliged, because of his past history of leading them to the Lord, to endeavor to help them increase in wisdom, knowledge and truth by answering their many questions relating to spiritual matters.
    My children through the ages have benefited from Paul's letter to the Christians at Corinth.   Heed his warnings and his instructions from My Holy Spirit.  You must discern the traditions and customs of the Jews contained in the letter.  Those are not revelations of My Holy Spirit.
    Your Father of Revealed Truth                  
           

BLESSINGS FROM PROFESSION OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

BLESSINGS FROM PROFESSION OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST
My Dear Precious Child,
    The only truth upon which people have believed that saves them from the work of the devil in the world is the death of Christ, His visit to hell for the sins of the whole earth and the resurrection from the dead of Jesus Christ.  No observation of the Mosaic Law can save anyone from the curses of the Law.   He wrote to them that they became saved from the works of the devil the first moment that they believed in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross, which was originally preached to the Corinthians by Paul.   In his first recorded letter he wrote that they must hold fast to the belief or their belief would be in vain. 
    In his letter, Paul quoted his confession of faith to his followers in Corinth, saying that the full gospel that he had handed on to them was what he, himself, had received, that Christ had died for the sins of people in accordance with Scriptures, that he was buried and, in accordance with Scriptures, He rose on the third day, that He was seen by Peter, then seen by all Twelve disciples. After that he was seen by five hundred people, though most had fallen asleep in death when Paul was writing the letter.  Next He was seen by James, then by all of the apostles. 
    Also, as Paul wrote, the Risen Christ was seen by Paul, himself, as one born out of the normal course of things.  Paul labeled himself the least of all of the apostles and wrote that because he had previously persecuted the apostles he did not even deserve to be called an apostle of God.  He wrote that it was only by My favor that he became whom he was.  But he claimed that he had worked harder than any of the apostles, not on his own but by My power toward him.  Nevertheless, he commented whether the preaching was by the other apostles or by him, what was important was that the people believed what he and the other apostles preached. (I Corinthians 15;1-11)
    He put the Corinthians to the test, asking them that if Christ was preached as being raised from the dead, why was it that some of them currently believed that there was no resurrection from the dead, which was believed by the Sadducees?   He wrote that if Christ had not been raised from the dead then there truly was no resurrection from the dead for anybody.  If that were true, then they would be revealed as false witnesses of Mine because they had seen Christ after he was raised from the dead.  But if they deny it, then they must deny that anybody was raised, Christ included.  So if Christ was not raised, then their faith was worthless and they were still in their sins, and those people who had fallen asleep in Christ were the deadest of all the dead.   Then Paul wrote to the Corinthians that if their hopes were only limited to their earthly lives, then they were the most pitiful of people in the world.   In that letter of truth Paul continued in his profession of faith.  He said that since Christ was truly raised from the dead, the first fruits were the people who had fallen asleep in death. (verses 10-11)
    In his letter Paul recalled the history of people and told how death came into the earth through one man, Adam, and he also proclaimed that the resurrection of people came into the earth through one man. Christ, and each one of the two in the proper order of time.   He wrote that because of Adam all people die, and so in Christ all people come to life again, Christ being the first fruits and then also all of those who belong to Him at His coming.   He wrote that after the end of the Law would come, that Christ would have destroyed all evil sovereignty, authority and power which he would hand over to the Father.  The timing was not known because the last enemy that needed to be destroyed is death in the lives of people.   The Scripture reads that when everything has been put under His feet of authority, that all demons will be subjected to the Son and He will then subject Himself to Me, the One who made all things subject to Him.  (verses 12-28).
    So, Paul wrote, if the dead are not raised, then what about the people of whom they were baptized on behalf of the dead?  If the dead having been raised is not real, then why be baptized on their behalf?  He also asked them why the apostles were always putting themselves in danger if the dead were not raised?  He affirmed to the Corinthians in his first recorded letter that if the dead were not raised then why were the apostles continually putting themselves in danger?   Paul swore to the believers that he faced death every day on their behalf and on behalf of the gospel.  He wrote that if he fought the beasts in Ephesus for human reasons and emotions, then what profit was there for him if the dead were not raised?   He quoted a saying which was to, "Let everyone eat and drink for tomorrow we die." 
   Then Paul wrote the reason for his affirmation of faith, asking them not to be led astray any longer by false prophets.  He quoted to them that, "Bad company corrupts good morals."  He urged the people of the church at Corinth to return to good reason, as they should do, and to stop sinning.   He told them that they should be ashamed that some of the people in the church at Corinth were quite ignorant of a personal knowledge of Me.  (I Corinthians 15:29-34)        
   Paul felt like a failure because of people in the church of Corinth having fallen away from the Full Gospel and having adopted Jewish traditional religious beliefs which had no power to overcome the evil in the world.   He knew that the only real power was in My Holy Spirit, who was the power given to Christ to raise Him from the dead.
    Your Father of Valuable Corrections 

BLESSINGS FROM GOD'S INSTRUCTIONS

My Dear Precious Child,
    Unfortunately, Paul had to refer to traditions and customs in the Jewish church which flowed over into the Christian churches.  He quoted the tradition of women not being permitted to speak in the assembly of the churches.   Because of the good gifts of Godly emotions in women of love, kindness, goodness, sympathy, mercy and gentleness from Me, the devil perverted them in Eve and her offspring by taking emotions to the extreme and making some women unruly in their emotional extremes, making them disruptive in meetings.  Paul was disturbed by the lack of self control of those women so he made a cultural law out of it in order to help bring order to the religious assemblies.  Because of the spiritual immaturity of the Corinthians, he knew that he could not trust the women in the church to control their emotions.  He wrote that women should not speak in the communal meetings but should be submissive to men, even writing that if they want to learn anything that they should ask their husbands.  It was certain disgraceful, unruly and overly emotional women who were responsible for Paul's having to give that cultural command.  He even asked the overly emotional women if the preaching of My word originated with them or were they the only ones to whom the sharing of My word had come?   With maturity in spiritual matters, that their being totally led by the Holy Spirit, they would be more organized in their delivery of the gifts of the Holy Spirit than had previously been experienced.  Hopefully, with maturity would come wisdom.
    Paul gave them instructions that if anyone thought himself or herself to be a prophet or a person of the Holy Spirit, that he or she would know that what he had written to them was the command of Jesus Christ.  He even wrote that if anyone ignored the instruction that that person should also be ignored in the assembly.  
    Then Paul reiterated some instructions he had previously written in his first recorded letter.  First he stressed that the Corinthians should set their hearts on prophesying and the second instruction was that they do not forbid those who speak in tongues.  However, the caveat was that everything must be done properly and in order, as he had sternly described earlier.   Their embarrassment of Paul by their being unruly and undisciplined in worship was because they were his disciples and it was of great concern to him, but also of much more concern was that they had become an embarrassment to Jesus Christ by their lack of spiritual maturity which resulted in the women becoming emotionally authoritative over men and also that the congregation displayed unruly speaking in tongues without yielding to the guidance of the Holy Spirit who is the Lord of Order.
    Your Orderly Father
     

BLESSED BY PRAYING IN GOD'S HEAVENLY LANGUAGE

My Dear Precious Child,
    In Paul's first recorded letter of correction to the Corinthians, he included multiple areas of correction for them.  One area was in the area of spiritual gifts, which he named and explained and wrote that they must be done orderly, not emotionally from human emotions like the pagans were accustomed to doing with their worship of idols.  In the first letter after he explained about My gifts of the Holy Spirit, he wrote that in communal meetings they must always be done in order with emphasis on the messages instead of on the person who was speaking.  He cautioned that they must be included in their church services with an attitude of Love for others, never being self-seeking for attention. 
    Then Paul wrote that, above all, they must seek to prophesy since it is My instructive words spoken to them.  He contrasted prophesy with the gift of tongues, reminding them that in prophesy the person is speaking in his or her known language and the message from Me is understood by all.  However, in the gift of tongues only I understand the words unless there is interpretation by the speaker.   In prophesy, Paul explained that when I speak to people in prophesy, it is for the building up of the body of Christ.  However, when a person speaks in an unknown language, nobody understands the person unless there is also an interpretation.  In that instance the person is built up but with prophesy which speaks to the entire body, all the people are built up.  He explained that the person who prophesies is greater than the ones who brings a messages in tongues because the entire church benefits from My message to them in prophesy but the person who only brings a message in tongues, which is only for the unbeliever who is present, only he benefits, unless there is an interpretation.  A person should not bring a message in tongues in communal meetings unless he or she also interprets the tongues so that the entire body can benefit.  (I Corinthians 14:1-5)
    While on the subject of the gift of tongues for communal worship or meetings, Paul asked the Corinthians what would happen if he came to you speaking only in tongues?  He asked what good would he do if the words were not interpreted by someone.  He also asked what good would he be doing if he only spoke in tongues in the meeting, as some people were doing, because there would be no understandable message for anyone unless there was an interpretation from My Holy Spirit.  Even in musical instruments, Paul asked how would anyone benefit from a flute or a harp if it was only playing harmony but no melody was being played?  He also asked, even in war a regiment would not know to advance if the bugle's sound is indistinguishable.  Paul wrote that, similarly, if you do not speak intelligent, understandable speech how will anyone know what I am saying through you?  He said in that instance you would be only speaking to the air.  Paul explained that there are many different languages in the world and each has its unique sound, but if a language is not understandable to you, then it is foreign to you and not instructive.  He told the Corinthians that since they were determined to excel in spiritual gifts, he asked them to speak prophesies which build up the church instead of bringing a message in tongues. (I Corinthians 14:6-12)
     Paul encouraged the Corinthians who usually brought messages in tongues to always pray for the interpretation because when you bring a message in tongues your spirit is praying but your mind is unfruitful.  He encouraged the people to pray in the Spirit but to also pray in the understanding, also to sing with your spirit and with your mind also.  He added that if you only pray in the Spirit how will anyone add an Amen in agreement with your message?   The people will not know what you are praying unless he or she understands the message.  You will be uttering praises indeed but the other people will not be helped. 
    Then Paul gave wise advice.  He said that he prays in tongues more than anyone that he knew, but while in communal meetings he would rather speak five intelligent words which instruct people than speaking ten thousand words in tongues, unless there is a viable interpretation.  He asked the Corinthians to not be childish in their worship.  He quoted the Mosaic Law in prophesy that said, "In strange tongues and alien speech I will speak to this people and then they will not heed me," says the Lord.   Paul clearly explained that messages in tongues are for the unbeliever, not for the believer.  Prophesy is for the believer who has faith, not for the unbeliever with no faith. (I Corinthians 14:13:21; Acts 2:1-13)
    Paul's clear explanation was that if an unbeliever comes into a meeting and everyone is speaking in tongues, then the unbeliever would think you are out of your minds.   But if an unbeliever comes into your meeting and there is a prophesy from you and others, then he or she will be called to account for the secrets of his or her heart.  Falling prostrate, he or she will worship Me and declare that surely I am present because the secrets of his heart have been spoken in prophesy.(I Corinthians 14:20-25) 
    Because the Corinthians had been so enamored with their gifts of tongues, in their meetings all of the people were speaking in tongues to each other and nobody is interpreting, making it a disorderly meeting with everybody demanding the floor to speak in tongues. Paul wrote that when they were assembled together that only one person has a song, another has an instruction from Me, one has a revelation to share, one person speaks a message in tongues and another interprets.   Everything must be done with a single purpose in mind, that the assembly is orderly, not confusing and emotional.   He wrote that if there are no people to interpret messages in tongues that nobody should bring a message in tongues.  He said that two or three prophets should bring messages and the others should judge what they are saying, if the message is from Me.  If a person is interpreting and another person also receives a revelation, then the first person should be quiet and allow the second interpretation.  Everyone should be allowed to speak their prophesies but only in order with encouragement given to the prophets.  (I Corinthians 14:26-32)  
    Paul proclaimed that the spirits of the prophets are under the control of the prophets since I am a God of order and peace, not confusion. (I Corinthians 14: 33)  Paul was endeavoring to correct the body of Christ in Corinth and spur then on the right path in their worship services which had become unruly and disorderly with people speaking in tongues to each other and nobody knowing what revelations were being spoken.
    His corrections were necessary because disorder is uncomfortable, especially in a Christian assembly with people who are enamored with their gift of tongues in prayer who assume it is My will to allow the people to speak the language of their new country and only that language when they meet for worship.  Nobody benefits under that condition of lack of understandable instructions.
   Your Father of Order and Peace   

