Wednesday, July 31, 2019

Run Well, 3of3


~ The Christian Race: Running Correctly ~

Running After Christ  ~  “Draw me away!  The Daughters of Jerusalem we will run after You” (Song of Solomon 1:4).

Running In His Way  ~   “I will run the course of Your commandments, for You shall enlarge my heart” (Psalm 119:32).

Running With Endurance  ~  “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

Running Confidently  ~  “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty.  Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.  But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:26-27).

Running In His Strength  ~  “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).

Running With Correct Focus  ~  “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:
(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.
(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.
(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 
(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

Spiritual War, 20of20


~ Spiritual War: Summary & Conclusion ~

Today’s Culture  ~  As observant Christians observing the culture of our day, many of us can identify with the thoughts of Jeremiah:  “O my soul, my soul!  I am pained in my very heart!  My heart makes a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.  Destruction upon destruction is cried, for the whole land is plundered.  Suddenly my tents are plundered, and my curtains in a moment.  How long will I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?  ‘For My people are foolish, they have not known Me.  They are silly children, and they have no understanding.  They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge’” (Jeremiah 4:19-22).

Fundamental Response  ~  The Christian must put on the whole armor of God if he/she is to be prepared for spiritual victory. 

Assurance of Victory  ~  (1) God has given the equipment and everything we need to succeed for Him.  His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).  (2) When we avail ourselves of all the provided resources we are in actuality putting on Christ Himself.  “…let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light [“God is light” (1 John 1:5)].  Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Romans 13:12-14). 

R.E.A.D.  ~  When you Rely on Him, Equip yourself for battle, Acknowledge your enemy, and Defend your territory, you have the winning formula (R+E+A+D = spiritual victory).  READ the Word of God regularly! 

A Different Army  ~  The Christian Army differs from other armies in that there is no discharge (cf. Ecclesiastes 8:8).  It is an on-going spiritual war without end.  The end will only come when Christ returns to earth in His second coming.  Sadly, while there are no honorable discharges from spiritual warfare on earth, we can choose to go AWOL!  What a tragedy that is for any believer.  How such a traitor must grieve the hearts of all three members of the Trinity. 

Defense and Offense  ~  To win a war you need both an effective offense and a great defense.  The Apostle Paul describes both kinds of items (Ephesians 6:10-20). 
Consider three defensive items: the “breastplate of righteousness,” the “shield of faith,” and the “helmet of salvation.”  We also have offensive equipment including “shoes of peace,” the “sword of the Spirit,” and “belt of truth.”  The “sword of the Spirit” (God’s Word) is the primary offensive weapon. 

Armor Word Pictures  ~  When the Apostle Paul listed the Christian’s armor for this war he no doubt had a clear image of the Roman soldier and his armor—since he experienced much contact with soldiers during his frequent imprisonments.  In fact, Paul was in prison as these armor word pictures came to him (Ephesians 6:20).  It is important to realize that while this armor is invisible—it is very real!  But it must be used consistently and correctly and when done so provides real protection and tools for not only defending against spiritual onslaught but for advancing in the spiritual war.

The End Result  ~  While each piece of armor is for the individual, we are not alone.  There’s power in the blood of Christ—He has already won the war at the Cross, but we are engaged in important battles.  The war is won—but we are responsible for winning the skirmishes which we encounter.  We can only be effective by using the armor which He provides.

Summary  ~  Don’t miss the fact that Paul concludes his description of the “Whole Armor of God” with an emphasis on prayer.  You may have complete and capable armor, but if you not fighting the war in constant communion with your commander, you are heading for failure.  A good soldier will not be negligent in his prayer life.  Prayer is the means by which we draw spiritual strength from God.  Without reliance upon God, our efforts at spiritual warfare are empty and futile. 

A Final Word  ~  And that about wraps it up.  God is strong, and he wants you strong.  So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials.  And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way.  This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours.  This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.  Be prepared.  You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own.  Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet.  Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words.  Learn how to apply them.  You'll need them throughout your life.  God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.  In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare.  Pray hard and long.  Pray for your brothers and sisters.  Keep your eyes open.  Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out” (Ephesians 6:10-18, The Message). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:
(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.
(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.
(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 
(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Monday, July 29, 2019

Question – Jesus, 2


~  Regarding Accusation ~

Introduction  ~  This series is about questions involving Jesus.  Some were asked by individuals involved with Jesus Christ while He walked on earth.  Others are questions that Jesus Christ asked others.  We will look at questions on about 130 topics (some may split into two or more posts).  Even so, it is far from an exhaustive list. 

Scripture  ~  “Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning.  But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.  Pilate then went out to them and said, ‘What accusation do you bring against this Man?
They answered and said to him, ‘If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.’
Then Pilate said to them, ‘You take Him and judge Him according to your law.’
Therefore the Jews said to him, ‘It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,’ that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.
Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’
Jesus answered him, ‘Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?’
Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew?  Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me.  What have You done?’
Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.  If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’
Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’
Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king.  For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’  
Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’  And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, ‘I find no fault in Him at all’” (John 18:28-38).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:
(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.
(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.
(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 
(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .