Prophetic seminar for 11 7 09 conclusion for now at ROL:

Exercises to do depending on the Spiritual flow of the service; however I would like to do D in the second service --Maybe we can redo singing in the Spirit too.  And pause occasionally for something to come forth.  D is:

       Exercise D: I will ask just those for whom the following is true to come up front and do this exercise: 1 Aged 16 or older; 2  Born again at least 5 years 3 baptized in the Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues 4 Blessed with  a  voice that can stay on key and sing clearly  and loud enough for all to hear. 5-Enough confidence in music that they can create a tune on the spot and 6 Are able to  sing in front of others with confidence and without  obvious self consciousness

These people will do the following:  They will choose a verse or a few verses (just a few) from the Psalms. They will make up a tune and sing the words. Then they will put those verses (into their own words ) speaking forth what God is saying in those words.  “I believe the Lord is saying to us ____” 

I would love to do F one day:   Exercise F:   : We will break up into groups of 2.   Speak into each other’s lives what you believe the Lord would have you to say. (We may do this exercise) more than once.   I will put at least one "able and willing person" with another person.  So, in some sets of 2 one will prophesy and the other will receive; in others both will minister to each other.  Afterwards we will give opportunity to have someone express anything that especially touched their heart either in the giving or the receiving of a word. if someone was surprised in a way God used and/or spoke to them, tell that too

 Remember:   All should want to and may prophesy:    All can prophesy: 1 Cor 14: 39  Wherefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.40 But let all things be done decently and in order.

He has poured out His Spirit and His Spirit in us empowers us to prophesy: 

Acts 2:17 "'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. NIV

The ways and means of Hearing His Voice:

1. Get to know Him:  Just as people have personalities, so does God.  As you really get to know someone , you can feel along with them, think along with them, and know what they basically want to do.  Personality is what a person feels, thinks , and does. Know the Word and you will get to know what He is Like

2.  Believe that His Spirit WANTS to commune with us, to have a daily relationship complete with conversations – not always in words, sometimes in impressions, feelings, thoughts, our attention focusing on something He has directed us to….God’s Word and Spirit reveal Him to us.

God Has given us the Spirit to speak to us!

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. KJV

John 16:12 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.

1 Cor 2:. 12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13 This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.  

3.  Conversing with Him:  Prayer is conversation with God.

Also, throughout the day, ask Him questions and then be looking for His answers.

Listen for His voice talking to you through other Christians.

4. Sin will block your hearing. OR, you will think you are hearing Him, but it is your flesh or a demon.  Stay PURE:  Sinners cannot hear God Eph 4:17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Hearing/knowing God cannot happen without a Godly character.

We must meet His conditions  to be in His presence    Ps 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

Sin will cause you to not even love Him and who wants to hear from someone you don’t care about?  Matt 24: 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

John 3: 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." 

5.  Music that is Godly will enhance hearing His voice – praise and worship are a pathway into His presence and transport us into a Heavenly realm

.Ps 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all ye lands.2 Serve Jehovah with gladness: come before his presence with singing.3 Know ye that Jehovah, he is God: it is he that hath made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: give thanks unto him, and bless his name.

 2 Kings 3:14 And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.15 But now bring me a minstrel . And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.16 And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. KJV

Song can be prophetic in that it can precisely convey God’s heart and Words for that moment. Songs can ignite fires in our spirit man!  Songs remembered can instigate a remembering of what the Lord was saying to us at that time.

Note: This may be a good time to do the musical exercises.

6.  God can speak to you as you meditate on Him and  His Word with a pen and paper in hand to record what you sense He is saying to you – or He can give you something for someone else in this same way.   Ask God if He has something for you to hear and be ready with pen and paper . E.g., I was ministering at a church in Lyon, France. I spent the afternoon praying for the pastor and then  writing out a very, very long prophetic word.  She and her husband emphatically confirmed that word at dinner.

