Philippians:1:12-30
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My brothers ,
I want you to know that what has happened to me has made more people know about the good news .
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All the soldiers here and all the other people know that I am in prison because of Christ .
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Because I am in prison ,
most of my Christian brothers are stronger for the Lord .
They are strong in the faith now and they are not afraid to tell Gods good news about Jesus Christ .
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Some of them tell about Christ because they are jealous .
They want to prove they are better than me .
Some of them tell about Christ because they want to help me .
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The first ones do it because they want to prove they are better than I am .
They do not have a good reason .
But they think they will make trouble for me while I am in prison .
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These last ones do it because they love me .
They know that I am here to speak for the good news .
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But it does not matter .
Every way ,
in the wrong way or in the right way ,
Christ is talked about .
I will be glad because of that .
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Yes ,
I will keep on being glad about it .
I know that you will talk to God about me ,
and I know that the Spirit of Jesus Christ will help me .
So I know that things will work out for me to be free .
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I look forward to this very much and hope that I will not be ashamed at all .
But I want to be very strong .
I want to bring honour to Christ now as I always have .
I can do this if I live or die .
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All I live for is Christ ,
and to die would give me more blessing .
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If I keep on living ,
then I will keep on doing my good work .
I really do not know which I want more ,
to live or to die .
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I am caught between these two .
I want to die and go to be with Christ ,
which would be very much better .
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But you need me more to stay here .
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Because I am sure of this ,
I know that I will stay on and be here with you all .
That will help you to be better Christians and happy ones .
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Then you will be even more happy about what Christ Jesus has done for me because I have come back to you .
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So whatever happens ,
live as people who believe the good news of Christ should live .
Then ,
if I come and see you ,
or if I am away and hear about you ,
you will be standing strong together in one spirit .
With one mind you will be working hard together for the good news .
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Do not fear in any way those who are working against you .
It is God who shows them they are lost and you are saved .
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God has given you a special gift .
You can not only believe in Christ but also suffer for him .
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You have the same trouble which you saw me have .
And you hear now that I still have it .
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