Lawrence DeMetrius

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Letter of Apostle Paul – I Corinthians
An Intimate Review
Pt 9
By Lawrence DeMetrius

In [I Cor 14:1a] Apostle Paul reiterates that CHARITY is what all should FOLLOW after but does not discourage any from DESIRING other SPIRITUAL GIFTS, namely the ability to effectively PROPHESY. He writes,

Follow after CHARITY, AND DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, but rather that ye may prophesy.
[I Cor 14:1]

*follow Gk #1377 dioko (dee-o-ko) it means to pursuit, press toward, be given to and in the negative sense to persecute or suffer persecution

*desire Gk #2206 zeloo (dzay-lo-o) it is to have warmth of feeling for or against

*spiritual Gk #4152 pneumatikos (pnyoo-mat-ik-os) it means…
1. not carnal, which is…
a. pertaining to or characterized by the flesh or the body, its passions and appetites
b. sensual, merely human
c. worldly, temporal and not spiritual
2. humanly ethereal, which is…
a. light, airy or tenuous
b. extremely delicate or refined
c. heavenly or celestial
d. of or relating to the upper regions of space
e. in the negative sense it is a demonic being
3. divinely supernatural, regenerate and religious

*prophecy Gk #4395 propheteuo (prof-ate-yoo-o) it means to…
1. foretell, predict, declare or tell in advance events
2. speak under inspiration
3. exercise the prophetic office
4. speak as a mediator between God and humankind or in God's stead
5. teach religious subjects
6. divine, which is to…
a. discover or declare something obscure or in the future by divination
b. perceive by intuition or insight or conjecture, which is a guess, speculation and the formation or expression of an opinion or theory without sufficient evidence for proof
i. FOR EXAMPLE:
1. She divined personal details about her customers based on their clothing and accents.
2. It was not difficult to divine his true intent.
c. portend, which is to signify, foreshadow or indicate in advance

Having a fuller understanding of what PROPHECY is the Elect of GOD are certainly encouraged to exercise it, especially as it relates to FORETELLING what has already been proclaimed by Yahweh through HIS scribes and prophets from Enoch to Jesus Christ and His Original Apostles. Since Eden, Lucifer has attempted to pervert divine words with erroneous interpretations to hurt mortals. [Gen 3:1-6] He and his subjects will continue to do so until their final demise. [Mt 7:15-21; Jn 8:31, 32, 36, 38, 41, 44, 47; 10:26; II Cor 11:3, 4, 13-15; I Jn 2:18-28; 4:1-6; Rev 21:8, 27; 22:15] Blessedly, Christ the Word is come to relieve mortals of his hurt by faith filled obedience. [Gal 4:4-7; I Jn 3:8-10] Apostle Paul clarifies that Christian witnesses are not to force upon anyone the Words of Life but to be available to those who sincerely inquire of it. This is the primary duty that Christ Jesus imparted to His brethren and teachers. [II Tim 2:24-26] Thus, the GIFT of PROPHESY can greatly impact one’s effort of advancing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is likely why Apostle Paul admonished Christians to DESIRE and exercise it per the capacity imparted to them by the Holy Ghost. [Rm 12:3-6] In [I Cor 14:2-32, 37- 40] Apostle Paul gives a full discourse on the difference of SPEAKING in known and unknown TONGUES. He clarifies that when one speaks to themselves in unknown TONGUES, they are speaking mysteries to Yahweh. These things are mysteries even unto themselves because they do not understand what they are actually saying to GOD. Although they realize what they are speaking is divinely inspired and relevant, they still do not understand what they are saying because they are speaking in a LANGUAGE that is foreign to them. On the other hand, when one speaks in a TONGUE i.e., LANGUAGE their audience can understand, then can they by such words spiritually edify, exhort and comfort them.
This indeed is a form of divine PROPHESY when it is inspired by the Holy Ghost, especially when FORETELLING or FORTHTELLING words that have already spoken by inspiration of the Holy Ghost. In fact, born-again believers can speak, pray, and sing in unknown TONGUES under inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Divine PROPHECY goes forth to EDIFY born-again believers and to create opportunity for non-believers to experience divine iconoclasm. [II Tim 2:24-26; II Cor 2:15; 4:3-7; 10:4, 5; St Jn 4:23, 24] Apostle Paul admonishes true Christians to be mature in understanding of PROPHECY and little children in malice. He writes,

I would that ye all spoke with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interprets, that the church may receive edifying. Now, brethren if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine?
Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret.
For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
What is it then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the understanding also.
Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.
Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be ye men.
Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serveth not them that believe not, but for them which believe.
[I Cor 14:5, 6, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 22]

Do You Still Believe in the Soul Saving Gospel of Jesus Christ?

In [I Cor 15:1-8, 11] Apostle Paul continues to expound upon the idea of divine TONGUES and PROPHECY. In so doing he reiterates to the Elect the Gospel by which they are SAVED if they continue to RECEIVE, STAND IN,and KEEP IT in memory because if they do not their BELIEF therein will be in VAIN.
This Gospel is not one that Apostle Paul made up but one that was already established by Yahweh through HIS scribes and prophets from Enoch to Jesus Christ and His Original Apostles. As his experience is recorded, it is one by which he himself inherited eternal salvation because he continued to RECEIVE, STOOD IN and KEEP IT in memory so his BELIEF therein would not be in VAIN. [I Cor 9:27; Mt 5:19] As the Lord Jesus impressed upon his heart so to does He impress upon all who dare to believe in Him saying,

If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed;
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
[Jn 8:31, 32, 36]

Per the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the first step to inheriting eternal salvation is genuine BELIEF that Yahweh resurrected Him from the dead. [Rm 10:9, 10] If Yahweh did not do this, then everything that Christians hope for, to do, to be, and eternally inherit is surely in VAIN. [I Cor 15:19] Those who inherit The Second Death will do so, not because of sin nature but because of their failure to obtain and maintain sincere BELIEF in Christ and His Gospel. [St Jn 3:16-19, 36; I Cor 1:18; I Jn 5:5-13; Rev 19:10] PROPHETIC ability is quite instrumental in administering the Gospel of Jesus Christ effectively to those who sincerely inquire of it. [Rm 10:14, 15, 17; II Tim 2:24-26] In this letter, Apostle Paul then addresses those who fail to believe in the resurrection of the dead. However, he reassures true believers that the unction they have received of the Holy Ghost is what reveals to them that Yahweh did raise Christ from the dead. Therefore, their BELIEFE and LABOR in THE DIVINE are never in VAIN. [I Cor 15:58]

The Finished Work of the Resurrected Christ

In [I Cor 15:23, 24a] Apostle Paul notes that after every soul who is predestined to be resurrected unto life is confirmed in divine ORDER then will the consummation of ages come. This is likely referring to an ORDER OF TIMES AND SEASONS throughout all generations, wherein the fortunate souls are CONFIRMED as SONS of GOD. [II Chr 16:9; Isa 54:13; Jn 6:37-40, 44, 45; Rm 8:28-30]

*order Gk #5001 tagmah (tag-mah) it means something orderly in arrangement as a troop or figurative of a series of succession
*end Gk #5056 telos (tel-os) it means…
1. the point aimed at as a limit
2. the conclusion of an act or state of being
3. termination or a result be it immediate, ultimate or prophetic
4. purpose, impost or levy that is paid

In [I Cor 15:24b; Mt 28:18] Apostle Paul writes that in the END the following will occur.

1. Jesus Christ will DELIVER UP to Yahweh the KINGDOM.

*delivered up Gk #3860 paradidomi (par-ad-id-o-mee) it means to surrender, yield up, entrust and transmit

*kingdom Gk #932 basileia (bas-il-i-ah) it is royalty, rule and realm

2. Jesus Christ will have PUT DOWN all RULE, AUTHORITY and POWER.

*put down/destroy Gk #2673 katargeo (kat-arg-eh-o) it means to be or render entirely idle or useless

*rule Gk #746 arche (ar-khay) it is a commencement or chief in order, time, place and rank

*authority Gk #1849 exousia (ex-oo-see-ah) it is…
• privilege, force and capacity
• competency, freedom and mastery
• a magistrate, superhuman or potentate
• a token of control or delegated influence

*power Gk #1411 dunamis (doo-nam-is) it is force and miraculous power usually exemplified by a miracle itself

In [I Cor 15:25, 27; Mt 28:18] Apostle Paul notes that Jesus Christ must REIGN until He has PUT all of His ENEMIES under His FEET.


*reign Gk #936 basileuo (bas-il-yoo-o) it means to rule over, which is to…
• govern, decree and decide judicially or authoritatively
• be superior or preeminent in
• dominate by superiority and hold sway over

*put Gk #5087 theo (theh-o) it means to place, which is to…
• put or set in a particular place, position, situation or relation
• put in a suitable place for some purpose
• put into particular or proper hands

In this discourse, Paul is speaking of what Christ did to His ENEMIES, which was PLACE them in position UNDER His FEET meaning His AUTHORITY. [Mt 28:18; 16:18; Rm 10:14, 15] Those who are securely in Christ have these same ENEMIES PLACED UNDER their FEET. This PLACEMENT was ultimately established by Yahweh in Eden. [Gen 3:15; Gal 4:6] It is a divine ORDER that born-again believers do well to wholeheartedly KNOW and BELIEVE if they desire to be effective in the Ministry of Divine Iconoclasm. [Mt 18:18; Lk 10:19, 20; Rm 9:15, 16; 10:14, 15]

*enemies Gk #2190 echthros (ekh-thros) it is the hateful, odious and actively hostile adversary of Christ and all mortals, namely Lucifer

*feet Gk #4228 pous (pooce) it is a foot which is figurative of personal power or authority

In [I Cor 15:26] Apostle Paul notes that the last ENEMY that Jesus Christ will PUT DOWN or DESTROY is DEATH.

*death Gk #2288 thanatos (than-at-os) death, which per this Greek word is an adjective that is used as noun.

DEATH or THANATOS in this discourse refers to THE STATE OF SPIRITUAL LIFELESSNESS that came about as a result of Adam’s disobedience. [I Cor 15:22a; Gen 2:8, 9, 17] It was the STATE OF BEING purposed only for Lucifer and angelic hosts who fell after him. [Mt 25:41, 44, 45; Jude vs 6]

DEATH is that STATE OF BEING that Lucifer requires his worshipers to wholeheartedly accept, in exchange for the temporal pacifications he distributes to them during their mortal lifetime by demonic influence. [Jn 3:19, 20, 36; Pro 27:20; Mt 16:24-26; Mt 6:19-21, 24; Lk 12:15; I Tim 6:6-10; I Jn 2:15-17; Rev 21:8b; 22:14, 15] He began with Eve in Eden. [Gen 3:1-7] He attempted it with Job. [Job 1:6-12; 2:1-10] He even tried it with the Jesus Christ. [Mt 4:1-11] He will continue this practice with every mortal until the consummation of ages. His final spin of it will be represented as a MARK permanently affixed upon one’s person without which no one will be able to buy or sell. In fact, anyone in that generation who refuses to receive his MARK will be beheaded. [Rev 13:11-18]
Apostle Paul writes,

For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under Him, it is MANIFEST that HE is EXCEPTED, which did put all things under Him.
[I Cor 15:27]

The ‘HE’ in this verse is referring to Christ Who was authorized by GOD to PUT all things under Himself. [Mt 28:18] Per Apostle John’s report, Christ Jesus declared on Calvary, “It is finished.” [Jn 19:30] Christ thereby became the primary example of how Yahweh empowers HIS sons to accomplish HIS will no matter how challenging it may be. [Mt 6:10; 28:18; Isa 55:11; 50:4; Rm 8:28-30; Jer 29:11]

*put Gk #5293 hupotasso (hoop-ot-as-so) it means to subdue, subordinate and make to obey

*excepted Gk #1622 ektos (ek-tos) it is the exterior, aside from and besides all preposition, which is to position beforehand and in advance

It became clear that Christ the Word was POSITIONED PRIOR to His First Advent to become the Propitiation for all mortals, namely those whose names remained in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. [I Jn 2:1, 2; Gen 3:15; Gal 4:6; Tit 1:2; I Pet 1:2; II Tim 1:9; I Cor 2:7; Exo 32:30-33; Rev 13:8] Yahweh sent Christ in the form of a mortal to do what sin flawed mortals could not do for themselves. [Rm 5:6, 19; Heb 2:14-18; I Jn 3:8-10; Jn 1:11-13; 6:37-40, 44, 45; Rm 8:28-30]

Apostle Paul writes,

And when all things shall be SUBDUED unto Him <Christ the Son>, then shall the Son also Himself be SUBJECT unto HIM <Yahweh the FATHER> that put all things under Him <Christ> that GOD <the FATHER> may be all in all <again with HIS beloved sons>.
[I Cor 15:28]

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