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Let Your Light Shine

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.  Proverbs 4:18 KJV

When we faithfully follow the Word of God, we walk in the light. The more we walk with God, the brighter our path shines and the greater our life reflects His glory and grace.

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.  Isaiah 9:2 KJV

Jesus is the great light that has been seen by the people who walked in the dark. We were all once in the dark. When we truly SEE – and believe in – Jesus, we are supernaturally translated into the Kingdom of His light.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV

The government is on Jesus’ shoulders. We are His body – the government is on OUR shoulders. In other words, Jesus is King over all the earth and His will is what will prevail. Our responsibility is to carry the leadership of our nation. We must pray; we must lead; we must set a godly example and not be afraid to speak the full counsel of God inside the church and outside the church and even to leaders, presidents and kings!

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. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.  2 Corinthians 4:3-7 KJV

Because men are blinded by the devil, they have not yet seen or received this glorious Gospel, but for those of us who believe, this light has shined in our hearts. In Genesis, God said, “Let there be Light” and light came forth out of the darkness without sun or moon or stars! This same great light has shined IN our hearts and this light must shine OUT of us as well – the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

We have this great treasure, of this powerful, glorious light, in earthen vessels. God doesn’t need a perfect, golden vessel to shine through – He can shine even through earthen vessels – if the earthen vessels allow the light to shine. When people see that God is doing His work even through an earthen vessel – He gets all the glory. Your earthen vessel can take no credit for what God does through you. On the other hand, don’t ever allow your earthen vessel to limit you to small thinking, believing and doing. Because HE lives in you, you have His unlimited power and ability available through you. Just let Him shine!

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1 KJV

YOU must rise and shine! God is waiting on YOU! The light is in you – stand up and shine!

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  Matthew 5:13-16 KJV

You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world!  There is nothing worse than salt that has lost its potency – it’s still salt, but good for nothing. Salt stings an open wound, but it is a perfect preserving agent. The world may be offended by the Gospel, but it is the salty Christians who are holding back the tide of the wicked one. Stay salty! Your good works glorify your Father in heaven!

You can’t hide a light on a hill. God has raised you up and it’s too late to hide – so stand up and shine! You can’t hide a light in the darkness. The darker the place, the brighter your light shines – even if it’s a small light – it can be seen a long way off. Don’t hide your light under a jug – let it do its job and shine brightly on whatever “candlestick” or “lampstand” that God has placed you on. Don’t be ashamed of the Gospel – this Gospel saved your life – boldly shine it to those who walk in darkness.

That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.  Philippians 2:15 KJV

Live godly, so that your light can brightly shine in the midst of this perverse generation!

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.  Revelation 21:23

Our future is a future lived in the glorious light of the Lamb of God. Because we have this great hope, we continue to allow God to use us and we work to see HIS plans and purposes fulfilled and not our own. Thank God that we walk in the light and we shine the light and His power and glory are manifested through us in order to touch and change the world!

The Lost Love

One of the smashing things about our heavenly Dad is that thru the Scripture, He uncovers what matters to Him. In the parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the “lost” prodigal child, Jesus divulges the heart of God.

People who have missed the saving truth of God, as well as followers who have rambled away from His methods, learn that they matter seriously to Him. Just as the widow scoured the room to find the coin, God pursues us so we might accept His present of religion. Like the shepherd who left those ninety-nine sheep in safety to find the one who had wandered away, our Shepherd has the emphasis of bringing us into relationship with Himself.

And His concern is similar whether we are wandering for the 1st or hundredth time. Just as the prodigal’s dad welcomed his son back and pardoned him, our heavenly Pop guarantees the same to us. Due to the saving work of Jesus Christ, God’s love “keeps no record of wrongs” ( one Corinthians 13:5 ). The prodigal’s pop threw a celebratory party, and Scripture tells us that heaven rejoices when one who was lost has been found ( Luke 15:6, 9-10, 24 ). Does your heart beat as God’s does for the lost? If not, pray for a heart change. One of the glorious things about our heavenly Pop is that through the Scripture, He uncovers what matters to Him.