 7. When God is speaking to you about ministering to someone else, He can give you vicarious feelings and thoughts so that you begin to be in a very sensitive , accurate place of empathy for them and even have a precise word to describe the state they are in and God’s remedy for that state.   E.g., When you are experiencing unusual , inexplicable pain (e.g., rejection), “hear it”. You  may find that soon you will be ministering to someone with those same  feelings.  E.g.,  A sister  in Brussels—all I had to do when I ministered deliverance to her and  to let her know I knew exactly what she was going through was to describe in detail what I went through the day before. I KNEW (when she sat down to counsel with me)  it was for her that I carried that burden and experienced that pain.

As we went along, I found more with the same attacks coming against them.

Or , if many of us are sensing the same things, perhaps the Lord is letting us know there is a spirit invading our midst and we must rise up in warfare against it.

 8.  God will let you feel an atmosphere in a given place or let you feel the demon spirit a person has  and prompt you to pray and/or prophesy:

You FEEL the atmosphere in the house…e.g., insanity in the house on Lake Drive  or when the spirit of murder walked in the door at Sylvan or in the hotel in Oklahoma City with Robert and Jude and I.

 Usually when someone “off” walks in the door, I can feel it in my body. Sometimes it is like a rising  of adrenalin feeling. Sometimes there is almost a foreboding  so I become on an alert” status  with that person.

 When we were on Burton I felt a violent spirit walk in and sure enough it was a person threatening violence; on Sylvan I felt a spirit of murder upstairs and told EG to get his gun ( a b  b gun). The man who had just walked in was someone who –within a year – murdered his wife.

 9. God can speak to us in dreams:

e.g., me at first assembly being warned about institutional jealousy and dangers.

Ordinarily, if I do get a dream interpretation for myself or another, I will know pretty quickly because as I see the dream sequence it is as if what that sequence means is instantly revealed. Then ,when I have heard the entire dream, I meditate on it and the meaning from each sequence begins to form a message. E.g., Robert tells me quite a few of his dreams . It is been awhile since one “clicked”. But he told me on Thursday for which the meaning was pretty clear. Not totally clear, but we got the general message. 

10. God can use circumstances to speak to us – money (the lack of it or a special amount could guide us into a yes or no),  a “set up” that only He could orchestrate (me and Maggie at the employment office; me and Thomas on the train)

11. Sometimes the unusual favor someone or their ministry has with you, i.e., huge favor, can be God pushing us to move towards that person. E.g., me with Maria at Ricky’s concert at Madison St. or me going up front to offer my services to Bulgaria with Vasil made an appeal for teachers; me giving my 1.00 to SWIM – there is just a huge tug at your heartstrings with a sense of going over to that situation and acting on it, i.e., the kind of pull you sense when the Lord wants you to especially go forward for prayer.

12. You get an extreme burden for a Godly cause that you cannot shake, e.g., you see someone about to do something very spiritually dangerous, God gives you the loving words of warning, you let them stir around in you , they just won’t go away – they words and the burden just keeps growing stronger. Or, your heart is broken over the children being sold as slaves and the grief inspired by the Holy Spirit gets so big that you MUST sell all land go to help or you know you will have missed the most important thing God ever asked you to do!

13.  Someone’s face pops out at you ,grabbing your full attention (even  in the midst of a crowd) and you ask God why. God gently drops a word for them into your heart.  The “magnification” of your awareness of that person is your clue that God wants to tell you something about them. Maybe sometimes it is to pray too.. 

Or, an object can be magnified in your attention and God is telling you something either about or through that object. It is like a Friend saying ,”Look at that!”   E.g.,  I went on a home call for the welfare. The client told me of the intense fear she had in her apartment. The Lord drew my attention to a picture in the living room. It was not a deliberately fear producing picture; however, I knew that I knew that was the source of the problem. She got rid of it. Several years later she had a flat tire in front of 301 Burton. She did not know I lived there. She came to the front door for help. She recognized me. She told me that getting rid of that picture resulted in peace in her home and she never experienced that fear again.

14.  A Bible passage is quickened to you and nearly every time you pick up the Word the same thought is thrust at you from other passages as well.  E.g., me and “eyes that see but see not” long before I was a five fold minister. I believe He wanted to use me to open blind eyes and deaf ears to His Word through prophetic teaching . I also believe He wants me to know His hear towards the Jews who have a veil over their eyes and to be prepared to be used with them too. 

Eph 4 started to jump out at me repeatedly starting in 1976 at our prayer meetings we had then.  Then I wanted an Eph. 4 church. Finally He said to me:   “What’ that in your hand Moses?”  This process was from 1976 until around 1979 – it was not an awareness that occurred all together. 

15. A Moment of discernment from the Lord  of how to act  in the midst of activity – not even sought after or expected – just a “knowing” that dropped unto your spirit just as  light as a feather !   E.g., for me: Don’s birthday party rehearsal. I was supposed to “fawn” over him with the other “ya ya” girls and I went to Robert to embrace him instead. Later when Don was in court being tried for all those crimes, the defense played that very video to prove the affection everyone had for him, i.e., that he was a “good guy”. We were the only ones available to witness for the prosecution . How silly I would have looked had I been all in his face with silliness.

 16. God can use your willingness to reach out and pray for someone as a time to give you a prophetic prayer. You begin to  hear yourself pray some things you know are true but you were not told those things by anyone. When the person tells  you later, it begins to confirm you are hearing God for others. Sometimes the words come as soon as I lay hands on someone.

 17. Jesus was “moved with compassion” many times just before He dealt with people. When you feel an unusual burst of compassion, minister with expectation that God is about to do something supernatural, unusual. LET yourself feel what God is feeling for that person (or group) at that moment and if you cry you cry, if you laugh you laugh.

18. Inner visions and pictures :  I saw a river flowing out from Fountain St. church . It very gradually grew to cover the streets of our area.  I knew that was a further indication of starting a church.   When an unexpected picture that carries with it a sense of “Look closely at this, it has meaning”, many times God is using it to communicate with us.

19. Simply “knowing” because you know God just dropped the knowledge into your spirit man.  Several times I “knew” someone was going to get with the other person: Jim and Laura; Carol Sue and her husband; John and Barb at work… I “knew” once when someone was planning to leave ROL. I knew they were struggling with the courage to say that. So I went to him and told him I knew and that it was ok.  Shortly thereafter he left and it was done with mutual love and peace and no hard feelings . 20.  God sometimes just wants us to step out on faith and begin to prophesy. When we do, He will supply the words.  Sometimes when He wants me to get into a prophetic flow, He gives me a sure word for just one person in the group and then leads me to the “stand outs” with maybe a single word and as I open my mouth to speak , I get much more both in my mind and mouth. Sometimes my mouth surprises my mind. 

Lord, help us to be so full of Your Word that others come to us to hear the wisdom You give us!  2 Chron 9: 23 All the kings of the earth sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.

Help us to keep a heart of humility and worship-- willing to receive Your words!

Ps 95: 6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

7 for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, 8 do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah….

Help us to trust that you want to give us answers when we cry out to you!

Isa 30:19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. 20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Help us to understand your prophetic words in the Word and to live our lives believing that your word alone is eternal!  Help us to live “awakened” lives!

Isa 51:4 "Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: The law will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations. 5 My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm. 6 Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail. 7 "Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of men or be terrified by their insults. 8 For the moth will eat them up like a garment; the worm will devour them like wool. But my righteousness will last forever, my salvation through all generations."

9 Awake, awake! Clothe yourself with strength arm of the LORD; awake, as in days gone by, as in generations of old………….. 11 The ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Help us to LISTEN to your words even if they are filled with warning and offensive to our flesh! Help us not to need to only hear “pleasurable” words from you!

 Jer 6:10 To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear .The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.

Help us to be obedient to You  so that we can always HEAR you!

Ezek 12:1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people. NIV

Help our children and all of us be willing to be sent to boldly proclaim your truth!

