When the Lord Jesus Christ died on the Cross and rose again, He forever broke the power of sin over the believer. It means that every believer has the power through Christ to resist sin. The excuse “The Devil made me do it” can never truthfully be used again.

It also means that no sin can ever condemn you to Hell again – because Jesus paid for all your sin. His mercy and goodness, however, do not offer an excuse to sin, neither will He overlook it.

In the above verse, Paul points out that the believer is free from the law – but only in the sense that it can never condemn them again. But Paul, out of thankfulness to God, and realizing all the blessings that God wants to show him (and all believers today), says that he will not permit himself to become a servant of sin again.

It does not mean that he would never sin again, but that he chooses to not let sin of any kind rob him of the sweet fellowship with Christ that he so much enjoys. He also does not want to hurt the Savior that forgave him and called him to serve Him.

Christians today need to take the same attitude. If you are not free to serve God, and able, you are not free. Paul said this about the Roman believers, in Romans 6:17: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”

Do you love the Lord that much, that you do not want to be under the power of any sin again? Are you still a servant (frequently commit the same one) of some sin? Do you really want victory over it?

David found that his love for the Lord grew because he saw that God, over and over, answered his prayers. When believers get answers to prayer, they want to pray more.

Prayer should be the natural expression of the soul in response to our Lord Who loves us more than we can ever express. Not only do they want to pray more, but they also find more things to pray about. God cares for the big things in our lives, and the things that we often forget to bring to Him because they seem so small. He cares about them all and wants to help you with all things.

The more you pray, you will discover that God will enlarge your heart and help you see more things to pray about. You will begin to see some of the things He sees – and how you can have a part in their solution – through prayer. He wants you to partner with Him in achieving His work in lives and missions through the means of prayer – and sometimes putting feet to your prayers.

II Thessalonians 3:1 “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.”

In the news lately, we hear much about “wars and rumours of wars” (Mt. 24:6). War can certainly – and drastically – change the way people within an area live, especially if there is action or bombs or missiles striking there. The people of Israel, Iran, Ukraine, and Russia can vouch for this.

Christians also are at war – although it is primarily a spiritual one. Paul tells us that “the weapons of our warfare are not carnal” (II Cor. 10:4) or physical. Of course, most of us prefer peace and getting along with others.

Despite the desire of peace, we are living in a world that is contrary to God. It is also at war with us to try and force us into its mold. We must always remember that the Bible tells us that “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name” (Ex 15:3). It means that He is always in opposition to forces in this world that seek to turn people’s eyes from Him to another “idol” of some kind. Lately, that idol is the god of self.

Young Timothy, a preacher, was told to “war a good warfare.” This Scriptural admonition is not just for preachers, but for every believer. It must be remembered that Christians are only rewarded for victories against the flesh, the world, and the Devil. I John 2:15 warns believers that we must “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Compromisers will not be applauded or rewarded for their lukewarmness and worldliness when we stand before our Captain – the Lord Jesus Christ. He is looking for faithful individuals who will take up the Christian armor (Eph. 6:10-18) and be faithful until they meet our Lord.

Are you getting victories daily over the enemies of God spiritually?

Near the end of His earthly life, when the leaders of Israel were determined to put Jesus to death, He spoke these words. Because of the impossibility, they are words that no mere human can utter.

Considering Who Jesus was, He had great power to do miracles. He commanded the wind and the waves and even death was no match for Him. Earlier, the Bible tells us that the Son of God was the One Who created all things, as seen in John 1:3: “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” It is also seen in Colossians 1:16: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.”

Without a doubt, there was no force on earth – or outside of it, that could overpower the Creator. The only way Jesus could ever die was for Him to permit it to happen. Even if He did not do it, He still had power over the angels, and they could have prevented it – if He wanted them to.

In John 10:15, Jesus prophesied that He would die for His sheep (disciples). He said: “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.” In this same verse, He also prophesied that He would come back to life – by His power.

Jesus soon coming crucifixion, burial, and resurrection were all planned before the earth was created. God would show His love for the world through what Jesus would do for us on the Cross and coming back to life – with a new and immortal Body.

You only have one chance to get God’s forgiveness. If you miss it and die without getting saved, there is no second chance. Trust God’s willingness to forgive and love for you and make Him your Savior today.