Tuesday, June 13, 2023

EXTRA: June eBook Specials

~ This Month’s eBook Specials ~

 

What if the significance of “light” in Scripture is far more than you thought?

 

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“He obviously is hitting on all twelve cylinders! What an exciting insight into Christ as the light of the world. Thank God for people like this who have the background to illuminate some of these Biblical concepts.” —Dr. Joe Aldrich, Former President, Multnomah Bible College & Biblical Seminary

 

2 FREE BOOKS TODAY! << 6 Book Awards

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Available from Amazon GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight

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     (BOOK 2) GOD’S LIGHT: How To Respond

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NOTE: These two eBooks consist of the updated print book “GOD’S NAURE: Sunlight Sonlight” which won 6 national and international literary awards.




 

Why Trust God? 54

~ God Helps Rebuild ~

 

Introduction  ~  “Abundant Life Now” previously provided a list of Biblical of examples of fearing / reverencing God (217 posts).  In this current series we look at Biblical accounts that demonstrate that we can fully trust God.  Initially we posted seven general reasons for trusting God.  We are currently looking at passages from all 66 books of Scripture which demonstrate a reason for trusting our Creator. 

 

Scripture  ~  “So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days.  Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; I told no one what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; nor was there any animal with me, except the one on which I rode” (Nehemiah 2:11-13)

 

“So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work” (Nehemiah 4:6).

 

“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days” (Nehemiah 6:15).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Monday, June 12, 2023

Tough Spot, 1

~ Noah In A Godless World ~

 

Series Note  ~  God often allows His children to be in difficult circumstances.  Many of my readers are in difficult circumstances as they read this post.  But our God is faithful never allowing us to be faced with a bigger situation than we are capable of handling with God’s help.

 

In this series we look a few of the many examples in Scripture where God placed one of His own in a difficult spot yet they remained faithful to God.  If you are in a tight situation, be thankful that God has entrusted you with that responsibility.

 

Scripture  ~  “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

 

Tough Spot  ~  “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly” (2 Peter 2:4-5).

 

The Rest of This Story  ~  It is highly recommended that you read and meditate on the surrounding verses and other related Scripture passages to this example. 

 

The Ultimate Three Examples  ~  Read Matthew 4:1-11.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Sunday, June 11, 2023

In Jesus We Have… , 21

~ In Jesus We Have The Fruit of Righteousness, 1 ~

 

Introduction  ~  In this series we look at a few of the verses which state what we have when we are “in Christ.”  Consider our series theme verse: 

 

“God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:4-10).

 

Scripture  ~  “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11). 

 

Additional Scripture  ~  “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

 

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.  Against such there is no law.  And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another” (Galatians 5:16-26).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Saturday, June 10, 2023

Adornment, 24

~ Jewelry, 6 ~

 

Series Note ~ In this series we look at some of the Scriptures which mention human physical adornment—pretty much without comment.  These posts will include clothing, head (including hair and wigs), jewelry (including accessories), makeup (including tattoos), and perfume (including incense).  It is important to note that some of these passages are culturally related to a specific culture and time period. 

 

Two Principles ~ (1) Focus on the long-term: Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.  Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs 31:30-31).

 

(2) Exercise modesty: “Women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works” (1 Timothy 2:9b-10).

 

Scripture For This Week ~ “Moreover the Lord says: ‘Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet, therefore the Lord will strike with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will uncover their secret parts.’

 

“In that day the Lord will take away the finery: the jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; the headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; the perfume boxes, the charms, and the rings; the nose jewels, the festal apparel, and the mantles; the outer garments, the purses, and the mirrors; the fine linen, the turbans, and the robes.

 

“And so it shall be: instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench; instead of a sash, a rope; instead of well-set hair, baldness; instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth; and branding instead of beauty. Your men shall fall by the sword, and your mighty in the war” (Isaiah 3:16-25).

 

Two Keys ~ (1) “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).

 

(2) “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Friday, June 9, 2023

Fool Characteristics, 11

~ Fools Are Proud ~

 

Series Note  ~  In this series we look at some of the passages in the Book of Proverbs – wise sayings that are generally true – that describe a fool from God’s perspective.  Some may surprise you. 

 

Scripture  ~  In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise will preserve them” (Proverbs 14:3).

 

Important Truth  ~  “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God’” (Psalm 53:1a).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Thursday, June 8, 2023

Bible Answer, 108

~ Did You Get It Right? ~

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~ bible answer ~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  

 

question:  Who was the only Biblical character in the Book of Genesis who we are told lived less than 120 years? 

 

answer:  Joseph

 

“So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father's household.  And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years” (Genesis 50:22-23).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Wednesday, June 7, 2023

God Attribute, 71

~ Mysterious ~

 

This Series  ~  This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Introduction  ~  The Bible speaks of a number of mysteries – all of which have root in the spiritual dimension.

 

Scripture  ~  “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written:

 

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:7-9).

 

Additional Scriptures  ~  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:9).

 

“Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8-9).

 

Comment  ~  We often speak of a Holy God and the Holy Bible. A key root idea of the word holy is unique – totally different than anything else.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Bible Question, 108

~ Test Your Bible Knowledge ~

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

~~~~ bible question ~~~~ 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

 

question:  Who was the only Biblical character in the Book of Genesis who we are told lived less than 120 years? 

 

Please provide your answer in the comments below!

 

The answer will be provided in a future blog.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

* * * * *


Monday, June 5, 2023

Pre-Christian Question, 8of8

~ What Must I Do To Be Saved? ~

 

Introduction  ~  This series is about questions that enquiring unbelievers often have about Jesus.  Some were asked by individuals involved with Jesus Christ while He walked on earth.  It is far from an exhaustive list. 

 

The Question  ~  “At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, ‘Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.’

 

“Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 

 

“So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household” (Acts 16:25-34).

 

Key Issue  ~  “If a man dies, shall he live again?” (Job 24:14a).

 

Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ?  If not, why not? If you genuinely ask God to show Himself to you personally, He will. Will you make that decision right now?  If not, why not?

 

Comment  ~  Have you ever asked this question?  If not, why not?  If you have asked the question, what is your answer? What is your answer based upon?

 

the critical 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 blog.

 

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