Study Desk

Everyone around here knows why I am in prison. It is because I preached about Jesus Christ. All the soldiers who work for the leader of the country know why I am here.

Because of this, most of my Christian brothers have had their faith in the Lord made stronger. They have more power to preach the Word of God without fear.

Some are preaching because they are jealous and want to make trouble. Others are doing it for the right reason.

These do it because of love. They know that I am put here to prove the Good News is true.

Because of your prayers and the help the Holy Spirit gives me, all of this will turn out for good.

Are you strong because you belong to Christ? Does His love comfort you? Do you have joy by being as one in sharing the Holy Spirit? Do you have loving-kindness and pity for each other?

Nothing should be done because of pride or thinking about yourself. Think of other people as more important than yourself.

Because of this, God lifted Jesus high above everything else. He gave Him a name that is greater than any other name.

He has been wanting to see all of you and was troubled because you heard he was sick.

So now, my Christian brothers, be happy because you belong to Christ. It is not hard for me to write the same things to you. It is good for you.

He will change these bodies of ours of the earth and make them new. He will make them like His body of shining-greatness. He has the power to do this because He can make all things obey Him.

Be full of joy always because you belong to the Lord. Again I say, be full of joy!

The Lord gives me a reason to be full of joy. It is because you are able to care for me again. I know you wanted to before but you did not have a way to help me.

I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.

I have everything I need and more than enough. I am taken care of because Epaphroditus brought your gift. It is a sweet gift. It is a gift that cost you something. It is the kind of gift God is so pleased with.

And my God will give you everything you need because of His great riches in Christ Jesus.

We give thanks to God for you because we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus. We thank God for your love for all those who belong to Christ.

Everything in heaven and on earth can come to God because of Christ's death on the cross. Christ's blood has made peace.

Do not let anyone rob you of your crown. They will try to get you to bow down in worship of angels. They think this shows you are not proud. They say they were told to do this in a dream. These people are proud because of their sinful minds.

It looks as if it is wise to follow these rules in an act of worship, because they are hard on the body. It looks as if they are done without pride, but they are worth nothing. They do not take away a man's desire to sin.