Podcasts about was moses

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Best podcasts about was moses

Latest podcast episodes about was moses

The Best of the Bible Answer Man Broadcast
Best of BAM: Theistic Evolution: The Worst of All Possibilities, and Q&A

The Best of the Bible Answer Man Broadcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2025 28:01


On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast, Hank comments on why theistic evolution is the worst of all possibilities on the issue of the origin of life.Hank also answers the following questions:What is the significance of the transfiguration? Significance of Moses and Elijah appearing as opposed to two angels? Edward - Louisville, KY (4:07)Is Isaiah 65:17-25 talking about the millennium? Could there be death in the millennium? Nathan - Tampa, FL (7:07)What is the true meaning of “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven”? When are we considered “rich”? Ron - Las Vegas, NV (15:13)Can you recommend some of your books that will help me study the Bible? Steve - Seattle, WA (20:59)Can you explain the three-day journey into the desert in Exodus 5:3? Was Moses lying to Pharaoh about this? AJ - Murray, UT (23:15)

The Best of the Bible Answer Man Broadcast
Q&A: Missing Verses, Laws to Keep Humanity in Check, and the Eye of a Needle

The Best of the Bible Answer Man Broadcast

Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025 28:01


On today's Bible Answer Man broadcast (05/22/25), Hank answers the following questions:If certain verses in Scripture that aren't in the oldest manuscripts, why are they still in our modern Bibles? Roger - Modesto, CA (0:47)A guy was asking me about Christianity. He wondered why so many laws are put here to keep humanity in check. Can you help? Matt - Charlotte, NC (5:35)I want to do what is right concerning tithing. I have been giving 10%. I think I should tithe off my gross. How do I go about giving tithes? Chris - Wake Forest, NC (7:15)What is the true meaning of “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven”? When are we considered “rich”? Ron - Los Vegas, NV (15:13)Can you recommend some of your books that will help me study the Bible? Steve - Seattle, WA (20:59)Can you explain the three-day journey into the desert in Exodus 5:3? Was Moses lying to Pharaoh about this? AJ - Murray, UT (23:15)

Burn Youth
Jesus: The Greater Moses // Isaac Tang

Burn Youth

Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2025 29:40


Was Moses really the greatest - or was he just a shadow of someone greater? In this episode, we uncover how Jesus fulfills the ancient prophecy of a prophet like Moses, and why that changes everything.

Called to Communion
Catholic Church on Charging Interest?

Called to Communion

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 51:00


Was Moses historic? Evolution or Creation? Don't be "Procrustes"? This and much more on today's Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.

Catholic
Called to Communion -042125- Catholic Church on Charging Interest?

Catholic

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 50:26


Was Moses historic? Evolution or Creation? Don't be "Procrustes"? This and much more on today's Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.

Was It Good Though?
Episode 149: The Prince of Egypt

Was It Good Though?

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 138:44


"Let my people Goooo!!" — the iconic words from the chosen one, Moses. This week on Episode 149, we're diving deep into The Prince of Egypt. Huge shoutout to our homies Furb and Jada for pulling up and joining us for this one. We tackled some wild questions during the discussion — like, who actually built the pyramids? Would Pharaoh have let the slaves go after the work was done? And here's the real curveball: Was Moses the true villain of the film?From the powerful message to the unforgettable soundtrack, we break down what made this animated epic so impactful. We also dig into whether the story was truly based on real events. Things definitely got dark — plagues, famines, frogs everywhere — but we survived it all and even walked through the ocean (okay, metaphorically) to get to the heart of it all, "Was It Good Though?"

Bridge Bible Talk
Bridge Bible Talk 4 - 1 - 25

Bridge Bible Talk

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 57:00


Hosts Pastor Robert Baltodano and Pastor Lloyd Pulley Question Timestamps: Charles, NY (2:40) - What kind of school did David attend while he was a shepherd boy? How did he learn to write? Ed, NJ (4:27) - Should I sell the Bible? Michelle, email (7:45) - Is it right for a woman to be the pastor of a church? Where is this addressed in the Bible? Maria, email (11:08) - Did Jonah die in the fish, or was he alive the entire time? Celine, email (14:17) - If the giants in the days of Noah ended in the flood, who were the giants in the days of David? Stephanie, NJ (16:01) - Where do the gentiles come from if we are all from Adam and Eve? Preston, TN (19:24) - Adam wasn't made at the same time as Eve, so how could Genesis 2 be a description of Genesis 1? Is God a spirit or a physical being? Email (25:18) - What's the point of praying or talking to God, if he knows everything and has everything worked out? Livian, TX (28:25, continued after break at 33:29) - Are we commanded to tithe? David, VA (37:43) - What does it mean to “worship in spirit and truth?” How do we “store up treasures in heaven?” Pamela, NY (43:31) - Was Moses always “slow to speak?” Is the Sabbath on Saturday or Sunday? Carol, NY (48:48) - Did Jesus ever say “I am going to take on your sins, and be that sacrificial lamb so you do not have to make any more sacrifices?”  Jerry, NY (51:40) - What does the Bible say about teaching people to cast out demons? Gideon and Maddie, NJ (54:27) - What happened to David's wife Abigail after he married Bathsheba? Ask Your Question: 888-712-7434 Answers@bbtlive.org

Arroe Collins
The Daily Mess Was Moses Challenged By His People Plus Can You Mend A Broken Heart With Music

Arroe Collins

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 2:52


I'm always asking questions.  The fun begins when you start researching for answers. Such as… Was Moses challenged by those he led?  Yeah!  Bible Moses!  Was he challenged by his peopled?  Plus…songs written about mending a broken heart, have any of them actually worked?  I'm Arroe…  I am a daily writer.  A silent wolf.  I stand on the sidelines and do nothing but watch, listen study then activate.  I call it The Daily Mess.  A chronological walk through an everyday world.  Yes, it's my morning writing.  As a receiver of thoughts and ideas, we as people tend to throw it to the side and deal with it later.  When a subject arrives, I dig in.  It's still keeping a journal!  By doing the research the picture becomes clearer.  This is the Daily Mess…  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-unplugged-totally-uncut--994165/support.

Arroe Collins Like It's Live
The Daily Mess Was Moses Challenged By His People Plus Can You Mend A Broken Heart With Music

Arroe Collins Like It's Live

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 2:52


I'm always asking questions.  The fun begins when you start researching for answers. Such as… Was Moses challenged by those he led?  Yeah!  Bible Moses!  Was he challenged by his peopled?  Plus…songs written about mending a broken heart, have any of them actually worked?  I'm Arroe…  I am a daily writer.  A silent wolf.  I stand on the sidelines and do nothing but watch, listen study then activate.  I call it The Daily Mess.  A chronological walk through an everyday world.  Yes, it's my morning writing.  As a receiver of thoughts and ideas, we as people tend to throw it to the side and deal with it later.  When a subject arrives, I dig in.  It's still keeping a journal!  By doing the research the picture becomes clearer.  This is the Daily Mess…  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/arroe-collins-like-it-s-live--4113802/support.

Key Chapters in the Bible
3/2 Joshua 1 - Be Strong & Courageous

Key Chapters in the Bible

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2025 16:28


One of the great things about following the Lord is that it's the way that we walk into the place of God's blessings. Today we'll study Joshua 1 and discuss the Lord's exhortations to Joshua to be strong and courageous and how Joshua's obedience brought himself and all of the Children of Israel into the place of God's blessings. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1.    In Joshua 1, the Lord calls Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. In general terms, was Joshua a young man at this point? Why was a man of his age leading the Children of Israel into the Promised Land? Why weren't they in that land already? 2.    Who died in Joshua 1:1? Why is that significant? How do you think Joshua would have felt having to lead the Children of Israel into the Promised Land without Moses? Was Moses their leader all this time, or what it someone else? 3.    What promises does the Lord give to Joshua in verses 3-5? If you were Joshua at this point, what steps might you have taken to be sure you knew and believed God's promises for you? 4.    What exhortation does the Lord give to Joshua in verse 6? In verse 9, what is similar and what is different about the Lord's exhortations?  5.    Why do you think the Lord called Joshua to meditate on His Word, in verse 8? What kinds of things, practically speaking, do you think this entailed? Why is righteous strength and courage impossible without meditating on God's Word? 6.    Now that the Lord has given Joshua these instructions and exhortations (in verses 6-9), how does faith and obedience factor into what Joshua will do next? 7.    What does Joshua do next in verse 10? What does this signify about his intent to obey whatever the Lord has declared? Do you think it would be easy for an +/- 80 year old man to obey the Lord in this way? What kinds of spiritual perspectives went into his courage and obedience?  8.    What did the leaders promise to Joshua in verse 16? What was their view of rebels in this passage? What does that indicate? What did they also exhort Joshua to do? 9.    Are there any places in your own life where strength and courage are required? What principles can you glean from the life of Joshua that likewise apply to your situation?  Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

Key Chapters in the Bible
1/24 Exodus 7 - God's Work & Satan's Counterfeits

Key Chapters in the Bible

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 12:09


God's deliverance of His people from Egypt was a form of spiritual warfare; and today as we look at Exodus 7 we'll discuss how Satan tried to confuse Pharaoh and the Egyptians back then, and how he's doing the same kinds of things today. And to be strong in the face of spiritual warfare, we need to be on guard and have pure faith and trust in God.  DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1.    For the past several days, we have been studying the Book of Exodus, however, we haven't discussed what the name means. What does the name “Exodus” mean and what was the “exit” that it is referring to? What was the initial reason that this Exodus was to take place? 2.    The podcast gave a quick review of Exodus 6 & 7. What was Pharoah's first response to Moses in Exodus 5:2? How did the Jews respond to Moses in Exodus 5:21? Was Moses receiving this flack from these people because he was obeying God or disobeying Him? How did Moses respond in Exodus 5:22? How did the Lord respond to Moses in Exodus 6:1 and following? How do you think you might have reacted to Pharaoh and the people if they responded this way to you?  3.    What did God warn Moses about in Exodus 7:3-5? In what ways did this come true?  4.    In Exodus 7, how were the Egyptian magicians able to counterfeit the miracles of God? The podcast mentions that Moses and Aaron's age help us answer the question about magic tricks. What was the point that the podcast made about the true source of Moses and Aaron's miracles? 5.    The podcast mentioned that the 10 Plagues are excellent examples of spiritual warfare because often Satan seeks to confuse the situation. How did Satan confuse these first plagues and how did Pharaoh and his servants respond? How do people today respond similarly to these kinds of attempts at confusion in their lives?  6.    Strength and courage often comes from a strong sense of obedience to God and anticipation that He will work. What commands was Moses obeying in this passage and how was he anticipating the Lord to work? In your day today, are there clear commands from scripture that relate to what you will likely encounter? How might the Lord work in those situations? 7.    The podcast mentioned that these plagues all were assaults on the Egyptian false gods. Why did the Jews need to see God's power over Egypt's false gods? What does this show us about God's care and compassion for His people, even when they are struggling in the faith?  8.    The podcast mentioned that Hapi was the god of the Nile and fertility. Also, Khnum was the god of the Nile. The Nile was supposed to produce life, but what did it produce instead? How does this show the Lord's power over Hapi, Khnum and also Osiris (who supposedly had the Nile flowing in his bloodstream)?  9.    The magicians could turn water into “blood” but could not turn it back. How did this fact demonstrate the reality of Moses' miracles versus the fakery of the magicians?  10.    The podcast suggested that the world creates all kinds of fake fantasies to compete with the truth of God. How do people sometimes look at the world's fantasy and think it's more appealing than God's actual truth?  11.    Through these miracles, the Lord was calling His people to leave Egypt and not be entangled in their religions. Along these lines, how do His people get entangled in the world today? What is God's call for them today?  12.    Although we may not often see God work in such dramatic ways, He does still work in our lives. How have you seen God work in your life? How should that galvanize your own commitment to Him?   Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

To Every Man An Answer
To Every Man an Answer 1/17/2025

To Every Man An Answer

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 56:19


7:06 - Hebrews 9:28, is this about Jesus' return? / 17:03 - What do the 'Black Hebrew Israelites' believe? / 31:00 - Is it ok to get ordained online? / 36:25 - Was Moses' second wife black skinned? / 41:49 - If we die without repenting for a specific, recent sin, do we still go to Heaven? / 51:04 - I need help from PJI. / 52:43 - When were the mountains made?

Heart to Heart
The Wedding Rings of Unmarried Nuns?

Heart to Heart

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 49:38


Mother Miriam Live - December 3rd, 2024 Continuing The History of Advent by Dom Prosper Guéranger Do unmarried nuns wear rings as a devotion to Christ? How do you deal with fear of war? My hometown parish has an increase of scandalous irreverence. My mother is talking bad about my father and Catholicism. Was Moses banned from Israel and/or heaven? Is December 9th, a holy day of obligation (Final answer is later in the show) Is it okay to refuse pain meds? How long should my first confession take?

The Whole Church Podcast
Leviticus 23 & 24 - Let Nothing Move You

The Whole Church Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2024 73:15


Christian is joined once more by Joshua Noel to discuss Leviticus 23 and 24. Why does God mandate festivals and holidays? What are the purposes of these days and what can we learn from them now? Why is the Sabbath so important? Why would God ordain holidays that weren't to be celebrated before the conquering of the Promised Land? What does it mean to blaspheme God's Name? Does the ethnicity of the perpetrator matter in this instance? Was Moses righteous to have the man stoned? https://zencastr.com/?via=christian-ashley Mentioned in this episode:Zencastr ad. Use code LETNOTHINGMOVEYOU for 30% off your Zencastr subscription!

The Great Sources with Rabbi Shnayor Burton
S7, E8.1 The Guide of the Perplexed, The Problem of Evil, 04: Transcendent God, Moses, and the Body, pt. 1

The Great Sources with Rabbi Shnayor Burton

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2024 54:28


This lecture series is a project of כרם בין תורה לחכמה, generously sponsored by R' Yoel Werzberger. 00:30 Moses perceived the whole of the universe, which is "all of God's goodness" 2:15 In order to understand the true nature of reality, one has to transcend the body 10:00 Was Moses' great perception the whole of the created universe or God's transcendence? 14:00 One cannot understand God's transcendence without understanding the whole of the created universe; and one cannot understand the whole of the created universe without understanding God's transcendence 21:00 What is actually meant by "God saw that it was good"? 24:00 The world is right but by no metric 29:30 To see the goodness of the world is to be blinded 33:30 Everyone perceives evil since they perceive reality through the lens of the body 35:00 The perception through the lens of the body is also important and a part of nature 42:00 The hamoni in the Guide is not the other guy – everyone has some hamonism within themselves 44:00 The tension between whether man is defined by his intellect or by his body as well 45:00 How to prevent evil actions – through knowledge or character training? 48:00 Does human perfection involve intellectual perception or doing good?

Catholic Answers Live
#11697 Ask Me Anything - Jimmy Akin

Catholic Answers Live

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024


Questions Covered: 03:05 – Is it necessary to not act on a doubting conscience if something is avoidable? 07:29 – Does God violate the Pauline principle? 14:13 – What does it look like when demons and angels fight each other? 17:59 – How do we clearly differentiate between mortal and venial sin? 22:10 – My Spanish teacher claimed that we are all God. He mentioned Jn 10:34, Psalm 82 as evidence. What’s the response? 28:33 – How do we know when marriage becomes an idol? 33:08 – Was Moses assumed into heaven? 40:55 – My husband and I were married in a Lutheran Church. We’re baptized in the Catholic Church. Do we have to abstain from intercourse while we wait to get our marriage blessed? 44:34 – If God is outside of time and space, could Abraham have received the eucharist by Melchizedek? 47:01 – Would it be moral for the scientific community to pursue artificial wombs in order to protect life? 49:37 – The idea that angels fell at the moment of creation contradicts the book of Enoch. How do we understand this seeming contradiction? …

Open Line, Monday
The Poor in Spirit

Open Line, Monday

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 60:00


Was Moses the only person to see God's face? Why do have to recite the Rosary out loud? What does it mean to be poor in spirit? and more on today's Open Line with Fr. John Trigilio.

Catholic
Open Line Monday - 2024-05-06 - The Poor in Spirit

Catholic

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 50:21


Was Moses the only person to see God's face? Why do have to recite the Rosary out loud? What does it mean to be poor in spirit? and more on today's Open Line with Fr. John Trigilio.

Father Simon Says
Mass By the Book - April 4, 2024

Father Simon Says

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2024 50:33


Bible Study: (1:55) Acts 3:11-26 Father explains some of the Kosher laws regarding pork Letters (19:47) – what is meant by ‘Novus Ordo' by the book?  https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal (23:30) – Brenda responds to Father Simon's critique of the Sermon on the Mount (27:54) - Comment about the Novus Ordo and TLM Word of the Day: Ghost (31:21) Callers  (34:04) – Why were the separation of garments at resurrection? (41:40) – Was Moses circumcised and how old was Moses when he was picked up as a baby? (45:06) – With Mass was in Latin, it was part of universal Church, everybody spoke  same language and that made Church Universal.   (48:42) – ‘Today you will be with me in paradise' and how could he be in paradise' if he descended to the dead? Original Air Date: April 13, 2023

Father Simon Says
What's in My Heart - March 14, 2024

Father Simon Says

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 49:13


Bible Study: (1:59) Ex 32:7-14 God does not need to know what's in my heart; I need to know it Jn 5:31-47 What does it mean to be saved?  Letters (19:32) - Catholic Study Bible and the Wall of Jericho  (28:45) - Who was John the Baptist Baptizing?  Word of the Day: Depraved Caller: (36:41) - Question about the intercessory prayer - if I don't like one of the prayers is it a sin not to respond? (40:16) - Who is qualified to give the homily? My daughter went to a church where a woman gave the homily (43:02) - Was Moses talking to God the Father or God the Son in today's readings? (45:18) - When can you actually sit down after you receive communion? Comment: Why so many woman in OT named Mary

Key Chapters in the Bible
3/1 Joshua 1 - Be Strong & Courageous

Key Chapters in the Bible

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 16:28


One of the great things about following the Lord is that it's the way that we walk into the place of God's blessings. Today we'll study Joshua 1 and discuss the Lord's exhortations to Joshua to be strong and courageous and how Joshua's obedience brought himself and all of the Children of Israel into the place of God's blessings. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1.    In Joshua 1, the Lord calls Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. In general terms, was Joshua a young man at this point? Why was a man of his age leading the Children of Israel into the Promised Land? Why weren't they in that land already? 2.    Who died in Joshua 1:1? Why is that significant? How do you think Joshua would have felt having to lead the Children of Israel into the Promised Land without Moses? Was Moses their leader all this time, or what it someone else? 3.    What promises does the Lord give to Joshua in verses 3-5? If you were Joshua at this point, what steps might you have taken to be sure you knew and believed God's promises for you? 4.    What exhortation does the Lord give to Joshua in verse 6? In verse 9, what is similar and what is different about the Lord's exhortations?  5.    Why do you think the Lord called Joshua to meditate on His Word, in verse 8? What kinds of things, practically speaking, do you think this entailed? Why is righteous strength and courage impossible without meditating on God's Word? 6.    Now that the Lord has given Joshua these instructions and exhortations (in verses 6-9), how does faith and obedience factor into what Joshua will do next? 7.    What does Joshua do next in verse 10? What does this signify about his intent to obey whatever the Lord has declared? Do you think it would be easy for an +/- 80 year old man to obey the Lord in this way? What kinds of spiritual perspectives went into his courage and obedience?  8.    What did the leaders promise to Joshua in verse 16? What was their view of rebels in this passage? What does that indicate? What did they also exhort Joshua to do? 9.    Are there any places in your own life where strength and courage are required? What principles can you glean from the life of Joshua that likewise apply to your situation?  Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

Key Chapters in the Bible
1/24 Exodus 7 - God's Work & Satan's Counterfeits

Key Chapters in the Bible

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2024 12:09


God's deliverance of His people from Egypt was a form of spiritual warfare; and today as we look at Exodus 7 we'll discuss how Satan tried to confuse Pharaoh and the Egyptians back then, and how he's doing the same kinds of things today. And to be strong in the face of spiritual warfare, we need to be on guard and have pure faith and trust in God.  DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: Exodus 7 1.    For the past several days, we have been studying the Book of Exodus, however, we haven't discussed what the name means. What does the name “Exodus” mean and what was the “exit” that it is referring to? What was the initial reason that this Exodus was to take place? 2.    The podcast gave a quick review of Exodus 6 & 7. What was Pharoah's first response to Moses in Exodus 5:2? How did the Jews respond to Moses in Exodus 5:21? Was Moses receiving this flack from these people because he was obeying God or disobeying Him? How did Moses respond in Exodus 5:22? How did the Lord respond to Moses in Exodus 6:1 and following? How do you think you might have reacted to Pharaoh and the people if they responded this way to you?  3.    What did God warn Moses about in Exodus 7:3-5? In what ways did this come true?  4.    In Exodus 7, how were the Egyptian magicians able to counterfeit the miracles of God? The podcast mentions that Moses and Aaron's age help us answer the question about magic tricks. What was the point that the podcast made about the true source of Moses and Aaron's miracles? 5.    The podcast mentioned that the 10 Plagues are excellent examples of spiritual warfare because often Satan seeks to confuse the situation. How did Satan confuse these first plagues and how did Pharaoh and his servants respond? How do people today respond similarly to these kinds of attempts at confusion in their lives?  6.    Strength and courage often comes from a strong sense of obedience to God and anticipation that He will work. What commands was Moses obeying in this passage and how was he anticipating the Lord to work? In your day today, are there clear commands from scripture that relate to what you will likely encounter? How might the Lord work in those situations? 7.    The podcast mentioned that these plagues all were assaults on the Egyptian false gods. Why did the Jews need to see God's power over Egypt's false gods? What does this show us about God's care and compassion for His people, even when they are struggling in the faith?  8.    The podcast mentioned that Hapi was the god of the Nile and fertility. Also, Khnum was the god of the Nile. The Nile was supposed to produce life, but what did it produce instead? How does this show the Lord's power over Hapi, Khnum and also Osiris (who supposedly had the Nile flowing in his bloodstream)?  9.    The magicians could turn water into “blood” but could not turn it back. How did this fact demonstrate the reality of Moses' miracles versus the fakery of the magicians?  10.    The podcast suggested that the world creates all kinds of fake fantasies to compete with the truth of God. How do people sometimes look at the world's fantasy and think it's more appealing than God's actual truth?  11.    Through these miracles, the Lord was calling His people to leave Egypt and not be entangled in their religions. Along these lines, how do His people get entangled in the world today? What is God's call for them today?  12.    Although we may not often see God work in such dramatic ways, He does still work in our lives. How have you seen God work in your life? How should that galvanize your own commitment to Him?   Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

Reefer MEDness
S3E08 Pastors, Pot, And Prophets (Re-Hash)

Reefer MEDness

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2023 64:30


Did Jesus die on the cross? Was Moses influenced by cannabis when speaking to the Lord? Are Christian Churches embracing Cannabis? First up we meet the founding member of Christian Cannabis, Craig Gross. Once known as the “Porn Pastor,” Gross has a new message for Christian leaders. We learn how cannabis facilitated his personal journey and how he came to a cross roads. Gross once focused on helping porn-addicted Christians kick their habit. Now he is focused on how Christians can be healed by this ancient plant. Next we explore the origins of cannabis. Researcher Chris Bennett connects cannabis to world religion and how it spread from one culture to another. He speaks to how biblical Prophets, Knights Templars, and the Messiah himself, were connected to cannabis by reframing our trusted biblical stories. Bennett says cannabis has been part of human history from the beginning. The legalization of cannabis demands philosophical discussions and these two guests bring a deep conversion to what may be our most controversial episode yet.Music:The Drifting Cossackshttps://www.facebook.com/thedriftingcossacks/ (Yes we got a SOCAN membership to use this song all legal and proper like) Links:Craig Gross - Christian Cannabis - www.christiancannabis.comInstagram - @christian.cannabis Chris Bennet - Urban Shaman - www.urbanshaman.netAdditional Music:Desiree Dorion desireedorion.comMarc Clement - FacebookTranscripts, papers and so much more at: reefermed.ca

Bible Answers Live
It's the Little Things

Bible Answers Live

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2023


"Every act of life, however small, has its bearing for good or for evil... It is the little things that test the character;" it's the little things that our Father cares about (PP, 158). Listen in and learn with us the absoluteness of obedience, the meaning of habitual and willful sin, and very importantly, we'll delineate how to love God more. Put simply, we must in our intention give up all for Jesus, and in act, we must give up all to Jesus (C.H.S.). Neglecting little things can have catastrophic consequences, but, our Father deserves that nothing in our love for Him be little. “Love must be the principle of action,” (COL, 49); we will then be able to count it all joy indeed. Join us now ! 1.- In Matthew 27:52-53, who were the people raised from the dead at the crucifixion ? 2.- How are God the Father and God the Son the temple in the New Jerusalem ? 3.- Does 1 Kings refer to how this world has become more warped in its thinking and judgment ? 4.- How can we confirm that the starting date of the 2,300-day prophecy in the book of Daniel began in the year 457 B.C. ? 5.- Who is the archangel mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4 verse 16 ? 6.- What was the first marriage in the Bible, and how did the ceremony of a legal marriage develop ? 7.- There are times in the Bible when self-defense seems okay and other times when it doesn't. Are there any resources or stories that could clear this confusion up for me ? 8.- Today, many Jews are turning to Christianity. Is this a victory for Rome ? 9.- Will you please explain what is happening in Exodus 4 verse 25 ? 10.- Will you help me understand Hebrews 10 verse 26 ? 11.- Could Ezekiel chapter 38 be referring to the war in Israel ? 12.- What does, "Count it all joy," mean in James 1 verse 2 ? 13.- What does, "Those who are asleep in Jesus, God will bring with Him," in 1 Thessalonians 4 verse 14 mean ? 14.- Regarding Revelation 20 and 21, why would we come down from a clean Heaven to a filthy Earth ? 15.- Did Jesus' disciples think that they too would be resurrected after their death ? 16.- How do I love God more ? What do I have to do to show that I love Him more ? 17.- Was Moses part of the captives that ascended with Jesus at His resurrection ? 18.- Is it necessary that a person be baptized and filled with the Spirit to enter God's kingdom ?

Imagine Faith Talk
Ep 50: Let's Ask Don

Imagine Faith Talk

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2023 20:34


Welcome to Imagine Faith Talk, the podcast where we believe that faith in God is the key to unlocking everything you are called to be! In this episode Kevin and Donovan take a departure from the norm and let Kevin ask Don questions about faith that he has had on his mind. Don answers questions like "Who is success for?", "Did God create us to be successful?" and "Was Moses successful?" Here you can leave us a voice message: Who knows? It may get played in a later episode: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://telbee.io/channel/--ilp2wzizepaokptlfe6g/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Feel free to visit our website ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.imaginefaithtalk.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, subscribe to our mailing list ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.imaginefaithtalk.com/subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and check out our blog ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.imaginefaithtalk.com/blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Magical Quotes: "Your success in the family of faith is dependent on one thing: Did you obey?" "We were created to give glory to the Father." Bible Verses: Psalm 23:3 1 Corinthians 10:31 1 Corinthians 3:5 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/imaginefaithtalk/message

P40 Ministries
Deuteronomy 31:1-13 (From Creation) - Encouragement for Disappointment

P40 Ministries

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 16:27


Encouragement for when life is full of disappointments. Was Moses jealous of Joshua?  How God uses everything to work out for good. Jenn talks about some dissapointments she has experienced this year and how she is maintaining hope.    Need more P40 Ministries content? Of course you do!  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnh-aqfg8rw Website - https://www.p40ministries.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p40ministries  Contact - jenn@p40ministries.com  Books - https://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Kokal/e/B095JCRNHY/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk  Merch Store - https://www.p40ministries.com/shop 

Bridge Bible Talk
Bridge Bible Talk 4 - 19 - 23

Bridge Bible Talk

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2023 56:58


Pastors Robert Baltodano and Lloyd Pulley Question Timestamps: Debbie, NY (2:58) - Was Enoch able to go up to heaven before anyone else? Mike, NJ (8:10) - Why did Jesus appeal to God to forgive man, and not just say “I forgive you?” Steve, NY (11:32) - Can you explain an analogy that you gave, comparing Cain to human religion? Elizabeth, MA (17:47) - Did the Jews believe that a person wasn't really dead until they had been dead for four days, would that mean they believed Jesus didn't really die? Donald, NY (21:13) - Is Ezekiel 28:12-13 a picture of an actual king or is it Satan? Lynn, NJ (25:00) - What is the meaning of Matthew 6:22-23? Brandy, Facebook (28:04) - Can Christians smoke marijuana? Joan, NJ (34:08) - Were Adam and Eve saved? Will they be in heaven? John, NJ (36:34) - Could you explain how the Bible should be used?  Joe, PA (39:52) - How do I match up my relationship with a woman I love with what God would want? Rico, TX (45:55) - Can you explain Proverbs 28:9-10 and Isaiah 66:22-23? Shadane, NJ (50:17) - Are there only Ten Commandments, or are there more? Danny, GA (51:34) - How many times can a person be baptized? Bob, NY (52:24) - Did Jesus ask God to forgive man because he was there as a sacrifice?  Sherifa, NH (53:28) - Was Moses resurrected before Jesus? Questions? 888-712-7434 Questions@bbtlive.org  

Father Simon Says
Mass by the Book - April 13, 2023

Father Simon Says

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2023 51:08


Bible Study: (1:55) Acts 3:11-26 Father explains some of the Kosher laws regarding pork Letters (20:05) - what is meant by 'Novus Ordo' by the book?  https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/general-instruction-of-the-roman-missal (23:48) - Brenda responds to Father Simon's critique of the Sermon on the Mount (28:11)- Comment about the Novus Ordo and TLM Word of the Day: Ghost (31:56)Callers  (34:39) - Why were the separation of garments at resurrection? (42:15) - Was Moses circumcised and how old was Moses when he was picked up as a baby? (45:41) - With Mass was in Latin, it was part of universal Church, everybody spoke  same language and that made Church Universal.   (49:17) - 'Today you will be with me in paradise' and how could he be in paradise' if he descended to the dead?

Bridge Bible Talk
Bridge Bible Talk 3 - 7 - 23

Bridge Bible Talk

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2023 56:59


Pastors Robert Baltodano and Lloyd Pulley Question Timestamps: Andy, NY (3:11) - Are children born without sin? Maria, NJ (6:40) - Was Moses's second wife, the Cushite woman, a black woman? Dennis, NJ (9:46) - In Numbers 16, was Koran related to Moses? Joe, HI (14:17) - If a deacon's child gets someone pregnant out of wedlock, should the deacon step down from ministry? James, NJ (16:41) - What is the best approach to practically applying the word of God to real life? Mary, MS (19:06) - Will people be able to be saved during the tribulation time? Janet, IL (22:20) - Is there a Bible for Dummies? Jeff, FL (24:28) - Could it be that the woman at the well's previous five husbands died? Aaron, NJ (33:45) - Why do the accounts in 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles, about David numbering the men, have different numbers as their results? What happens to the Jewish people that have yet to receive Jesus as their Messiah? Joe, NJ (41:05) - Can you give me some verses in the Bible that speak on why women shouldn't be pastors? David, NJ (45:23) - Why does Christianity keep perpetuating “race,” when Acts 17:26 says that all people come from one man? Orlando, NY (50:51) - In 1 Kings 19:11 it says “God was not in the earthquake,” does that mean God has nothing to do with earthquakes? How do you respond to people that blame God for earthquakes? Are earthquakes caused by evil? Questions? 888-712-7434 Questions@bbtlive.org

Key Chapters in the Bible
3/4 Joshua 1 - Be Strong and Courageous

Key Chapters in the Bible

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2023 16:28


One of the great things about following the Lord is that it's the way that we walk into the place of God's blessings. Today we'll study Joshua 1 and discuss the Lord's exhortations to Joshua to be strong and courageous and how Joshua's obedience brought himself and all of the Children of Israel into the place of God's blessings. Join us! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1.    In Joshua 1, the Lord calls Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. In general terms, was Joshua a young man at this point? Why was a man of his age leading the Children of Israel into the Promised Land? Why weren't they in that land already? 2.    Who died in Joshua 1:1? Why is that significant? How do you think Joshua would have felt having to lead the Children of Israel into the Promised Land without Moses? Was Moses their leader all this time, or what it someone else? 3.    What promises does the Lord give to Joshua in verses 3-5? If you were Joshua at this point, what steps might you have taken to be sure you knew and believed God's promises for you? 4.    What exhortation does the Lord give to Joshua in verse 6? In verse 9, what is similar and what is different about the Lord's exhortations?  5.    Why do you think the Lord called Joshua to meditate on His Word, in verse 8? What kinds of things, practically speaking, do you think this entailed? Why is righteous strength and courage impossible without meditating on God's Word? 6.    Now that the Lord has given Joshua these instructions and exhortations (in verses 6-9), how does faith and obedience factor into what Joshua will do next? 7.    What does Joshua do next in verse 10? What does this signify about his intent to obey whatever the Lord has declared? Do you think it would be easy for an +/- 80 year old man to obey the Lord in this way? What kinds of spiritual perspectives went into his courage and obedience?  8.    What did the leaders promise to Joshua in verse 16? What was their view of rebels in this passage? What does that indicate? What did they also exhort Joshua to do? 9.    Are there any places in your own life where strength and courage are required? What principles can you glean from the life of Joshua that likewise apply to your situation?  Check out our new Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

