Messiah, 16

~ Messiah Would Be a Descendant of Abraham, 4 ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: ‘By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice’” (Genesis 22:15-18).

The Messiah  

“For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen” (Romans 9:3-5).

“The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1). 

~~~ 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: Good in Wash DC

~ Positive News from Our Capital! ~

It is really easy to be cynical about our national politicians these days. But wait—there is some good news! Are you aware of the Congressional Prayer Caucus? Here is a summary directly from their website. 

Purpose  ~  Throughout the more than 200-year history of our nation, prayer has played a vital role in strengthening the fabric of our society.

The purposes of the Congressional Prayer Caucus are to

1) recognize the vital role that prayer by individuals of all faiths has played in uniting us as a people and in making us a more generous, more cooperative, and more forgiving people than we might otherwise have been;

2) collect, exchange, and disseminate information about prayer as a fundamental and enduring feature of American life;

3) use the legislative process – both through sponsorship of affirmative legislation and through opposition to detrimental legislation – to assist the nation and its people in continuing to draw upon and benefit from this essential source of our strength and well-being.

Members of the Congressional Prayer Caucus also work together to preserve the presence of religion, faith, and morality in the marketplace of ideas.

History  ~  In 2005, Congressman J. Randy Forbes gathered a small group of members of the U.S. House of Representatives who began meeting in Room 219 of the Capitol to pray for our nation. These Members later formed The Congressional Prayer Caucus – an official Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives – to formally acknowledge the important role that prayer plays in American life and history and to monitor and work to guard the right of individuals in America to pray.

Currently, Congressman Forbes and Congressman Mike McIntyre serve as the co-chairmen of this Caucus. Today, the Prayer Caucus has grown to a bipartisan group of 98 Members dedicated to protecting religious liberty and recognizing our nations’ rich, spiritual history.

To find out more go the Congressional PrayerCaucus website (http://forbes.house.gov/PrayerCaucus/).

The “Goodness of Man” Myth

~ Have You Bought Into This Lie? ~   

One of the basic tenets of modern society is that man is basically good. The conclusion from this belief is that problems in society will be solved with more education and  more money! But this raises questions.  Why do the more developed and sophisticated societies of the world—those with more money and education—have as much bad (God calls it sin) as many third-world countries? How can this be explained? What is the truth? 

America has a huge industry of self-help books, recordings, and seminars built on pop psychology with the belief that people can “pull themselves up with their own bootstraps.” By the way, even the imagery is interesting—have you tried lifting yourself off the floor by pulling on your shoelaces? 

Christians know that true hope is found not in good politics or good psychology but in good theology!

The Bible tells the truth about mankind. Adam and Eve enjoyed fellowship with God, their Creator.  But they both sinned in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). They have passed that sin nature on to each of their descendants making it impossible for any of us to live a sinless (good) life. If you doubt the truth of our inner sin nature, just ask any parent. Ask what they did to teach seemingly innocent and good infants to become selfish, to disobey, to throw a temper tantrum, to display their inner propensity toward bad (sinful) behavior. 

According to the Word of God, even an infant is born with a sin nature. “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5).  The newborn baby already has a sin nature and begins to demonstrate that sin nature early in life. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Any parent can confirm this truth!

Because of our propensity towards sinning, God, because of His holy nature, cannot fellowship with us. But He provides a remedy. In mercy, love, and grace He provides us a way to have fellowship restored with Him. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to earth as a fully human being to live a perfect life and to die for our sins. By accepting this provision, our fellowship with God is restored and we receive eternal life. 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 15

~ Messiah Would Be a Blessing to Gentiles, 3 ~  

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: ‘By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice’” (Genesis 22:15-18).

The Messiah  

“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 3:22-26).  

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).

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:28-29). 

~~~ 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.

Spiritual Arithmetic

~ Correct Math Gives Valid Results ~

Addition   ~  The Christian is to increase [add] good character qualities to his life. “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love” (2 Peter 1:5-7).  Important Note: We can do this consistently only through the power of the Spirit of God.

Subtraction  ~  The Christian is to decrease [subtract] bad character qualities from his lifestyle. “Therefore, subtract from your life of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:1-3). Important Note: We can do this consistently only through the power of the Spirit of God.

Multiplication  ~  The Christian needs to be aware of the increasing number of [multiplying] “angels of light” masquerading as the truth. “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber” (2 Peter 2:1-3). Important Note: We can only be consistently aware of spiritual realities through the power of the Spirit of God.

Division  ~  The Christian is to have compassion for all sinners, but to hate sin just as God hates sin. “What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.’ ‘Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord [divide yourselves from evil]. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you’”  (2 Corinthians 6:15b-17). Important Note: We can do this consistently only through the power of the Spirit of God.

Result  ~  The result of these basic arithmetic functions will be a lifestyle which pleases God our Creator. “For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins” (2 Peter 1:8-9). Important Note: We can achieve this consistently only through the power of the Spirit of God.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 14

~ Messiah Would Be Offered as a Lamb ~  

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, ‘Father?’ ‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ Abraham answered, ‘God Himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ‘Here I am,’ he replied. ‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son’ (Genesis 22:6-12). 

The Messiah  

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). 

“Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God!’” (John 1:35-36).  

“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” (1 Corinthians 5:7).

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19).

~~~ 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.

Bible 413

~ Selected 4:13 References From Scripture ~

A Mini-Bible Course:  Some of the many benefits Christians receive from Jesus Christ as a result of accepting Him as their personal Savior. 

Power for All Challenges  ~  “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). 

Ongoing Transformation  ~  “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Resulting Maturity  ~  “This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13).

Eternal Satisfaction  ~  “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life’” (John 4:13-14). 

A Guaranteed Positive Future  ~  “Now also we would not have you ignorant, brethren, about those who fall asleep [in death], that you may not grieve [for them] as the rest do who have no hope [beyond the grave]” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Are you confident of your place in eternity?  Where will you spend eternity?  In the smoking or the non-smoking section? 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW