1 Corinthians 12 : 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

As Paul begins the teaching here he lays the groundwork for where the gifts come from and who they come from. First we see there are diversities of gifts, which means they are many different gifts that one can have. We are not limited to just one gift but if we desire we can have them all We just need to understand they are supplied by the spirit of God and must be used for His purpose. Next we see that there are different ways the gifts can be administered according to the person and possibly the denomination of the person. The Lord is still the one who will direct how this handled. The bottom line is that the Lord gives believers unique ministry arenas in which to fulfill their gifts and provides varieties of power to energize and accomplish them. This last verse focuses a little on the same thing and we should not worry about what denomination people are as long they are  Christian, we all have the same destination. We should all be banning together fighting the atheist and those who do not look to Jesus as their Savior.

1 Corinthians 12 : 1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. 2 Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. 3 Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

In chapter 12 Paul begins teaching about spiritual gifts, because when the Corinthians first worshiped they worshiped idols and Paul wanted they to understand that there was more to Christianity than just salvation. He goes on to let them know the things they were doing in their idol worship was wrong but he also new they led into this type of worship. Now that they had became Christians  they need to learn how the Holy Spirit could lead them and empower them to do the will of God. Finally he tells them those who are speaking by the Holy Ghost call Jesus, Lord. It is one thing to know Jesus as your Savior and an entirely different thing to know Him as your Lord.  When He is your Lord then you have turned your will over to His will and it is the Holy Ghost within that calls Jesus Lord. When you know Him as Lord then it means that you have totally submitted your will to Him. Please attend church today where you can get what God has for you and a chance to let your gifts grow.

1 Corinthians  11 : 33 Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34 And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Paul winds this chapter up by relating to the people that they should not be worried about being at the front of the line because as Christians they should be willing to let others go first. You can help but think here that these people should have know this on their own but Paul was having to teach them basic Christian principals. Lastly he makes reference to taking communion again because it seemed they were doing it every time they met and making it a meal.  This was  discrediting the communion ordinance so Paul told them if someone is hungry to eat at home before they come and show their greediness and face condemnation for coming for the  wrong reason.   There is no point in gathering together to sin and be chastened. Paul wind it up by telling them he will take care of the minor things when he comes in person. We should be glad today if our church has the leadership in place to keep things straight for us and if they mess up someone above them to help get things back right.

1 Corinthians 11 : 30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

These verses describe the punishment for not realizing that God means what He says. Because people were not taking the ordinance of communion seriously many weak and sickly and even many died. Paul goes on by saying if we judge ourselves to make sure we right with God then no one else should have a right to judge us. Finally he says the judgement of  God on us is to strengthen us and straighten us out before we are judge by the world. The Lord chastens to drive His people back to righteous behavior so believers are kept from being consigned to hell, not only by divine decree, but by divine intervention. We should always check our self daily to see that we portraying the the love God in everything we do every day and living according to the word God.

1 Corinthians 11 : 27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

Now Paul enlightens the people on what they were doing could be wrong. To partake o f this ordinance lightly or still clinging to some sin in your life means you are saying what Jesus did for us is null and void.  He goes on to say we must examine ourselves thoroughly and make sure our hearts are right with God before we partake of the bread and drink of the cup. Finally he reminds us that if one eats of the bread and drinks of the cup unworthily. or really just not  believing in what the communion stands for  is mocking the communion.  This is basically saying one does not believe Jesus sacrificed Himself for us and this person is bringing damnation on themselves.  We just always need to remember to try to keep our life straight all the time but make sure we are right with the Lord if we are going to participate in taking communion.

1 Corinthians 11 : 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

These verse of scripture should be very failure  to any  Christian if  they have ever partook of the Lord’s Supper in the spirit it was to taken in. Paul here is reminding the Corinthians that these were words spoken by Jesus Himself as he took His last meal with the disciples. Jesus let His disciples know that the cup symbolized the blood he was to shed for all mankind and the bread was His body that sacrificed for our salvation. We do this today because it is to remind us the what Jesus did for us until He comes again in all His glory.

1 Corinthians 11 : 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.

Again this verse is saying they were not gathering for the right reasons because what they were doing had nothing to do with worshiping. They had made a party out of coming to church and had forgotten that the real reason to come to church is to fellowship with God and learn of His ways. This kinda of sounds familiar doesn’t it cause we have to have all kinds of parties and recreation to at the church or no one wants to come. If people think this is the reason to come church they might as well stay at home. Paul ask the question shall I praise you in this and he says absolutely not. I do not imagine that God would smile on church that felt it had to operate this way and the church itself might not be around much longer.

1 Corinthians 11 : 19 For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.

Paul continues here to show that there were those in the church who were viewed as perversely rejecting the guidance of the church. There was also those that passed the test of spiritual genuineness and purity and these stood out among those that were wrong. One thing he addressed was the taking of the Lord’s, they were doing it every time they met and it had become such a routine thing that it had lost its meaning. The love feast and communion celebration had become so perverted that it was a sinful and selfish mockery. Finally he says they were just coming together to eat and not to take of the communion supper and they were using fermented wine because it speaks of being drunk. We know today that the taking of the Lord’s supper is a sacred thing and we will see a little later what could happen if your heart is not right when partaking of this ordinance.

1 Corinthians 11 : 13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? 14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. 16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

Paul is continuing to teach here about a mans head should uncovered and a woman’s  head should be covered. He makes reference hear to a mans hair should not be long and a woman should not cut her hair. We need to remember that a lot of these traditions were just that man made laws or traditions. Paul is also saying in this scripture he feels  since this is the way things are a man should not want try to look like a woman by growing his hair long  and  a woman should not want short hair and dress like a man. The main thing Paul will like to show here is we do not need rebellion in the church over some minor things that is not a custom of the   church any way. We know that God accepts people any way they are and he does expect us to show respect and reverence in the house of God.

8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. 9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. 12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

Paul is telling us here that man was first made from the dust of the earth in the image of God and woman was made from a rib out of the side of man. She was made from the side of man so they would be two who walk side by side and she would be his helpmate. It goes on top say that God created the woman for the man because he was lonesome. Again we she it says a woman should have her head covered to show her humbleness and the power she has because of being obedient. The next verse shows us that both are of the importance to God when it comes to their serving Him. Their roles are different in function and relationships but not in spirituality or importance. Verse 12 just sums it up and says that woman is made of man but man is to made of woman because of the way God planned for the earth to be populated. So from this we can see that in the spiritual aspect in God’s eyes man and woman are equal in their responsibilities to follow the path God has planned for us.