Day #6 "Sin Has No Dominion Over You"

Romans 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Christians sometimes struggle with living righteously. Even though we are in right standing with God (righteous), there is the challenge to live the right way. However, the key is do not “try” to be righteous, but let God’s grace work in you.

Living better is a matter of growing stronger in our walk with Jesus Christ. More than anything else, it is recognizing that sin doesn’t have actual power over you. In Christ, sin only has the power that we give it, because it is already defeated. Jesus also delivered us from something called a “sin consciousness” (Heb. 10:2) which is the false feeling that we are still somehow sinners. No, you are the righteousness of God in Christ! (2 Cor. 5:21)

People who are not Christians cannot stop themselves from sinning. Christians already have the power to live victoriously. We only need to remember this truth: “dead men do not sin.” We gain strength, not from “fighting” bad impulses, but from knowing and exercising the grace we already have.

Think of it like this, when you are serving God and “front-sliding,” there is no time for “back-sliding.”

Reflection Question: Why are you dead to sin?

Dr. Bryan Hudson's sermon focuses on 1 Corinthians 13, emphasizing that love is the greatest virtue above faith and hope. He explains that love is not just a feeling but an action, motivated by God, and highlights how compassion is "love in action."

1. Love as Action, Not Just Emotion

   • The Apostle Paul describes love as patient, kind, and selfless, rather than merely an emotion.
   • Love must come from the heart and be motivated by God, not just by personal satisfaction or recognition.

2. Compassion: Love in Action

   • Jesus demonstrated compassion by healing the sick (e.g., the leper in Mark 1:40).
   • True love moves us to act, just as Jesus was moved with compassion and performed miracles.
   • Compassion leads to obedience to God, even when circumstances seem difficult or inconvenient.

3. The Greatest Commandment: Love God & Others

   • Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:28-31).
   • True love is expressed through giving and service, not just words.
   • Love is the foundation of Christian faith and identity.

4. God’s Love vs. Human Love

   • Human love is often conditional and limited, whereas God's love is unconditional, sacrificial, and eternal.
   • John 3:16 illustrates that God’s love is demonstrated through giving—He gave His Son for humanity’s salvation.

5. Love Overcomes Fear

   • 1 John 4:18: "Perfect love casts out fear."
   • Dr. Hudson clarifies that it is not our imperfect love, but God's perfect love that removes fear.
   • Fear is often false evidence appearing real (F.E.A.R.), and understanding God's love helps us overcome anxiety and doubt.

6. Obedience in Love

   • Just as Jesus obeyed the Father, believers should obey God’s call to love and serve others.
   • Love is about doing the right thing, even when it is inconvenient or unrecognized.

Dr. Hudson emphasizes that love is the foundation of our faith—it sustains hope and strengthens faith. God's perfect love is what casts out fear, and believers are called to love in action rather than just words. Love is not something we try to produce—it is something we allow God to work through us.

Welcome to Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute #156! This is a special edition as we prepare for a 21-day devotional on Principles of Empowerment, beginning February 7th.

• Psalm 119:11 – "Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against you."
• God’s Word is a source of strength, guidance, and empowerment.
• In an age of overwhelming information, discerning God’s voice is crucial (John 10:27).
• Jesus, as the Word of God, strengthens us when His Word abides in us.

• Sin means "to miss the mark" (from archery).
• Without God’s direction, we lack aim and purpose.
• True empowerment comes through aligning our lives with God's truth.

• Begins February 7th – short daily readings with scripture and reflection questions.
• Day 1 Theme: "Free Indeed – The Beginning of Empowerment" (John 8:31-32).
• Key thought: “In Christ, I am free indeed and free forever.”
• Reflection question: "What have I substituted for the true freedom that only Christ can give?"
• True freedom is a treasured inheritance through Christ.

• Access the devotional at:
  • NewCovenant.org
  • BryanHudson.com
• Subscribe to receive daily email lessons at 5:30 AM.
• Each lesson includes a reflection question and personal insights.

• Empowerment = Receiving the ability to do what you couldn’t do before.
• Being in a community of faith provides strength and support.
• Listen to the recent sermon "Solitary and Safe" about the importance of spiritual family.
• Stay encouraged, stay strong, and let God’s Word empower you!

God bless!

DOWNLOAD KEYNOTE SLIDES

Summary of Dr. Bryan Hudson’s Sermon:

"Solitary and Safe: How God Helps the Alone and Lonely" (by OpenAI)

Dr. Bryan Hudson’s message focuses on God's care for the solitary and lonely, as

highlighted in Psalm 68:4-6. He emphasizes that while God is majestic and

transcendent, He also sees and cares for every individual, especially the overlooked

and marginalized. Unlike worldly leaders who often ignore the "small" or "unimportant,"

God values and uplifts them.

Key Themes:

1. God’s Awareness and Care for the Lonely

2. God is "a father to the fatherless" and "a defender of widows" (Psalm 68:5), ensuring that the solitary find family and community.

◦ Human relationships may fail, but God remains constant in His love and provision.

Black History and Truth in Storytelling

◦ February, being Black History Month, is a time to recognize God's hand

3. in history.

◦ Hudson warns against accepting historical "narratives" without verifying the actual truth. He encourages seeking source documentation to understand history in its fullness.

◦ He emphasizes the dignity of enslaved people, rejecting the term "slave" as an identity. Instead, he acknowledges them as humans made in God's image who were enslaved by others.

Christian Responsibility in a Corrupt World

◦ Quoting Philippians 2:15-16, he reminds believers that they are to shine as lights in a crooked and perverse generation.

◦ He criticizes dehumanizing attitudes, especially in leadership, highlighting a recent quote about immigrants that echoed Adolf Hitler’s words.

◦ Christians are called to stand for truth, justice, and love in a world that often promotes division and exclusion.

4. The Danger of Isolation

5. While everyone experiences moments of solitude, prolonged isolation is dangerous.

◦ Proverbs 18:1 warns that isolation leads to selfish desires and poor judgment.

◦ Hudson encourages interdependence—neither complete independence nor total dependence but a balance of personal responsibility and community engagement.

The Role of Family, Community, and Church

6. God places the solitary in families (Psalm 68:6), ensuring that no one has to walk alone.

◦ The prodigal son (Luke 15) serves as an example of how people may isolate themselves but can always return to loving community.

◦ The church must be ready to embrace the broken and bring them into safety.

God Never Forgets His People

◦ Isaiah 49:14-16 reassures that even if a mother forgets her child, God will never forget His people.

◦ The "walls" of a person's life—both strengths and weaknesses—are always before God, and He is actively working in their lives.

Final Message:

Hudson urges believers to reject isolation, seek truth, and embrace their God-given identity and community. He calls on the church to reach out to the lonely, advocate for truth, and love their neighbors as themselves, fulfilling God’s mission through their co-mission.

Closing Prayer:

He thanks God for being a refuge, for setting the solitary in families, and for guiding His people to rediscover their purpose in Him.

Psalms 68:4-6

Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name Yah, And rejoice before Him. 5 A father of the fatherless, a defender of widows, Is God in His holy habitation. 6 God sets the solitary in families; He brings out those who are bound into prosperity; But the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

This edition of Firm Foundation Inspiration Minutes focuses on the "solitary. Psalm 68:6, highlights how God places the lonely into families. The message emphasizes God's concern for the hurting, lost, and lonely, reassuring that even when individuals feel isolated, God provides support through church, friends, or community. It stresses the importance of being connected to the right people rather than just being surrounded by a lot of people. Additionally, it warns against resisting God, as rejecting Him leads to spiritual dryness. The message ties into New Covenant Church’s 2025 vision of "Every One, Reach One.' The takeaway: believers are never truly alone—God has already placed them in a family.

Podcast Summary: The Gospel of Christ is the power of God for salvation to all who believe, as outlined in Romans 1:16-17. Salvation is simple and centers on Christ's righteousness, which no human can achieve on their own. Jesus, the sinless Savior, condemned sin and rose from the dead, offering salvation to everyone—Jews and Gentiles alike. The message highlights the importance of keeping salvation uncomplicated and emphasizes God’s revelation to Peter and Cornelius about the universal scope of the Gospel. The speaker recommends listening to Patricia Hudson’s message for deeper insight into this truth.

Summary of "The Gospel: God's Power for Salvation" by Patricia Hudson (by OpenAI)

Patricia Hudson’s message emphasizes the transformative power of the Gospel and the responsibility of Christ-followers to share it. Drawing from Acts 10 and Matthew 28:18-20, she explores Peter's divine appointment to preach to Cornelius, a Gentile, marking a pivotal moment in the spread of the Gospel beyond the Jewish community.

Key themes include:

• The Vision for 2025: "Each One, Reach One" as a call for every believer to share the Gospel.
• Peter and Cornelius: Peter’s vision in Joppa and Cornelius’s divine instructions highlight God’s intent to extend salvation to all nations.
• The Gospel’s Universality: Peter's realization that God shows no partiality and that salvation is available to all who believe.
• The Holy Spirit’s Role: The Spirit’s guidance and power are essential for witnessing and sharing the Gospel.
• Call to Action: Hudson encourages believers to study, internalize, and share the Gospel confidently, reflecting on its power to change lives.

Hudson concludes with a challenge to believers: prepare to share the Gospel by delving into Scripture and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide their efforts in spreading the message of salvation.

Summary of Dr. Bryan Hudson's Bible Study at Wheeler Mission:

"Renewed Mind = Renewed Life"

Pastor Bryan Hudson shared an encouraging message about transformation through the renewing of the mind, using Ephesians 6:10-13 and Romans 12:1-2 as core scriptures. Key points included:

1. The Importance of a Renewed Mind:

   • A renewed mind leads to a transformed life.
   • Salvation begins with the heart, but transformation requires renewing the mind.

2. Key Scriptures and Analogies:

   • Ephesians 6: Encourages believers to be strong in the Lord and put on the full armor of God to stand firm against challenges.
   • Romans 12: Stresses not conforming to worldly patterns but being transformed through a renewed mind.
   • Analogies of molds and chameleons illustrated how people can be shaped by their environment, but believers are called to reflect God's will.

3. Transformation Process:

   • Implantation: Planting God's Word in our hearts and acting on it.
   • Formation: Developing Christ-like character through discipleship and consistent growth.
   • Sanctification: Being set apart for God's purposes, leading to a demonstration of a changed life.

4. Practical Steps and Warnings:

   • Avoid negative influences and environments that hinder growth.
   • Present your body and mind as living sacrifices to God.
   • Embrace God's grace to overcome sin and live a sanctified life.

5. Personal Testimonies and Application:

   • Dr. Hudson shared his own struggles and growth after salvation, emphasizing that transformation is a lifelong process.
   • He encouraged attendees to stay in community and take advantage of discipleship programs for continued growth.

6. Invitation to Salvation:

   • Dr. Hudson led attendees in a prayer of repentance and commitment to Jesus Christ, inviting them to begin the journey of a renewed mind and life.

The study concluded with an invitation to engage in discipleship and continue growing spiritually, emphasizing that renewal is an ongoing process that brings about lasting change.