 Good morning, everyone. The recording has started. Even before we could begin with our session, I would request one of us to please lead us in prayer. Can I request Aradhana? Aradhana, can you pray? Okay. Okay. Rosalind, are you in a position to pray? Am I audible? Yes. Okay. Thank you. So, Paul, can you please pray? Let's pray. Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank you yet for another week. Thank you for being a good Lord. We have been our keeper. Thank you, Father, as we are going to hear your word. We pray that, Lord, it enters into our hearts, our minds. We pray that, Lord God, you strengthen us, you revive us through your word so that we spread your word to the whole world. We pray and believe all this in Jesus Christ's name, Son of the Living God. Amen. Amen. Amen. So, yes. So, last week we studied on first Corinthians and today we're going to study on second Corinthians. So, even before I could start, let me project a slide. Yes. Yeah, we are able to see it. Okay. So, good morning. Once again, let's begin this class on the second letter of Corinthians. So, do we know how many letters did Paul write? We know the author, right? From last class, we know who's the author of this letter. It's Apostle Paul. And how many letters did Paul write to the church of Corinthians? Yes, Brother Lubega, please go ahead. I think it is more than two. There must be in four, five and more, but I can only say that the answer is more than two letters. Yes. Yes, good. Thank you. Thank you, Brother Lubega. That's right. It is definitely more than two letters. Anyone else would like to add, like, what happened to the other letters? Even before we could come to the letters, okay, I would like to share something on Soteriological Epistle. What is this? In the book of first Corinthians, we see it notable for its insistence that the cross of Christ is the instrument of sanctification. I'm just giving a little bit background of the previous letter so that we'll understand as we study on the second letter of the book of Corinthians. So, in basic solution is the moral issue of life. So, while Romans and Galatians emphasized on the truth of justification is by faith in Christ and the first Corinthians was written to remind the believers that though they once had been spiritually and morally bankrupt, now they are washed and sanctified and justified by the blood of Jesus, by the work that Jesus did on the cross. So, it is not by what they are doing. It is not by the work but by the grace of God. We see that in 1 Corinthians chapter 6, 11. So, whatever they ate or drank, whatever they did, they were to do all for the glory of God. So, what is this doctrine of soteriology? What is the study all about? Well, when we see it is a branch of theology which deals with the study of salvation. So, sotereo, it is a Greek word. Sotereon in Greek means salvation. So, it's related to sorter, means savior. So, sotereology relates to several other branches of theology. So, in that it asks something like they do a deep study. They have a deep study of who is saved, by whom, for what and by what means. So, there is a deep study that goes on into this particular stream. So, in 1 Corinthians, it is notable for its persistence on the study of salvation. And what was the theme of 1 Corinthians letter? What was the theme? Please refer to your notes. Please, let's take this opportunity to refer so that the more local church. Exactly, good, good. Thanks, Zellie. So, to bring an order in the local church. So, what is the theme in the 2 Corinthians, the letter to 2 Corinthians? The true gospel ministry for Christ. Yes, the true gospel ministry for Christ. So, keeping in this mind, let's look into how many letters did Paul write. So, when we go through the scholars say that Paul had written about 4 letters to the Corinthian church. And it was written approximately in 56 to 57 AD, about 6 months after Paul wrote the first letter of 1 Corinthians. So, the first letter which dealt with the problem of fornication in the church, which has been noted in 1 Corinthians chapter 5-9, and then that letter has been lost. And the second letter, that is the 1 Corinthians which we have recorded in our Bible, in our scripture, deals with the various problems he had become aware of in the church. So, that is what we have as 1 Corinthians. And the third, Paul writes another letter. That's a third letter to the church of Corinth. That was pretty harsh and disciplinary in nature. And this letter has also been lost. But some scholars say there's stress or a portion of the letter has been preserved in the 2 Corinthians in chapters 6 and 7. And then we also see the leading for Paul to write the fourth letter, which he comforted those who had gotten themselves right with God. And strongly he defended his apostleship against some who were opposing his authority. So, that the fourth letter is what we have recorded as 2 Corinthians. So, totally the scholars say that Paul had written 4 letters. First one was lost. Second one is what we have as 1 Corinthians. Third one is also lost. But a portion of that letter is preserved in the 2 Corinthians in chapter 6 and of the first half of chapter 7. And the fourth letter is what we have as 2 Corinthians. Okay, is that clear to us? Okay, keeping that in mind, let's look at the background of this place of Corinth. I know we discussed this last week just to brush up our knowledge so that we remember well. Corinth was the capital of the province of Achaia, that is Greece. Its strategic location made it a point where all trade routes met in this place. And so it would appeal to Paul as an ideal centre for which the Gospel could spread or could be shared. So, commercially when we look at this place, because of its position, Corinth became one of the greatest trading and a commercial centre of its day. So, all traffic from the north to south of Greece went through Corinth which made it very prosperous. Yes, keeping the business or the commercial place, we also see the religious aspect of this or the morality of the people. It was very wicked in city, noted for its evil and immoral lifestyle. So, the expression of the Corinthians when they say Corinthian eyes is meant to live with drunkenness and immorality. This was the lifestyle of the Corinthians who lived in those days. And it was also known, this place was also known for the temple of Aphrodite, was there, which had about 1000 temple prostitutes. And the scholars also say that it was the Sodom of those days, this place. Corinth was known as the Sodom of those days, full of sin, full of wicked thing happening there. They were known for that lifestyle. And look at the place where Paul has chosen to carry the Gospel and go to this place to share the good news that even if you believe in Jesus as a Lord and Saviour, you have eternal life. He has carried the Gospel and went into a place which was called as Sodom of those days or the city was so much filled with wicked and immoral lifestyle. And here we see a man with a great passion carrying the Gospel of Jesus Christ and entering into the city. Now, definitely there would be a greater position from the enemy and also from the people. And also we see Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. He says, you know, I'm carrying this letter to them so that each one can receive this Gospel, can receive this good news and be saved. So as we're going to study further, we should know who's the recipient of this letter. Who's the recipient of this letter? The Church at Collins. Yes, you're right. The Church of Corinth. Okay, I'll go to the next slide. Okay. So what we're going to study here, there are about 13 chapters. The first chapter, chapter 1 to chapter 7, talks about the crucial concerns. Crucial concerns, suffering and God's comfort. New covenant ministry, preserving and godliness. We also see there are some issues in the Church has been addressed in chapter 1 to chapter 7. What is that? Misunderstanding, concerns, explanations. And here we also see Paul's tone as he writes this letter. He's asking them to be more forgiving, more grateful. As he mentions all that, he's also mentioning with an authority with boldness. And then chapter 8 to chapter 9, we see the grace giving. Example of Macedonia, command to the Corinthians. And it talks about some of the issues that they had about the financial project, financial need. And then he confidently writes to them, addresses those issues. And then lastly, in chapter 10 to 13, we see the apostolic authority that he carried with the, you know, and he tries to defend his apostleship. He replies to the critics of the people who came against him, the false teachers. And he also justifies the ministry that he's carrying. And he talks about the vision, the revelation, the credentials and the warning. And God's power has been perfected in the weakness. So it was not easy for Paul to face the people. Yes, he had a lot of oppositions and many other areas. But then with all that, he presents the gospel. He defends the gospel with strong and with boldness. And there are some key verses. This was four to five and nine, chapter four, verse five. Can I request one of us to please turn to chapter four, verse five. The other can turn to chapter nine, verse seven. And the next person can turn to chapter 10, verse eight. Please. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves, your bond servants for Jesus' sake. Amen. Next person. So Paul says in four five that for we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves, your bond servant for Christ's sake. So this was the key verse for which Paul cavied scripture to the church of Corinthians. And can I request one of you all to please turn to chapter nine, verse seven. Second Corinthians chapter nine, verse seven. So let each one give us, give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity. For God loves a cheerful given. Amen. So as he's been, he's encouraging the church to be a cheerful giver. So here we see that Paul talking about the financial need and he's telling let each one give as he proposes in his heart. Not grudgingly or of necessity. For God loves a cheerful giver. Give out of love. Don't have to push yourself, but then just give it, give to God because he has blessed you. He has given you so that you may receive the abundant blessing of that very act of giving. The next verse, chapter 10 verse eight, please. Chapter 10 verse eight. For even if I should boost, boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed. Amen. Amen. So it says for even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed. Amen. Thank you. That was the authority that Paul carried with which he carried the gospel to the Corinthians church. So with that, I'll stop presenting this and we'll go back to our notes. Just give me a second, please. So what was the, what was the reason for the second, for the second goodness, for the letter of this second Corinthians to be written by Paul? What may be the reason? Yes, please. Go ahead. I think he was happy with the report. You know, the first letter was given to Timothy and the second letter was given. I mean, the third letter was given to Titus. So he was happy about the report that Titus told him in Macedonia, how they had reacted to the second, to the third letter, which we don't have. So I think it was out of happiness. Yes, you're right. Yes, even the letter says that. So it was a follow up to the first letter, most likely, which was written in Macedonia. And as Brother Lubega said, it was just a follow up of the letter that was lost. But then we see that he was very grateful and Paul was waiting perhaps as much as a year to year from them, year from the local church. And then he had responded to his previous letter and he