Christ The Rock

~ Jesus Christ Is The Rock ~

Rock Of Salvation  ~  “The Lord lives!  Blessed be my Rock!  Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!” (2 Samuel 22:47). 

Rock Of Shelter  ~  “From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:2).

Rock Of Security  ~  “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).

Rock Of Refreshment  ~  “And all drank the same spiritual drink.  For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4).

Rock Of Exaltation  ~  “This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone’” (Acts 4:11). 

summary:  Consider how Mark opens his Gospel:  “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus [Savior] Christ [The Messiah, The Anointed One], the Son of God [His divine nature]” (Mark 1:1). 

A Savior is our first need!  He is our Rock of Salvation and our Rock of Shelter. 

Second we find that He is God’s Anointed One to be our Prophet (teacher).  He is also anointed as our Priest (interceding for us).  He us our Rock of Security and our Rock of Refreshment.  He is anointed to be King who deserves our obedience. 

Third we find that He is God.  As God He is able to do far more than we can ask or think.  Today, He is exalted by His people as their Rock of Exaltation, and one day will be universally recognized as King of Kings.

the bottom line:   Jesus said, “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the Rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the Rock.  But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell.  And great was its fall” (Matthew 7:24-27). 

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

Messiah, 101

~ Messiah’s Betrayer Would Not Live Long ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“Set a wicked man over Him, and let an accuser stand at his right hand. When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few, and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow” (Psalm 109:6-9).

    

The Messiah  

“And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said, ‘Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.’ (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) ‘For it is written in the Book of Psalms: “Let his dwelling place be desolate, and let no one live in it;” and, “Let another take his office”’” (Acts 1:15-20). 

~~~ 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

Stages of Faith

~  Where Are You on the Spectrum of Faith? ~

Little Faith—the immature believer  ~  “But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, ‘O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread? Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up? Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up? How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread? — but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees’” (Matthew 16:8-11a).

   

Eugene Peterson has paraphrased this passage this way, “Jesus knew what they were doing and said, ‘Why all these worried whispers about forgetting the bread? Runt believers! Haven't you caught on yet? Don't you remember the five loaves of bread and the five thousand people, and how many baskets of fragments you picked up?’” (Matthew 16:8-10 The Message).

Growing Faith—the healthy Christian  ~  “To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith” (2 Thessalonians 1:1a-5a).

Great Faith—the trusting Christian  ~  “Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’ But He answered and said, ‘It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs.’ And she said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered and said to her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour” (Matthew 15:25-28).

Strong Faith—the fully established Christian  ~  “He [Abraham] did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore ‘it was accounted to him for righteousness’” (Romans 4:20-22). 

Full of Faith—the mature / fearless Christian  ~  “Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:7-8). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Show & Tell

~ The Double Testimony ~

Those of us who are parents are familiar with elementary school “show and tell,” when the student brings something visible to show to their fellow students and then tells about the object. The Scripture also provides many show and tells. 

Tell—Use Your Lips  ~  “And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him [Jesus] that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, ‘Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.’  And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled” (Mark 5:18-20, emphasis added). 

Luke emphasizes the telling even more, “Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.’ And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him” (Luke 8:38-39,emphasis added). 

For those of you not familiar with this passage (Matthew 8:28-9:1, Mark 5:1-20, Luke 8:26-39), it includes the first recorded incident of “deviled ham.”

Show—Physically Demonstrate  ~  It is clear from the above accounts that telling was effective because of what the hearers saw—a new cleansed and normal man! Seeing is often very important. Think of Thomas who would not believe unless he saw for himself. Think of Jesus Christ and the miracles He performed—visual evidences of His reality. 

“Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, ‘We have seen the Lord.’ So he said to them, ‘Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.’

“And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, ‘Peace to you!’ Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.’ And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!’

“Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’

“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:24-31).

Do you have a personal story you can show and tell? 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW