Thursday, March 20, 2014

2 Corinthians 13 ~ Geneva Study Bible


2 Corinthians 13 ~ Geneva Study Bible


Chapter 13
13:3 1 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is a mighty in you.
(1) A most sharp reprehension, because, while they despise the apostles admonitions, they tempt Christs own patience: and also while they condemn him as wretched and miserable, they lay nothing against him, which is not common to him with Christ.
(a) And will be most mighty to be avenged upon you, when need will be.
13:4 For though he was crucified through b weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
(b) Regarding that base form of a servant which he took upon him when he abased himself.
13:5 2 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
(2) He confirms that which he spoke about the power of God appearing in his ministry, and he gathers by the mutual relation between the peoples faith and the ministers preaching, that they must either reverence his apostleship, upon whose doctrine their faith is grounded, or they must condemn themselves of infidelity, and must confess themselves not to be of Christs body.
13:6 3 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
(3) He appeases that sharpness, trusting that they will show themselves towards their faithful apostle, able and willing to be taught. And he also adds this, that he does not seek his own fame and estimation, so that they may serve their saviour, which is the only mark that he shoots at.
13:7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as c reprobates.
(c) In mens judgment.
13:9 For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, [even] your d perfection.
(d) That all things may be in good order among you, and the members of the church restored into their place, which have been shaken and are out of place.
13:11 4 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
(4) A brief exhortation, but yet such a one as comprehends all the parts of a Christian mans life.
13:12 5 Greet one another with an holy kiss.
(5) He salutes them familiarly, and in conclusion wishes well to them.
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AFWIS Joins Operation World in Prayer for the Republic of Bulgaria in Europe

Published on Operation World (http://www.operationworld.org)
Home > Mar 20: Bulgaria

Mar 20: Bulgaria


Bulgaria

Republic of Bulgaria

Europe

See Prayer Information

Geography

Area: 110,912 sq km
Balkan state adjoining Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Romania.
Population: 7,497,282    Annual Growth: -0.63%
Capital: Sofia
Urbanites: 71.7%
HDI Rank: 61 of 182 (UN Human Development Reports 2009)

Peoples

Peoples: 34 (24% unreached) All peoples
Unreached Peoples Prayer Card

Official language: Bulgarian    Languages: 16 All languages

Religion

Largest Religion: Christian
Religion               Pop %Ann Gr
Christians5,991,07879.91-0.7
Evangelicals145,5361.90.7

Challenges for Prayer

Evangelicals have grown, matured and unified in response to challenges and opposition of the past two decades. Pray for:
a) The Evangelical Alliance (BEA). Its work of drawing diverse churches together to act and speak with a common voice is crucial to further growth.
b) The Bulgarian body of Christ is capable of making an immense positive impact on this country where racial tensions abound and where hope for the future is rare. True unity amongst believers of different ethnic and denominational backgrounds could be a powerful testimony.
c) Sofia, the capital and Bulgaria’s only large city, has many churches, but more are needed. Pray for the nation’s centre of influence to be saturated with the gospel. Meanwhile, 2,500 villages are without any evangelical church. Pray that the peoples of the rural areas would not be neglected; their spiritual need is great.
Consolidating church growth is a priority. Pray for:
a) Training of church leadership. Residential, TEE and informal training courses (such as EQUIP and the Global Leadership Summit) are multiplying – all necessary to prepare more leaders for growing churches. Pray especially for the interdenominational Evangelical Theological Institute, a cooperative effort formed through the merger of four different schools. Pray for the staff and students, and for provision of financial and academic resources necessary to provide a solid biblical foundation for ministry.
b) Discernment of doctrinal error. Every modern heresy and cult seems to have targeted this country – Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, extreme “prosperity” teachings and other Christian and eastern cults are very active, sending many missionaries. Pray for wise leaders and a biblically knowledgeable Church to discern false doctrine.
c) New indigenous agencies have sprung up, many characterized by creativity and activism. They aim to reach children, prisoners, and ethnic minorities and to provide literature, Bibles, and Christian teaching in schools and camps. The need for wise coordination and adequate funding mechanisms is urgent.
d) Country-wide vision. Pray for the influence and use of the BEA and others in setting – and achieving, by God’s grace – ambitious goals for the effective evangelization of the country.
     For an additional 9 Challenges for Prayer see Operation World book, CD-ROM, or DVD-ROM.

More Information

The Operation World book, CD-ROM, and DVD-ROM provide far more information and fuel for prayer for the people of Bulgaria.
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Proverbs 8 (NIV)


Proverbs 8 (New International Version)

Proverbs 8

Wisdom's Call

1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

3 beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud:

4 "To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.

5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.

6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.

7 My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.

8 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.

9 To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

12 "I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.

13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power.

15 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just;

16 by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. [a]

17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.

19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

22 "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, [b] , [c] before his deeds of old;

23 I was appointed [d] from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.

24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;

25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,

26 before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.

27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

30 Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,

31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.

32 "Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.

34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.

36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."
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1 John 4 (NIV)


1 John 4 (New International Version, ©2010)

1 John 4

On Denying the Incarnation

1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

God's Love and Ours

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
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