Robert Lloyd Russell's Blog, page 24
May 26, 2021
God Our Rock, 15
~ A Firm Footing ~
Introduction ~ In Matthew 7:24-27 and Luke 6:47-49 Jesus relates the importance of building your house upon rock rather than sand. This principle is even more critical when it comes to our spiritual life. Each post in this series looks at a different Biblical passage which refers to our God as a Rock (not a complete list).
Scripture ~ “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth — Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.
“Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; and Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; my ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, ‘Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God and Your law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:1-8).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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May 25, 2021
Spiritual Gifts, 21
~ The Speaking Spiritual Gifts ~
Opening Comment ~ “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:16-18).
Speaking Gifts ~ This is a large category of Spiritual Gifts. First we looked at Source Gifts, then Serving Gifts, and now we come to the category of Speaking Gifts.
I like to compare this category of God-given abilities to the Medical Community in societies. Looking at in this way we might liken various Speaking Gifts this way:
Evangelist ~ Spiritual Obstetrician
Teacher ~ Spiritual Pediatrician
Pastor ~ Spiritual General Practitioner
Exhorter ~ Spiritual Cardiologist
Musician ~ Spiritual Psychologist
Preacher ~ Spiritual Physical Therapist
Scripture ~ “Speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head — Christ — from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:15-16).
John Phillips puts it this way: While Serving Gifts were involved in “Expanding the Work of God,” Speaking Gifts have more to do with “Expounding the Word of God.”
Traits ~ The speaking gifts are the public gifts – those that are typically carried out publicly in the local church. In a very real way, they are a sub-set of the Serving Gifts as are all spiritual gifts – since all Spiritual Gifts are for the building up of the body of Christ.
These gifts are often motivational within the body of Christ (i.e., “Expound the Word of God” which has to do with body life and spiritual growth). This category includes Inspiration of Truth (or Prophecy), Incarnation of Truth (or Ministry), and Interpretation of Truth (or Teaching).
Caution ~ Because these gifts are exercised so publicly it can easily be assumed that those with these gifts are more spiritual than those with other gifts. This is a false assumption.
Closing Comments ~ “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:12-16).
“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
Author web page: http://booksrlr.com/ “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell”
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May 24, 2021
Question – Jesus, 93
~ Regarding Perplexity ~
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 ~ “‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.’ Then some of His disciples said among themselves, ‘What is this that He says to us, “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me”; and, “because I go to the Father”?’ They said therefore, ‘What is this that He says, “A little while?” We do not know what He is saying.’
“Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, ‘Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me?” Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.
“‘And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full”” (John 16:16-24).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
Author web page: http://booksrlr.com/ “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell”
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May 23, 2021
God Is My… (Psalms), 60
~ God Is My King, 3 ~
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 ~ “We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet; nor is there any among us who knows how long. O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever? Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them. For God is my King from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. You divided the sea by Your strength; You broke the heads of the sea serpents in the waters. You broke the heads of Leviathan in pieces, and gave him as food to the people inhabiting the wilderness. You broke open the fountain and the flood; You dried up mighty rivers. The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun. You have set all the borders of the earth; You have made summer and winter” (Psalm 74:9-17).
Prior Passages ~ “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for to You I will pray. My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up” (Psalm 5:1-3).
“You are my King, O God; command victories for Jacob. Through You we will push down our enemies; through Your name we will trample those who rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, nor shall my sword save me. But You have saved us from our enemies, and have put to shame those who hated us. In God we boast all day long, and praise Your name forever” (Psalm 44:4-8).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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May 22, 2021
Myth, 98
~ My Service Isn’t Important ~
Myth ~ In the big scheme of things my service is not all that important. Truth ~ Our Creator gave each of us a variety of natural abilities at the time of our natural birth. He also gave each of us a variety of spiritual gifts at the time of our spiritual birth. They were given to us to be used! Scripture ~ “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-12). “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’ And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:38-42). Notes ~ Regarding this topic it is worthwhile to read 1 Corinthians chapters 12, 13, and 14.There are two significant related series of Abundant Life Now posts: Natural Gifts (“God’s Gifts”) and “Spiritual Gifts.”
