Thursday, October 20, 2016

Prayer, 3of6



~ To Whom to Pray ~

Pray Unto God  ~  “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church” (Acts 12:5).  

Pray In The Name of Jesus  ~  Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.  And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:12-14). 

~ 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/ .

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

EXTRA: USA Today, 3of4



~ Is The USA On The Devil’s Path? ~

Is This Our Situation Today?  ~  Over 50 years ago, in 1965, Paul Harvey gave the following radio address.  Does it describe the United States of America today?  What do you think? 

If I were the devil …  I mean, if I were the Prince of Darkness…  I would, of course, want to engulf the whole earth in darkness.  I would have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree, so I should set about however necessary to take over the United States.

I’d subvert the churches first.  I would begin with a campaign of whispers.  With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.”  To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a Myth.”  I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around.  I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square.”  And the old, I would teach to pray.  I would teach them to say after me: “Our Father, which art in Washington.”

And then I’d get organized.  I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull and uninteresting.  I’d threaten TV with dirtier movies and vice versa.  I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could.  I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction.  And I’d tranquilize the rest with pills.

If I were the devil, I’d soon have families at war with themselves, churches at war with themselves, nations at war with themselves.  Until each in its turn was consumed.  And with the promises of higher ratings, I’d have mesmerizing media fanning the flames.

Within a decade I’d have prisons overflowing…  I’d have judges promoting pornography.  Soon I could evict God from the courthouse…  and then from the schoolhouse…  and then from the houses of Congress.  And in his own churches I would substitute psychology for religion and deify science.  I would caution against extremes—in hard work…  in patriotism…  and in moral conduct.

I would convince the young that marriage is old-fashioned, that swinging is more fun, that what you see on TV is the way to be.  And thus I could undress you in public, and I could lure you into bed with diseases for which there is no cure.

In other words, if I were the devil, I’d just keep on doing what he’s doing. 

The Only Solution  ~  “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

~ 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/ .

Prayer, 2of6



~ Those Who Can Pray Acceptably ~

Those Who Are Sorrowful Sinners  ~  Jesus said, “And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:13-14).   

Those Who Seek to Live Righteous and Upright Lives  ~  “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.  The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.  The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.  The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:15-18). 

Those Who Keep His Commandments  ~  “Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.  And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:21-22). 

Those Who Have Due Respect for God  ~  “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.  He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.  The Lord preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy” (Psalm 145:18-20). 

Those Who Are Abiding In Christ  ~  Jesus said, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (John 15:7-8).

Those Who Seek Wisdom  ~  “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:5-6).

~ 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/ .