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Monday, November 2, 2020
Sunday, November 1, 2020
What It Means to Have Holy Spirit Power
What It Means to Have Holy Spirit Power by Rick Warren
“The power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death.” Romans 8:2.
None of us are immune to persistent sins. Some people struggle with anger, while others wrestle with worry or gossip or lust.
How do you break free from persistent sin?
You understand what Jesus has done for you.
On the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for your sins so you don’t have to pay it. All of your sins—even the ones you haven’t committed yet—have been paid for on the cross.
But Jesus not only paid for your sin. He also paid to break the power of sin in your life. Now you have a power you didn’t have before—the power to say no to sin. It’s more than willpower. It’s Holy Spirit power!
The Bible says in Romans 8:2, “The power of the life-giving Spirit—and this power is mine through Christ Jesus—has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death."
If you’re a Christian, you know Jesus died to pay for your sin. That’s the Good News. And if that’s all there was, that would still be the best news in the world. But when he died on the cross, Jesus also took our old sin nature and gave us a new nature, one that no longer has to live in persistent sin. “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin” Romans 6:6.
Sin no longer has any power in your life. A dead person can’t be tempted! That old nature can’t be tempted, and since it died with Christ, you can be confident that you also share in his new life.
Willpower will never be enough to break the power of sin in your life. But thanks to Jesus, you have more than enough power in the Holy Spirit to resist temptation and break the vicious circle of sin and death.
Today in History
Today in History 1512 Sistine Chapel Ceiling Opens to Public
The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome, one of Italian artist Michelangelo’s finest works, was exhibited to the public for the first time on this day in 1512.
Michelangelo Buonarroti, the greatest of the Italian Renaissance artists, was born in the small village of Caprese in 1475. The son of a government administrator, he grew up in Florence, a center of the early Renaissance movement, and became an artist’s apprentice at age 13.
Demonstrating obvious talent, he was taken under the wing of Lorenzo de’ Medici, the ruler of the Florentine republic and a great patron of the arts. After demonstrating his mastery of sculpture in such works as the Pieta (1498) and David (1504), he was called to Rome in 1508 to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel—the chief consecrated space in the Vatican.
Michelangelo’s epic ceiling frescoes, which took several years to complete, are among his most memorable works. Central in a complex system of decoration featuring numerous figures are nine panels devoted to biblical world history. The most famous of these is The Creation of Adam, a painting in which the arms of God and Adam are stretching toward each other. In 1512, Michelangelo completed the work.
After 15 years as an architect in Florence, Michelangelo returned to Rome in 1534, where he would work and live for the rest of his life. That year saw his painting of the The Last Judgment on the wall above the altar in the Sistine Chapel for Pope Paul III. The massive painting depicts Christ’s damnation of sinners and blessing of the virtuous and is regarded as a masterpiece of early Mannerism.
Michelangelo worked until his death in 1564 at the age of 88. In addition to his major artistic works, he produced numerous other sculptures, frescoes, architectural designs, and drawings, many of which are unfinished and some of which are lost.
In his lifetime, he was celebrated as Europe’s greatest living artist, and today he is held up as one of the greatest artists of all time, as exalted in the visual arts as William Shakespeare is in literature or Ludwig van Beethoven is in music.
Can Trump Win?
Can Trump Win? by Joel Rosenberg
During my three-week speaking tour through the U.S., and certainly in the two weeks since I’ve been back here in Israel, the number one question I’m being asked by those who want the Trump-Pence ticket to be re-elected is: Do they have any shot at all?
My short answer is: Yes.
But:
1) Biden and Harris definitely have the upper hand
2) It’s going to be a battle for every single vote
3) It’s also going to take an enormous amount of prayer and hard work — and a miracle.
It happened in 2016. Could it happen again?
“Nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
But let’s be honest — Trump is his own worst enemy.
Trump’s debate performance, many of his Tweets, and many of his off-the-cuff and unscripted remarks have been offensive and off-putting to a great many undecided voters — especially those in the key states that the Trump team absolutely must win.
By contrast, Pence’s debate performance, watched by more than 50 million Americans, was pitch perfect — substantive, calm, respectful, and sharply able to define the critical differences between the two tickets.
A Royal Wedding
A Royal Wedding by Darrin Compagner Scripture Reading: Psalm 45:1-9 "My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king. " Psalm 45:1
Any wedding is a pinnacle moment—not only for the couple involved but also for their family, friends, and community. Weddings can be expensive too. The average wedding in North America costs about $30,000.
Psalm 45 is a song about a wedding—and not just any wedding, but the wedding of the king who rules over God’s people. This king is majestic and strong, victorious and gracious. He cares about “truth, humility and justice.” He sets the world to rights. This king is noteworthy because he aims to do what is right, living God’s way and opposing wickedness. What’s more, he is getting married.
As you may recall, there have been a few royal weddings in recent years. They get a lot of attention and sometimes put on quite a show. Many people get caught up in the pageantry and beauty of a royal wedding. Any marriage is a sign of hope for a new future. But with a royal wedding, the hope of a whole nation is renewed, and people are stirred up with joy.
In Hebrews 1:8-9, some words from Psalm 45 are used to describe the kingship of the Son of God, Jesus. The most glorious earthly royal wedding is just a foretaste of history’s final hope, when Christ the King comes for his bride.
Christ our King, stir our hearts to sing the noble theme of your righteousness and love. Thank you for the glory of your bride, the church, throughout the world and down through the ages. Amen.
Thoughts on Today's Verse
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen.." Hebrews 11:1
Thoughts on Today's Verse by Phil Ware
"Lord, I believe, help Thou mine unbelief!" That's what the father of the boy with convulsions said to Jesus (Mark 9:24). This must sometimes be our prayer, too.
As we look at the great heroes of faith in Hebrews 11, we know this must have been their prayer as well. Their faith wasn't always perfect. Their trust wasn't always mature. But, they stayed at it; they believed and acted with a relentless assurance that somehow, some way, God would act and deliver. Let's stay at it with that kind of faith, too!
My Prayer...
Dear God, "I believe, but help my unbelief." Please mature and empower my faith so that my life will be a steadfast and consistent testimony to your presence and grace. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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