Acknowledge the Lord's Commandments 1 Corinthians 14:37

Paul the apostle instructed the church members in Corinth to, “came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?”, and in chapter fourteen and verse thirty-seven of First Corinthians, Paul shared what was to be done, “If any man think himself to be a prophet”, where we read:

If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things

that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

The verse begins, “If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, ...”. Paul began with the word, “If” or “whether” “any man” which means “a certain or some male person” “think himself” or “be of the opinion, suppose, be accounted or repute” “to be a prophet” or “one who is moved by the Spirit of God and hence his organ or spokesman and solemnly declare to men what he has received by inspiration, especially concerning future events, and in particular such as relate to the cause and kingdom of God and to human salvation”, “or spiritual” which means “relating to the human spirit or rational soul as part of the man which is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ”. Paul addressed the people who believe they are “a prophet” or “spiritually minded”.

The verse continues, “let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.” Paul continued with the word, “let” which means “allow and permit” “him acknowledge” or “the person who thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual become thoroughly acquainted with, know thoroughly, recognize, know, perceive, ascertain and understand” “that the things” which means “that which Paul shared” “that I write” or “that Paul delineated or formed letters on a tablet, parchment, paper or other material” “unto you” which refers to “toward the church members” “are the commandments” or “are the charges, precepts and injunctions” “of the Lord” which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”. Paul instructed the “prophets” and “spiritually minded” to know that Paul spoke as the “precepts and injunctions of God”.

When we meditate upon these words from Paul, we see another instruction given by him to the “prophets and spiritually minded” among the church members. Paul was chosen by God to give instructions to the church, and since Jesus desires His church to be unified and in order, and when He used someone like Paul to declare His ways, we also should harken to and obey them.

Next time Paul tells the church members, “if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.