God’s Hands

~ His Hands Are a Place of… ~

There is an old hymn which states, “Our times are in Your hands, Father we would wish them there” (note Deuteronomy 33:3 in the next paragraph). 

Blessing  ~  “Yes, He loves the people; all His saints are in Your hand; they sit down at Your feet; everyone receives Your words” (Deuteronomy 33:3).   

Mercy  ~  “And David said to Gad, ‘I am in great distress.  Please let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man’” (2 Samuel 24:14). 

Creation  ~  “Your hands have made me and fashioned me, an intricate unity” (Job 10:8a).   

Life  ~  “Who among all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this, in whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?” (Job 12:9-10).   

Keeping  ~  “But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’  My times are in Your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me” (Psalm 31:14-15).   

Supply  ~  “These all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season.  What You give them they gather in; You open Your hand, they are filled with good” (Psalm 104:27-28).  

Disposal  ~  “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the hearts” (Proverbs 21:1-2). 

Hiding and Usefulness  ~  “Listen, O coastlands, to Me, and take heed, you peoples from afar!  The Lord has called Me from the womb; from the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.  And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, and made Me a polished shaft; in His quiver He has hidden Me” (Isaiah 49:1-2). 

Security  ~  “Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe.  The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.  But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.  I and My Father are one’” (John 10:25-30).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, 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 (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

Christian Ed

~ 5 Critical Areas of Christian Education ~

Here are five wonderful things for all Christians to learn—and relearn, which relate to all areas of our life as Christians. 

Learn of Christ (inner life)  ~  Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). 

Learn to Keep the Word (social life)  ~  “You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lord, according to Your word.  Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe Your commandments.  Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.   You are good, and do good; teach me Your statutes.  The proud have forged a lie against me,  but I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart.  Their heart is as fat as grease, but I delight in Your law.  It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.  The law of Your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver” (Psalm 119:65-72). 

Learn to Be Responsible (home life)  ~  “Honor widows who are really widows.  But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.  Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.  But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.  And these things command, that they may be blameless.  But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:3-8). 

Learn to Do Well (church life)  ~  “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes.  Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:16-17). 

Learn to Affirm Good Works (world life)  ~  “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works.  These things are good and profitable to men” (Titus 3:8).  “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful” (Titus 3:14). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, 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 (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

The Incomparable Christ, 2

~ Just The Facts ~

Multiple millions of people have testified to the uniqueness of Jesus Christ.  Their convictions have led many to suffering, torture, even death.  Others paused to honor Jesus and give Him the glory as they themselves stood in the spotlight.  Statesmen artists, athletes, scientists, peasants, and martyrs have held one thing in common—the transforming power of God through Jesus Christ. 

Most of those who don’t, or won’t, believe in Him at least acknowledge that He was a very good man, or even a prophet or teacher.  However, that doesn’t begin to describe Him.  Perhaps the Nicene Creed, formulated by church leaders in a.d. 325, best articulates His uniqueness: “Jesus, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God.”

If the New Testament is clear about anything, it is this:  Jesus Christ was truly God and truly man.  He is not “a” god, or related to God in some purely ethical sense.  He is called the gate, the true vine, the bread of life, the good shepherd, and the way and the truth and the life.  He is called the bright Morning Star, the chief cornerstone, and the light of the world.  He is the great physician, and the Rock of Ages.  He is the author and completer of our faith, the first and the last, healer of the sick, lover of the poor, matchless teacher, King of kings and Lord of lords.  Above all, He is the Savior of humanity.

Born of a virgin and conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’ birth was like no other.  Keeping His divine nature as the eternal Son of God, He took on humanity through His mother.  Fourteen prophecies concerning His birth were perfectly fulfilled.

Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).  He was and is all wise, as God the Father is.  The disciples and all who heard Him were amazed because He taught with such authority.  With divine power He performed miracles of healing, drove out demons, and raised people from the dead.  Like God His Father, He is immortal; He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now sits at the Father’s right hand.

Although Jesus was fully human, He never sinned.  He was crucified, died, buried, and rose again three days later, conquering sin and death, becoming the Savior of humanity.  He will return as King and Judge.

No other prophet or holy man was born of a virgin.  None of them voluntarily died for the world’s sins, none rose from the dead, none displayed miraculous power of such magnitude, and none claimed to be fully divine and fully human.  In Jesus Christ, God reached down to humanity, becoming a man to bring salvation for our sins.

The Scriptures that answer the question “Who is Jesus?” make enormous claims.  Those claims are either true, or they constitute one horrendous lie.  After honestly examining the Scriptures, “no man can entertain an opinion of indifference regarding Jesus.  If he has considered the subject at all, he must worship Christ or crucify Him” (the last quote is from The Inner life of Christ, by Joseph Parker).

The above was taken from The Starting Point Bible and is slightly modified.    

comment:  You may appreciate the earlier ALN blog entitled The Incomparable Christ (March 30, 2010).  

the key 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

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, 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 (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

Messiah, 148

~ Messiah Would Judge Righteously ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“With righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth” (Isaiah 11:4a). 

The Messiah  

Jesus said, “You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.  It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.  I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me” (John 8:15-18). 

The Future Complete Fulfillment

Jesus, the Messiah, said, “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father.  He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.  Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.  Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.  For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man” (John 5:22-27).

Jesus Christ said, “I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned’” (Matthew 12:36-37). 

Speaking of that future time we read, “Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water” (Revelation 14:7).

“Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and talked with me, saying to me, ‘Come, I will show you the judgment of the great harlot who sits on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication’” (Revelation 17:1-2). 

“The kings of the earth who committed fornication and lived luxuriously with her will weep and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, standing at a distance for fear of her torment, saying, ‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city!  For in one hour your judgment has come’” (Revelation 18:9-10).

“And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.  Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands.  And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.  This is the first resurrection.  Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.  Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years” (Revelation 20:4-6).

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, 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 (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).