appleseed_ea

Now for the matters, you Wrote about, it is good for a Man, not to Marry, but since there is so much Immorality, each Man, should have his own Wife, and each Woman, her own Husband. The Husband should fulfill, his Marital Duty, to his Wife, and likewise the Wife, to her Husband, the Wife's Body, does not belong to her, along, but also to her Husband, in the same way, the Husband's Body, does not belong to him, alone, but also to his Wife. Do not Deprive each other, except by mutual Consent, and for a Time, so that you, may Devote yourselves, to Fasting, and Prayer, then come together again, so that Satan, will not Tempt you, because of your lack, of self Control. I say this as a Concession, not as a Command, I wish that all Men, were as I am, but each Man, has his own Calling, from Elohim, One has this Function, another has that. Now to the Unmarried, and the Widows, I say, it is good for them, to stay Unmarried, as I am, but if they cannot Control themselves, they should Marry, for it is better to Marry, then to Burn, with Passion. To the Married, I give this Command, not I, but Elohim, a Wife must not Separate, from her Husband, but if she does, she must remain Unmarried, or else, be Reconciled, to her Husband, and a Husband, must not Divorce his Wife. But to the Rest, I say this, not Elohim, if any Brother, has a Wife, who is not a believer, and she is Willing, to Live with him, he must not Divorce her, and if a Woman, has a Husband, who is not a Believer, and he is Willing, to Live with her, she must not Divorce him, for the Unbelieving Husband, has been Sanctified, through his Wife, and the Unbelieving Wife, has been Sanctified, through her believing Husband, otherwise your Children, would be Unclean, but as it is, they are Holy. But if the unbeliever Separates, let him Separate, a Brother, or Sister, is not in Bondage, in such Cases, it is to Peace, Elohim has Called us, to Live, how do you Know Wife, whether you will Save your Husband, or how do you Know Husband, whether you will Save your Wife, nevertheless, each One should retain the Place, in Life, that Elohim Assigned to him, and to which Elohim, has Called him.

This is the Rule, I lay Down, in all the Assembles, was a Man, already Circumcised, when he was Called, he should not, become Uncircumcised, was a Man Uncircumcised, when he was Called, he should not, be Circumcised, for Circumcision is nothing, and Uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping, of Elohim's Commands, is what Counts. Each One, should remain in the Situation, which he was in, when Elohim Called him, were you a Slave, when you were Called, do not let it, Trouble you, although if you can gain your Freedom, choose rather to Serve, for he, who is Called, by Elohim, being a Slave, is Elohim's Free Man, likewise he, who is Called, being a Free Man, is Elohim's Servant, you were Redeemed, with a Price, become not the Servants, of Men, let everyone, my Brothers, Continue with Elohim, in whatever Station, of Life, he was Called. Now about Virgins, I have no Precept, from Elohim, but I give Counsels, as a Man, who has Obtained Mercy, from Elohim, to be a believer, because of the Present Crisis, I Think, that it is good for you, to remain as you are, are you Married, do not Seek a Divorce, are you Unmarried, do not Look, for a Wife, but if you Do Marry, you have not Sinned, and if a Virgin Marries, she has not Sinned, but those, who Marry will Face, many Troubles, in this Life, and I want to Spare you this, what I mean Brothers, is that the Time, is Short.

From now on, those who have Wives, should Live, as if they had none, those who Mourn, as if they did not, those who are Happy, as if they were not, and they who Buy, as if they Acquired not, those who use the things, of the World, as if not Engrossed, in them, for this World, in its Present Form, is passing away. I would like you, to be Free, from Concern, an Unmarried Man, is concerned about Elohim's Affairs, how he can Please Elohim, but a Married Man, is concerned about the Affairs, of this World, how he can Please his Wife, and his Wife, and his Interests, are Divided. An Unmarried Woman, or Virgin, is concerned about Elohim's Affairs, her Aim is to be Devoted, to Elohim, in both Body, and Mind, but a Married Woman, is concerned about the Affairs, of this World, how she can Please, her Husband, but this for your own Profit, Speak I not, to Throw a Snare, over you, but that you may Live, in a Right way, in undivided Devotion, to Elohim. If any Man Thinks, that he is Shamed, by the Behavior, of his Virgin Daughter, because she has Passed, the Marriage Age, and he has not given her, in Marriage, and that he should give her, let her be Married, if he has Sincerely Decided, and is not Forced, by Circumstances, but has Determined, and Decreed in his Mind, to keep his Virgin Daughter, Single, he does well, so then, he who gives his Virgin Daughter, in Marriage, does well, and he who does not, give his Virgin Daughter, in Marriage, does even better. A Woman is Bound, to her Husband, as long, as he Lives, but if her Husband Sleeps, she is Free, to Marry anyone she Wishes, but he must belong to Elohim, in my Judgment, she is Happier, if she stays as she is, and I Think, that I too, have the Authority, of Elohim.

Now concerning Sacrifices, Offered to Idols, we Know, that we all Possess Knowledge, Knowledge Puffs up, but Love Builds up, and if any man Thinks, that of himself, he Knows anything, he Knows nothing, yet as he ought to Know it, but the Man, who Loves Elohim, is Known by Elohim. So then about Eating Food, Sacrificed to Idols, we Know, that an Idol is nothing, at all, in the World, and that there is no Elohim, but One, for though, there are those, that are Called Gods, whether in Heaven, or Earth, as that, there are Gods, many, and Lords, many. Yet for us, there is but One Elohim, the Father, from whom all things came, and for whom we Live, and there is but One Lord, Yeshua, the Messiah, through whom are all things, and through whom we Live, but not everyone Knows this, some People, are still so Accustomed to Idols, that when they Eat, such Food, they Think of it, as having been Sacrificed, to an Idol, and since their Conscience, is Weak, it is Defiled, but Food does not bring us near, to Elohim. We are no Worse, if we do not Eat, and no better, if we do, be careful however, that the Exercise, of your Freedom, does not become a Stumbling Block, to the Weak, for if anyone with a Weak Conscience, Sees you, who have this Knowledge, Eating in an Idols Temple, will he not be Emboldened to Eat, what has been Sacrificed, to Idols, so this Weak Brother, for whom the Messiah Died, will be Lost, by your Knowledge, and if you Offend, your Brothers, and so Influence, their Weak Conscience, also you Offend, the Messiah. Therefore, if Meat, causes my Brother, to Stumble, I will Eat no Meat, so that, I may not cause my Brother, to Offend, am I not Free, am I not an Apostle, have I not Seen, Yeshua, the Messiah, our Lord, are you not the Result, of my Work, in our Lord, even though I may not be an Apostle, to others, surely I am to you, for you are the Seal, of my Apostleship, in our Lord.

This is my Defense, to those, who Sit in Judgment, on me, do we not, have the Right, to Food, and Drink, do we not, have the Right, to take a Sister, a Wife, along with us, as do the other Apostles, and our Lord's Brothers, and Peter, or is it only, I, and Barnabas, who must Work, for a Living. What Officer, Commands an Army, at his own Expense, who Plants, a Vineyard, and does not Eat, of its Grapes, who Tends a Flock, and does not Drink, of the Milk, do I Say this, merely from a Human Point, of View, does the Law, not Say the Same thing. For it is Written, in the Law, of Moses, do not Muzzle, an Ox, while it is Treading, out the Wheat, why, is Elohim, concerned only for the Ox, surely he Says this, for us, does he not, yes, this was Written, for us, because when the Plowman, Plows, and the Thresher, Threshes, they ought to do so, in the Hope, of Sharing, in the Harvest. If we have Sown, Elohim's Seed, among you, is it too much, if we Reap, a Material Harvest, from you, if others have this Right, of Support, from you, should we not have it, all the more, but we did not, use this Right, on the Contrary, we put up with anything, that we might in nothing, Impede the Announcement, of the Messiah. Know you not, that they, who Serve, in the Sanctuary, from the Sanctuary, are Sustained, and they, who at the Altar, Serve, share with the Altar, so also Elohim, has Commanded, that they, who his Gospel Preach, should Live, by his Gospel, but I have not used any, of these Rights, and I am not Writing this, in the Hope, that you will do such things, for me, for it would be better for me, to actually Die, then that any Man, should Declare, my Empty Pride. Yet when I Preach, the Gospel, I cannot Boast, for I am Compelled, to Preach, woe to me, if I do not Preach, the Gospel, if I Preach Voluntarily, I have a Reward, if not Voluntarily, I am simply Discharging the Trust, Committed to me. What then is my Reward, just this, that when I Preach, I make the Announcement, of the Messiah, without Cost, and do not make use, of my Rights, in preaching it, being Free from them all, I have made myself Servant, to every Man, that I might gain many.

