[continued from previous message]   
      
   18 (1Co 7:31) What is my reward then? Truly that when I preach the gospel,   
   I may present the gospel of Christ without charge,   
   so that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel.   
   19 (Mt 18:15; 1Co 9:1) For though I am free from all men, I have made myself   
   servant to all, that I might win even more.   
   20 (Ac 16:3; 21:20-26) To the Jews, I became as a Jew, that I might win   
   the Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might   
   win those who are under the law;   
   21 (Ro 2:12; 2:14) to those who are outside the law, as outside the law   
   (being not without God's law, but under Christ's law) that I might win   
   those who are outside the law.   
   22 (Ro 11:14; 1Co 10:33) To the weak, I became as weak, that I might win   
   the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means   
   save some.   
   23 (This I do for the gospel's sake, that I might partake of it with you.   
   24 (Gal 2:2; Heb 12:1) Do you not know that all those who run in a race run,   
   but one receives the prize? So run, that you may obtain it.   
   25 (Jas 1:12; Rev 2:10; 1Ti 6:12) Everyone who strives for the prize   
   exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to obtain   
   a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible one.   
   26 So, therefore, I run, not with uncertainty. So I fight, not as one who   
   beats the air.   
   27 (Ro 8:13; Jer 6:30) But I bring and keep my body under subjection,   
   lest when preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.   
      
   [1] Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our   
   Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?   
   [2] If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the   
   seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.   
   [3] Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,   
   [4] Have we not power to eat and to drink?   
   [5] Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other   
   apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?   
   [6] Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?   
   [7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a   
   vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and   
   eateth not of the milk of the flock?   
   [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?   
   [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth   
   of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?   
   [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this   
   is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that   
   thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.   
   [11] If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we   
   shall reap your carnal things?   
   [12] If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather?   
   Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we   
   should hinder the gospel of Christ.   
   [13] Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the   
   things of the temple? and they which wait at the alter are partakers with   
   the alter?   
   [14] Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should   
   live of the gospel.   
   [15] But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these   
   things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die,   
   than that any man should make my glorying void.   
   [16] For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for   
   necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!   
   [17] For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my   
   will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.   
   [18] What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may   
   make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the   
   gospel.   
   [19] For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto   
   all, that I might gain the more.   
   [20] And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to   
   them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that   
   are under the law;   
   [21] To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to   
   God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without   
   law.   
   [22] To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all   
   things to all men, that I might by all means save some.   
   [23] And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof   
   with you.   
   [24] Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth   
   the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.   
   [25] And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.   
   Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.   
   [26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that   
   beateth the air:   
   [27] But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by   
   any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.   
      
   1 Corinthians 10   
   Warning Against Idolatry   
      
   1 (Ex 14:29; Ps 66:6) I would not want you to be unaware that all our fathers   
   were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,   
   2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;   
   3 (Ex 16:35; Dt 8:3) all ate the same spiritual food;   
   4 (Ex 17:6; Nu 20:11) and all drank the same spiritual drink,   
   for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them,   
   and that Rock was Christ.   
   5 (Heb 3:17; Jude 1:5) But with many of them God was not well pleased,   
   and they were overthrown in the wilderness.   
   6 (Nu 11:4; 1Co 10:11) Now these things were our examples to the intent   
   that we should not lust after evil things as they lusted.   
   7 (Ex 32:19; 32:4) Neither be idolaters as were some of them.   
   As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to revel."   
   (Ex 32:6.)   
   8 (Nu 25:1-9; 1Co 6:18) Neither let us commit sexual immorality   
   as some of them committed, when twenty-three thousand fell in one day.   
   9 (Nu 21:5-6; Ex 17:2) Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also   
   tempted and were destroyed by serpents.   
   10 (Ex 12:23; Nu 16:41) Neither murmur, as some of them also murmured   
   and were destroyed by the destroyer.   
   11 (Ro 13:11) Now all these things happened to them for examples.   
   They are written as an admonition to us, upon whom the end of the ages   
   has come.   
   12 (Ro 11:20) Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed, lest he fall.   
   13 (1Co 1:9; 2Pe 2:9) No temptation has taken you except what is common   
   to man. God is faithful, and He will not permit you to be tempted   
   above what you can endure, but will with the temptation   
   also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.   
   14 (1Co 10:7; 1Jn 5:21) So, my beloved, flee from idolatry.   
   15 (1Co 8:1; 1Th 5:21) I speak as to wise men.   
   Judge for yourselves what I say.   
   16 (Mt 26:26-28; Ac 2:42) The cup of blessing which we bless,   
   is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break,   
   is it not the communion of the body of Christ?   
   17 (Ro 12:5; 1Co 12:12) For we, being many, are one bread and one body,   
   for we are all partakers of that one bread.   
   18 (Ro 4:1) Consider Israel after the flesh: Are not those who eat   
   of the sacrifices partakers of the altar?   
   19 (1Co 8:4) What am I saying then, that the idol is anything   
   or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is anything?   
   20 (Rev 9:20) But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice,   
   they sacrifice to demons, and not to God. I do not want you to have   
   fellowship with demons.   
   21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons.   
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)