Robert Lloyd Russell's Blog, page 5

Question – Jesus, 114

 ~ Regarding Right ~

 

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  ~  “Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught.  And a man was there whose right hand was withered.  So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him.  But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, ‘Arise and stand here.’  And he arose and stood.  Then Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?’  And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’  And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.  But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus” (Luke 6:6-11). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Author web page: http://booksrlr.com/ “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell”  

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God Is My… (Psalms), 81

 ~ God Is My Shield, 6 ~ 

 

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  ~  “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle —  my lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me” (Psalm 144:1-2).  

 

Other Passages  ~  “But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head” (Psalm 3:3). 

 

“For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor You will surround him as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12). 

 

“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). 

 

“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 28:7). 

 

“You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your Word” (Psalm 119:114).  

 

~ 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 Newsletter and 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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Myth, 120

 ~ Evangelism Requires Special Training ~

  Myths  ~  This is really a combination of myths.  The underlying misconception which is usually present is that all Christians are to be evangelists.  The Scripture does not teach that.  In the New Testament only uses the word evangelist (or a derivative) a total of three times – each of which is referring to the specific spiritual gifts.  However, all Christians are to be witnesses for Christ.  A witness is only responsible to tell what he or she knows first-hand.    Example  ~  “And at this point His disciples came, and they marveled that He talked with a woman; yet no one said, ‘What do You seek?’ or, ‘Why are You talking with her?’  The woman then left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, ‘Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did.  Could this be the Christ?’ Then they went out of the city and came to Him” (John 4:27-30).   The second key myth is the need for a specific type of training.  Throughout Christian history many of the most effective evangelists were taught primarily the Spirit of God with little or no formal training.    Comment  ~  Does this imply that evangelists should avoid specific training?  Absolutely not!  But God has and still can use individuals effectively to evangelize without specialized training.   

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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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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7 Life Essentials, 4

 ~ Basic Need: Light~ 

Introduction  ~  In this series we will look at the four most basic physical needs for a human to survive, and how Jesus Christ satisfies the parallel spiritual needs.  Then we will look at three additional critical factors related to both our physical and spiritual needs.

 

Physical Needs  ~  According to basic physiological understanding mankind needs four basic elements in order to survive physically: water, air, food, and light.

 

Jesus satisfies the parallel spiritual needs.  Jesus is the Living Water (John 4:10-11, 7:38).  Jesus provides the Breath of Life (Genesis 2:7, Colossians 1:16-17).  Jesus is the Bread of Life (John 6:35, 48).  Jesus is the Light of the World (John 8:12, 9:5).  

 

Key Scriptures  ~  “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life’” (John 8:12).  

 

Jesus said, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world” (John 9:3). 

 

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). 

 

Comment  ~  Light is essential for ALL life on earth.  If you would like to learn more about the role of light for life on earth, I would suggest the eBook “GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight” which reveals some fascinating parallels between the light from the sun and spiritual light from the Son of God.  (https://books2read.com/GodsNature) 

 

~ 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 Newsletter and 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 

Daily blog page: http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/ “Abundant Life Now”

·         The INDEX of topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

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Give Thanks

 ~ Are You Part of the 90%? ~ 

 

Historical Account  ~  Ten men received divine miracles.  Each was given a great opportunity for extreme gratitude but sadly only one of the ten gave public thanks. 

 

Scripture  ~  “Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.  Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off.  And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’

 

“So when He saw them, He said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’  And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.  And he was a Samaritan.

 

“So Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed?  But where are the nine?  Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’  And He said to him, ‘Arise, go your way.  Your faith has made you well” (Luke 17:11-19).

 

Questions  ~  Are you quick to ask for God’s help and equally quick to forget His blessings to you when He answers your prayers?  How Often Do You Thank God?

 

~ 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 Newsletter and 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 

Daily blog page: http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/“Abundant Life Now”

·         The INDEX of topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

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Sabbath, 2of9

 ~ The Sabbath Was Required For The Jews ~ 

Introduction  ~  In the Old Testament the Sabbath was established as part of The Law.  The Sabbath is observed from sundown Friday evening through sundown Saturday evening.  In the New Testament the law of God is written on believers’ hearts (Romans 2:12-16) rather than on tablets of stone.  It is the heart’s attitude which now supersedes outward obedience (Romans 10:10).  Following Christ’s resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week, the Disciples and later the Church have observed their day of rest on Sunday in remembrance of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 20:7). 

 

Passage  ~  “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.  The mouth of the Lord has spoken” (Isaiah 58:13-14).

 

Comment  ~  The Sabbath was not meant to be an obligation but a joyful delight as God and His mighty works were remembered and reflected upon. 

 

~ 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 Newsletter and 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 

Daily blog page: http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/“Abundant Life Now”

·         The INDEX of topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

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Spiritual Gifts, 38

 ~ The Spiritual Gift of Miraculous Powers ~

 

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). 