Matt 21:15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant. 16 "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?" NIV

Isa 6: 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 9 He said, "Go and tell this people:

The Danger of Celebrating Halloween

Tuesday, 27 October 2009 05:00 AM EDT Kimberly Daniels Newsletters - Prophetic Insight

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Halloween—October 31—is considered a holiday in the United States. In fact, it rivals Christmas with regard to how widely celebrated it is. Stores that sell only Halloween-related paraphernalia open up a few months before the day and close shortly after it ends. But is Halloween a holiday that Christians should be observing?

The word "holiday" means "holy day." But there is nothing holy about Halloween. The root word of Halloween is "hallow," which means "holy, consecrated and set apart for service." If this holiday is hallowed, whose service is it set apart for? The answer to that question is very easy—Lucifer's!

Lucifer is a part of the demonic godhead. Remember, everything God has, the devil has a counterfeit. Halloween is a counterfeit holy day that is dedicated to celebrating the demonic trinity of : the Luciferian Spirit (the false father); the Antichrist Spirit (the false holy spirit); and the Spirit of Belial (the false son).

The key word in discussing Halloween is "dedicated." It is dedicated to darkness and is an accursed season. During Halloween, time-released curses are always loosed. A time-released curse is a period that has been set aside to release demonic activity and to ensnare souls in great measure.

You may ask, "Doesn't God have more power than the devil?" Yes, but He has given that power to us. If we do not walk in it, we will become the devil's prey. Witchcraft works through dirty hearts and wrong spirits.

During this period demons are assigned against those who participate in the rituals and festivities. These demons are automatically drawn to the fetishes that open doors for them to come into the lives of human beings. For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.

I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.

Even the colors of Halloween (orange, brown and dark red) are dedicated. These colors are connected to the fall equinox, which is around the 20th or 21st of September each year and is sometimes called "Mabon." During this season witches are celebrating the changing of the seasons from summer to fall. They give praise to the gods for the demonic harvest. They pray to the gods of the elements (air, fire, water and earth).

Mother earth is highly celebrated during the fall demonic harvest. Witches praise mother earth by bringing her fruits, nuts and herbs. Demons are loosed during these acts of worship. When nice church folk lay out their pumpkins on the church lawn, fill their baskets with nuts and herbs, and fire up their bonfires, the demons get busy. They have no respect for the church grounds. They respect only the sacrifice and do not care if it comes from believers or non-believers.

Gathering around bonfires is a common practice in pagan worship. As I remember, the bonfires that I attended during homecoming week when I was in high school were always in the fall. I am amazed at how we ignorantly participate in pagan, occult rituals.

The gods of harvest that the witches worship during their fall festivals are the Corn King and the Harvest Lord. The devil is too stupid to understand that Jesus is the Lord of the Harvest 365 days a year. But we cannot be ignorant of the devices of the enemy. When we pray, we bind the powers of the strong men that people involved in the occult worship.

Halloween is much more than a holiday filled with fun and tricks or treats. It is a time for the gathering of evil that masquerades behind the fictitious characters of Dracula, werewolves, mummies and witches on brooms. The truth is that these demons that have been presented as scary cartoons actually exist. I have prayed for witches who are addicted to drinking blood and howling at the moon.

While the lukewarm and ignorant think of these customs as "just harmless fun," the vortexes of hell are releasing new assignments against souls. Witches take pride in laughing at the ignorance of natural men (those who ignore the spirit realm).

Decorating buildings with Halloween scenes, dressing up for parties, going door-to-door for candy, standing around bonfires and highlighting pumpkin patches are all acts rooted in entertaining familiar spirits. All these activities are demonic and have occult roots.

The word "occult" means "secret." The danger of Halloween is not in the scary things we see but in the secret, wicked, cruel activities that go on behind the scenes. These activities include:

• Sex with demons
• Orgies between animals and humans
• Animal and human sacrifices
• Sacrificing babies to shed innocent blood
• Rape and molestation of adults, children and babies
• Revel nights
• Conjuring of demons and casting of spells
• Release of "time-released" curses against the innocent and the ignorant.

