Spiritual Arithmetic, 2

~ The Early Church Understood the 4 Functions ~

Previously (October 4, 2011) ALN posted a piece entitled “Spiritual Arithmetic.” In this second post we examine the arithmetic of the early Christian church.

Addition (three thousand added)  ~   “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:40-42).

Subtraction (two taken away)  ~   “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’ Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?’ She said, ‘Yes, for so much.’ Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’ Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things” (Acts 5:1-11). 

Multiplication (disciples multiplied)  ~    “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, ‘It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.’ And the saying pleased the whole multitude” (Acts 6:1-5a).

Division (scattered abroad)  ~   “Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles” (Acts 8:1-2). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 38

~ Messiah Would Be God’s Son, 2 ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“And it shall be, when your [David] days are fulfilled, when you must go to be with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, who will be of your sons; and I will establish His kingdom. He shall build Me a house, and I will establish His throne forever. I will be his Father, and He shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from Him, as I took it from Him who was before you. And I will establish Him in My house and in My kingdom forever; and His throne shall be established forever” (1 Chronicles 17:11-14). 

The Messiah  

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels did He ever say: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You?’ And again: ‘I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to Me a Son?’” (Hebrews 1:1-5).

~~~ 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

Isaiah Knew The Christ

~ Do You Know The Christ Isaiah Spoke Of? ~

Even though Isaiah lived about 700 years before Christ, this Old Testament prophet understood who Jesus Christ would be. 

Jesus’ deity / The Son of God ~ “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).   

Jesus’ royalty / The Seed of David ~ “The royal line of David will be cut off, chopped down like a tree; but from the stump will grow a Shoot—yes, a new Branch from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, and might; the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord. His delight will be obedience to the Lord. He will not judge by appearance, false evidence, or hearsay, but will defend the poor and the exploited. He will rule against the wicked who oppress them. For He will be clothed with fairness and with truth” (Isaiah 11:1-5). “In that day He who created the royal dynasty of David will be a banner of salvation to all the world” (Isaiah 11:10a).  

Jesus’ sovereignty / The Sovereign One ~ “Behold, a King will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice” (Isaiah 32:1).

Jesus’ humanity / The Serving One ~ “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1).  

Jesus’ sufferings / The Sacrificial One ~ “He was despised and forsaken of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and like One from whom men hide their face He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him” (Isaiah 53:3-6).

Jesus’ power / The Savior ~ “Who is this who comes from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, this One who is glorious in His apparel, traveling in the greatness of His strength? — ‘I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save’” (Isaiah 63:1). “Look to Me, and be saved, all you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other” (Isaiah 45:22).   

In the New Testament we find that the Apostle John wrote, “But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: ‘Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’  Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: ‘He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’ These things Isaiah said when he saw His glory and spoke of Him” (John 12:37-41).

RECOMMENDATION:  Prayerfully read Isaiah 53 as you contemplate Jesus Christ and His work on the Cross of Calvary. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Extra: Fly, Run, Walk

~ “Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant” ~

Recently (March 14, 2012) my cousin Don was promoted to glory and eternally united with his Lord.

Don and his wife Jean were prayer warriors. They were active in prayer rooms in their city of Vancouver, B.C. In the months prior to becoming ill Don was working on a prayer walk of his entire city and he physically walked and prayed for all the north—south streets in Vancouver. Then due to his unexpected illness he was unable to physically walk the east—west routes. But, using a map he prayed over the people living and working on those streets from his bed!

This reminds me of what I call my “senior verse.” “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31). Notice the progression from flying with eagles, to running without tiring, and then to walking without losing heart. Experientially we know that in many cases we regress from flying, to running, to walking, to standing, to being bedridden, prior to meeting our Creator. 

In other words, physical life is not a continual upward climb. The moment we are born we have started the process of dying. But Don, like so many other of God’s redeemed children, was in an upward progression spiritually. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). 

Don fully understood the concept of being renewed in his inner being and of laying up treasures in heaven as he considered his eternal existence. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). His heart aligned with the love of God for his neighbors and his city; however, he looked forward to the eternal city, his final and eternal destination.  

The Apostle Paul wrote, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” (Philippians 1:21-27, emphasis added).

Have you, like Don, experienced the joy of standing fast regardless of your outward circumstances, and to trust your small life to the One who created you?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW