DAY #4: The Provision of Promise - February 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Principles of Empowerment”



February 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: 
“Principles of Empowerment”

DAY #4:  The Provision of Promise

Romans 4:16 Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all...20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

God promised to give Abraham and his wife a child. That’s not remarkable until you realize that Abraham was 99 years old and his wife Sarah was 90 years old! She was long past the childbearing years, but that did not prevent God from doing what He wanted to do for them and for His own purpose.

The faith that Abraham showed toward God made him the “Father of Faith” for all of us. God’s grace made provision for Abraham and Sarah. Today, it is our privilege and responsibility to have faith in God... and He provides the faith to believe in Him.

The hardest thing we have to do is to believe that God can do what He promised! Just like Abraham, we only need to become persuaded that God can do what He said.

Reflection Question: What is the “hardest” thing about having faith in God?

Key insight I gained today:

Today’s action item based on insight:


SUBSCRIBE to the Firm Foundation blog to receive weekly insight and encouragement to your email in box

Visit and save this link to enjoy other Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute Talks.

 

Send a gift to Bryan Hudson: https://cash.app/$BryanIndy
Donate to New Covenant Churchhttps://cash.app/$newcovenantindy

The Greatest of These is Love






Summary of Sermon: "The Greatest of These is Love" 

by Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min


Dr. Bryan Hudson's sermon focuses on 1 Corinthians 13, emphasizing that love is the greatest virtue above faith and hope. He explains that love is not just a feeling but an action, motivated by God, and highlights how compassion is "love in action."


Key Themes:


1. Love as Action, Not Just Emotion

The Apostle Paul describes love as patient, kind, and selfless, rather than merely an emotion.

Love must come from the heart and be motivated by God, not just by personal satisfaction or recognition.


2. Compassion: Love in Action


3. Jesus demonstrated compassion by healing the sick (e.g., the leper in Mark 1:40).

True love moves us to act, just as Jesus was moved with compassion and performed miracles.

Compassion leads to obedience to God, even when circumstances seem difficult or inconvenient.


The Greatest Commandment: Love God & Others


4. Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:28-31).

True love is expressed through giving and service, not just words.

Love is the foundation of Christian faith and identity.

God’s Love vs. Human Love

Human love is often conditional and limited, whereas God's love is unconditional, sacrificial, and eternal.

John 3:16 illustrates that God’s love is demonstrated through giving—He gave His Son for humanity’s salvation.


5. Love Overcomes Fear

1 John 4:18: "Perfect love casts out fear."

Dr. Hudson clarifies that it is not our imperfect love, but God's perfect love that removes fear.

Fear is often false evidence appearing real (F.E.A.R.), and understanding God's love helps us overcome anxiety and doubt.


6. Obedience in Love

Just as Jesus obeyed the Father, believers should obey God’s call to love and serve others.

Love is about doing the right thing, even when it is inconvenient or unrecognized.


Conclusion:


Dr. Hudson emphasizes that love is the foundation of our faith—it sustains hope and strengthens faith.

God's perfect love is what casts out fear, and believers are called to love in action rather than just words. Love is not something we try to produce—it is something we allow God to work through us.



Donate to New Covenant Church: https://cash.app/$newcovenantindy
Sow seed to Pastor Bryan Hudson, https://cash.app/$BryanIndy

DAY #3: Righteousness Without Religion - February 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Principles of Empowerment”


February 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: 
“Principles of Empowerment”

DAY #3:  Righteousness Without Religion

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

In a day when people are blessed to receive the free gift of salvation by faith in Jesus, there are still those who believe they have to work for it. Worse, there are some who insist that one must live by their rules and lists of “do’s and don’ts.”

Yes, we have all sinned and come short of God’s glory, but we don’t find the answer to any sin issue by trusting in religion or doing religious practice. God loved us and Jesus gave His life to make salvation, redemption, and righteousness available to all.

Those who have received Jesus Christ have been made righteous and now desire to follow God. We have been “justified” which means “made righteous.”

The grace that saved you is the same grace that will motivate you to follow God and be obedient to God’s word.


REFLECTION QUESTION: How is God’s grace at work in your life?

Key insight I gained today:

Today’s action item based on insight:

SUBSCRIBE to the Firm Foundation blog to receive weekly insight and encouragement to your email in box

Visit and save this link to enjoy other Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute Talks.

 

Send a gift to Bryan Hudson: https://cash.app/$BryanIndy
Donate to New Covenant Churchhttps://cash.app/$newcovenantindy

DAY #2: Your Best Opportunity in Life - February 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Principles of Empowerment”


February 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: 
“Principles of Empowerment”

DAY #2:  Your Best Opportunity in Life

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

The message of the Gospel of Christ carries the power to change lives. It is a message of which we should never be ashamed. In fact, the best thing you’ve ever had the opportunity to know and share is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! The Good News of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is the power that produced salvation and the hope of our eternal future.

The Gospel produced righteousness that you could never achieve on your own. It is the gift of God along with the faith that God gave you to believe Him. “Faith to faith” describes your walk of faith from salvation to your daily life. “The just shall live by faith.”

REFLECTION QUESTION: In relation to your faith walk, what do you need to stop talking about and begin talking about?

Key insight I gained today:

Today’s action item based on insight:

SUBSCRIBE to the Firm Foundation blog to receive weekly insight and encouragement to your email in box

Visit and save this link to enjoy other Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute Talks.

 

Send a gift to Bryan Hudson: https://cash.app/$BryanIndy
Donate to New Covenant Churchhttps://cash.app/$newcovenantindy

DAY #1: Free Indeed. The Beginning of Empowerment - February 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: “Principles of Empowerment”


February 21-Day Firm Foundation Devotional: 
“Principles of Empowerment”

DAY #1:  Free Indeed. The Beginning of Empowerment

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

“In Christ I am free indeed and free forever.” (Say that out loud)

Freedom is a treasure and a legacy. It is a treasure because is it valuable. It is a legacy because we did not create it, we only inherited freedom. Freedom and responsibility go hand in hand. We have the responsibility to live a certain way and we have the responsibility to share it with our family and with others.

When Jesus says he makes us “free indeed” he is talking about freedom in the total sense, at every level. The word “indeed” means: Truly, in reality, in point of fact, as opposed to what is pretended, fictitious, false, conjectural

God’s word provides the basis and operating manual for freedom of the spirit and soul.

Psalms 119:98, Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.

Here in the 21st-century many people are not living in freedom at the foundational level because they have not experienced freedom indeed through Christ.

There is a catch, with freedom comes responsibility. It is our faith followed by actions that determine if we are experiencing God’s best. Everything we enjoy may not always be God’s best for us.

Looking again at our text in John 8, notice how the Jewish people responded to Jesus statement about truth and freedom, They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” (v. 33)

They felt that their religious and racial affiliation with Abraham was enough. They reasoned they already possessed all the truth and freedom they needed. We don’t want to make that same mistake in only leaning on our feelings, on mere religious traditions, or what our society defines as freedom.

To be “free indeed” requires a Savior, and Jesus is the beginning of true empowerment and association with God’s brand of truth and freedom.

REFLECTION QUESTION: What have I substituted for the true freedom that only Christ can give?

Key insight I gained today:

Today’s action item based on insight:

SUBSCRIBE to the Firm Foundation blog to receive weekly insight and encouragement to your email in box

Visit and save this link to enjoy other Firm Foundation Inspiration Minute Talks.

 

Send a gift to Bryan Hudson: https://cash.app/$BryanIndy
Donate to New Covenant Churchhttps://cash.app/$newcovenantindy