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
* * * * *
Author web page: http://booksrlr.com/ “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell”
· Be an insider! Sign up for his Author Newsletterand receive occasional news and special offers. His books have won national and international literary awards. Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift. Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. https://www.subscribepage.com/rlr
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May 21, 2021
11 Failures Of David
~ The Progressive Nature of Sin In David’s Fall ~
Introduction ~ King David in the Old Covenant and the Apostle Peter in the New Testament are examples of how even some of God’s greatest servants can fail miserably. Recall that David throughout most of the Biblical record had an intimate relationship with God. He had many accomplishments for God—however his major recorded failure, which occurred after great spiritual successes, is an example for us today. “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Let’s look at the steps in his failure as recorded in 2 Samuel 11.
1. David Was Careless In His Duties ~ “It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem” (2 Samuel 11:1). …
2. David Let His Guard Down ~ … “Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold” (2 Samuel 11:2). …
3. David Began To Lust ~ … “So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?’” (2 Samuel 11:3). …
4. David Embraced His Lust ~ … “Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house” (2 Samuel 11:4). …
5. David Reaped Consequences ~ … “And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, ‘I am with child’” (2 Samuel 11:5). …
6. David First Scheme To Hide His Sins ~ … “Then David sent to Joab, saying, ‘Send me Uriah the Hittite.’ And Joab sent Uriah to David. When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered. And David said to Uriah, ‘Go down to your house and wash your feet.’ So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift of food from the king followed him. But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. So when they told David, saying, ‘Uriah did not go down to his house,’ David said to Uriah, ‘Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?’” (2 Samuel 11:6-11). …
7. David’s Second Scheme To Hide His Sins ~ … “Then David said to Uriah, ‘Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.’ So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house” (2 Samuel 11:12-13). …
8. David’s Third Scheme To Hide His Sins ~ … “In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, saying, ‘Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.’ So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men. Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also. Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war, and charged the messenger, saying, ‘When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king, if it happens that the king’s wrath rises, and he says to you: “Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?” — then you shall say, “Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also”’” (2 Samuel 11:14-21). …
9. David Thought He Got Away With It ~ … “So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent by him. And the messenger said to David, ‘Surely the men prevailed against us and came out to us in the field; then we drove them back as far as the entrance of the gate. The archers shot from the wall at your servants; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’ Then David said to the messenger, ‘Thus you shall say to Joab: “Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and overthrow it.” So encourage him’” (2 Samuel 11:22-25). …
10. David’s Sin Made It Easier To Sin More ~ … “When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son …
11. God Was Not Pleased With David’s Actions ~ … “But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord” (2 Samuel 11:27b).
Closing Scripture ~ “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7). “…be sure your sin will find you out…” (Numbers 32:23).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
Author web page: http://booksrlr.com/ “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell”
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May 20, 2021
Stones
~ 9 Stones in the Bible ~
Stone(Christ our foundation) ~ “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:19-22).
Stones(living) ~ “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).
Stones (precious) ~ “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire” (1 Corinthians 3:9-15).
Stone(Christ our basis) ~ “Jesus said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven’ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:15-18). Some interesting facts relating to this passage:
Simon contains the meaning of one who hears and obeys. Interesting to consider how Simon denied his Lord three times after this point in time. However, his subsequent life was one of obedience. God can turn one of the weakest into one of His strongest! It is interesting to note that Peter means rock or stone. Peter became a rock solid leader of the early Church! Bar-Jonah simply means son of Jonah or son of a dove. Peter was certainly dove such as in his denials but later was transformed becoming more like a hawk! The most significant item in this verse is the basis that Christ will build His Church upon the rock of “Christ, the Son of the living God” (the foundation cornerstone noted previously).As we have seen stones are used in a positive way.
However, stones are also used in a negative way.
Stones(to stone others) ~ Jesus said, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37, also Luke 13:34). “Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated” (Mark 12:4).
Stones(to stone Jesus) ~ “Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by” (John 8:59). “Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, ‘Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?’” (John 10:31-32).