Faith Community Bible Church
The Humble Path of Peace

Faith Community Bible Church

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2023 33:17


Slideshow for this message is available Introduction James 4 Review So we all have bucket lists, things we want to do before we die. For years, I had on my bucket list to race in the baja 1000. So not many of you know this but four years ago I actually did exactly that. I competed in the Baja 1000 in the class 3 division which is short bed lightweight truck category and after a grueling 23 hours I crossed the finish line in 4th place. Now what I just told you is complete fiction. I would like to have done that but I have never done anything of the sort. The reason I said that was only to give a real-time example of the difference between a claim and a reality. People can claim anything. That doesn't make it true. We are in James chapter 4 where we are surveying tests of genuine faith. It's one thing to claim you're a Christian but words are cheap. The question is simply, “Are you?” And all through this epistle, James is giving us tests to distinguish between the mere claim and the real deal. The first test was how you respond to trials, chapter 1. And then there was how you react to the Word of God. Are you a doer of the Word or only a hearer? And then how you respond to people in need. Do you have the true religion that reaches out to the fatherless and the widows, or do you demonstrate, as chapter 2 outlined, partiality toward some people? - And then there was that great and comprehensive test of works in chapter 2, verse 14, where James says if your faith is real, it'll prove itself in works, for faith without works is what? It's dead. And then there was the tongue in chapter 3, and the tongue is a test of true salvation, it's the heart that produces the vocabulary and the speech And then last week in chapter 3 there was the test of what kind of wisdom that you exhibit. Is it the wisdom that is from above or is it the wisdom that is not from above which is earthly and sensual and demoniacal? These are all tests. They are all methods of discerning genuine faith. Now we come to chapter four and we get yet another indicator of true saving faith: how you deal with conflict. James says, “Listen, the reason you fight and quarrel is because you desire evil things.” Your conflict on the outside is a result of evil desires on the inside. So presumably the solution to the outside problem is to resolve the inside problem. Right? That would make sense. Let me illustrate this INSIDE problem in a realm we can all easily understand. About two weeks ago, I got out of bed and went into the bathroom. And Lisa was in the bedroom. It was early in the morning and nobody was up so it was really quiet. And she heard me say in a very concerned voice, “Oh no.” And she kind of jumped up and said, “What's wrong, Jason?” And I said “Oh nothing. I just stepped on the scale.” So years ago I set what I call the 911 weight and when I reach that weight, the rule is I have to drop 10 pounds. So for the past 20 days I've basically been miserable trying to shed some of that weight that I don't want. Now how did that happen? The answer is I love evil foods. I have a desire for that which is not good for me. A giant slice of apple pie with a bowl of vanilla ice cream is literally a temptation created by the devil himself. The evil passions on the inside have evil expressions on the outside. And the only way to solve this outside problem is to solve the inside problem. My eating behavior on the outside is inextricably linked to my thinking behavior on the inside. To change the behavior one needs to change the desires. It's the only way. No Excuses So knowing that our behavior comes from our desires, James begins by saying that the reason we fight and quarrel with one another is because of our evil desires. evil desires = evil behavior. Now he goes on further to describe those evil desires in further detail. What James is saying is pretty simple. What causes fights is you selfishly want something and you can't have it. That's like two year old theology. That's pretty stinking simple. The Greek word there for desire is the word hedone from which we get our word hedonism. And the idea behind hedonism is that you want something to please yourself. Hedonism is living a life of self-pleasing. it's about your comfort it's about your convenience The core idea of hedonism is self pleasure. It is the number one goal. Everything else has to be sacrificed upon that alter. So in a 1000 little ways, I always put my comfort and MY convenience ahead of other people around me. And it's that driving desire that is the source of our fighting. No Excuses Now if that's true, then the cause of your conflict is you. It's not the other person's fault. It's your fault. The text won't allow you to blame the other person. Remember the proverb? For lack of wood the fire goes out. Do you hear that? That's Solomon's way of saying, “Hey bro, it takes two to Tango.” If you are sinfully quarreling deeply with another person, that's a guaranteed slam dunk indicator that you are at fault. Think about it. When we choose to eat the wrong foods, the problem isn't in the food we eat. You can't blame the food. If it wasn't so delicious, I wouldn't have eaten it. The food didn't make you do anything. The problem is the six inches between our ears. It's in us. The problem is we have unhealthy desires and we lost the internal war. And so it is with our relational conflicts. We want to say, “Man that other person baited me. If they weren't like this, I wouldn't have responded like that.” But it's just not true. Every time we sin in conflict it is because we have evil desires. Nobody ever makes you be sinfully angry. Sinful anger or frustration happens when that unhealthy desire in your own soul boils out in an opportunity. Now as uncomfortable as that might be, James is still not done. It's actually worse yet. Here's what's crazy. Ultimately, what he is saying and it's so painful to admit. It's so, so counterintuitive. The conflict is not between you and the other person. The conflict finally and ultimately is between you and God. Ultimately, all human conflict is the result of a divine conflict. James is really trying to point out that your human conflicts are just symptoms of this spiritual sickness. Your relationship with God is completely jacked up. That's why your suffering on this horizontal level. Notice that the evil desire that is causing all this conflict is called out in verse 4 - HERE IT IS: friendship with the world. There is an evil desire to befriend the world - to value what the world values. And God makes it very clear that this is not okay. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. And it's not so much that you are an enemy of God but that God is an enemy of you! He says if you are a friend of the world, you are an adulterer. Spiritual adultery EQUALS friendship with the world which EQUALS loving the things the world loves. And so your problem with people is just symptomatic of your problem with God. How many of your conflicts really boil down to just wanting to be right? How many of your conflicts really boil down to this deep desire to be respected? How many of your conflicts really boil down to needing to prove yourself in some way or validate yourself or prove your worth in some way. That's the desire that's really driving, driving, driving. Listen that's friendship with the world. That suddenly has very little to do with you and the other person. That's about you and God. What this should do is cause us to step back a bit and evaluate how much the problems in our interpersonal relationships are really just evidence of our problems with God. This is one area where we suffer from severe blindness. Like very, very severe. Imagine blowing up and getting angry at your spouse or a family member or another person in the church and you gossip about them behind their back and God comes to you and says, “Why are you having an affair? How could you be so hurtful to me?” And you think back over the course of the last week and you've got nothing. *You say to God, “What did I do? I thought we were good.* And he says,”Do you remember that conflict you had with your spouse?" And you say, “What does that have to do with you?” And God looks you back, straght in the eye and says, “this has everything to do with you and I.” We are blind to how our personal offense relates to God. Big time. It's the same blindness that a man has when he looks a pornography and tells his wife, “This has nothing to do with you.” Only a fool says that. It has everything to do with her. Having an argument with another person does not seem like it's even remotely related to God. And yet God calls it's at the very center, at the very core, spiritual adultery. He calls it friendship with the world. It has everything to do with God. Listen, it's the same principal when David sinned with Bathsheba and murdered Uriah in his Psalm of repentance in Psalm 51, he said to God, "Against you and you only have I sinned."Now on the surface, that is downright insulting to Uriah. What do you mean? I sure as heck would call sleeping with my wife and murdering me a sin against me. And yet, on a spiritual level, it's secondary. It's a symptom. That sin is just overflow evidence of the greater sin. Bathsheba and Uriah were collateral damage in the same way that an innocent pedestrian is the collateral damage of a drunk driver. All horizontal sin is ultimately sin toward God at the end of the day. Think back on the conflicts you've had this week. Just apply this principle *Any time you get into a sinful argument, just say to yourself, “This is evidence of idolatry in my heart.* There's something wrong in my relationship with God that allowed me to get to this point where those words came out of my mouth.” That's very, very important. Can you imagine if all our conflict resolution started there? Now the solution that James points to is humility. And so here's our two point outline. I have done a lot of study in my life on humility; In fact, let me just take a few minutes here to boast about how much study I've done on humility. Honestly, I just mention the amount of study I've done just because I'm surprised at how elusive this concept is. Despite all my study, I really learned so much this week about the Bible's definition of the concept. It was almost like I had never even heard of the concept. When you think of a humble person, we think of somebody who is shy and maybe not very self-assertive. Somebody who kind of sits back in the shadows and doesn't say much. Someone who doesn't powerfully lead. That's not the picture at all. Let me prove to you that this is not God's picture of humility. Do you know who the Bible says is the most humble person who ever lived? Moses. Was Moses this little soft, weak person who never asserted or confronted in any way? I want you to think about what Moses did when he went to confront Pharaoh. Moses went before the most powerful leader in the world, the most powerful figure in the world, and said, “I want you to give up your entire free labor force, which is the cornerstone of your economic and military superiority, right now, without remuneration, unconditionally, and immediately.” That's not the stereo type of humility is it? And you want to know what else is not very stereotypical? Do you know which book of the Bible says that Moses was the most humble man on earth? Deuteronomy. Do you know who wrote Deuteronomy? Doesn't that just instantly disqualify you from even being in the running. What that tells me is we have the wrong concept of humility. Moses was not courageous and bold in spite of being humble. Moses was courageous and bold because he was humble. Do you know why? Because he REPENTED of sin and he DREW near to God. Show me your glory! He looked at all these people and he said, “I see my passion for God's glory. I see how beautiful God is. I see how lovely he is and I look around and I can honestly say,”I just want him way more than anyone else here does." God's solution to conflict in this passage is humility and here's now he defines it. It's just two points. Repent of sin and draw near to God. Humility that produces peace can be reduced to those two points. Let's start with the first point. Notice the first thing James says about humility here. Humility = REPENTING of evil desire. Now the way this point is developed starts out on a very sad note. To the spiritually sensitive person this is a dagger to the chest. What this passage is saying is I am jealous for your heart. I am jealous to be in that number one place in your soul. I want you to stop loving the world, to stop having an affection for the things of the world and I want you to love me. Now what do you think of the fact that it says God is jealous for our affection. I'll tell you what this says. It says that's God's love is unbelievable. Let me illustrate why this is so powerful. A wife does not want to be #6 in top ten most desirable women. She wants to be number one and she won't settle for anything less. And rightly so. But let's just say she discovers that her husband is having an affair, behind the scene. She has one of two choices. If she reveals her jealousy she instantly becomes extremely vulnerable. She's, in a way, admitting that she's inferior. She's admitting that something else has beaten her out of that number one place, and she's jealous. She wishes she were that person because she wants to be the object of her husbands affection. That's a very risky thing to admit. She does have a chance. What she's begging for is that if she displays her bleeding heart, her fierce jealousy, the idiot will come to his senses and come sobbing in repentance. And she says, "I think I can forgive." But it's such a risky move because there's another possibility. In exposing my jealousy, all it would take is one little word of comparison from her husband and it would just utterly destroy her. Utterly destroyed. So because that is so risky, she has another option open to her. She can also just close her heart off. I'm not jealous. Are you kidding. If he doesn't love me, then he doesn't deserve me. I'm out. You are dead to me, fool. Go set your affection on that goat. See if I care. I actually can't stand the thought of you setting your affection on me. You have lost your chance, buddy. I'm gone. Do you see the choice? So here's where I am going with this. The fact that God says that he is jealous of our affection, it sounds, on the surface almost weak. Isn't he putting the power in our hands. By admitting jealousy, isn't God putting in our hands the power to injure the omnipotent, all-powerful God? Yes. It's really is an indication of his tremendous love for us. It's very vulnerable of him to say this. Even though we have spurned him time and time again, He hasn't closed himself off to us. Like a parent who continues to love their backtalking, snotty child, and willingly allows themself to continue to be injured, God is just extending his love, knowing full well that he could be injured, yet again. So lets now get real. When you have that sinful argument, when your anger comes out, James is tracing that back to a love affair you have with the world. It's not about you and the other person. It's about you and me. Come back to me. I am jealous of your affection. Stop loving that prostitute. Now what is our response to a God who puts himself in this position? Answer. Humble yourself under the might hand of God. HUMBLE YOURSELF. Repent of this evil adulterous relationship. Listen, no man can love his wife again, until he gives up that other. Until he entirely and completely purges that evil desire from his heart. He has to repent of it. He has to, in effect, destroy everything she is to him in his mind. The adulterous woman has to be dead to him. It's the only way. She must die. That's where humility begins. Everything the world means to me must die. If you love being respected, that must die. You must put away that mistress. A Christian wants God and God alone to be respected. If you love being powerful, if you want the freedom of riches, if you want to be beautiful so you can be the object of people's affection. You are having an affair with the world. Put away that mistress. That's God's place. That must die. God must be first. There's a spiritual adulteress that must be pout down. She must be dead to you. You can't say to God, hey sure, I love these things but calm down, I love you too. You will either hate the one or love the other or you will be devoted to one and hate the other. A Christian can't serve two masters. You can't have to spouses. You can't love God and money, God and power, God and respect. By saying, “Can't I love both? That's how people end up in hell.” God opposes the proud. God is an enemy of those kinds of people. You have to repent. Look at the language used here. I want you to look a the command words here. He doesn't use any commands in chapter 4 until he gets here. I did a search on the commands in chapter 4 And I'll just show you this slide form my Bible software to illustrate this. These are all synonyms of repentance. God I mourn that I ever went after all these prostitutes. Forgive me. I weep when I see it. I mourn. That which used to bring me pleasure, now tears my heart out. I wail. I repent in dust and ashes. The path of peace with your neighbor is that kind of humility. Now the flip side of repentance is drawing near to God. The human machine must be pursuing something of beauty. You cannot abandon your current pursuit in exchange for nothing. You only abandon this one beautiful thing if you have something better to pursue. If you haven't eaten in four days and your just absolutely starving and you are being offered McDonalds the only way you'd give that up is if someone offers you Red Robin. Humility is just accepting God's invitation to find something better. Come to me. Taste and see that he Lord is Good. DRAW NEAR. Draw near to me and see what Moses saw. Draw near to me and be satisfied. Stop pouring your life into broken cisterns that hold no water. You just pour and pour and invest and and invest and it just slowly drains away and disappoints. Why do you keep doing that? I know you're incredibly invested and it's hard to abandon everything you've invested. Cut your losses. Drink from the spring of living water. When you Draw near to Christ, you see how beautiful he is. You see how lovely. You see how superior. Why would I ever go anywhere else when I have this? This is humility, to admit that you've been entirely and totally in pursuit of hte wrong thing your whole life. I'm a fool, but I'm happy to say that because now, finally I get the real thing. I get what I've been searching for my entire life! Psalm 70-71 Psalm 122-123 Application What we've been trying to point out this whole time is that our human problems are really at the end of the day God problems. We've tried to to point out now for 40 minutes that all our human problems are just symptoms. The fighting and quarreling are symptoms. It's obvious that this is James point because he starts out with our fighting and quaralling and then he goes on for 10 VERSES and doesn't mention a single word about the other person. Doesn't mention a shred about how you are supposed to treat them. No commands whatsoever directed toward mankind. EVERYTHING HE SAYS is about repenting of your adulterous relationship with the world so that you can get back to loving the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind. At the root of all our relational problems is our ultimate relational problem with God himself. But what I want to do is kind of bring that full circle. What if you were not flirting with the world. What if God was number one in your life? How would that overflow in your relationships? Or to say it another way, How would the holy passions on the inside have holy expressions on the outside. What will that look like? Or to say it another way, what if you treated others the way God treated you? You see instead of being a hedonist who says, “It's all about me." What if you were to instead say, "It's all about God.” And I am going to show you God's love by giving you my life for you the way he gave his life for me. Isn't that what God has done for us? God comes to earth in the form of Jesus Christ. He leaves his glory behind. Romans 15 There's that Greek word again hedonism. Christ was not a hedonist. For even Christ did not please himself. That's like the greatest understatement in the Bible; think about what Jesus did. He came to earth and he not only gave up his glory he gave up his power, and eventually he gave up his life for you, and he paid the penalty. How could I ever be like Jesus in this way? Look at verse 6. He gives more grace. What does that mean? Jesus lived out verses 6. He drew near to God like nobody else on earth. He humbled himself to the point of death, even death on the cross. Jesus lived out verse 7. He submitted to God. He resisted the Devil and the Devil fled from him. And God credits that righteousness to you on the cross. The plan, all along, was for God to humble himself so that we could be exalted. That's grace. The more you understand that, the more secure you are in that, the more amazed your in that, the more you will be able to be like that for others. You will no longer be a hedonist who is trying to be happy by putting yourself first in this world. You are already happy in Christ and so are happy to be last like he was last. You'll be like a mother is to her child. No child has ever received life without the laying down of his mother's life for months in bearing and nourishing him. She had to lay down her life for the child year after year in caring for him and training him and providing for him. We live only because someone else has lived by this principle, this laying down of the life. The Bible says, “For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

Key Chapters in the Bible
1/24 Exodus 7 - God's Work & Satan's Counterfeits

Key Chapters in the Bible

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2023 12:09


God's deliverance of His people from Egypt was a form of spiritual warfare; and today as we look at Exodus 7 we'll discuss how Satan tried to confuse Pharaoh and the Egyptians back then, and how he's doing the same kinds of things today. And to be strong in the face of spiritual warfare, we need to be on guard and have pure faith and trust in God.  DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1. For the past several days, we have been studying the Book of Exodus, however, we haven't discussed what the name means. What does the name “Exodus” mean and what was the “exit” that it is referring to? What was the initial reason that this Exodus was to take place? 2. The podcast gave a quick review of Exodus 6 & 7. What was Pharoah's first response to Moses in Exodus 5:2? How did the Jews respond to Moses in Exodus 5:21? Was Moses receiving this flack from these people because he was obeying God or disobeying Him? How did Moses respond in Exodus 5:22? How did the Lord respond to Moses in Exodus 6:1 and following? How do you think you might have reacted to Pharaoh and the people if they responded this way to you? 3. What did God warn Moses about in Exodus 7:3-5? In what ways did this come true? 4. In Exodus 7, how were the Egyptian magicians able to counterfeit the miracles of God? The podcast mentions that Moses and Aaron's age help us answer the question about magic tricks. What was the point that the podcast made about the true source of Moses and Aaron's miracles? 5. The podcast mentioned that the 10 Plagues are excellent examples of spiritual warfare because often Satan seeks to confuse the situation. How did Satan confuse these first plagues and how did Pharaoh and his servants respond? How do people today respond similarly to these kinds of attempts at confusion in their lives? 6. Strength and courage often comes from a strong sense of obedience to God and anticipation that He will work. What commands was Moses obeying in this passage and how was he anticipating the Lord to work? In your day today, are there clear commands from scripture that relate to what you will likely encounter? How might the Lord work in those situations? 7. The podcast mentioned that these plagues all were assaults on the Egyptian false gods. Why did the Jews need to see God's power over Egypt's false gods? What does this show us about God's care and compassion for His people, even when they are struggling in the faith? 8. The podcast mentioned that Hapi was the god of the Nile and fertility. Also, Khnum was the god of the Nile. The Nile was supposed to produce life, but what did it produce instead? How does this show the Lord's power over Hapi, Khnum and also Osiris (who supposedly had the Nile flowing in his bloodstream)? 9. The magicians could turn water into “blood” but could not turn it back. How did this fact demonstrate the reality of Moses' miracles versus the fakery of the magicians? 10. The podcast suggested that the world creates all kinds of fake fantasies to compete with the truth of God. How do people sometimes look at the world's fantasy and think it's more appealing than God's actual truth? 11. Through these miracles, the Lord was calling His people to leave Egypt and not be entangled in their religions. Along these lines, how do His people get entangled in the world today? What is God's call for them today? 12. Although we may not often see God work in such dramatic ways, He does still work in our lives. How have you seen God work in your life? How should that galvanize your own commitment to Him? Check out our brand-new Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

Learning Bible Truth Ministries  With Teacher-Dr. Camale D.
Black People In The Bible:Episode Four-By Dr. Fredrick K.C Price Sr.

Learning Bible Truth Ministries With Teacher-Dr. Camale D.

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2022 58:48


Was the Apostle Paul black? Was Moses black? Well, Dr. Price will share scriptures that will make you wonder. Also, Dr. Price will share many contributions that black people has made through out history. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dr-camale-dorsey/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/dr-camale-dorsey/support

Understanding The
Understanding The "I AM"...That Is You: Episode 222 (11/29/2022)

Understanding The "I AM"...That Is You...

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2022 21:09


"Would Christians still maintain the identity of the "Father" of Jesus and Jehovah, if evidence sufficiently clear could be adduced that the "Lord God" was no other than the Pagan Bacchus, Dionysos? ...If the Mosaic "Lord God" was the only living God, and Jesus His only Son, how account for the rebellious language of the latter? ...If the Old Testament is a divine revelation, how can the New Testament be? Are we required to believe and worship a deity who contradicts himself every few hundred years? Was Moses inspired, or was Jesus not the Son of God? This is a dilemma from which the theologians are bond to rescue us. It is from this very dilemma that the Gnostics endeavored to snatch the budding Christianity." Music: The Truth (Anno Domini Beats) Homebound (Anno Domini Beats) This episode is also available as a blog post: http://winruffin.com/2022/11/29/blessed-night-family-of-light-%f0%9f%98%8a-63/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/win-ruffin/message

Every Nation Baptist Church
History of Israel Numbers 20:1-13

Every Nation Baptist Church

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2022 35:37


Why was it a big deal that Moses hit the rock? Was Moses able to go into the promised land? Can we choose our consequence to sin?   Join as Pastor John continues our study on the History of Israel. 

Creation Today Podcast
Does the Hebrew Bible Teach 6-Day Creation? with Eric Hovind & Dr. Jonathan Gibson | Creation Today Podcast Ep. 80

Creation Today Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022 27:37


Was Moses “scientifically accurate” when describing the beginning of the universe as he wrote Genesis 1, 2, and 3?  Do we really get a literal 6-Day Creation event from the Hebrew text?  Does the interpretation even matter or set any context for the rest of the scripture?  While this topic has been the subject of controversy for centuries, we will bring it to rest during our conversation with Dr. Jonathan Gibson. If you have ever wondered what was truly being communicated in Genesis, this show will make everything clear.    Watch this Podcast on Video at https://creationtoday.org/on-demand-classes/does-the-hebrew-bible-teach-6-day-creation/ Join Eric LIVE each Wednesday at 12 Noon CT for conversations with Experts. You can support this podcast by becoming a Creation Today Partner at CreationToday.org/Live

Catholic Answers Live
#10738 Open Forum - Jimmy Akin

Catholic Answers Live

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2022


Questions Covered: 02:22 – Do you have any advice regarding forgiveness? 09:03 – What is the nature of man? Is Jesus' soul separate from His divine nature? 14:47 – Was Moses circumcised? 18:55 – What is the formal definition of tradition? 22:30 – How do Catholics defend the practice of penance in light of the parable of the Prodigal son? 28:46 – Is capital punishment immoral? 34:13 – Why did Jesus go after the money changers in the temple? What was the source of the anger? 39:40 – Is the Flavian signature a valid argument? 43:05 – Is there any gray area to consider a marriage between a Catholic and a Jewish person in a synagogue without the bishop’s dispensation to be valid? 47:24 – Why does Christ sometimes appear in the form of a baby in private revelations? 48:58 – Why does God allow suffering and even asks us to bring more children into this world? 50:50 – Who were the sons of God mentioned in Deut. 32 and Psalm 82? Were they fallen angels worshiped as pagan gods? …

Living Springs Q&A
Q&A #253 - Documented miracles, Moses wife, Passes for heaven, and more

Living Springs Q&A

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 58:42


In our 253rd episode, Doug, and Blake join as a team to discuss the following: 1. John 20:30 says that, after Jesus rose, He performed many other miracles that His disciples saw, and that they were written somewhere so that we would believe in the Messiah. Where is it that these miracles are written?3. Was Moses wife, Zipporah (from Midian) Arab? Further to my question about Zipporah, what happened to her and their sons, Gershom and Eliezer? I know they were brought to Moses in the desert, but then what?3. In Roman's 9:17 it says, "For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."We know that God's purpose was to harden Pharaoh's heart. Exodus 4:21, The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.So my question is, if God hardens the heart of someone to fulfill his own purposes, does that person get a pass into heaven? I have really be struggling with this idea for the past week, as I read Romans 9.

