Podcasts about was abraham

Covenant Meaning and Symbolism. Was Abraham saved? WordPress News! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Addressing the Personal and Emotional Needs of Our Community and Answering the Most Pressing Questions of Our Lives -- from the Perspective of Chassidic Thought. Submit your question now at https://www.chassidusapplied.com/ask-rabbi-jacobson/ or email: info@chassidusapplied.com. WEBSITE: https://www.chassidusapplied.com/ EMAIL US: info@chassidusapplied.com SPONSOR A MYLIFE: CHASSIDUS APPLIED EPISODE, OR EXPLORE OTHER GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: https://www.meaningfullife.com/sponsorships THIS WEEK'S TOPICS: Chassidus Applied to Chof Cheshvan and Vayeira Did the biblical stories of the avos actually happen or are they just metaphors? What is unique about the revelation of Vayeira when G-d revealed Himself earlier to Abraham? Why did Abraham wait to perform the mitzvah of bris until he was 99? Chof Cheshvan: 160th anniversary of the Rebbe Rashab’s birth: What is the connection between the Rebbe Rashab crying for divine revelation with his life and legacy? Why are my parents insisting that I move out of my home at 27 when Abraham left his home at 75? How do we know that Lot's wife turned into a pillar of salt? Election 2020: What is the Rebbe’s view on preserving the USA? Should we vote for Trump or Biden? Would it be a chilul hashem for someone to publicize that they are voting for Trump? Can we vote in a church building? What would the government be like without G-d? What should I do about my online addictions? Chassidus question: Was Abraham the first Jew? Part II MyLife 2020 Chassidus Applied Essay and Creative Contest 3rd place winners: English essay, $1,000 winner: The Alter Rebbe’s Brilliant Solution to the Addict’s Dilemma, Shraga Crombie, 38, Shliach, Chabad House at Rutgers University, Edison, NJ Hebrew essay (men), $500 winner: How to choose the correct diet? כיצד לבחור דיאטה נכונה? Rabbi Dovid Zalmanov, Kiev, Ukraine Hebrew essay (women), $500 winner: Taste of a Life. טעם החיים, Chana Berger, student, Migdal Ha’Emek, Israel Creative: Just a Leaf (lyrics and music), Esty Stern. 28, Brooklyn, NY

Addressing the Personal and Emotional Needs of Our Community and Answering the Most Pressing Questions of Our Lives -- from the Perspective of Chassidic Thought. Submit your question now at https://www.chassidusapplied.com/ask-rabbi-jacobson/ or email: info@chassidusapplied.com. WEBSITE: https://www.chassidusapplied.com/ EMAIL US: info@chassidusapplied.com SPONSOR A MYLIFE: CHASSIDUS APPLIED EPISODE, OR EXPLORE OTHER GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: https://www.meaningfullife.com/sponsorships THIS WEEK'S TOPICS: • The critical relevance of Chassidus for our trying times • Chassidus Applied to Zayin Cheshvan and Lech Lecha • Transforming mundane life with the power of Tishrei • What is the secret to true growth and self-actualization? • What’s your take on the US elections and latest peace agreements in the Middle East? • The Torah view on Covid – follow-up • Is someone who wears a mask, follows distancing guidelines and gets vaccines lacking in bitachon? • What to do if my trusted doctor rejects a proven remedy? • What should I do about my husband’s addiction to inappropriate online content? Part IV • Chassidus question: Was Abraham the first Jew? • 2020 MyLife: Chassidus Applied Hebrew Essay Contest: 1st and 2nd place winning essays MyLife: Chassidus Applied is a weekly video webcast candidly answering questions from the public about all life matters and challenges, covering the entire spectrum of the human experience. The objective of the program is to provide people with inspired guidance and direction, empowering them to deal with any issue they may face. MyLife demonstrates how Chassidus provides us with a comprehensive blueprint of the human psyche as a microcosm of the cosmos, and offers us all the guidance we need to live the healthiest possible life and build nurturing homes and families, bringing up the healthiest possible children, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. MyLife is brought to you by the Meaningful Life Center as a public service, free of charge.

I was out with some friends from church a couple of weeks ago. We had such a good night. I don’t think I’ve laughed so much in a long time. “It’s so good to laugh!” I said to Shona on the way home.Laughter can be goodNatural laughter: laughing with friends, good clean funSpiritual laughter: laughing with God at his goodnessLaughter can be badDirty laughter: rude jokes and filthy talkDoubting laughter: Skeptical dismissing of what someone saysDespising laughter: Sneering, mocking contempt of God or othersWhat about Abraham’s laugh in Genesis 17:17, where God told him not only that he would have a son when he was 100 years old, but that Sara would bear his son when she was ninety!Was Abraham’s laugh a good laugh or a bad laugh?I used to think it was bad because it questioned God. It was the kind of laugh that casts doubt on what God said.But I looked up Matthew Henry and he argued that it was a good laugh. He called it “Abraham’s joyful, thankful, entertainment of this gracious promise...It was a laughter of delight, not of distrust.” The questions were more about admiration and surprise than doubt.John Calvin says it was a mixed laugh. “He laughed, not because he either despised, or regarded as fabulous, or rejected, the promise of God; but, as is commonly wont to happen in things which are least expected, partly exulting with joy, and partly being carried beyond himself in admiration, he breaks forth into laughter....Abraham was as one astonished; as if he had received some incredible tidings.”Whether Calvin or Henry is right, I was wrong. What they say fits better with Romans 4:19-21.He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrennessof Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.It’s good laugh with friends, but it’s also good to reverently laugh with God at his astonishing, surprising, wonderful, awesome Gospel promises and grace. As Abraham showed, we can be flat on our faces while filled with holy laughter. He wasn't laughing his head off, but was laughing his heart out (John 8:56).This episode of Living the Bible lines up with Expedition 4: Day 6 in Exploring the Bible Together: A 52 Week Family Worship Plan and Exploring the Bible: A Bible Reading Plan for Kids. You can catch up with previous episodes of the Living the Bible podcast here or subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcast.

Zachary gives a quick philosophy lesson as he and Raysan explore existentialism. Was Abraham a murderer? How does the way we treat others affect our happiness? Was the Danish philosopher a time traveler? Does any of it even matter? Philosophize with us and find out. alphabyesbytespodcast.com facebook.com/alphabytescommunity

What you must know to see Christians for who they are- Was Abraham a Jew or a Gentile- Simple question simple answer. Who does the land of Israel belong to- And many more answers.

This message is a must for any person that is serious about true freedom in the area of money, be it as a church leader or in business. Be prepared to be challenged to the core of your belief. You might even what to switch the message of half way through but it promises the fruit of true freedom and life in its truth, listen to the entire message to have a good understanding of what is said. In this message Bertie asks and discusses the following questions 1.Why do you have a church or business and why do you want it big? 2.What is corrupted wisdom and how to get rid of it? 3.How can we have a growing powerful life without corrupted wisdom? 4.Was Abraham really living in grace or was it a shadow of what was to come? 5.What is the order of Melchizedek really? 6.Should we tithe the tithe of Abraham? This message is really challenging but a must for the church. MONEY CRUCIFIED - The tithe eating TITHE (1)

Was Abraham a pagan?, What is a seven bead Rosary for?, How can a layman offer up Jesus?, Who is the harlot of Babylon mentioned in Revelations?, and more on today's Open Line Friday with EWTN VP of Theology Colin Donovan.

Are somethings in the Bible only mentioned once? Was Abraham fully faithful when God called him? How do can we trust Jesus' claim about being the Messiah? Is a woman's testimony equal to a man's? Cain had a family after he killed Abel?New Episodes Monday, 7:00 am Eastern TimeBe sure to visit https://sites.google.com/view/perspective-bible-talk/home for episode notes and submit topics for further episodes

We go through the Bible and talk about the concept of tithing (or giving a tenth). Was Abraham commanded to give a tenth? Why did the Israelites have to tithe? And perhaps more importantly, what are we supposed to be giving now, as 21st-century believers? We answer all these questions and more on today's episode!Visit our website here & join the Facebook discussion group here!Resource:• "Giving & Receiving" by Tim Mackie (sermon, YouTube)CreditsMusic: Cheerful Happy Upbeat Uplifting youtu.be/6IK2xLLAEPoReleased by: Free Music www.youtube.com/channel/UCqpifMUDQ-HQNO12t7wKBmw

Was Abraham saved by grace or by works? In today's message, Pastor Cucuzza explains God's clear answer found in Romans 4.

January 5, 2020 People have faith in many different things. Some have faith in this earth, people, Allah, Buddha, and those of us gathered together have faith in the God of the Bible. But what kind of faith do we have? Did you know there are different kinds of faith? I'm sure we all can see different types of faith as we look at people who call themselves Christians. We may not be able to put our finger on the difference by we know that it is there. James helps us with this. I would like for us to develop an understanding of faith as we study James 2. James is a letter that many Christians struggle with because James seems to contradict Paul. In Romans, Paul is trying to help them understand what living by faith is all about. But the purpose of James' letter is to reveal the fake Christianity that has developed through the gospel. He wants to warn Christians against this fake Christianity. Don't Continue To Sin When we look at James 2 we see this very clearly. James 2:1--4 (ESV) --- 1 My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James commands those who are holding to their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, to avoid showing partiality. Then, he tells them how they are showing partiality. These are Christians who believe God's grace saves them through their faith in Jesus Christ. They are holding onto that belief. But James says they must not now show partiality. Why not? Listen to this. James 2:8--9 (ESV) --- 8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. Wait a second, James. Are you trying to say that those who hold to faith in Jesus are going to be judged according to the law? James 2:10--11 (ESV) --- 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. 11 For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. Like many places in this letter, this is intended to shock the reader. Everyone reading this letter knows that God's grace saves us and that we are not under the law. James knows that according to Acts 15, but also according to verse 1 of this Chapter! So why does he say that those who show partiality will be convicted as a breaker of the law? James 2:12--13 (ESV) --- 12 So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. Here is the reason why. God will withhold his forgiveness from those who refuse to submit to his will. Don't be fooled by the fact that this is a law of liberty. There will still be judgment for those who continue to rebel. Being partial toward the rich and mistreating the poor breaks the second greatest commandment. God will judge those who are rebelling against his will and refusing to repent. This is the same thing that Jesus has been saying in the Sermon on the Mount. He says that those in his kingdom must fulfill the law to a greater extent than the scribes and Pharisees. Verse 8, alludes to the fact that we are supposed to keep the law. Paul even says it in Romans 3:31, 6:1-2, 15-18. We are forgiven by grace through faith in Christ. That is supposed to transform us into law-keepers instead of lawbreakers. If we rebel against the law, being evil toward our brother, we will be judged without mercy. The Hebrew writer also says, "If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God." (Heb 10:26-27, 1 John 4:3-9) Dead Faith This does not sound good. Many Christians were hoping to just hold on to faith, ride that wave all the way into heaven, while they live the way they want, and don't change their lives. In the next section, James explains why Christians cannot keep rebelling in this way and be saved. He helps us understand the problem. James 2:14--17 (ESV) --- 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Having faith without having works is like telling someone who is starving to stop being hungry or anxious about food. We might as well tell them to win a million dollars. It does them no good. We can believe something will happen with all our hearts, but if we aren't willing to lift a finger to make it happen, we don't really want it to happen. We are deceiving ourselves (1:22). If I really wanted the poor, needy person to be warm and filled, I would give them something to wear and something to eat. If I truly loved them, I wouldn't hesitate. Demon Faith Not only is faith without works no good, but it also makes us resemble something else. James 2:18--19 (ESV) --- 18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe---and shudder! Do you see what James does here? First, he is making fun of those who separate faith and works. Someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Who would say such a thing? That is totally ridiculous. He responds to that foolish statement by saying that faith without works is not able to be proven. The person who says they have faith and does not have works clearly does not have faith. They don't understand that faith is more than belief. Then, he points to those who have a correct theology. They believe that God is one. They have the right doctrine, and that is great! They are doing so well by believing the right things. But James says, "Even the demons believe --- and shudder!" If we think that believing the right things will make us righteous enough to get into heaven, we are dead wrong! Don't misunderstand what I'm saying here. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth, but that is not all the Bible says about us. We are also a kingdom of priests. We are supposed to be living lives that are holy and righteous, fulfilling the law by loving God more than anything else and loving our neighbor as ourselves. Believing the right things is not an indication that we have faith. There must be more because demons know what the truth is, and they don't do anything to glorify God. They do not keep the law. We resemble them. Is that shocking to us? How easy would it be to proclaim ourselves as the "guardians of truth" while living lives that rebel against the truth? We might think this is ridiculous, but how many sermons are preached against idolatry, partiality, anger, and heart issues that are just as important as murder and adultery. This faith that knows the truth and does not obey it is not what God is looking for, and it will not save us. James even says that the demons are terrified of God while they always rebel. Why would anyone do that? Do we obey the gospel, read our Bible, and go to church to keep from going to hell while treasuring idols in our hearts and being evil toward our brother. A Friend of God God does not want a dead faith that shows no love to the poor or a demon faith that believes all the right things, yet rebels against God. God wants a living and active faith that loves God and our neighbor. This brings us to the last point. James 2:20--25 (ESV) --- 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"---and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? Dead faith is worthless. A faith that hears the truth believes it and does not do it is rebellious. So what does a real faith look like? We need tangible examples to understand. James gives us two examples. The first is an example of Abraham, who fulfills the first commandment to love God with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength. Abraham was "justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar." James says, "Faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works." The terminology here is essential. Was Abraham justified by works alone or by faith alone? No, he was justified by a working faith. His faith was not dead. He did not just state that he believed God and then live a life totally rebellious against that belief. There is something especially amazing about verse 23. James says that Abraham offering up his son Isaac in Genesis 22 was the fulfillment of Scripture. Did you know that? Back in Genesis 15, Abraham doubted God's promise, so God took him outside and showed him the stars in the sky. He told him, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them... So shall your offspring be." (Gen 15:5). Abraham believed God, and the text says, "He counted it to him as righteousness." From the outside looking in that is ridiculous. You shouldn't count that belief as righteousness. But God knew that Abraham's faith wasn't dead or like the demons. So he called Abraham righteous, and when the time came for Abraham's faith to be tested, God was right in calling him righteous. I don't imagine anyone could have loved their child like Abraham loved Isaac, but as he offered his son, he proved that he loved God more than Isaac. Abraham fulfilled the greatest command and fulfilled God's prophesy that his faith was working. God's grace was poured out on Abraham, he received the grace with faith, and he was transformed to have a heart that trusted in the Lord and loved him. The last words are amazing. This trust and love for God make Abraham a friend of God. He is not dead or a demon. He is a friend. What a statement! A Friend of Man The second example in that text is Rahab. This example shows us the love we must have toward our neighbor. Rahab is a Canaanite prostitute who accepted strangers into her home to save them from being captured in Jericho. She believed that the God of Israel was able to destroy Jericho, and she believed that he was gracious enough to save her from the destruction. So what did Rahab do? She acted on her faith. She did not open the door, say, "Don't get caught," and leave them out in the open. She helped them at great risk to her own life and the lives of her family. Receiving people and helping them exemplifies the faith that fake Christians are missing. The Canaanite prostitute is making us look bad! What Kind of Faith Do We Have? All of this is intended to make us evaluate our faith. James wants us to think more deeply about our current situation. We need to see whether we are fake Christians with dead faith that looks like demons, or friends of God. If we are doing the works that accompany a living faith (trusting in God, helping those who are in need, avoiding sinful anger, lust, and idolatry), we should see our fruit and be encouraged to know that we are friends of God. God's grace does set us free from past sins, and we can rest assured that he is compassionate toward us as we strive to do his will. But if we are coasting through life after believing the truth and showing a complete lack of interest in living for God, we need to understand that there is still judgment ahead. Jesus did not die so that we could enjoy life on our terms. He died so we could find a better life that glorifies God. We do not want judgment without mercy. We want grace. God offers it freely to those who submit their lives to following his will. Is that you?

