Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional | Day 16 — “How Faith Comes”

Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?”17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 
Continuing from the previous lesson, we learn from this text that faith can only come from the Word of God. Just as people can only earn college degrees from learning the content during college classes, God’s “content” is learned from the Bible and through people who preach/teach the word. 
People who don’t hear or take the opportunity to obey the Gospel cannot be saved, though God continues to extend His mercy. This is why the apostle Paul extensively traveled his world preaching and planting churches. That is why we continue to send missionaries around the world to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ
. When people hear God’s word they can have faith to believe Him for salvation and for everything else God wants to do.Reflection Question: What and who are your sources for hearing God’s Word?
Key insight I gained today:
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ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional | Day 15 — “Genuine Faith”

Romans 10:6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “’Who will descend into the abyss?’”(that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 
Genuine faith in God requires neither “signs” nor our “help” to fulfill God’s word. We don’t need Jesus to come down from heaven. We don’t need to go to heaven to see Him. If He was still in the grave, we would not have to go to that place to bring Him up. God’s word and promises have their own power.
Genuine faith does not demand external evidence. The beauty and simplicity of the faith is that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again to make it possible for us receive from God by believing and speaking.
Religion demands that people do something to prove their earnestness to God. Cults only require allegiance to a person. 
For the person who wants new life in Christ, they only need to receive what Jesus has already provided. Not only has God provided salvation, He has provided the “measure of faith” to receive it. For the person coming to faith in Christ and for believers who already serve Christ, the word of faith is in your mouth and heart. 
This is not some magical formula, it is not a particular Christian movement, it is simply the way that we access the grace of God. Ephesians 2:8 says “we are saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God not of works lest anyone should boast.”
Something that is provided by the grace of God can only be received by faith...and that faith begins with believing in your heart and confessing with your mouth. God does the rest!Reflection Question: Why does faith speak? What does faith say?
Key insight I gained today:
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ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 14 – God is For You!

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 
When we consider everything God has done, said, promised, and provided there’s only one conclusion: God is for you and no one can successfully be against you! 
This is why it is important to know what God has done, said, promised, and provided. This is why we read the Bible, go to church, have a pastor, participate Bible studies, and do personal study and devotions. We’re not trying to “earn” favor with God, we are simply living as disciples who want to learn and grow.
 Place a high priority on spending time with God and studying His word.
Reflection Question: Why is God for you?
Key insight I gained today:
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ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 13 – From Suffering to Glory Revealed

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 
It is very important to have proper perspective in life. How we perceive our life can determine our reality and influence our circumstances. The Apostle Paul endured a lot of suffering–much more than most of us will endure in a lifetime. Suffering and difficulties have a way of reshaping our thinking and putting us into a negative mindset, if we allow it. That’s the danger of suffering, not only what we’re going through (which will pass!) but the false sense that the suffering is defining our life.
Paul states that the sufferings of the present time cannot be compared to the glory that shall be revealed in us. There’s the key: Focus on what God is revealing...not on the suffering!I’ve come to understand that the revealing of that glory is not only later in heaven, but a lot of that glory happens now while we are yet on earth.  That “glory” is not some mist or other temporary manifestation. God’s glory is His purpose and presence revealed in and through your life.
God has the unique ability to turn “ashes into beauty.” He can transform our darkness to light.
Reflection Question: What glory is being revealed in you?
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Patricia Hudson | NCC Covenant Women’s Fellowship Meeting

Patricia Hudson – First Lady, New Covenant Church
NCC Covenant Women's Fellowship Meeting
Group discussion on Romans Chapter Five
www.NewCovenant.org

ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 12 – Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 
It is important to remember that as a Christ Follower, you operate under a different set of laws and principles. When I travel to places like Africa or England, I am reminded every moment of every day that I am in a foreign country. I recognize and operate according to the laws of the host country, such as driving on the left side of the road in England 
In your life in Christ, you have the opportunity to live by something called “the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ.” This is exactly what it sounds like. It is most certainly as good as it sounds! It is the Holy Spirit, it is God’s life in Christ, and it is powerful!  After more than 38 years of living a Christian life I’m still discovering the benefits of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ in every part of life and ministry. It is something better experienced than explained.
Christ Followers have been delivered from the law of sin and death. This is as bad as it sounds. It is the cycle of defeat that we left behind when coming to Christ. Today, we want to introduce others to Jesus and to the many benefits of the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ. 
Reflection Question: What is the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ?
Key insight I gained today:
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Good Stewards: God’s Most Blessed People

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John 8:31, Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
1 Corinthians 4:1-2
Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
7 For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
Paul used the word “steward” which is oikonomos (οἰκονόμος) in the Greek. It was a word understood by people in his day. Oikonomos was the “major domo” or the person in charge of the administration of the house or estate.
Most importantly, a good steward received an unlimited supply.
 

ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 11 – Delivered from the Law (Do’s and Don’ts)

Romans 7:6 But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. 
In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul makes the argument that the best way to live a new life is to remember that you’re dead to the old life. This is possible because we are in fact dead to the old life because of what Jesus has done for us.  
In every day life “newness” looks like this:  If you were a person given to arguing with somebody who disagreed with you, because of Jesus Christ you realize that the old argumentative person is now dead and inactive. When the opportunity comes to argue with someone, “newness” reminds you to love others and do good for them. Jesus’ “newness” inside of you responds before the habits of the “old you” kick in.
Reflection Question: In what ways have your old ways been replaced by “newness of life?”
Key insight I gained today: 
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ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 10 – 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 righteous and in right standing with God, there is the challenge to live the right way. However, the key is to 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” (Hebrews. 10:2) which is the false feeling that we are still somehow sinners. No, you are the righteousness of God in Christ! (2 Corinthians 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 about serving God and “front-sliding,” there is no time for “back-sliding.”
Reflection Question: Why are you dead to sin?
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ROMANS ROAD 21-Day Devotional: Day 9 – ”Newness of Life”

Romans 6:4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Water baptism is an outward demonstration of the inward work of God. When you received Christ as Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit baptized you into the body of Christ. You became a part of Jesus and He became a part of you. What occurred is nothing less than a miracle! Going down in the water symbolize the burial of the old person, it also symbolized being immersed into Jesus Christ. Coming up out of the water symbolized being raised from the dead. The amazing result of all of this is that you can “walk in newness of life.”In a life and world full of old, tired things, look for the newness God has provided! When you expect it, you will see it and often be pleasantly surprised.Reflection Question: What is the significance of water baptism. How are you experiencing “newness” in your life?Key insight I gained today:Today’s action item based on insight: