Book Review – TWBDOE, 2

~ A Review of “Thy Will Be Done On Earth” Posted on the About.com Website  ~

Reproduced immediately below is one of the many positive reviews the book” Thy Will Be Done On Earth” has received.

Thy Will Be Done On Earth

by Robert Lloyd Russell

Non-Fiction Christian Book Review

About.com Rating (5-star out of 5 possible stars)   

From Butch4HIM, Guest Reviewer, for About.com

There is a book which can truly help you know what God wants you to do!

The book I am so excited about is Thy Will Be Done On Earth: Understanding God's Will For You by Robert Lloyd Russell.  It is the first of six books planned for his Christian Concepts Series, which are designed to provide traditional truths with contemporary perspectives.

Description

• Genre:  Christian Living
• Release Date:  September 2008
• Author:  Robert Lloyd Russell
• Publisher:  Xulon Press
• ISBN:  978-1-6064-7430-3
• Format:  Paperback/Hardcover, 192 Pages

Book Review - Thy Will Be Done On Earth by Robert Lloyd Russell

The author writes simply yet profoundly using two graphic models.  The first is the “Christian Life Model,” which develops key elements of what God wants from everyone of his children.  The second half of the book is the “Christian Guidance Model,” which shows how to determine God's highest desire for you.  While there are many written works on knowing the will of God and Christian decision making, this is by far the best I have found.  I’ve been a Christian for many years and wish I had received this teaching as a young believer.

The book contains short chapters with many additional resources.  It can be a great fast read or a very slow and contemplative read.  First, I read through it quickly and then later read it very carefully.  Now I plan to re-read it about every year or so.  Thy Will Be Done On Earth would also make a good group study.  It's also great to use when traveling or at other periods when you have limited blocks of time for reading.

The only potential negative point I'd like to make about the book is that it causes the reader to think about profound concepts.  The ideas are simple and presented in a straightforward manner, but if someone wants to casually pass their time reading without thinking, they may not appreciate this book.  

I'd like to know who else has read this book and what you thought about it. Please let me know by selecting the “Write a Review” button below.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

There is more information about Thy Will Be Done On Earth at the author’s website. 

You may order directly from Amazon or from Xulon Press. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 60

~ Messiah Would Have Multitudes of Followers In Future Generations ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“Posterity will serve Him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn — for He has done it” (Psalm 22:30-31).

The Messiah  

“However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand” (Acts 4:4). 

“And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord” (Acts 9:42).

“And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21).

“Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed” (Acts 14:1).

“Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men” (Acts 17:12).

“And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds” (Acts 19:18).

“And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord. And they said to him, ‘You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law’” (Acts 21:20). 

“For it was fitting for Him [Jesus Christ], for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: ‘I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.’ And again: ‘I will put My trust in Him.’ And again: ‘Here am I and the children whom God has given Me’ (Hebrews 2:10-13).

~~~ 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

Faith, Hope, & Love – 1of2

~ Hebrews 10 and 1 Corinthians 13 ~

The famous “love chapter” ends with the following verse: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). 

We find interesting aspects of this trio in Hebrews 10:22-25.

Faith’s Exercise (“let us draw near”) ~  “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 10:22).

Hope’s Grasp (“let us hold fast”)  ~  “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23).

Love’s Labor (“let us consider”) ~  “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” (Hebrews 10:24).

In order to strengthen this necessary trio, the writer of Hebrews gives us an essential tip for accomplishing what he has laid out. “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Quote: Great Physician

~ Does He Treat Every Patient the Same? ~

Does God have a plan tailored for your life?

The following is an excerpt from a book.

God is referred to as the Great Physician. Part of a physician’s role is to prescribe what is necessary for the best health of each patient. This takes judgment; patients with the same generic illness may receive a different prescription from each other depending upon their age, health, potential interactions with their other medicines, and other factors. God is the author of variety and He does not desire the exact same thing for each of His children.

Near the end of the Gospel of John, Peter asks Jesus what John should be doing. Our Lord replied, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me" (John 21:21-22). It is clear that God’s desires for each of us may vary.

This should not be surprising. After all, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and He operates in a different time frame than we do. It is foolish to allow your own desires to interfere with God’s desires—what is best for you—as you go about your life on earth! As a Christian your competence, charisma, intellect, or accomplishments cannot compensate for an unholy lifestyle. Your highest good comes in living a holy life in complete submission to God’s desires for you.  

~ from “THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH: Understanding God’s Will for You” by Robert Lloyd Russell, pgs 87-88 (ISBN: 9781606474303)

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

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 59

~ Messiah Would Declare God’s Name ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“I will declare Your name to My brothers; in the congregation I will praise You” (Psalm 22:22).   

The Messiah  

“For it was fitting for Him [Jesus Christ], for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: ‘I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.’ And again: ‘I will put My trust in Him.’ And again: ‘Here am I and the children whom God has given Me’ (Hebrews 2:10-13).

