Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Why Trust God? 66

~ God Provides Nuggets of Wisdom, 7 ~

 

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  ~  “A wise man is strong, yes, a man of knowledge increases strength; for by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety” (Proverbs 24:5-6).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Monday, October 9, 2023

Traits Of A Godly Person, 9

 ~ A Person Of God Is Loyal ~

 

Series Note  ~  There are many qualities which God desires in His children.  In this series we will briefly cover a few of the major ones.

 

Scripture  “And he commanded them, saying, ‘Thus you shall act in the fear of the Lord, faithfully and with a loyal heart’” (2 Chronicles 19:9).

 

“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24).

 

Comment  ~  The often repeated adjective of God ‘lovingkindness” (Hebrew “hesed”) means loyal love and we are to be like Christ!  

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Sunday, October 8, 2023

In Jesus We Have… , 37

~ In Jesus We Have Eternal Life, 2 ~

 

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).

 

Currently we are posting some of the many verses which talk about eternal life?

 

What is your definition of “eternal”?

 

Scripture ~ “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).

 

Comment ~ I like to consider one-word descriptions of the Bible.  There are many but my favorite is “forgiveness.” 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Saturday, October 7, 2023

Satan in Matthew 4, 1of9

~ Satan Is An Opportunist ~

 

Series Note:  Matthew 4 is a well-known chapter which gives an account of Satan tempting Jesus Christ in the wilderness.  There has been a lot written and discussed regarding these three temptations (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life). 

 

While the study of Matthew 4 is a rich study regarding our Savior Jesus Christ it also allows us to have insight into some of Satan’s abilities and actions.  This series contains nine examples which make it clear that Satan is a real personality. 

 

Scripture ~ “Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry” (Luke 4:1-2). 

 

Comment ~ Jesus was in “extreme hunger” and Satan temps Him with food!  Satan knows and understands our current weak areas.

 

Also notice that Satan, as is often his tactic, tries to create doubt: “If You are…”

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Friday, October 6, 2023

Fool Characteristics, 28

~ Fools Start Quarrels ~

 

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  ~  “It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel” (Proverbs 20:3).

 

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, October 5, 2023

Bible Answer, 112

~ Did You Get It Right? ~

 

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

~~~~ bible answer ~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  

 

question:  What was different about the harvest in the Sabbatical year?

 

answer:  There was no harvest.

 

“The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “When you come into the land which I give you, then the land shall keep a sabbath to the Lord.  Six years you shall sow your field, and six years you shall prune your vineyard, and gather its fruit; but in the seventh year there shall be a sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a sabbath to the Lord.  You shall neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard.  What grows of its own accord of your harvest you shall not reap, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine, for it is a year of rest for the land.  And the sabbath produce of the land shall be food for you: for you, your male and female servants, your hired man, and the stranger who dwells with you, for your livestock and the beasts that are in your land — all its produce shall be for food”’” (Leviticus 25:1-7).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Wednesday, October 4, 2023

God Attribute, 88

~ God Is Present ~

 

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

 

Scripture  ~  “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” (Psalm 139:7-10).

 

“‘Am I a God near at hand,’ says the Lord, ‘and not a God afar off? Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?’ says the Lord; ‘do I not fill heaven and earth?’ says the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:23-24).

 

Quotes  ~  “We may ignore, but we can nowhere evade the presence of God.  The world is crowded with Him.  He walks everywhere incognito.”—C.S. Lewis 

 

“God is omnipresent.  That is, He is everywhere.  Even death cannot separate you from Him.” —J. Vernon McGee 

 

Comment  ~  The author has written an eBook about the many of the attributes of God entitled: “GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight” ISBN: 978-1393359371.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Bible Question, 112

~ Test Your Bible Knowledge ~

 

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~~~~ bible question ~~~~ 

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question:  What was different about the harvest in the Sabbatical year?

 

Please provide your answer in the comments below!

 

The answer will be provided in a future blog.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Monday, October 2, 2023

Traits Of A Godly Person, 8

~ A Person Of God Is Pure ~

 

Series Note  ~  There are many qualities which God desires in His children.  In this series we will briefly cover a few of the major ones.

 

Scripture  ~  “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?  Or who may stand in His holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.  This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face.  Selah” (Psalm 24:3-6).

 

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things.  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9).

 

“To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled” (Titus 1:15-16).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Sunday, October 1, 2023

In Jesus We Have… , 36

~ In Jesus We Have Eternal Life, 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).

 

Currently we are posting some of the many verses which talk about eternal life?

 

What is your definition of “eternal”?

 

Scripture ~ “Now behold, one came and said to Him, "’Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’… 

 

“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:13, 29).

 

Comment ~ I like to consider one-word descriptions of the Bible.  There are many but my favorite is “forgiveness.” 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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