Messiah, 78

~ Messiah Would Rise From Death, 4 ~

 “Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“But God will redeem My soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive Me” (Psalm 49:15). 

The Messiah  

“And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and His clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of Him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you’” (Matthew 28:2-7). 

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it. For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’ Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:22-32). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Xmas – Bah Hum Bug!

~ What I Don’t Like About Christmas! ~    

Taking Christ Out of Christmas  ~  Shortening the word Christmas to Xmas, whether intentionally or not, removes Christ from CHRISTmas. Aren’t we celebrating His birth?

It is a subtle thing, but it has an impact, when we greet one another with Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays, rather than Merry Christmas!    

By the way, “Where have all the nativity scenes gone?” There was a time, not that long ago, when all the department stores and many public places (including government) prominently displayed nativity scenes. But that was before the emphasis on political correctness. 

Society has turned Christmas into a commercial focus on gift-buying—increasingly expensive gifts—often for people who do not need what they are given. 

Suggestions  ~  (1) This Christmas choose to deliberately take your holiday back.

(2) Avoid the politically correct greetings and wish people a “Merry Christmas” or remind them that there is “Joy to the World” since the Savior has come!

(3) When you find a nativity scene in retail outlets and other public places, make your thankfulness known to the organization. In some nativity-less situations you might politely express your disappointment at the lack of a nativity scene.

(4) Do all the Christmas cards you send out have a clear spiritual message?

(5) How about your Christmas decorations inside and outside your home? Do you display stars and nativity scenes or is prominence given to Frosty, Rudolph, reindeer, and Santa Claus?

(6) Cut back on the gift-giving and use your savings to give to Him through Christian organizations which work to honor Him.

(7) Re-evaluate your own life with regard to your time, finances, activities, and priorities.  Ask yourself if He would desire that you make permanent changes.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 77

~ Messiah Is Anointed ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions” (Psalm 45:7).

The Messiah  

“You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions’ (Hebrews 1:9).

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18-19).

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Hear 6 Things

~ Lessons From Phylacteries ~           

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, c.f. 11:13-21 and Numbers 15:37-41).

Background  ~  This passage is considered by many theologians to be the greatest theological statement in the Scriptures. It begins with “Hear, O Israel” which is known as the Shema (literally “Hear Thou”)—a traditional Jewish confession of faith. The complete Shema comes from a combination of passages.

Many religious Jews use leather straps to tie a small leather box containing this Scripture collection to their wrists and/or their foreheads. Likewise small containers with the Scripture are attached to door frames and gates. These containers with Scripture are known as phylacteries. The leather is from clean animals. Phylacteries are readily seen when visiting Israel.

Consider six things—in three related pairs—which this portion of Scripture teaches.

First Pair

One: Internal Control  ~  “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart” (v.6). God’s Word should be a integral part of your being. For some this may require the discipline of memorizing Scripture. For others it may involve regular reading of the Word of God. Others may gain much by meditating on passages or studying Scripture in depth. The key is that the words of God are internalized.

Two: External Control  ~  “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (v.7). The key is that God’s Word is internalized to the point it controls your daily actions and overall lifestyle. 

Second Pair

Three: Control Your Work  ~  “Tie them as symbols on your hands” (v.8a). Hands symbolize your work whether performed at home, in private enterprise, for a non-profit organization, as a government employee, or whatever you do.

Four: Control Your Thinking  ~  “Bind them on your foreheads” (v.8b). Foreheads symbolize the thought life. Thinking should be under control when you are alone, with your family, in social events, within the community, and in your career.   

Third Pair

Five: Control Your Private Life  ~  “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house” (v.9a). Door frames represent entering private life behind closed doors—not visible to the public. 

Six: Control Your Public Life  ~  “Write them…  on your gates” (v.9b). Gates symbolizes public life where actions are visible to the public. 

summary: The emphasis in all three pairs is on complete obedience in all areas of life!

The proper response to God as revealed in His Word is to love Him! “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). If we truly love Him we will love those around us.

Matthew records an incident where a Pharisee tested Jesus Christ by asking Him a question. Here is the account: “‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’ Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 22:36-40). It has often been noted that these two commandments summarize the first four of the Ten Commandments. 

the ultimate tests: Do you consistently give God control both internally and externally? How about your thought life and your actions—are they under His control? Are your private and public lives constantly under God’s direction and control?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW