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Rom 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Rom 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will
e-Sword
Rom 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
Rom 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
(Being Still With God Every Day)
Now That’s Power!
“You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me . . . to the end of the earth.”
ACTS 1:8
Diesel. Electrical. Mechanical. Hydroelectric. Nuclear. Atomic. There are many forms of power, but none is equal to that of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit’s power is described by the Greek word dunamis, the root for dynamite and dynamic. Whereas dynamite destroys, dunamis gives life.
This word for an active, energizing power implies a miracle or divine influence—and that’s exactly what we need as we obey the resurrected Lord’s command to be His witnesses.
Just as the Holy Spirit empowered Christ to fulfill His earthly assignment, we too need the Spirit. The Holy Spirit’s power is absolutely essential to kingdom work, which is why Jesus told His disciples to wait for it (Acts 1:4–5). Jesus knew that His disciples could do more in a day in the Spirit’s power than they could do in a lifetime on their own.
Jesus ministered and served, preached and taught, lived and died by the Holy Spirit’s power, and now He gives His power to all who believe.
As we walk in the Spirit’s power, He will greatly impact the world through us.
(Being Still With God Every Day)
A Fresh Beginning
“Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth . . .
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.”
ISAIAH 43:19
God uses events in our lives to shape us, to teach us, to grow us—and some of the key events are those sparked by sin (our own or someone sinning against us), by our missteps, by our confusion.
Memories of the past, therefore, can too easily feel like shackles holding us to failures, regrets, ignorance, foolishness, and sin.
However, God doesn’t want us bound to our past. When God saves us from the death we deserve for our sin, He frees us from the guilt and shame of our former life as well. He gives us a fresh beginning. He frees us to receive every good thing He wants to give us.
If your past feels like a wilderness, know that God wants to make a road through it, perhaps to help you navigate the difficult years and salvage the good.
If your past feels like a desertland of death, know that God will make rivers of redemption flow as He brings beauty out of ashes.
Embrace the fresh beginning God wants to give you.
1Pe 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
(Being Still With God Every Day)
We, New Testament believers are also priests (1 Peter 2:9), and our consecration is necessary.
What are you doing—what are you avoiding—in order to have an ear that is sensitive to the Word of God and not deafened by the noise of the sinful, fallen world?
What do you do—and what do you avoid—in order to keep your hands clean and ready to serve?
And where do you go—and what places do you avoid—in order to lead people to worship God?
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Jas 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?
Jas 4:2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.
Jas 4:3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Jas 4:4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
Jas 4:5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us?
Jas 4:6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Jas 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Jas 4:8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Jas 4:9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Jas 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Jas 4:11 Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it.
Jas 4:12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?
(Being Still With God Every Day)
Breaking God’s law—sin—has been defined as missing the mark, falling short of His standards, and transgressing His covenant.
However you define sin and whether you sin in thought, word, or deed, it is a rejection of God’s love and an insult to His holiness.
Sin leads to separation from God. It’s no surprise, then, that He doesn’t ignore sin or let it continue unchecked.
Oh, God will not forsake us, but by our own willful rebellion we can choose to sever fellowship with Him. The loss is ours, and it is enormous.
In Ezekiel’s day God’s people had forsaken Him, so His glory departed from the temple.
He would not remain where He was not wanted. It was a devastating time for the people of God.
Never take God’s presence—in your life, in the church, or in our nation—for granted.
He will not allow Himself to be dishonored. He will not be neglected.
Rom 12:9 Love must be honest and true. Hate what is evil. Hold on to what is good.
Rom 12:10 Love each other deeply. Honor others more than yourselves.
Rom 12:11 Never let the fire in your heart go out. Keep it alive. Serve the Lord.
Rom 12:12 When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful.
Rom 12:13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Welcome others into your homes.
Rom 12:14 Bless those who hurt you. Bless them, and do not call down curses on them.
Rom 12:15 Be joyful with those who are joyful. Be sad with those who are sad.
Rom 12:16 Agree with each other. Don’t be proud. Be willing to be a friend of people who aren’t considered important. Don’t think that you are better than others.
Rom 12:17 Don’t pay back evil with evil. Be careful to do what everyone thinks is right.
Rom 12:18 If possible, live in peace with everyone. Do that as much as you can.
Rom 12:19 My friends, don’t try to get even. Leave room for God to show his anger. It is written, “I am the One who judges people. I will pay them back,” (Deuteronomy 32:35) says the Lord.
Rom 12:20 Do just the opposite. Scripture says, “If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. By doing those things, you will pile up burning coals on their heads.” (Proverbs 25:21,22)
Rom 12:21 Don’t let evil overcome you. Overcome evil by doing good
Kennzeichen des wahren Christen
Röm 12:9 Die Liebe muss ehrlich und wahrhaftig sein. Hasse das Böse. Haltet an dem fest, was gut ist.
Röm 12:10 Liebt einander innig. Ehrt andere mehr als euch selbst.
Röm 12:11 Laßt das Feuer in eurem Herzen nie erlöschen. Haltet es am Leben. Dient dem Herrn.
Röm 12:12 Wenn ihr hofft, seid fröhlich. Wenn ihr leidet, seid geduldig. Wenn ihr betet, dann seid treu.
Röm 12:13 Teilt mit dem Volk Gottes, das in Not ist. Nehmt andere in euer Haus auf.
Röm 12:14 Segnet diejenigen, die euch schaden. Segnet sie, und verflucht sie nicht.
Röm 12:15 Freut euch mit denen, die fröhlich sind. Seid traurig mit denen, die traurig sind.
Röm 12:16 Seid miteinander einverstanden. Seid nicht hochmütig. Seid bereit, mit Menschen befreundet zu sein, die nicht als wichtig angesehen werden. Denkt nicht, daß ihr besser seid als andere.
Röm 12:17 Vergeltet nicht Böses mit Bösem. Achte darauf, daß du das tust, was alle für richtig halten.
Röm 12:18 Wenn möglich, lebe mit allen in Frieden. Das solltet ihr tun, so gut ihr könnt.
Röm 12:19 Meine Freunde, versucht nicht, euch zu rächen. Laßt Gott Raum, um seinen Zorn zu zeigen. Es steht geschrieben: “Ich bin derjenige, der die Menschen richtet. Ich werde es ihnen heimzahlen” (Deuteronomium 32:35), sagt der Herr.
Röm 12:20 Tun Sie genau das Gegenteil. Die Schrift sagt: “Wenn deine Feinde hungrig sind, gib ihnen zu essen. Wenn sie durstig sind, gib ihnen etwas zu trinken. Wenn du das tust, wirst du brennende Kohlen auf ihren Köpfen aufschütten.” (Sprüche 25:21,22)
Röm 12:21 Lasst euch nicht vom Bösen überwinden. Überwinde das Böse, indem du Gutes tust
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