To the Israelites, I became like a Israelite, to Win the Israelites, to those under the Law, I became like One, under the Law, though I myself, am not under the Law, so as to Win those, under the Law, to those, not having the Law, I became like One, not having the Law, though I am not Lawless, before Elohim, because I have on, the Mind, of the Messiah, so as to Win those, not having the Law, to the Weak, I became Weak, to Win the Weak. I have become all things, to all Men, so that, by all possible means, I might Save some, and this I do, that I may Participate, in the Announcement. Do you not Know, that the Runners, in a Race, all Run, but only One, is Victorious, so you must Run, that you may Obtain Victory, and every Man, who Battles, in the Contest, Frees his Mind, from everything else, and yet, they Run, to Win a Garland, which is Perishable, but we, to Win One, which is Everlasting, I therefore so Run, not for something that is Uncertain, and I so Fight, not as One, who Beats the Air, but I Conquer, and Subdue my Body, so that, by no Chance, when I have Preached, to others, I myself will not, be Disqualified, for the Prize. For I do not want you, to be Ignorant, of the Fact, Brothers, that our Forefathers, were all under the Cloud, and that they, all passed through the Sea, they all Ate, the same Food, and Drank, the same Drink, from the Rock, nevertheless, with many of them, Elohim was not well Pleased, for they were Smitten, in the Wilderness. Now these things, were an Example, for us, that we should not Hanker, after Evil things, as they Hankered, neither should we Serve Idols, as some of them Served, as it is Written, the People Sat Down, to Eat, and to Drink, and Rose Up, to Sport, neither should we, Commit Sexual Immorality, as some of them did, and in One Day, Twenty Three Thousand, of them Died, we should not Test, Elohim, as some of them did, and were Killed, by Snakes, and do not Grumble, as some of them did, and were Killed, by the Hand, of the Destroyer. These things happened to them, as Examples, and were Written Down, as Warnings for us, for the Fulfillment, of the Ages, has come, in our Time.

So if you, Think you are Standing Firm, be careful, that you do not Fall, no Trial comes on you, but what Pertains, to Men, and Elohim is Faithful, who will not permit you, to be Tried beyond, your Ability, but will make an Issue, to your Trial, that you, may be able to sustain it. Therefore my Dear Friends, Flee from the Worship, of Idols, I speak to Sensible People, Judge for yourselves, what I say, is not the Cup, of Thanksgiving, for which we, give Thanks, a Participation in the Blood, of the Messiah, and is not the Bread, that we Break, a Participation in the Body, of the Messiah, because there is One Loaf. Consider the People, of Israel, do not those, who Eat the Sacrifices, Participate in the Altar, do I mean then, that a Sacrifice Offered, to an Idol, is anything, or that an Idol, is anything, no, but the Sacrifices, of the Gentiles, are Offered to Devil's, not to Elohim, and I do not want you, to be Participants with Devil's. You cannot Drink the Cup, of the Messiah, and the Cup, of Devil's, too, you cannot have a part, in both the Messiah's Table, and the Table, of Devil's, are we trying to Provoke, Elohim to Anger, are we Stronger than he. Everything is Permissible, but not everything, is Beneficial, everything is Permissible, but not everything, is Constructive, nobody should Seek, his own good, but the good, of others. Eat anything Sold, in the Meat Market, without raising Question, for Conscience sake, for the Earth, is Elohim's, and everything in it. If some unbeliever, Invites you to a Meal, and you want to go, Eat whatever is put before you, without raising Question, for Conscience sake, but if any Man, Say to you, this Meat has been Offered, as a Sacrifice, then do not Eat it, for the sake of him, who Told you, and for Conscience sake, but the Conscience, of which I Speak, is not yours, but the Conscience, of him, who Told you. For why is my Liberty, Judged by another Man's Conscience, for if I by Grace, am made Worthy, why should I be Reproached, for that, for which I give Thanks, whether therefore, you Eat, or Drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the Glory, of Elohim. Give no Offence, neither to the Israelites, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the Assembly, of Elohim, just as I Please all Men, in all things, not Seeking my own good, but the good, of many, that they may be Saved, Follow my Example, as I Follow the Example, of the Messiah, I Praise you, for Remembering me, in everything, and for Holding, to the Teachings, just as I passed them on, to you.

Now, I want you to Realize, that the Head, of every Man, is the Messiah, and the Head, of the Woman, is Man, and the Head, of the Messiah, is Elohim, every Man, who Prays, or Prophesies, with Long Hair, Dishonors his Head, and every Woman, who Prays, or Prophesies, with no Covering, of Hair, Dishonors her Head. For she is similar to One, whose Head is Shaven, if a Woman, has no Covering, let her be for now, with Short Hair, but since it, is a Disgrace, for a Woman, to have her Hair Shorn, or Shaved, she should Grow it again, a Man, ought not to have Long Hair, since he is the Glory, of Elohim. But the Woman, is the Glory, of Man, for Man, did not come from Woman, but Woman, from Man, neither was Man, made for Woman, but Woman, for Man, for this cause, ought the Woman, to have a Sign, of Authority, on her Head, because of the Angels. In Elohim's Sight, there is not Preference, between Man, and Woman, neither between Woman, and Man, for as Woman came from Man, so also Man, is Born, of Woman, but all things, of Elohim. Judge for yourselves, among yourselves, is it becoming, that a Woman Pray, to Elohim, with her Head Uncovered, does not Nature Teach you, that in a Man, if his Hair grows Long, it is a Reproach, to him, but for a Woman, if her Hair, is Abundant, it is a Glory, to her, for her Hair is given to her, for a Covering, but if anyone is Contentious, about these things, we on our part, have no such Custom, nor the Assemblies, of Elohim.

harrison_lears

Thank you for sharing this. How apt for the world to remember this.