2Corinthians 9-10; Psalms 3 - Prayer Tents

The Collection for Christians in Jerusalem

9I really don’t need to write to you about this ministry of giving for the believers in Jerusalem.G1063G3303G4012G1248G1519G40G2076G4053G3427G1125G5213 2For I know how eager you are to help, and I have been boasting to the churches in Macedonia that you in Greece were ready to send an offering a year ago. In fact, it was your enthusiasm that stirred up many of the Macedonian believers to begin giving.G1063G1492G4288G5216G4288G3739G2744G5228G5216G3110G3754G882G3903G4070G575G2532G5216G2205G1537G2042G4119 3But I am sending these brothers to be sure you really are ready, as I have been telling them, and that your money is all collected. I don’t want to be wrong in my boasting about you.G1161G3992G80G3363G2257G2745G5228G5216G2758G1722G5129G3313G2443G2531G3004G5600G3903 4We would be embarrassed—not to mention your own embarrassment—if some Macedonian believers came with me and found that you weren’t ready after all I had told them!G3381G4458G1437G3110G2064G4862G1698G2532G2147G5209G532G2249G3363G3004G3363G5210G2617G1722G5026G5287G2746 5So I thought I should send these brothers ahead of me to make sure the gift you promised is ready. But I want it to be a willing gift, not one given grudgingly.G3767G2233G316G3870G80G2443G4281G1519G5209G2532G4294G5216G2129G4293G5026G1511G2092G3779G5613G2129G2532G3361G5618G4124 6Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.G1161G5124G4687G5340G2325G2532G5340G2532G4687G1909G2129G2325G2532G1909G2129 7You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. “For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.”G1538G2531G4255G2588G3361G1537G3077G2228G1537G318G1063G2316G25G2431G1395 8And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others.G1161G2316G1415G4052G3956G5485G4052G1519G5209G2443G3842G2192G3956G841G1722G3956G4052G1519G3956G18G2041 9As the Scriptures say, “They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”G2531G1125G4650G1325G3993G846G1343G3306G1519G165 10For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.G1161G2023G4690G4687G2532G5524G740G1519G1035G2532G4129G5216G4703G2532G837G1081G5216G1343 11Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.G4148G1722G3956G1519G3956G572G3748G2716G1223G2257G2169G2316 12So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.G3754G1248G5026G3009G3756G3440G2076G4322G5303G40G235G4052G2532G1223G4183G2169G2316 13As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ.G1223G1382G5026G1248G1392G2316G1909G5216G3671G5292G1519G2098G5547G2532G572G2842G1519G846G2532G1519G3956 14And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you.G2532G846G1162G5228G5216G1971G5209G1223G5235G5485G2316G1909G5213 15Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!G1161G5485G2316G1909G846G411G1431

Paul Defends His Authority

10Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only when I write from far away.G1161G1473G3972G846G3870G5209G1223G4236G2532G1932G5547G3739G2596G4383G3303G5011G1722G5213G1161G548G2292G1519G5209 2Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.G1161G1189G3361G2292G3918G4006G3739G3049G5111G1909G5100G3588G3049G2248G5613G4043G2596G4561 3We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do.G1063G4043G1722G4561G4754G3756G4754G2596G4561 4We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.G1063G3696G2257G4752G3756G4559G235G1415G2316G4314G2506G3794 5We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.G2507G3053G2532G3956G5313G1869G2596G1108G2316G2532G163G3956G3540G1519G5218G5547 6And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.G2532G2192G1722G2092G1556G3956G3876G3752G5216G5218G4137 7Look at the obvious facts. Those who say they belong to Christ must recognize that we belong to Christ as much as they do.G991G2596G4383G1536G3982G1438G1511G5547G3049G575G1438G3049G5124G3825G3754G2531G846G5547G2532G3779G2249G5547 8I may seem to be boasting too much about the authority given to us by the Lord. But our authority builds you up; it doesn’t tear you down. So I will not be ashamed of using my authority.G1063G2532G1437G5037G2744G5100G4055G4012G2257G1849G3739G2962G1325G2254G1519G3619G2532G3756G1519G5216G2506G153G3756G153 9I’m not trying to frighten you by my letters.G3363G1380G3363G1380G5613G302G1629G5209G1223G1992 10For some say, “Paul’s letters are demanding and forceful, but in person he is weak, and his speeches are worthless!”G3754G1992G3303G5346G926G2532G2478G1161G4983G3952G772G2532G3056G1848 11Those people should realize that our actions when we arrive in person will be as forceful as what we say in our letters from far away.G3049G5108G3049G5124G3754G3634G2070G3056G1223G1992G548G5108G2532G2041G3918 12Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!G1063G5111G3756G1469G1469G2228G4793G1438G4793G5100G4921G1438G235G846G3354G1438G1722G1438G2532G4793G1438G4793G1438G4920G3756G4920 13We will not boast about things done outside our area of authority. We will boast only about what has happened within the boundaries of the work God has given us, which includes our working with you.G1161G2249G2744G3780G2744G1519G280G235G2596G3358G2583G3739G2316G3307G2254G3358G2185G2532G891G5216 14We are not reaching beyond these boundaries when we claim authority over you, as if we had never visited you. For we were the first to travel all the way to Corinth with the Good News of Christ.G1063G5239G3756G1438G5239G5613G2185G3361G1519G5209G1063G5348G891G5216G2532G1722G2098G5547 15Nor do we boast and claim credit for the work someone else has done. Instead, we hope that your faith will grow so that the boundaries of our work among you will be extended.G3756G2744G1519G280G1722G245G2873G1161G2192G1680G5216G4102G837G3170G1722G5213G2596G2257G2583G1519G4050 16Then we will be able to go and preach the Good News in other places far beyond you, where no one else is working. Then there will be no question of our boasting about work done in someone else’s territory.G2097G1519G5238G5216G3756G2744G1722G245G2583G1519G2092 17As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”G1161G2744G2744G1722G2962 18When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.G1063G3756G1565G4921G1438G2076G1384G235G3739G2962G4921

3[A psalm of David, regarding the time David fled from his son Absalom.] O LORD, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.H4210H1732H1272H6440H53H1121H3068H7231H6862H7227H6965 2So many are saying, "God will never rescue him!" InterludeH7227H559H5315H3444H430H5542 3But you, O LORD, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.H3068H4043H3519H7311H7218 4I cried out to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy mountain. InterludeH7121H3068H6963H6030H6944H2022H5542 5I lay down and slept, yet I woke up in safety, for the LORD was watching over me.H7901H3462H6974H3068H5564 6I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies who surround me on every side.H3372H7233H5971H7896H5439 7Arise, O LORD! Rescue me, my God! Slap all my enemies in the face! Shatter the teeth of the wicked!H6965H3068H3467H430H5221H341H3895H7665H8127H7563 8Victory comes from you, O LORD. May you bless your people. InterludeH3444H3068H1293H5971H5542