Sabbath, 9of9

 ~ The Lord’s Day – Sunday – Was Observed By John ~

 

Introduction  ~  In the Old Testament the Sabbath was established as part of The Law.  The Sabbath is observed from sundown Friday evening through sundown Saturday evening.  In the New Testament the law of God is written on believers’ hearts (Romans 2:12-16) rather than on tablets of stone.  It is the heart’s attitude which now supersedes outward obedience (Romans 10:10).  Following Christ’s resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week, the Disciples and later the Church have observed their day of rest on Sunday in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 20:7). 

 

Passage  ~  “I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.  I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea’” (Revelation 1:9-11).  

 

Comment  ~  From the time of Christ’s resurrection the majority of Christians have chosen to set apart the first day of the week in honor of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The entire Christian faith rises or falls on the reality of the resurrection.  Many have tried to prove that the resurrection never happened.  None have succeeded and many in their attempts found the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Have you?  

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Spiritual Gifts, 43

 ~ Spiritual Gifts – Key Principles~

 

Opening Comment  ~  “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.  Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:16-18). 

 

Key Principles  ~  Here are some of the primary principles regarding Grace Gifts that should always be kept in mind:

 

1.      Spiritual gifts relate to what a believer does in the way of ministry.  Natural abilities and skills are for both inside and outside of direct ministry.

 

2.      Every believer has gifts.  “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it” (Ephesians 4:7).  “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7).  Also see, 1 Corinthians 12:11 and 1 Peter 4:10.  

 

3.      All believers have multiple gifts (1 Corinthians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 9:8).  

 

4.      No one believer has all the gifts.  There is no need for self-sufficient “super-saints” (1 Corinthians 12:29-30, 8-10). 

 

5.      There is no one gift which all believers excel in (1 Corinthians 12:8-10).  But all are to strive to improve source gifts such as love, compassion, mercy, etc. 

 

6.      Each member has a separate combination of gifts.

 

7.      Each member must function in his own way.  God does not want all believers to have the same ministry or exact methodology.

 

8.      All members are to function in harmony together for the good of the overall God focused effort.

 

9.      Specific spiritual gifts and spirituality are NOT directly related.  For example, a person can be ministering from a dry well.  This is why some prominent spiritual leaders sometimes succumb to temptation. 

 

10.  Spirituality has to do with Godly character and being conformed to the image of Christ (1 Corinthians 3:1-3, 13:1-3) as opposed to the grace gifts they have been given by their Creator.  This has frightening implications!  (And explains many events - such as Jonestown.)

 

Closing Comments  ~  “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.  Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.  Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership.  Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.  Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine.  Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:12-16).

 

“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).

 

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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EXTRA: Author Review

 ~ Annual Report (December 31, 2021) ~

 

My Author Mission Statement  ~  I’d rather write what the Spirit guides and have no readers, than appeal to more readers without the Spirit’s guidance.  In other words, I write for an audience of One and leave the results with Him.  

 

“Abundant Life Now” Blog  ~  Since the first post on October 21, 2009 there have been a total of 3,409 posts.  Posts have reached nearly 200 countries {listed on the right side of the Abundant Life Now website) and translated into more than 100 languages.  http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/

 

Most Popular Posts  ~  The Top 10 are listed at the bottom of the ALN website.

 

My Favorite Posts  ~  Some are listed along the right side of the ALN website. 

 

Post Index  ~  See left side of the Abundant Life Now website.

 

Published Books  ~  Home page:  https://booksrlr.com/

 

FREE Author Newsletter  ~  Sign up today and receive an appreciation gift, occasional updates, prayer requests, and special offers.  You can unsubscribe at any time.  https://www.subscribepage.com/rlr

 

eBooks  ~  Eight eBooks are currently available and five more are in process.  One of the big advantages of eBooks is the ease of international and library sales.  At the end of 2021 my eBooks are in a few libraries and 36 countries.  https://booksrlr.com/ebooks/

 

FREE eBook Apps for Your Phone  ~  Simply download no-cost apps to your phone and always have a library with you.  Go to your app store.  Download Amazon Kindle & B&N Nook and you’ll have access to virtually all eBooks.

 

Note  ~  One advantage of eBooks is you can have a library with you at all times on your smartphone (very handy in waiting rooms or when traveling). 

 

Print Books  ~  Four print books are available from Amazon and other retailers. https://booksrlr.com/printbooks/

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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