Myth, 29

~ Lack Of Numerical Church Growth Means Something Is Wrong ~

The Common View  ~  A big following means you are right.  But an honest look at world or national history clearly shows the majority is often wrong. 

God’s View  ~  Faithfulness is what God desires.  God is the one responsible for results, our task is to fulfill the calling that He has given us.  If the number of followers were the measure of success then the Old Testament prophets were in most cases utter failures.

Throughout the Bible when God gives directions to His spiritual leaders not even once does He mention or suggest that the number of followers they gain is what is important to Him.  God desires that His people—including and especially His leaders—are obedient to the Word of God. 

God’s people are to be a witness for Him and to preach the Gospel while fellowshipping with their fellow believers.

~ 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/ .

Fear God, 154

~ A Godly Example Can Cause Others to Fear God ~

God does not want His children living in fear.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).  However, God does want His children to have a proper respect and reverence for Him.  We are told in many places in Scripture to “fear God.”  

This Week’s Passage  ~  “Then King Darius wrote: ‘To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.  I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel.  For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end.  He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.’  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian” (Daniel 6:25-28). 

Fearing God Results in Salvation  ~  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  “A wise person fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16).  This does not mean the Christian is to live a fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will. 

Fearing God Results in Fearlessness  ~  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).  The answer is: only God.  With the gift of salvation comes responsibility.

Fearing God Results in Witnessing  ~  “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). 

~ 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/ .

Psalm 119, 1of27

~ Introduction ~

General  ~  Most people understand that Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and that it is part of the longest book in the Bible.  It is an acrostic psalm—each section begins with the next letter in the 22 letter Hebrew alphabet.

Writer  ~  Many scholars believe David wrote this Psalm, while others think that Ezra is the most likely author of this Psalm.

Theme  ~  The grand subject of Psalm 119 is the Word of God and it’s practical ramifications for daily living. 

Quotes About Psalm 119  ~  “Every verse contains in it either a praise of God’s word, from some excellent quality of it; or a protestation [“an emphatic declaration”] of David his unfeigned affection towards it; or else a prayer for grace, to conform himself unto it; for unto one of these three, — praises, prayers, or protestations, may all the verses of this Psalm be reduced.”  ~ William Cooper 

“Some reference to the Word of God is in every verse (except vs. 122, 132), designated word, saying, way, testimonies, judgments, precepts, commandments, law, statutes, and faithfulness.  This psalm is a perfect acrostic, in 22 sections corresponding to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet.  ~ J. Vernon McGee 

“It celebrates the Word of God in a way that is almost exhaustive.  This very lengthy poem is an acrostic.  For each of the consonants in the Hebrew alphabet, there are eight verses beginning with that letter.  Within the psalm, eight words for God’s law occur again and again: law; testimonies; promises; precepts; statutes; commandments; judgments; word.  The psalm uses the full meaning of all these words as it elaborates on the application of the Law of God to both daily life and Israel’s destiny.  The Law is specific and general, directive and restrictive, liberating and opening, gracious and solemn – it is as complex as the Lord who gave it.  The Law is never considered a curse; it is always seen as a gift from God.  The cumulative effect of this lengthy celebration of the Word of God is impressive:  The psalmist cannot stop praising God for His mercy and goodness in providing His people with instructions for living.”  ~ The Nelson Study Bible 

Sidebar  ~  Does 1 + 19 = 119?

Psalm 1 – The Blessed Man is the one who meditates constantly on the law of the Lord.

Psalm 19 – David describes the Word of God in its various facets.

Psalm 119 – Expands upon Psalms 1 & 19 to produce a majestic testimonial to the power and perfection of God’s Word.

Credit  ~  The series of posts which follow this introduction are based on a list given during a pair of sermons by pastor Dr. Mike Wilde of Laurelwood Baptist Church entitled “The Blessings of Reading the Bible” (December 2013).   

~ 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/ .