also most likely made a short trip in the meantime. That's what the scholars say. He would have made a short trip in the meantime to correct some of the problem in the Corinthian church and many of the problems had improved by now and he gives praise to God for that. And he would also like to address the new threats that had risen from the Judaizers. And in response to that report, there was the infiltration of some false teachers and false teaching that was arising, which was seemed to be a common experience for Paul those days because some false teachers had come behind them and they were teaching other than what Paul was teaching them, a different gospel. A different gospel. They had to establish themselves and they teaching. They had to try to undermine the authority or bring down the reputation of Paul in the church. So the Judaistic party had attacked Paul's apostate ship, his leadership on several grounds and they accused him in different areas. We see in yeah, first request one of you to turn to 2 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 16 to 18, sorry yeah, chapter 1 verse 16 to 18 to pass by way of you to Macedonia to come again from Macedonia to you and be helped by you on my way to Judea. Therefore when I was planning this, did I do it lightly or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh that with me there should be yes, yes and no no. But as God is faithful, our word to you was not yes and no. Should I continue more? Yeah, yeah, thanks, thanks, thanks Rosalind. So we see how Paul was accused and he's giving an explanation and they accused Paul of not preaching the whole gospel because of his lack of emphasis on work. We see that in chapter 4 can I request one of you to turn to chapter 4 verse 1 to 6. Therefore since we have this ministry as we have received the mercy we do not lose heart but we have renounced the hidden things of shame not working in craftiness or handling the word of God decided decidedly but by manifestation of the truth commanding ourselves to every man is conscious in the sight of God. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing whose minds the God of this age has blinded who do not believe least the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God should shine on them for we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus the Lord and ourselves your bound servants for Christ to say for it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shown in our hearts to give the light of knowledge of the glory of God in the amen. Amen Amen So well Paul is explaining he is preaching the gospel and also in the same letter in chapter 12 he says they accused him of not being a real apostle and also these juristic party they accused him of being pride and boastful they even attack this appearance of the manner of his speech has been less than impressive or even compatible they that's the reason we see that can I request one of y'all to turn to chapter 5 verse 12 chapter 5 verse 12 we see for what Paul is defending and giving an answer of can I request one of y'all to turn to chapter 5 verse 12 for we do not comment ourselves again to you but to give you opportunity to boast on our behalf that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart and chapter 10 verse 7 to 11 yeah Rosalind you can do you look at things according to the outward appearance if anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ let him again consider this in himself that just as he is Christ even so we are Christ for even if I should boast some somewhat more about our authority which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction I shall not be ashamed lest I seem to terrify you by letters for his letters they say are weighty and powerful but his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible let such a person consider this that what we are inward by letters when we are absent such we will also be indeed when we are present amen thank you so very clearly when we read the gospel he says that I do not come with you know eloquent speech okay I do not come with speech but you know I come with simple words the gospel I come to you with gospel and he shows about simplicity and he also defends his apostleship and we also see he was it was a defense of his right to speak into the life of church in chapter one verse 12 and also in chapter two verse four we see that Paul explained why he had changed his plans for coming to them because they accused him these jurisers partly accused him for saying he said he is coming but the need did not come so he does not keep his word so here we see Paul explains to them he says why he had to change his plans for coming to them and also he says Paul felt the need to vindicate his apostleship against the false charges which you know the the false teachers were bringing against Paul so that the people may not receive the gospel that Paul was sharing so Paul used his in yeah so Paul used his suffering in the ministry as a primary proof of his motives in the ministry has been very clear so with that we will also see what was the main theme in this letter main theme in this letter I literally said what was the main theme in this letter the true gospel ministry of Christ so we see that Paul reaffirms some of the previous admonitions here in this letter he tries to defend his apostleship and he answers the charges that come against him for what all for the sake of the church that he is trying to establish at the place called Corinth so Paul represents a message of reconciliation we see that in 2 Corinthians chapter 5 can I request one of you all to please turn to chapter 5 verse 18 to 20 now all things are of God who has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation that is that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself not inputting their trespasses to them and has committed to us the word of reconciliation now then we are ambassadors for Christ as though God were pleading through us we implore you on Christ to have be reconciled to God for he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him amen thank you thank you Rosalind so we see three things here reconciliation of the world back to God and second we see reconciliation of church back to himself and third we see reconciliation of the repentant man to the church family which is very important that he also says Paul what as the weakness of a man as opposed to the power of God how? in chapter 12 verse 9 he says verse 9 I'll read from verse 7 onwards which talks about the thorn in the flesh so even before we could read what do you think the thorn in the flesh would be what is that Paul representing the thorn in the flesh as? ma'am the abundance of revelations that he received from Christ okay the thorn in the flesh something that is opposing him what is it? you all tell me brother Lubika, brother Subashish John, Nikki please go ahead, Jeffina like I just think that maybe it means passing through some pain which you cannot get that can't go off in any way something that you are compared to do something though it is painful to you let me stop it anyone else what is this thorn in the flesh that Paul talks about we'll read the verse maybe after that we'll get an idea can I request one of you all to read from chapter 7 sorry chapter 12 verse 7 to 10 at least I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of revelations a thorn in the flesh was given to me a messenger of certain to perfect me least I be exalted above measure concerning these things I pleaded with the Lord three times that I might depart but it might depart from me and he said to me my grace is sufficient to you for my strength is made perfect in weakness therefore most gladly I'd rather boost in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in approaches in need, in prostitution, in distresses for Christ's sake for when I'm weak then I'm strong amen what a promise isn't it when I'm weak then I'm strong so we don't have to worry about our weaknesses because that is the area where God is going to glorify himself in our weaknesses that's the reason why God comforts Paul about the thorn in the flesh so before we could move on to verse 9 I would request what is this thorn in the flesh that Paul is talking about in verse 7 yes we are not doing a verse to verse study yes we will be studying in detail in our third year but then I just thought on this one particular verse we can ponder a little bit on that may help us anyone that's okay just feel free because there is no perfect answer anywhere so you can just feel free to share your thought that will definitely help each one of us in the class I think it refers to the hardship that we go through in the ministry yes brother thank you anyone else who would like to add to what brother Paul said is it the people who are trying to inflict the law of circumcision upon the gentiles converts and believers so you mean to say the judisers who were opposing him in many ways against him yes anyone else thank you Sally anyone else okay so what we see here is Paul has explained his vision and revelation in the first few verses in chapter 12 and then he tells them about the thorn in the flesh that has been given to him in verse 7 and apparently the very purpose of this thorn was yes that's what he is saying it benefits him because in verse 7 he says I'm weak then I'm strong so what happened it could be anything it could be the opposition from the judisers the false teachers who were opposing him or it could be some kind of weakness in his some kind of infirmity that he was going through in his body or it could be the opposition from the satan that's stopping the gospel from not spreading because keeping the background of this current church that we just studied it was known for its sinful immoral lifestyle just imagine Paul carrying the gospel to a place which has felled with darkness imagine there would be so much of opposition for the good news for the good news and here we see Paul seeking God Paul prayed three times pleading with the Lord and Lord gave him a reply saying that my grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in your weakness yes we see Paul been defending his apostleship all that is there but one man against many you see one man against many but then God is saying he's strengthening Paul Paul don't give up don't look at your weakness I'm greater than that my grace is sufficient for you go on keep doing what you're doing leave the result to me don't worry about how many people maybe opposing you don't worry about the things that are coming against you don't worry if it is an infirmity don't worry about it whatever the thorn in the flesh he's talking about see one thing that we know is scripture needs to interpret scripture when we see about in the Old Testament in Numbers 33 verse 55 here we see the thorn is used as a metaphor for the enemies of the Israelites so some scholars say it could be the false teachers or the judicers who are trying to oppose this is what Paul was addressing for the scholars say different ways so despite what could be the reason but what we need to know in general is there was an opposition that Paul faced now today in our class as we are listening to this scripture we may have opposition in different ways we may face different challenges despite our challenges despite the opposition from a man or from the enemy or from any kind of infirmity what should be focused on focus on the Lord don't focus on your weaknesses sometimes weakness can raise as big as a mountain as I say this with my personal experience yes the weakness that even each of us fight through every day can be as big as a mountain but then your God is asking us to take courage be bold in your weakness boast in your weakness no matter what