Messiah, 61

~ Messiah Would Ascend to Heaven ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory” (Psalm 24:7-10). 

The Messiah  

“So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen” (Mark 16:19-20). 

“Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen” (Luke 24:51-53). 

~~~ 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 – 2of2

~ A Triad of Christianity ~

Most Christians can recite 1 Corinthians 13:13 which reads, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Consider this triad of faith.

In the Scriptures we have many examples of individuals who displayed faith, hope, and love. Consider three:

Moses left all in faith  ~ Moses gave up his earthly privileges to follow God by faith (see Hebrews 11:24-29).     

Joseph endured all in hope  ~  While the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis does not use the word hope, it is clear that Joseph maintained a clear and persistent hope that he would be one day be united with his family (Genesis 37-50). 

Jonathan surrendered all in love  ~  Jonathan loved David and would do anything to help his friend (i.e., 1 Samuel 18:1-4).   

1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 provides another glimpse of our triad:

(2) “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,

(3) “remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,

(4) “knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

(5) “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

(6) “And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

(7) “so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

(8) “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

(9) “For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God [the work of faith in verse 3] from idols to serve the living and true God [the labor of love in verse 3],

(10) “and to wait for His Son [the patience of hope in verse 3] from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”   

The triad of faith, hope, and love is also found in 1 Thessalonians 5:8. “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:8-11). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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