SEVEN KEYS TO EXPERIENCING CONTINUOUS HAPPINESS IN LIFE
*******************************************************
OUTLINE
1.PRAYER
2.PRAISE
3.PEACE
4.POWER
5.PATIENCE
6.PRIZE
7.PURPOSE
INTRODUCTION
************
The Lord wants us to rejoice in Him at all times. The joy of the Lord will be a good medicine for our lives. The Holy Spirit will fill our hearts with joy. He will give us the oil of joy instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. It is the will of God that we rejoice always.
SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION
*************************
Philippians 4:4
" Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! "
Proverbs 17:22
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
Proverbs 12:25
Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always,
pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Isaiah 61:3
and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.
THE MESSAGE
SEVEN KEYS TO EXPERIENCING CONTINUOUS HAPPINESS IN LIFE
*******************************************************
1.PRAYER
We can experience continuous happiness in life if we learn to cast our cares and burdens on the Lord through prayer and supplication . The Lord does not want us to go through life with a heavy heart carrying all our burdens upon ourselves. Instead the Lord is our burden bearer and He wants us to cast all our cares upon Him. As the Hymn ’What a friend we have in Jesus’ states ’ Oh what peace we often forfeit , Oh what needless pain we bear , All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer’ .
SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION
*************************
Philippians 4:6
" Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."
I Peter 5:7
" Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. "
2.PRAISE
We can experience continuous happiness in life if we learn to praise and thank the Lord at all times . We should have a heart of gratitude for all the benefits that we have received from the Lord. We must praise Him in every situation , even in difficult times . Our joy and pride is in knowing God and not in our wealth and wisdom. Paul and Silas praised God even in prison. It is dangerous to develop a bitter and murmuring attitude towards God. The Israelites were punished severely when they murmured against God . They failed to enter the promised land because of their murmuring and unbelief.
SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION
*************************
Psalms 103:1-2
" Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-"
Psalms 34:1
" I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. "
Acts 16:23-26
"After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.
Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose."
Habakkuk 3:17-18
" Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. "
Jeremiah 9:23-24
" This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches,
but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. "
I Corinthians 10:9-13
"We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.
And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. "
Numbers 21:5-9
" they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!"
Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.
The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.
The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."
So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived."
Exodus 17:1-7
"The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink.
So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the LORD to the test?"
But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?"
Then Moses cried out to the LORD, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."
The LORD answered Moses, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go.
I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel.
And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"
Psalms 78:10-33
" they did not keep God’s covenant and refused to live by his law.
They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them.
He did miracles in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan.
He divided the sea and led them through; he made the water stand firm like a wall.
He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night.
He split the rocks in the desert and gave them water as abundant as the seas;
he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers.
But they continued to sin against him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High.
They willfully put God to the test by demanding the food they craved.
They spoke against God, saying, "Can God spread a table in the desert?
When he struck the rock, water gushed out, and streams flowed abundantly. But can he also give us food? Can he supply meat for his people?"
When the LORD heard them, he was very angry; his fire broke out against Jacob, and his wrath rose against Israel,
for they did not believe in God or trust in his deliverance.
Yet he gave a command to the skies above and opened the doors of the heavens;
he rained down manna for the people to eat, he gave them the grain of heaven.
Men ate the bread of angels; he sent them all the food they could eat.
He let loose the east wind from the heavens and led forth the south wind by his power.
He rained meat down on them like dust, flying birds like sand on the seashore.
He made them come down inside their camp, all around their tents.
They ate till they had more than enough, for he had given them what they craved.
But before they turned from the food they craved, even while it was still in their mouths,
God’s anger rose against them; he put to death the sturdiest among them, cutting down the young men of Israel.
In spite of all this, they kept on sinning; in spite of his wonders, they did not believe.
So he ended their days in futility and their years in terror. "
3.PEACE
We can experience continuous happiness in life if learn to experience the peace of God in our hearts . Worrying and fretting and complaining about our sufferings does not help us in any way to solve our problems . They only make our life miserable on earth . Instead our hearts and mind should be filled with the peace of God as we trust Him to help us in every situation.
SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION
*************************
Philippians 4:7-8
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. "
Matthew 6:25-34
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry, saying, ’What shall we eat?’ or ’What shall we drink?’ or ’What shall we wear?’
For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. "
Isaiah 26:3
"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
John 16:33
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
4.POWER
We can experience continuous happiness in life if we receive the power and the grace of God to face our trials and tribulations. The joy of the Lord is our strength . The Apostle Paul received the grace of God to endure the thorn in his flesh. As a result he was able to delight in the trials that he faced in his life. When we wait on the Lord , He will renew our strength so that we do not become weary in life. This divine strength will help us to live in continuous joy and happiness and be content in every situation in life .
SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION
*************************
Nehemiah 8:10
" Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
II Corinthians 12:7-10
"To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.
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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Isaiah 40:27-31
"Why do you say, O Jacob,and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"?
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Philippians 4:11-13
"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. "
5.PATIENCE
We can experience continuous happiness in life if we have patience until God’s perfect timing in our lives . The promises of God wil be fulfilled in God’s appointed time. And when we are patient we can live in joy and happiness until God’s time . We will not be restless and frustrated and miserable because we have not yet experienced the blessings we are longing for. Like Joseph we will wait until God’s fulfills His promises in our lives. It is dangerous to become impatient and act in haste . Abraham , Moses and Saul lost their patience and paid a heavy price for their impatience.
SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION
*************************
I Peter 5:6
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time."
PATIENCE OF JOSEPH
*******************
Psalms 105:17-22
"and he sent a man before them— Joseph, sold as a slave.
They bruised his feet with shackles,his neck was put in irons,
till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the LORD proved him true.
The king sent and released him,the ruler of peoples set him free.
He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed,
to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom. "
IMPATIENCE OF ABRAHAM
*********************
Genesis 15:4
"Then the word of the LORD came to him: "This man will not be your heir, but a son coming from your own body will be your heir."
Genesis 16:1-2
" Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. But she had an Egyptian maidservant named Hagar;
so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my maidservant; perhaps I can build a family through her." Abram agreed to what Sarai said. "
IMPATIENCE OF SAUL
*****************
I Samuel 13:6-14
"When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns.
Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear.
He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter.
So he said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings. " And Saul offered up the burnt offering.
Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him.
"What have you done?" asked Samuel. Saul replied, "When I saw that the men were scattering, and that you did not come at the set time, and that the Philistines were assembling at Micmash,
I thought, ’Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the LORD’s favor.’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering."
"You acted foolishly," Samuel said. "You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.
But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command."
IMPATIENCE OF MOSES
**********************
Numbers 20:1-12
" In the first month the whole Israelite community arrived at the Desert of Zin, and they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.
Now there was no water for the community, and the people gathered in opposition to Moses and Aaron.
They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before the LORD!
Why did you bring the LORD’s community into this desert, that we and our livestock should die here?
Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"
Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the LORD appeared to them.
The LORD said to Moses,
"Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink."
So Moses took the staff from the LORD’s presence, just as he commanded him.
He and Aaron gathered the assembly together in front of the rock and Moses said to them, "Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?"
Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank.
But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."
Psalms 106:32-33
" By the waters of Meribah they angered the LORD, and trouble came to Moses because of them;
for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses’ lips. "
6.PRIZE
We can experience continuous happiness in life if we learn to focus our attention on the prize and reward that is waiting for us. Jesus endured the cross by focusing on the joy that was set before Him. We should also learn to focus on the joys and rewards that the Lord has promised us while facing trials and tribulations in life. This will help us to live in continuous happiness.
SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION
*************************
Hebrews 12:2-3
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. "
Matthew 5:10-12
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. "
Romans 8:16-18
"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. "
II Timothy 2:10-12
"Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him.If we disown him, he will also disown us; "
7.PURPOSE
We can experience continuous happiness in life if we realise the purpose of our lives . The Apostle Paul realised that his imprisonment was actually helping the spread of the gospel in the Palace . Therefore he rejoiced that his sufferings were helping to fulfill the purpose of his life. We have the wonderful promise that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Therefore when we realise that everything is working for good because our lives are dedicated to the purposes of God , we will not get discouraged when we face trials because we know that all these trials are only fulfilling the purpose of God in our lives. Joseph realised this important truth in his life and he comforted his brothers by telling them that God had made everything work for good. Jesus submitted Himself to the cross because that was the purpose of His life on earth. He knew that all His sufferings were only fulfilling God’s purpose for His life.
SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION
*************************
Philippians 1 :12-18
"Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.
But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,"
Philippians 3:10-14
"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. "
Acts 20:24
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. "
Romans 8:28
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
Genesis 50:20
" You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."
John 18:36-37
"Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
*******************************************************************
SUFFERINGS IN THE LIFE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL
*******************************************
THE APOSTLE PAUL HAD LEARNED THE SECRET OF CONTINUOUS HAPPINESS IN LIFE. THE SECRET WAS TO REJOICE IN THE LORD ALWAYS. HE WROTE THESE WORDS WHILE HE WAS IN PRISON . HE DID NOT ALLOW THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF HIS LIFE TO STEAL HIS JOY . HE DID NOT ALLOW THE SUFFERINGS HE HAD FACED DURING OF THE COURSE OF HIS MINISTRY TO MAKE HIM BITTER AGAINST GOD AND PEOPLE . HE CONTINUED TO HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND A RADIANT FAITH IN GOD INSPITE OF ALL THE PERSECUTION AND TRIBULATION THAT HE HAD UNDERGONE.
SCRIPTURES FOR MEDITATION
*************************
Acts 9:10-16
"In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered.
The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying.
In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."
"Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem.
And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name."
But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.
I will show him how much he must suffer for my name."
Acts 20:16-24
"Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost.
From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.
When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia.
I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.
You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.
I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there.
I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. "
I Corinthians 4:9-14
"For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.
We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!
To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.
We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;
when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
I am not writing this to shame you, but to warn you, as my dear children. "
II Corintians 1:3-10
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,
who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.
And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.
Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,"
II Corinthians 4:8-12
"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body.
So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you. "
II Corinthians 6:3-10
"We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;
in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;
in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love;
in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left;
through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;
known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. "
II Corinthians 11:23-30
" Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.
Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,
I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.
I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.
Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."
***************************************************************************
