CHURCH SERVICE-EAGERLY DESIRE THE GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT, 1 Corinthians 14

Follow the way of love, and eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. Try to excel in those gifts that build up the church. If anyone thinks they are a prophet or otherwise gifted by the Spirit, let them acknowledge that what is in 1 Corinthians chapter 14 is the Lord’s command. But if anyone ignores this, they will themselves be ignored

Father God, in this chapter (14) of 1 Corinthians You are instructing us concerning the gifts of the Spirit that are for building up the church. May we receive Your instruction, for it is for the benefit of building up Your kingdom so that more souls come into it. We want our lost loved ones to come in, Praise God!

Tongues

The gift of tongues is for speaking to God.

The one speaking in a tongue utters mysteries by the Spirit.

Anyone that speaks in a tongue edifies oneself.

When praying in tongues, your spirit prays, but your mind is unfruitful

Someone speaking in tongues does not speak to people. No one understands him. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You’ll just be speaking into the air.

Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers.

So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

Lord, may we not neglect the gift of tongues for it is for speaking to You and the Spirit uttering mysteries. It is for our own personal edification. We need to be strong in You to be effective prayer warriors and soul winners.

Prophesy

Those that prophesy speak to people for their strengthening, encouragement, and comfort and edify the church.

Prophecy is not for unbelievers but for believers.

If an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!”

LORD, may we take full advantage to receive from the gift of prophesy for the strengthening, encouragement, and comfort of the body as well as edification. We pray for our lost loved ones, that by the hearing of Your Word through this gift they be convicted of sin, as the secrets of their heart are laid bare. We pray they will fall down and worship You, and be convinced of Your presence.

Tongues and prophesy

The Apostle Paul thanked God that he spoke in tongues more than all the others, but in the church he preferred to speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.

It is good for every one to speak in tongues, but it’s preferable to prophesy.

The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues,

unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified by bringing:

some revelation

or knowledge

or prophesy

or word of instruction.

Lord, encourage Your people by Your Spirit to seek You concerning not only the gift of tongues, but to pray for the gift of interpretation. We desire to receive what revelation, knowledge, prophesy, or word of instruction You have for us. We need all You have for us to better equip us to be better witnesses for You and to be used by You to win the lost.

For this reason if you speak in a tongue, you should pray that you interpret what was spoken. Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, someone else cannot say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying. You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.

So what shall you do?

Pray with your spirit, but also pray with your understanding.

Sing with your spirit, but I also sing with your understanding.

Think like adults.

In the Law it is written:

“With other tongues
and through the lips of foreigners
I will speak to this people,
but even then they will not listen to me,
says the Lord.”

LORD, teach us to pray with our spirit and also with our understanding, and to sing with our spirit, and also with our understanding. Help us to think like adults.

Coming Together

Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.

When coming together, each one has:

A hymn

A word of instruction

A revelation

If a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop.

A tongue and interpretation.

One, and at the most three, should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and to God.

Prophesy

Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. All can prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets.

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace--as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

LORD, when as Your body of believers we come together, may Your church heed Your command to do everything as You will so that the church be built up, through worship, instruction, revelation, and prophesy. To benefit the church it should be done as You say, in a fitting and orderly way. Yes, LORD, Your instructions are set for our benefit, and for the benefit to bring in the lost, and our lost loved ones.

Women
Women should remain silent in the churches, they are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home, for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.

Father, this Scripture is seldom, if ever, expounded on at church. Women should do everything You say, for the sake of allowing You to work in all our lives to fulfill Your purpose and will for our benefit and our families.  And it is Your will that none should perish but come to the knowledge of the truth, repent and be saved through faith in Your Son, the Lord Jesus. This is our prayer, LORD, for our lost loved ones, that they be saved. Thank You, LORD, in Jesus name, Amen.

From 1 Corinthians 14

LOVE THAT WINS, 1 Corinthians 13

1 CORINTHIANS 13 LOVE

GIFTS, ATTRIBUTES AND WORKS WITHOUT LOVE

Speak in tongues of angels

They will be stilled.

BUT WITHOUT LOVE:

I am a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal

Prophesy

They will cease,

for we prophesy in part

but when completeness comes,

what is in part disappears.

Fathom all mysteries

All Knowledge

It will pass away,

for we know in part

but when completeness comes,

what is in part disappears.

