4So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin.G3767G5547G3958G5228G2257G4561G3695G5210G2532G846G1771G3754G3958G1722G4561G3973G2662You won't spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.G1519G980G3371G980G1954G5550G1722G4561G1939G444G235G2307G23163You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols.G1063G5550G3928G979G713G2254G2716G2307G1484G4198G1722G766G1939G3632G2970G4224G2532G111G14954Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you.G1722G3739G3579G5216G4936G3361G1519G846G401G810G9875But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.G3739G591G3056G2192G2093G2919G2198G2532G34986That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead—so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit.G1063G1519G5124G2097G2532G3498G2443G2919G3303G2596G444G4561G1161G2198G2596G2316G41517The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.G1161G5056G3956G1448G4993G3767G4993G2532G3525G1519G43358Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.G1161G4253G3956G2192G1618G26G1519G1438G3754G26G2572G4128G2669Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.G5382G1519G240G427G111210God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.G2531G1538G2983G5486G1247G846G1519G1438G5613G2570G3623G4164G5485G231611Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.G1536G2980G5613G3051G2316G1536G1247G5613G1537G2479G3739G2316G5524G2443G2316G1722G3956G1392G1223G2424G5547G3739G2076G1391G2532G2904G1519G165G165G281
Suffering for Being a Christian
12Dear friends, don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.G27G3579G3361G3579G5213G4451G1722G1096G4314G3986G5213G5613G3581G4819G521313Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world.G235G5463G2526G2841G5547G3804G2443G1722G846G1391G602G5463G2532G2114So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you.G1487G3679G1722G3686G5547G3107G3754G4151G1391G2532G2316G373G1909G5209G2596G3303G846G987G1161G2596G5209G139215If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people's affairs.G1063G3958G3361G5100G5216G3958G5613G5406G2228G2812G2228G2555G2228G5613G24416But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name!G1161G1487G5613G5546G153G3361G153G1161G1392G2316G1722G5129G331317For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God's household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God's Good News?G3754G2540G2917G756G575G3624G2316G1161G1487G4412G575G2257G5101G5056G544G2098G231618And also, "If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?"G2532G1487G1342G3433G4982G4226G5316G765G2532G268G531619So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.G5620G2532G3908G3958G2596G2307G2316G3908G1438G5590G1722G16G5613G4103G2939
Prayer Tents is a Christian mission organization that serves Christians around the world and their local bodies to make disciples ("evangelize") more effectively in their communities. Prayer Tents provides resources to enable Christians to form discipleship-focused small groups and make their gatherings known so that other "interested" people may participate and experience Christ in their midst. Our Vision is to make disciples in all nations through the local churches so that anyone seeking God can come to know Him through relationships with other Christians near them.
Columbus, OH
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