Was Abraham really the father of Isaac? After all, it was only after Sarah was abducted by Abimelech that she was finally able to get pregnant. Didn't that create doubt about Isaac's biological father? The solution is found in the Midrash, and its one that will help us grow closer to Yeshua. Learn more in the 5 Minute Torah commentary on Parashat Toldot (Genesis 25:19-28:9).

Why did Abram’s wife Sarai offer her slave girl Hagar to conceive an heir for him? What was the Covenant of Circumcision? Are New Testament believer’s hearts circumcised when they accept Jesus Christ? Why did God change Abram’s name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah? Would the prophesied Messiah of Genesis 3:15 come from the descendants of Ishmael or Isaac? Did Abraham bargain with Jesus Christ before Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed? Was Abraham’s bargaining with God a type of intercessory prayer? Why did God destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah? Why did Ishmael harass Isaac? What is the relationship between Hagar, Sarah, the Law of Moses, and grace? Why did God command Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac? Was Abraham a type of Christ? Dr. Ben Pennington answers these questions using selected passages in Genesis and cross-references several New Testament scriptures in a discussion concerning Abraham, Sarah, Ishmael, Isaac, the Covenant of Circumcision and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

1. Was Abraham justified by faith? i. The key verse ii. What about King David? 2. Is it only for the Jewish? i. Timing ii. Not through the law iii. Only through faith 3. So, what is Faith? i. In Hope he believed, against hope ii. Concerning the Promise of God iii. Still raising the…

This chapter deals with supposed differences in the things that come first that supposedly lead to an end result. Was Abraham justified by faith or by works (Q139) Who sent the Holy Ghost (Q146) Who brought evil on Job (Q147) Who raised Jesus from the dead (Q151) The post Ep. 09 – Keeping Faith In An Age Of Reason – Cause & Effect appeared first on Cave To The Cross Apologetics.

The Boys do a 30,000-foot view of one of the most controversial books in the Bible, the book of James. The Boys spend most of the time answering some common questions: Was Abraham justified by works? How do we reconcile James and Paul? Can we even find the gospel in the book of James? In the UNFILTERED they cover the famous passage on healing with oil.

In this episode join Beginning And End as we examine the wars between Godly believers and the Nephilim giants after the flood. Was Abraham really involved in a Nephilim war- How were the 12 tribes able to conquer King Og and Sihon- What is the Biblical evidence they were Nephilim giants- --We also examine the warfare and look at the superior construction of megaliths and other ancient structures by the Nephilim-populated nations that still stand today. --This is part 3 of our 7-part Nephilim series. --The Beginning And End website- --https---beginningandend.com--Facebook- https---facebook.com-beginningandend-Insta- https---instagram.com-begininningandendblog-YouTube- https---youtube.com-c-beginningandend

Child-like faith or healthy skepticism? What do we do with the stuff that doesn't make sense? Or the stuff we don't like? Or agree with? Was Abraham really willing to sacrifice Isaac?

Main Topic: Question and Answer Questions: 3:56 - How do you believe the flow of time is structured? Is it a predetermined fate or one alterable by the hands of man? 15:24 - Is adultery the unpardonable sin? 22:48 - Can you explain Hebrews 9:6-10? 29:13 - Was Adam with Even when satan tempted her? Was Abraham ever put into a deep sleep? 50:42 - Should a 12 year old who becomes pregnant by incestuous rape carry the baby to term? NoOtherDoctrine.org CrossFellowship.org LeadershipFromTheCross.com CCFCollege.com

Romans 4:9-16 — Was Abraham, a prominent figure in the Old Testament, justified by works? Paul says no, he was justified by faith alone. Just as a teacher lectures and then takes time for possible questions, Paul has presented his case on the true gospel and a message on salvation and has now been answering potential questions that might arise. The Jews might have brought up the idea that since Abraham was not justified by works, then it was because he was circumcised! Paul again says no. Abraham was the father to all men, both circumcised and uncircumcised, because it shows in scripture that he was justified before he was circumcised. Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones shows that Paul warns against those who merely held to the fact of their own circumcision as a means of salvation. In this sermon, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains how the Jews had not properly understood why the Lord gave them the sign of circumcision and explains how Paul refutes their wrong beliefs. When Abraham was credited as righteous, it is marked as the first time in scripture that salvation by faith alone was defined. The Lord promised that because of Abraham’s faithfulness, his seed would produce the son of God.