Living Springs Q&A
Q&A #253 - Documented miracles, Moses wife, Passes for heaven, and more

Living Springs Q&A

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2022 58:42


In our 253rd episode, Doug, and Blake join as a team to discuss the following: 1. John 20:30 says that, after Jesus rose, He performed many other miracles that His disciples saw, and that they were written somewhere so that we would believe in the Messiah. Where is it that these miracles are written? 3. Was Moses wife, Zipporah (from Midian) Arab? Further to my question about Zipporah, what happened to her and their sons, Gershom and Eliezer? I know they were brought to Moses in the desert, but then what? 3. In Roman's 9:17 it says, "For Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."We know that God's purpose was to harden Pharaoh's heart. Exodus 4:21, The Lord said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.So my question is, if God hardens the heart of someone to fulfill his own purposes, does that person get a pass into heaven? I have really be struggling with this idea for the past week, as I read Romans 9.

CBTTalks
Exodus and the Law Era

CBTTalks

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2022 60:48


In this episode of CBTtalks, we continue our 14 Era overview with the Exodus and the Law Era. We'll have deep dives of the Story of Moses, the Passover Feast, and the Giving of the Law. Was Moses a murderer? What is the deal with the plagues? Why was there a Passover Feast in the first place? How come the Ten Commandments are those ten? Take a detailed look at this early Biblical Era with renewed enthusiasm and detail in this episode of CBTtalks! Remember: The Story of the Bible Works, so, CBTtalks! Each Episode of CBTtalks is structured around the 14 Era Booklet. A summary of the Story from Genesis to Revelation. This resource is available for purchase here: https://chronologicalbibleteaching.com/products/14-erastoryofthebible CBTtalks is brought to you by Chronological Bible Teaching. CBT is your on stop destination for attaining Bible Literacy. Check out our website for FREE resources, videos, podcasts, articles, and more, all centered around the 14 Eras and the Big Story of the Bible! https://chronologicalbibleteaching.com Not sure where to go to find the next step in your Bible Literacy Journey? Learn how to Discover the Story, Understand the Story, and Tell the story! In our plan you'll find a complete list of resources and concrete steps for you to grow to spiritual maturity! https://chronologicalbibleteaching.com/our-plan The One Year Chronological Study Bible is available for purchase now! Click the Link below and order yours today! https://chronologicalbibleteaching.com/products/OYCSB The Book of Threads is an expansion of the 14 Era framework that explains the Bible narrative from beginning to end, and then each chapter follows a theme through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation—13 different themes that include leadership, human suffering, sexual brokenness, marriage, missions, redemption, and more! https://chronologicalbibleteaching.com/products/bookofthreads Don't believe that you must walk your Bible Literacy Journey alone! CBT has a variety of resources to facilitate small group discussions as you pursue Bible Literacy communally. https://chronologicalbibleteaching.com/how-to-use-cbt-discipleship-resources Want even more free resources from CBT? Click the link below to visit our subscription page! Here you can sign up for newsletters, weekly videos, daily devotions, and podcasts, all designed to follow and support your chronological reading! Best of all, everything is free! https://chronologicalbibleteaching.com/subscriptions Be sure to check out Facebook Page for regular posts and updates about CBTtalks! https://www.facebook.com/CBTtalkshow Our Youtube Channel hosts all of our Episodes in Video Format! Like and Subscribe today! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5uFM8-bxfEohuhVrbCraSg All of our Episodes are also available on audio form wherever podcasts are found through Anchor! https://anchor.fm/cbttalks --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/cbttalks/support

Victory Temple Chantilly's Podcast
How to handle disappointment

Victory Temple Chantilly's Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 16, 2022 38:09


"So I gave up in despair, questioning the value of all my hard work." Ecc 2:20 NLTWhen you're disappointed in those vou work with. You won't succeed in life without the right people. But when the people you count on fail you, it's painful. Imagine Moses' disappointment.  He leaves his brother Aaron in charge while he spends forty days on Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. When he returns, what does he find? Israel worshiping a golden calf-made by Aaron. When Moses needs him most Aaron fails miserably. But watch Moses: true leadership shines in disappointment. He confronts Aaron, takes the mess to God, and prays for the forgiveness of Israel. God responds, then reminds Moses of his assignment. "Go, lead the people...my angel will go before you" (Ex 32:34 NIV).Disappointment doesn't cancel your assignment-or God's presence. So do what God has told you to do!When you're disappointed in those you have poured your life into. Let's check in again with Moses, founding pastor of the church in the wilderness. His congregation is made up of former slaves who have been delivered, blessed, and who are en route to the Promised Land, but without a shred of loyalty or gratitude for the man who put everything on the line to make it possible. Fresh out of Egypt, they turn on Moses, accusing, blaming, and berating him (See Ex 14). Was Moses disappointed and hurt? Yes. But each time he wanted to quit, he would discuss it with God, pray for his complaining flock, get fresh orders from headquarters, and return to work. That's what God- called men and women do when they're disappointed and feel like giving up. And it's what you must do, tooSupport the show

The Ryan Kelley Morning After
04-27-22 Segment 1 Ball Talk and Caller Ellen Holds The PIPs Accountable

The Ryan Kelley Morning After

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2022 51:19


Iggy writes the names on the FPCC bracket. Iggy attempted to use a gift card expired. FPCC bracket layout. Pepper & Geenie is still outstanding. Was Moses in Christmas stories? Chris Bassitt wasn't pleased with the baseball situation. What's up with the balls? Mudding up a ball. Email of the day standings controversy. Caller Ellen calls in to hold the PIP's accountable. New segment coming up at the top of the hour... stay tuned.

Mosaic Boston
Justified by Faith

Mosaic Boston

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2022 52:14


Heavenly Father, we thank you that because of Jesus Christ, the person, the work of Christ, his life, death, burial, and resurrection, we can approach your throne, the throne room of grace, and we can do it boldly, courageously. Not because we are righteous in and of ourselves, but because we have been given a righteousness that is not our own. It's been reckoned to us, counted to us. We thank you for that. Jesus, we, in your throne room, we humble ourselves. We don't deserve to be in your presence, but we glorify you. We're so thankful for your presence. We pray, Holy Spirit, now come minister to us from your holy scriptures and help us meditate on the beauty of justification by grace through faith.There's nothing that we can do to reconcile ourselves with you. The wall of hostility that's in between. There's nothing we can do dismantle it, so it's only by grace that we come to you. And it's only by grace that we remain in your presence, so Lord, forgive us of any sin and pride, selfishness, self-absorption, law breaking. We repent of all that and we ask that you purify our hearts. And your word promises that blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. We want to see you with the eyes of our souls. We pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.The title of this sermon is Justified By Faith. We're in Romans four, one through 12, continuing our servant series. The question before us is, do you understand grace? Do you understand God's grace? If not, you don't understand what it means to have a relationship with God. And one of the ways that you know, if you understand grace, practically is, do you view your walk with God in terms of I have to, or I get to. This morning when you woke up and you're like, ah, church today. Do you say, ah, I have to go to church again? Did it come with a feeling of drudgery? The sermon's going to be too long again. Or did it come with the sense of delight? The sermon is going to be so long, praise God. Praise God, I get to listen to God's word. I get to worship God. I get to serve God. I get to take up my cross daily and follow Jesus Christ.Well, the reason why you can say that is because of grace. We didn't deserve to be justified. We did not deserve righteousness. We don't deserve the presence of God. We deserve eternal damnation. Everything else on top is icing on the cake. Praise God. A lot of people view the Christian faith as if I keep the commandments, I do a great job of following God then I am accept, then I am blessed, then I'm honored. Then God will give me the things that I want. If I keep his commandments, then I love God. And then he loves me. But that's not how it works. John 14, 15. Jesus said, if you love me, you will keep my commandments. It all starts with love. It's a heart full of love toward God. That's the energy. That's what propels us forward.And where do we get that fuel? We get it from the gospel. When you run out of fuel and you will, you do. Do you ever run out of fuel? You ever feel like you're running on empty spiritually? I feel like that all the time. And then you have to go to the cross and you say, "Lord, please fill me up. Fill up the gas tank of my spiritual resources. Fill my heart with love." And when he does, then that gives you the energy to be obedient to the Lord.The last few weeks, we've established that we're all guilty before a holy God. Our only hope is not just to be forgiven, but it's to be justified. When you're forgiven, God says not guilty. When you're justified, God says you're innocent as if you had never sinned. And there's absolutely no way for us to be justified and for God to remain just other than the cross of Jesus Christ. There's absolutely no way anyone, even in the Old Testament, the godliest of saints, there's no way that they can be righteous before God, not even through keeping the law. Was Moses in a relationship with God because of his obedience to God? Well, that's not where it started. It started with God choosing him by grace. How about the prophets Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, were they in a relationship with God because of their moral performance? No. God chose them and poured out his love on them. They were justified by faith and God. And not even Father Abraham was justified by works. He was justified by faith apart from works. Romans 3:28. That's the stream of thought. That's where it begins before we enter our text.For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. This is only way to have a relationship with God. Apart from justification, by grace, through faith. This is the doctrine of justification. Sola fide. If you study the Reformation, there were the five solas. One of them is sola fide, only by faith, by faith alone. You say, "Was Abraham a Protestant?" No. You say, "I thought Abraham was a Jew." Those are all man-made categories. Abraham was a pagan and God chose him and said, "I am going to bless you." And Abraham, all he did was believe and God attributes accounts, reckons righteousness to him. That's our text today, Romans four, one through 12.Would you look at the text with me? "What then shall we say was gained by Abraham our forefather, according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Now to the one who works as wages or not counted as a gift, but as his due. And to the one who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works. Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven and who sins are covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin. Is this blessing then only for the circumcised, but also for the uncircumcised?We say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised so that righteousness would be counted to them as well. And to make him the father of the circumcised who not merely circumcised, but also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised."This is the reading of God's holy and inerrant, infallible, authoritative word. May he write these eternal truths upon our hearts. What a text before us. The context is that Paul has given us the theology of justification by grace through faith. He does that in the end of chapter two, beginning of chapter three, the whole thing, chapter three. Now he turns to historical example of like, this is the theology, now let me show you a real person that all of us know, and he points to Abraham who was known to the Jews as the father of the faithful. And by the way, Abraham is considered one of the most honored people to have ever lived in all of human history.The Jews point to him as the father of the faith, the Muslims point to him as the father of their faith, Christians point to him as the father of their faith. Salvation for Abraham, how did it come? That's the question before Paul today. A lot of people think that salvation in the Old Testament occurred by keeping the law. If you kept the law good enough and when you didn't good enough, then maybe an animal sacrifice, but it was all works. Works was the way that you saved yourself. That's what a lot of people think today, that the Old Testament, that was bad cop, Father God. That's the God that punishes people. That's the God that just throws stones from heaven. Sodom and Gomorrah, fire and brimstone. That's the old. And then Jesus comes and he's the good cop. He's the good dad.God's the same. Abraham was not saved because of his moral performance. He was saved because he believed God and righteousness was counted to him. He looked forward to the promise of the Redeemer, the Messiah will come and he will pay the penalty for sin. The lamb of God takes away all the sin of the world. They, the Old Testament saints, looked forward. We look back. They look forward at the promise of the Redeemer. We trust in the work of Christ. A lot of people think the Old Testament is a separate book. The New Testament is a new book for, partially because old and new, that's why I say Hebrew scriptures and New Testament, but it's one book book. It's one continuum. It's one God. It's one people saved by grace through faith. Paul destroys this whole idea that there's a separation of bifurcation by pointing to Abraham, that Abraham himself was justified by grace.Romans 4:1 through 2, that's our text. "What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh." But he's saying, we're Jewish. Paul was Jewish and biological descendants of their forefather, Abraham, through DNA. For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before. And I love what Paul does here in this tremendous teaching point. He's saying Abraham did a lot of incredible things, but not one thing he can point to that he did and say, I am proud of that thing I did because that's what ingratiated me into God's favor. No, the very moment you point to something in your theology and say, "You know what, I did that", that's the very moment that you can discern that your theology is manmade, because true faith, pure faith humbles us in a way that nothing else does.And this is a temptation for Christians who have been walking with the Lord for a while. You've gone through spiritual battles. You have spiritual accomplishments on your resume. You've led people to the Lord. You've done great things. You've been faithful for a long time. There is a temptation to say, "Yeah, I did that. I did that." The very moment you do that, you lose grace. Grace is a gift from the Lord, is to humble us completely. So Christians, be careful with pride. If God shows you salvation, it's not because of anything great in you. A lot of people think, "Oh yeah, yeah, God saved me because he knew I was going to be a great pick, a trade pick. I was going to be a great, I was going to do some great. God knew."First Corinthians literally says that if God chose you, it's because you're a loser. We're just a bunch of losers, we're losers. We're moral failures, just spiritually bankrupt. And that's good for us to stay there. Verse three. "For what does the scripture say?" That's the most important question. The scripture says, "Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift, but as his due." So Abraham believed God, he didn't do anything yet. In Genesis 15, he believed God. And it was counted to him. It was credited to him as righteousness.Do you ever have a negative balance in your Venmo? It doesn't feel good. Does not feel good, if you use Zelle. Sorry, I don't. You know what does feel good? Getting a Venmo payment that you were not expecting. And the bigger the amount, the better it feels. And that should cha-ching sound is one of the most satisfying things. I keep my sound on my phone just in case, just in case. Well, Abraham had a huge negative balance in his spiritual Venmo. He was a pagan worshiping idols, [inaudible 00:13:28]. God picks him. Guy who has no faith background. God picks him and counts, accounts, credits to him a righteousness that is not his own. Question, when your pay hits the account, doesn't matter when you get paid, biweekly, end of the month, when your pay hits the account, how do you feel? Do you consider this a wage or a gift?Well, it depends on how hard you worked. If you worked really hard that month, and then you look at your pay and you're like, I was working way too hard. I was working way too hard. I got to chill out. That wage is not enough. If you did nothing that month, if you did not a thing, not a single thing, you pretended to work, work from home. You pretended to work and then the payment hits your account. I wouldn't know this, this is hypothetical. It feels so good. You're like, "I can't believe they're still paying me. I did nothing all week. I did nothing all month. I can't believe it. It's a gift. It's all grace." Well, that's how we should view everything from God, Christians. Everything, everything, everything, every day, every, every good gift comes from the Father above, so when you get paid, you should look at it and you're like, that's a gift. Praise God.I try to tell the IRS that. Everything's from the Lord so it's not taxable if it's a gift. But I haven't gotten anywhere with that. What did Abraham do when God justified him? He did nothing. It doesn't say, Abraham obeyed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Before he obeyed, he believed. And faith is not works. The objection here is, that's not fair. What do you mean, we can get an alien righteousness imputed to us? Like I'm not just saying not guilty, I'm saying your slate is just completely wiped clean. You're righteous when you believe in Jesus Christ. And anyone who's been in the faith for a long time, there is a temptation after a while that when you see someone who's been living a sinful life and then they repent of their sin, and they're justified by grace through faith, there is something inside that irks you, and you say, that's not fair. I have been slaving away for years being faithful to the Lord and this person just repented and all their sins are forgiven. There's no penance? There's nothing? All of your sins are forgiven? Yeah.Who is the most evil person alive? Like if we could snip one person and everything changes, who would that be? Does a name come to mind? Well, it depends on what your political persuasions are, but let's say it's Putin. Let's say, or Bill Gates, if you don't like. Well, what if Vladimir Putin today comes into, today's Easter in Russia, in Estonia, the Orthodox tradition. What if he goes to church today? What if he listens to my sermon? He says, "Oh, all of my sins can be forgiven? All I need to do is repent and believe in Jesus Christ? And then he repents and he believes and follows him the rest of his days. Is it fair for God to just forgive him? Is that fair? No, it's not fair. It's grace. It's so much better than the fair. If you want fair, then you have to pay for your own sins for all eternity in hell. That's fair. Well, if you want grace for yourself, then grace has to be available for other people as well. That's how grace works. This is what St. Paul is getting at.In verse three is a citation from Genesis 15, where God appears to Abraham and tells him that he will bless Abraham greatly. This is Genesis 15:1. "After these things, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision. Fear not, Abram. I am your shield. Your reward shall be very great. And Abram said, oh Lord God, what will you give me for I continued childless and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus." What he saying is, God's like, I'm going to bless you. I'm going to give you so much favor. And Abraham's like, God, I already have money, I have livestock. I have cattle. I have money. I have gold. What are you going to give a man who has everything? Well, Abraham didn't have everything. He didn't have a son. He didn't have progeny. And he said, God, I'm childless. I continue childless.Verse three. "And Abram said, behold, you have given me no offspring. And a member of my household will be my heir. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him. This man shall not be your heir. Your very own son shall be your heir. And he brought him outside and said, look toward heaven and number the stars, if you were able to number them. Then he said to him, so shall your offspring be. He believed the Lord and he counted it to him as righteousness." By the way, this is a stupendous promise. Abraham, you're an octogenarian. He's probably in his eighties at this point, close to that. You don't have a son. I promised that I will make a great nation out of you. And through you, I will bless all the nations as a promise of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. And Abraham say, I don't have a son. And God takes them outside. He said, "Look at all the stars. You're going to have more children than the stars in the heavens." How many is that?And Abraham believes, fully believes. There was absolutely no doubt. He even asked God, "God, how will I know?" Verse seven. "He said to him, I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess. But he said, oh Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it?" I shall possess it. He believes. How will I know that I shall possess it? He believes. God puts Abraham to sleep and gives him a tremendous theophany, which is a vision of God. And God swears by the highest thing by which he can swear, promises by the highest thing that he can promise by. He promises by himself, he swears by himself and Abraham believed, and it was counted, reckoned to him as righteous. On what grounds? On future faithfulness? Is that what God was saying? You're going to be faithful in the future.He wasn't faithful in the future. He sinned time and time again. Cowered before people, lied to kings that his wife was his sister. No, he was counted righteous because God chose to count his faith as enough to make him righteous. People have made this text, Romans 14, problematic by pitting it against James two. So our text says that you're justified by grace through faith. And then James two seemingly argues for the opposite, that we're not justified by faith, we're justified by work. That's the superficial reading. So I'm going to read it and then we'll engage and we'll show that there is no contradiction, but they are saying basically the same thing from different perspectives.Verse 14 of James two. "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking a daily food 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? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." I like James. He was a half brother of Jesus Christ and he was a pastor in Jerusalem for a long time. I like James because he gets straight to the point. You think you have saving faith? You're telling me, you love God. You don't even love people who are in need. So no, you don't love God, and no, you don't have saving faith if your heart isn't moved to help people and their practical needs. That's what he's getting at.Verse 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. You believe that God is one, you do well. Even the demons believe and shutter." What a savage. He says, demons are tremendous theologians. They know everything there is to know about God. Satan is the greatest theologian. He knows the Bible better than any one of us. They believe and they shudder. Well, what's the difference between a demon and a Christian? The difference is love for God. Doesn't matter how much you know about God. If you don't love God, then you're not a child of God.Verse 20. "Do you want to be shown you foolish person," Savage. "that faith apart from works is useless. Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works when he offered up his son, Isaac, on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works and faith was completed by his works. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God and it was counted to him, his right and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." A lot of people point to the text and they say, there it is. That's the smoking gun against the doctrine, justification by grace through faith.Verse 24. James two. "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." That's a clear repudiation, right? That's a clear contradiction in the holy scriptures. And what makes things even more interesting is both Paul and James use the same historical figure, Abraham. And they use the same Greek word for righteousness in Romans and James. Are these texts contradicting each other? No. They can't be because both books are written by the Holy Spirit. First, we need to establish authorial intent. What did James mean? What does the author mean? Which is an important question whenever you study the Bible. Don't study the Bible just to say, what does it mean to me? Whenever you read the Bible and you say, what does it mean to me, your putting yourself in a position of authority. No, no, no, no. That's not how you read holy scripture. You read holy scripture, study under it. Intrepidation that the God of the universe would choose to speak to us through the text.What's the authorial intent? Well, thankfully James comes out and tells us the question that he's trying to answer. Verse 14, what good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith, but does not have works. Can that faith save him? What he's saying is if your faith does not change your life, then you did not have true saving faith. Because to believe in Jesus Christ is not just intellectual ascent of like, yeah, I'm going to believe some facts about God. In my mind, I know these things about God, therefore I am a Christian. If your faith, if your Christianity only stays in your mind and does not penetrate your heart and stir your heart, you're not a Christian. You're not a follower of God.Does God care about the facts of our faith? Yes. We take doctrine seriously. We read holy scripture, we study it. What does the word say? In fact, God cares about the facts of our faith. God also cares about the feelings of our faith. God cares that our hearts are stirred with love for him and for people. He wants our hearts full of zeal for him, so that we live in a manner worthy of knowing God. And if you don't, then your facts are woefully ineffective in saving you from God's wrath.Verse 19. "You believe that God is one, you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder." They believe they wouldn't submit. You believe tremendous. Do you love God? The full phrase the reformers used is, justification is by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. Because what it means to believe in Jesus means to recognize him as a holy God. And you realize that you have sinned against him. And to really believe in him is to repent of your sin. And repentance means that there's a change of life. It's a change of mind that leads to a change of heart that leads to a change of direction in life. And the moment you exercise true saving faith, you change. You become a brand new person, a new creation in Christ. You're filled with the Holy Spirit. Everything changes.You know, I can tell if someone's a Christian just by looking them in the eye in public sometimes. I was on the TV the other day, and I saw this little old lady, I could tell by looking at her that she was a believer. You can just tell. There's a different person. There's a peace. There's a calm. There's a joy. No longer, you're a Christian. If you're faithful, there's a suffering. A lot of people profess faith. They don't possess the faith because it doesn't change them. Works must flow from our faith, but they're never the grounds for justification. They're confirmation of justification. I remember when my daughter Sophia was born. I was 26 when I had a kid. Wow. That's nuts, and awesome. And I remember I was deathly afraid of infant sudden death syndrome. I was like, you're telling me there's a thing where a baby just dies and you don't know why? They're like, yeah. That's not good.So at night I would wake up and I'd go up to her crib and I would listen. And to see if she's alive, what did I look for for proof? Did I go to her birth certificate and say, oh yeah, she's alive. Here's proof. No. What did I look for? Is she breathing? Is there heartbeat? Well, that's what James is saying. Works is the heartbeat. Works is the breath. Christian, do you have works? That's the sign of life. That's not the origin of life. The origin of spiritual life is justification by grace through faith. The proof of saving faith is a life of obedience to the Lord. Would Paul have a problem with what James is talking about? No, they're completely on the same page.A lot of people say, Paul, all he preached was justification by grace through faith. And that leads to licentiousness where people just take cheap grace. And they're like, all right, I can be forgiven anytime I sin, so I'm just going to keep on sinning and just come back for Jesus for forgiveness every once in a while. Paul starts off Romans with his thesis. He's the guy who preached grace, grace, grace, grace, grace, justification by grace through faith. But in Romans 1:5, his thesis is, this is why I'm writing to, and this is why Jesus chosen him. Through whom we have received, through Jesus, we've received grace and apostleship. To bring about what? The obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations. He said, we receive grace so that you receive grace. We receive grace to be obedient to God. That's the apostleship. And we extend grace to you. What's the purpose of that grace? So that you live a life of obedience.This is First Corinthians 15:10. One of my favorite verses where St. Paul is like, I am what I am by the grace of God. I love that part. A lot of people stop there. I am what I am by the grace of God. And then he continues. He like, but the grace of God was not in vain in me. It wasn't empty because that I worked harder than all of them. He's talking about the other apostles. Just kind of a savage thing to say, because those apostles worked really hard. And Paul's like, I worked harder than all of them. Wasn't me, it was the grace of God in me. Starts with grace, ends with grace. I am what I am. Grace [inaudible 00:30:30]. He received the grace to be obedient to the Lord. That's the point. If you receive grace, it's to be obedient to the Lord.James and Paul both point to Abraham, but at different times in Abraham's life. Which is important, because if you're walking with the Lord on a daily basis, time goes by and you're in a completely different spot spiritually. Like if today you walk with the Lord and tomorrow you walk with the Lord and the next day you walk with the Lord, if you come back next week, you should be in a different spot spiritually. And the more you do that, the more you string these wins together, just faithfully daily following the Lord, a month goes by, six months goes by. You should be a categorically different spiritual being, human being, filled with the spirit in a completely different.Your character should be different. Your hopes, your dream, your passions, different purposes, asking for God's will in a way that you've never asked for God's will. Not just praying for stuff. A lot of people just pray for stuff. God send me this. God send me that. God help me pay my rent. God help me get a job. God help me get a girlfriend. God help me. God help me. God's like, can we talk? Can we talk, like you and me? Can we talk? What's on your heart? Can you just ask what my hopes are for you, not just give me what your hopes are for you? That's what happened with Abraham. Paul points to Abraham. Genesis 15. This was before Isaac was born. And all Abraham could do was trust God. All he had was God's word. That's all he had. You know, he trusts God. And then James points to Abraham in Genesis 22. This was well after Isaac was already born.Abraham had raised Isaac, fathered him, cared for the infant that Isaac was, loved this little boy. Taught him how to walk. Probably taught him to ride a camel, I don't know. Taught him to work. Just poured out his love on this kid. And then God comes to him when Isaac is already, theologians tell he was probably a teenager, and God says, take your son, your only son whom you love with your whole heart, the son of the promise, he says, and I want you to sacrifice him. And Abraham does not argue with God. He does not say, God, how could you, how dare you? Who are you to tell me to sacrifice my beloved son?And Abraham goes on a three-day journey with his son, night and day, just traveling to Mount Moriah. Climbs the mountain, finally gets to the top, ties up his son. Picks up a knife and he's about to slaughter him and God sends an angel of the Lord who stops him. And the angel of the Lord says, Abram, now we know that you fear God. He didn't just believe in God. He feared God so much so that he was willing to obey God to the point of sacrificing his most treasured possession. And then God sends a ram that's caught in the thicket in the thorns and that's who was sacrificed. And that's a prototype of Jesus Christ. Crown of thorns. Jesus Christ, the lamb of God takes away sin in the world.So how did his faith grow from Genesis 15 and Genesis 22? Just daily walking with the Lord. And that started that journey, that space, that spiritual journey started by just believing God day one. God, I believe. And it was it to him as righteousness. Verse four of Romans four. "Now to him who works, his wages are not counted as a gift, but as his due. And to the one who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness." Paul, wait, what? What did you just call Abraham, the father of our faith?Verse five. God who justifies the, what? Let's say that word together. Justifies the ungodly. You called Abraham ungodly? If Abraham is ungodly, what hope is there for any one of us? That's the point. There is no hope. There was no hope for Abraham apart from Jesus Christ. There's no hope for any one of us apart from Jesus. We're ungodly. And the word here in the original is wicked. Someone who was wicked in the sense that they violate the first four commandments. The first table of the law. First commandment, thou shall have no other the gods before me. Abraham had other gods before him. Guilty. That shall not make any idols. He made idols. Who were the Chaldeans? They're all idol worshipers. Thou shall not use my name in vain. He used God's name in vain. The Sabbath, obviously wasn't even a category for him. Broke all four commandments, did not love God with all his heart, soul, strength, and mind, ungodly, wicked. And God counts him as righteous just because he believed God. He believed God's word. And God's like, all right, you're righteous, you're in. You're in. That's all it takes.And this is what separates Christianity from every single other religion, because this is pure religion. Pure religion means it's from God completely with no manmade categories, fallen lenses of interpretation. You know that when there's a manmade category in a religion or a worldview or a faith, when people start thinking things or teaching things like this, like if you do more good than bad, then you'll go to heaven. That's the premise on which every single other religions based on. If you're more good than bad, then God will forgive you of your other stuff and you go to heaven. This is American religion. Most American religions have you ever, I've been listening to country music lately. It's very soothing.Country music has a lot to do with Christianity. They talk about Christianity all the time. They talk about church on your porches or drinking beers, watching the sunshine, sunset, sunrise. That's all I need. That's God for me. God will forgive me. God is love. Man, I don't have to do anything for God. I can live any way I want. That's not Christianity. We don't teach that you can earn your salvation. If we did teach that our building campaign would be so much more effective. Raising money for a building would be so easy. You guys are all sinners. You're all sinners. We found a way for you to atone for your sin. For a gift of any amount to our ministry, your sins shall be atoned for. We forgive. We forgive. We'll set up a little confessional booth. You can share all your, oh, that one. Nope. That's $50,000. There's no way. That's some wickedness, you know? No, no, not even Jesus can save you.This is how the Catholic church before the reformations, this is how they built all their beautiful buildings in the Vatican, et cetera, et cetera. They literally had a saying that because of purgatory, like when your loved one dies and they go to purgatory, because you're not sure where they went. They went to hell. But they created this category called purgatory where like, nah, just in case, just in case. And they had this saying that when a coin in the coffers rings, a soul from purgatory springs. Catchy. Raised them billions in today's USD.This is like, why do you think there's names everywhere? Be like, make a donation, put your name in stained glass. Make donation big enough, we can give you a hall downstairs named after you. No, atone for your sins. No, you can't atone for your sins. Only Jesus Christ can atone for your sins. Abraham did not work, but believed in him who justifies the ungodly and his faith was all it took for him to be counted as righteous. And that same could be done for us. It was done for Abraham. And then Paul points to David. In verse six, just as David also speaks of the blessing. It's the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart for works. "Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven and who sins are covered. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."He's talking about David after his egregious sin, commits adultery with another man's wife and then creates a way where Uriah, Bathsheba's husband dies in the field of battle orchestrated by David. And then he's confronted by the prophet, Nathan who calls him out and David knows full well what it feels like to have God's displeasure wrath, disfavor boring down on your soul. That happened for a year. He tried to pretend like it wasn't there, but it was. The wasting away, the inward groaning, his strength sapped like on a hot summer day. And then David writes Psalm 32 about repentance and about the greatest blessing that there is. He speaks of the blessing. What a blessing this is, the one who God counts righteousness apart from works by forgetting sins, forgetting lawless deeds, covering sins.Scripture said is that the omniscient God of the universe who knows everything and never forgets a thing, the moment we repent, it says he casts our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. How far is that? God chooses to forget our sin, chooses to forget our sin. Just forget it. Just forgotten. He chooses to forget our sin. Doesn't bring it up again. Satan does. Satan's the accuser. God chooses not to bring it up. What does scripture talk about when it talks about blessing? What does it mean to be blessed by God? A lot of English translations, they take the beatitudes and they take the Greek word Makarios, which means blessed, blessed to the pure in heart for they shall see God. Well, a lot of people, they say, oh, Makarios means happy. Happy are those who weep and mourn, for righteous. What? What? Happy? You know the word, happy's not in the Bible? I've been meditating on that this week, because the world promises happiness. And I look at the Bible, I'm like, It's not there.There are things that make me happy. I have a slice of pizza, I'm happy. Two slices of pizza, really happy. Three slices of pizza, four slices of pizza, no more happiness. I just feel sad. Just, what did I do? Fitness, fitting this whole pizza in my mouth. Scripture promises joy. And the way that you get joy is from the presence of God. And you get more of the presence of God by fighting sin, which includes suffering. So you're telling me that the weight of the path of joy is suffering. Yeah. Yeah. Jesus Christ. For the joy that was set before him, he took up the cross.No happiness, but blessedness. Blessedness is proximity to the presence of God. One of my favorite benedictions is Numbers 6:24 through 26. This is Aaron, the great high priest, praying a prayer of blessing over God's people. And he says, "The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. And the Lord, lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." This is parallelism. Each stanza as saying the same thing in different words. The Lord bless you. It's parallel to, the Lord make his face shine upon you. So it's blessing when God's face of delight is turned toward you. The idea is reinforced with the third line, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you. Why, why? Why? Because blessedness is always in terms of your proximity to the presence of God. That's the greatest thing you can experience.The greatest blessing is the presence of God. That's what heaven is. Heaven is just the presence of God. There's nothing in the way of the presence of God. Adam and Eve rejoiced when God came in the cool of the day, they being in his presence and the light of his countenance. And then when they sinned, they were banished, exiled from what? The garden? From the presence of God, from blessing so all they had left was curse. To be cursed by God is to have God turn his back on you. His grace and peace removed from you. So to be blessed by God, to be welcomed into his presence. And how can we get this blessing? Only if our sins are removed from us. Blessed are those, verse seven, whose lawless deeds, that's breaking God's law. Lawless deeds are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Covered with what? Covered with what? Covered with the blood of Jesus Christ who bore our sins upon himself. Covered with grace. Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.This is the greatest blessing that there is. This is the greatest blessing that we have to offer you. That the very second you come to the Lord and you trust in his word, that all of your sins will be forgiven if you repent and follow Christ, you have a righteousness that's not your own. All of your sins are forgiven past, present, and future everything. Your eternity is secure. This is the greatest blessing. And for whom is this blessing available? Verse nine, is this blessing then only for the circumcised or also for the uncircumcised, where we say that faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness. How then was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before he was circumcised. So the question is, did God attribute righteousness to Abraham because of Abraham's faithful act of obedience and circumcision? A lot of people get this right and they say Abraham was circumcised. He was not circumcised. There was nothing passive about his circumcision. God comes knowing the guy's 99 years old. He says, you're going to circumcise yourself.Commendable? Yes. Courageous? Oh yeah. Noteworthy? Definitely. Enough to justify him before God? No, not even that. Abraham believed God's word of promise and it was counted to him as righteous. The circumcision doesn't justify anyone before God. Baptism doesn't justify anyone before God. The sole instrument of justification is faith. And here he says, circumcision is a sign and it's also a seal. And that's what baptism is as well for us. Circumcision was a sign of the old covenant and a baptism is a sign of the new covenant. Both are signs, both are seals. Verse 11. He received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised.The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe without being circumcised so that righteousness would be counted to them as well. He's saying that circumcision was a sign. It points to something else. It points to, supposed to point to inward reality that your heart has been circumcised by God, your heart that's covered with sin and hardness, disillusionment, cynicism, and God circumcises all of that, makes your heart tender, and now you're saved. That's the sign. Baptism is similar. It's an outward reality of something that happens inside. This is why we practice baptism at Mosaic. I get up and I say the same thing right before baptism. I say, baptism does not save you. You're saved by grace through faith. But baptism's an outward sign of an inward reality, it's like a wedding ring. It's like a wedding ring. Does my wedding ring make me married? I have two wedding rings, one wife, two wedding rings because in Russia, they wear it on the right hand. It's a sign that we're married. Praise God. Outward sign, inward reality.And the same way, it's a seal. And this is fascinating because the New Testament Greek word for seal goes back to the signet ring of a king. When the king writes a letter or decree and he takes wax and he puts at the bottom, that's the signature. And he puts his signet ring in, this is a message from the king. Well, what's our seal, Christians? We are sealed with the Holy Spirit. We have the blessing of God's presence every day. When you repent of your sin, God is with you. He fills you by the power of his spirit. This is why it's so important to pursue righteousness, daily righteous, practical righteousness, positional righteousness that's given to us. But practical present righteousness of pursuing God, because the closer you get to God, the more power of the Holy Spirit you get.We're not save. We're also sealed. Abraham received the sign of circumcision, a seal of righteousness of faith. Verse 12 is the kicker. And to make him the father of the circumcised who are not merely circumcised, but who walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abram had before he was circumcised. Walked in the footsteps. When Adam and Eve sinned against God, before they sinned against God, they used to take daily walks with the Lord. You ever take a prayer walk? I love prayer walks. Imagine taking a prayer walk and God's right there. That's what they did every morning. They walked with God. The Hebrew word was Halakah, walked with God. And then they were banished because they stopped walking with God. And then scripture says that Enoch, Enoch walked with God and he was no more. Walked with God. God found a righteous person that walked with him.Noah walked with God. The prophets walked with God. Then Jesus Christ comes, the great Messiah. And what does Jesus Christ say? Hey disciples, what do you say? Follow me, follow me. What does follow me mean? That means on a daily basis, you walk with God. Halakah. you walk with God. Wherever he goes, you just follow and you walk. Let's go, Lord. I'm moving. We're moving forward following the Lord, in the footsteps of the faith.In conclusion, Jesus Christ paid it all. Paid it all, suffered all. Finished. It's finished. He's won. I'm meditating on the phrase, it's finished. On the cross, Jesus Christ, before he dies, before he breathes his last, he said, it's finished. What's finished? What's finished? And then it says that the curtain that separated people from the Holy of Holies in the temple, thick veil, it was torn from top to bottom as if God, just licked his hand, just tears it up.What happened? Now we have access into the presence of the Holy of Holies because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. I don't know where you are in your faith, but today I challenge you, take a step closer to the Lord, just one step closer. Wherever there is a place of disobedience, one step closer. If you're not even sure that you are a Christian, if you're not sure that you are a child of God, today, all you have to do as, we're going to worship now. We're going to pray. In your heart of hearts, pray out, cry out to God. God, save me. God, have mercy. God, give me grace. God, I believe in you. I trust in you. And then God will give you the greatest blessing that there is. Your sins are covered, forgiven, no more are they counted against you and Christ's righteousness is counted to you.I'll close with Titus 2:11 through 14. We'll pray and then we'll worship. "For the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people." And what does the grace do? Training us. Grace trains us. It's not just fuel, but also trains us. To do what? "To renounce ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and savior Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things, exhort, rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you. Amen." Let us pray.Heavenly Father, we thank you for this blessed, blessed word. And we thank you for the greatest blessing that there is, which is the blessing of your presence. Holy Spirit, we welcome you right now. As we worship you, I pray, let us worship you from our heart of hearts with everything that we have because you're worthy of worship. We thank you Jesus for grace. And I pray that you make us a people that take the grace and that we do not take it in vain, it does transform us. And I pray that it trains us to become powerful men and women of God doing incredible things for your name's sake, for the sake of your kingdom. And we pray all this in the beautiful and powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Key Chapters in the Bible
3/11 Joshua 1 - Walking into God's Blessings

Key Chapters in the Bible

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2022 9:57


One of the great things about following the Lord is that it's the way that we walk into the place of God's blessings. Today we'll study Joshua 1 and discuss the Lord's exhortations to Joshua to be strong and courageous and how Joshua's obedience brought himself and all of the Children of Israel into the place of God's blessings. Join us! DISCUSSION AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS: 1. In Joshua 1, the Lord calls Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land. In general terms, was Joshua a young man at this point? Why was a man of his age leading the Children of Israel into the Promised Land? Why weren't they in that land already? 2. Who died in Joshua 1:1? Why is that significant? How do you think Joshua would have felt having to lead the Children of Israel into the Promised Land without Moses? Was Moses their leader all this time, or what it someone else? 3. What promises does the Lord give to Joshua in verses 3-5? If you were Joshua at this point, what steps might you have taken to be sure you knew and believed God's promises for you? 4. What exhortation does the Lord give to Joshua in verse 6? In verse 9, what is similar and what is different about the Lord's exhortations? 5. Why do you think the Lord called Joshua to meditate on His Word, in verse 8? What kinds of things, practically speaking, do you think this entailed? Why is righteous strength and courage impossible without meditating on God's Word? 6. Now that the Lord has given Joshua these instructions and exhortations (in verses 6-9), how does faith and obedience factor into what Joshua will do next? 7. What does Joshua do next in verse 10? What does this signify about his intent to obey whatever the Lord has declared? Do you think it would be easy for an +/- 80 year old man to obey the Lord in this way? What kinds of spiritual perspectives went into his courage and obedience? 8. What did the leaders promise to Joshua in verse 16? What was their view of rebels in this passage? What does that indicate? What did they also exhort Joshua to do? 9. Are there any places in your own life where strength and courage are required? What principles can you glean from the life of Joshua that likewise apply to your situation?   The Key Chapters Bible Podcast is a daily, 15ish minute podcast that goes over the key chapters of the Bible, one per day, explaining how it fits into the overall message of God and how it relates to our lives now. Jump in today or start back in Genesis 1! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Available on all major podcast platforms, and now on YouTube. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 40 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music. 

