For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power.
for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face,
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.
For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation,
I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name's sake, and you have not grown weary.
Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,
since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you.
Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger;
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.
and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,
“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com.