BOOK STUDY || GRACE: The Power of the Gospel | Living Holy

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR TOPICS FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH OF THE YEAR. EACH TOPIC IS A 12-MONTH STUDY SERIES ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF EVERY MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS I’LL BE REVIEWING VARIOUS INSPIRATIONAL CHRISTIAN MEDIA.
On the second Friday of each month in 2022 we’re studying Andrew Wommack’s life-changing book: GRACE: The Power of the Gospel. In this study we dig into the New Testament book of Romans — Apostle Paul’s masterpiece on the subject of grace. I hope you will get a copy of Andrew’s book and join me for this study. Today we highlight Chapters six and seven.

The Gospel is the good new that our right standing with God is not based on our performance but rather on God’s grace. The Law was brought about to show us how much we need our Savior Jesus Christ. Salvation isn’t just about forgiveness of sins when we are born-again. Salvation also includes other things that were purchased by Jesus on the Cross: our healing, prosperity and deliverance.

Chapter 6: WHY LIVE HOLY

So do you think that we should continue sinning so that God will give us more and more grace? No! We died to our old sinful lives. So how can we continue living with sin?  ~ Romans 6:1-2

As born-again believers we live a holy life because:
    1. After we have Christ in our heart it’s our nature to live a holy life.
    2. Living a holy life prevents the devil from having open doors into our life.
    3. Living a holy life is a result of having a right relationship with God.
    4. Living a holy life helps us know the Word more and correct our attitudes.
CHAPTER 7: DEAD TO SIN

Did you forget that all of us became part of Christ when we were baptized? We shared his death in our baptism. So when we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and shared his death. We were buried with him so that we could live a new life, just as Christ was raised from death by the wonderful power of the Father. Christ died, and we have been joined with Christ by dying too. So we will also be joined with him by rising from death as he did. We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross. This was so that our sinful selves would have no power over us, and we would not be slaves to sin. Anyone who has died is made free from sin’s control. ~ Romans 6:3-6

Because of what Christ has done for us we can live free from sin.
    1. It’s important that we remember the Apostle Paul was talking about our sin nature not individual actions of sin in our daily life.
    2. Through Adam the sin nature entered humanity.
    3. God took the root of our sin nature and dealt with through Christ on the Cross.
    4. Through Christ, we are dead with Him to our sin nature.
    5. Through Christ, we are alive also in His resurrection.

Praise God I have been freed from the domination of a sinful lifestyle because of what Jesus Christ has done for me!

Be blessed with Andrew Wommack’s teaching video that focuses on much of what we have covered today.

THE TWELVE LAWS OF LIFE RECOVERY | Sacrifice

REACHING HURTING WOMEN MINISTRIES OFFERS FOUR TOPICS FOR CONTEMPLATION EVERY MONTH. EACH TOPIC IS A 12-MONTH STUDY ASSIGNED TO A SPECIFIC FRIDAY OF THE MONTH. IN MONTHS WITH FIVE FRIDAYS WE REVIEW INSPIRATIONAL CHRISTIAN MEDIA.
On the third Friday of each month in 2022 we’re focusing our life recovery work on The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery: God’s Wisdom and Guidance for Your Journey with Stephen Arterburn and David Stoop. This powerful study will take our life of recovery to a level of freedom most of us haven’t yet experienced.

THE TWELVE LAWS OF LIFE RECOVERY 

Each month we’re looking at a requirement that guides us to a specific result which will fill our lives with love, gratitude and serenity. Each of the Twelve Laws of Life Recovery are aligned with one of the Twelve Steps of Life Recovery. As you go through the study you will see how they work together.

 

THE LAW OF SACRIFICE

REQUIREMENT: SACRIFICE
RESULT: FULFILLMENT

“The law of sacrifice is a powerful force in life recovery. Before we begin our recovery… we focus on pleasing ourselves and on what the world thinks is important… but we will not truly know fulfillment or significance until we learn the value of sacrifice.” ~ The Twelve Laws of Life Recovery

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. ~ Romans 12:1-2

Our focus scripture, Romans 12:1-2 helps us understand how our life can become fulfilled when we have a mentality of sacrifice. Let’s break it down.

1. Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God

The Apostle Paul’s call to sacrifice our body to God doesn’t leave anything out.  No matter what our “drug of choice” is, we must willingly sacrifice what makes us feel good for God’s sake.

2. Give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you

We will find a fulfilling life if we will gratefully offer our body to God as a living and holy sacrifice in response to all He has done for us.

3. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable

God isn’t asking us to stop living. He wants us to live a life separated from what the bad things the world focuses on. That is a sacrifice that God can accept.

4. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world

Another reminder that we are to be separated from the ways of the world. We are not to try and fit in with those around us. But rather we are to follow Christ and through the power of the Holy Spirit we can show an example of His light to the world.

5. Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think

We are not just to sacrificially offer our bodies. We need to give him our mind as well. God wants to change us from the inside out starting. To do that we have to sacrifice our perspective. But this process won’t start unless we get in God’s Word. As we daily read scripture, our minds will be transformed to the way God thinks and acts.

6. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect

As we surrender to God and stop trying to do everything our way, we will learn that He has a much better plan for our lives. His ways are good and perfectly designed for us. When we follow God’s will and ways He is pleased and our life is fulfilled. And those around us will see God’s blessings on our life!

Fulfillment comes when we know God’s will for our lives and when we sacrifice everything or our own in order to live within the boundaries of His will. ~ The Twelve Law of Life Recovery

Take some time to dedicate your life to God as a living sacrifice with this powerful song by Brandon Lake. Be blessed!