4 Commands in 1 Verse

~ Christian Living Described ~

There are four amazing commands in a single verse: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6).

No Burdens  ~  “Be anxious for nothing...” (Philippians 4:6a). Nothing should overly concern you.

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30). 

No Boundaries  ~  “…but in everything by prayer and supplication…” (Philippians 4:6b). Everything in your life should be a matter of prayer!

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).

No Bitterness  ~  “…with thanksgiving…” (Philippians 4:6c). Anything that happens in your life deserves your thankfulness.

“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). 

No Backlists  ~  “…let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6d). For a second time in this verse we are reminded that everything in your life should be a matter of prayer!

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but 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 at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Identity in Christ, 8

~ I Am Christ’s Friend ~

Introduction  ~  When Christians understand the various characteristics and aspects of the birthright which came with their second birth, they comprehend their identity in Christ.  Once Christians understand their identity, their destiny is also clear!  This series of “Abundant Life Now” posts will look at one of those facets each week. 

This Week’s Verse  ~  Jesus said, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you” (John 15:15-16). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “IDENTITY IN CHRIST” NOTES ~~~  

(1)  Each Monday ALN posts an example of Scripture’s description of aspects/characteristics of Christians—those who have personally trusted in Jesus Christ, The Messiah, as their personal Savior.

(2)  This series is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

(3)  God the Father described Himself to Moses as the great “I AM” (Exodus 3:14).  God the Son also said “I AM” (John 8:58). 

(4)  Jesus Christ is the Son of God and several times in the Gospel of John He refers to Himself as “I am.”  “I am the Bread of Life” (6:35-51), “I am the Light of the World” (8:12, 9:5), “I am the Door” (10:7-9), “I am the Good Shepherd” (10:11-14), “I am the Son of God” (10:36), “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25), “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (14:6), “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me … Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:10-11), and “I am the True Vine” (15:1-5). 

(5)  Individual Christians are also sons and daughters of God.  This series will show some of the various “I am” aspects of a Christian. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but 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 at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Cross Words, 5of9

~ More Words To His Father While Suffering Spiritually ~

Jesus Christ made seven gripping last statements while He was dying for our sins on the Cross of Calvary.  This is part of a Sunday series looking at the last words of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The Passage (phrase 4)  ~  “Now from the sixth hour [noon] until the ninth hour [3:00 p.m.] there was darkness over all the land.  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me’?” (Matthew 27:45-46).

Comments  ~  God is absolutely holy—He has “Zero Tolerance” for anything but absolute holiness.  God also has unlimited love.  These two factors come together at the Cross.  God sent His Son into the world to pay for your sin and my sin.  The collision occurred at the Cross of Calvary.  While Christ suffered extreme pain He also suffered separation from His Father.  That is what sin does—and He was paying for our sins. 

Don’t Miss This  ~  (1) The Cross originated from the love of God, the Father (John 3:16).  (2) The Cross was a joint effort of the Father and His Son (John 6:38, 10:30).  (3) The first purpose of the Cross was for God, not for us.  (4) The Cross caused a break in fellowship between the Father and the Son—not a break in the basic unity of the Trinity.  Fellowship with God is always broken by sin—the Son of God was paying for our sin.  (5) Darkness (representing sin) covered the land as the Son (the “light of the world”) paid our penalty.  When sin’s penalty was paid light was restored.  (6) Our Savior had to be separated from God spiritually as well as physically—otherwise He would have only saved our physical bodies.  (7) The Son of God was truly abandoned by God the Father—that is He suffered divinely as God.  (8) Someone has put it this way, “A God who could not suffer is a God who could not love.”  While God the Father’s presence was withdrawn, His love was not!  (9) Our Savior’s cry was of distress not distrust of the Father. 

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

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but 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 at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .