1 Corinthians 7:1-9 NKJV


1 Corinthians 7:1-9 Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.

Nevertheless, because of sexual immortality, let each man have his own life, and let each woman have her own husband.

Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband.

The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And like wise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self control.

But I say this as a concession, not as a commandment.

For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

But I say to the unmarried and to the windows. It is good for them if they remain even as I am;

but if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.

Joel 2:12-20 "Now, therefore, says the LORD, "Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning."

So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful, Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.

Who knows if He will turn and relent, And leave a blessing behind Him-- A grain offering and a drink offering For the LORD your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion, Consecrate a fast, Call the sacred assembly;

Gather the people, Sanctify the congregation, Assemble the elders, Gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, And the bride from her dressing room.

Let the priests, who minister to the LORD, Weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD, And do not give Your heritage to reproach, That the nations should rule over them, Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?"

Then the LORD will be zealous for His land, And pity His people.

The LORD will answer and say to His people, "Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil, And you will be satisfied by them; I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.

2 Corinthians 8:8-15 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others.

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

And in this I give advice; It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago;

but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have.

For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened;

but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply your lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack--that there may be equality.

As it is written, "He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack."