That, let's get started. On Sunday mornings, we're going through 2 Corinthians now, chapter

by chapter, verse by verse, this after having completed 1 Corinthians. And our text today will

be chapter 1 verses 15 through 24. Lord willing, we'll complete chapter 1 today. So once you find

your way there, if you're able, I'll ask you

to stand. You can follow along as I read, beginning in verse 15. The Apostle Paul is writing,

and by the Holy Spirit says, Because I was confident of this, I wanted to visit you first so that you might benefit twice.

I wanted verse 16 to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia

and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. Was I fickle when I intended to do this? Or do I make

my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say both yes, yes, and no, no?

But verse 18, as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not yes and no for the Son of God,

Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us by me, Silas and and Timothy was not yes and no, but in him it had

always been yes.

Verse 20, for no matter how many promises God has made, they are yes in Christ. And so through him the amen is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God verse 21 who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put

his spirit in our hearts as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come. The King James

renders verse 22 this way, who have also sealed us and given the earnest,

I want you to hang on to that word, the earnest of the spirit in our hearts, I call God,

verse 23, as my witness, and I stake my life on it, that it was in order to spare you that I did not return to Corinth.

Not that we lorded over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.

Let's pray and we'll ask God's blessing on our understanding.

Loving Heavenly Father, we need for you at this time to get our attention and by the Holy Spirit keep our attention.

Lord, we don't want any distraction, anything, or anyone to take the focus of our attention

off of you, your word, and that which you have for us today in your

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