 

Category  ~  The sign gift of performing miracles. 

 

Purpose  ~  The New Testament miracles were one way that God demonstrated His sovereignty over all things.  It was in a day when the written Word of God was not readily available. 

 

“The miracles of the Old Testament age authenticated Moses and the prophets as men of God… the miracles of the New Testament age authenticated in turn Christ and his apostles.” —Robert Reymond

 

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with Him’” (John 3:1-2). 

 

“Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them’” (Luke 7:22)

 

Definition  ~  “The working of miracles’ is to do supernatural things.  There were miracles in the apostolic age, but today we are seeing greater things.  When Jesus spoke a word to a person – like the woman at the well or to Nicodemus – and that person was converted, I don't marvel at that.  But when I speak the Word or you speak the Word and somebody is saved, that is a greater work.” —J. Vernon McGee

 

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).

 

“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 12:28-31).  

 

This chapter ends with the “more excellent way” explained: “and now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

 

Time Period  ~  The period of time when the gift of miraculous powers were given was primarily while Christ was on earth.  There were no readily available written copies of God’s Word to mankind. 

 

“Truly the signs of an apostle were [past tense] wrought among you in all patience, in signs and wonders, and mighty deeds” (2 Corinthians 12:12).   

The NIV translation says it this way: “The things that mark an apostle – signs, wonders and miracles – were [past tense] done among you with great perseverance.”  In this passage we find that Paul’s statement indicates that some of the miraculous sign gifts in the early Church were over. 

 

However, God is sovereign and I believe miracles (in the sense of defying the laws of science) are still happening today, but mainly in third-world countries where the availability of God’s Word is not available – miraculous signs are one way God uses to convince people of His reality.  In industrialized nations I believe it is extremely rare for miracles that defy physical laws occur. 

 

New Testament Examples  ~  Many of the miracles of Jesus while on earth are widely known.  Changing water into wine, walking on water, feeding the multitudes, restoring sight to the blind man, and many more!

 

Comment  ~  While Christians today do not commonly see miraculous events we can be sure the God is still active and still sovereign.  He is still in control.  He is active around the world in miraculous ways. 

 

“The greatest miracle that God can do today is to take an unholy man out of an unholy world and make him holy, then put him back into that unholy world and keep him holy in it.” —Leonard Ravenhill 

 

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” 

·         Be an insider!  Sign up for his Author Newsletter and 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 

Daily blog page: http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/ “Abundant Life Now”

·         The INDEX of topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

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Question – Jesus, 113

 ~ Regarding Reward ~

 

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  ~  Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.  For if you love those who love you, what reward have you?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others?  Do not even the tax collectors do so?  Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:43-48).

 

Additional Scripture  ~  “Then Peter came to Him and said, ‘Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?  Up to seven times?’  Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven’” (Matthew 18:21-22).

 

~ 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 Newsletter and 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 

Daily blog page: http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/“Abundant Life Now”

·         The INDEX of topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

·         The current TOP 10 reader favorites are listed at the bottom of the page.

·         Personal TOP 10 favorites are listed in the right-hand column of the blog. 

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God Is My… (Psalms), 80

 ~ God Is My Deliver, 6 ~ 

 

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  ~  “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle —  my lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me” (Psalm 144:1-2).    

 

Other Passages  ~  “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). 

 

“But the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble. And the Lord shall help them and deliver them; He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in Him” (Psalm 37:39-40). 

 

“Vindicate me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation; Oh, deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man! For You are the God of my strength; Why do You cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?” (Psalm 43:1-2).

 

“But I am poor and needy; make haste to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay” (Psalm 70:5). 

 

~ 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 Newsletter and 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 

Daily blog page: http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/ “Abundant Life Now”

·         The INDEX of topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

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Myth, 119

 ~ Life’s Goal Is Personal Satisfaction ~

  Myth  ~  The only real purpose in life is to be happy and satisfied.  This is expressed in overt ways such as.  “You only go around once.”  “Live life with all the gusto you can.”  “Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die.”  This philosophy is also expressed in many subtle ways – often ways that are not even recognized by those who live this way.   Reality  ~  Mankind was made in the “image of God” (Genesis 1:27, 9:6).  Our Creator desires a relationship with each of us and we will never find real satisfaction until we have that relationship.  “You [God] will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).   Scripture  ~  King Solomon, purported to be the wisest man to ever live sought satisfaction through all our normal human efforts – yet it was elusive until he found mankind’s purpose.  This is how he summarizes man’s purpose:   “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear [revere] God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.  For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).  

Quotes  ~  “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” —Jim Elliot 

 

“Don’t sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the immediate.” —unknown

 

~ 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 

Daily blog page: http://robertlloydrussell.blogspot.com/“Abundant Life Now”

·         The INDEX of topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

·         The current TOP 10 reader favorites are listed at the bottom of the page.

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