1Corinthians 9 - Prayer Tents



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1Corinthians 9
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Paul Gives Up His Rights

9Am I not as free as anyone else? Am I not an apostle? Haven't I seen Jesus our Lord with my own eyes? Isn't it because of my work that you belong to the Lord?G1510G3756G652G1510G3756G1658G3780G3708G2424G5547G2257G2962G2075G3756G5210G3450G2041G1722G2962 2Even if others think I am not an apostle, I certainly am to you. You yourselves are proof that I am the Lord's apostle.G1487G1510G3756G652G243G235G1065G1510G5213G1063G4973G1699G651G2075G5210G1722G2962 3This is my answer to those who question my authority.G1699G627G350G1691G2076G3778 4Don't we have the right to live in your homes and share your meals?G2192G3378G1849G5315G2532G4095 5Don't we have the right to bring a Christian wife with us as the other apostles and the Lord's brothers do, and as Peter does?G2192G3378G1849G4013G79G1135G5613G2532G3062G652G2532G80G2962G2532G2786 6Or is it only Barnabas and I who have to work to support ourselves?G2228G1473G3441G2532G921G2192G3756G2192G1849G3361G2038 7What soldier has to pay his own expenses? What farmer plants a vineyard and doesn't have the right to eat some of its fruit? What shepherd cares for a flock of sheep and isn't allowed to drink some of the milk?G5101G4754G4218G2398G3800G5101G5452G290G2532G2068G3756G1537G2590G846G2228G5101G4165G4167G2532G2068G3756G1537G1051G4167 8Am I expressing merely a human opinion, or does the law say the same thing?G2980G5023G3361G2596G444G2228G3004G3780G3551G5023G2532 9For the law of Moses says, "You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain." Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this?G1063G1125G1722G3551G3475G5392G3756G5392G1016G248G3361G3199G2316G3199G1016 10Wasn't he actually speaking to us? Yes, it was written for us, so that the one who plows and the one who threshes the grain might both expect a share of the harvest.G2228G3004G3843G1223G2248G1223G1223G2248G1223G1063G1125G3754G722G3784G722G1909G1680G2532G248G1680G3348G1909G846G1680 11Since we have planted spiritual seed among you, aren't we entitled to a harvest of physical food and drink?G1487G2249G4687G5213G4152G3173G1487G2249G2325G5216G4559 12If you support others who preach to you, shouldn't we have an even greater right to be supported? But we have never used this right. We would rather put up with anything than be an obstacle to the Good News about Christ.G1487G243G3348G1849G5216G3756G2249G3123G235G5530G3756G5530G5026G1849G235G4722G3956G3363G1325G5100G1464G2098G5547 13Don't you realize that those who work in the temple get their meals from the offerings brought to the temple? And those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrificial offerings.G1492G3756G1492G3754G2038G2413G2068G1537G2411G4332G2379G4829G2379 14In the same way, the Lord ordered that those who preach the Good News should be supported by those who benefit from it.G2532G3779G1299G2962G1299G2605G2098G2198G1537G2098 15Yet I have never used any of these rights. And I am not writing this to suggest that I want to start now. In fact, I would rather die than lose my right to boast about preaching without charge.G1161G1473G5530G3762G5130G1161G3756G1125G5023G2443G1096G3779G1096G1722G1698G1063G3123G3427G599G2570G2228G2443G5100G2758G3450G2745G2758 16Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn't preach the Good News!G1063G1437G2097G3427G2076G3756G2745G1063G318G1945G3427G1161G3759G2076G3427G3362G2097G3362G2097 17If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust.G1063G1487G4238G5124G1635G2192G3408G1161G1487G210G3622G4100 18What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That's why I never demand my rights when I preach the Good News.G5101G2076G3427G3408G3767G2443G2097G5087G2098G5547G77G1519G2710G3361G3450G1849G1722G2098 19Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ.G1063G5607G1658G1537G3956G1402G1683G1402G3956G2443G2770G4119 20When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law.G2532G2453G1096G5613G2453G2443G2770G2453G5259G3551G5613G5259G3551G2443G2770G5259G3551 21When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ.G459G5613G459G5607G3361G459G2316G235G1772G5547G2443G2770G459 22When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some.G772G1096G5613G772G2443G2770G772G1096G3956G3956G2443G4982G3843G4982G5100 23I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.G1161G5124G4160G1223G2098G1223G2443G1096G4791G846G4791 24Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!G1492G3756G3754G5143G1722G4712G5143G3956G3303G1161G1520G2983G1017G3779G5143G2443G2638 25All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize.G1161G3956G75G1467G3956G3303G3767G1565G2443G2983G5349G4735G1161G2249G862 26So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.G1473G5106G3779G5143G3756G5613G84G3779G4438G3756G5613G1194G109 27I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.G235G5299G3450G4983G2532G1396G3381G4458G2784G243G846G1096G96


New Living Translation (NLT). Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. More details.
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