challenge you are going through let not that challenge stop you from what God wants you to do stop you from the call of God from fulfilling the purpose of God go beyond it push yourself to go beyond it do not get discouraged because the word of God says when you are weak then I am strong when you are weak God can strengthen you in that area that weakness may become a testimony to glorify God's power the time when we say I give up Lord is when God shows up just like how he showed up to Moses just front of the Red Sea Moses never heard that God could part of Red Sea but then he gave up he said Lord you do it and we see God parting the Red Sea not only to Moses to all his servants God has been so faithful they all had their own weaknesses and challenges in their life there was not one without any weakness or challenge they were all normal being like us and in their weakness in their challenge God showed up that's the reason like how God strengthened Paul in the scripture verse 9 says my grace is sufficient for you for my strength is made perfect in your weakness so each of us let's take courage be strengthened in God in Christ that we will definitely be an overcomer when we see God to help us to overcome our weakness overcome our challenges overcome the opposition that comes against us as God was with Paul so he shall be with each of us so with that we will move on but before that I saw Lubega raises and over to Lubega there is a Bible that I have it is the ex-Paul's sister study Bible which is like saying that the difficulties is mentioning in 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 verse 7 can be traced to again 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 verses 23 and 27 and when I read there he says are they ministers of Christ I speak as a fool are more in labors more abundant in stripes about measure in prison more frequently in death often of the Jews five times I received I received 40 stripes save one twice I was beaten with the road once I was turned twice I suffered thrice I suffered shipwreck at night and day I have been in the deep like that like that so it actually looks that the man was in defend himself he had suffered a lot of things faster yes yes yes brother Lubega it could be that because Paul writes in one of his letter saying that I'm not sure whether it is in this letter I'm not getting the verse but then here he says I bear the marks of Christ I bear the most of anyone I bear the marks of Christ yes the persecution that he faced when compared to anyone else was much more but even in the persecution that he faced God protected him till the appointed time God was with him yes in even in Acts chapter 14 I guess where he was stoned to death and he was dragged out of city we did address when we were studying on the book of Acts on this one area where he was stoned to death yes person acts 14 yeah and he was dragged out of city supposing him to be dead yeah 14 verse 19 see that and then however when the disciples gathered around him he rose up and went into the city so here it does not say what did the disciples do gathering around Paul but then one thing that we all know about is these disciples are the apostles where the men of prayer so definitely they would have prayed gathering around him and people those days were very good in stoning they will stoned people to death okay so here we see that he was stoned to death and then supposing that he is dead they dragged him out of the city and then we see all the disciples gathered around him and next day morning he rose and he went into a different city see he does not say that he rested well till he recover no a man who's been stoned to death he would have you know he his body would have had many injuries but then beyond that he got up and he walked here it does not talk about any supernatural healing but here we see that God raised him okay he was not completely dead God raised him and then he moved to carry the gospel for him like every minute that he lived on this earth he must share the gospel that's what he says oh to me if I do not share the gospel for me to live is Christ and to die is game he carried the gospel for him every minute costed him that he need to share to somebody else so wherever we see him in the shipwreck he's been ministering to God he was rescued he went to the land of Malta he shared the word of God and he was in the prison he shared the word of God so wherever he is all that he knows to share the gospel so what was in him is what he brought out during difficult times we see one thing continuously out of him is sharing the love of Christ sharing the gospel of Christ this is something that we need to learn from life of Paul we also see his own life life as a pattern of ministry so every ministry should be a ministry of as we study this letter it should be a ministry of comfort and deliverance the ministry should also have forgiveness it should be spirit filled life and faith reconciliation approving a restoration and giving being a blessing to others yes we need to be meekness but even in that meekness we should be yet bold to defend the gospel yes in the ministry we will also face suffering we need to be humble and we need to discipline ourselves do not give up when the opposition comes or when we go through any persecution we should not give up but then hold on to God God will defend us God will lead us and be strengthened this is what we learn from the gospel I mean from the letter of the Corinthians is there anything that you would like to add or share yes in this letter we see we share some more interesting details about his life a personal experience than in any other letter in the second Corinthians he shares several experiences in the life of Paul that has been found in this letter where he escaped from Damascus in a basket and he's been caught up into the third heaven the revelations that he had and he also shares some of his personal struggle that we just discussed and personal suffering in the ministry he also shares his issues related to gifting and stature he encouraged people you know one of to be a blessing it's blessed to to give than to receive you know he talks about it in this letter he prepares them how offering been made to offering when we give we need to give the chair full heart and he collected the offering for the Jerusalem church and he also modeled how we need to give liberally out of our own property or willingly beyond our ability and he says we need to give to God first he emphasizes on something on giving giving and giving so you know by making yourself poor so that others can be made rich or sowing generously leads to bontiful reaping you know many as such you can talk about you know in generally is overall talking about being generous generously bless the ministry because the Lord's work need to continue and we as believers we need to so what God is given we need to give others that's why God is blessing us to bless others and God is raising us to be a blessing and strongly believes that and he encourages every believer to be a blessing to the other yeah I would like to share anything add anything first I have a question yes please brother I read in one one of the books that claims that probably part of the just as you say that the third the later that he wrote after the first one might have been part of it is found in 2nd Colinthians chapter 6 and verse 7 also there is a book that told me that I was reading and it was like that part of that later again can also be found in 2nd Colinthians chapter 10 and onwards because we can see how he changes his tone how he's now doing a lot of apologetics and a lot of authority showing them even what he had kept quiet all in his letters so I don't know your take about that first time maybe they may be written many letters but this is what the scholars say they have 4 letters first one was lost 2nd one is what we have as 1st Corinthians 3rd one was lost and part of 3rd one letter is recorded in the 2nd Corinthians this is what the scholars have said but not much clearly so whatever we have has been preserved for that it may minister to us and we may learn what was happening in the church of Corinthians how Paul carried the gospel to the place that was full of sin and the opposition that he faced despite the opposition how we did not give up but how the gospel was shared and how we defended this and how we can go beyond our ability and share the gospel despite the persecution that he faced he never gave up there is a lot of learning that we could get but preservation of the letters we are not sure even the scholars are not too sure so whatever we have received is what is there in the gospel so what is there is what is there in 1st and 2nd Corinthians is what we have right now some say the traces of those lost letters are here may be because he is trying to reply to that letter so in his reply the tone the questions that he is trying to answer the areas that he is defending the area that he is personally sharing because there is no continuity from the 1st letter the 2nd letter so they try to say that yes the 3rd letter which was lost may be had some questions pertaining to the 2nd letter of this letter is that okay Loubaker thank you so much Basta yeah so okay and yes so I would like to close this class with the word saying that Jesus is the one who comforts us in our suffering reconciles us to God and gives strength to our weaknesses this is something the essence of this letter that we need to keep in our mind when we remember the letter to Corinthians we need to know that Jesus is the one who can comfort us the way he comforted Paul he is there to comfort us in our sufferings, in our persecution and our weaknesses God will be our strength and he is here to reconcile God I would like to end this letter with that and yes we can is there anyone would like to add or share something before we could end this session or we can get into a time of prayer time is up okay let's close the session with the word of prayer can I request one of you all to please close in prayer ma'am can I yes Rosalind please thank you Lord hallelujah thank you Father hallelujah wonderful heavenly Father thank you Lord thank you for your goodness, for your mercy thank you for this wonderful session that we had Lord so many things to learn from your word Lord thank you for this privilege though Lord thank you Lord as the word says Father God that your grace is sufficient for us oh Lord that your grace we are nothing we can do nothing Lord Father we ask you that you God each and every one of us Father God that your grace be multiplied in our lives Lord in the name of Jesus thank you Lord Lord though we may have many weaknesses in our lives Lord but you always remain faithful to us Father God Lord we take our eyes away from you Father God at times Father God when we are weak but Father God we pray today Lord give us the grace that we may fix our eyes upon you oh Lord for everything that we need in our lives and even to run this race that you have said before us oh Lord with passion and with endurance Lord to fulfill your call upon our lives Daddy God thank you Lord Father like Paul we too might say that Daddy God that when I'm weak then I'm strong Lord we are strong in you Lord thank you Lord Jesus for your strength for your grace for your mercy also Lord I pray bless the dear pastor Lord God anoint her and use her for your glory Lord she has been a blessing to us oh Lord may she be a blessing to nations in the name of Jesus Lord to you we give all the glory honor and praise in Jesus mighty name we pray Amen Thank you so much thank you Rosalind for praying thank you so much for joining in today's session God bless have a great day see you all tomorrow with the next book. Thank you God bless