¹ Wherefore, my brethren beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved.

² I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche, to be of the same mind in the Lord.

³ Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these women, for they labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life.

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice.

⁵ Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

⁶ In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

⁹ The things which ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

¹⁰ But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at length ye have revived your thought for me; wherein ye did indeed take thought, but ye lacked opportunity.

¹¹ Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therein to be content.

¹² I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound: in everything and in all things have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want.

¹³ I can do all things in him that strengtheneth me.

¹⁴ Howbeit ye did well that ye had fellowship with my affliction.

¹⁵ And ye yourselves also know, ye Philippians, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church had fellowship with me in the matter of giving and receiving but ye only;

¹⁶ for even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my need.

¹⁷ Not that I seek for the gift; but I seek for the fruit that increaseth to your account.

¹⁸ But I have all things, and abound: I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, and odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing to God.

¹⁹ And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

²⁰ Now unto our God and Father be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

²¹ Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren that are with me salute you.

²² All the saints salute you, especially they that are of Caesar’s household.

²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

¹ This is now, beloved, the second epistle that I write unto you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by putting you in remembrance;

² that ye should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of the Lord and Saviour through your apostles:

³ knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts,

⁴ and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

⁵ For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth compacted out of water and amidst water, by the word of God;

⁶ by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:

⁷ but the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

⁸ But forget not this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some count slackness; but is longsuffering to you-ward, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

¹¹ Seeing that these things are thus all to be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy living and godliness,

¹² looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, by reason of which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

¹³ But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

¹⁴ Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for these things, give diligence that ye may be found in peace, without spot and blameless in his sight.

¹⁵ And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote unto you;

¹⁶ as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; wherein are some things hard to be understood, which the ignorant and unstedfast wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

¹⁷ Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness.

¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and for ever. Amen.

¹ If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.

² And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

³ And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.

⁴ Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

⁵ doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil;

⁶ rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth;

⁷ beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

⁸ Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away.

⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part;

¹⁰ but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.

¹¹ When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things.

¹² For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known.

¹³ But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.

WHAT DO YOU CHOOSE?

CARTER’S IRAN, CLINTON’S BOSNIA, OBAMA’S: IVORY COAST, EGYPT, LIBYA, IRAQ, AND PAKISTAN, ECT.;  THE LIBERALISM THAT EQUATES TO MERCY FOR THE DEVIL MEANS  GOOD PEOPLE MUST SUFFER AND DIE.

CBN

Iranian officials are continuing to pressure detained Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani to deny his Christian faith “and accept the prophet Muhammad as his savior.”

The American Center for Law and Justice, which is working closely with Nadarkhani’s case, confirmed Tuesday that the pastor was recently asked again to recant his faith.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Nadarkhani was given the option to be freed from prison if he accepted Muhammad as “a messenger sent by God.”

“Local authorities indicated they would release the pastor if he agreed to make the statement regarding the prophet Mohammed. However, Pastor Nadarkhani has refused to do so, and remains in prison awaiting a final decision on his case,” the group said in a statement dated Jan. 13.

These demands have been put on Nadarkhani at least three times before by Iranian officials.

When asked to renounce his faith at his latest trial last September, Nadarkhani responded, “I cannot,” and has continued to refuse.

“Rather than uphold its legal obligations under the rule of law, which requires it free Pastor Youcef and allow him to peacefully practice Christianity, Iran yet again obliterates any credibility it might have held with the international community,” ACLJ International Legal Director Tiffany Barrans said.

The Iranian court that heard Nadarkhani’s case promised a decision on the pastor’s release more than a month ago.

So far, a ruling has yet to be made.

1 John 4

¹ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

³ and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.

⁴ Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.

⁵ They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them.

⁶ We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.

⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

⁹ Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.

¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

¹² No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:

¹³ hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

¹⁴ And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

¹⁵ Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.

¹⁶ And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.

¹⁷ Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world.

¹⁸ There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love, because he first loved us.

²⁰ If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.

²¹ And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.

Judging Others

¹ “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. ² For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and ^[a]by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. ³ Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴ Or how ^[b]can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

⁶ “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Prayer and the Golden Rule

⁷ “^[c]Ask, and it will be given to you; ^[d]seek, and you will find; ^[e]knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. ⁹ Or what man is there among you ^[f]who, when his son asks for a loaf, ^[g]will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or ^[h]if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? ¹¹ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

¹² “In everything, therefore, ^[i]treat people the same way you want ^[j]them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

The Narrow and Wide Gates

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. ¹⁴ For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

¹⁵ “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will ^[k]know them by their fruits. ^[l]Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? ¹⁷ So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ So then, you will ^[m]know them by their fruits.

²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. ²² Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many ^[n]miracles?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’

The Two Foundations

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and ^[o]acts on them, ^[p]may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the ^[q]floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. ²⁶ Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not ^[r]act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ The rain fell, and the ^[s]floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

^{28 [t]}When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; ²⁹ for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

1 Corinthians 10

¹ For I would not, brethren, have you ignorant, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

² and were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

³ and did all eat the same spiritual food;

⁴ and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them: and the rock was Christ.

⁵ Howbeit with most of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

⁶ Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

⁷ Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

⁸ Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.

⁹ Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents.

¹⁰ Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer.

¹¹ Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.

¹² Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

¹³ There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.

¹⁴ Wherefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

¹⁵ I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.

¹⁶ The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a communion of the body of Christ?

¹⁷ seeing that we, who are many, are one bread, one body: for we are all partake of the one bread.

¹⁸ Behold Israel after the flesh: have not they that eat the sacrifices communion with the altar?

¹⁹ What say I then? that a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?

²⁰ But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have communion with demons.

²¹ Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of demons: ye cannot partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons.

²² Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?

²³ All things are lawful; but not all things are expedient. All things are lawful; but not all things edify.

²⁴ Let no man seek his own, but each his neighbor’s good.

²⁵ Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake,

²⁶ for the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.

²⁷ If one of them that believe not biddeth you to a feast, and ye are disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake.

²⁸ But if any man say unto you, This hath been offered in sacrifice, eat not, for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake:

²⁹ conscience, I say, not thine own, but the other’s; for why is my liberty judged by another conscience?

³⁰ If I partake with thankfulness, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?

³¹ Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

³² Give no occasions of stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God:

³³ even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.

Bishop Paul S. Morton & PJ – Let Go, Let God