"... we became gentle in the midst of YOU, as when a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, having a tender affection for YOU, we were well pleased to impart to YOU, not only the good news of God, but also our own souls, because YOU became beloved to us. Certainly YOU bear in mind, brothers, our labor and toil. It was with working night and day, so as not to put an expensive burden upon any one of YOU, that we preached the good news of God to YOU. YOU are witnesses, God is also, how loyal and righteous and unblamable we proved to be to YOU believers. In harmony with that YOU well know how, as a father does his children, we kept exhorting each one of YOU, and consoling and bearing witness to YOU, to the end that YOU should go on walking worthily of God who is calling YOU to his kingdom and glory. Indeed, that is why we also thank God incessantly, because when YOU received God’s word, which YOU heard from us, YOU accepted it, not as the word of men, but, just as it truthfully is, as the word of God, which is also at work in YOU believers. For YOU became imitators, brothers, of the congregations of God that are in Ju·de′a in union with Christ Jesus, because YOU also began suffering at the hands of YOUR own countrymen the same things as they also are suffering at the hands of the Jews, who killed even the Lord Jesus and the prophets and persecuted us. Furthermore, they are not pleasing God, but are against the interests of all men, as they try to hinder us from speaking to people of the nations that these might be saved, with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But his wrath has at length come upon them. As for ourselves, brothers, when we were bereaved of YOU for but a short time, in person, not in heart, we endeavored far more than is usual to see YOUR faces with great desire. For this reason we wanted to come to YOU, yes, I Paul, both once and a second time, but Satan cut across our path. For what is our hope or joy or crown of exultation—why, is it not in fact YOU?—before our Lord Jesus at his presence? YOU certainly are our glory and joy."- 1 Thessalonians “These things, however, I did not tell YOU at first, because I was with YOU. But now I am going to him that sent me, and yet not one of YOU asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I have spoken these things to YOU grief has filled YOUR hearts. Nevertheless, I am telling YOU the truth, It is for YOUR benefit I am going away. For if I do not go away, the helper will by no means come to YOU; but if I do go my way, I will send him to YOU. And when that one arrives he will give the world convincing evidence concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment: in the first place, concerning sin, because they are not exercising faith in me; then concerning righteousness, because I am going to the Father and YOU will behold me no longer; then concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. “I have many things yet to say to YOU, but YOU are not able to bear them at present. However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide YOU into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming. That one will glorify me, because he will receive from what is mine and will declare it to YOU. All the things that the Father has are mine. That is why I said he receives from what is mine and declares it to YOU. In a little while YOU will behold me no longer, and, again, in a little while YOU will see me.”- John "Therefore I said, ‘Do listen to me. I shall declare my knowledge, even I.’ Look! I have waited for the words of YOU men, I kept giving ear to YOUR reasonings, Until YOU could search for words to say. And to YOU I kept my attention turned, And here there is no one reproving Job, None of YOU answering his sayings, That YOU may not say, ‘We have found wisdom; It is God that drives him away, not a man.’ As he has not arrayed words against me, So with the sayings of YOU men I shall not reply to him. They have been terrified, they have answered no more; Words have moved away from them. And I have waited, for they do not continue speaking; For they stood still, they answered no more. I shall give in answer my part, even I; I shall declare my knowledge, even I; For I have become full of words; Spirit has brought pressure upon me in my belly. Look! My belly is like wine that has no vent; Like new skin bottles it wants to burst open. Let me speak that it may be a relief to me. I shall open my lips that I may answer. Let me not, please, show partiality to a man; And on an earthling man I shall not bestow a title; For I certainly do not know how I can bestow a title; Easily my Maker would carry me away. “Now, however, O Job, please hear my words, And to all my speaking do give ear. Look, please! I have to open my mouth; My tongue with my palate has to speak. My sayings are the uprightness of my heart, And knowledge is what my lips do utter sincerely. God’s own spirit made me, And the Almighty’s own breath proceeded to bring me to life. If you are able, make reply to me, Array words before me; do take your station. Look! I am to the true God just what you are; From the clay I was shaped, I too. Look! No frightfulness in me will terrify you, And no pressure by me will be heavy upon you. Only you have said in my ears, And the sound of your words I kept hearing, ‘I am pure without transgression; Clean I am, and I have no