Key Chapters in the Bible
1/27 Exodus 7 - God's Work & Satan's Counterfeits

Key Chapters in the Bible

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2022 12:09


God's deliverance of His people form Egypt was a form of spiritual warfare; and today as we look at Exodus 7 we'll discuss how Satan tried to confuse Pharaoh and the Egyptians back then, and how he's doing the same kinds of things today. And to be strong in the face of spiritual warfare, we need to be on guard and have pure faith and trust in God.  DISCUSSION AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS: 1. For the past several days, we have been studying the Book of Exodus, however, we haven't discussed what the name means. What does the name “Exodus” mean and what was the “exit” that it is referring to? What was the initial reason that this Exodus was to take place? 2. The podcast gave a quick review of Exodus 6 & 7. What was Pharoah's first response to Moses in Exodus 5:2? How did the Jews respond to Moses in Exodus 5:21? Was Moses receiving this flack from these people because he was obeying God or disobeying Him? How did Moses respond in Exodus 5:22? How did the Lord respond to Moses in Exodus 6:1 and following? How do you think you might have reacted to Pharaoh and the people if they responded this way to you? 3. What did God warn Moses about in Exodus 7:3-5? In what ways did this come true? 4. In Exodus 7, how were the Egyptian magicians able to counterfeit the miracles of God? The podcast mentions that Moses and Aaron's age help us answer the question about magic tricks. What was the point that the podcast made about the true source of Moses and Aaron's miracles? 5. The podcast mentioned that the 10 Plagues are excellent examples of spiritual warfare because often Satan seeks to confuse the situation. How did Satan confuse these first plagues and how did Pharaoh and his servants respond? How do people today respond similarly to these kinds of attempts at confusion in their lives? 6. Strength and courage often comes from a strong sense of obedience to God and anticipation that He will work. What commands was Moses obeying in this passage and how was he anticipating the Lord to work? In your day today, are there clear commands from scripture that relate to what you will likely encounter? How might the Lord work in those situations? 7. The podcast mentioned that these plagues all were assaults on the Egyptian false gods. Why did the Jews need to see God's power over Egypt's false gods? What does this show us about God's care and compassion for His people, even when they are struggling in the faith? 8. The podcast mentioned that Hapi was the god of the Nile and fertility. Also, Khnum was the god of the Nile. The Nile was supposed to produce life, but what did it produce instead? How does this show the Lord's power over Hapi, Khnum and also Osiris (who supposedly had the Nile flowing in his bloodstream)? 9. The magicians could turn water into “blood” but could not turn it back. How did this fact demonstrate the reality of Moses' miracles versus the fakery of the magicians? 10. The podcast suggested that the world creates all kinds of fake fantasies to compete with the truth of God. How do people sometimes look at the world's fantasy and think it's more appealing than God's actual truth? 11. Through these miracles, the Lord was calling His people to leave Egypt and not be entangled in their religions. Along these lines, how do His people get entangled in the world today? What is God's call for them today? 12. Although we may not often see God work in such dramatic ways, He does still work in our lives. How have you seen God work in your life? How should that galvanize your own commitment to Him? The Key Chapters Bible Podcast is a daily, 15ish minute podcast that goes over the key chapters of the Bible, one per day, explaining how it fits into the overall message of God and how it relates to our lives now. Jump in today or start back in Genesis 1! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Available on all major podcast platforms, and now on YouTube. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 40 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music. 

The Power Of
Empathy...with Kylie Unell

The Power Of

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2021 50:35


Do you ever feel like an outsider? What does Judaism have to say about the Black Lives Matter movement? Was Moses the first biracial Jew? Listen in as Noam and Kylie talk about what it means to "see color," the limits of the English language, and how personal struggles shape us as people.   About Kylie Unell: Kylie is a Dean's Doctoral Fellow at NYU concentrating in Jewish philosophy. She was named an "aspiring Jewish philosopher" by the New York Jewish Week's 36 Under 36. Kylie is a writer, podcaster, and the co-producer of the comedy show, Sweepstakes Comedy. She also runs Models of Faith, a photoblog sharing the stories of millennials who take their faith seriously.   ~~~~   The Power Of is brought to you thanks to our generous Platinum level supporters, The Mayberg Foundation, and David and Debra Magerman, as well as our additional gold level supporters, Sheryl & Gerald Hartman, and bronze level supporters, the Crain-Maling Foundation. ~~~~ Learn more about Unpacked: https://jewishunpacked.com/about/ Visit Unpacked on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/unpacked 

Bible Study With Jairus
Bible Study with Jairus – Numbers 31

Bible Study With Jairus

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2021 21:49


The Salvation and Justice of God Bible Study with Jairus – Numbers 31   One of the most disturbing stories in the entire Bible is the story of Moses' extermination of the Midianites. Why did Moses want the Israelites to kill not only the males, but also all the boys and married women? How can we make sense of this tragic slaughter?   Although it is difficult to understand this passage, I believe that it points to a consistent pattern in God's nature. When a nation remains unrepentant, God's judgment will fall upon that nation. However, he always gives plenty of opportunities for salvation and repentance.   Plenty of Time to Repent   When God appeared to Abraham in Genesis 15:16, he told Abraham an important message about the Canaanites. God said that before he allowed Abraham's family to inherit the land of Canaan, the people of Israel would first live in Egypt for 400 years. Why? Because the sins of the Amorites (a group of Canaanites) were not yet complete. In other words, their sins did not yet deserve complete annihilation.   Abraham's descendants would live in Egypt, growing stronger and more numerous. They would eventually be used to destroy the Canaanites. But first, God would give these wicked people four centuries to repent.   Let's look at a practical way that the Canaanites could have repented and entrusted their destiny to God's plan. In the time of Joseph, there was a severe famine that affected not only all of Egypt, but also all of Canaan. Joseph's brothers, who still lived in Canaan, went to Egypt to buy food. (See Genesis 41:56, 42:5, 29, 43:1)   The famine represented the discipline of God. It not only forced Jacob and his family to eventually move to Egypt, but it also forced Joseph's brothers to come face to face with their sin of selling Joseph into Egypt many years ago. They repented of their sins because of this famine. The famine could have provided the same opportunity for the other Canaanites, but we have no record that they turned to God or repented during this time.   After his brothers repented, Joseph asked them to bring his father Jacob down to Egypt. Jacob and his sons arrived in Egypt two years after the famine began. Then were still five years of famine left for the entire land of Canaan.   The famine continued to worsen. Genesis 47:13 says, “There was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished by reason of the famine.” Joseph sold food to the people of Canaan and Egypt. But when the money ran out, an interesting dynamic occurred.   Please pay attention to the following verses. “And when the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, ‘Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our money is gone.'” (Genesis 47:15). Notice that although all the money in Egypt and Canaan was spent, only the Egyptians came to Joseph to continue to beg for mercy. Joseph allowed them to sell livestock, land, and themselves as slaves in exchange for seed to plant.   The gospel demands that we surrender ourselves as slaves to God. We trust our entire being to his care. Often, believers and nonbelievers alike will ask me, “Why do you entrust your destiny to a God you cannot see? Wouldn't it be better for you to hold your destiny in your own hands?” Many people refuse to place their destiny in the hands of God by believing in Jesus Christ. It seems too risky to give up their very lives and wills to God.   In the same way, the Canaanites were unwilling to sell themselves to Joseph in exchange for food. They refused to acknowledge the judgment of God or repent of their sins because of this trial. They would not surrender themselves to Joseph, who was a picture of Christ.   Joseph was the only one who had food, just like Jesus is the only one who can provide the food of eternal life. The Canaanites' starvation and hunger represents the emptiness of people without Jesus. This emptiness should spur us on to seek the meaning of life and find a solution that truly satisfies: Jesus. The food signifies the Gospel. To receive this food, we commit our very lives to Jesus. Furthermore, we pay the price over a lifetime. Following Christ is not cheap, but he rewards us richly by supplying us with the daily food of his own presence.   The Egyptians came to Joseph and sold their livestock, their land, and their own bodies to get more food. This indicated that they accepted the salvation brought by Joseph. But there is no mention of the Canaanites taking any further action to get more food. The Bible doesn't tell us what took place in Canaan during the next five years of famine. It is not difficult for us to imagine that chaos must have ensued. Cannibalism may have occurred among the Canaanite tribes. The Canaanites survived and became an even more evil race, the strongest fortress of evil spirits on the earth.   Salvation is the Goal   The purpose of the famine was not ultimately judgment, but the redemption of the people. God's judgment is only a means to an end. God's objective and ultimate purpose was to redeem the people. God allowed a famine in Egypt and Canaan so that the citizens of that land would repent and accept the salvation brought by joseph.   Trials in today's world are also a means to an end. For example, the Covid-19 pandemic is a wake-up call that reminds people of their need for God. God's desire is that all people would repent of their sins so they can accept the salvation provided by God through Christ.   However, things are not always that simple. Life's trials can have different effects on different people, depending on their responses. When faced with a trial or difficulty, some people repent of their sins and are saved. Others not only refuse to repent, but also harden their hearts. Perhaps you've seen examples of this phenomenon in the believers and unbelievers you meet every day. When great suffering, disease and difficulty come upon people, some will surrender to God more and more. Their hearts will become very soft and humble. However, others will harden their hearts and become more and more rigid.   We can also see examples of this phenomenon in the Bible. When faced with trials, Joseph and his brothers softened their hearts, repented of sins, and received forgiveness as they trusted in God. But Pharoah and the Canaanites only hardened their hearts more and more in response to difficulty.   God prepared hell for Satan and his subordinates; yet many people go to hell. Why? Because they are hard-hearted. They would rather go to hell with Satan than repent of their sins. In other words, it is not God who sends people to hell. Instead, when people choose not to accept God's salvation, they are choosing to go to hell.   In the same way, God did not destroy the Canaanites and Midianites. They had opportunities to repent and accept salvation, but they stubbornly rejected God's salvation. Ultimately, they chose to perish.   God's Salvation Offered to the Midianites God is love, and he is also righteous. In His love, he keeps trying to save us. But in his righteousness, he will not excuse the guilty (Exodus 34:7). After giving them many opportunities to repent, God will ultimately judge those who are guilty of their sins.   When we fail to notice God's loving efforts to provide a way of salvation, we may feel that God's judgment on the Midianites may be too severe. Let's look at the opportunities God gave them to surrender their lives to him.   The Bible gives us clues about how this may have happened. When Moses killed an Egyptian and fled into the wilderness, he sought refuge among the Midianites. In fact, he married into a Midianite family. The Midianites provided protection and shelter for Moses, and he gave them a chance to learn to know God.   When Moses met God in the burning bush in the wilderness of Midian, imagine the conversations he had that evening with his wife and in-laws. Perhaps he told them about his encounter with God. Imagine how shocked his Midianite family must have been. Should they believe Moses' accounts? After all, Moses' father-in-law was a priest of Midian, and he served other gods (Exodus 2:18).   Moses' father-in-law was a priest, showing that he was open to spiritual things. At first, he served other gods, but he came to know the True God through Moses' testimony. Years later, he began to worship the True God, saying, “The Lord is greater than all the gods” (Exodus 18:11).   The Bible doesn't specifically record Moses' verbal testimony to his family early on. Exodus 4:18 says that Moses kept his mission vague when he talked to his father-in-law: “Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, “Please let me go back to my brothers in Egypt to see whether they are still alive.” And Jethro said to Moses, “Go in peace.” (Exodus 4:18). In this account, Moses doesn't tell his father-in-law a lot about his experience of meeting the Lord, or about God's calling to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.   However, Moses' later actions and words were a powerful testimony to Jethro. After a series of confrontations with Pharaoh and a series of miracles, Moses finally led the Israelites out of Egypt. Exodus 18:1 tells us that Moses' father-in-law was impressed by the testimony of Moses' life. “Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how the Lord had brought Israel out of Egypt.” He then brought Moses' wife and two sons to find Moses.   When Moses recounted the stories of what God had done for him, Jethro was deeply moved. He acknowledged that Jehovah was the greatest of all gods, and he offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to God. Jethro accepted that Jehovah was the One True God. He received eternal life. After that, Jethro left Moses and returned to his own land.   What did Jethro do after returning to his country? As a priest of Midian, did he testify to the rest of Midianites that Jehovah is the One True God? We can assume that he did. A natural result of knowing God is sharing him with others. When someone is truly saved, it's hard to suppress the urge to preach the gospel. Jethro likely shared his faith with his people.   However, even when we preach the gospel, it doesn't ensure the salvation of those who hear. Paul said that we who preach the gospel are the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To one we are a fragrance of death, and to the other a fragrance of life. (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). When the gospel is preached, those who refuse to accept it will be judged. Those who accept the gospel will have eternal life.   It's not God's desire to send people to hell. He loves the world and desires that everyone believe in Jesus Christ so that they can have eternal life. However, a person who refuses to accept the Gospel rejects eternal life by his own choice.   Similarly, when Jethro testified to the Midianites that Jehovah is greater than all gods, the Midianites had a choice. They could either accept Jethro's testimony and trust in the One True God, or they could reject Jethro's testimony and continue to worship their idols.   Believing Midianites The Midianites' response to Jethro's testimony divided them into two groups. Their response to the True God had a life-changing impact on their future trajectory.   Numbers 10:29 says, ”And Moses said to Hobab the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses' father-in-law, “We are setting out for the place of which the Lord said, ‘I will give it to you.' Come with us, and we will do good to you, for the Lord has promised good to Israel.” Was Moses talking to his father-in-law or his brother-in-law? The word can be translated both ways in Hebrew. Judges 4:11 also mentions “Hobab the father-in-law of Moses”. Again, the word can be translated as “father-in-law” or “brother-in-law.” I personally believe Hobab was Moses' brother-in-law. His father-in-law had returned to his country in his old age, and Moses did not stop him (Exodus 18:27).   Numbers 10:30-32 records Hobab's response. “'But he said to him, I will not go. I will depart to my own land and to my kindred.' And he said, ‘Please do not leave us, for you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you will serve as eyes for us. And if you do go with us, whatever good the Lord will do to us, the same will we do to you.'”   Moses was begging Hobab to go with him here. However, the Bible clearly says that Moses did not prevent his father-in-law from leaving (Exodus 18:27). This seems to imply that these are two different people.   After realizing that the Lord was the true God, Jethro felt like he was too old to continue such a hard journey with Moses. Hobab, Moses' brother-in-law, also wanted to go back to his land. However, Moses promised that if he stayed with the Israelites, he would be a fellow recipient of God's blessings. The Bible doesn't tell us how Hobab replied. Perhaps he led some Midianites to follow Moses into the wilderness.   This story creates a beautiful spiritual picture. When Jethro went home to the Midianites and testified that the LORD was the true God, some people had accepted the Lord and decided to join the Israelites on their journey. These people received the benefits promised by Moses.   Judges supports this conjecture. Judges 1:16 tells about the first time the Israelites went to war: “And the descendants of the Kenite, Moses' brother-in-law, went up with the people of Judah from the city of palms into the wilderness of Judah,… and they went and settled with the people.” From this verse, we see that Hobab might have agreed to Moses' request, thereby receiving God's blessing and acquiring land alongside the tribe of Judah. Judges 4:11 says, ”Now Heber the Kenite had separated from the Kenites, the descendants of Hobab the father-in-law (or brother-in-law) of Moses, and had pitched his tent as far away as the oak in Zaanannim, which is near Kedesh.” Jael, the wife of Heber, the descendant of Hobab, killed Sisera, Israel's enemy. These verses imply that Midianites descended from Moses' father-in-law were an active part of the Israelite community.   On the other hand, the Midianites who refused to accept Jethro's testimony were unwilling to embark on a journey of faith with the Israelites. Their community became a stronghold of evil spirits. Later, the evil spirits used the Midianites to tempt the Israelites into sexual sin. The evil spirits wanted to corrupt the Israelite family tree in order to prevent Jesus Christ from being born through the Israelite family line. These Midianites had a chance to join the Israelites, but they chose to follow evil spirits instead. There may have been other opportunities to repent that the Bible does not record.     Human Flesh and Evil Spirits   There is a difference between the way God treats our flesh and the way he treats evil spirits. The tribe of Moab is sometimes used symbolically to represent the flesh. The ancestor of the people of Moab was born as the result of incest between Lot and his daughter. For this reason, Moab was often used to represent the flesh. God is patient with the flesh, allowing it to slowly experience the dealings of the cross. God didn't require the Israelites to wipe out the Moabites. Instead, he asked them to take a detour around their land (Deuteronomy 2:9).   However, God treated the Midianites differently. The Midianites represent the evil strongholds of demons inside us. God's method of dealing with them was to kill them all. The reason Moses asked the Israelites to kill all Midian's men, boys, and married women was partly because the Midianites rejected God's testimony and cooperated with evil spirits to incur their own harsh judgment.   Hope for the Midianite children.   From an eternal perspective, we can see that there may be hope for the Midianite boys who died. Not everyone who dies physically goes to hell. Those who die await the verdict of God's Great White Throne Judgment. All who have died will be resurrected and judged. Those whose names are not in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). Even though these boys died physically, they may not have died spiritually.   In a prophetic dream, I was taken to heaven. There, I saw some children who had died prematurely. They were living happily in heaven. This scene shocked me. Perhaps the Midianite children are in heaven. By dying physically, they may have been spared the eternal destruction that their adult actions may have merited. Even Paul said that some sinners should be handed over to Satan to destroy the body so that their souls can be saved in the day of the Lord (1 Corinthians 5:5). Perhaps there is mercy hidden inside God's judgment.   God is Love. When we look at this tragedy from an eternal perspective, we see God's mercy, justice, and love on display.  

Father Simon Says
Father Simon Says – August 3, 2021 – Meek Moses?

Father Simon Says

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021 50:43


Nm 12:1-13 Was Moses really the meekest man on earth? Mt 14:22-36 Why did Jesus make his disciples get into the boat? Letters Question about liturgy and charity Word of the Day: Hem Callers My 8 year old wants to learn biblical Greek, where should I find books for him? When the Israelites left Egypt, […] All show notes at Father Simon Says – August 3, 2021 – Meek Moses? - This podcast produced by Relevant Radio

Father Simon Says
Father Simon Says – August 3, 2021 – Meek Moses?

Father Simon Says

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2021


Nm 12:1-13 Was Moses really the meekest man on earth? Mt 14:22-36 Why did Jesus make his disciples get into the boat? Letters Question about liturgy and charity Word of the Day: Hem Callers My 8 year old wants to learn biblical Greek, where should I find books for him? When the Israelites left Egypt, […]

Shabbat Night Live
Moses The Egyptian

Shabbat Night Live

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2021 53:37


Was Moses really found as a baby in a basket in the Nile? Is there any evidence of Moses, his parents, and his adoptive mother — the Pharaoh's daughter? Mary Nell Wyatt-Lee pieces together the story etched on the walls of Egyptian tombs that confirms the history of the Bible! Watch more on the Michael Rood TV App! https://bit.ly/2X9oN9h Join us on ANY social media platform! https://aroodawakening.tv/community/s... Your Donation keeps these videos going! Thank you! https://aroodawakening.tv/donate/ Support us by visiting our store! https://roodstore.com/ Have Questions? Ask us Here! https://aroodawakening.tv/support/con... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Torah Cafe
Was Moses a Rabbi?

Torah Cafe

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2021 56:46


Central to Jewish life and practice today is the 'Rabbi'. Did Judaism always have rabbis? Was Moses a rabbi? When did rabbis begin and how did the position evolve? What is the role of a rabbi? Are there different types and status among rabbis? Learn about what makes someone a rabbi, what the rabbi's role is and how the position evolved over the past 3,000 years.

Macrodosing: Arian Foster and PFT Commenter

On today's episode of Macrodosing, it's 4/20, the holy grail day for weed. Special guests include Frank The Tank (who got high for the first time ever on the show) and Buddah Ben. Happy Holiday and enjoy the episode! 0:00 Frank the Tank accidentally got high for the first time off a 3Chi cookie 8:00 The questionable history of NJ State Police uniforms 10:00 Best things a tree can become 12:00 Fuck William Randolph Hearst 14:30 Bring back mids 18:00 Big THC 21:00 The origins of weed 25:00 PFT taught his mom how to smoke weed 29:00 Was Moses high off the burning bush? (Bonus: Frank’s 15 Commandments) 36:30 What smoking weed with Obama was like 40:00 Buddha Ben joins the show 44:00 The first time Buddha got high 47:00 The kid that got Buddha his weed starter pack 52:00 Exactly how much weed does Buddha Ben smoke? 53:30 Big T learns how there’s nicotine in blunts 1:00:00 Why Buddha has to smoke blunts 1:06:00 Can you still buy kindbud? 1:08:00 Science lesson from Coley

That's Truth
Response to Listener Questions

That's Truth

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2021 90:44


We had another full episode packed with listener questions. Questions included: What are the "greater works" believers shall do, spoken by Jesus (John 14:12)? Is Luke 17:34 talking about the rapture when it says, "two shall be together one shall be taken and the other left behind"? Are soul ties Biblical and are are sexual soul ties Biblical? If God wired males and females differently in their brain and the brain controls the body, why does a man want to be a woman and a woman want to be a man? Was Moses a military leader? What is the purpose of missions and a missionary? Is the Trinity a false teaching? What Scripture explains the Trinity? Listen to these questions and more with Pastor/Dr. David Murphy.

The Daily Study
Shemot Shabbat: Questioning G-d's Ways

The Daily Study

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2021 3:33


Was Moses questioning God? Wouldn't that show a lack of faith? Tune in to find out!

Web Crawlers
Galactic Federation & UFOs with John E.L. Tenney

Web Crawlers

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2020 56:52


The former head of Israel’s defense military said aliens are not only real, but there is a Galactic Federation with underground posts on Mars that we have been in contact with. Is he telling the truth or just making it all up to sell his book? Did you know there are descriptions of UFOs in the bible and biblical paintings depicting UFOs? Was Moses abducted by aliens and told what the 10 Commandments were? How are the Foo Fighters connected to aliens?ALSO: UFOlogist John E.L.Tenney explains the basics of UFOs, what he really thinks of Tom DeLonge, and tells us a crazy experience he had while filming an abductee’s story. —EMAIL US: Webcrawlerspod@gmail.comLEAVE US A VOICEMAIL: 626-604-6262__JOIN OUR DISCORD: https://discord.com/invite/VNGJnHr—FOLLOW US: Twitter / Instagram / Reddit / Facebook—JOIN OUR PATREON: HERE—MERCH: https://webcrawlerspod.com— Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/webcrawlers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Parsha Pulse
VeZos HaBeracha - Where's the Brake Pedal???

Parsha Pulse

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2020 4:27


Wayfinder Podcast
#48: The Alexandria Project: Hidden History, Gnosticism, & the Hebrews (Part 2)

Wayfinder Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2020 118:04


An awesome continuation of Episode #47. Go back and catch that one if you haven't already. - The bloodlines that run the world today through the central banking systems and money supply have been in place for thousands of years - Was Moses really the pharaoh Akhenaton? - The Catholic Church preserves ancient Babylonian rituals, symbolism, and and regalia in their modern practices - The 10 Commandments of The Holy Bible are really just a bastardization of the 42 Ideals of Ma’at from ancient Egypt - Is Monotheism really an upgrade from Polytheism? Polytheism is how we personify the characteristics that make up all humans so we can elevate and modulate our lives and wellbeing. - There are many stories of groups leaving Egypt around the time of Moses/Akhenaton, including some that indicate a strong connection between Ireland and Egypt in ancient times. They might have been cousins. - The occult magic of symbolism - What can we do to overthrow evil powers in our own lives and spread Love, Light, and Truth to the rest of the world Please Like, Subscribe, Share, and Comment - It helps us build our audience and spread the word! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! Get Wayfinder Podcast on All Platforms https://www.wayfinderpodcast.com Support the Podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/wayfinderpodcast SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/wayfinderpodcast iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wayfinder-podcast/id1256821284 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/1lOF58FgLwyYg6GMp3ZLKS

Going Deeper
Moses, rocks, sandals, and the Promised Land

Going Deeper

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2020 43:24


Was Moses hitting a rock really bad enough to keep him out of the Promised Land? And what in the world does a sandal have to do with acquiring land? 

Thomasville church of Christ
Is the Creation in Genesis True? - Genesis 1

Thomasville church of Christ

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2020 32:02


Did God create the heavens and the earth at the same time that is "in the beginning"? Was Moses right that God created the cosmos and specifically the earth in 6 days? Was Jesus right that God created humanity male and female "from the beginning"? This message will draw observations for an actual creation in 6 days from Genesis 1.

That's Truth
Response to Listener Questions

That's Truth

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2020 89:35


We spent another episode just answering listener questions for the entire program. Questions varied and included some of the following topics: Can Satan interrupt your prayers? Does the Old Testament show that the black race is in the Hebrew people? Was Moses a black man born in Egypt and raised by Africans? What should a person do if their marriage partner refuses to have sex with them and masturbates instead? Are rock music and carnal movies a door opener for demons? Will the Tribulation be worldwide? Listen as Pastor/Dr. Murphy responds to these questions and more!

West Coast Bible Teacher
Exodus 3-4 Moses And The Burning Bush

West Coast Bible Teacher

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2020 55:57


This week's episode will cover the famous narrative of God appearing to Moses through the burning thorn bush. We will learn about Moses's calling, and details of the great mission that God was giving him. Was Moses very eager to follow God's commissioning? Or will we see him regress into doubts, and anxiety, upon hearing God's call? These details, and many more will be covered in today's podcast episode. Also, we will come across a very perplexing passage later on in chapter 4; one that has baffled scholars for a very long time. As always there will be many life applications for us to learn along the way! Praying that you are blessed by this week's podcast teaching! 

Shiurim on Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer by Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein
Episode 44: Chapter 23c - Story of Noah and the Flood

Shiurim on Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer by Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2020 58:58


Noah plants a grapevine from Gan Eden / Who castrated/sodomized Noah - Ham or Canaan? / Birth order of Noah's 3 sons / Why did Noach curse Canaan? / The curse of being a slave / The blessings, gifts and & lands Noah gave his children / Black is beautiful / Was Moses black like an Egyptian? / White tzaras (leprosy) on a German and Kushi

Truth Be Told
The Murder of Moses! Find Out the Story with Rand Flem-Ath

Truth Be Told

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2019 49:57


The life of Moses, the greatest prophet of the Old Testament, has always been shrouded in mystery. The Bible mentions no witnesses to Moses’ death, no funeral, and no indication of his burial place, and the story of Exodus paints a very contradictory picture of this man so important to both Judaism and Christianity. At times, he is depicted as a meek, stuttering figure and at others his tyrannical commands and fits of rage terrorize the children of Israel. And, for the last years of his life, he chose to hide behind a veil. What is the explanation for these extreme shifts in character? Was Moses mentally ill? As Rand and Rose Flem-Ath reveal, the evidence points to something much more sinister: Moses was murdered and replaced by an impostor.

Grace Church in Noblesville & Fishers, IN
Lifting Moses' Hands | Israel Defeats the Amalekites

Grace Church in Noblesville & Fishers, IN

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2019


This is the final week of our series, Into the Wilderness. We've been following the Israelites as they've struggled through water shortages, food shortages, and lots and lots of grumbling and complaining. Every time they face a new crisis, though, God comes through for them. And as we've talked about, these stories are in our Bibles for a reason. Each one has been handed down from generation to generation to help us all understand what life is like living in the wilderness - in our case, the wilderness of a broken world. Every one of us faces wilderness in our lives - depression, broken relationships, losing a job, illness, grief - and these stories speak to that. In every one, the big idea is the same: God has not abandoned you in the wilderness. You can trust him to see you through. He did it back then and he'll do it now. So, Exodus 17. God gave the Israelites water from a rock. But then, in verse 8, out of nowhere, the people are attacked. Exodus 17:8-9 While the people of Israel were still at Rephidim, the warriors of Amalek attacked them. Moses commanded Joshua, "Choose some men to go out and fight the army of Amalek for us. Tomorrow, I will stand at the top of the hill, holding the staff of God in my hand." Ok. When you're reading through Exodus, this story kind of comes out of nowhere. Who in the world are the warriors of Amalek? Why are they attacking the Israelites? They're in the wilderness and all of a sudden they're at war? What we have here is something the Hebrew Bible does a lot. In the Old Testament, storytelling looks a lot different than it does today. In our culture, when you tell a story, you want to put in as much detail as you possibly can - how did things look? How did things sound and smell? What were characters thinking and feeling? In the Hebrew Bible, though, narrative is far simpler. The authors rarely, if ever, give us the details we're longing for. "And so Adam and Eve lived in the Garden. And then the serpent came to them and said..." "Wait. There's a serpent? It can talk? Can all the animals talk? How did Eve feel about this talking snake? Give me details!!!" But that's not how the Bible works. It's Jewish meditation literature, remember, and the sparse details in the story force us to stop and ponder, to pray and meditate. Because 9 times out of 10, the simple words we read are intentionally designed to point to profoundly deep truths. And they come alive when you've been reading and meditating on other parts of the Bible as well. For the ancient Israelite readers, who read and studied these words day and night, the Amalekites showing up out of nowhere would have made a lot of sense. We read in Genesis that Amalek (the father of the Amalekties) was the grandson of Esau. Esau was the brother of Jacob, also known as Israel (the father of the twelve tribes of Israel). And in that story, there's tension between Jacob and Esau about who is the chosen son. So the Amalekites were essentially distant cousins of these Israelites wandering in the wilderness (and there is a bit of family resentment there). In the next chapter, we meet some other distant cousins - the Midianites. Midian was one of the other sons of Abraham. And, at least in Exodus, the Midianites are pretty helpful to Israel. So you've got these three lines all coming down from the same family. The Israelites, the Midianites, and the Amalekites. What matters in this story, is how they respond to the promises of God. Back in Genesis 28, God tells Jacob (a.k.a. Israel, the great uncle of Amalek and the half-nephew of Midian), Genesis 28:14-15 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth!... And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. What's more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land." So. There is a promised land for the Israelites. God will protect them and bring them back to it. That's what's happening in Exodus. The promise goes on, though: all the families of the earth will be blessed through them. Which means God was going to bless the Amalekites and Midianites because of Israel. How do the different families respond to this promise in this story? Well, the Midianites bless Israel and help them out. The Amalekites go to war. They don't want the Israelites on their land, so they try to snuff them out. And according to Deuteronomy 25, they didn't just attack the Israelite army. They pounced when Israel was exhausted and weary, and hunted down the old and weak stragglers first. Ruthless. So, if you're an ancient Jewish reader of this story, and you've meditated on the Bible for years, this account, with its sparse words and lack of detail actually comes alive with layers of meaning. The Amalekites weren't just wandering mercenaries. They were a nation seeking to stand in the way of the promises of God. This story is not just about a random battle. This story is about whether God will keep his promises when the world wants anything but... And remember, these stories have been passed down from generation to generation on purpose. Although they are about historical events, they also describe the realities of the wilderness of our broken world. God has made promises to you. He will see you through this wilderness. He will bring you to the Promised Land - the New Creation. Life. Harmony. Provision. Joy. Peace. That's what lies ahead. That's what's been promised through Jesus. What happens when those promises are threatened by forces beyond your control? What happens when the Amalekites show up and try to snuff you out? Let's keep reading. THE STAFF OF GOD Exodus 17:10-19 So Joshua did what Moses had commanded and fought the army of Amalek. Meanwhile, Moses, Aaron, and Hur climbed to the top of a nearby hill. As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage. Moses' arms soon became so tired he could no longer hold them up. So Aaron and Hur found a stone for him to sit on. Then they stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset. As a result, Joshua overwhelmed the army of Amalek in battle. After the victory, the LORD instructed Moses, "Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder, and read it aloud to Joshua: I will erase the memory of Amalek from under heaven." Moses built an altar there and named it Yahweh-Nissi (which means "the LORD is my banner"). He said, "They have raised their fist against the LORD's throne, so now the LORD will be at war with Amalek generation after generation." I find this to be one of most powerful and evocative moments in this whole wilderness storyline. The imagery is incredible. Moses, holding up his staff until sunset while his friends support his arms. Now, again. The story keeps the details pretty sparse. Was Moses praying? Who is Hur? How many people were fighting? Again, the story doesn't tell us much. But what it does show us is laden with meaning. For example, the staff. Throughout the entire Exodus story, Moses' staff represents trust in God's power and provision. With this staff in Moses' hands, God sends the plagues on the Egyptians. With this staff in Moses' hands, God parts the Red Sea. With this staff in Moses' hands, God brings water out of the rock. There's nothing magical about the staff. Moses is not Gandalf. It was just a piece of wood Moses used when he was a shepherd. Something for Moses to lean on while waiting for his sheep to finish their lunch. But now, when Moses uses this staff, it's a symbolic act which loudly proclaims, "I trust you, God!" Or, as it says in verse 15, Yahweh Nissi. "The Lord is my Banner." In ancient warfare, flags and banners flying over an army told everyone who you were fighting for. "Oh look! It's the army of so-and-so!" "I fight for this king." When the Amalekites attacked the Israelites, this piece of wood - this shepherd's staff - became a banner on the hillside, and the message was clear: this army belongs to the Lord and HE is our strength. Yet again, God works in object lessons. When the staff is raised - when the people trust in God to deliver them - they have success in battle. When the staff (the banner) is lowered - if the people try to rely on their own strength - they start to lose. Our spiritual ancestors passed this story down to us to teach us something: When we are in the wilderness, trusting in God's strength - raising his banner - is the only way we can make it through. We're not strong enough, we're not smart enough, we're not clever enough - to overcome the brokenness of our world on our own. When we are in the wilderness we must trust in God to see us through. But... What do we do when our strength starts to fade? What do we do when our trust starts to waver? When our arms get a little shaky? It's in those moments we must remember that we do not face this wilderness alone. Yes, God is with us, but so is our community. Look again at verse 12. Aaron and Hur "stood on each side of Moses, holding up his hands. So his hands held steady until sunset." Symbolically, they helped Moses trust God when couldn't on his own. This is why no Christ-follower is an island. We need one another. We need community. Because on your own, yes. Your trust can start to waver. When you've been battling that disease for years, it's hard to keep trusting, isn't it? When you're depressed, again, that staff feels awfully heavy. When you have people constantly undermining you, how long can you really hold out hope? Your trust can falter in the wilderness. But in those moments - in the church? In the body of Christ? - your spiritual family can trust with you. Because you are not in this wilderness alone. And I want to demonstrate that right now. I'm going to ask you to be brave and do something that might feel a little awkward. But at all three of our campuses: if you're in an intense wilderness right now and feel alone, would you stand? Stand if you feel thirsty or hungry in the wilderness you're facing. Stand if you feel you're being attacked when you're at your weakest. Stand if you feel something is fighting against the promises of God in your life. I want to pray over you. I want to pray for God's deliverance. For God's provision. Ok. Stay standing. Now here's the part I need you to trust me: I want you to know you are not alone. If you are near one of these standing people, would you please stand with them? Those of you in that wilderness, like Moses please lift your arms as I pray - lift your banner - this is an act of trust that God will see you through. And if you are willing, let the people around you hold your arms up while I pray. If you'd prefer not to have people touch you, you can put your palms up in front of you and the people around you will simply stand with you. In fact, I'd like the whole church to stand. As I pray, I want this to be a physical reminder that you are not alone. God is with you, and so are we. If you're in the wilderness lift up your arms. "The Lord is my Banner" Friends, please don't leave this service today without receiving further prayer if you need it. You don't have to go through this wilderness alone. The Lord is our banner. And we are with you!