Matrix Reloaded – Neo visits the Oracle Neo: I suppose the most obvious question is, how can I trust you? Oracle: Bingo! It is a pickle, no doubt about it. The bad news is, there's no way if you can really know whether I'm here to help you or not. So it's really up to you. Just have to make up your own damn mind to either accept what I'm going to tell you, or reject it. (she holds something out to him) Candy? Neo: (pauses) You already know if I'm going to take it? Oracle: Wouldn't be much of an Oracle if I didn't. Neo: But if you already know, how can I make a choice? Oracle: Because you didn't come here to make a choice. You've already made it. You're here to try to understand WHY you made it. (Neo takes the candy, but just holds it) I thought you'd have figured that out by now. There is no free will as everything is biologically determined RadioLab - Fault Line - man has seizures has brain surgery increases sex drive gets addicted to porn. Has major OCD with porn collection. Downloads the most foul disgusting acts and then gets caught by police? Should he be held responsible? http://www.radiolab.org/story/317627-fault-line/ One of the characteristics of God is that He is All Knowing. This means that even before we were created He knows every single one of our actions. God is Omniscient Profound Fact* [57:22] Anything that happens on earth, or to you, has already been recorded, even before the creation. This is easy for GOD to do. [16:1] GOD's command has already been issued (and everything has already been written), so do not rush it.* Be He glorified; the Most High, far above any idols they set up.  God already knows who is going to heaven and hell The Disbelievers [39:71] Those who disbelieved will be led to Hell in throngs. When they get to it, and its gates are opened, its guards will say, "Did you not receive messengers from among you, who recited to you the revelations of your Lord, and warned you about meeting this day?" They will answer, "Yes indeed. But the word 'retribution' was already stamped upon the disbelievers."  [40:6] Thus, the judgment of your Lord is already stamped upon those who disbelieve, that they are the dwellers of Hell. For instance if I give my kids a choice of eating ice cream or rocks – I know they are going to choose the ice cream. Does that mean that they did not have a choice in this matter? God knows us better than we know ourselves  [50:16] We created the human, and we know what he whispers to himself. We are closer to him than his jugular vein. [8:24] ...You should know that GOD is closer to you than your heart, and that before Him you will be summoned.    [40:56] Surely, those who argue against GOD's revelations without proof are exposing the arrogance that is hidden inside their chests, and they are not even aware of it. Therefore, seek refuge in GOD; He is the Hearer, the Seer.  Is there Free Will?  Freedom of Choice [33:72] We have offered the responsibility (freedom of choice) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they refused to bear it, and were afraid of it. But the human being accepted it; he was transgressing, ignorant.* Great Feud The Great Feud [38:67] Say, "Here is awesome news. [38:68] "That you are totally oblivious to. [38:69] "I had no knowledge previously, about the feud in the High Society.* Planets, stars, animals accepted God’s gracious offer while the human being did not he wanted to choose for himself Before we came down as humans, we were offered a choice, but we opted for the freedom of choice. We wanted to see the demonstration ourselves. [21:51] Before that, we granted Abraham his guidance and understanding, for we were fully aware of him.* *21:51 Was Abraham so smart as to discover God, or, did God grant him the intelligence because He knew that he deserved to be saved? As it turns out, this whole world was created to redeem those among us who deserve redemption. When the angels suggested that all the rebels, humans and jinns, must be banished out of God's kingdom, God responded that 'I know what you do not know' (2:30). At the same time, this world proves Satan's incompetence as a god (App. 7). We had no say in: Who our parents or siblings are When or where we would be born If they we would be rich or poor or an orphan What skin color, apperance, height, bone structure  Epigenetics Decision to follow God or follow Satan The Devil is the Other Alternative [36:60] Did I not covenant with you, O Children of Adam, that you shall not worship the devil? That he is your most ardent enemy? [36:61] And that you shall worship Me alone? This is the right path. [36:62] He has misled multitudes of you. Did you not possess any understanding?  Interesting difference between “freedom of choice” vs. “Free will” God is the Doer of Everything* [4:78] Wherever you are, death will catch up with you, even if you live in formidable castles. When something good happens to them, they say, "This is from GOD," and when something bad afflicts them, they blame you. Say, "Everything comes from GOD." Why do these people misunderstand almost everything? Nothing Bad Comes From God [4:79] Anything good that happens to you is from GOD, and anything bad that happens to you is from you. We have sent you as a messenger to the people,* and GOD suffices as witness. *4:78 Bad things are consequences of our own deeds (42:30, 64:11), though God is the doer of everything (8:17). God created the fire to serve us, but you can decide to put your finger in it. We thus hurt ourselves. It is God's law that if you put your finger in the fire, it will hurt.  [42:30] Anything bad that happens to you is a consequence of your own deeds, and He overlooks many (of your sins). [64:11] Nothing happens to you except in accordance with GOD's will. Anyone who believes in GOD, He will guide his heart. GOD is fully aware of all things.  God Is Doing Everything* [8:17] It was not you who killed them; GOD is the One who killed them. It was not you who threw when you threw; GOD is the One who threw. But He thus gives the believers a chance to earn a lot of credit. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient. [36:47] When they are told, "Give from GOD's provisions to you," those who disbelieve say to those who believe, "Why should we give to those whom GOD could feed, if He so willed? You are really far astray."  Distinguish who would do better: [57:25] We sent our messengers supported by clear proofs, and we sent down to them the scripture and the law, that the people may uphold justice. And we sent down the iron, wherein there is strength, and many benefits for the people. All this in order for GOD to distinguish those who would support Him and His messengers, on faith. GOD is Powerful, Almighty. [67:2] The One who created death and life for the purpose of distinguishing those among you who would do better.* He is the Almighty, the Forgiving. The Test is Mandatory [29:2] Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe," without being put to the test? [29:3] We have tested those before them, for GOD must distinguish those who are truthful, and He must expose the liars. [47:31] We will certainly put you to the test, in order to distinguish those among you who strive, and steadfastly persevere. We must expose your true qualities. Believe For Our Own Good Believe For Your Own Good [39:7] If you disbelieve, GOD does not need anyone. But He dislikes to see His servants make the wrong decision. If you decide to be appreciative, He is pleased for you. No soul bears the sins of any other soul. Ultimately, to your Lord is your return, then He will inform you of everything you had done. He is fully aware of the innermost thoughts.

A daily devotional walking through God's word together using The Bible Reading Plan at http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html. Our website http://alittlewalkwithgod.com. Welcome back to our study of “The Story,” God story of His plan to bring us back to Him. Last week we talked about the Garden of Eden, why we are no longer in it, the curse of evil we all inherited because of Adam and Eve's decision to disobey, and God's working to redeem us - to bring us back into fellowship with Him. The story of the Garden is the first of five major movements in God's word, His story. Today we begin the second movement, the birth of the nation of Israel. Bible Reading Plan - www.Bible-Reading.com - or Genesis chapters 12-35 When I was a kid, I'll have to admit I wasn't the most athletic person in my community. I was always the geek. Loved reading and science and math. I enjoyed learning more than running around outside getting all hot and sweaty. So one of the things I remember about that time of my life are the games we had to play in school in which someone was made the captain of each side and those captains began to choose their team from all the kids around them. If I wasn't the last person picked, I was next to last just about every time. I just wasn't very good at sports and so I never got picked early. I could write well, debate, take tests of all kinds and perform at the top of the class in those areas. But sports? Not so much. A strange thing happened on one of those fields one day, though. One of the best players on the field was a friend. On this particular day, he was chosen as the captain of one of the teams. I was at the back of the crowd of kids trying to be as inconspicuous as possible.Trying not to be as embarrassed as usual. I wasn't paying much attention to what was going on at the front of the crowd because I knew I'd be one of the last one's whose name was called. But my friend, the captain that day, made the first pick and he called my name. He had to call it twice, though, because I was in shock. No one picked me first. The other captain called a name and then my friend called the name of the second least likely to be asked to play. Then when he called the third name for his team, it was another geek, least likely to play any kind of sport. And that's how it went until everyone was picked. I don't even remember what the score was at the end of the softball game that day, but I remember being called first when teams were formed. I also remember we didn't win the game, but all of us on that team played our hearts out for our captain. He broke the cultural traditions and put together the worst team you could imagine. God's story, beginning at Genesis 12, tells of the selection of two unlikely people. If we were trying to build a nation, we wouldn't pick Abram and Sarai. We would probably find the son of some wealthy king and spark a new nation from him. We would probably look at the pedigree of those who applied and like the majority of the world, we would peruse all those resumes to pick the very best couple we could to form this new nation. But God's story is a little different. He chooses some of the most unlikely people to carry out His plan so there is no question about His intervention in the story. Abraham and Sarah (God changed their names along the way) were old. She was barren. They had no children. How was a great nation to start from an old couple with no children. He was already well past retirement age when his son Isaac was born. Abraham was 100 and Sarah was 90. Then about fifteen years later, God tells Abraham to sacrifice his son. The heir to his property. The one who was promised as the means of building a new nation that would bless all the other nations of the world. These 20 plus chapters in Genesis tell the story of how God chooses the way my friend did that day on the field. There is one really important difference, though. On the softball field, that broken team didn't play very well. We played hard, but we lost. But when God chooses someone to carry out His work, when we do what He asks, the plan never fails. The plan doesn't fail because God doesn't fail. He intends to use men and women like Abraham and Sarah to bless others. Was Abraham perfect after God chose him? Not by a long shot. That's one of the things that's different about His Story. He tells us the good and the bad about the heroes in scripture. God's story doesn't hide the disappointment, the disobedience, the sin in the lives of those upon whom His kingdom is built. It's one of those “tell all” kinds of stories. We see behind the curtain and see all the warts and wrongs and brokenness of those God chooses to do His work. What that tells me, when I read stories of Abraham and his deceit with Pharaoh or the story of Jacob lying to his father and stealing his brother's birthright or the story of Judah sleeping with his daughter-in-law, is that God can use all the people the world would never pick. He looks at the back of the crowd at those who are least likely to succeed. He finds those who the world would snub their nose and question why God would think to use “that person.” God knows what He is doing, though. God works through some of the least likely for two reasons, I think. First, when those least likely carry out His plan and others around see the success of God's work through the efforts of the least likely to succeed, there can be no question that God is part of the plan. There is just no other way to explain how things work because we cannot see around the bend in the road. We can't see how everything will work because we live in the lower story of God's word while He operates in the upper story. God not only sees what's ahead, but intervenes to make sure His plans happen as He intends. Second, when we read about people like Judah and Jacob and Abraham and the mistakes they made yet were honored by God when they returned and followed Him, we can understand that God can use you and me too. He can take us with all our warts, all our brokenness, all our failures and turn us into instruments of His love and part of His great plan. The question is whether we will be part of His plan or fighting against His plan. The choice is ours to make. God won't force us to follow Him or accept Him as our redeemer. He won't push us to do something we refuse to do. He will let us choose our own path. But we also suffer the consequences of taking the wrong path. He tells us how best to live. His word gives us instruction on how to get along with others, how to succeed in life. How to treat our children and our spouse. How to find Him and His redemptive power in our lives. But still, God lets us choose. He knows the best path for us and if we will look up and follow Him, He will show us which path to take. But we still get to choose whether we will take it or not. So here we are at the beginning of the nation of Israel. God made it possible for Abraham to bless the world through his offspring. Abraham decided to accept God's offer and to follow Him. You can look at the first chapter of the New Testament and discover just how blessed the world is because of Abraham's faithfulness. Jesus is his descendant. Both Mary and Joseph trace their heritage back to this man who decided to trust God and follow the path He laid out. So what can you do? Can you change the world for God? No. Neither could Abraham. But God can change the world through you just as He changed the world through Abraham. An unlikely candidate for greatness, but God change that in Abraham. You might think you are an unlikely candidate for greatness. But God can use you to carry out His plans and make all things good as you carry out His purpose in your part of His creation. So what will it be? You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more about The Story and our part in it. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn't, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day.

