An audio lesson or sermon from various contributors
Episodes
Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
Tuesday Jan 05, 2021
Episode 9
“So Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he and his wife and all that belonged to him, and Lot with him. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold. He went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there formerly; and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.” (Genesis 13:1–4 NAS95)
“The Israelites had done as Moses told them; they had asked the Egyptians for jewellery of silver and gold, and for clothing, and the LORD had given the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. And so they plundered the Egyptians.” (Exodus 12:35–36 NRSV)
Devotional thought for today
“— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12 NIV11)
Prayer point for today
Monday Jan 04, 2021
Monday Jan 04, 2021
Douglas Jacoby takes us on an overview of Abraham in the Old Testament.
The handout is here: https://www.malcolmcox.org/abraham-the-balance-of-the-old-testament-douglas-jacoby/
Monday Jan 04, 2021
Monday Jan 04, 2021
Would you like to learn more about faith? You've come to the right person. No, not me, Abraham. This is a daily devotional podcast supporting a teaching series for the Watford church of Christ and the Thames Valley churches of Christ called "Adventures in faith with Abraham". It is also part of my quiet time coaching series.
What is it about Abraham which is so admirable? Many things. But perhaps above all else his adventurous faith, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV11)
Join me as we step out on a faith adventure with Abraham.
Episode 8
Today we conclude chapter 12
“But the LORD struck Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. Then Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? “Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her for my wife? Now then, here is your wife, take her and go.” Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they escorted him away, with his wife and all that belonged to him.” (Genesis 12:17–20 NAS95)
What are we seeing here? God in action. He was absent in the previous paragraph, but now he acts.
Abram is getting his first lesson in what happens when we deny reality. His fear has caused faith-amnesia. He has forgotten that God's promises are to be taken seriously. God promised to bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him.
The consequences of giving in to fear instead of living by faith are severe. Abram's faithlessness has an impact on many people. It is a negative impact instead of a positive one. Abram's time in Egypt could have led people to be in awe of a God who blesses his faithful ones. Instead, Abram's God is known as one who curses.
However, we do see grace at work. God does not abandon Abram. God does not kill Pharaoh or any of his people. Somehow Abram and Sarai's marriage survives! And, perhaps most strange of all, Abram comes out of the situation with blessings. He leaves with more possessions then he arrived with.
Devotional thought for today
Conflict is inevitable in life. Is there a necessary conflict you are avoiding? Abram attempted to avoid conflict with Pharaoh, but made the situation much worse. He forgot that God had everything in hand.
“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.”” (Acts 23:11 NIV11)
Prayer point for today
Ask God for the courage to do what is right
If you have any questions or feedback please contact me: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
The apostle Paul said of Abraham, “He is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:16 NIV11) Let's allow him to be the father of Faith to you and me in January and February 2021.
Many thanks for listening today. See you tomorrow as we continue our adventure of faith with Abraham.
Take care and God bless, Malcolm
Sunday Jan 03, 2021
Sunday Jan 03, 2021
Introduction
- The year behind: largely an unexpected adventure!
- The year ahead: more of the same!
- Uncertain outcomes
- Choose - cooperate with God's faith adventure
- We can learn how to start in the right way by looking at how Abraham's faith adventure began
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1. Listen to God - Genesis 12:1-4, 7
- What is God trying to achieve?
- Not just do something nice for Abram
- Healing for creation
- Eden; murder; flood wickedness; Babel pride - sound like our world today?
- How?
- Men and women of faith
- Abram - reverse of Babel
- Makes someone great - the one who honours him
- *Really* listen - he loves you
- Only has our best interests at heart
“Go forth ....And I will” (Genesis 12:1–2 NAS95)
- "Go...so that I may make you...bless you...
- Great nation
- Bless you
- 80 X Genesis ; 310 elsewhere
- 'Bless' X5 - concentrated burst
- Name great (only David)
- Be a blessing: “you will be the embodiment of blessing”; “You will be a byword of blessing”, I.e., “may you be as blessed as Abram”.
- (Matthew 5:16 NIV11)
- (1 Peter 2:12 NAS95)
- Protection: “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:39 NIV11)
- All peoples on earth: Matt 28:18-20
- (To your offspring I will give this land" - v7)
- Prioritise times of quiet with God - but to grow in them, not just have them
- Personal connection - we have Father, Jesus and Spirit within us
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.” (John 14:23 NAS95)
“having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14 NAS95)
- He worships - altars etc.vv7, 8, ....
- Part of our character, not just something we do
- Not trying to create a people of moral conformity,
- But light in the darkness and water in the desert
- In this - the pressure is off. It is not about talent, but faith.
- My greatest gift is not my abilities, but my faith.
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2. Take God at his word - Genesis 12:4-9
- Travels North-South through the land, stopping off on the way and worshipping.
- Much like us
- God adds some detail to the promises, v7
- Instinct to worship, honour God
- What leaving behind?
- He left all that made him emotionally and practically secure
- Dad, brothers, extended family, livelihood, culture, food, language, ways of doing business, values
- Traditional way of doing church?
- What moving towards?
- Greater use of our gifts?
