Myth, 37

~  You Will Retain A High Percent of Church Visitors ~

Reality  ~  It is quite common to find that many visitors on Easter, Christmas, or other special events are not seeking God.  Many come to please a family member.  Some come to earn points with God—thinking that God will add it to the good side of their ledger.  There are also other subtle reasons for church attendance at special events—a common one is to see a child relative “performing on stage.”  Some do come seeking God and are in the process of trying to answer some of life’s basic great questions. 

Scripture Accounts  ~  Recall that Christ performed many special events such as the feeding of 5,000 men plus women and children.  He performed miracles throughout His ministry.  But also remember He left this earth entrusting His ministry to twelve men from ordinary occupations and a relatively small number of other believers. 

The Bottom Line  ~  Keep holding special events—just don’t be unrealistic about the likely immediate benefit to your local church or organization. 

~ 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/ .

EXTRA: Corona Virus Confined?

~ Cabin Fever? ~

Are you staying home more? Do you have cabin fever? 

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DETAILS:

(1) God’s Church: Christ’s Pearl ~ The early parables of Matthew 13 are well known and widely understood.  This is a unique study of one of the later parables, "the one pearl of great price."  After providing a clear exposition of the parable, this landmark book provides a fascinating study with clear lessons for today.

(2) God's Nature: Sonlight Sunlight identifies fascinating parallels between natural and spiritual light and contrasts the natural and spiritual light of the world.  Analogies teach profound truth in simple language.  Written in short easily digestible segments, it is ideal reading for the person on the go.  Think and Grow questions at the end of each chapter make it an ideal small group study. 

(3) GOD’S CHILD: Like a Tree like the other books in this series looks at amazing parallels between physical and spiritual realities.  Written in short easily digestible segments, it is ideal reading for the person on the go.  Think and Grow questions at the end of each chapter make it an ideal small group study.  It has been described as inspirational doctrine and living theology. 

~ 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, 162

~ God’s Obedient Children 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 Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the Lord.  Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, spoke the Lord’s message to the people, saying, ‘I am with you, says the Lord.’  So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius” (Haggai 1:12-15).

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/ .