Proof of Your Christian Faith

~ 1 John Tells Where to Look ~   

If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

The book of 1 John provides examples of where to find the evidence.

Do you love not only God but His people?  ~  The attitude of love, or lack of love, for your fellow Christians is a test of character. “We know that we have passed out of death into life by the fact that we love our fellow Christians” (1 John 3:14). “Let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” (4:7). “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves His children, too” (5:1). “This is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another” (3:11).

Do you seek to live in obedience to God’s Word?  ~  Your actions which show victory over sin and the old nature are a test of your confession. “Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence”(1 John 3:18-19). 

A functional Christian does not continue in habits of sin. “Whoever has been born of God does not sin” (3:9). “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him” (5:18). 

Christians who are fulfilling their calling have gained victory over the world and its allures.  “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world — the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does — comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever” (2:15-17).

“Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (5:4-5). 

The bottom line for a Christian who is following his operator’s manual is a righteous life before God. “If you know—perceive and are sure—that Christ is absolutely righteous (conforming to the Father's will in purpose, thought, and action), you may also know (be sure) that everyone who regularly practices righteousness (and therefore is conformed to God’s will) is born of God” (2:29).  

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 5

~ Messiah Would Be a Blessing to Gentiles ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture  

“God had told Abram, ‘Leave your own country behind you, and your own people, and go to the land I will guide you to. If you do, I will cause you to become the father of a great nation; I will bless you and make your name famous, and you will be a blessing to many others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and the entire world will be blessed because of you’” (Genesis 12:1-3). 

The Messiah  

“‘Turn to face God so he can wipe away your sins, pour out showers of blessing to refresh you, and send you the Messiah he prepared for you, namely, Jesus.’ … God's covenant-word to Abraham provides the text: ‘By your offspring all the families of the earth will be blessed.’ But you are first in line: God, having raised up His Son, sent Him to bless you as you turn, one by one, from your evil ways” (Acts 3:19-20, 25-26).   

“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 3:8-9).

~~~ 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.

The Heart of Daniel

~ Daniel – A Role Model ~  

The secret to Daniel’s life was his heart’s desires. The secret of his heart’s desire was his prayer life. We read about at least five aspects of his heart and how it was tuned to God. 

Daniel Prayed ~ Throughout the book of Daniel we find that his heart was tuned to God through prayer (discussed more below).   

Daniel Purposed ~ Daniel lived a purpose driven life. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8). Daniel had a pure heart in the sense of a lifestyle of desiring to please God.

Daniel Prospered ~ Because of the two previous factors God allowed Daniel to prosper. “So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian” (Daniel 6:28).  

Daniel Praised ~ He understood the source of his blessings. “I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king's demand” (Daniel 2:23). 

Daniel’s heart was what causes him to be a role model for subsequent generations. “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7b).

The psalmist also knew the secret to true success was a pure heart. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). If we truly seek God, His righteousness, and His plan for our lives He will instill the right desires in our hearts. “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). Because

Daniel’s heart was tuned to God it affected his actions throughout his life. Daniel’s heart was right because he was a man of prayer!

Crisis Prayer ~ During a time of emergency Daniel called his friends to prayer. “So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret” (Daniel 2:16-18a). Notice that Daniel didn’t just pray—he did what he could in concert with his prayers—Daniel enlisted others to pray.

Gratitude Prayer ~ Daniel gives thanks and praise to God for answered prayer. “Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: ‘Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His’” (Daniel 2:19-20).

Scheduled Prayer ~ A key reason why Daniel responded appropriately in times of crisis was his regular routine of prayer. He knelt down to pray three times a day every day. “And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days” (Daniel 6:10b).

Meaningful & Effective Prayer ~ Notice also that largely because Daniel lived a life saturated with prayer we find him uttering one of the most outstanding prayers in all of the Word of God as he prayed on behalf of his people (Daniel 9:1-19). 

Can God count on you during a crisis? Do you have a heart of gratitude? Do you maintain a habit of scheduled prayer? Are your prayers meaningful and effective?

In summary, are you living the kind of life that God might desire to turn to you during a crisis?  Jim Elliot once wrote, “Forgive me for being so ordinary while claiming to know such an extraordinary God!” 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 4

~ Messiah Would Be a Descendant of Abraham ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture  

“God had told Abram, ‘Leave your own country behind you, and your own people, and go to the land I will guide you to. If you do, I will cause you to become the father of a great nation; I will bless you and make your name famous, and you will be a blessing to many others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you; and the entire world will be blessed because of you’” (Genesis 12:1-3). 

The Messiah  

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham: Abraham begot Isaac… and Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations, from David until the captivity in Babylon are fourteen generations, and from the captivity in Babylon until the Christ are fourteen generations” (Matthew 1:1-2, 16-17).

  

“Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being… 

the son of Abraham” (Luke 3:23, 34).

“But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.  …which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said to the fathers, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you.  And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days. You are sons of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’  To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities” (Acts 3:18, 21-26).

       

“I speak the truth in Christ…  for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen” (Romans 9:1, 3-5).

~~~ 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.

EXTRA: Book Review – OPP, 2

~ A Review of “One Precious Pearl” by Todd Rutherford ~

In the short time since “ONE PRECIOUS PEARL: God’s Design for His Church” was released, it has received many accolades including being named “2011 Book-Of-The-Year” by Reader Views Literary Awards, "2011 Runner-up" by the International Book Awards, and “2011 Winner” by The Word Guild.  Reproduced immediately below is one of the many positive reviews the book has received.

One Precious Pearl by Robert Lloyd Russell

Reviewed by Todd Rutherford

The Publishing Guru

AfterWord Marketing Group

5-Star 

Robert Lloyd Russell’s One Precious Pearl: God’s Design for His Church is a fusion of biblical scripture and natural science. The book is an interpretation of the parable of Matthew 13:45-46: “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he had found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had, and bought it.” One Precious Pearl is divided into two parts: scripture-based and lesson-based material. Essentially, Russell’s purpose in writing this book is two-fold. For those who are believers in the kingdom of heaven, the book strives to instill a deeper appreciation for the Church. The second purpose is to “demystify a passage” that is too often misinterpreted. Ultimately, One Precious Pearl: God’s Design for His Church is designed to be an enlightening experience for one and all.

Throughout the ages, even in modern times, the pearl is a symbol of elegance and value. In fact, “historically pearls were only possessed by kings and monarchs. The one precious pearl—the finest of all pearls—belongs to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” Essentially, various interpretations conclude that the pearl could be a symbol of salvation, the kingdom of heaven, or the Church on earth.

In practical terms, the growth of a pearl is likened to the growth of the Church. The one precious pearl represents the unity within the Church of Jesus Christ. The bottom line is that, on earth, the pearl is the Church because it will nurture the one precious thing that every man needs: acceptance of Christ.

Ultimately, “the pearl is the only gem that is perfect without additional work by man. Provision for the Church was complete with Christ’s death on the Cross. Man cannot improve upon either a pearl or the Church.” Therefore, the pearl is a representation of all that is pure and perfect, like the great white throne of God.

Overall, Robert Lloyd Russell’s One Precious Pearl: God’s Design for His Church is a simple, yet profound read for any age. Also, Russell inserts a “Think and Grow” section that discusses the key concepts of the lesson. One Precious Pearl belongs in Sunday school, Bible Study classes, and many other church settings.  It’s a must read for Christians everywhere.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

There is more information about One Precious Pearl at the author’s website. 

You may order directly from Amazon or from Infinity Publishing.

7 Steps to Overcoming the World

~ James 4 ~

In just one chapter we find a straightforward procedure for obtaining “Abundant Life Now” and victorious Christian living even though there is a war between good and evil present in our lives (all quotations in this posting are from The Message). 

The introduction to the principles (James 4:1-6) ~ “Where do you think all these appalling wars and quarrels come from? Do you think they just happen? Think again. They come about because you want your own way, and fight for it deep inside yourselves. You lust for what you don't have and are willing to kill to get it. You want what isn't yours and will risk violence to get your hands on it.

“You wouldn't think of just asking God for it, would you? And why not? Because you know you'd be asking for what you have no right to. You're spoiled children, each wanting your own way.

“You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and His way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that ‘He's a fiercely jealous lover.’ And what He gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that ‘God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.’”  

(1) Submit to your Creator (4:7a) ~ “So let God work His will in you.”

(2) Choose to rebuff sin in your life (v. 7b) ~ “Yell a loud ‘no’ to the Devil and watch him scamper.”

(3) Choose to be intimate with God (v. 8a) ~ “Say a quiet ‘yes’ to God and He'll be there in no time.”

(4) Seek righteousness and holy living (v. 8b) ~ “Quit dabbling in sin. Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field.” 

(5) Hate sin just like God hates sin (v. 9) ~ “Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious.”

(6) Have a realistic view of yourself (v. 10) ~ “Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet.”  

(7) All your words about others should be uplifting (v.11-12) ~ “Don't bad-mouth each other, friends. It's God's Word, His Message, His Royal Rule, that takes a beating in that kind of talk. You're supposed to be honoring the Message, not writing graffiti all over it. God is in charge of deciding human destiny. Who do you think you are to meddle in the destiny of others?”

The rest of the chapter (vs. 12-17) ~ “And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, ‘Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we're off to such and such a city for the year. We're going to start a business and make a lot of money.’ You don't know the first thing about tomorrow. You're nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, ‘If the Master wills it and we're still alive, we'll do this or that.’ As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don't do it, that, for you, is evil.” 

Summary ~ “Abundant Life Now” and victorious Christian living (and James 4) begin and end with doing the will of God to the best of your ability.

ADDITIONAL COMMENT: For those who would like to look at the subject of God’s will in greater depth the tab TWBDOE at the top of this page describes Robert Lloyd Russell’s book on the How To’s of God’s will.