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Called to Be an Apostle
Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their’s and our’s: grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:1-3
That Ye Come Behind in No Gift
I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:4-9
Perfectly Joined Together
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Apostle – a person sent by another; a messenger; envoy. This word is once used as a descriptive designation of Jesus Christ, the Sent of the Father. It is also used designating the disciples to whom he intrusted the organization of His church and the spreading of his gospel. They were commissioned to “preach the gospel to every creature.”
Characteristics of the Apostles
(1) To have seen the Lord, and been able to testify of him and of his resurrection from personal knowledge.
(2) To have been called to that office by Christ.
(3) To be infallibly inspired, and thus secured against all error and mistake in their public teaching, whether by word or by writing.
(4) To have the power of working miracles.
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The LORD Stirred Up the Spirit of Cyrus King of Persia
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.
2 Chronicles 36:22-23
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Whom Shall I Fear?
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
Psalm 27:1-3
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An Inheritance Gotten Hastily
An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
Proverbs 20:21
An inheritance hastily gained [by greedy, unjust means] at the beginning will not be blessed in the end.
Proverbs 20:21 AMP
