Colossians 1:29

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

Neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you:

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation:

But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.

And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;

Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.