Faith that can move mountains

BUT WITHOUT LOVE:

I am nothing

Give all possessions to the poor

Give over body to hardship that I can boast

BUT HAVE NO LOVE:

I gain nothing

　
God forbid that we be void of love, for we will be void also, and gain nothing, and to those we want to win to Christ, without love, we will sound like a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.

We cannot have faith without love. Lord our lost loved ones need for us to love them because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Corinthians 13 LOVE
Love is:

Patient

Kind

Love does not:

Envy

Boast

Dishonor others

Delight in evil

Love is not:

Proud

Self-seeking

Easily angered

Love:

Keeps no record of wrongs

Rejoices with the truth

Love always:

Protects

Trusts

Hopes

Perseveres

Love never:

Fails

Father God, 1 Corinthians love Is what our lost loved ones need from us.

Stir our hearts with Your gift of love by Your Spirit, for it is the fruit of the Spirit that gives us 1 Corinthians 13 love.

We want to be patient and kind with our lost loved ones. We don’t want to keep a record of all their wrongs, or be easily angered with them, biting, devouring, and consuming them, beating them with Your Word. If at all possible, we want to live in peace with them.

Neither do we intend to be self-seeking, but seek the prosperity of our lost loved ones’ soul.

We want Your love in us for them that always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres.

Your love that never fails.

When I was a child:

I talked like a child

Thought like a child

Reasoned like a child

When I became an adult:

I put the ways of childhood behind me

Father God, help our lost loved ones to be strong adults and not act like children. Deliver them from being servants of the world, the flesh, and the devil. We are standing in the gap for them in prayer before You for their the salvation of their soul, fighting not against them, but against the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

For now:

We see only a reflection as in a mirror

Know in part

But then:

We shall see face to face

Know fully,

even as we are fully known

Three remain: faith, hope, and love.

But the greatest of these is love

Father God, though we only see and know in part, we commit ourselves and our lost loved ones to You in full trust with the virtues of Your Spirit:

faith, hope and love,

but the greatest of these is love.

We are praying, LORD, always and unceasingly for the salvation of our lost loved ones' soul.

Thank You, LORD, in Jesus name, amen.

From 1 Corinthians 13





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OUR SERVICE TO GOD, 1 Corinthians 12

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OUR BODIES, AN OFFERING TO GOD
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LORD, You urge that we Your church offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You, which You say is true and proper worship. You don't want for us to conform to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. This way we can test and discern what Your good, pleasing and perfect will and approval is.
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HUMILITY AND CHURCH GIFTS
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LORD, show us by Your Spirit how we ought to think of ourselves with wisdom. Deliver us from subtle pride and conceit. Help us to discern our calling and tasks ordered by You and to do them. You have demonstrated that as our body has many parts or members, Your church is also one body with many members, BUT NOT HAVING THE SAME FUNCTION. No one should be a "one man band" or a "Jack of all traits and master of none."
For it is by Your grace given to each one of us that we have DIFFERENT gifts. You want for us to honor one another above yourselves.
-
GIFTS:
-
Prophesying (in accordance with one's faith)
Teaching
Leading (diligently)
Serving
Giving (generously)
Encouraging
Mercy (cheerfully)
-
LOVE IN ACTION
-
You want for our love to be genuine.
In serving You, You expect for us to:
-
(OUR WILL, MIND, AND EMOTIONS)
+ hate evil and to cling to what is good
+ never be slack in zeal
+ keep up our spiritual fervor
+ be joyful in hope
+ patient in affliction
+ faithful in prayer
-
(IN REGARD TO THE REST OF THE BODY OF CHRIST)
+ be devoted to Your church body in love
+ share with the Lord's people who are in need
+ practice hospitality
-
(IN REGARD WITH OTHERS)
+ bless those who persecute us, bless and not curse
+ rejoice with those who rejoice
+ mourn with those who mourn
+ live in harmony with one another
+ not be proud, not be conceited
+ be willing to associate with people of low position
+ not repay anyone evil for evil
+ be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone
(LORD, we should not use the excuse that
"we don't care what others think, because God knows our heart.")
+ as far as it depends on us, if it is possible, live at peace with everyone
+ not take revenge, but give the matter to You, for it is written:
“It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
+ do the opposite, feed our enemy if he is hungry, give him something to drink
(LORD, what do You mean by
"heap burning coals on his head."?)
+ not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
-
LORD, in the church we hear much about being over comers.
Here You are specific on what it is to be an over comer!
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PRAYING FOR OUR LOST LOVED ONES
-
Merciful Father God, we bring our lost loved ones before Your throne of grace for their salvation. As far as we are concerned, and as much as it is possible, we want to be at peace with them. We want to over come evil with good with the confidence that You are greater in us than he that is in the world.
-
Our lost loved ones will know we are Your disciples by the love we put in action with the brethren, being careful not to nag about them, especially before our lost loved ones. We want to do the things You want us to do as we pray 1 Corinthians 12, meditating on the things You tell us here. Help us by Your Spirit to be ever be mindful of these things.
-
You sent Your Son to seek and find the lost, and You called the church to do the same, for You want to save them. Thank You for the power You have given us as Your children and as Your witnesses. Thank You that the Lord Jesus lives in us, and we move and have our being. in Him. Our Lord and our God, You are the same today and forever as You were yesterday, still going about healing, saving and doing great things for You are an awesome mighty God! Save our lost loved ones we pray in Jesus name. Thank You, Lord, amen.

-
(From 1 Corinthians 12)

HAVE A JOYOUS SON RISE!

GOD'S ORDER OF HUSBAND & WIFE, THE HEAD WHEN PRAYING, THE LORD'S SUPPER, 1 Corinthians 11

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FOLLOW THE APOSTLE’S PAUL EXAMPLE
AS HE FOLLOWED THE EXAMPLE OF CHRIST
-
Father, Your Spirit showed us in 1 Corinthians 10 how You freed us in Christ, yet you expect for us to give up our rights if it means the salvation of another soul or it is constructive and beneficial to another. And in this following chapter, you re-affirm the same instructions.
-
The Apostle Paul commended the Corinthians for remembering what he told them and for holding to the traditions just as he passed them on to them--and hopefully and prayerfully to us too, that we will receive them and do them.
-
THE HEAD
-

LORD, You want us to realize that:
-
The head of every man is Christ,
and the head of the woman is man.
and the head of Christ is God.
-
COVERING
-
LORD, help us to understand Your instructions in this chapter that many of us don’t follow because it is not practiced in most churches: We are too concerned listening to each other and receiving the approval of one another in the church and ignore Your very word. Forgive us, and help us LORD.
-

MAN
“Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.
-

WOMAN
But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head--

IT IS THE SAME AS having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off, but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
-
MAN
A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God,
-
WOMAN
But a woman is the glory of man.
-
MAN
For the man did not come from woman,

-
WOMAN
but woman from man,
-
MAN
neither was man created for woman,
-
WOMAN
but woman for man.
It is for this reason
that a woman ought to have authority over her own head,
because of the angels.
-
MAN AND WOMAN
-
Nevertheless, IN THE LORD
-
woman is not independent of man,
nor is man independent of woman.
-
For as woman came from man,
So also man is born of woman.
But everything comes from God.
-
JUDGE CONCERNING THE COVERING
-
Judge for yourselves:
-
WOMAN
Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?
-
MAN
Does not the very nature of things teach you
that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him,
-
WOMAN
But that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?

FOR LONG HAIR IS GIVEN TO HER AS A COVERING.
-
CONTENTIOUS ABOUT THE PRACTICE OF COVERING
-
If anyone wants to be contentious about this,
we have no OTHER practice, nor do the churches of God.”
-
CORRECTIONS WHEN EATING THE LORD’S SUPPER
-
In the practice of the Lord’s Supper, the Apostle Paul did not commend the church of Corinth. He said their meetings did more harm than good. This is an awful thing, LORD, for a church meeting to do more harm than good!
-
The first place given attention to is that there be no divisions among the church when coming together in its meeting. There are differences among the church to show which have Your approval. -
-
The Corinthians were not eating the Lord’s supper when they met. For when eating, some went ahead with their own private suppers, and one person remained hungry, and another got drunk, humiliating those who had nothing. Their private meals should have not been eaten in the church but at their own home.
-
THE LORDS SUPPER
-
LORD, Your Spirit has passed on to Your church what the Apostle Paul received from You.
-
The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed,
-
TOOK BREAD.

-
When he gave You thanks,
He broke it and said,
-
“This is my BODY, which is for you;
do this in remembrance of me.”
-
In the same way, after supper
-
HE TOOK THE CUP
-
Saying,
-
“This cup is the new covenant in my BLOOD,
-
do this, whenever you drink it,
in remembrance of me.”
-
For whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup,
WE DO IT IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE LORD JESUS,
AND PROCLAIM THE LORD’S DEATH UNTIL HE COMES.
-
THE LORD’S SUPPER, WARNING OF JUDGEMENT
-
“So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of SINNING AGAINST THE BODY AND BLOOD OF THE LORD. Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. For those who eat and drink WITHOUT DISCERNING THE BODY OF CHRIST EAT AND DRINK JUDGEMENT on themselves.”
-
LORD, in this chapter You conclude back to the Lord’s Supper, when we gather to eat together, those that are hungry should eat something at home, so that we meet together it may not result in judgment.
-
DISCIPLINED BY THE LORD
-
LORD, we pray Your Spirit will give us Your church understanding of what the above means, and that we do not take the Lord’s Supper lightly and routinely without care or understanding. For Your Spirit says that is why many among Your church are weak and sick, and a number fallen asleep. Help us to understand what it means to be “discerning” of the body of Christ when we take the elements that we do not come under such judgment. You further say, that when Your church/members of the church are judged in this way by You, it is for discipline so that we will not be finally condemned with the world.
-
LORD, we will look into Your further directions in the book to the Corinthians which apply to Your church today.
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PRAYING FOR OUR LOST LOVED ONES
-
Father, to the world these things sound foolish, and even to those in the church that have not been discipled as Your word directs. Give us wisdom on how to follow Your Spirit and be obedient to You. Give everyone in the church understanding of Your same word that there be no divisions nor strive over Your directives. Help us to be patient with the weaker brethren, and especially with those that do not know You.
-
We ask Your forgiveness for our disobedience through lack of knowledge or lack of attention or lack of obedience for whatever reason. We unashamedly, in humble obedience to You as Your Word in this chapter directs, pray for our lost loved ones.
-
We continue to pray, for You said to pray always without ceasing. The main thing, LORD, we pray that You save our lost loved ones. Save the ones that need saving. May we and others be successful when we sow/water Your Word in their heart, knowing You will give the increase. Thank You, LORD, we pray in Jesus name, amen.
-
(From 1 Corinthians 11)
-

BEING FREE IN CHRIST RESPONSIBLY, 1 Corinthians 10

-
CHRIST WAS THERE
-
Israel was baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink, for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, AND THAT ROCK WAS CHRIST.
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LESSONS TO LEARN BY
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Nevertheless, God, You were not pleased with most of them, and they perished in the wilderness. These things occurred as examples and were written down as warnings for us to keep us from:
-
_setting our hearts on evil things
_being idolaters (we should FLEE from it.)
_indulging in revelry
_committing sexual immorality (23,000 died in one day)
_testing CHRIST (they were killed by snakes)
_grumbling (they were killed by the destroying angel)
-
May we be sensible, and receive Your warning. We cannot do these things and think we are standing firm, and we must heed these warnings, lest risk falling!
-
We are tempted as they were tempted, but YOU ARE FAITHFUL, that no temptation has overtaken us except what is common to all, and You will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear, but will also provide a way out so that we can endure it. Thank You, LORD!
-
HOLY COMMUNTION - THE BLOOD AND BODY OF CHRIST
-
The cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks is a participation
in the blood of Christ.
-
The bread that we break is a participation
in the body of Christ
-
THE CHURCH
-
There is one loaf. We who are many are one body. We all share the one loaf.
-
SACRIFICES OF PAGANS
-
The sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons and not to You, LORD God. You don’t want for Your church to be participants with demons.
You don’t want to be provoked to jealousy
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FOOD THAT WAS SACRIFICED TO IDOLS
-
Food that is sacrificed to idols isn’t anything, and an idol isn’t anything.
-
You want for Your church to eat anything that is sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, for it is written:
-
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
-
SEEKING THE GOOD OF OTHERS
-
LORD, help us to obey You to seek the good of others over our own. If an UNBELIEVER invites a believer to a meal and he wants to go, the believer should eat whatever is put on the table without raising questions of conscience.
-
But if someone says, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” the believer should not eat it, FOR THE SAKE AND CONSCIENCE OF THE UNBELIEVER OR WEAK BROTHER.
-
A believer should not be judged by an unbeliever’s or weak brother's conscience or be denounced for thanking You for eating meat that was said to be sacrificed to idols. If the believer eats meat and offends the conscience of the unbeliever or weak brother, this believer will not bring You glory. It is not to Your glory for a believer to be insensitive and cause anyone to stumble.
-
FREE TO CHOOSE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT
-
LORD, You have given us freedom in Christ, but not everything is beneficial and constructive. Therefore, You expect a believer to try to please everyone in every way, not seeking his own good, but the good of many, SO THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED.
-
BRINGING GOD GLORY IN EVERYTHING
-
So whether Your church eats or drinks, or whatever is done, You want it all done for Your glory.
-
PRAYING FOR OUR LOST LOVED ONES
-
LORD, have mercy on our lost loved ones that are living in sin because their heart is not right with you, and the fruit of their lives reveals it. From this lesson, You warn to abstain from committing the things Israel did, failing to be a godly example to the world that did not know You. We do not live to ourselves, nor die to ourselves. Others are affected by the choices we make. We ought to regard the spiritual state of the lost and not prefer to please ourselves. We don’t want to strive or be pushy. We depend in the power of Your Spirit to save our lost loved ones when they hear the message of salvation. We pray the devil will not discourage them through a bad witness. Forgive us where we’ve failed you, and we pray this is not laid on their charge. Save our lost loved ones, we pray in Jesus name.

