Angels, 7of27

~ 7 P’s of Angelic Ministry: PRESERVE ~ 

Prolog  ~  Angels are God’s special undercover agents who bring messages from God and minister to God’s people.  “But to which of the angels has He ever said: ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool’?  Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:13-14). 

#7 – Angels PRESERVE Us (in all our activities)  ~  “But Abraham said to him, ‘Beware that you do not take my son back there.  The Lord God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, “To your descendants I give this land,” He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife for my son from there’” (Genesis 24:6-7).

“But he said to me, ‘The Lord, before whom I walk, will send His angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family and from my father’s house.  You will be clear from this oath when you arrive among my family; for if they will not give her to you, then you will be released from my oath’” (Genesis 24:40-41).

‘I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, according to the multitude of His lovingkindnesses.  For He said, ‘Surely they are My people, children who will not lie.’  So He became their Savior.  In all their affliction He was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them; in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bore them and carried them all the days of old.  But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them” (Isaiah 63:7-10).

“But after long abstinence from food, then Paul stood in the midst of them and said, ‘Men, you should have listened to me, and not have sailed from Crete and incurred this disaster and loss.  And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.  For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, “Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.”  Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.  However, we must run aground on a certain island’” (Acts 27:21-26). 

Comment  ~  We have our completed our “7 P’s of Angelic Ministry.”  By review they are: 1) Point the way, 2) Prepare us, 3) Provide for us, 4) Protect us, 5) Prevent harm, 6) Pull us out of difficulties, and 7) Preserve us.  Beginning in the next Angels post we will continue with other aspects of Angels and their ministries. 

Epilog  ~  Angels are spirit beings and invisible.  However, sometimes in Scripture they appear in human form.  Scripture reminds us: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2). 

~ 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/ .

Christian Action, 5of39

~ Be Humble ~

Series Note  ~  In just the single chapter of Romans 12 the Apostle Paul gave believers a list of 39 things which are part of the Christian life which pleases God.  This chapter is crying out saying, “If you name Jesus Christ as your Savior then please act like a Christian!”  It is Paul’s “To Do List” for us.  The key principle is that while you and I cannot change God’s character (who He really is) we have the clear potential to damage His reputation (what others think He is). 

Scripture to Meditate On  ~  “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think” (Romans 13:3a).

Comment  ~  Humility is such a fragile and elusive characteristic.  The moment you think you are humble you have just lost your humility!

Related Passages  ~  “Surely God scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble” (Proverbs 3:34).  “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).  “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 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/ .

Jesus Is…, 38

~ Jesus Christ Is The Savior ~

Passages  ~  “Then they said to the woman, ‘Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).  “And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1 John 4:14-15). 

Significance  ~  “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: if we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  This is the “stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.”  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’” (Acts 4:8-12).

Comment  ~  Salvation and eternal life with God is available to all—including you, right now wherever you are!

God Loves You  ~  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Everyone Is A Sinner  ~  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  “As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one’” (Romans 3:10).

God Has Provided A Remedy For Your Sin  ~  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).  “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

You May Be Saved Right Now!  ~  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).  “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

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/ .