Another abomination that goes on behind the scenes of Halloween is necromancy, or communication with the dead. Séances and contacting spirit guides are very popular on Halloween, so there is a lot of darkness lurking in the air.

However, Ephesians 1:19-21 speaks of the authority of the believer and the exceeding greatness of God's power in us (the same power that raised Christ from the dead). It goes on to say that that Jesus is seated in heavenly places far above all principalities, power, might, dominions and every name that is named. The good news is that because we are seated in heavenly places with Jesus, the same demonic activity that is under His feet is under our feet, too!

People who worship the devil continue to attempt to lift him up. But he has already been cast out and down! Many are blinded to this fact, but the day will come when all will know he has been defeated once and for all.

When we accept Jesus but refuse to renounce Satan and his practices, we are neither hot nor cold but lukewarm—and the Word says that God will spit us out of His mouth. The problem with lukewarm is that it attempts to mix the things of the devil with the things of God. It is God's desire that we serve Him alone.

Second Corinthians 6:15 asks the question, "And what agreement has Christ with Belial?" As believers, we need to answer that question in our hearts. We must avoid the very appearance of evil. I would not want a demon spirit to mistake me for an occult worshiper.

There is no doubt in my heart that God is not calling us to replace fall festivals and Halloween activities; rather, He wants us to utterly destroy the deeds of this season. If you or your family members have opened the door to any curses that are released during the demonic fall festivals, renounce them and repent. I already have. Then declare with me: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"

About the author: Kimberly Daniels is a sought-after conference speaker and preacher. She is the founder of Kimberly Daniels Ministries International (kimberlydaniels.com), Spoken Word Ministries—the church she pastors in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband, Ardell—A Child of the King Learning Center and Word Bible College. Kim is a recognized prophetic voice as well as the author of several books, including her most recent, Prayers that Bring Change (Charisma House).

Prophetic Insight is a weekly bulletin offering timely and relevant messages for the body of Christ from recognized prophetic voices. It is prepared by Maureen Eha, features editor for Charisma magazine. You can follow her on Twitter at MaureenEha. And please spread the good news by sending this e-newsletter to your friends and encouraging them to subscribe.

 

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Review of 10  16 class content

In class today we started out sharing what some saw on their own in studying Onesimos; however, as we kept discussing  facts concerning the story, I decided to just read the whole book so we could be refreshed in it.

We read verses 1 through 13, stopping along the way to ask for word definitions. Several words (e.g., "consolation", "effectual", "begotten", "bowels") were not known by all students.  We also discussed meaning of the verses.

On another track away from Philemon:  I noticed that during worship at 9:30 AM several of the kids were just standing there doing nothing as Robert sang the song of the Lord in English.  This reminded me of the fact we are going to continue with the prophetic seminar tomorrow and we will be singing the song of the Lord in English and in tongues. So then I asked who sang in tongues at home. No one sang in tongues. Nearly all spoke in tongues; no one SANG in tongues  -- neither in church , nor when alone.

In class, we "practised" singing in tongues.  And it was obvious more practise was needed to bring forth more boldness in this .  (It was clearly explained that this was a private prayer language exercise not a speaking in tongues meant for a prophetic interpretation.)

This explanation will explain a portion of the assignment for 10 23 Assignment:

Assignment: 

 1.  Every day...from today through next Friday, pray in tongues for one minute and then sing in tongues for one minute  1 Cor 14:14 For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.15 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.KJV

2.   Reread Philemon -- we will discuss Philemon again and look at how to fill out more parts of the Bible study sheet using Philemon as our book.

There is not a paperwork assignment to hand in on 10 23.

Prayer. 10 17 09:     Help us to exercise the gift we have according to the faith we have right now.  Help us to keep exercising our faith so that our faith will grow.

Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy , let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;   KJV

Lord, help us to discover the gifts we have been given by You and to USE THEM!