-
(from 1 Corinthians 10)

WIN SOULS OVER SELF RIGHTS, 1 Corinthians 9

-
RIGHTS OF A CHRISTIAN MINISTER
-
Paul, a true apostle, having seen the Lord, and the Corinthians being the fruit of his labor, posed these questions:
-
Was he not free?
Did he not have the right to food and drink?
Did he not have the right to take a believing wife as other apostles did?
Did he not have the right to not work for a living?
-
Who serves as a soldier at his own expense?
Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes?
Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk?
-
This is mere human authority, but also the Law of Moses says,
-
“Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”
-
Meaning, it was written for God’s ministers who have sown spiritual seed and should receive a material harvest. The Lord commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
-
WAIVING RIGHTS
-
Yet, the Apostle Paul did not use this right nor cleaved to his other rights. He said he was compelled to preach, AND WOE TO HIM IF HE PREACHED NOT THE GOSPEL! He would put up with anything rather than hinder the GOSPEL OF CHRIST. He preached voluntarily to receive a reward. And if not voluntarily, the trust committed to him would be discharged.
-
Paul the Apostle preached the Gospel, free of charge, not making full use of his rights as a preacher of the gospel for the purpose of winning souls.
-
He was free and belonged to no one.
But he waived that right and made himself a slave to everyone,
to win as many as possible.
-
To the Jews, he became like a Jew, to win the Jews.
To those under the law, he became like one under the law
(though we are not under the law), so as to win those under the law.
To those not having the law, he became like one not having the law
(though we are free from God’s law but are under Christ’s law ),
so as to win those not having the law.
To the weak, he became weak, to win the weak
-
Paul became all things to all people to win some.
-
He did all this for the sake of the Gospel, to share in its blessings.
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DISCIPLINED TO WIN
-
In a race all runners run, but only one gets the prize, and those that run do it in such a way to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training to get a crown that will not last. But God’s ministers do it to get a crown that will last forever.
-
As an example, the Apostle Paul:
-
Did not run aimlessly
Did not fight like a boxer beating the air
Made his body his slave
-
So that after he preached to others, he would not be disqualified for the prize.
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PRAYING FOR OUR LOST LOVED ONES
-
Father God, all we hear in this chapter of the Bible is to preach the Gospel at all costs, denying self to win souls.
-
A common complaint of people not wanting to go to church is, “hypocrites go there,” and “all they want is money.”
-
They couldn’t say that of someone like the Apostle Paul who was not self-serving. Lord You commanded that those that preach should receive their living from the gospel. Then we see someone “who goes beyond his line of duty” like the Apostle Paul and waives this right, and many other rights, because he has his eyes on the prize, winning souls.
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LORD of the Harvest, churches and ministers have the right to be supported, as well as other rights. Our prayer is that our lost loved ones will hear the Gospel as the MAIN THEME, and that the laborers of Your field not be selfish, but willing to put the salvation of souls first before themselves and their rights, and we are praying the same for us. In Jesus name. Amen.
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(From 1 Corinthians 9)