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- This is the sixteenth chapter of the book of Corinthians.
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- Now concerning the collections for the Saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do you.
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- Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when
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- I come. The great duty which the
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- Apostle directs care of and provision for the poor
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- Saints of Jerusalem to receive the poor members of Christ, especially such as suffer for his namesake, is a necessary, is necessary, yea, it's an important duty.
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- We indicate our love and affection to the Lord by our compassion toward the members.
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- The only way that we have of serving the
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- Lord is to others. For when
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- I come, whomsoever you shall approve by your letters, them will
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- I send to bring you liberally unto Jerusalem. And if it be meet that I also go, they shall go with me.
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- It's not in us to affect our own ends. It is by God's power and under his direction that we must do everything.
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- The scripture reminds us that a good man, the steps of a good man are ordered by God.
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- Now I will come unto you when I shall pass through Macedonia, for I do pass through Macedonia.
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- And it may be that I will abide yea and winter with you, that you may bring me on my journey safely whithersoever
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- I go, for I will not see you now, by the way, but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the
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- Lord permit. But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost.
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- This is a Jewish festival occurring fifty days after the Passover, hence called
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- Pentecost. For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
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- What's that mean? All right. What's it mean a great door is opened unto me?
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- Absolutely. God gave him a grand opening to preach the gospel. But he was not to expect that either
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- Satan or wicked men would leave him unmolested. Now, if Timotheus comes, see that he may be with you without fear, for he worketh the work of the
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- Lord as I also, without fear.
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- This was commenced by the opposition or neglect on your part. And he worketh as a wise and faithful minister.
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- Eleven, let no man therefore despise him, but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me, for I look for him with the brethren, accompanying him upon his journey, that he may come to them in peace.
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- As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desire him to come unto you with the brethren.
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- But his will was not at all to come at this time.
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- But he will come when he shall have convenient time. So it's very possible that we see here that everything didn't go the way
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- Paul wanted it. It's not Apollos' will to come.
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- But he will come later. Watch ye, stand fast in the law of faith.
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- Quit ye like men, be strong. Watch you. Watchfulness is necessary in daily duty.
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- We are to watch every day. Now we watch for what? Jesse?
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- Alright. Deborah? Alright, we cannot be safe one moment without it.
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- We have to watch. Something we must watch over.
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- Something we must watch against. All sin. All appearances of sin.
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- All temptations to sin. All occasions of sinning. We must watch for all opportunities of glorifying
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- God. For opportunities of doing good to others. In case you're wondering,
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- I have coffee in that cup. I've got a long ways to go today, so I have to,
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- I hope, keep my voice clear. Fourteen.
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- Let all your things be done with charity. The sum of all the commandments is what?
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- Love. Without love, you can do nothing. Both toward God and toward our neighbors.
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- It is not praying, if you thought that was first. It's not hearing, if you thought that was first.
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- Or receiving at the Lord's table, which is fulfillment of the commandment.
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- But when these duties are done in love, and we may do many things commanded toward men.
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- Yet if we do them not in love to men, we do nothing as the
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- Lord commanded. It's all very simple unless everything's done with love. Then you can go through all of the others.
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- But without love, they mean nothing. I beseech you brethren, you know the house of Stephanus.
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- That it is the first fruits of Achaia. And that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.
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- That's a rather interesting phrase. They have addicted themselves. Greg, what's that mean?
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- Well, I don't know. Alright.
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- It's an addiction of lies, so they can't live without it. Alright, very good.
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- That you submit yourselves unto such, and to everyone that helpeth with us, and laboreth.
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- Submit yourselves unto such. That is, give reverence and honor to them.
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- Consider them as standing closer to the Lord than you. And to all such as are like unto them.
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- Who labored with the apostles in the furthering of the gospel. All of those that labored with me,
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- I command you to love them. Submit yourselves, treat them with respect, and be suitably influenced by them.
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- I am glad of the coming of Stephanus, and Fortunus, and Archaus.
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- For that which was lacking on your part, they have supplied. They have supplied what was wanting on your part.
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- They have performed the offices of love, which you could not by reason of your absence.
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- They loved, but they could not be with him. For they have refreshed my spirit and yours.
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- Therefore, acknowledge ye them that are such. Acknowledge.
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- Render them due acknowledgment by kind reception of them. Know them in their true worth, and treat them accordingly.
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- The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you. Much in the
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- Lord. Who was Aquila and Priscilla? Greg? He had been too long missing.
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- Deborah? All right.
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- The nature and manner of this salutation, they salute you in the Lord. That is, with a spiritual affection.
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- For the grace of God that is in you. That is why they salute you. And wishing you an overflowing stream of spiritual blessings from Christ.
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- And they all come from Christ. All the brethren greet you.
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- Greet you one another with a holy kiss. All the Christians with whom
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- Paul was connected in Ephesus. They felt a deep interest in the church of Corinth and sent to them
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- Christian salutations. The salutation of me,
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- Paul, with mine own hand. If any man love not his
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- Lord, love not the Lord Jesus Christ. Let him be anathema.
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- Maranathema. What in the world, Greg, does that mean? What's that mean?
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- What do you suppose maranathema means? Revolting?
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- Yes, that's revolting, all right. Everything connected with being cursed.
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- He made it very, very strong. Observe here how those who do not sincerely love our
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- Lord Jesus Christ are under the heaviest and bitterest of divine curses.
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- That's right.
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- The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Jesus Christ.
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- Amen. My love and so forth. After having administered some severe rebukes, he closes with expressions of love.
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- His very rebukes were prompted by love. How can that be?
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- Joy? Debbie?
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- That's right. Therefore are all together in harmony with the profession of love made here.
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- Paul truly loved them. It was love in Christ Jesus, and therefore he embraced all who loved him.
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- Well, we finished rather quickly. Is there any questions? No questions, unless Dan and Greg, will you dismiss us, please?
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- Jesse, would you come up here, please? I'm going to go to 2
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- Corinthians. You're number four.
