Robert Lloyd Russell's Blog, page 66

Myth, 42

~ If I Do Good I’ll Be Okay ~
Common Misconception  ~  If the good in my life outweighs the bad in my life I’ll make it to heaven.  God grades individuals on the curve, I just need to be above the cut-off point. 
The Great Religion Divide  ~  In all religions, except Christianity, doing good is a significant part of success with god.  In Christianity, the Bible makes it clear that no amount of good works will ever earn God’s favor or a place in heaven.  Christianity properly understood is not a religionbut a relationship with a living Savior. 
The Fallacy  ~  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  If a bank robber pleaded with the judge that because there are thousands of banks and he only robbed one of them he is not guilty—he’s better than career bank-robbers the judge would quickly dismiss his argument!  Judges do not grade on the curve!“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
The Critical Difference  ~  In all religions there is an element of DO versus Christianity recognizes that it is all DONE on the Cross of Calvary by Jesus Christ.  “For by grace [something good you did not deserve] you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Jesus Christ declared, “It [salvation] is finished!” (John 19:30).  Jesus Christ lived the sinless life that we could not live and He died the death, in our place, that we deserve.
Question for Pre-Christians  ~  Why not make your final destiny heaven today?  “And Jesus said to him [one of the thieves on the Cross next to Jesus], ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise’” (Luke 23:43). 
Question for Christians  ~  Are you becoming more holy or staying conformed to this world?  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2).  “We do not lose heart.  Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16-17). 
Closing Comments  ~  Chapter 2 of the Book of James in the Bible makes it clear that as a Christian good works are a natural result of your faith—not the basis of your faith.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
NOTES: (1)     The currentTOP 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/.

“Good” Friday?

~ The Day Christ Was Crucified ~
Christ Warned His Disciples  ~  “Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, ‘The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.’  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him” (Mark 9:30-32). 
Christ Did What He Warned  ~  A very cruel and painful death by crucifixion.  But, Jesus knew what He was doing: “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’  Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth.  So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’  And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit” (John 19:28-30). 
Death Was Victory  ~  Because of Christ’s death on the Cross of Calvary we can be reconciled to God!  Because of Christ’s death on the Cross of Calvary we can obtain salvation!  But we must put our faith in His work on our behalf.  “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2). 
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
NOTES: (1)     The currentTOP 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/.

Bible Answer, 71

~ Did You Get It Right? ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ bible answer ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
question:  How many Hebrew kings offered their own children as burnt sacrifices?
answer:  Two: Ahaz (2 Chronicles 28:3) and Manasseh (2 Kings 21:6).
“Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem; and he did not do what was right in the sight of the Lord, as his father David had done.  For he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and made molded images for the Baals.  He burned incense in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and burned his children in the fire, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.  And he sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree” (2 Chronicles 28:1-4).
“Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah.  And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the abominations of the nations whom the Lord had cast out before the children of Israel.  For he rebuilt the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; he raised up altars for Baal, and made a wooden image, as Ahab king of Israel had done; and he worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.  He also built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, ‘In Jerusalem I will put My name.’  And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.  Also he made his son pass through the fire, practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft, and consulted spiritists and mediums.  He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger.  He even set a carved image of Asherah that he had made, in the house of which the Lord had said to David and to Solomon his son, ‘In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put My name forever; and I will not make the feet of Israel wander anymore from the land which I gave their fathers — only if they are careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that My servant Moses commanded them.’ But they paid no attention, and Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord had destroyed before the children of Israel” (2 Kings 21:1-9).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
NOTES: (1)     The currentTOP 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 A-Z, 26(Z)of26

~ “Zealous” Is Our God ~
In this series we look at God’s names (formal and informal from Biblical and English languages) as well as clear descriptors of God from Scripture.  In 26 posts we look at names which start with a successive letter of the English alphabet.  (Only a sample of many references are provided.)  Each of these names / descriptors apply to one or more members of the Triune Godhead.
ZEALOUS  ~  2 Kings 19:31; Isaiah 9:7, 37:32; Joel 2:18; Ezekiel 5:13; Zechariah 1:14, 8:2; John 2:17
Closing Comments  ~  In this series we have looked at 555 names and descriptors of the One True God!  I am confident that there are many more!  
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
NOTES: (1)     The currentTOP 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/.

Bible Question, 71

~ Test Your Bible Knowledge ~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ bible question ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
question:  How many Hebrew kings offered their own children as burnt sacrifices?
Please provide your answer in the comments below!
The answer will be provided in a future blog.
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
NOTES: (1)     The currentTOP 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/.

Question – Jesus, 36

~  Regarding Fear  ~
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  ~  ‘On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, ‘Let us cross over to the other side.’  Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was.  And other little boats were also with Him.  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.  And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’  Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’  And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.  But He said to them, ‘Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?’  And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, ‘Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!’” (Mark 4:35-41).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW
NOTES: (1)     The currentTOP 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/.

Palm Branches

~ Significance of Palm Branches ~
Past  ~  During the Biblical period palm branches were symbolic of goodness, well-being, and victory.  Therefore, they were depicted on coins and important structures and buildings.  King Solomon’s temple included carvings of palm branches on the doors and walls.  “He carved all the walls of the temple all around, both the inner and outer sanctuaries, with carved figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers.  And the floor of the temple he overlaid with gold, both the inner and outer sanctuaries” (1 Kings 6:29-30). 
Zechariah prophesied that the Messiah would come riding on a donkey: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.  I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem; the battle bow shall be cut off.  He shall speak peace to the nations; His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth’” (Zechariah 9:9-10).
Present  ~  Most Christian churches celebrate Palm Sunday when Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem.  “The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: ‘Hosanna!  “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”  The King of Israel!’  Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: ‘Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt.’  His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written about Him and that they had done these things to Him” (John 12:12-16). 
Future  ~  At the close of our Bible we find that people of all ethnic and geographic areas of earth will raise palm branches to honor our King Jesus Christ.  “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’  All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: ‘Amen!  Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever.Amen’” (Revelation 7:9-12).
~ 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, 41

~ If You Build It, They Will Come ~
Myth  ~  If you have a larger more impressive building your church will grow.
Reality  ~  Sometimes yes!  Sometimes no!  God has never promised results based upon external factors.  In fact, the early Church had no buildings, yet it grew very rapidly.  Church growth is dependent upon many factors, but by far the most important is the Holy Spirit working in the lives of individuals.  The most important thing that local church leaders can do to increase growth is to spend time on their knees before God. 
Comment  ~  In our “civilized” societies we often measure church growth based on numbers—primarily attendance numbers.  But God measures growth based upon the spiritual reality of the inner man.
“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him.  For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7). 
~ 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/.

Fear God, 166

~ Those Who Fear God Are His Jewels ~
God does not want His children living in fear.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).  However, God does want His children to have a proper respect and reverence for Him.  We are told in many places in Scripture to “ fear God .”  
This Week’s Passage  ~  “Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.  ‘They shall be Mine,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels.  And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.’  Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him” (Malachi 3:16-18). 
Fearing God Results in Salvation  ~  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  “A wise person fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16).  This does not mean the Christian is to live a fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will. 
Fearing God Results in Fearlessness  ~  “The Lordis my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lordis the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).  The answer is: only God.  With the gift of salvation comes responsibility.
Fearing God Results in Witnessing  ~  “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). 
~ 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/.

Psalm 119, 21of27

~ Read God’s Word To Increase Our Reverence For God ~
119:38 Establish Your word to Your servant,Who is devoted to fearing You.
119:120 My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments.
Comment  ~  The more we read and understand God’s Word the more we will fear (reverence) the mighty God.  Incidentally, blessings are tied to the fear of God.  Abundant Life Now has posted a weekly series entitled “Fear God” (beginning on January 8, 2016 it skipped 2018 and is currently continuing on Fridays).
~ 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/.