Guaranteed Future!

~ It’s Better than Winning the Lottery! ~   

Question Set #1  ~  Have you ever made a significant purchase which was influenced by the manufacturer’s guarantee or warranty? Has a purchase been influenced by a consumer testing agencies test results or by third party seal of approval? Have you ever made a purchase based on the advice of a trusted friend? When making a major purchase have you ever been a little unsure but went ahead with your decision trusting the manufacturer and other relevant data?

Consider  ~  The salvation which is offered by Jesus Christ comes with proven results and guarantees! The Bible has been tested by millions and it has passed the test—according to previous users it can be trusted. “Word of mouth” is the is the best advertising there is! Millions have died for the name of Jesus Christ and millions more seek to live their lives for His honor.

“And Nathanael said to him, ‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ Philip said to him, ‘Come and see’” (John 1:46). “After that [Jesus Christ’s bodily resurrection] He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once” (1 Corinthians 15:6a). “‘One thing I [a full grown man who was blind from birth] know: that though I was blind, now I see.’ Then they said to him again, ‘What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?’ He answered them, ‘I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?’” (John 9:25b-27).

Question Set #2  ~  Have you ever wished you could win a major lottery? Wouldn’t it be great to pick up that first check knowing it was the first of many and that your could not outspend the inflow?

Consider  ~  The salvation which is offered by Jesus Christ comes with a status change and a down payment which provides full assurance of the reality.

“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). “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together” (Romans 8:16-17). “Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). “Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee” (2 Corinthians 5:5).

Question Set #3  ~  Do you look back in your life and regret not having made a particular purchase of decision? Were you almost persuaded, but for one reason or another, decided not to purchase what you believed to be a good decision? With hindsight do you see your mistake? 

Consider  ~  The opportunity for salvation is now. One day, perhaps very soon, the door of opportunity will be closed. You are not guaranteed tomorrow. Jesus Christ may return at any time for His children. If you are not ready it will be too late.

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2b). “I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left. Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left. Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left” (Luke 17:34-36). “Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near” (Isaiah 55:6). “God's gifts and God's call are under full warranty — never canceled, never rescinded” (Romans 11:29 The Message).

The Most Important Question  ~  Why not seek Jesus Christ with an open mind and discover for yourself if His Word is true?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Christ in the Book of Numbers

~ Jesus Christ is Seen in the Serpent of Bronze and More ~

The Bible is about Jesus Christ  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

In the book of Numbers Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is foreshadowed primarily by the Serpent made of bronze. He is also seen in a variety of other ways including the pillar of cloud by day, the pillar of fire by night, the smitten rock, the star of Jacob, and in the Tabernacle.

The Serpent of Bronze  ~  The serpent which Moses lifted up for all to see is a picture of Jesus Christ who would be lifted up on the Cross of Calvary for all to see.

“So the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and many of the people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, ‘We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you; pray to the Lord  that He take away the serpents from us.’ So Moses prayed for the people. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent, and put it on a pole; and so it was, if a serpent had bitten anyone, when he looked at the bronze serpent, he lived” (Numbers 21:6-9). 

To be saved they were individually required to look up at the serpent in faith. Today we must look up individually to the Cross in faith. To be saved each of us must begin by acknowledging our need of a Savior because of our own personal sin. (How many banks must one rob to be a bank robber? Likewise, how many sins must one commit to be a sinner?)

Comment  ~  We have only touched the surface of Christ in the book of Numbers. Much more could be said about each of the previous examples.

additional comment: While on earth Jesus Christ often quoted the Scriptures including all five books of Moses. He recalled Moses lifting up the brass serpent saying, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have 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 3:14-17).

The Apostle Paul told us the Scriptures present many shadows of things to come but the reality is found in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:17). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “JESUS CHRIST IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE” SERIES ~~~   

(1)  Approximately once a month ALN posts an overview of how Jesus Christ is seen in a specific book of the Bible.

(2)  In most cases these posts only scratch the surface regarding Jesus Christ in the particular book.

(3)  These posts will typically be in the same order as the books are found in the Bible.

(4)  These serial posts are in addition to our other ALN postings.

(5)  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

Messiah, 91

~ Messiah Would Be Worshipped by Shepherds ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“Those who dwell in the wilderness will bow before Him”(Psalm 72:9a). 

The Messiah  

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’ So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us’” (Luke 2:8-15).

~~~ 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

5 Steps to Obedience

~ Selected Psalms Show the Progressive Development of Godly Character ~  

Separation  ~  “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper” (Psalm 1:1-3). 

Forgiven  ~  “Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the Lord with the harp; make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy” (Psalm 33:1-3). “Righteous” and “upright” in God’s eyes as one of His forgiven children.

Trust  ~  “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing)” (Psalm 34:8-10).

Discipline  ~  “Blessed is the man whom You instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law” (Psalm 94:12).   

Obedience  ~  “Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches will be in his house, and his righteousness endures forever” (Psalm 112:1-3). 

These selected Psalms show the truth of how God progressively sanctifies His people. First is the decision to accept Christ as Savior and to be separate from patterns of on-going evil which results in forgiveness. With forgiveness the child of God increases trust in God as he develops the necessary discipline to be consistently obedient. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW