Example for Us

1 Corinthians 10

I would have you know, my Brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were immersed by Moses in the cloud and in the sea; and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that attended them, and that Rock was the Mashiyach. Nevertheless, with most of them Elohim was not pleased, for they fell in the wilderness.

Now these things were an example for us, that we might not desire evil things as they did. Neither should we serve idols as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”  We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. Neither let us tempt the Mashiyach, as some of them tempted and were destroyed by serpents. Neither should you complain, as some of them did and they perished by the Destroyer. 

All these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. Elohim is faithful, and he will not let you be tried beyond your ability, but will make an issue of your trial, that you may be able to sustain it.

Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to the wise; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of thanksgiving that we bless, is it not fellowship of the blood of Yahshua? The bread that we break, is it not fellowship of the body of Yahshua? Because there is one bread, so we are all one body, for we all partake of the one bread. Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what the Gentiles sacrifice they offer to demons and not to Yahweh Elohim. I do not want you to be associates of demons. You cannot drink the cup of Yahweh and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Shall we provoke Yah to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?

Everything is in my power; but everything is not profitable. Everything is in my power, but everything does not build up. Let no one seek his own things but also the things of his fellow man.

Eat (according to Instructions about clean foods found in Leviticus) what is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience. For “the earth is Yahweh's, and the fullness thereof.” If one of the pagans invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. But if they tell you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of Elohim. Give no offense to Jew or Gentile nor to the assembly of Elohim; even as I also, in everything, please everyone, I do not seek my own advantage, but what is profitable to many, that they may live.

Gifts of the Spirit

1 Corinthians 12

Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. Therefore I inform you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Y'shua be cursed,” and no one can say, “Y'shua is Lord,” except by the Ruach haKodesh. 

There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Elohim. There are different ways of working, but the same Elohim works all things in all men. 

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various languages, and to still another the interpretation of languages. 

All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, who apportions them to each one as He determines.

The body is a unit, though it is comprised of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Y'shua. For in one Spirit we were all immersed into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.

The body does not consist of one part, but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

But in fact, MarYah has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our (private) parts are treated with special modesty, whereas our presentable parts have no such need.

But Yah has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Now you are the body of Y'shua, and each of you is a member of it. And in the assemblies Yahweh has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? (NO) But (we still) eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Chapter 13

If I could speak every language of men and that of Messengers (angels), yet there be no love in me, I should be like a brass that resounds, or the cymbal that makes a noise. And if I had the gift of prophecy and I understood all the mysteries and every science; and if there should be in me all Faith so that I could move mountains yet love was not in me, I should be nothing.  And if I should give to the poverty stricken all I possess, and give my body that I may boast, and there is no love in me I gain nothing.

Love is patient and kind; it is not envious; love does not shout loudly and is not boastful; Love does nothing that causes shame and seeks not her own; is not passionate; and thinks no evil; it does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the Truth; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes for all and endures all. Love will never cease but prophesying will end; and tongues will be stopped; and knowledge will disappear.

We know things, but partially and we prophesy, but partially. But when completeness (perfection) comes, that which is partial shall disappear.  When I was a child I talked, reasoned and thought as a child; but when a man- protector and responsible leader- I laid aside the things of childhood. And now we see, as by a mirror, in dark reflection; but then face to face; now I know partially but then will I know completely, just as I am known. For these three things are abiding: Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest is Love.

Follow after Love and be searching for the gifts of the Spirit.