Learn From Gideon, 44

~ Commemorate Spiritual Victories ~

The Biblical account of the life of Gideon provides for one of the most interesting character studies in all of Scripture.  In this series we will discover practical lessons for living the Christian life today.  

Scripture  ~  “Then Gideon said to them, ‘I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.’  For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.  So they answered, ‘We will gladly give them.’  And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder.  Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks.  Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah.  And all Israel played the harlot with it there.  It became a snare to Gideon and to his house” (Judges 8:24-27).

Learn From Gideon  ~  Rejoice when God gives you a victory. 

1. Leaders are responsible for the spiritual welfare of their people.
2. Gideon collected part of the resources from all his men and then he made an ephod—a sacred vestment to commemorate the victory (ephods are also mentioned in Judges 17:5 and 18:14).
3. Note also, that following a spiritual victory they were vulnerable to Satan:  “And all Israel played the harlot with it there.  It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.”  (We will see some of the consequences of this later.)

Challenge For Us  ~  Are you acting responsibly as God’s child in the place He has put you? 

concluding comment  ~  We learn about Gideon primarily from Judges 6-8, but also Isaiah 9:1-7, and Hebrews 11:1-3, 32-34.

~ 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/ .

Water In John’s Gospel, 3of11

~ John 3 – Nicodemus and “Born Again” ~

Introduction  ~  The Gospel of John contains numerous references to water.  In fact over half (11 of 21) the chapters reference water.  We are looking at these passages in this series.  

Scripture  ~  “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’  Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ 

Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ 

Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.”  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.  So is everyone who is born of the Spirit”’” (John 3:1-8).

Notes  ~  1. From John’s point of view, and the context of the Gospel of John, born of water is most likely referring to the act of obedience of baptism.

2. Born of the Spirit in this passage relates to the indwelling Spirit of God in one who has been born again. 

3. Today, in this passage we see both physical birth and spiritual birth. 

Comment  ~  A previous “Abundant Life Now” post  compared “3 Kinds of Sinners” found in John chapters 3, 4, and 5. 

The Key Question  ~  Do you possess the abundance of “living water” which is only available through Jesus Christ. 

~ 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/ .

Water In John’s Gospel, 2of11

~ John 2 – Christ’s First Recorded Miracle ~

Introduction  ~  The Gospel of John contains numerous references to water.  In fact over half (11 of 21) the chapters reference water.  We are looking at these passages in this series.

Basic Scripture  ~  “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.  Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.  And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’  Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me?  My hour has not yet come.’  

His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’  Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. 

Jesus said to them, ‘Fill the waterpots with water.’  And they filled them up to the brim.  And He said to them, ‘Draw some out now, and take it to the master of the feast.’  And they took it.  When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom.  And he said to him, ‘Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior.  You have kept the good wine until now!’  

This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:1-11). 

Additional Scripture  ~  This event is recorded again in the Gospel of John.  “So Jesus came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine.  And there was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.  When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.  Then Jesus said to him, ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe’” (John 4:46-48).

Notes  ~  1. This was the first recorded public miracle performed by Jesus Christ. 

2. Some scholars believe that this is related to Moses’ first public miracle—when he changed water into blood (Exodus 7:14-25).  “For this One [Jesus Christ] has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses” (Hebrews 3:3a).

3. Since water is essential for life, some scholars believe this is a picture of Jesus being the source of life—symbolizing a new kind of life (spiritual rather than physical).

4. Others see this miracle as symbolizing of marriage being a new kind of life.  “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).

The Key Question  ~  Do you possess the abundance of “living water” which is only available through Jesus Christ. 

~ 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/ .