~ Fools Resent Guidance ~
Series
Note ~ In
this series we look at some of the passages in the Book of Proverbs – wise
sayings that are generally true – that describe a fool from God’s perspective. Some may surprise you.
Scripture ~ “A fool despises his father’s
instruction, but he who receives correction is prudent” (Proverbs 15:5).
Important
Truth ~ “The
fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God’” (Psalm 53:1a).
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
* * * * *
~ Child of Transgression or Child of The Day ~
Series Comment ~ A person can be a child of their
mother, but also a child of their father.
They may also have adopted parents.
They may also be a child of incest or a child of other “parents” – in
this series we look at Biblical descriptions of various “parents.”
Scripture
1 ~ “Whom
do you ridicule? Against whom do you
make a wide mouth and stick out the tongue?
Are you not children of transgression, offspring of falsehood”
(Isaiah 57:4).
Scripture
2 ~
“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you
as a thief. You are all sons of light
and sons of the day. We are not
of the night nor of darkness. Therefore
let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians
5:4-6).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
*****
~ Needs Provider ~
This
Series ~ This
series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God. Generally, we move in alphabetical order.
Introduction ~ JEHOVAH-JIREH is the name of the Lord
which tells us He will provide our needs.
Scripture ~ The prime example of this attribute of God
is found in Genesis 22.
“Abraham
took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took
the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac
spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’
“And
he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’
“Then
he said, ‘Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt
offering?’
“And
Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt
offering.’ So the two of them went together” (Genesis 22:6-8).
Comment ~ This passage
points forward to the ultimate provision of God for humans which came on the
Cross of Calvary.
Jesus
said, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did
not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be
saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not
believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the
only begotten Son of God” (John 3:16-18 nasu)
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
* * * * *
~ God Can Allow Retribution ~
Introduction
~ “Abundant Life Now” previously provided
a list of Biblical of examples of fearing / reverencing God (217 posts). In this current series we look at Biblical
accounts that demonstrate that we can fully trust God. Initially we posted seven general reasons for
trusting God. We are currently looking
at passages from all 66 books of Scripture which demonstrate a reason for
trusting our Creator.
Scripture
~ “Then King Ahasuerus said to
Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, ‘Indeed, I have given Esther the house of
Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand
on the Jews. You yourselves write a
decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king’s name, and seal it with
the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed
with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke’” (Esther 8:7-8).
Comment
~ While God can – in His
sovereignty allow retribution – He generally keeps retribution for Himself. “Vengeance
is Mine, and recompense” (Deuteronomy 32:34a).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
*****
~ Joseph In An Officer’s House ~
Series
Note ~ God
often allows His children to be in difficult circumstances. Many of my readers are in difficult
circumstances as they read this post.
But our God is faithful never allowing us to be faced with a bigger
situation than we are capable of handling with God’s help.
In this
series we look a few of the many examples in Scripture where God placed one of
His own in a difficult spot yet they remained faithful to God. If you are in a tight situation, be thankful
that God has entrusted you with that responsibility.
Scripture
~ “No temptation has overtaken
you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow
you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also
make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians
10:13).
Tough Spot
~ “Now
Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And
Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him
from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a
successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him
and that the Lord made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight,
and served him. Then he made him
overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. So it was, from the time that he had made him
overseer of his house and all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s
house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in
the house and in the field. Thus he
left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had
except for the bread which he ate.
“Now
Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.
And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast
longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, ‘Lie with me.’ But he refused and said to his master’s
wife, ‘Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has
committed all that he has to my hand.
There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back
anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and
sin against God?” (Genesis 39:1-9).
The Rest
of This Story ~ It is
highly recommended that you read and meditate on the surrounding verses and
other related Scripture passages to this example.
The
Ultimate Three Examples ~ Read
Matthew 4:1-11
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
~ In Jesus We Have The Fruit of Righteousness, 2 ~
Introduction ~ In
this series we look at a few of the verses which state what we have when we are
“in Christ.” Consider our series theme
verse:
“God,
who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even
when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by
grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He
might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ
Jesus. For by grace you have been
saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of
works, lest anyone should boast. For we
are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:4-10).
Scripture ~ “What
does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have
works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute
of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and
filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body,
what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not
have works, is dead.
“But
someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I
will show you my faith by my works. You
believe that there is one God. You do
well. Even the demons believe — and tremble!
But do you want to know, O foolish man,
that faith without works is dead? Was
not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the
altar? Do you see that faith was working
together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham
believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by
works, and not by faith only.
“Likewise,
was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the
messengers and sent them out another way?
“For
as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also”
(James 2:14-26).
A
Critical Differentiation ~ The only good works which God recognizes are
those that result from faith in Him.
Works of an unbeliever are worthless in God’s sight!
“For
by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves;
it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should
walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Additional
Scripture ~ “I
say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the
flesh. For the flesh lusts against
the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one
another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not
under the law.
“Now
the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies,
outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders,
drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I
also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not
inherit the kingdom of God.
“But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the
flesh with its passions and desires. If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one
another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:16-26).
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
* * * * *
~ Jewelry, 8 ~
Series
Note
~ In this series we look at some of the Scriptures which mention human physical
adornment—pretty much without comment. These
posts will include clothing, head (including hair and
wigs), jewelry (including accessories), makeup (including tattoos), and perfume
(including incense). It is
important to note that some of
these passages are culturally related to a specific culture and time period.
Two Principles ~ (1) Focus on the long-term: “Charm
is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall
be praised. Give her of the
fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs
31:30-31).
(2) Exercise modesty: “Women adorn themselves in modest
apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or
pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing
godliness, with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9b-10).
Scripture For This
Week ~ “And
when you are plundered, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with
crimson, though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, though you
enlarge your eyes with paint, in vain you will make yourself fair; your lovers
will despise you; they will seek your life.
“For
I have heard a voice as of a woman in labor, the anguish as of her who brings
forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion bewailing herself; she
spreads her hands, saying, 'Woe is me now, for my soul is weary because of
murderers!’” (Jeremiah 4:30-31).
Two
Keys
~ (1) “I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good
and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
(2) “Do you not know that your body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you
are not your own? For you were bought at
a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which
are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
* * * * *
~ Fools Are Overly Confident ~
Series
Note ~ In
this series we look at some of the passages in the Book of Proverbs – wise
sayings that are generally true – that describe a fool from God’s perspective. Some may surprise you.
Scripture ~ “A wise man fears and departs
from evil. but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16).
Important
Truth ~ “The
fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God’” (Psalm 53:1a).
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
* * * * *
~ Child of Transgression or Child of Light ~
Series Comment ~ A person can be a child of their
mother, but also a child of their father.
They may also have adopted parents.
They may also be a child of incest or a child of other “parents” – in
this series we look at Biblical descriptions of various “parents.”
Scripture
1 ~ “Whom
do you ridicule? Against whom do you
make a wide mouth and stick out the tongue?
Are you not children of transgression, offspring of falsehood”
(Isaiah 57:4).
Scripture
2 ~ “Then
Jesus said to them, ‘A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness
overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the
light, that you may become sons of light.’ These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and
was hidden from them” (John 12:35-36).
Note Also ~ “But you, brethren, are not in
darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of
the day. We are not of the night nor of
darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as
others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
*****
~ Near ~
This
Series ~ This
series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God. Generally, we move in alphabetical order.
Introduction ~ God
has no favorites but He allows us to be intimate with Him.
Scripture ~ “Therefore
submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God
and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify
your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be
turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the
Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:7-10).
Comment ~ Nearness
depends upon sincerity—it is a heart’s desire issue.
“Therefore,
brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new
and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His
flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with
a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from
an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Jesus
said, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with
their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching
as doctrines the commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9).
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
* * * * *
~ God Sometimes Allows Temporary Desperate Situations ~
Introduction
~ “Abundant Life Now” previously provided
a list of Biblical of examples of fearing / reverencing God (217 posts). In this current series we look at Biblical
accounts that demonstrate that we can fully trust God. Initially we posted seven general reasons for
trusting God. We are currently looking
at passages from all 66 books of Scripture which demonstrate a reason for
trusting our Creator.
Scripture
~ “Then Haman said to King
Ahasuerus, ‘There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people
in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other
people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws.
Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a decree be
written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver
into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king’s
treasuries.’ So the king took his signet
ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the
enemy of the Jews. And the king said to
Haman, ‘The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems
good to you’” (Esther 3:8-11).
The Big
Picture ~ “And
we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those
who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
*****
~ Lot In A Wicked City ~
Series
Note ~ God
often allows His children to be in difficult circumstances. Many of my readers are in difficult
circumstances as they read this post.
But our God is faithful never allowing us to be faced with a bigger
situation than we are capable of handling with God’s help.
In this
series we look a few of the many examples in Scripture where God placed one of
His own in a difficult spot yet they remained faithful to God. If you are in a tight situation, be thankful
that God has entrusted you with that responsibility.
Scripture
~ “No temptation has overtaken
you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow
you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also
make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians
10:13).
Tough Spot
~ “So
Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and
said, ‘Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this
city!’ But to his sons-in-law he seemed
to be joking” (Genesis 19:14 – I suggest you take time to read Genesis 19).
“Turning
the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them
an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered
righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for
that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day
to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) — then the Lord knows how to deliver the
godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day
of judgment, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust
of uncleanness and despise authority.
They are presumptuous, self-willed.
They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, whereas angels, who
are greater in power and might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them
before the Lord” (2 Peter 2:6-11).
The Rest
of This Story ~ It is
highly recommended that you read and meditate on the surrounding verses and
other related Scripture passages to this example.
The
Ultimate Three Examples ~ Read
Matthew 4:1-11.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
~ The Christ-Like Father ~
Note ~ I am aware
that many individuals endured very faulty fathers (or even no father in their
home). Without a good father present in the formative years an individual
starts life with a major disadvantage. Also, a poor father makes it much more
difficult for a child to learn to love and respect a heavenly Father.
The
Reality
~ In many “civilized societies” in the world today the importance of good
parenting – and especially the proper role of a father – is being minimized and
sometimes even mocked and ridiculed today. This trend is a deliberate strategy
of Satan himself.
The
Goal Of A Christian Father ~ Simply stated: to demonstrate Christ-like characteristics to
his children and others.
Clearly
this is God’s plan. His desire is for all fathers to reflect His character –
like an earthly mirror of our heavenly Father. Consider just one simple example
of what this means from Matthew’s Gospel:
“What
man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a
stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will
hand him a serpent? If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and
advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in
heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep
on asking Him!” (Matthew 7:9–11 amp).
Comment
~ Jesus expects Christian fathers to carefully ensure healthy physical and
spiritual growth of those who have been gifted to him. This is not a choice or
something to be done only when it is convenient. Earthly fathers by their
actions, demeanor, and love are to be a path towards their children learning to
love their heavenly Father. Remember, that Jesus gave His very life for His
own.
Scripture
~ Jesus said, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to
sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and
he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses!
For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (Matthew
18:6-7, see also Mark 9:42 and Luke 17:1-2).
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
* * * * *
~ Jewelry, 7 ~
Series
Note
~ In this series we look at some of the Scriptures which mention human physical
adornment—pretty much without comment. These
posts will include clothing, head (including hair and
wigs), jewelry (including accessories), makeup (including tattoos), and perfume
(including incense). It is
important to note that some of
these passages are culturally related to a specific culture and time period.
Two Principles ~ (1) Focus on the long-term: “Charm
is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall
be praised. Give her of the
fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs
31:30-31).
(2) Exercise modesty: “Women adorn themselves in modest
apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or
pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing
godliness, with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9b-10).
Scripture For This
Week ~ “Furthermore
you sent for men to come from afar, to whom a messenger was sent; and there
they came. And you washed yourself for them, painted your eyes, and adorned
yourself with ornaments. You sat on a stately couch, with a table prepared
before it, on which you had set My incense and My oil. The sound of a carefree
multitude was with her, and Sabeans were brought from the wilderness with men
of the common sort, who put bracelets on their wrists and beautiful crowns
on their heads. Then I said concerning her who had grown old in adulteries,
‘Will they commit harlotry with her now, and she with them?’ Yet they went in
to her, as men go in to a woman who plays the harlot; thus they went in to
Oholah and Oholibah, the lewd women. But righteous men will judge them after
the manner of adulteresses, and after the manner of women who shed blood,
because they are adulteresses, and blood is on their hands.
“For
thus says the Lord God: ‘Bring up an assembly against them, give them up to
trouble and plunder. The assembly shall stone them with stones and execute them
with their swords; they shall slay their sons and their daughters, and burn
their houses with fire. Thus I will cause lewdness to cease from the land, that
all women may be taught not to practice your lewdness. They shall repay you for
your lewdness, and you shall pay for your idolatrous sins. Then you shall know
that I am the Lord God’” (Ezekiel 23:40-49).
Two
Keys
~ (1) “I beseech you therefore,
brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good
and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).
(2) “Do you not know that your body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you
are not your own? For you were bought at
a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which
are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
* * * * *
~ Fools Mock The Idea Of Sin ~
Series
Note ~ In
this series we look at some of the passages in the Book of Proverbs – wise
sayings that are generally true – that describe a fool from God’s perspective. Some may surprise you.
Scripture ~ “Fools mock at sin, but among the upright there is
favor. The heart knows its own
bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy. The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
but the tent of the upright will flourish” (Proverbs 14:9-11).
Important
Truth ~ “The
fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God’” (Psalm 53:1a).
~ Robert
Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT
LIFE NOW blog.
* * * * *
~ Child of Disobedience or Child of Abraham ~
Series Comment ~ A person can be a child of their
mother, but also a child of their father.
They may also have adopted parents.
They may also be a child of incest or a child of other “parents” – in
this series we look at Biblical descriptions of various “parents.”
Scripture
1 ~ “Therefore
put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness,
passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is
coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once
walked when you lived in them” (Colossians 3:5-7).
Scripture
2 ~ “Therefore
He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it
by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? — just as Abraham
‘believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ Therefore know that only those who are of
faith are sons of Abraham. And
the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith,
preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations
shall be blessed.’ So then those who are
of faith are blessed with believing Abraham” (Galatians 3:5-9).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
*****
