Good morning. I hope everything is well with you. We are now in second Corinthians. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. We were not comforted just for ourselves. We were comforted in order that we might help those who need help. We can tell others that we went through something similar. God helped us, so they can be sure that God will help them. God usually does not give us something just for our own sake. He gives us something so that we can give to others. This is true even of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. If you look at those nine gifts in chapter 12 of first Corinthians, the gifts actually are for others, not for ourselves; though we may benefit from those gifts also. Even Paul says that the manifestation of the Holy Spirit is for the common good. The word of knowledge and the word of wisdom are not for us; they are for others, whether to the entire church or to individuals. Healings and miracles come through us; but they for others' benefit, not ours. Prophecy, tongues with interpretation, and discerning of spirits are generally for the benefit of others, though we would clearly receive benefit also. As for the gift of faith, it is usually interpreted as you having great faith to accomplish something. But why is this the one gift that benefits you and not others? I believe that this gift is to inspire faith in others. You do have faith to accomplish something that normally you would not be able to do; but its chief goal is to inspire faith in others. Back to second Corinthians: Paul says that he had the sentence of death within himself so that he would not trust in himself, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and He will deliver us. He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us. Through it all; through it all; I've learned to trust in Jesus – I've learned to trust in God. Sing it Andre! Father thank You that You have delivered the reader, and will continue delivering him/her in every circumstance. You are a good, good Father. That's who You are; who You are, who You are. And he/she is loved by You: that's who he/she is; who he/she is; who he/she is!

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