I May Fall, but I
will not altogether fail.
23The Lord makes firm the steps
of the one who delights in
him;
24though he may stumble, he will not
fall,
for the Lord upholds him with his hand.
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Function –
Fitting – Faithfulness
Humble Service in the Body of Christ
3For by the grace given me I say to
every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but
rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God
has distributed to each of you. 4For just as each
of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same
function, 5so in Christ we,
though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different
gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,
then prophesy in accordance with your
faith; 7if it is serving,
then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8if it is to
encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it
is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it
cheerfully.
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Abstain from love
of money.
Abstain from
licentiousness.
Abstain from
pride of life.
Abstain:
Don’t do things
that hurt you, hurt others, or defame God.
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Ray Stedman: Body
Life
http://www.raystedman.org/thematic-studies/body-life
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The Wheel:
http://www.navigators.org/us/ministries/college/navfusion/assets/The%20Wheel%20Illustration.pdf
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Love in Action
9Love must be sincere.
Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one
another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in
zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope,
patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with the
Lord’s people who are in need. Practice
hospitality.
14Bless those who
persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who
rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony
with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of
low position. Do not be conceited.
17Do not repay anyone evil
for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18If it is possible, as
far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my
dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to
avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 20On the
contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed
him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to
drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his
head.”
21Do not be overcome
by evil, but overcome evil with good.
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17I keep
asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you
the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18I pray
that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the
hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his
holy people, 19and
his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the
mighty strength 20he
exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in
the heavenly realms, 21far above
all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not
only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God
placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything
for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in
every way.
~Blessings,
Mike