Prison Ministries

Posts Tagged ‘Romans 8’

Read Romans 8, Psalm 4
Beware of Self Control

“Now you are free from sin, your old master, and you have become slaves to your new master, righteousness.” Romans 6:18 NLT

“Don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you. Think about it overnight and remain silent.” Psalm 4:4 NLT

When Scripture speaks of self control, it is not advocating that we live lives controlled by our flesh. It is talking about surrendering control of every area of our lives to the control of the Holy Spirit, Who has come to live within us when we receive Jesus Christ as Savior. Read the rest of this entry »

Read Romans 8, Psalm 19
Give it Up!

“That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.” Romans 8:8 NLT

Self will is one of the hardest possessions to give up that we will ever own. All of our pride, all of our aspirations, all of our secular objectives are generated by our self will.

Self will is what got mankind into trouble with God in the first place. If Eve had just exercised a little self control instead of self will the world wouldn’t be in the shape it’s in today.

How many prayers have we prayed asking that God’s will be done, while actually meaning our will be done. How many times have we sought to justify our will or our agenda by trying to pass it off as the will of God?

The best antidote for destructive self will is abiding and seeking God’s will. Abiding will give us the very heart of God, and when we have that, we begin thinking His thoughts, become more sensitive to His leadings, and more centered on Christ and less on ourselves.

When we pray with Christ’s heart, it’s amazing at how many more of of prayers are answered, because our prayers are Christ centered, unselfish prayers that will glorify God and therefore are in accordance with

God’s will, and we learn and believe more and more that He really will do anything we ask that is in accordance with His will.

When we replace self will with God’s will, our whole attitude changes.

Instead of responding defensively and in anger, we respond in the fruit of the Spirit which takes over control of our flesh.

When we “give it up” we get so much more in return we will wonder why it took us so long to figure this out.

Father, help me to “give it up” so that you can “give it out”. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

[Read Romans 8, Psalm 10]
Watch Out For Your Nature

“All of us used to live that way, following the passions and desires of our evil nature. We were born with an evil nature, and we were under God’s anger just like everyone else.” Ephesians 2:3

When we don’t believe in God, we don’t believe that what He says is wrong is truly wrong, and we are free to wallow in the worst that our sinful natures can come up with. Read the rest of this entry »

Read Romans 8, Psalm 119:40-45
The Emancipation Proclamation

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

“And by virtue of the power and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States and parts of States are, and henceforward shall be, free;” (Abraham Lincoln, September 22, 1862)

Actual and spiritual slaves sometimes both have the same trouble. They cannot handle freedom. When Lincoln abolished slavery and declared all slaves free, many just stayed where they were and as they were. Often prisoners commit crimes to get back into prison because they cannot handle their freedom on the outside. Read the rest of this entry »