1 Cor 12:9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy ; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.   KJV

Help us to esteem  the fruit of the Spirit ABOVE the gifts: Cor 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy , and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. KJV

1 Cor 14: 39 Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy , and forbid not to speak with tongues.

Help us to covet to prophesy. We are sorry for our apathy concerning “diligently seeking “ You in this area! Help us to see that to prophesy is to love the body of Christ!  Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.KJV

Synonyms:intensity, passion; Antonyms:apathy.   Zeal n.  Enthusiastic devotion to a cause, ideal, or goal and tireless diligence in its furtherance

1 Cor 14:1 Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy .2 For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.

4 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.

Pour out Your Spirit  on ALL of River of Life– from the youngest to the oldest!

Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy , and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:fgnx18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy :KJV

Acts 21:8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy .KJV

Help us to be humble and easily entreated and to never pretend we can’t “miss it”.

1 Cor 13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.KJV

Help us to learn Your protocol in exercising the gifts of Your Spirit:

1 Cor 14:31 For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints……………….

40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

Tidbits from:  http://socyberty.com/holidays/feast-of-tabernacles-explained-to-christians/  ----Dwelling in the Sukkah :  The holiday’s main observance involves “dwelling” in the sukkah (booth). The concept of thanksgiving for the harvest remains central, symbolized by the fruits (real or artificial) that decorate the Sukkot (one sukkah , two Sukkot ).

--Some say the American Pilgrim fathers were influenced by the Jewish observance of Sukkot , from which Thanksgiving Day came.

--Together with the reminder of Israel’s journey in the wilderness, the rabbis said the sukkah was the symbolic reminder of man’s reliance on Divine protection.

--During Temple times, part of Sukkot was the water drawing ceremony, when water libations were poured over the altar, to highlight the petitions for rain. In modern Israel, special “water drawing” ceremonies are held during the intermediate days of Sukkot . People play musical instruments and sing biblical songs, such as the well known song, “You shall draw water with gladness out of the wells of salvation”, taken from Isaiah 12:3.

Excerpts from http://www.godwithus.org/holidays/sukkot_a_practical_guide_for_believers.html .. the seventh day of the festival has much spiritual significance for believers in Yeshua (see John 7:37 _+)… as we reach the eighth day, we come to a special holiday, Shmeni Atzeret (literally, the Eighth Day of Assembly). As mentioned in Leviticus 23:36, this day is to be set apart as a Shabbat and a holy assembly. Most traditional synagogues and messianic congregations have special services to remember this time. Messianic Jews and Gentiles are continually looking for the higher spiritual lessons of God's appointed times. Why would God command a special memorial on the eighth day of Sukkot? Besides being the close of the festival, this day may contain a connection to the life of Messiah. If our theory that Yeshua's birth took place on the first day of Sukkot is correct, {then JC was circumcised on the 8^th day of the Feast}. .. the Jewish community has added an additional ninth day to Sukkot called Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Law). As it's name implies, this day celebrates the revelation of God as symbolized in the Torah scroll. It is a time of tremendous joy, with dancing and lively music.

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Baptisms: 

The Word speaks of ONE baptism , but alludes to several, i.e., a baptism of fire, a baptism into the name of the Lord, and a baptism of the Holy Spirit – in a sense they are all ONE, i.e., a baptism into the life of Christ which includes all 3 experiences.

Eph 4: 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit— just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism ; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. NIV

 The baptism of repentance that proceeded Jesus’ ministry --  now we must still repent, but in addition to that we are immersed into the Lord Jesus Christ when we are baptized in water -- John's baptism was only about repentance.  Note here the kinds of things that demonstrate repentance. Even though our baptism is not that of John's , the principles of repentance remain the same:

Luke 3:7 John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 9 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." 10 "What should we do then?" the crowd asked.

Examples of producing fruit that demonstrates repentance:

11 John answered, "The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." 12 Tax collectors also came to be baptized. "Teacher," they asked, "what should we do?" 13 "Don't collect any more than you are required to," he told them. 14 Then some soldiers asked him, "And what should we do?"

