Question – Jesus, 39

~  Regarding Force ~

Introduction  ~  This series is about questions involving Jesus.  Some were asked by individuals involved with Jesus Christ while He walked on earth.  Others are questions that Jesus Christ asked others.  We will look at questions on about 130 topics (some may split into two or more posts).  Even so, it is far from an exhaustive list. 

Scripture  ~  “And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.  Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, ‘Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.’  Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, ‘Greetings, Rabbi!’ and kissed Him.  But Jesus said to him, ‘Friend, why have you come?’  Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him.  And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.  But Jesus said to him, ‘Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?  How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?’  In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, ‘Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me?  I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.  But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.’  Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled” (Matthew 26:47-56). 

~ 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/ .

God Is My… (Psalms), 10

~ God Is My Strength (2) ~

Introduction  ~  Previously from July 16, 2017 through January 6, 2019 ALN posted a series of 60 posts of “Jesus is…,” and now we look exclusively at who “God is…” from the Book of Psalms.  While not a complete list these posts occur are in the same order they are in the Psalms. 

Passage  ~  “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies” (Psalm 18:2-3).     

Prior Passage(s)  ~   “I will love You, O Lord, my strength” (Psalm 18:1).     

Significance  ~  Mankind is broken and weak since the Fall in the Garden of Eden.  But those who have recognized their need for a Savior and called upon Jesus Christ to be their personal Savior have the strength of God at their disposal when they are operating in accordance to God’s desires for them. 

Comment  ~  God uses the weak things in this world to accomplish great things in this world!  Have you ever noticed that God rarely uses the strong and mighty of this world.  Perhaps this is so that it will be clear that the accomplishments are of God and not of man. 

~ 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/ .

Myth, 44

~ Church Growth Comes From An Anointed Leader ~

Introduction  ~  This is a somewhat more complicated issue than some of the myths we have looked at. 

Issue One  ~  The word “anointed” can have various meanings in different groups.  For example, how closely related is “anointed” to “called by God”?

Issue Two  ~  What do we mean by “Church Growth”?  This also can have multiple meanings.  Often this term means numerical numbers in attendance at a local church (small “c”).  Others including myself think of Church (upper case “C” as in the Church universal) growth as a spiritual issue. 

Issue Three  ~  Regardless of our definition of the word anointed we must recognize that all true spiritual growth comes from the Holy Spirit of God working in individual lives.  Unredeemed man is spiritually blind and cannot see the truth unless the Spirit opens his or her eyes.  Spiritual blindness is just as real as physical blindness!

The Reality  ~  Christian leaders are ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They are conduits.  They are vessels.  They are messengers.  They may be pastors, teachers, evangelists, or laymen.  At times God chooses to use certain individuals to be mighty preachers: Charles Haddon Spurgeon, Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, etc.  God has used others as great missionaries: Hudson Taylor, Jim Elliot, Mother Teresa, etc.  But it is always God who brings others into His Church.  Side Note: fully understanding this will cause questioning of my use of the words “mighty” and “great” in this paragraph!  Perhaps in God’s view an unknown faithful Sunday School teacher is pleasing God more than the more visible members of His body. 

Key Scripture  ~  “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one?  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.  So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor” (1 Corinthians 3:5-8).

The Bottom Line  ~  The Christian is responsible before God for faithfulness in what God has given him/her to do where God has placed them.  They are not responsible for the results—that is God’s sovereign role!  Our problem is that our pride (a root of all sin) wants to feel that “I” accomplished something good. 

~ 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/ .