In the parables of the lost coin, the lost sheep, and the “lost” prodigal kid, Jesus shares the heart of God. Folks who have missed the saving truth of God, as well as supporters who have walked away from His truths, learn that they matter noticeably to Him. Just as the widow scoured the room to find the coin, God pursues us so we would accept His present of deliverance. And His concern has similarities whether we are rambling for the first or hundredth time.

Just as the prodigal’s pa welcomed his boy back and excused him, our heavenly Dad guarantees the same to us. Because of the saving work of Jesus Christ, God’s love “keeps no record of wrongs” ( one Corinthians 13:5 ). The prodigal’s father threw a celebratory party, and Scripture tells us that heaven rejoices when one who was lost has been found ( Luke 15:6, 9-10, twenty-four ). Our loving heavenly Pa craves that each person in His creation be “found.”. Does your heart beat as God’s does for the lost? If not, pray for a heart change.

Controlling your envious attitude

Is it feasible to grab control of an envious attitude? Yes, it definitely is. Knowing that God wants His kids to be in command of these feelings, let’s inspect some specific things you can do to gain victory. This emotion will always – always – take your eyes off God and fix them on someone else or object. When you place a higher worth on some “thing” than you place on the Lord, you put yourself under judgment.

If He selects to bring some express blessing into someone else’s life, that is His privilege. Your jealousy is just an announcement that you believe you merit that blessing more than the other person. Bring this argument truthfully before the Lord, and ask Him to revive a godly viewpoint to your intellect. Thank God for what he does in that person’s life. However, when you praise God – even if you don’t feel like it – you put yourself in a position to get His blessings by showing that you totally trust His judgment. Ask God to put love in your heart for the other person.

So frequently in Scripture, the word “jealous” is followed by the word “anger.” don’t allow envy to stir up ill will and hate toward somebody else. Ask the Lord to wipe away these unhealthy feelings today.

Is it feasible to get control of an envious attitude? Yes, it is. This emotion will always – always – take your eyes off God and fix them on someone else or object. When you place a higher price on some “thing” than you place on the Lord, you put yourself under judgment.

If He selects to bring some particular blessing into somebody else’s life, that is His privilege. Your envy is simply a statement that you think you merit that blessing more than the other person. Bring this honestly before the Lord, and ask Him to revive a godly viewpoint to your intelligence. Thank God for what he does in that person’s life. However, when you praise God – even if you do not feel like it – you put yourself in a position to get His blessings by showing that you fully trust His judgment. Ask God to set love in your heart for the other person.

So frequently in Scripture, the word “jealous” is followed by the word “anger.” don’t permit envy to stir up sick will and hate toward someone else. Ask the Lord to wipe away these unhealthy feelings today.

Forgive With Finality

Rodney Howard Browne shows us God's beauty in snow

If you consistently struggle to pardon folk who have wronged you, you will consider yourself incapable of that sort of forgiveness. Many of us are convinced that forgiveness is just a feeling that may be experienced in the face of conflict. What a poor understanding! True forgiveness isn’t a feeling, but an action.

If you find it difficult to pardon other people, take an active role in the midst by following these suggestions: recognize and confess an unforgiving spirit. No, it isn’t always straightforward to pardon somebody. We are occasionally the targets of enormously harmful offenses. However, we aren’t in charge of folk’s behavior; we are responsible for our own.

God commanded us to be loving, forgiving folks. If we are unforgiving, that is our problem and nobody else’s – we must repent of this sin and ask God to help our unforgiveness. Release the other person.

Make a conscious decision to release the offender in your mind. When you end up reliving the small print of the annoying behavior, force yourself to stop. Pardon the offender forgetfully. When you keep the details fresh in your mind, you trap yourself in a cycle of pain.

Select instead to split the individual from the distressing memory. Pardon with finality. True forgiveness is complete. This implies that you can’t “forgive” somebody and then continually bring the topic up. Pardon them and go on. If you’ve been nursing a grudge against a particular person, ask God for the will to pardon. Then, do it!

Is healing God’s will?

Many people in the religious world pray “Lord, if it be Thy will, heal Sister Bucketmouth. Lord, if it be Thy will, heal Brother Doodad.” But we know from God’s Word that healing is the will of God. We need to settle this issue in our hearts.

Yet some folks say, “If healing is God’s will, why doesn’t everybody get healed?” That’s like saying, “Why doesn’t everybody get saved?” Are we going to throw out salvation because not everybody gets saved? Even though people turn down salvation, it’s not going to stop me from preaching salvation. Even though people might turn down healing, it’s not going to stop me from preaching healing! Salvation and healing are set in the Gospel!

They have been paid for and purchased by the blood of Jesus and by the stripes He bore at Calvary! “I don’t understand why some people receive their healing and some don’t, Rodney.” Well, there are a lot of things that we don’t understand, and every case is different. There are reasons why you don’t always see instantaneous miracles, but I’m not going to debate why one person is healed instantly and the next one isn’t. That is an issue between them and God. I’m going to go for it like God will heal everybody every single time that we pray for them. If I didn’t believe that, I would never pray for the sick.

Rodney Howard Browne teaches us to remember that God’s Word is true, regardless of our personal experience. “Well, what happens if we pray and they die?” If they’re born again, they will go to heaven. Death for the child of God is not a problem. For the child of God, death is a blessing. The only ones who have a problem with death are the ones who are left behind, but if they are believers and the person who died is a believer, we do not mourn as those who have no hope. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:13.) We know we will be together for eternity.

Is healing God’s will? There are several phrases that I want you to note from the ministry of Jesus. “He healed all that were sick.” (See Matthew 8:16.) “He healed them all.” (See Matthew 12:15.) “He healed their sick.” (See Matthew 14:14.) ‘As many as touched Him were made perfectly whole.” (See Matthew 14:36.)

Even though when Jesus went to Nazareth He could do no mighty work because of their unbelief, He still healed some people. In other places He usually healed every single sick person in the place. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

And his fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those that were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

MATTHEW 4:23-24

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and he healed all that were sick.

MATTHEW 8:16

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence; and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.

MATTHEW 12:15

In Nazareth, Jesus healed a few sick people of minor ailments, but could do no mighty miracles because of their unbelief. In other places, mentioned above, He healed and delivered everyone who came to Him. What was the difference? It was not Jesus — He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The difference between miracles and no miracles was the faith — or unbelief — of the people. So which do you want to believe God for?

Succeeding through Christ

Robert Howard Browne shows us a sunset

God wants us to be a hit in our Christian life. He outlines success as turning into the person that He wants us to be and realizing the goals that He has set for our lives. His Word tells us that godly feat starts with our thinking (Proverbs 23:7 KJV). Why? Because God has designed our mind to be a tough tool that impacts our angles and our actions, both toward Him and toward other people.

The godliness of our minds determines to a giant degree the godliness of our lives. The Scriptures let us know that before our deliverance, we were divided and antagonistic in mind toward the things of God (Colossians 1:21). So our old way of thinking is of tiny price in our turning into the person God wants us to be. That’s why the Bible indoctrinates us to be made new in the perspective of our thinking (Ephesians 4:23) and gives us direction on what to dump from and add to our minds (Ephesians 4:31-32).

Antagonistic thinking is to get replaced by the truth of the Word.

Reasoning God’s way means to “set our minds” on the things of God. Each day, we are to pick to have the Lord’s perspective; we must also reject any thinking that leads to conformity with the planet’s tactics (Romans 12:2). When we fix our attention on who God is, on His plan for us, and on a way to please Him, we’ll start thinking His way. To be successful in the dominion of God requires “kingdom” thinking.

