Firm Foundation with Bryan Hudson

Walking in Newness of Life

Romans 6:3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 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.
Raise your hand if you want to die right now. Okay, Raise you hand if you are already dead.
The word death or dead can be a very disturbing term. It can be an uncomfortable subject especially when we are talking about our mortality, or our physical life.
But that’s not what we are talking about here. We are talking about life, life in the absolute and eternal sense. There is an old saying that goes, “Born one die twice. Born twice, die once.” (explain)
We are talking about life and walking in the newness of life.
This word “newness” is an interesting word. It is only used twice in the NT. Other versions simply read “new life,” which is correct, but I like the emphasis of the unique word “newness.”
Newness literally means, “In the new state of life in which the Holy Spirit places us so as to produce a new state which is eternal life.”
Newness is a new state or another level of life that produces a new state, or another level.
Sometimes we think of being a Christian or becoming born again as the new state or new level of living. The new birth is the first state. It’s not all that God has for you.

Living on Purpose, Intentional Living

We are living in the age of Facebook, Twitter, in what we call “virtual reality,” People create alter egos of their true selves, and build relationships based on a made-up online profile. It seems like people are living like go to the cinema to watch a 3D movie. People put on 3D glasses and experience a depiction of reality, a virtual reality, that ends when the movie ends and the glasses come off. Sometimes people have difficulty separating the virtual from the real.
I heard a report once where someone in church requested prayer for one of the characters in a television soap opera. This sounds silly, but sometimes people confuse virtual with the real.
Today, more than ever, those of us who follow Jesus have the opportunity to show our world something intentional, something authentic, something real
Those of us who follow Jesus have the opportunity to show people a lifestyle that can be lived out in the real world, and that can be lived victoriously.
In the virtual world of Facebook you have 600 friends. In the real world, you may only have 10 real friends, and you can only count on three of them!
The word intentional is defined: Calculated, intended, planned, meant, studie, willful, purposeful, premeditated, preplanned, and designed.

Living on Purpose, Wisdom for Temporary Times

PSA 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Living on Purpose, Destined & Directed

For everything, absolutely everything... got started in him and finds its purpose in him. Colossians 1:16 (Message Bible)

Freedom God's Way

Rom. 8:1, There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Mercy: Your Partner in Opportunity

Mercy is not only for people who make mistakes. Mercy is for people who need God help them "redeem the time" or "make the most an opportunity."
Eph 2:4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Be Still. Stop All this Noise.

Psalms 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

2012 - A Year of Opportunity & Poured Out Blessings!

Eph. 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity [redeem the time], because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

What to Do After Acting Insanely: A Lesson From David

1 Sam 21:12 Now David took these words to heart, and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard. 14 Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you see the man is insane. Why have you brought him to me? 15 Have I need of madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? Shall this fellow come into my house?”
Psalm 34: 8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

I am the Body of Christ

Our identity is both individual and collective. It is never either/or but both/and. Therefore, we can say, “I Am the Body of Christ.” AND we can say “We are the Body of Christ.”
In Christ we find our purpose and unity within diversity
Matt. 16:17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed[a] in heaven.”