Messiah, 155

~ Messiah’s Resting Place Would Be Glorious ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious” (Isaiah 11:10). 

The Messiah    

“Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.  This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him.  When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed” (Matthew 27:57-60). 

“Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him” (1 Peter 3:21b-22). 

~~~ 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

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

Quote: Change

~ What Is It That Changes Everything? ~

The following is an excerpt from a book.

It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that changes everything. You know what Paul proved from the resurrection? He said to the people of Athens, “You know, there was a time when God overlooked ignorance. God looked at a man’s ignorance and sort of winked at it because he didn’t know any better. But now God commands all men to repent everywhere.”    

Why? Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world by the Man that He has ordained. Whereof He’s offered proofs, that is, of the Day of Judgment. He’s offered proofs that He’s going to judge every man. By what? By the resurrection from the dead, by raising Him from the dead.  

Paul realized that because Jesus Christ was raised from the dead, that everything on the other side, on this side of death has got to be judged. Why? Because everything on this side of death turned against Christ and crucified Him. And God, standing above life and death, took Christ out of the grave and lifted Him above. Since that time Jesus Christ sits as a Judge, and it’s this one that Peter preaches in the tenth chapter of the Acts. He said He made Him to be manifest after He raised Him from the dead, not to all men, but to us who were chosen beforehand, we who were His witnesses. He commanded us that we should preach to the nations that this Man was the Judge whom God has ordained.

It is precisely the resurrection which makes earth so very unimportant, my friend. That’s why it doesn’t make any difference whether or not I’ve got a good bank account, if souls aren’t being saved. That’s why I ought to be weeping, even though I’ve got good food in my belly three times a day, if souls aren’t being saved. If heaven’s not greeting people and my belly is being filled, I ought to be in tears about it.

~ from “JIM ELLIOT: A Christian Martyr Speaks to You, pgs 73-74  (ISBN: 9781615797646)

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

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

Prayer Positions

~ When Do You Pray Most Effectively? ~

Origin of the following is unknown!

Three preachers sat in a restaurant discussing the best positions for prayer, while a telephone repairman was eating nearby.

“Kneeling is definitely best,” claimed one.

“No,” another contended. “I get the best results standing with my hands outstretched to Heaven.”

“You're both wrong,” the third insisted.  “The most effective prayer position is lying prostrate, face down on the floor.”

The repairman could contain himself no longer.

“Hey, fellas,” he interrupted, “the best prayin’ I ever did was hangin’ upside down from a telephone pole.”

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

Christ in the Book of Job

~ Jesus Christ is the Ever-Living Redeemer ~

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 Job we see Jesus Christ as the Timeless Redeemer or the Ever-living Redeemer.  “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth” (Job 19:25).   He is also seen as the Dayspring from on high.  “Have you [speaking to Job] commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place [as the Creator did]” (Job 38:12). 

additional comment:  In the book of Isaiah we read about the servant of the Lord—who would suffer greatly while being innocent (Isaiah 52:13-53:12).  Meanwhile those who are guilty would look on and blame Him for His own suffering—even saying He was being punished by God for His own sins.  The passage goes on to say that this servant would intercede with God on their behalf.  Some thought this servant of the Lord to be Job—but in the New Testament it is revealed that it is our Savior Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who is being described (see Acts 8:32-35). 

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

additional comment: The Book of Job is quoted in the New Testament.   “He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the counsel of the cunning comes quickly upon them”(Job 5:13).  “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’” (1 Corinthians 3:19). 

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

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).