3 Little Pigs

~ Two Kinds of Service for God ~

The “Three Little Pigs” chapter in the Bible is 1 Corinthians 3. The Apostle Paul tells us that our ministry and work for Christ may look good on the outside but God knows the true cost, character, construction, and combustibility of our efforts. He poses severe warnings to us.

In the Old Covenant we find a somewhat similar passage. “Therefore, as the fire devours the stubble, and the flame consumes the chaff, so their root will be as rottenness, and their blossom will ascend like dust; because they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore the anger of the Lord is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them and stricken them, and the hills trembled. Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still” (Isaiah 5:24-25).

Isaiah is talking about the unbeliever and warning that it is not too late to turn to God. It is critically important to realize that the entire third chapter of 1 Corinthians is written to Christians. It is not about salvation but about rewards.

“Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:12-15).

Gold—Silver—Precious Stones  ~  In the Old Covenant we find gold overlaid on wood—a picture of Christ’s deity overlaid on His humanity. Silver seems to represent atonement and redemption. Individual believers are called “lively stones” (1 Peter 2:5). Spiritually these three items represent reality and inner beauty.

Wood—Hay—Stubble  ~  These are activities, as good as they may or may not be, which are done “in the flesh” (1 Peter 4:2) or with sinful motives. Spiritually these three items represent outward appearance.

There are differences in the characteristics of these two trios of materials.

Cost  ~  Wood, hay, and stubble are inexpensive. Gold, silver, and precious stones are costly.

Character  ~  Wood, hay, and stubble are commonplace and can be easily produced by man. Gold, silver, and precious stones cannot be grown by man, are much more rare, and are produced by God.

Construction  ~  Wood, hay, and stubble provide for quick and easy construction. Gold, silver, and precious stones are produced slowly.

Combustibility  ~  Wood, hay, and stubble are easily burned. Gold, silver, and precious stones are not combustible.

Please read the following prayerfully.

“But for right now, friends, I'm completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You're acting like infants in relation to Christ.

As long as you grab for what makes you feel good or makes you look important, are you really much different than a babe at the breast, content only when everything's going your way? When one of you says, ‘I'm on Paul's side’ [or ‘I am a Baptist’], and another says, ‘I'm for Apollos’ [or I am a Presbyterian], aren't you being totally infantile?

I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plants, but God made you grow.

Planting and watering are menial servant jobs at minimum wages. What makes them worth doing is the God we are serving. You happen to be God's field in which we are working. Or, to put it another way, you are [working on] God's house.

Let each carpenter who comes on the job take care to build on the foundation! Remember, there is only one foundation, the one already laid: Jesus Christ. Take particular care in picking out your building materials. Eventually there is going to be an inspection. If you use cheap or inferior materials, you'll be found out. The inspection will be thorough and rigorous. You won't get by with a thing. If your work passes inspection, fine; if it doesn't, your part of the building will be torn out and started over. But you won't be torn out; you'll survive—but just barely.

You realize, don't you, that you are the temple of God, and God Himself is present in you? No one will get by with vandalizing God's temple, you can be sure of that. God's temple is sacred—and you, remember, are the temple.

Be God's fool—that's the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid. It's written in Scripture, He exposes the chicanery of the chic. The Master sees through the smoke screens of the know-it-alls. I don't want to hear any of you bragging about yourself or anyone else. Everything is already yours as a gift.

You are privileged to be in union with Christ, who is in union with God” (1 Corinthians 3:1, 3-4, 6, 8-9, 10b-17,  19-21, 23, The Message).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Book Review – JE

~ A Review of “Jim Elliot” by Building Rainbows ~

Reproduced immediately below is one of the many positive reviews the book “Jim Elliot” has received.

Book Review
JIM ELLIOT: A Christian Martyr Speaks to You
Robert Lloyd Russell, Editor
Rating: Text 10.0 out of 10, Illustrations 9.0 out of 10.0

This book contains the actual words of martyred missionary Jim Elliot in four messages which he spoke before going to the mission field.  The first two messages were given to seventh and eighth grade students and are about Christian living including the effect of sin in the life of a Christian.  The final two messages are also very readable—one about the Apostle Peter and the other an overview of the Bible from the perspective of Jesus Christ as God the Father's ultimate and final prophet on earth.  Excellent thought-provoking content for seventh grade and up.  Particularly good for anyone interested in missions, missions history, or victorious Christian living.

Title:  JIM ELLIOT: A Christian Martyr Speaks To You

Editor:  Robert Lloyd Russell

ISBN:  9781615797646

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

There is more information about the book Jim Elliot at the author’s website. 

You may order directly from Amazon or from Xulon Press. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 51

~ Messiah Would Cry Out to 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

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