WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.870 Henry: Welcome To Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience. 00:00:02.988 --> 00:00:03.748 Day 23 00:00:04.216 --> 00:00:07.786 Now, regarding your question about the young women who are not yet married, 00:00:08.596 --> 00:00:12.466 I do not have a command from the Lord for them, but the Lord in his 00:00:12.471 --> 00:00:16.636 mercy has given me wisdom that can be trusted and I will share it with 00:00:16.636 --> 00:00:20.086 you because of the present crisis. 00:00:20.656 --> 00:00:24.316 I think it is best to remain as you are if you have a wife. 00:00:24.706 --> 00:00:28.486 Do not seek to end the marriage if you do not have a wife. 00:00:29.311 --> 00:00:30.691 Do not seek to get married. 00:00:31.411 --> 00:00:33.571 But if you do get married, it is not a sin. 00:00:34.081 --> 00:00:36.601 And if a young woman gets married, it is not a sin. 00:00:37.471 --> 00:00:42.751 However, those who get married at this time will have troubles, and I'm 00:00:42.751 --> 00:00:44.341 trying to spare you those problems. 00:00:45.511 --> 00:00:49.051 But let me say this, dear brothers and sisters, the time 00:00:49.051 --> 00:00:51.001 that remains is very short. 00:00:51.811 --> 00:00:56.551 So from now on, those with wives should not focus only on their marriage. 00:00:57.271 --> 00:01:03.121 Those who weep or who rejoice, or who buy things should not be absorbed by their 00:01:03.121 --> 00:01:05.671 weeping or their joy or their possessions. 00:01:06.511 --> 00:01:10.051 Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to 00:01:10.056 --> 00:01:12.781 them for this world as we know it. 00:01:13.351 --> 00:01:14.671 We'll soon pass away. 00:01:16.261 --> 00:01:18.901 I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. 00:01:19.561 --> 00:01:23.521 An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord's work and 00:01:23.521 --> 00:01:24.691 thinking how to please him. 00:01:25.621 --> 00:01:29.521 But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities 00:01:29.761 --> 00:01:31.111 and how to please his wife. 00:01:31.711 --> 00:01:35.101 His interests are divided in the same way. 00:01:35.311 --> 00:01:39.751 A woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted 00:01:39.751 --> 00:01:45.391 to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit, but a married woman has to 00:01:45.391 --> 00:01:48.931 think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. 00:01:50.221 --> 00:01:53.551 I'm saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. 00:01:54.436 --> 00:01:58.306 I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best with 00:01:58.311 --> 00:02:00.286 as few distractions as possible. 00:02:01.666 --> 00:02:05.926 But if a man thinks that he's treating his fiance improperly and will 00:02:05.931 --> 00:02:10.696 inevitably give into his passion, let him marry her as he wishes. 00:02:11.086 --> 00:02:12.016 It is not a sin. 00:02:13.396 --> 00:02:17.836 But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency, 00:02:18.256 --> 00:02:22.306 and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry. 00:02:23.146 --> 00:02:26.776 So the person who marries his fiance does well, and the person 00:02:26.776 --> 00:02:29.116 who doesn't marry does even better. 00:02:30.346 --> 00:02:33.226 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. 00:02:33.856 --> 00:02:37.366 If her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, 00:02:37.696 --> 00:02:39.136 but only if he loves the Lord. 00:02:40.276 --> 00:02:44.146 But in my opinion, it would be better for her to stay single. 00:02:44.836 --> 00:02:48.766 And I think I am giving you counsel from God's spirit when I say this. 00:02:50.776 --> 00:02:56.356 Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols, yes, 00:02:56.446 --> 00:03:01.096 we know that we all have knowledge about this issue, but while knowledge 00:03:01.096 --> 00:03:05.806 makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church. 00:03:06.736 --> 00:03:10.396 Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn't really know very 00:03:10.396 --> 00:03:16.036 much, but the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes. 00:03:17.311 --> 00:03:20.941 So what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? 00:03:21.661 --> 00:03:25.861 Well, we all know that an idol is not really a God and 00:03:25.866 --> 00:03:27.121 that there is only one God. 00:03:28.081 --> 00:03:32.791 There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people 00:03:32.796 --> 00:03:35.731 actually worship many Gods and many lords. 00:03:36.361 --> 00:03:41.131 But for us, there is one God the Father, by whom all things were 00:03:41.131 --> 00:03:43.771 created and for whom we live. 00:03:44.176 --> 00:03:48.646 And there is one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things were 00:03:48.646 --> 00:03:51.346 created and through whom we live. 00:03:52.666 --> 00:03:54.886 However, not all believers know this. 00:03:55.666 --> 00:03:58.456 Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real. 00:03:59.056 --> 00:04:02.866 So when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of 00:04:02.866 --> 00:04:07.576 it as the worship of real gods and their weak consciences are violated. 00:04:08.656 --> 00:04:11.836 It's true that we can't win God's approval by what we eat. 00:04:12.496 --> 00:04:16.786 We don't lose anything if we don't eat it and we don't gain anything if we do. 00:04:17.866 --> 00:04:21.976 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with 00:04:21.976 --> 00:04:24.886 a weaker conscience to stumble for. 00:04:24.891 --> 00:04:30.196 If others see you with your superior knowledge eating in the temple of 00:04:30.196 --> 00:04:35.296 an idol, won't they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating 00:04:35.296 --> 00:04:37.066 food that has been offered to an idol? 00:04:37.966 --> 00:04:42.016 So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer, For 00:04:42.016 --> 00:04:44.896 whom Christ died will be destroyed. 00:04:45.886 --> 00:04:49.456 And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to 00:04:49.456 --> 00:04:53.506 do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ. 00:04:54.946 --> 00:05:01.546 So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again 00:05:01.546 --> 00:05:05.926 as long as I live for, I don't want to cause another believer to stumble. 00:05:07.096 --> 00:05:09.136 Am I not as free as anyone else? 00:05:10.036 --> 00:05:11.356 Am I not an apostle? 00:05:12.256 --> 00:05:15.196 Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? 00:05:16.246 --> 00:05:19.516 Isn't it because of my work that you belong to the Lord? 00:05:20.626 --> 00:05:24.406 Even if others think I'm not an apostle, I certainly am to you. 00:05:24.976 --> 00:05:28.426 You yourselves are proof that I'm the Lord's apostle. 00:05:29.866 --> 00:05:32.476 This is my answer to those who question my authority. 00:05:33.436 --> 00:05:37.066 Don't we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals? 00:05:37.666 --> 00:05:40.966 Don't we have the right to bring a believing wife with us as the 00:05:40.966 --> 00:05:44.836 other apostles and the Lord's brothers do and as Peter does? 00:05:45.976 --> 00:05:49.756 Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves? 00:05:50.836 --> 00:05:53.326 What soldier has to pay his own expenses? 00:05:54.046 --> 00:05:58.096 What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn't have the right to eat some of its fruit? 00:05:58.906 --> 00:05:59.146 What? 00:05:59.146 --> 00:06:02.986 Shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn't allowed to drink some of the milk. 00:06:04.351 --> 00:06:08.941 Am I expressing merely a human opinion or does the law say the same thing 00:06:10.081 --> 00:06:15.391 for the law of Moses says, you must not muzzle an ox to keep it from 00:06:15.391 --> 00:06:17.491 eating as it treads out the grain. 00:06:18.871 --> 00:06:21.541 Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this? 00:06:22.261 --> 00:06:24.151 Wasn't he actually speaking to us? 00:06:25.261 --> 00:06:29.461 Yes, it was written for us so that the one who plows and the 00:06:29.461 --> 00:06:30.691 one who threshes the grain. 00:06:31.561 --> 00:06:36.571 Might both expect a share of the harvest since we have planted 00:06:36.571 --> 00:06:38.011 spiritual seed among you. 00:06:38.521 --> 00:06:41.491 Aren't we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink? 00:06:42.541 --> 00:06:46.051 If you support others who preach to you, shouldn't we have an even 00:06:46.051 --> 00:06:47.551 greater right to be supported? 00:06:48.991 --> 00:06:52.591 But we have never used this right? 00:06:53.941 --> 00:06:57.871 We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle 00:06:57.871 --> 00:06:59.521 to the good news about Christ. 00:07:01.276 --> 00:07:05.266 Don't you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from 00:07:05.266 --> 00:07:09.736 the offerings brought to the temple and those who serve at the altar get 00:07:09.736 --> 00:07:14.986 a share of the sacrificial offerings in the same way the Lord ordered, that 00:07:14.986 --> 00:07:19.306 those who preach the good news should be supported by those who benefit from it. 00:07:20.506 --> 00:07:26.176 Yet I have never used any of these rights, and I'm not writing this to 00:07:26.176 --> 00:07:28.126 suggest that I want to start now. 00:07:28.831 --> 00:07:33.331 In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast 00:07:33.331 --> 00:07:35.191 about preaching without charge. 00:07:36.541 --> 00:07:40.021 Yet preaching the good news is not something I can boast about. 00:07:40.741 --> 00:07:42.541 I am compelled by God to do it. 00:07:43.591 --> 00:07:49.261 How terrible for me if I didn't preach the good news, if I were doing 00:07:49.261 --> 00:07:54.841 this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment, but I have no choice. 00:07:55.561 --> 00:07:58.051 For God has given me this sacred trust. 00:07:59.116 --> 00:08:00.436 What then is my pay? 00:08:01.396 --> 00:08:05.836 It is the opportunity to preach the good news without charging anyone. 00:08:06.766 --> 00:08:10.456 That's why I never demand my rights when I preach the good news. 00:08:11.626 --> 00:08:16.516 Even though I am a free man with no master, I've become a slave to all 00:08:16.546 --> 00:08:18.796 people, to bring many to Christ. 00:08:19.816 --> 00:08:24.916 When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. 00:08:25.786 --> 00:08:30.226 When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. 00:08:31.216 --> 00:08:33.376 Even though I am not subject to the law. 00:08:33.826 --> 00:08:38.116 I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. 00:08:39.106 --> 00:08:42.706 When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I 00:08:42.706 --> 00:08:47.686 too live apart from the law so I can bring them to Christ, but 00:08:47.686 --> 00:08:49.486 I do not ignore the law of God. 00:08:50.056 --> 00:08:54.316 I obey the law of Christ when I'm with those who are weak. 00:08:54.826 --> 00:08:59.056 I share their weakness for, I want to bring the weak to Christ. 00:09:00.076 --> 00:09:03.586 Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone doing 00:09:03.586 --> 00:09:05.506 everything I can to save some. 00:09:06.406 --> 00:09:11.266 I do everything to spread the good news and share in its blessings. 00:09:12.346 --> 00:09:17.296 Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person 00:09:17.296 --> 00:09:21.406 gets the prize, so run to win. 00:09:22.531 --> 00:09:25.021 All athletes are disciplined in their training. 00:09:25.531 --> 00:09:31.261 They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 00:09:32.431 --> 00:09:34.861 So I run with purpose in every step. 00:09:35.821 --> 00:09:37.591 I'm not just shadow boxing. 00:09:38.011 --> 00:09:42.601 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. 00:09:43.771 --> 00:09:49.741 Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others, I myself might be disqualified. 00:09:51.676 --> 00:09:52.996 I don't want you to forget. 00:09:53.056 --> 00:09:57.436 Dear brothers and sisters about our ancestors in the wilderness long ago, 00:09:58.366 --> 00:10:02.866 all of them were guided by a cloud that moved ahead of them, and all of 00:10:02.866 --> 00:10:07.696 them walked through the sea on dry ground in the cloud and in the sea. 00:10:08.056 --> 00:10:11.386 All of them were baptized as followers of Moses. 00:10:12.346 --> 00:10:16.396 All of them ate the same spiritual food, and all of them 00:10:16.546 --> 00:10:18.226 drank the same spiritual water. 00:10:19.291 --> 00:10:22.081 For, they drank from the spiritual rock that traveled with 00:10:22.081 --> 00:10:25.591 them and that rock was Christ. 00:10:26.761 --> 00:10:31.471 Yet God was not pleased with most of them, and their bodies 00:10:31.476 --> 00:10:33.031 were scattered in the wilderness. 00:10:34.711 --> 00:10:39.271 These things happened as a warning to us so that we would not crave 00:10:39.301 --> 00:10:44.461 evil things as they did, or worship idols as some of them did. 00:10:45.526 --> 00:10:50.026 As the scriptures say, the people celebrated with feasting and drinking 00:10:50.176 --> 00:10:56.836 and they indulged in pagan revelry, and we must not engage in sexual immorality 00:10:56.896 --> 00:11:04.576 as some of them did causing 23,000 of them to die in one day, nor should we 00:11:04.576 --> 00:11:09.586 put Christ to the test as some of them did and then died from snake bites. 00:11:10.381 --> 00:11:15.751 And don't grumble as some of them did and then were destroyed by the angel of death. 00:11:17.101 --> 00:11:19.771 These things happened to them as examples for us. 00:11:20.461 --> 00:11:24.091 They were written down to warn us who live at the end of the age. 00:11:25.591 --> 00:11:29.431 If you think you're standing strong, be careful not to fall. 00:11:30.361 --> 00:11:33.481 The temptations in your life are no different from what others 00:11:33.481 --> 00:11:36.691 experience, and God is faithful. 00:11:37.426 --> 00:11:40.036 He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can 00:11:40.036 --> 00:11:42.196 stand when you are tempted. 00:11:42.526 --> 00:11:45.736 He will show you a way out so that you can endure. 00:11:47.266 --> 00:11:51.916 So my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 00:11:52.816 --> 00:11:54.256 You are reasonable people. 00:11:55.006 --> 00:11:59.356 Decide for yourselves if what I'm saying is true when we bless the 00:11:59.356 --> 00:12:03.646 cup at the Lord's table, aren't we sharing in the blood of Christ? 00:12:04.636 --> 00:12:08.566 And when we break the bread, aren't we sharing in the body of Christ? 00:12:09.616 --> 00:12:13.396 And though we are many, we all eat from one loaf of bread 00:12:14.056 --> 00:12:15.916 showing that we are one body. 00:12:16.876 --> 00:12:18.346 Think about the people of Israel. 00:12:19.036 --> 00:12:22.666 Weren't they united by eating the sacrifices at the altar? 00:12:23.866 --> 00:12:24.946 What am I trying to say? 00:12:25.846 --> 00:12:29.266 Am I saying that food offered to idols has some significance, 00:12:29.476 --> 00:12:31.306 or that idols are real gods? 00:12:32.206 --> 00:12:33.466 No, not at all. 00:12:34.366 --> 00:12:39.856 I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God, and I 00:12:39.856 --> 00:12:42.076 don't want you to participate with demons. 00:12:42.976 --> 00:12:47.146 You cannot drink from the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons too. 00:12:47.896 --> 00:12:52.006 You cannot eat at the Lord's table and at the table of demons too. 00:12:52.876 --> 00:12:56.596 What do we dare to rouse the Lord's jealousy. 00:12:57.616 --> 00:12:59.596 Do you think we are stronger than he is? 00:13:01.246 --> 00:13:06.856 You say, I'm allowed to do anything, but not everything is good for you. 00:13:07.966 --> 00:13:12.976 You say, I am allowed to do anything, but not everything is beneficial. 00:13:14.116 --> 00:13:17.716 Don't be concerned for your own good, but for the good of others. 00:13:18.976 --> 00:13:23.776 So you may eat any meat that is sold in the marketplace without raising 00:13:23.776 --> 00:13:28.906 questions of conscience For the earth is the Lord's and everything in it. 00:13:30.271 --> 00:13:35.761 If someone who isn't a believer asks you home for dinner, accept the invitation if 00:13:35.761 --> 00:13:40.891 you want to eat whatever is offered to you without raising questions of conscience. 00:13:42.421 --> 00:13:46.861 But suppose someone tells you this meat was offered to an idol. 00:13:47.791 --> 00:13:52.081 Don't eat it out of consideration for the conscience of the one who told you. 00:13:52.981 --> 00:13:57.361 It might not be a matter of conscience for you, but it is for the other person. 00:13:59.191 --> 00:14:03.421 For why should my freedom be limited by what someone else thinks? 00:14:04.261 --> 00:14:07.861 If I can thank God for the food and enjoy it, why should 00:14:07.861 --> 00:14:09.241 I be condemned for eating it? 00:14:10.141 --> 00:14:15.721 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 00:14:16.441 --> 00:14:20.551 Don't give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the Church of God. 00:14:21.541 --> 00:14:24.751 I too, try to please everyone in everything I do. 00:14:25.651 --> 00:14:27.541 I don't just do what is best for me. 00:14:28.171 --> 00:14:33.571 I do what is best for others so that many may be saved, and you should 00:14:33.571 --> 00:14:36.841 imitate me just as I imitate Christ. 00:14:38.971 --> 00:14:43.921 I'm so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts and that you are following 00:14:43.921 --> 00:14:45.571 the teachings I passed on to you. 00:14:46.891 --> 00:14:48.631 But there is one thing I want you to know. 00:14:50.011 --> 00:14:52.801 The head of every man is Christ. 00:14:53.596 --> 00:14:58.366 The head of woman is man and the head of Christ is God. 00:14:59.806 --> 00:15:04.366 A man dishonors his head if he covers his head while praying or prophesying. 00:15:05.236 --> 00:15:08.806 But a woman dishonor her head if she prays or prophesies 00:15:08.896 --> 00:15:10.336 without a covering on her head. 00:15:11.506 --> 00:15:13.486 For this is the same as shaving her head? 00:15:14.776 --> 00:15:15.136 Yes. 00:15:15.136 --> 00:15:18.976 If she refuses to wear a head covering, she should cut off all her hair. 00:15:20.221 --> 00:15:23.521 Since it is shameful for a woman to have her hair cut or her head 00:15:23.521 --> 00:15:25.231 shaved, she should wear a covering. 00:15:26.671 --> 00:15:28.741 A man should not wear anything on his head. 00:15:28.746 --> 00:15:34.861 When worshiping for man is made in God's image and reflects God's glory, and woman 00:15:34.861 --> 00:15:37.921 reflects man's glory for the first man. 00:15:37.921 --> 00:15:41.611 Didn't come from woman, but the first woman came from man. 00:15:42.511 --> 00:15:46.021 And man was not made for woman, but woman was made for man. 00:15:46.681 --> 00:15:51.031 For this reason and because the angels are watching, a woman 00:15:51.031 --> 00:15:54.481 should wear a covering on her head to show she is under authority. 00:15:55.921 --> 00:16:01.501 But among the Lord's people, women are not independent of men, and men 00:16:01.831 --> 00:16:06.901 are not independent of women for, although the first woman came from 00:16:06.901 --> 00:16:12.751 man, every other man was born from a woman, and everything comes from God. 00:16:14.851 --> 00:16:15.901 Judge for yourselves. 00:16:16.696 --> 00:16:20.746 Is it right for a woman to pray to God in public without covering her head? 00:16:21.646 --> 00:16:24.586 Isn't it obvious that it's disgraceful for a man to have 00:16:24.586 --> 00:16:27.256 long hair and isn't long hair? 00:16:27.436 --> 00:16:32.386 A woman's pride and joy for it has been given to her as a covering. 00:16:32.676 --> 00:16:37.096 But if anyone wants to argue about this, I simply say that we have 00:16:37.096 --> 00:16:40.696 no other custom than this and neither do God's other churches, 00:16:42.766 --> 00:16:44.416 but in the following instructions. 00:16:44.821 --> 00:16:49.141 I cannot praise you for it sounds as if more harm than good is 00:16:49.141 --> 00:16:50.431 done when you meet together. 00:16:51.481 --> 00:16:55.771 First, I hear that there are divisions among you when you meet as a church, 00:16:56.581 --> 00:16:58.081 and to some extent I believe it. 00:16:58.951 --> 00:17:02.161 But of course there must be divisions among you so that you 00:17:02.161 --> 00:17:06.961 who have God's approval will be recognized when you meet together. 00:17:07.531 --> 00:17:09.901 You are not really interested in the Lord's supper. 00:17:10.771 --> 00:17:15.001 For some of you, hurry to eat your own meal without sharing with others. 00:17:15.961 --> 00:17:19.531 As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk. 00:17:20.701 --> 00:17:23.641 What don't you have your own homes for eating and drinking? 00:17:24.301 --> 00:17:27.991 Or do you really want to disgrace God's church and shame the poor? 00:17:29.101 --> 00:17:30.331 What am I supposed to say? 00:17:30.991 --> 00:17:32.221 Do you want me to praise you? 00:17:33.151 --> 00:17:37.831 Well, I certainly will not praise you for this, for I pass on to you what 00:17:37.831 --> 00:17:39.601 I received from the Lord himself. 00:17:40.501 --> 00:17:44.251 On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 00:17:44.491 --> 00:17:46.081 and gave thanks to God for it. 00:17:46.831 --> 00:17:51.841 Then he broke it in pieces and said, this is my body, which is given for you. 00:17:52.261 --> 00:17:54.001 Do this in remembrance of me. 00:17:54.931 --> 00:18:00.151 In the same way he took the cup of wine after supper saying, this cup is the 00:18:00.151 --> 00:18:02.221 new covenant between God and his people. 00:18:02.671 --> 00:18:06.931 An agreement confirmed with my blood, do this in remembrance 00:18:06.931 --> 00:18:08.701 of me as often as you drink it. 00:18:10.021 --> 00:18:13.981 For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing 00:18:13.981 --> 00:18:16.291 the Lord's death until he comes again. 00:18:17.671 --> 00:18:21.721 So anyone who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthy 00:18:22.711 --> 00:18:25.711 is guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 00:18:26.971 --> 00:18:30.541 That is why you should examine yourself before eating the bread and drinking the 00:18:30.541 --> 00:18:36.181 cup for if you eat the bread or drink the cup without honoring the body of Christ. 00:18:36.766 --> 00:18:40.096 You are eating and drinking God's judgment upon yourself. 00:18:41.116 --> 00:18:46.396 That is why many of you are weak and sick, and some have even died. 00:18:47.986 --> 00:18:52.996 But if we would examine ourselves, we would not be judged by God in this way. 00:18:53.956 --> 00:18:58.846 Yet, when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will 00:18:58.846 --> 00:19:00.826 not be condemned along with the world. 00:19:02.371 --> 00:19:06.031 So my dear brothers and sisters, when you gather for the Lord's 00:19:06.031 --> 00:19:08.131 Supper, wait for each other. 00:19:09.091 --> 00:19:14.521 If you are really hungry, eat at home, so you won't bring judgment upon yourselves. 00:19:14.521 --> 00:19:18.631 When you meet together, I'll give you instructions about the 00:19:18.631 --> 00:19:20.641 other matters after I arrive 00:19:22.801 --> 00:19:26.011 now, dear brothers and sisters, regarding your question about the 00:19:26.011 --> 00:19:28.201 special abilities the spirit gives us. 00:19:29.221 --> 00:19:31.111 I don't want you to misunderstand this. 00:19:32.161 --> 00:19:36.151 You know that when you were still pagans, you were led astray and swept 00:19:36.151 --> 00:19:38.461 along in worshiping speechless idols. 00:19:39.301 --> 00:19:43.831 So I want you to know that no one speaking by the spirit of God will 00:19:43.831 --> 00:19:50.671 curse Jesus, and no one can say Jesus is Lord, except by the Holy Spirit. 00:19:52.231 --> 00:19:54.961 There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same 00:19:54.961 --> 00:19:56.761 spirit is the source of them all. 00:19:57.946 --> 00:20:01.516 There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. 00:20:02.326 --> 00:20:07.336 God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. 00:20:08.416 --> 00:20:13.726 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other to one person. 00:20:14.056 --> 00:20:17.736 The spirit gives the ability to give wise advice to another. 00:20:18.166 --> 00:20:21.466 The same spirit gives a message of special knowledge. 00:20:22.321 --> 00:20:26.521 The same spirit gives great faith to another and to someone else. 00:20:26.641 --> 00:20:28.771 The one spirit gives the gift of healing. 00:20:29.491 --> 00:20:32.731 He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and 00:20:32.736 --> 00:20:34.201 another the ability to prophesy. 00:20:35.221 --> 00:20:38.911 He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the 00:20:38.911 --> 00:20:41.041 spirit of God or from another spirit. 00:20:41.761 --> 00:20:45.961 Still, another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages 00:20:46.471 --> 00:20:49.861 while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. 00:20:51.016 --> 00:20:54.976 It is the one and only spirit who distributes all these gifts. 00:20:55.756 --> 00:20:59.236 He alone decides which gift each person should have. 00:21:00.946 --> 00:21:05.626 The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body, 00:21:06.346 --> 00:21:08.056 so it is with the body of Christ. 00:21:08.746 --> 00:21:13.696 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. 00:21:14.656 --> 00:21:18.766 But we have all been baptized into one body by one spirit. 00:21:19.516 --> 00:21:21.466 And we all share the same spirit. 00:21:22.666 --> 00:21:26.926 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. 00:21:27.916 --> 00:21:33.166 If the foot says, I am not a part of the body because I'm not a hand, that does 00:21:33.166 --> 00:21:34.966 not make it any less a part of the body. 00:21:35.896 --> 00:21:41.236 And if the ear says, I am not part of the body because I'm not an eye, would 00:21:41.236 --> 00:21:42.976 that make it any less a part of the body? 00:21:43.966 --> 00:21:46.936 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? 00:21:47.701 --> 00:21:51.361 Or if the whole body were in ear, how would you smell anything? 00:21:52.651 --> 00:21:57.871 But our bodies have many parts and God has put each part just where he wants it. 00:21:59.011 --> 00:22:02.611 How strange a body would be if it had only one part. 00:22:03.841 --> 00:22:06.811 Yes, there are many parts, but only one body. 00:22:07.561 --> 00:22:10.681 The eye can never say to the hand, I don't need you. 00:22:11.461 --> 00:22:14.671 The head can't say to the feet, I don't need you. 00:22:16.156 --> 00:22:22.366 In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are 00:22:22.366 --> 00:22:28.636 actually the most necessary, and the parts we regard as less honorable are 00:22:28.641 --> 00:22:31.006 those we clothe with the greatest care. 00:22:32.296 --> 00:22:35.686 So we carefully protect those parts that should not be seen 00:22:35.986 --> 00:22:39.856 while the more honorable parts do not require the special care. 00:22:40.426 --> 00:22:46.156 So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given 00:22:46.156 --> 00:22:48.226 to those parts that have less dignity. 00:22:49.336 --> 00:22:53.266 This makes for harmony among the members so that all the 00:22:53.266 --> 00:22:54.886 members care for each other. 00:22:55.726 --> 00:22:58.726 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it. 00:22:59.326 --> 00:23:02.986 And if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. 00:23:04.876 --> 00:23:07.606 All of you together are Christ's body. 00:23:08.116 --> 00:23:09.946 And each of you is a part of it. 00:23:10.816 --> 00:23:13.576 Here are some of the parts God has appointed for the church. 00:23:14.386 --> 00:23:15.706 First are apostles. 00:23:16.156 --> 00:23:17.626 Second are prophets. 00:23:18.046 --> 00:23:19.156 Third are teachers. 00:23:19.726 --> 00:23:23.026 Then those who do miracles, those who have the gift of healing, 00:23:23.446 --> 00:23:24.826 those who can help others. 00:23:25.306 --> 00:23:29.656 Those who have the gift of leadership, those who speak in unknown languages. 00:23:31.096 --> 00:23:32.656 Are we all apostles? 00:23:33.316 --> 00:23:34.696 Are we all prophets? 00:23:35.326 --> 00:23:36.256 Are we all teachers? 00:23:37.141 --> 00:23:39.541 Do we all have the power to do miracles? 00:23:40.081 --> 00:23:42.091 Do we all have the gift of healing? 00:23:42.571 --> 00:23:45.661 Do we all have the ability to speak in unknown languages? 00:23:46.351 --> 00:23:49.471 Do we all have the ability to interpret unknown languages? 00:23:50.551 --> 00:23:51.391 Of course not. 00:23:52.621 --> 00:23:56.311 So you should earnestly desire the most helpful gifts. 00:23:58.441 --> 00:24:01.291 This concludes today's Immers reading experience. 00:24:01.441 --> 00:24:02.641 Thank you for joining us.