- In service to one another and the world.....
- TV mission
"To cooperate with the Spirit in spreading the good news across the South West of England."
- Gift-use focus 2021
“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:3–8 NAS95)
- Using gifts requires faith
- Take a step to discover and use gifts - in service of God
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3. Accept God's discipline - Genesis 12:10-20
- Abraham self focused, his mind on potentially negative fate.
- Leads to fears dominating his judgement.
- Acts for self preservation.
- Not imagining how God might preserve him, but how he might preserve himself
- When we focus on our fears, God gets smaller than the problem.
- Don't be surprised by your failings - they are not fatal
- There are consequences - Imagine the state of their marriage after this
- Yet God can use it
- Sometimes God's discipline is severe
- It needed plagues to restore Sarah to her destiny and deportation to get Abram back to Canaan.
- Spiritual highs are sometimes accompanied by spiritual lows.
- Key issue here:
- This is a contest between God and the God-King.
- We are in a spiritual battle.
- We are in a one sided war already won - if we are with God
---
Conclusion
- Your life matters
- Abraham feeling his way forward - just like all of us
Saturday Jan 02, 2021
Saturday Jan 02, 2021
Would you like to learn more about faith? You've come to the right person. No, not me, Abraham. This is a daily devotional podcast supporting a teaching series for the Watford church of Christ and the Thames Valley churches of Christ called "Adventures in faith with Abraham". It is also part of my quiet time coaching series.
What is it about Abraham which is so admirable? Many things. But perhaps above all else his adventurous faith, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV11)
Join me as we step out on a faith adventure with Abraham.
Episode 7
Today we continue in chapter 12
“Now there was a famine in the land; so Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. It came about when he came near to Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman; and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live. “Please say that you are my sister so that it may go well with me because of you, and that I may live on account of you.” It came about when Abram came into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. Pharaoh’s officials saw her and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. Therefore he treated Abram well for her sake; and gave him sheep and oxen and donkeys and male and female servants and female donkeys and camels.” (Genesis 12:10–16 NAS95)
What are we seeing here? After our brief introduction to the promises, and the unhesitating faithful obedience of Abram, we find him facing his first challenge.
The problem is real. Outside of an invading army, famine was the greatest danger of the ancient world. The prospect of starvation was real and terrifying. The situation affected Abram, but also Sarai, Lot and all the others with him.
How will he react?
We might be surprised that he wishes to pass off his wife as his sister. Certainly, we will see that God does not approve. However, we need to pause long enough to recognise Abraham as a fellow-human. He is doing what we all do. One unavoidable problem is being compounded by adding an imagined problem.
He is correct in judging that without food he and his family will die. He is incorrect in assuming that the Egyptians will kill him. He cannot know this for a fact. His fears are clouding his judgement. We can note that there is no mention of God in this paragraph.
Devotional thought for today
What is causing the greatest fear in your heart at the moment? There's no point denying that we all have fears. However, we can respond to them in a healthy and faithful way.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6–7 NIV11)
Lay out your anxieties before God today. Take them out of the shadows, and place them in God's light. Let him give you peace, and refuse the temptation to attempt to control events. Remember that he cares for you and your well-being. God knows that, together with his Spirit, you have enough strength for the challenges ahead.
Prayer point for today
Ask God to help you respond to fear with faith.
If you have any questions or feedback please contact me: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
The apostle Paul said of Abraham, “He is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:16 NIV11) Let's allow him to be the father of Faith to you and me in January and February 2021.
Many thanks for listening today. See you tomorrow as we continue our adventure of faith with Abraham.
Take care and God bless, Malcolm
Friday Jan 01, 2021
Friday Jan 01, 2021
Adventures in Faith with Abraham - Episode 6. Quiet Time Coaching Episode 263
Would you like to learn more about faith? You've come to the right person. No, not me, Abraham. This is a daily devotional podcast supporting a teaching series for the Watford church of Christ and the Thames Valley churches of Christ called "Adventures in faith with Abraham". It is also part of my quiet time coaching series.
What is it about Abraham which is so admirable? Many things. But perhaps above all else his adventurous faith, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV11)
Join me as we step out on a faith adventure with Abraham.
Episode 6
Today we continue in chapter 12
“So Abram went forth as the LORD had spoken to him; and Lot went with him. Now Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan. Abram passed through the land as far as the site of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. Now the Canaanite was then in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him. Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev.” (Genesis 12:4–9 NAS95)
What are we seeing here? A faith-fuelled obedience. One conversation with God was enough for Abram to set out on a very long journey. We are given very little detail, which must be deliberate. It emphasises the simplicity of Abram's faith and the willingness of his obedience. All of this demonstrates the depth of his trust of God.
Abram's instinct is to worship. He desires to honour his God. As he journeys he leaves behind a trail of altars. Symbolically at least it is evidence of his belief that God will, one day, give him this land. In one sense it already belongs to Abram because it clearly belongs to God. This is the place where he appears to his people.
Devotional thought for today
What prompts your worship? What gets you thanking and praising your heavenly father? One of my favourites is this:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9–10 NIV11)
Why not try praying through this passage and letting God know how grateful you are that he has called you, just like he called Abram. Calling you to be blessed, in order to be a blessing to others.
