Count Yourself

Count Yourself
Words of Faith 8-30-2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Romans 6
    [11] In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. [12] Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. [13] Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. [14] For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.

     Have you ever noticed that people who have had a near-death experience are always changed in dramatic ways? This seems especially true of those who have actually "died" and then been resuscitated. There is usually a sense that they have been given back time on earth, and they have a deeper respect for the gift of life.
     When the possibility of death confronts us, life often takes on an entirely different meaning. There is the power to put things in perspective and count life differently. We have that same power. Because we have died with Christ, we can choose to "count" or consider ourselves dead to sin but alive to God. We can choose not to allow sin to reign in our flesh so that we obey evil desires.
     Christian faith is often defined as a "decision." We may sing the great hymn "I have decided to follow Jesus." We often will speak about the number of "decisions" made at an outdoor crusade or evangelistic meeting. But truly, these decisions are only the beginning. Walking in freedom requires a decision that is made daily-- the decision to no longer walk in death but to walk in life.  
     We can choose not to offer the parts of our bodies to sin. We can choose to offer ourselves instead to God as instruments of righteousness. We choose our master daily. We choose that God shall be our Master rather than sin. It is not the law that gives us that choice... it is grace! Only grace could deliver us such freedom.  

    Lord, I choose this day to count myself dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. I will not allow sin to reign in my mortal body so that I obey its evil desires. I will not offer the parts of my body to sin, as an instrument of wickedness, but rather I will offer myself to God, as one who has been brought from death to life. I will offer the parts of my body to him as instruments of righteousness. Sin shall not be my master, because I am not under law but under grace. Hallelujah!  In Jesus' Name. Amen.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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