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Marks of the Ministry

¹We then, as⚓workers together with Him also ⚓plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ²For He says:
⚓“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
³⚓We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. ⁴But in all things we commend ourselves ⚓as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, ⁵⚓in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; ⁶by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, ⁷⚓by the word of truth, by ⚓the power of God, by ⚓the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹as unknown, and ⚓yet well known; ⚓as dying, and behold we live; ⚓as chastened, and yet not killed; ¹⁰as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many ⚓rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Be Holy

¹¹O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, ⚓our heart is wide open. ¹²You are not restricted by us, but ⚓you are restricted by your own affections. ¹³Now in return for the same ⚓(I speak as to children), you also be open.
¹⁴⚓Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For ⚓what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ¹⁶And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For ⚓you are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
⚓“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
¹⁷Therefore
⚓“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
¹⁸“I ⚓will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My ⚓sons and daughters,
Says the LORD Almighty.”