Tuesday, May 14, 2019

'Power to Overcome!'

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. - Romans 8:12-13

We have been given the power to overcome temptation and sin. Those of us with a past entrapment to sinful addictions, with current struggles, with sinfully rebellious co-workers and friends surrounding us, and with dysfunctional backgrounds don't have to repeat the destructive patterns in which we've been entrapped. Jesus' sacrifice for our sin makes us right with God.

Jesus' resurrection from the dead unleashes a new source of incomparably great power for us. The Holy Spirit who lives in us makes this power available to us. Escaping sin's patterns, addictions, and influences is never easy. It is a daily battle to put to death these powers and influences (Colossians 3:5). Jesus described this battle as denying ourselves daily, following him, and losing our lives for his sake (Luke 9:23-24). We cannot live Jesus' way on our own! But, when we surrender our wills to the leading of Jesus as Lord and follow the way of the Holy Spirit, we can find a new source of fresh power, the Holy Spirit. Let's ask the Spirit to help us in our daily battle, and let's open ourselves to the Spirit's work in our lives. Ephesians 1:17-20, Ephesians 3:14-21, Ephesians 5:17-21, and Ephesians 6:17-18 give ways to invite the Spirit into our lives with power!

Why was Psalms written?

Many of the Bible’s main ideas are echoed in PSALMS: Praise, thankfulness, faith, hope sorrow for sin, and God’s loyalty and help. The individual psalms in the book were written and collected for use in worship. Psalms in the hymnbook or prayer book that was used first in the temple in Jerusalem, then in Jewish meeting places (synagogues), and later in Christian churches.

In addition to being used in private devotion and public worship, Psalms has been read and studied by people who wanted to learn more about living as faithful believers in one true God who created and cares for the whole world and who is interested in every part of human life. 

Teachings of Christ 

Log

Luke 6:41-42

41 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?

42 How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

[Message No: 7001]

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