Was Abraham a company yes man? by Alexandra Sangster

Was Abraham the First Jew with Rabbi Singer http://outreachjudaism.org

Was Abraham righteous before circumcision? What good is circumcision? What is circumcision for a believer?

Was Abraham righteous before circumcision? What good is circumcision? What is circumcision for a believer?

Each one of us has life struggles. We’re engaged in various battles. This Sunday we will look at the war Abraham led in order to rescue his nephew, Lot. Was Abraham successful? Was Abraham alone in waging this war?Support the show (https://pushpay.com/g/hillsidechgr?src=hpp)

We talk a lot about the faith of Abraham. He is a model for all who came after him. But what exactly WAS Abraham's faith? What DID he believe about God? He believed then what we must today, that God can bring life out of that which was dead.

Was Abraham righteous before circumcision? What good is circumcision? What is circumcision for a believer?

Was Abraham righteous before circumcision? What good is circumcision? What is circumcision for a believer?

http://shepherdoftheridge.org/genesis_the_global_study/event/bible_study/genesis_15_17 Read Genesis 16 (Hagar and Ishmael)Sarai had been barren her whole life, was now 75, and it had been 10 years since God had made His promise. What would you do?What was Sarai's solution to their problem? (16:2) In what ways was this a problem?Do you see this being morally comparable to any modern reproductive technologies? Why/not?What did Sarai mean about the Lord judging in 16:5?What can we tell about the Angel of the Lord in 16:7ff? What does this tell us about God's relationship to gentiles?Have you ever had to wait a long time for God to fulfill a promise or meet a need?Has God shown His presence recently in your life? If so, based on how He did, what might you name that place?Read Genesis 17 (Covenant of Circumcision)What did God mean by "be blameless" in 17:1?What does the change of name for Abram/Abraham and Sarai/Sarah mean?Why circumcision? (17:9-14) Is this works righteousness? (Genesis 15:6; 17:7; Romans 4:9-12)Was Abraham's laughter in 17:17 disbelief?

Is anxiety necessary? Was Abraham's imperative to kill his son all in his mind? We will try to answer these questions today. Recorded at the 8 am Mass in Auburn.