Beyond 50 Radio Show
EPISODE 911 - The Murder of Moses: How an Egyptian Magician Assassinated Moses, Stole His Identity, Hijacked the Exodus

Beyond 50 Radio Show

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2019 67:49


For Beyond 50's "History" talks, listen to an interview with Rand Flem-Ath. He'll talk about the life of Moses, the greatest prophet of the Old Testament, has always been shrouded in mystery. The Bible mentions no witnesses to Moses’ death, no funeral, and no indication of his burial place, and the story of Exodus paints a very contradictory picture of this man so important to both Judaism and Christianity. What is the explanation for these extreme shifts in character? Was Moses mentally ill? As Flem-Ath will reveal, the evidence points to something much more sinister: Moses was murdered and replaced by an impostor. The result of a decade-long investigation, this book continues and builds upon the research of Goethe, Christopher Marlowe, and Sigmund Freud - who spent the last 40 years of his life obsessed with solving Moses’ murder - and reaches a startling but well-evidenced conclusion that Moses was deceived and murdered by his father-in-law, Reuel. Tune in to Beyond 50: America's Variety Talk Radio Show on the natural, holistic, green and sustainable lifestyle. Visit Beyond 50 (https://www.Beyond50Radio.com) and sign up for our Exclusive Updates.

Evidence and Answers
Episode 685 – Evidence for a Historical Moses Pt 2

Evidence and Answers

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2019 25:22


Was Moses a real historical person or a legend? Did the Exodus actually happen? The supposed lack of historical evidence has caused skeptics to question these. However, recent archaeology sheds new light on Moses. Listen as Pat and Mark Jantzen discuss the historical evidence for Moses. Read the postEpisode 685 – Evidence for a Historical Moses Pt 2

Evidence & Answers
Episode 685 – Evidence for a Historical Moses Pt 2

Evidence & Answers

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2019 25:22


Was Moses a real historical person or a legend? Did the Exodus actually happen? The supposed lack of historical evidence has caused skeptics to question these. However, recent archaeology sheds new light on Moses. Listen as Pat and Mark Jantzen discuss the historical evidence for Moses. Read the postEpisode 685 – Evidence for a Historical Moses Pt 2

Science Fiction Shorts
The Discovery of a World in the Moone, pt 2

Science Fiction Shorts

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2019 53:50


We forge ahead with Proposition 2 in this episode. This section is all about the good book. Are we Heretiques for believing the Moone might be habitable? Was Moses keeping secrets from us? And what of this musicke of the spheares? John Wilkins lays it out for us in "all possible brevity".

Spoken Gospel
Numbers 10-12: Power Struggle

Spoken Gospel

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2019 63:28


Israel finally leaves Sinai and immediately starts to sin. The main concern and the main solution both revolve around leadership. What kind of leader did Israel need? Was Moses that leader? What is up with all the Spirit-filled, spontaneous prophecy in this passage? David and Seth discuss all this and more. For more information about Spoken Gospel visit: http://www.spokengospel.com Welcome to Spoken Gospel. This is our journey to speak the gospel out of every corner of scripture. Each week author and poet David Bowden sits down with preacher and blogger Seth Stewart to address one pericope of scripture and show how it points to Jesus. We believe that the whole Bible is about Jesus. In fact, everything is about Jesus. “From him, through him, and to him are all things” (Rom. 11:36). “For by him all things were created…all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Col. 1:16-17). Since everything in the world is about Jesus, certainly the Bible, which is his word, is about him too. “And Jesus said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Lk. 24:25-27) “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (Jn. 5:39) In fact, we are convinced that reading the Bible without seeing how it points us to Jesus is to read the Bible with a veil over it. “For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed” (2 Cor. 3:14-16). This text goes on to say that it is the Gospel that is veiled. But when the veil is taken away by the Spirit, and we see the Gospel throughout the Bible, we don’t just get new information or discover clever connections. We actually see, “the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4). Seeing Jesus and his Gospel throughout the whole Bible is not about trying to see something that isn’t really there, but trusting the Spirit of God to show us what is really there. And what is really there is the image and glory of God in Jesus. This isn’t about seeing beyond the text or through the text. It isn’t about overlooking the historical events or the author’s intent, to see something mystical and secret. It is about seeing how God operated in historical events, through authorial intent, in the texts of scripture to show us more of his glory in Jesus. That is our goal in this podcast. We will work through books of the Bible in segments. Usually these segments will be broken up by the text itself, pausing for reflection where the literature seems to tell us to stop and take account. Our hope is to make it through the whole Bible, speaking the Gospel out of every corner of Scripture. Welcome to our public experiment to test this thesis. Welcome to Spoken Gospel.

Reefer MEDness
S3E08 Pastors, Pot, And Prophets

Reefer MEDness

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2019


Did Jesus die on the cross? Was Moses influenced by cannabis when speaking to the Lord? Are Christian Churches embracing Cannabis? First up we meet the founding member of Christian Cannabis, Craig Gross. Once known as the “Porn Pastor,” Gross has a new message for Christian leaders. We learn how cannabis facilitated his personal journey and how he came to a cross roads. Gross once focused on helping porn-addicted Christians kick their habit. Now he is focused on how Christians can be healed by this ancient plant. Next we explore the origins of cannabis. Researcher Chris Bennett connects cannabis to world religion and how it spread from one culture to another. He speaks to how biblical Prophets, Knights Templars, and the Messiah himself, were connected to cannabis by reframing our trusted biblical stories. Bennett says cannabis has been part of human history from the beginning. The legalization of cannabis demands philosophical discussions and these two guests bring a deep conversion to what may be our most controversial episode yet. Music: The Drifting Cossacks https://www.facebook.com/thedriftingcossacks/ (Yes we got a SOCAN membership to use this song all legal and proper like) Additional Music: Marc Clement http://marcclementmusic.com/ Links: Craig Gross - Christian Cannabis - www.christiancannabis.com Instagram - @christian.cannabis Chris Bennet - Urban Shaman - www.urbanshaman.net

Reefer MEDness
S3E08 Pastors, Pot, And Prophets

Reefer MEDness

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2019


Did Jesus die on the cross? Was Moses influenced by cannabis when speaking to the Lord? Are Christian Churches embracing Cannabis? First up we meet the founding member of Christian Cannabis, Craig Gross. Once known as the “Porn Pastor,” Gross has a new message for Christian leaders. We learn how cannabis facilitated his personal journey and how he came to a cross roads. Gross once focused on helping porn-addicted Christians kick their habit. Now he is focused on how Christians can be healed by this ancient plant. Next we explore the origins of cannabis. Researcher Chris Bennett connects cannabis to world religion and how it spread from one culture to another. He speaks to how biblical Prophets, Knights Templars, and the Messiah himself, were connected to cannabis by reframing our trusted biblical stories. Bennett says cannabis has been part of human history from the beginning. The legalization of cannabis demands philosophical discussions and these two guests bring a deep conversion to what may be our most controversial episode yet. Music: The Drifting Cossacks https://www.facebook.com/thedriftingcossacks/ (Yes we got a SOCAN membership to use this song all legal and proper like) Additional Music: Marc Clement http://marcclementmusic.com/ Links: Craig Gross - Christian Cannabis - www.christiancannabis.com Instagram - @christian.cannabis Chris Bennet - Urban Shaman - www.urbanshaman.net

Scripture Read Badly
23: Moses Flees Egypt and the Burning Bush (Exodus 2b-3)

Scripture Read Badly

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2018


Was Moses despised by both Israelites and Egyptians alike? What was his father-in-law’s actual name? Was it night or day when the burning bush appeared to him? What did the burning bush actually look like? Story Time again, this time far less morbid. Leave us a voicemail: voicemail.scripturereadbadly.com Email: scripturereadbadly@gmail.com Website: http://www.scripturereadbadly.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/scripturereadbadly Twitter: … Continue reading 23: Moses Flees Egypt and the Burning Bush (Exodus 2b-3)

The Kibitz Podcast
The Secret History of Jews and Drugs

The Kibitz Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2017 45:31


Was Moses tripping when he saw the burning bush? Are psychedelics the key to unlocking the mysteries behind Jewish texts? And did you hear the one about the rabbi who did LSD with Timothy Leary? Featuring Rick Doblin founder and Executive Director of MAPS—the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. Plus an excerpt from our friend Moshe Kasher’s comedy central show Problematic, and Rabbi David Ingber of New York’s renewal movement temple Romemu. Turn on, tune in, drop out and prepare to expand your mind with this episode of The Kibitz.

A Little Walk With God
Deliverance, Episode 7-193, September 25, 2017

A Little Walk With God

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2017 7:51


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. Bible Reading Plan - www.Bible-Reading.com; The Story, Chapter 4; You Version Bible app, days 22 through 28 We continue our journey through the story examining another of the stories that almost everyone has heard. In fact, almost everyone can tell you the book that contains the story. It's found in the book of Exodus, an interesting compound Greek word that means “the way out.” Today I want us to focus on the hero of the story as we have focused on the unlikely heroes in the first weeks of our study. Adam and Eve were unlikely heroes because of their disobedience. Abraham was an unlikely hero, picked by God to be the father of the nation of Israel through which all the nations of the world would be blessed. Joseph, a slave and prison, who God chose to become the second in command of the mighty nation of Egypt. All unlikely heroes. People you and I would never choose if we were God. But then we are not God. He chooses people whose hearts are in the right place, not who necessarily have it all together. So it is with today's story. Who would choose Moses as the savior of the Hebrew slaves in Egypt? Yes, he was miraculously saved from Pharaoh's destruction of the male children born to the slaves as they continued to increase in population. Yes, he was raised in Pharaoh's palace as a young man. But Moses was a murderer. Moses had a price on his head. Moses couldn't speak well and many scholars think he might have suffered from some sort of speech impediment and had difficulty being understood. Moses was an outlaw living in the wilderness making sure no one recognized him, tending sheep, just to stay alive. What did Moses have that would make him the hero of the story? Why would God choose him to be the leader of the nation and call him to face Pharaoh to pronounce His judgment on Egypt to free His chosen people from their centuries of slavery? Why would God ask someone with a speech impediment to be His spokesman? This just doesn't make sense, does it? But there he was, tending his father-in-law's sheep, when God spoke to him from a blazing bush that wasn't consumed by the fire. Bizarre! We would see Moses as much more a hindrance than a help. But God saw something else. He saw a man committed to Him. He saw a man He could use as an instrument of His grace and mercy. He saw a man through whom He could demonstrate His justice and His redemption because He saw Moses' heart. Was Moses perfect? No. Not by a long shot. We already said he was a murderer. He was a coward, running into the desert when confronted by his countrymen. He even did things after God called him as Israel's leader that kept him out of the promised land. Remember the story of Moses striking the rock to get water out of it instead of doing what God said and speaking to the rock? That might not sound like a big deal to you, but to God that was disobedience to His command. That's pretty serious, don't you think? That was just like Adam and Eve disobeying God in the Garden of Eden when God said don't eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They didn't do what God said. God told Moses, “Speak to the rock and get water out of it.” Moses didn't do what God said and his punishment, like Adam and Eve's was banishment from the promised lan. Moses wasn't perfect. He had his struggles and his faults just like you and I. But he knew to whom he could go when he did wrong. Unlike Adam and Eve, he didn't hide, but rather he confessed and laid himself before God in repentance. He opened himself to the God of the universe and kept that intimate relationship between His God and himself. And that's why God used him in such a miraculous way. There were still consequences for Moses' disobedience. We still have consequences for our sin. We pay a price for the wrongs we commit. God sometimes removes the consequences, but most often does not in the physical world we live in. We suffer and struggle in this broken world because we live in a world filled with sin. But when we follow Him and obey His teachings, we experience far fewer of the negative consequences that come with wrong actions. Right living brings good consequences. Wrong living brings bad consequences. It just makes sense. This week, if you follow the reading in “The Story”, chapter 4 or the smartphone app You Version reading plan Engaging God's Story days 23 through 29, you will see just how God uses this unlikely hero as an instrument for the salvation of His people. It's pretty exciting stuff. The readings also remind me that God can use the most unlikely people, even you and me, to carry out the most incredible events. He might not use you to change the world like He did with Moses, but then again He might. Moses was 80 when he stood before the burning bush. Abraham was 100 when Isaac, the promised son was born. God doesn't pay attention to age or bank accounts or social status or race or nationality or any of the things we might think are important in being a hero or world changer. God pays attention to hearts. He wants people who are devoted to Him. And when He finds that person, He can use him or her to do what others think impossible. We've already seen that in the characters we've explored just in these few days of reading God's Story. But hold on. There is a lot more ahead. God has a plan and it is unfolding just as He expects. You can be part of moving His plan forward or you can futilely try to push against it. It's your choice which side you choose. But He is God and will not and can not fail because He is God and we are not. No matter how hard we might try to push against His will, His plan, He wins...every time. So which side will you choose? Yours or His? It's really not hard to make the smart choice, so why do so many choose the wrong one? Which one do you choose? 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.

Pulpit To Pew
Ep.38 - Tourist, Pilgrim, Yoda & John Wayne

Pulpit To Pew

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2017 38:07


Download | Subscribe (Free) Historically, pilgrims have been described as foreign travelers journeying to reach a destination - physically and spiritually. It's not just the act of traveling to passively see the sights and gain some memories, that's more like a tourist. Pilgrims undertake a purposeful external journey, called a pilgrimage, with the aim to bring about a profound internal transformation. Even though we are not physically on a long and dangerous spiritual pilgrimage (like the Camp de Santiago), maybe we Christians could incorporate the qualities of dedication and mindset of the pilgrim when journeying through our everyday life. What if we decided to "choose life" like Moses suggests in Deuteronomy and embrace Jesus's teachings of the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew. This episode focuses on how when walking with God; we are called to be pilgrims, not tourists? The "Pilgrim's Way" is not an easy path, but like anything worthwhile, it takes sacrifice, persistence, and discipline. What you will hear: > Describing the premise of being God's Tourist and God's Pilgrim > The Characteristics of a Pilgrim - Jonathon Edwards > Rev. Gibson's connecting thread of the "Pilgrim's Way" sermon message and the weekly readings > The journey of the physical and external change needs to include the total transformation on the internal > The Great Commandment > The "Pilgrim's Way" as an example of fulfilling the baptismal covenant > Was Moses and Jesus pilgrims? > A Pilgrims Way teaches a discipline to finish something > Are we all pilgrims in the normal day everyday journey of life and living > Dante's Inferno beginning introduces the whole poem and the idea of his mid-life crisis > Blindly going through life and how we quietly lose track of your own being > Poet's Way - Dante's personal quest for the search for the divine > The Pilgrim's Way dealing with the mid-life crisis > Sermon on the Mount messages and taking the hard route > Star Wars Jedi Path as an example of the "Pilgrim's Way" > The word Parish - translation of a house for pilgrims > Moses message of yes or no. There is no maybe when choosing to truly walk with God > We are all in this life together. Pilgrims do things for themselves but also do for their fellow travelers. Pilgrims travel and support each other > Zoe Keating (musician) - Beverly loves her music and how she integrates her art with technology, crypto currency, and service > The Way (movie): Johnny suggests Emilio Estevez's movie to see an inspirational movie about modern day pilgrimage on a pilgrimage. Available on Netflix. Readings Referenced:   Deuteronomy 30:15-20 1 Corinthians 3:1-9 Matthew 5:21-37    What do you think about Pulpit To Pew?
 We would love to hear what you think, or maybe what you would like us to talk about on an upcoming podcast. Email producer Stacy Wellborn at stacywellborn@gmail.com and join in the conversation. Like Pulpit To Pew Podcast?
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Thomas and the Bible
Isaiah 63-66

Thomas and the Bible

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2014 47:00


This episode asks an important question: Was Moses totally jacked? I mean, he was definitely ripped, but was he torn? I know his bi’s and tri’s were totally buff, but were they glorious? That’s really the question. I won’t say definitely no, but I’m not sure I’d say yes exactly. Hard to say. Tough questions.

Keys of the Kingdom
7/7/12: Survive or be Subsidized

Keys of the Kingdom

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2012 115:00


"Civilized Nations" oxymoron, Hoover Dam and the TVA, Losing individual enthusiasm, Media misdirection, Hue and Cry, What's your job in the Kingdom?, Will you be left behind?, Are you ready for freedom?, DOers make a society great, The means determine the ends, Hints from judges, J. D. Rockefeller and Ringo Starr, Jury nullification, MMS, Gibson Guitar company, Universal Health Care in the Roman Empire, Slothful belong under tribute, Who can be free?, Coveting congregations, Teamwork is needed, Juries and the law, Why won't you come together?, Things you can accomplish if you come together, Thou shalt not..., Socialism incompatible with Christianity, Beware Hollywood Christ and Moses, Chirstos = Messiah = Annointed = King, Judges in Ancient Israel, Tents vs Cities, A common purse of rights, The voice of the people, 1 Samuel 8 - take and take and take..., Realize what's already been taken, How to change?, How did you get here?, Good news - you can repent, God vs your constitution, judge = elohim = god, Who are your gods?, Who appoints them?, The sin of Public Schools, Federal Reserve Notes, Giving power to kings, Was Moses the rightful Pharaoh?, Understanding God's free government, Selecting your minister, Samuel's sons, Electing Sauls, Shofars, The blame game, Biblical "voting", "Vow" explained, Free souls under God, Proving filthy lucre, Imagine a community of 1000 kingdom seekers, Why go to church?, PCM Doers, Voting in the kingdom, No pedastels allowed, Ministering to complex people, What do you pray for?, Church = one form of government, Where to start seeking?, Daily policy is anti-Christ, The whole truth.

Nowhere to Run
NTR – Answers to Common Questions 1

Nowhere to Run

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 2, 2011


[audio: https://conspiracyclothes.com/nowheretorun/audio/NTR_Questions_1.mp3] Was Moses akhenaten? Did Jesus go to India? John Todd? What about the phoenix lights and spacecraft? Indigo children? Can good spirits be contacted or channeled? Is the mark of the beast a chip? Can we be tricked into getting it? Is David Icke a Freemason or some kind of agent? What about […]

Keys of the Kingdom
2/5/11: False Prophets

Keys of the Kingdom

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2011 55:00


People who lead away from the Kingdom of God - Cain, Nimrod, Lamech..., "Egypt" means "bondage", God's welfare system, Contractual nature of Government, Man is "allowed" to create governments - rejection of God, Warnings from Proverbs, You have coveted your neighbor's goods for your benefit - Repent!, Start coming together, Don't send people with guns to your neighbor's house, Solution is Christ, Was Moses's message different?, Be DOers, Strive - Christ said it!, United States is not a republic, Do you think you are "We the People"?, More on Restore America Plan - (RAP), What did first century church DO?, Unrighteous mammon, Example of Pompey, Do your homework, Socialism = Bread + Violence, Electing "Lawmakers"? Why do you need more laws?, Christ's "weightier matters", Finding the right(eous) guys, "Love" is pretty simple, Is your faith on your lips or in your heart?, Long way back to Christ - worth every sacrifice, Reailze the deception, Understand the Kingdom, Tree of Life vs Tree of Knowledge, Whirlwind Tour: March - May, Expose the lie and teach the truth, Focus on the Way of Christ.