BLESSINGS FROM GOD'S LOVE

My Dear Precious Child,
    In Paul's letter first recorded letter to the Corinthians, after he wrote to them about the gifts of My Holy Spirit that are given to enhance the lives of people above all possibilities under Jewish Law, he wrote that there is still a better way to ensure that blessings flow into your lives on earth, that being to always act with My Love toward everyone with which you relate in your life.  He wrote that even if you speak and pray in the language of angels, that being other tongues, if you don't have love your words are only a noisy gong and gangling cymbals, in other words, having no good results.   He listed the amazing gifts and wrote that they all work by love.  He said if you have the gift of prophesy and knowledge, are able to understand spiritual mysteries and have faith to move mountains but don't have love, you are nothing and will inherit nothing from My kingdom of Love.  He went on and wrote that even if you give everything you own to the poor and give your body to be burned, if you don't do it in an attitude of love, you gain nothing from your inheritance which comes from My kingdom of Love.
     Then Paul named the attributes of Love, saying that Love is kind, Love is not jealous, Love is not snobbish nor puts on airs, that Love is never rude, not self-seeking, is not prone to anger, does not brood over emotional injuries.  He described Love as never rejoicing over wrongs that happen to other people but Love always rejoices when truth prevails.   He wrote that there is no end to Love's forbearance, to its trust in Me, to its hope and its power to endure whatever comes along in the life of a person.
     He wrote that Love never fails.  Prophesies cease when they are fulfilled, tongues are eventually silenced and spiritual knowledge eventually passes away when more is revealed.  He realized that human knowledge is imperfect, and that prophesying is imperfect because it comes through human beings.  Paul wrote that when the perfect comes that the imperfect passes away.  He spoke that when he was a child that he spoke like a child, reasoned like a child and thought like a child,  but when he was a man he put childish things aside.  That was relating to his complaints about the Corinthians being unspiritual, still being spiritual babies.  But he wrote that he and his helpers had put childish things away and then they could see things indistinctly, like in a mirror; but when Christ is perfected in them that he knew that he would see Christ face to face.  He admitted that his knowledge was imperfect but then he would know Him just like he is known by Him. 
   In Paul's letter to the Corinthians he wrote that there are only three things that last.  Those being faith, hope and Love and that the greatest of them is Love.  (I Corinthians 13:1-13)
   That litany from Paul about Love mirrors the wisdom of the Holy Spirit when He wrote in his letter to the Galations that faith works by Love. (Galatians 5:6)
    Your Father of Love Whose Power Works Wonders     

BLESSINGS FROM COMMUNAL EATING

My Dear Precious Child,
    Paul in his first recorded letter to the Corinthians addressed the proper way to meet together.  He said that when they gather together for meetings that the meetings are like the Supper instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ.   Paul criticized them that when they met together that everyone hurried to eat instead of waiting for the poor and that some people went hungry while other people got drunk, which was reported to him by other apostles. 
   "What?" Paul wrote.  "Don't you have your own houses in which to eat and drink, or do you despise the house house of the Lord and mean to show contempt for it while you humiliate the poor in your midst?"  He asked if they wanted to be commended for that?  He wrote that, "No," he will not commend them for their selfish behavior.  He said that he had received the revelations from Me that he passed on to them, that it was given as a gift freely from Me, that the Lord Jesus on the night of His betrayal took bread and shared it with His disciples.  When He had given thanks for it, He broke it and told them to eat it as remembrance of his body which is broken for them.  Likewise, when the meal was ended, He took the cup saying that it was the cup of the New Covenant established in His blood, and that they should do it in remembrance or it, to call it to attention.  Jesus Christ said that evening that every time they ate the bread and drank the wine that they were proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes again. (I Corinthians 11:22-26)  He wrote that anyone who eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy way, such as in order to be selfish or gluttonous would be guilty of the body and blood of Christ.
    Paul's instruction was that every person should examine his own mind and thoughts for any evil motive and if there are no nefarious thoughts or intents that he should then eat the bread and drink of the cup.  Anyone who eats and drinks indiscriminately eats and drinks a sentence upon himself or herself.  He advised them that it was because of that careless participation in the communion that many people were sick and weak in the church and many had died.  (I Corinthians 11:27-30)
   He wrote that if everyone came to the table of the Lord and examined his or her own thoughts and motives and finds no evil being there, then no one would be judged by the devil and receive the divine judgment of him.   He made it clear that when they fell short of judging the presence of the devil in their own thoughts and motivations that they are chastened and condemned along with the world. ((Matthew 13:36-43; I Corinthians 11:31-32) Paul's final instructions were that when they came together to meet that they must wait for everyone and that if anyone was famished that he or she should eat at home or they would bring themselves to be judged by the devil by their rushing to eat before allowing the poor to partake of the food.  He wrote that he had more to say about that when he came to be with them again.
     Paul's views about the Lord's communion meals were that the Corinthians had caused them to become occasions for their flesh in order for the devil to control them instead of their Spirits controlling them, which were always done as remembrances of the last Supper of the Lord! 
   When your spiritual enemies gain control of your religious celebrations, it becomes a celebration to the devil instead of a celebration to Me.  It is Paul's revelations of them that should enhance your knowledge of the devil's plans and interruptions of your communal meetings which are meant to glorify Jesus Christ and bless the participants.
    Your Father of Unfolding Truth