Robert Lloyd Russell's Blog, page 25
May 16, 2021
God Is My… (Psalms), 59
~ God Is My Fortress, 4 ~
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 ~ “Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress” (Psalm 71:3).
Prior Passages ~ “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 31:3-5).
I will love You, O Lord, my strength. 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 18:1-3).
“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” (Psalm 31:1-2).
Significance ~ A fortress implies protection from enemies. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:37-39).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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May 15, 2021
Myth, 97
~ Weekly Leisure Is Not Necessary ~
Myth ~ This concept of being constantly on-the-go is harmful to the mind, spirit, and body. It is often the cause of depression and other physical ailments. Perhaps this is why our Creator gave us the example of resting on the seventh day following six days of His creative work. ~ In the Old Testament the Sabbath was a firmly established reality. It was meant to be a day of changing the pace, of rest, of refreshment, most importantly reflecting upon and worshipping God. Fellowshipping with His people was also a key component. The Early Church ~ In the New Testament the disciples changed this day or reflection to the first day of the week (Acts 20:7) as they now included a focus on the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the first day of the week. Scripture ~ “And He [Jesus] said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath’” (Mark 2:27-28). I believe that one of the intents of this verse is to remind us that the weekly day of rest was for our benefit.~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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May 14, 2021
The Gospel of…
~ The Mystery and Majesty of The Gospel ~
The Gospel of Grace (the source) ~ “But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
The Gospel of God (the Author) ~ “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures” (Romans 1:1-2).
The Gospel of Christ (the object) ~ “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’” (Romans 1:16-17).
The Gospel of Peace (the result) ~ “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one …” (Ephesians 6:14-16).
The Mystery of the Gospel ~ “… And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints — and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:17-20).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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May 13, 2021
OT Jewish Cycle
~ Israel’s Religious Cycle ~
Prolog ~ The nation of Israel’s history as recorded throughout the Old Testament is a repetitive cycle (especially clear in the book of Judges) — this history is not unlike many Christians today.
Illustrative Scripture ~ “Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them. Yet they would not listen to their judges, but they played the harlot with other gods, and bowed down to them. They turned quickly from the way in which their fathers walked, in obeying the commandments of the Lord; they did not do so. And when the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, by following other gods, to serve them and bow down to them. They did not cease from their own doings nor from their stubborn way” (Judges 2:16-19).
The Cycle ~ Rest > Rebellion > Retribution > Repentance > Restoration> Rest
Rest– During Joshua’s lifetime and for some years afterward, Israel served God and enjoyed the blessings of their rest land. This is where the book of Judges begins.
Rebellion– When a new generation arose, they divorced themselves from God and, in rebellion against Him, took on the ways of the idolatrous Canaanites.
Retribution – Just as He said He would, God withdrew His protection and power from Israel and delivered they into the hands of foreign oppressors.
Repentance– Then the Israelites repented of their sin and cried to God for help (c.f. Judges 3:9, 10:10 especially clear in the KJV).
Restoration- God raised up a judge to deliver His people from their oppressor and to lead them back to a life of fellowship with Him—back to the beginning of the cycle.
Rest ~ The cycle starts over~
Key Lessons ~ The cycle accentuates two prominent lines of truth: first, the desperate sickness of the human heart, revealing its ingratitude, stubbornness, rebellion, and folly. Additionally, God’s long-suffering, patience, love, and mercy.
Examples ~ Key: Cycle # – Passage – Oppressors – Judges
1 – Judges 3:8-11 – Mesopotamians – Othniel
2 – Judges 3:12-31 – Moabites – Ehud, Shamgar
3 – Judges 4:1-5:31 – Canaanites – Deborah with Barak
4 – Judges 6:1-10:5 – Midianites – Gideon, Tola, Jair
5 – Judges 10:6-12:15 – Ammonites – Jephthah, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon
6 – Judges 13:1-16:31 – Philistines – Samson
Credit ~ This post relies heavily on the excellent work done by Irving L. Jensen that is included in his book entitled Jensen’s Survey of the Old Testament.
Epilog ~ If you enjoyed this post you might find two previous Abundant Life Now posts also interesting: Does History Repeat Itself? (January 25, 2011) and EXTRA: USA Today, 1of4 (September 26, 2016).~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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May 12, 2021
God Our Rock, 13
~ I Converse With God My Rock ~
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 ~ “To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: do not be silent to me, lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.
“Do not take me away with the wicked and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbors, but evil is in their hearts. Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors; give them according to the work of their hands; render to them what they deserve. Because they do not regard the works of the Lord, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them and not build them up.
“Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him” (Psalm 28:1-7).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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May 11, 2021
Spiritual Gifts, 19
~ The Spiritual Gift of Administration ~
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.
Gift of Administration ~ In modern societies many would consider this to be a sub-set of the Gift of Leadership. “The God-given legislativeability to stand behind people in order to collect data, to set policy, to develop plans which will guide a course of action with skill and wisdom.” –Loren Fischer
Scripture ~ “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12:27-31).
Traits ~ The person with the gift of administration will typically; 1) develops careful plans to implement a particular course of action, 2) assume responsibility of supervision to see that the details on a job are running smoothly, and 3) establish guidelines and procedures for the participants in a project to see that the job gets done correctly.
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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Question – Jesus, 91
~ Regarding Ownership ~
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 ~ “Then He [Jesus] spoke a parable to them, saying: ‘The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, “What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?” So he said, “I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, “Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?” So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God’” (Luke 12:16-21).
Quotes ~ The Beloved Apostle wrote, “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (John 12:25).
“I'd rather lose in a cause that will ultimately succeed, than succeed in one that will ultimately fail” (Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865).
“There are two things that characterize the teachings of our Lord. Number one is this: the worth, the infinite, heavenly, eternal worth of the soul. And the second one: the transitory, temporal, ephemeral, ultimate worthlessness of everything else” (W.A. Criswell).
One of my favorite quotes is, “Don’t sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.”
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOWblog.
Author web page: http://booksrlr.com/ “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell”
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May 9, 2021
Mothering
~ Not All Are Mothers, But All Should Mother! ~
Introduction ~ Mother’s Day in the U.S.A. is a time to honor all the women in our lives. While all women do not have children, all women have a role to play in the mothering of the young with whom they have ongoing contact.
Roles ~ All women are to love children. This takes many forms including teaching, encouraging, and correcting. These are vital roles which all adults have yet God has enabled women with special abilities in these areas.
Scripture ~ “The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among [among, not above] women!” (Luke 1:27b-28).
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
“Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies… her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.’ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates” (Proverbs 31:10, 28-31).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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May 8, 2021
Myth, 96
~ God Doesn’t Care About My Physical Body ~
Myth ~ This myth can be stated in a variety of ways but the underlying belief is that the spiritual realm is all that matters and God doesn’t really care about my physical condition. Kernal of Truth ~ “Exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come” (1 Timothy 4:7b-8). You only need a cursory glance at this passage to realize it is a comparative statement. Truth ~ God considers us stewards of all He has given us including our physical bodies. Therefore, gluttony and any other avoidable factors that damage our physical bodies is an afront to Him. Scripture ~ “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power” (1 Corinthians 6:12-14). The Apostle Paul continues in this passage, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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May 7, 2021
The Changing Christian
~ Do You Have Any Change? ~
Chapters 3 of the book of Colossians provides some very practical advice for Christian living—and it’s all based upon our inner life.
Changing Thinking (about heaven and your future) ~ “Since you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory …” (Colossians 3:1-4).
Changing Direction (destroy your old nature) ~ “… Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, …” (Colossians 3:5-9).
Changing Character (put on Christ’s nature) ~ “… and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him …” (Colossians 3:10-14).
Changing Spirit (live for God) ~ “… And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:15-17).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
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