For our sake He was made poor.

2Co 8:8  I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 

2Co 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. 

2Co 8:10  And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. 

2Co 8:11  Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. 

2Co 8:12  For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. 

2Co 8:13  For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: 

2Co 8:14  But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: 

2Co 8:15  As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack. 

This isn't a commandment it's a testimony to love's sincerity.

Truly a lot of people believe communes, and any society whose political bent is towards equality towards all is wrong. Ideas of dictators spring up, and leaders who are corrupt and only want more power for themselves fill us we aversions and rightly so. This world has been run by many corrupt leaders- kings, presidents, dictators, prime ministers, queens etc.  We know cruelty and abuse of power so well. The rich do seem to get richer and the poor do seem to get poorer.

This message- this testimony to love's sincerity talks about our abundance supplying another's need, and our needs being supplied by another's abundance.  This is truly love realized on the highest level isn't it? 

Our selfishness prevents us from supplying, and prevents others from supplying as well - while people live in want. When we are wanting we are so thankful for the supply when it comes to us.  Where is the harm in being gracious and giving, in supplying and taking?  This is life isn't it? Helping our fellow man whenever we can, yet all too often we stop helping- we draw a line in the sand of our generosity so we do not live in the poverty we are trying to alleviate.  So many lines are drawn and yet, we placate ourselves for what we do, telling ourselves we did enough, or at least we did something.  How do we know when it is enough?

Love's testimony. 

May God help us to know and do His will in giving and in receiving and keep us from evil's grasp in all things.

All through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!!!!!!!!

Godly Sorrow.

2Co 7:8  For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season. 

2Co 7:9  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 

2Co 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 

2Co 7:11  For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter. 

Sorrow to repentance.

Sorrow after a godly manner.

Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation.

Worldly sorrow works death.

When we read the Word of God often we can be convicted in ourselves of things we've done wrong, things we need repentance for. We seek repentance and by the grace of God we are forgiven. We seek forgiveness and repent, we sorrow for our wrong doing. Today so many would have us condone wrong rather than reject it in ourselves. Satan cries out for us to believe sinning is acceptable- that evil is good and good is evil. When we stop believing that sin has a penalty, that sin is wrong, then we are deceived. When we don't believe we need to repent then we are deceived.

Paul made the Corinthians sorry with a letter, an epistle- they didn't like what they heard - they were chastised for wrong doing, they were rebuked, they were hurt by the words they heard but their hurt, their pain, their sorrow was for their own salvation. They were shown truth and the truth hurt them but it hurt them to the point they recognized their error. They wanted to change, they no longer wanted to commit the sins they'd been committing. They repented of their evil- a true sorrow, a true desire to change.

If we, today, are reproved for our sins and ignore the reproving by twisting and turning things so we excuse or sins, then we are guilty and not forgiven. We need godly sorrow in our lives. We need to comprehend truth.  This is truth…

Joh_8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Worldly sorrow does not bring repentance unto salvation. Worldly sorrow laments selfishly, not selflessly. Worldly sorrow longs for self. Godly sorrow longs for God.

Please, Lord, please let us long for YOU.

All through Jesus Christ our LORD, our SAVIOR, now and FOREVER!

Endure Sound Doctrine.

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

2Ti 4:6  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 

2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. 

The time will come when people will NOT endure sound doctrine…but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears.

People will turn away from truth, from sound doctrine because it pleases them to follow things that are not of sound doctrine.  It's not that people will turn away from an outward show of truth, of Christianity, of putting on the appearance of being a Christ follower. People will appear true, for all intents and purposes they will be good Christians and it is NOT for us to judge any person's eternal life, not ever. However, we have to follow sound doctrine regardless of what every anyone else follows. Once we know truth we cannot deny that truth. We can't change truth to suit our own desires. We can't expect an easy go of things, can we?

FEW there be that find it….
MANY will say to me in that day…
NARROW is the way…
BROAD is the path…

Mat_7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Mat 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 

Mat 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 

Mat 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

Mat_7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat

We need to comprehend that the truth, the sound doctrine of the truth will not be popular with most people, God's word tells us this truth. Do we believe the truth?

