Jesus Christ, 7

~ Consider Some of the Faces of Jesus Christ ~

A Strong Face  ~  –  “Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).

A Bowed Face  ~  “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will’” (Matthew 26:39).

An Insulted Face  ~  “Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?’” (Matthew 26:67-68).

A Covered Face  ~  “Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, ‘Prophesy!’ And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands” (Mark 14:65).

A Struck Face  ~   “Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, ‘Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?’  And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him” (Luke 22:63-65). 

A Shining Face  ~   “And He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light” (Matthew 17:2).

A Glorious Face  ~   “For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6).

An Awe-Inspiring Face  ~   “And said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’” (Revelation 6:16). “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them” (Revelation 20:11).

contemplate: “And we [mankind] hid, as it were, our faces from Him” (Isaiah 53:3). 

A Welcoming Face  ~   “They [His believers] shall see His face” (Revelation 22:4a). 

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This is the most important question you will ever answer. If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Quote: Division by Denominations

~ Does It Displease God? ~

Does God condone differing denominations?

The following is an excerpt from a book.

The reality of multiple denominations and individual differences is not necessarily a bad thing in God’s eyes. We must remember that God is the author of variety—whether in snowflakes, fingerprints, or the stars and the planets. Our Father knows that because of the differences He has built into humans, some will prefer a more formal style of worship and others a more casual style. Some are comfortable in a small intimate local church while others appreciate the offerings of a much larger local church.

Unpleasing to our Father are two things. The first is when our core doctrines are not Biblical—especially in regard to beliefs about Jesus Christ and His work on earth, His death, burial, and resurrection. The second is when we lose our sense of unity with all who are a part of His Church. We must firmly understand that the work of salvation was done on the Cross and that there is nothing more to do by the believer in regard to gaining salvation. This belief of “done versus do” is the clear divide between Biblical teaching and false doctrine and the various cults. But God our Father desires that we keep the unity of the faith with all who are truly members of His Church.

~ from “ONE PRECIOUS PEARL: God’s Design for His Church, pg 70  (ISBN: 9780741462329)

Learn more about this important book at Amazon, the Publisher, or the Author’s website.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 50

~ Messiah Would Be Forsaken by God ~ 

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from saving Me, so far from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer, by night, and am not silent” (Psalm 22:1-2).   

The Messiah  

“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Matthew 27:46).

“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Mark 15:34). 

~~~ 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

7 Traits of a Godly Father

~ How Are You Doing? ~   

A Man of Prayer, Praise, & Thanksgiving ~ “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). 

A Man Who Knows the Bible ~ “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). 

A Man after God’s Heart ~ David is described in Scripture as a “man after God’s heart” (Acts 13:22). Like David we should find our greatest joy in intimacy with God and then He will put the right desires in our hearts. “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4). 

A Man of His Word ~ We should be straightforward and honest in all our communication. “Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no, or you will be condemned” (James 5:12). 

A Man of Integrity ~ “Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!” (James 1:22). In other words you must obey or you will decay. “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. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:5-8). 

A Man of Love for Others ~ Love will characterize every aspect of a Godly man’s life. 

(A) Deep love for all mankind. (Sees them as ones for who Christ died.) “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. … Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:1, 13). 

(B) Deeper love for his brethren. Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

(C) Deepest love and strong guidance for his wife and children. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. 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” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word” (Ephesians 5:25-26).

An Authentic Man ~ “Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing. Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here's what you do: Say nothing evil or hurtful; Snub evil and cultivate good; run after peace for all you're worth. God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he's asked; But He turns his back on those who do evil things” (1 Peter 3:8-12, The Message).

Summary ~ “But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-12).

“You're blessed when you meet Lady Wisdom, when you make friends with Madame Insight. She's worth far more than money in the bank; her friendship is better than a big salary. Her value exceeds all the trappings of wealth; nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her. With one hand she gives long life, with the other she confers recognition. Her manner is beautiful, her life wonderfully complete. She's the very Tree of Life to those who embrace her.

Hold her tight — and be blessed!” (Proverbs 3:13-18, The Message).

“Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies” (Philippians 4:8-9, The Message).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW