For by the death He died, He died to sin [ending His relation to it] once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.
—Romans 6:10-11
The devil delights in reminding us daily of all our mistakes from the past. One morning I was spending my time with the Lord, thinking about all the areas in which I had failed, when the Lord spoke to my heart: Joyce, are you going to fellowship with Me or with your problems? It is our fellowship with God that helps and strengthens us to overcome our problems. Our relationship and fellowship is to be with God, not with our sins.
How much do you fellowship with your sins, failures, and weaknesses? Whatever time it is, it is wasted. When you sin, admit it, ask for forgiveness, and then continue your fellowship with God. We are alive to God, living in unbroken fellowship with Him. Don't let your sins come between you and the Lord. Even when you sin, God still wants to spend time with you, hear and answer your prayers, and help you with all of your needs. He wants you to run to Him, not away from Him!
Lord, I want to live in unbroken fellowship with You. I consider my relationship with sin to have been broken at the cross and behind me. Amen.
The Power of Testimony
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.”
Luke 24:34–35
After many years as an effective evangelist, Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. developed Alzheimer’s late in his life. Before it was fully realized what was happening, he continued to speak, but he would often lose his place in a sermon. Those who heard those final few messages said that invariably, when he did not know what else to say, Dr. Jones would tell the story of his conversion as an eleven-year-old boy at a small country church near his family’s home in Alabama. He may have forgotten almost everything else, but he remembered the moment he met Jesus.
The world has no rebuttal to the testimony of transformed lives. When we tell what we have heard it is one thing, but when we tell what we have experienced, it is something much more meaningful. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and news of the miracle spread, Lazarus actually became the target of a deadly plot. “But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus” (John 12:10–11).
Every one of us who is saved has experienced a far greater miracle than the raising of Lazarus. We have passed from death to eternal life, and our lives are first-hand, eyewitness testimony to the power of the gospel. It is important that we know what the Bible says about salvation and can explain it to others and answer their questions. But we should not overlook the command Jesus gave to the man who had once been possessed by many demons: “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mark 5:19).
Luke 24:34–35
After many years as an effective evangelist, Dr. Bob Jones, Sr. developed Alzheimer’s late in his life. Before it was fully realized what was happening, he continued to speak, but he would often lose his place in a sermon. Those who heard those final few messages said that invariably, when he did not know what else to say, Dr. Jones would tell the story of his conversion as an eleven-year-old boy at a small country church near his family’s home in Alabama. He may have forgotten almost everything else, but he remembered the moment he met Jesus.
The world has no rebuttal to the testimony of transformed lives. When we tell what we have heard it is one thing, but when we tell what we have experienced, it is something much more meaningful. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead and news of the miracle spread, Lazarus actually became the target of a deadly plot. “But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to death; Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed on Jesus” (John 12:10–11).
Every one of us who is saved has experienced a far greater miracle than the raising of Lazarus. We have passed from death to eternal life, and our lives are first-hand, eyewitness testimony to the power of the gospel. It is important that we know what the Bible says about salvation and can explain it to others and answer their questions. But we should not overlook the command Jesus gave to the man who had once been possessed by many demons: “Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee” (Mark 5:19).
Today’s Growth Principle:
Share your testimony of God’s working in your life with everyone you can—it is powerful.
Run to Him
by Joyce Meyer - posted November 19, 2016For by the death He died, He died to sin [ending His relation to it] once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.
—Romans 6:10-11
The devil delights in reminding us daily of all our mistakes from the past. One morning I was spending my time with the Lord, thinking about all the areas in which I had failed, when the Lord spoke to my heart: Joyce, are you going to fellowship with Me or with your problems? It is our fellowship with God that helps and strengthens us to overcome our problems. Our relationship and fellowship is to be with God, not with our sins.
How much do you fellowship with your sins, failures, and weaknesses? Whatever time it is, it is wasted. When you sin, admit it, ask for forgiveness, and then continue your fellowship with God. We are alive to God, living in unbroken fellowship with Him. Don't let your sins come between you and the Lord. Even when you sin, God still wants to spend time with you, hear and answer your prayers, and help you with all of your needs. He wants you to run to Him, not away from Him!
Lord, I want to live in unbroken fellowship with You. I consider my relationship with sin to have been broken at the cross and behind me. Amen.
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