Prayer point for today
Ask God to help you worship him with reverence and awe
If you have any questions or feedback please contact me: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.
The apostle Paul said of Abraham, “He is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:16 NIV11) Let's allow him to be the father of Faith to you and me in January and February 2021.
Many thanks for listening today. See you tomorrow as we continue our adventure of faith with Abraham.
Take care and God bless, Malcolm
Friday Jan 01, 2021
Friday Jan 01, 2021
Episode 5
“Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, And from your relatives, And from your father’s house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing; And I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”” (Genesis 12:1–3 NAS95)
Devotional thought for today
“Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me. Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” (John 12:26; 14:23; 16:23 NIV11)
Prayer point for today
Thursday Dec 31, 2020
Thursday Dec 31, 2020
Episode 4
“Sarai was barren; she had no child.” (Genesis 11:30 NAS95)
"Without children the man had no one to perpetuate his name and the wife enjoyed little prestige and much frustration, for she had no alternative career to motherhood. Further, in old age, childless couples had no children to care for them, and after death, none to carry out the funerary rites regarded as vital to the soul’s well-being in the afterlife." Wenham, Gordon J. Genesis 1–15. WBC 1.
Devotional thought for today
“Where can you get this living water?” (John 4:11 NIV11)
“Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”” (John 7:38 NIV11)
“For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”” (Revelation 7:17 NIV11)
Prayer point for today
Wednesday Dec 30, 2020
Wednesday Dec 30, 2020
Episode 3
“Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram’s wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan;” (Genesis 11:31 NAS95)
Devotional thought for today
“...hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5 NIV11)
Prayer point for today
Tuesday Dec 29, 2020
Tuesday Dec 29, 2020
Introduction
-
Why Abraham matters
- Jesus and other NT writers (see all NT refs at foot of notes)
“the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.” (Romans 4:16 NIV11)
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV11)
- Abraham used as an example of faith most in the bible
-
What we hope to achieve by focussing on him
- Inspiration for a life of faith in uncertain times
- Learning how to live an adventurous life of faith
-
What we will do in this class
- See him as a person
Did he exist?
- Should we ask the question? Others do.
- Amount of detail - author sounds like he believes in him; cultural references - accurate, and the ones which appear not to be are either editors helping later readers to understand, or discoveries yet to be made; Jesus references him
- “And Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines for many days.” (Genesis 21:34 NAS95)
- "My great-grandfather lived in London his entire life, never traveling outside the M25"
- Camels - scepticism and further discoveries
-
Did Abraham ride a camel?, Biblical archaeology review, November/December 2018, page 52, Mark W. Chavalas
- See Douglas Jacoby's article:
https://www.douglasjacoby.com/qa-1544-camels-in-the-bible-anachronistic-bible-contradiction/
- Genesis 24:10-11, 31:34-accounts of camels involving Abraham, Rachel. Dated around 2000-1600 B.C.E.
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- 10thC Egyptian record
- Place in the Negeb called “The Fortress of Abraham,” listed among places conquered by the 22nd-Dynasty king Sheshonq (Shishak) in his incursion into Palestine during the reign of Rehoboam (cf. 1 Kgs. 14:25-26; 2 Chr. 12:2-12).
- Abraham tradition well established at that time
- Rather like reading a book in 6021, four thousand years’ time, about Admiral Lord Nelson - did he really exist?
- Died 1805
- Imagine archaeologists digging and finding Nelson’s column - dated 1844 (the year it was finished)
- Does not prove he existed, but does prove he was not an invention some two thousand years or more later
His time and place
-
Ur: a well-developed city
-
Board game in British Museum
His story as the beginning of hope for humankind
- Gen 1-11
- Creation / Fall
- Curse / Grace
- Sacrifice / Murder
- Wickedness / Salvation - flood
- Pride / Grace - Babel
- God has a long-term plan of reversing the curse, bringing healing - through those who will worship him
- He begins with a relationship and builds from there, a declaration of love
- What does it mean for us?
- Open to God directing us
- Open to God's timing for his promises to become tangible
- Open to the possibility that your life might have a multi-generational impact seen far beyond your lifetime
- Open to the adventure of faith!
Conclusion
- What are you hoping to get out of this series?
- Don't forget the podcast
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.” (Hebrews 11:8 NIV11)
New Testament references: Matt. 1:1–2, 17; 3:9; 8:11; 22:32; Mark 12:26; Luke 1:55, 73; 3:8, 34; 13:16, 28; 16:22–25, 29–30; 19:9; 20:37; John 8:33, 37, 39–40, 52–53, 56–58; Acts 3:13, 25; 7:2, 5, 8, 16–17, 32; 13:26; Rom. 4:1–3, 9, 12–13, 16, 18; 9:7–8; 11:1; 2 Cor. 11:22; Gal. 3:6–9, 14, 16, 18, 29; 4:22; Heb. 2:16; 6:13, 15; 7:1–2, 4–6, 9–10; 11:8, 17, 19; James 2:21, 23; 1 Pet. 3:6