error. Look! Occasions for opposition to me he finds, He takes me for an enemy of his. He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’ Look! In this you have not been in the right, I answer you; For God is much more than mortal man. Why is it against him that you contended, Because all your words he does not answer? For God speaks once, And twice—though one does not regard it— In a dream, a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, During slumbers upon the bed. It is then that he uncovers the ear of men, And on exhortation to them he puts his seal, To turn aside a man from his deed, And that he may cover pride itself from an able-bodied man. He keeps his soul back from the pit And his life from passing away by a missile. And he is actually reproved with pain upon his bed, And the quarreling of his bones is continual. And his life certainly makes bread loathsome, And his own soul desirable food. His flesh wastes away from sight, And his bones that were not seen certainly grow bare. And his soul draws near to the pit, And his life to those inflicting death. If there exists for him a messenger, A spokesman, one out of a thousand, To tell to man his uprightness, Then he favors him and says, ‘Let him off from going down into the pit! I have found a ransom! Let his flesh become fresher than in youth; Let him return to the days of his youthful vigor.’ He will make entreaty to God that he may take pleasure in him, And he will see his face with joyful shouting, And He will restore His righteousness to mortal man. He will sing to men and say, ‘I have sinned; and what is upright I have perverted, And it certainly was not the proper thing for me. He has redeemed my soul from passing into the pit, And my life itself will see the light.’ Look! All these things God performs, Two times, three times, in the case of an able-bodied man, To turn his soul back from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of those living. Pay attention, O Job! Listen to me! Keep silent, and I myself shall continue speaking. If there are any words to say, make reply to me; Speak, for I have taken delight in your righteousness. If there are none, you yourself listen to me; Keep silent, and I shall teach you wisdom.”- Job "Therefore those in union with Christ Jesus have no condemnation. For the law of that spirit which gives life in union with Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For, there being an incapability on the part of the Law, while it was weak through the flesh, God, by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us who walk, not in accord with the flesh, but in accord with the spirit. For those who are in accord with the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those in accord with the spirit on the things of the spirit. For the minding of the flesh means death, but the minding of the spirit means life and peace; because the minding of the flesh means enmity with God, for it is not under subjection to the law of God, nor, in fact, can it be. So those who are in harmony with the flesh cannot please God. However, YOU are in harmony, not with the flesh, but with the spirit, if God’s spirit truly dwells in YOU."- Romans "Besides those things of an external kind, there is what rushes in on me from day to day, the anxiety for all the congregations. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is stumbled, and I am not incensed? If boasting there must be, I will boast of the things having to do with my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, even the One who is to be praised forever, knows I am not lying. In Damascus the governor under A·re′tas the king was guarding the city of the Dam·a·scenes′ to seize me, but through a window in the wall I was lowered in a wicker basket and escaped his hands. I have to boast. It is not beneficial; but I shall pass on to supernatural visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in union with Christ who, fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know; God knows—was caught away as such to the third heaven. Yes, I know such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body, I do not know, God knows— that he was caught away into paradise and heard unutterable words which it is not lawful for a man to speak. Over such a man I will boast, but I will not boast over myself, except as respects my weaknesses. For if I ever do want to boast, I shall not be unreasonable, for I shall say the truth. But I abstain, in order that no one should put to my credit more than what he sees I am or he hears from me, just because of the excess of the revelations. Therefore, that I might not feel overly exalted, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan, to keep slapping me, that I might not be overly exalted. In this behalf I three times entreated the Lord that it might depart from me; and yet he really said to me: “My undeserved kindness is sufficient for you; for my power is being made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, will I rather boast as respects my weaknesses, that the power of the Christ may like a tent remain over me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in cases of need, in persecutions and difficulties, for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am powerful."- 1 Timothy
Posted on: Wed, 09 Oct 2013 15:28:31 +0000
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