Stones(for sealing burial tombs) ~ “Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?’ Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank You that You have heard Me’” (John 11:40-41).
Stones are a part of our life on earth.
Stones will also be a part of our life on the new earth.
Stones(in heaven) ~ “Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass” (Revelation 21:14-21).
Stone(Christ our Light) ~ “And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal” (Revelation 21:10-11).
Comment ~ This is a special post for me. It was inspired by a pencil notation in my deceased brother’s study Bible which listed four kinds of stones.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
Author web page: http://booksrlr.com/ “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell”
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May 19, 2021
God Our Rock, 14
~ My Rock of Refuge ~
Introduction ~ In Matthew 7:24-27 and Luke 6:47-49 Jesus relates the importance of building your house upon rock rather than sand. This principle is even more critical when it comes to our spiritual life. Each post in this series looks at a different Biblical passage which refers to our God as a Rock (not a complete list).
Scripture ~ “In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Your righteousness. Bow down Your ear to me, deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me.
“For You are my rock and my fortress; therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead me and guide me. Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, for You are my strength. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth” (Psalm 31:1-5).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
Author web page: http://booksrlr.com/ “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell”
· Be an insider! Sign up for his Author Newsletterand receive occasional news and special offers. His books have won national and international literary awards. Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift. Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. https://www.subscribepage.com/rlr
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May 18, 2021
Spiritual Gifts, 20
~ The Spiritual Gift of Discernment ~
Opening Comment ~ “Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:16-18).
Serving Gifts ~ Within the Service Sector we compared the Spiritual Gift of Serving with non-profit organizations in society. The Gift of Going / Mercy was likened to Missionaries, while the Gift of Helps is a parallel for food banks and similar organizations. The Gift of Hospitality was compared to the travel industry, and the Gift of Leadership is a direct parallel to leaders throughout society. The Gift of Administration is a clear counterpart to managers throughout society. Gifts of Discernment are similar to counselors in society.
The Gift of Discernment ~ The God-given ability to see beyond the surface and obvious factors to more subtle, but very important factors.
The Gift of Discerning Spirits ~ In our society many would consider this a sub-set of a larger category of the Gift of Discernment. “The ‘discerning of spirits’ means the ability to distinguish between the false and the true.” –J. Vernon McGee
“The God-given judicial ability to stand over people in order to detect a genuine or non-genuine motive by distinguishing the spirit-source behind any person's speech or act.” –Loren Fischer
Scripture ~ “There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11).
“These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For ‘who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?’ But we have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:13-16).
Traits ~ The person with the Gift of Discernmentwill typically; 1) pick out quickly the Biblical principles which pertain in making a decision, 2) pinpoint the source of difficulty when evaluating a situation, 3) will spot a weakness in a presentation and speaks out when others are being misled, and 4) rely heavily on their own intuition and will exercise caution so as not to reach a conclusion too quickly.
The person with the Gift of Discerning Spirits will typically; 1) recognize if the intentions of a person are good or bad, 2) have a tendency to be critical of others and to question their motives, 3) sense the hidden motives in why people act as they do, detects hypocritical tendencies in self and others, 4) trust their personal insight to detect when people are not what they claim to be, and 5) find it hard to accept the good a person offers, if the person does not live up to his profession.
Closing Comments ~ “Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:12-16).
“Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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May 17, 2021
Question – Jesus, 92
~ Regarding Patience ~
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 when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. And He asked the scribes, ‘What are you discussing with them?’ Then one of the crowd answered and said, ‘Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.’
“He answered him and said, ‘O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.’ Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, ‘How long has this been happening to him?’
“And he said, ‘From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’
“When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, ‘Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!’ Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, ‘He is dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ So He said to them, ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting’” (Mark 9:14-29).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
Author web page: http://booksrlr.com/ “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell”
· Be an insider! Sign up for his Author Newsletterand receive occasional news and special offers. His books have won national and international literary awards. Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift. Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way. You can easily unsubscribe at any time. https://www.subscribepage.com/rlr
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· The INDEX of topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.
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