May God help us know truth, to know sound doctrine, to now only know sound doctrine but follow that doctrine, believe that doctrine, teach that doctrine. All by the grace and will, the mercy and love of our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD now and forever!

Spirit

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 

Joh 16:14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 

Joh 16:15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

The Spirit of truth.

A guiding Spirit.

A speaking Spirit.

A hearing Spirit.

A teaching Spirit.

A glorifying Spirit.

A receiving Spirit.

Jesus wants us to receive the Spirit of truth. Jesus wants us to be guided by the Spirit of truth. The Spirit of truth is REAL.

Joh 3:5  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 

Joh 3:6  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 

Joh 3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 

Joh 3:8  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 

Joh 3:9  Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 

Joh 3:10  Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? 

Joh 3:11  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. 

Joh 3:12  If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? 

Joh 3:13  And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 

Joh 3:14  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 

Joh 3:15  That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 

We must be born of the Spirit.

The Spirit is so incredibly real! We need to be taught of the Spirit and we WILL be taught of the Spirit as we surrender ourselves wholly to God allowing Him to live in us, to work in us.

Act 8:29  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 

Truly the Spirit speaks to us!

Act 10:19  While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. 

Act 11:12  And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house

Act 13:2  As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 

Act 13:3  And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 

Act 13:4  So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 

Act 16:6  Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, 

Act 16:7  After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. 

Act 20:22  And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 

Act 20:23  Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 

1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will

1Ti 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils

The Spirit!

The Holy Spirit will guide us, He really, really will!  However, we know from this last verse many will give heed to SEDUCING SPIRITS.

We need the Holy Spirit in our lives not the devil's spirits who will deceive at every opportunity!

We need the Spirit of truth!

May we receive the Spirit of truth, heeding ONLY the Holy Spirit and no other spirit that may approach us!

We don't SEE Spirits but they exist, they really exist and to not believe is to be deceived.  The Holy Spirit will protect us, teach us, guide us, comfort us, give us the spiritual gifts we need to do the will of God. May we be blessed with the Holy Spirit's guidance in every facet of our lives! All through Jesus Christ our LORD and SAVIOR, now and forever!!!!!!! 

Spirit Reading.

'No one can find out God by research. There is only one way to find out God—by the regenerated spirit. Those who touch God with this spirit will know Him right away. There is no other way except this way. In order to study the Bible, a man must have a regenerated spirit, in the same way that he must have a regenerated spirit to touch God. Suppose a man has installed an electric lamp in his house. He wants to connect the lamp to the power source, but the only materials he has are wood, bamboo, and cloth; he does not have any copper wire. Although there is power in the electric power company, that power cannot cause the lamp to shine. No matter how much cloth, bamboo, and wood he has, he cannot tap into the electricity. Another man may not have any cloth, bamboo, or wood, but he has a little piece of wire. With that little wire he can light up the lamp because the wire transmits electricity. In the same way, a man must have a regenerated spirit before he can touch God. He must have a regenerated spirit before he can touch God's word.'   - Excerpt - How to Study the Bible & The Breaking of the Outer Man and the Release of the Spirit. -by Watchman Nee

Is it any wonder there are so many people who can read the Bible without any true comprehension of its eternal worth? So many cannot comprehend why people EVEN TODAY are willing to die to have the Word of God. The Word of God is forbidden in many places around our world.

Read the following-

How many countries world wide ban the Bible?

5 Answers

Kamrujjaman, Knowledge Explorer, I read & wanna know more.

Answered Feb 28 2016

Regrettably, there are many countries with legal or customary restrictions on the Bible. While a total ban is comparatively rare (e.g., North Korea punishes any possession of religious literature by death or imprisonment), it is more common for ownership or distribution to be limited:

To certain government-approved groups only. For example, China allows distribution of Bibles for churches or seminaries that are part of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement / China Christian Council, and they are sold in some bookshops, but cannot generally be mail-ordered by individuals or unregistered churches.

Several other nations require government approval before religious books (or any books) can be printed. To foreigners only. Maldives says citizens must be Muslim, and foreigners are allowed to practice their religion in private; Bibles can be imported for personal use.

In certain languages only. Morocco allows Bibles in French, English, and Spanish, but not Arabic.

Can't publish, but can import. Turkmenistan does not allow publication of Bibles. They can be imported, in limited numbers and with permission, by registered churches.

Restrictions on attempts to convert members of other religions may also result in de facto bans on Bibles. Similarly, government actions in the name of "public order" may have the same effect, even if there is no law specifically banning Bible publication or ownership. In several cases, effective bans on religious freedom take place despite supposed constitutional guarantees to the contrary. Experiences may vary in different parts of the same country, or at different times.

So "illegal" is perhaps the wrong word, and we should instead be thinking of "Can anyone easily obtain a Bible in this country without attracting official difficulties?". Any such list will have fuzzy edges, of course. One indicator might be the ease with which Bible societies are able to do their work.

They are organized groups with a missionary element and so the bar is higher for them than for private individuals.

The Gideons International have a list of countries where they are not allowed to operate:

Afghanistan, Algeria, China (People's Republic), Comoros, Djibouti, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Morocco, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen.

However, for some of these countries, other groups exist: there are United Bible Societies chapters for Algeria, Iraq, Morocco, and China, and some presence in Comoros, Djibouti, Mauritania and Somalia. The Catholic Bible Federation also operates in Iran. Not all of these efforts may be entirely government-approved.

For more detailed information, the US State Department issues annual reports on religious freedom with detailed assessments of the conditions on the ground in each country.

In particular, they distinguish between what the country's law says, how the government acts, and how the wider society responds.

From <https://www.quora.com/How-many-countries-world-wide-ban-the-Bible>

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Banning the Bible- why, if it has no power? It does have power- spiritual power.  Many truly can read the Bible a thousand times over and never get what a spiritual person reading it one time can obtain.  This is truth.  This brings comprehension as to why so many ridicule the Bible and therefore God and His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. If they do not have the Spirit of God they see no harm whatsoever in figuratively or literally ripping the Bible to shreds.  The blind cannot see no matter how hard you try to explain things to them, their perception will always be different from those with sight. Spiritual blindness will inhibit any true learning a person can do.

2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. 

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

By the grace of God may we NOT be spiritually blind to His love, to His truth!

All by Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior now and forever!

Help us look for the eternal.

2Co 4:15  For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. 

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

Eternal things.

Looking at things which are NOT seen.

Joh_17:20  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

We do not SEE our Savior.

We must believe through the WORD given to the Bible writers by the Holy Spirit.

Eternal things.

It's so hard to focus on eternal things living in a material world. However, even those who live in places stripped of most material comforts we place high value upon, can concentrate on things seen and not things unseen.

How do we concentrate on what we can't see? Seriously. It's so much easier to focus on things we can see, touch, experience. Yet, we have to look for things NOT seen. We have to LOOK for the ETERNAL.

Please Lord, help us look for the eternal!

  

Focus Off the Chaos.

We've been studying a bit about acknowledging our greatest adversary, not only acknowledging him but recognizing his devices, comprehending his fierce drive to see us fail as Christ followers.

2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

The serpent beguiled Eve. The serpent is -

Rev_12:9  And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The Devil….Satan…the Serpent.

As the Devil beguiled Eve we too are in danger of having our minds corrupted, and corrupted from the SIMPLICITY that is in Christ.

2Co 1:12  For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

Rom 12:8  …he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity…

Simplicity - sometimes we complicate things up so much so we forget the simplest of truths. Satan was able to deceive Eve with his subtle ways.  Satan doesn't always use forthright evil to deceive, he is so incredibly subtle that he sneak in and seduces minds and hearts from the simple truth of salvation.

Satan brings up our lives and all the complications involved in them. He eats away at our resolve to have faith. He takes our knowledge of our heavenly home and grinds it down so much that our minds are corrupted by our life here and now. We stop living for Jesus and live for ourselves. We stop living for our heavenly home and live for our earthly homes. We have so many trials, so many tribulations one right after the other and they wear us down because we live for now. The simplicity that is in Christ is salvation and salvation is not found here in our life but with Christ in heaven. We are NOT going to find peace here and now in our tumultuous lives, NOT unless we take our focus off the chaos.

Please, Lord, help us not be corrupted by Satan by losing the simplicity found in You!  All through You, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, now and forever!