~~~ 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

A Bunch of No Names

~ Exalt the Name Above All Names ~

A good friend once told me that Christians are just a bunch of no names trying to “exalt the name which is above all names.” Another friend has said that we should consider ourselves as “little people doing little things in a fine way for a great God.” Jim Elliot, a martyred missionary, once described Christians as “a bunch of nobodies trying to exalt Somebody.”

Do you ever wonder about the little people who…

...influenced Hudson Taylor enough to cause him to sell out to Jesus Christ?

…led Billy Graham to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ?

…had a spiritual influence on Dwight L. Moody?

…spoke to Billy Sunday about his need for Jesus Christ?

…paved the way for the Prince of Preachers—Charles Haddon Spurgeon?

…taught a young Martin Luther about Jesus Christ?

…helped develop the compassion, faith, and vision of George Muller?

Sometimes I wonder who will receive the greater reward in heaven. Will it be the public figure who is utilizing great God-given gifts in a public way for His glory? Or will it be the Christian in the background faithfully exercising the role in which God has placed them, carrying out their role in the progress and success of another. Some examples…

…the prayer warrior in the closet (Matthew 6:6).

…the faithful Sunday School teacher.
…the camp counselor faithfully working with young campers.

…the Godly parent.

…the encourager in a local church.

…the one who gives of their time, talent, or treasure to “one of the least of these” (Matthew 25:31-46).

…the financial supporter of a missionary.

…the care-giver showing compassion and God’s love to those who desperately need a glimpse of Jesus Christ.

application:  Are you content to bloom where God has planted you? Are you faithful in the function of His body you are responsible for? Has God blessed you with talent, abilities, and spiritual gifts? “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required” (Luke 12:48).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Jesus Christ, 9

~ Jesus Christ the Deliverer ~

There are many short descriptions which summarize the content of the Bible. One phrase is a Book of Deliverance.

God is The God of Deliverance  ~  “And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me [The Messiah—Jesus Christ], because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord’” (Luke 4:17-19).

Jesus Christ Will Deliver His People Israel  ~  “And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins’” (Romans 11:26-27).

Jesus Christ Will Deliver His Church  ~  “To grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life” (Luke 1:74-75). Jesus Christ delivers His people from many things. Have you thought about the many ways you have been delivered because of your faith in Jesus Christ? Consider a few. 

Jesus Christ Delivers Us From the Curse of the Law – “But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter” (Romans 7:6). “For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God” (Galatians 2:19). 

Jesus Christ Delivers Us From the Present World – “Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Galatians 1:3-5). “I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world” (John 17:14).

Jesus Christ Delivers Us From the Power of Evil – “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra — what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me” (2 Timothy 3:10-11). “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!” (2 Timothy 4:17-18). “And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren’” (Luke 22:31-32).

Jesus Christ Delivers Us From the Presence of Sin – “The creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2-3). 

Jesus Christ Delivers Us From the Wrath to Come – “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

Jesus Christ Delivers Us From the Lowest Hell – “For a fire is kindled in My anger, and shall burn to the lowest hell; it shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains” (Deuteronomy 32:22). “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15). “He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; and His own righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak.  According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; the coastlands He will fully repay. So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; when the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:16-19).

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