Messiah, 105

~ Messiah Would Rule Over His Enemies ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’” (Psalm 110:1). 

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” (Mark 16:19).  “He said to them, ‘How then does David in the Spirit call Him “Lord,” saying: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’”?” (Matthew 22:43-44). 

The Future Complete Fulfillment

“She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne” Revelation 12:5).  “And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:15-16). 

~~~ 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

Is That In The Bible? 3

~ “God Works In Mysterious Ways” ~

This posting is a response to a blog entitled “7 Things You Won’t Find in the Bible… I Dare You to Look.” I am taking that challenge! The third listed phrase was “God works in mysterious ways.” I would agree that the phrase is not found in our English Bible—but what about the principle behind the phrase?

Words by themselves are meaningless—it is only when we attach meaning to the words that communication occurs. The principle behind this phrase can be found in the Bible, but the phrase can be heresy when different meanings are behind the words and the phrase. 

God works in mysterious ways  ~  The author of that piece supported the position with the following. “Though uncertain in origin and certainly not found in Scripture (the phrase may originate from William Cowper's hymn ‘God Moves in a Mysterious Way’).” The author also uses the following Scriptural references which to me actually support the principle!

(1) “The secret things belong to the Lord our God” (Deuteronomy 29:29). 

(2) “And we know that all thing work together for the good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). 

Throughout Scripture we read about the mystery of God, His wisdom, and the life of godliness we are to live. Two examples: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory” (1 Corinthians 2:7). “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory” (1 Timothy 3:16).

Job had this to say, “Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him; nor can the number of His years be discovered… Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds, the thunder from His canopy? Look, He scatters His light upon it, and covers the depths of the sea” (Job 36:26, 29-30).

Once again, we find that while the exact phrase is not found in our English Bibles, the principle behind the phrase is clearly a Biblical concept. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

3/7 Prayer Rule

~ The Psalms Provide A Key For Effective Prayer ~

We have probably all heard the comment, “God gave us two ears and one mouth so that we would listen more than we talk.” May I suggest to you the “3/7 Rule for Prayer” which comes from the Book of Psalms. 

Psalm 55:17  ~  “As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me.  Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.  He has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle that was against me, for there were many against me.  God will hear, and afflict them, even He who abides from of old” (Psalm 55:16-19).  The psalmist said, “evening and morning and at noon” he would pray!  Here the context is clearly prayers of request (petition).  The psalmist states three specific times when he will make his requests known to God.

Psalm 119:164  ~  “Princes persecute me without a cause, but my heart stands in awe of Your Word.  I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure.  I hate and abhor lying, but I love Your Law.  Seven times a day I praise You, because of Your righteous judgments.  Great peace have those who love Your Law, and nothing causes them to stumble.  Lord, I hope for Your salvation, and I do Your Commandments.  My soul keeps Your Testimonies, and I love them exceedingly.  I keep Your Precepts and Your Testimonies, for all my ways are before You” (Psalm 119:161-168).  The psalmist said, “seven times a day I will praise You.”  The context here is clearly recognition of who God is, His Word, His attributes, and what He does for His people (praise).  The psalmist knew the value or reflecting many times a day on who God is and what He has done. 

The 3/7 Rule  ~  For every 3 times I petition God, I will praise Him at least 7 times for all that He is and all that He has done and is doing on my behalf. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Jesus Christ in Judges

~ Jesus Christ is The Sacred Judge & 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).

Overview  ~  The Book of Judges is named after the men and women who were the leaders, or judges as they were called, of Israel from the time of Joshua through the time of the first king. 

Christ Is The Law Giver  ~  God (Jesus Christ is fully God) was the giver of the Law which was the basis of society.  The judges were to lead the people of Israel—some were good judges and some were bad. 

Christ Is The Ultimate Judge  ~  We can see a picture of Jesus in this book as we read of the individuals who “judged” Israel and rescued the people.  More than a judge, Jesus Christ is the ultimate or Sacred Judge. 

Christ Is The Divine Deliverer  ~  God used these leaders to rescue the people from their enemies. “Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them” (Judges 2:16). 

Christ Is Seen As The Messenger Of Jehovah  ~  “Then the Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said:  ‘I led you up from Egypt and brought you to the land of which I swore to your fathers; and I said, “I will never break My covenant with you”’” (Judges 2:1). 

Christ Is Seen As The Angel Of The Lord  ~  He is the angel of the Lord appearing unto Manoah.  “Then Manoah prayed to the Lord, and said, ‘O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.’  And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her.  Then the woman ran in haste and told her husband, and said to him, ‘Look, the Man who came to me the other day has just now appeared to me!’  So Manoah arose and followed his wife.  When he came to the Man, he said to Him, ‘Are You the Man who spoke to this woman?’  And He said, ‘I am’” (Judges 13:8-11). 

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

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