He replied, "Don't extort money and don't accuse people falsely — be content with your pay." 15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.   16 John answered them al l, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and preached the good news to them. NIV

 John fulfilled this verse:

Isa 40:3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. KJV

Acts 13: 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel.NIV

The baptism of fire that John referred to above:

Baptism of fire: Mark 10:35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. "Teacher," they said, "we want you to do for us whatever we ask." 36 "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 37 They replied, "Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory." 38 "You don't know what you are asking," Jesus said. "Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?"  39 "We can," they answered. Jesus said to them, "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared."  NIV

Acts 18:24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately. NIV

Being baptized into the Lord:

Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spak e unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.KJV

When we are baptized into Christ, the meaning includes repentance from sin:

2 Tim 2: 19 Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness." NIV

 In Acts they lived in a time of transition from John’s baptism to the Lord’s and unto the baptism in the Holy Spirit

On the day of Pentecost – for those who were there – the transition from old to new was accomplished:

Acts 1:4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. {From here we get the expression “baptized with the Holy Ghost”. Rb}

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

KJV

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.KJV                                                                     

But some did not know that a new day had arrived, that the baptism into the name of the Lord and the Holy Spirit had come – they needed to be told what new thing God was offering to them:

Acts 19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus. There he found some disciples 2 and asked them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" They answered, "No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit." 3 So Paul asked, "Then what baptism did you receive?" "John's baptism ," they replied. 4 Paul said, "John's baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus." 5 On hearing this, they were baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. 7 There were about twelve men in all. NIV

Some knew about baptism into the Lord’s name but not the Holy Spirit baptism:

Acts 8:14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:16(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.KJV

The meaning of our being baptized in water – salvation 101:

Rom 6:1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourse lves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey — whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 Gal 3:26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Col 2:9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,

Gal 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature  KJV

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature : old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.KJV

People who believed were immediately baptized:

Acts 18:7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. NIV

 Acts 10:44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.KJV

Acts 8:34 The eunuch asked Philip, "Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized? "   38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him.

Acts 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord-Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here — has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18 Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19 and after taking some food, he regained his strength. NIV

 What name to be baptized into:

2 Cor 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. NIV

John 10: 30 I and the Father are one."  NIV

Col 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.KJV

What does “name” mean?

NT:3686 onoma (on'-om-ah); from a presumed derivative of the base of NT:1097 (compare NT:3685); a "name" (literally or figuratively) [authority, character]:

From online dictionary regarding the word  “name”:

Name:  Synonyms:1. Name, title both refer to the label by which a person is known. Name is the simpler and more general word for appellation: The name is John. A title is an official or honorary term bestowed on a person or the specific designation of a book, article, etc.: He now has the title of Doctor. Treasure Island is the title of a book. 4. repute, character, credit. 5. note, distinction, renown, eminence. 6. personality.

 As precious as baptism is, it is a part of the elementary teachings…. The GOAL is maturity, perfection.  Baptism is our ENTRY into the life of Christ…us in Him, He in us.

Heb 6:1 Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. NIV

Should we be immersed?  baptizo 

NT:907 baptizo (bap-tid'-zo); from a derivative of NT:911; to immerse, submerge; to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N. T.) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism:

Dictionary def. of “overwhelmed”:

Origin:
1300–50; ME; see over-, whelm

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

|: overwhelmed

engulfed, flooded, inundated, overcome, overpowered

KJV - Baptist, baptize, wash.

NT:908 baptisma (bap'-tis-mah); from NT:907; immersion, baptism (technically or figuratively):KJV - baptism.

NT:909 baptismos (bap-tis-mos'); from NT:907; ablution (ceremonial or Christian):

KJV - baptism, washing.

NT:910 Baptistes (bap-tis-tace'); from NT:907; a baptizer, as an epithet of Christ's forerunner:

KJV - Baptist.

NT:911 bapto (bap'-to); a primary verb; to overwhelm, i.e. cover wholly with a fluid; in the N. T. only in a qualified or specially, sense, i.e. (literally) to moisten (a part of one's person), or (by implication) to stain (as with dye):

Prayer 9 19 09 Ministering the Gospel

Pray that ALL of us become laborers in the harvest of souls! Pray that we all be protected from evil doers as we are lights for the Lord – especially pray that our young people will be bold to witness and remain unharmed as they do so.  2 Thess 3: 3:1 Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.NIV

Ps 68:11 The Lord announced the word,And  great was the company of those who proclaimed it: NIV

Pray that we ALL minister in Power and authority 

Matt 10:1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. NIV

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power , after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.KJV

Acts 8:4 Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city. NIV

Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."  19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. NIV

Pray that we all receive and rely upon the Spirit of the Lord in our ministries:  John

21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."  22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

Pray that we all have GOD’S own heart as we minister as well as His knowledge and understanding:  Jer 3: 15 Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.  NIV

The following sermon may also be fodder for a deeper discussion in the leadership /wm school next time as leaders have to lead in relationship expertise!

Some examples helping us to learn  about relationships  in 2 Cor:

If we “get after” people “under us”, we must recognize the importance of quickly regaining a smooth relationship because we depend on one another for encouragement: 

People can be overwhelmed with sorrow if they can’t find their way back home to the local church after being punished for sin—there is more: Tell me what you see:

2 Cor 2:1 But I determined this with myself, that I would not come again to you in heaviness.

2 For if I make you sorry, who is he then that maketh me glad, but the same which is made sorry by me?3 And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all.4 For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you.5 But if any have caused grief, he hath not grieved me, but in part: that I may not overcharge you all.6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment, which was inflicted of many.7 So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow .8 Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him.

 Some people CAN’T  SEE the gospel.  How are we to respond?

2 Cor 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We cannot walk closely with unbelievers. If we try to explain this to one of them, will they understand? What then should we do?  2 Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.KJV

Some people are literally driven by the devil to put Christians into bondage and deception.  How do we prevent that?  Paul here goes on to compare himself with such people and literally “toots his own horn”. What should be think/feel if someone in our life feels compelled to list their strengths to us in an effort to cause us to turn to them with added respect and to turn from some who they have told us are bad for us? What is the typical human response to such a conversation?  Why is it so hard for us to GIVE honor to those to whom we are in close contact?  E.g.,  Mark 6:4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.KJV

Note that Paul makes himself extremely vulnerable here by letting his hurt leak through that they would receive false ministers and never bothered to meditate on Paul’s high value in their lives.

Note 2: 11 where he makes it plain that he was driven by the people to speak as a fool…that they should have commended him on their own. He should not have to be driven to remind them of who he was as a proven minister of the Lord.

Should we allow those “under us” to disregard us and opt to praise someone who bears no comparison to the value we give to them in Christ?  E.g., even as parents this can happen. Or, as friends.  Can you think of an example in your own life in which you felt disregarded  by someone (or by others) for some “new kid on the block”  or some “new sensation” who could not hold a candle in comparison to you regarding what you had been giving  and being to a certain individual and/or group? Would you dare to be as open as Paul is being in the passage below? Have you ever spoken to anyone that clearly?

Is Paul “speaking the truth in love” here?

 2 Cor 11:1 I hope you will put up with a little of my foolishness; but you are already doing that. 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. 5 But I do not think I am in the least inferior to those "super-apostles." 6 I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way. 7 Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so. 10 As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of mine. 11 Why? Because I do not love you? God knows I do! 12 And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve. 16 I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so that I may do a little boasting. 17 In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but as a fool. 18 Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast. 19 You gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! 20 In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. 21 To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! What anyone else dares to boast about — I am speaking as a fool — I also dare to boast about. 22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham's descendants? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.   25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? 30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. 31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever, knows that I am not lying. 32 In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. 33 But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands. 2 Corinthians 12:1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know — God knows. 3 And I know that this man — whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to  boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.

7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the "super-apostles," even though I am nothing. 12 The things that mark an apostle — signs, wonders and miracles — were done among you with great perseverance. 13 How were you inferior to the other churches, except that I was never a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!