Following the Ministry of Jesus

I believe another way to increase the anointing is

to spend much time reading the gospels and following

closely the ministry of Jesus. Jesus said, “The Son can do

nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do”

(John 5:19). I believe we will only do what we see Jesus

do.

The disciples followed Jesus and saw the signs

and wonders and miracles that He did. He said to them,

“He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do

also; and greater works than these shall he do: because I

go unto my Father” (John 14:12).

Rodney Howard Browne teaches that God sent the Holy Ghost to empower them that

they might go forth and do His works. Later, when Peter

and John were taken in front of the chief priests and

elders and commanded not to preach or teach in the name

of Jesus, they said, “We cannot but speak the things

which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

You Will Be Like Those You Hang Around

You will only do what you have seen and heard. If

you hang around a ministry that does not believe in

healing and in the power of the Holy Spirit, then you will

be just like that.

When people come to me and say, “I don’t believe

in miracles,” or tell me that miracles have passed away, I

tell them that they have come too late to convince me.

I’ve seen God move. I believe in miracles.

Something that has been a blessing to me is

reading about one of the miracles Jesus did. Then I close

my eyes and watch what He did, picturing before my very

eyes how exciting it would be to attend Jesus’ crusades

and to witness the miracles He did.

Looking For a Man; Missing Your Miracle

Let’s look at the story of the man Jesus healed at

the pool of Bethesda found in John 5:1-9. The Bible says

there was by the sheep market a pool, in the Hebrew

tongue called Bethesda, having five porches. In these

porches lay a great multitude of blind, halt, and maimed

people, waiting for the troubling of the water. At a certain

season an angel would come and trouble the water and

whoever stepped in first was made whole of whatever

disease he had.

If you can, for a moment, picture the events that

transpired. An angel would come down and trouble the

water. Imagine how frustrating it must have been for

those who had been waiting for years for their miracle.

While they were coming, someone else got there ahead of

them.

Jesus arrives on the scene and walks up to a man

who was powerless to help himself. He asks him a

question. “Wilt thou be made whole?” That seems a

ridiculous question to ask a man who is sitting by a

healing pool waiting for an angel to trouble the water. If

he was from New York he might have said, “Of course, I

want to be healed. What do you think I am sitting here

for, my health?”

Jesus was provoking the man to see where he was.

The man gave Jesus a ridiculous answer in response to

the question. He said, “Sir, I have no man. While I am

coming, another steps down and is healed in my place.”

Jesus didn’t ask him if he had a man. He asked him, “Wilt

thou be made whole?” In reality, Jesus was saying, “I am

your man. Rise, take up your bed, and walk.” The man

arose and walked.

Looking for the Missing Pieces of the Puzzle

Anyone reading this passage of scripture would

say to me, “Well, Brother Rodney, isn’t it wonderful that

the man was healed?” Yes, it is wonderful. But when I

read this scripture, something bothered me about this

whole story and I couldn’t put my finger on it.

I read and reread this passage of scripture and I

could not help wondering, If all those sick people were

there, why did Jesus only heal one. I could not understand

why others around this man didn’t shout out to Jesus and

ask Him to come over and heal them as He had healed

that man.

After praying about it, the answer suddenly

dawned on me. It was so simple I could have kicked

myself for not seeing it sooner. The reason the others

were not healed was because they had a man to help them

get into the pool. They were so busy looking to their man,

they missed their miracle. Their miracle came into the

midst of them, and then left. They were untouched

because they were too busy to see what had happened

right in front of them.

As we spend time in the Gospels and follow the

ministry of Jesus, we begin to see it without the cloak of

religion and in the power of the gospel.

HEARTS ON FIRE

Foundation Scriptures: Exodus 2:11-15; Exodus 3:1-22; Exodus 4:1-17


Exodus 2:11-15 tells us that Moses killed an Egyptian who was beating an Israelite, but when he rebuked one Israelite for beating another, they got mad at him. They did not recognize nor acknowledge his divine call at that point. When Moses realized that everyone knew what he had done, including Pharaoh who now wanted to kill him, he fled and took refuge in the
land of Midian. Moses was destined to deliver Israel from their bondage in Egypt, but by God’s power and in God’s time, not by the arm of the flesh.


Exodus 3:1-22 says that one day while Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, on the backside of the wilderness, he led the flock to Mount Sinai. The Angel of the Lord appeared to him there in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush that burned with fire, but was not consumed. As he approached the bush, the Lord began to speak to him, “And the Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters and oppressors; for I know their sorrows and sufferings and trials. And I have come down to deliver them out of the hand and power of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a land good and large, a land flowing with milk and honey [a land of plenty].” (Exodus 3:7-8a AMP)


Then the Lord said, “Now behold, the cry of the Israelites has come to Me, and I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh, that you may bring forth My people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. And Moses said to God, Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? God said, I will surely be with you; and this shall be the sign to you that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain [Horeb, or Sinai].” (Exodus 3:9-12 AMP)


Then Moses asked God what he should say to the Israelites when he told them that the God of their fathers had sent him to them and they asked him, “What is His name?” The Lord said, “Tell them I AM!” Then He told Moses that He would give the Israelites favor and they would not leave empty-handed. They would strip the Egyptians of their belongings – jewels, articles of gold and silver, and garments – which were the payment owed to them for their years of slavery.

Rodney Howard Browne explains that Moses still did not think that the Israelites would believe him or obey him, so God first gave him two signs – the rod turning into a snake and back again and the hand turning leprous and then healthy again. Then God gave him a third sign. He said, in Exodus 4:8-9 AMP, “If they will not believe you or heed the voice or the testimony of the first sign, they may believe the voice or the witness of the second sign. But if they will also not believe these two signs or heed your voice, you shall take some water of the river [Nile] and pour it upon the dry land; and the water which you take out of the river [Nile] shall become blood on the dry land.” Moses still argued with God about his inadequacies and inability to fulfill this great mission and the Lord became angry with him, however, God told Moses that Aaron, his brother would go with him and help him to speak to Israel and to Pharaoh.


1.  This story of Moses and the burning bush is a type and shadow of God anointing us for service in His Kingdom.


a.    Moses, in a moment of anger, resorted to the arm of the flesh, killed an Egyptian, fled the land, and ended up looking after sheep on the backside of the desert. Even though God had called Him to deliver His people from bondage and captivity, he felt like a failure.

b.    How many of us, in the past, have been hasty and resorted to the arm of the flesh only to find ourselves out of the plan of God and on the backside of the desert?

c.   All is not lost however – God could still visit you with a “burning bush experience”.

? Moses was empowered at the burning bush

? God anointed him with the power to do signs and wonders

? The signs were the rod, the hand in his bosom, and the water poured out and turned into blood

? God told Moses that He would be with his mouth – He would help him to say what he was commanded to say

d.    God said, if they would not listen to the voice of the first sign or the second sign, there would be a third sign – a sign speaks

2.  It is important for each of us to have a burning bush experience.


a.    If we are to be used by God, we need to first have an encounter with God

b.    I do not have any proof of this, but I believe that when Moses stood in front of Pharaoh, Pharaoh saw the flames of the bush reflected in Moses’ eyes!

c.    When Moses spoke, it was like God speaking: Let my people go!


3.  This week is an opportunity for you to press in and allow the Lord to touch you with His anointing.


a.    How hungry are you?

b.    How thirsty are you?

c.    My testimony – my “burning bush” experience – occurred when I got intensely hungry and thirsty for God in July 1979 and He touched me with His fire


Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6 KJV

Is that a good outline of your life?

Some know precisely why they are stalled but have not been able to move past the sin that trips them up. Others feel blind to the source of their difficulties but understand that all they do is run prepared. Israel, God’s selected country, had a record of defeat because they compromised and yielded to enticement rather than obeying God’s commands. Compromise defeats us too. God calls His kids to live obedient lives, but instead, we are sometimes occupied with our own self-centered wants. At the same time, we are influenced by both the world and Devil . The reality is that our self-absorbed side likes reinterpreting God’s commands to suit us.

The world clamors for us to join its way of thinking but shows tiny desire to follow God’s way. Thru Scripture, the Lord commands us to rid our lives of ungodliness ( Titus 2:11-12 ), and He provides the Lord God Almighty’s power, which enables us to do so.

When we yield to enticement, we start losing God’s power that helps us stand firm. Have you concluded with God that your angle or action is displeasing to Him? Have you set your consciousness on obeying God, whatever the cost you? Only dumb folk believe they can compromise and live a winning Christ-centered life.. Is a good outline of your life? It is for many Christians.

Some know exactly why they’re stalled but have not been able to move past the sin that trips them up. Folks feel blind to the source of their problems but understand that all they do is run prepared. Compromise defeats us too. God calls His youngsters to live obedient lives, but instead, we are customarily occupied with our own self-centered wishes. At the same time, we are influenced by both the world and Demon .

The actuality is that our greedy side likes reinterpreting God’s commands to suit us. The world clamors for us to join its way of thinking but shows little would like to follow God’s way. Thru Scripture, the Lord commands us to rid our lives of ungodliness ( Titus 2:11-12 ), and He supplies the Lord God’s power, which enables us to do so.

When we yield to enticement, we start losing God’s power that helps us stand firm. Have you concluded with God that your point of view or action is displeasing to Him? Have you set your intelligence on obeying God, whatever the cost you? Only dumb folk believe they can compromise and live a winning Christ-centered life.

Beyond Ourselves

“Give me a break! Lift the pressure. Do something.” Have you ever cried out to God in this way? There are many people who live and work in situations in which there seems to be no relief or way out of the hardship. They experience a constant, crushing strain. Perhaps it’s caused by physical discomfort from an illness or by poor family life.

God promises His children a practical and readily available source of strength. When we are in need of great might, God provides a supernatural energy that expresses itself intellectually, morally, physically, and spiritually in the life of the believer. What is the source of our strength? Jesus Christ. When we by faith received the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, He came to dwell in us in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Rodney Howard Browne teaches that we do not have to beg and plead for God to provide us with the strength to face difficult circumstances; He has already given us the gift. Our acknowledgement of weakness and our confession that we need Christ opens the door to the unsurpassable power of God flowing through us. Declaring that we have come to the end of our own capacity allows the Lord to demonstrate His provision and protection over his children.

There are experiences in life that are beyond our control and certainly beyond our limited strength to endure. If we don’t know the key to persevering, then we will tumble and fall. So, it is essential that we continually grow in our Christian life through studying God’s Word and seeking His will.

  • 1.
  • Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
  • 2.
  • Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
  • 3.
  • Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
  • 4.
  • Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
  • 5.
  • For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
  • 6.
  • And whether we be afflicted , it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer : or whether we be comforted , it is for your consolation and salvation.
  • 7.
  • And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing , that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
  • 8.
  • For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life :
  • 9.
  • But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves , but in God which raiseth the dead:
  • 10.
  • Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver : in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
  • 11.
  • Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
  • 12.
  • For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
  • 13.
  • For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge ; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
  • 14.
  • As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
  • 15.
  • And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
  • 16.
  • And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.
  • 17.
  • When I therefore was thus minded , did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose , do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?
  • 18.
  • But as God is true , our word toward you was not yea and nay.
  • 19.
  • For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
  • 20.
  • For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
  • 21.
  • Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
  • 22.
  • Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
  • 23.
  • Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
  • 24.
  • Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand .