HBS & DwJ Podcast

It is Abram who makes the division. It took a big man to tell Lot this. In other words, Abram is saying that Lot could choose what he wanted and Abram would take what was left. Pharaoh had given to Abram many animals and servants, adding to Abram's growing possessions.

In fact, both Abram and his nephew Lot have such large herds that their herdsman begin to fight over the limited resources in the area around Bethel where they have settled. Abram suggests they split up instead of quarreling. Abram offers Lot the first choice of where to settle.

Lot chooses the fertile lands along the Jordan river, near the town of Sodom, already famous for its wickedness. Lot's choice to live physically near (and eventually in) Sodom will cost him dearly.

It is time to open our hearts, minds, and souls to the Word Of GOD.

Our scripture will be coming from:

Genesis 13:10-13 KJV
[10] And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
[11] Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
[12] Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
[13] But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.

Our Scripture Of The Week Is:

John 17:21 KJVS
[21]That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

Scripture often emphasizes how unity and love reflect a person's commitment to Christ (John 13:34–35; 1 John 4:20).

It's noteworthy that when Jesus transitions from praying for Himself (John 17:1–5), to praying for the disciples (John 17:6–19), to praying for all Christians (John 17:20), the first thing He refers to is unity (Psalm 133:1).

Christian "love" is meant to distinguish believers from non-believers. The unbelieving world cannot see or experience the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:14).

All they can see is how self-professed believers speak and act (Matthew 5:13–16).

In this verse, Jesus points out this is how "the world" (John 17:16–18) is meant to be introduced to faith in Christ.

This is why those who say they are Christians must behave accordingly (1 Peter 2:12) and held accountable by other Christians (1 Corinthians 5:11).

The need for unity does not mean tolerating blatant sin or false teaching (Galatians 1:8–9; 2 Timothy 3:16).

However, the Bible is clear that those who love God will obey God (John 14:15), and the primary demonstration of that is a unifying love for other believers (John 17:23).

Jesus makes other comments implying that He is God and shares the divine nature with God the Father (John 5:22; 10:30; 14:9).

In this specific context, His reference is to unity of purpose and intent. Jesus' actions, consistent with the words of God and the will of God, were proof that He was sent by God (John 14:11, 31).

The same is meant to be true of Christian believers: that their actions and attitudes reflect a commitment to their Creator (Colossians 3:14).

In chapter 12, Abram—the man later named renamed Abraham—lied about Sarai being his wife, out of fear. As a result, God afflicted Pharaoh's household with a plague for taking Sarai.
Pharaoh allowed Abram to keep the dowry he'd paid, but sent them away as soon as he realized what had happened.

As a result, Abram returned to the land of Canaan with much greater wealth than he'd had before.
Pharaoh had given to Abram many animals and servants, adding to Abram's growing possessions.
In fact, both Abram and his nephew Lot have such large herds that their herdsman begin to fight over the limited resources in the area around Bethel where they have settled.

Abram suggests they split up instead of quarreling. Abram offers Lot the first choice of where to settle. Lot chooses the fertile lands along the Jordan river, near the town of Sodom, already famous for its wickedness. Lot's choice to live physically near (and eventually in) Sodom will cost him dearly.

It is time to open our hearts, minds, and souls to the Word Of GOD.

Our scripture will be coming from:

Genesis 13:1-9 KJV
[1] And Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the south.
[2] And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.
[3] And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth–el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth–el and Hai;
[4] Unto the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.
[5] And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents.
[6] And the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together.
[7] And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle and the herdmen of Lot's cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land.
[8] And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren.
[9] Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.

Our Scripture Of The Week Is:

Philippians 4:13 KJVS
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Despite his frequent need, and harsh treatment, Paul joyfully declares his confidence that God will allow him to endure anything.

Paul's words reflected the Gospel teachings that nothing is impossible with God (Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 1:37).

Paul had declared elsewhere that if God is for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)?

This perspective can also be found in the Old Testament.

Jeremiah 32:17 notes that nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Job 42:2 declares God can do anything.

God's closest followers have long known that with God, nothing is impossible, whether Abraham's promised son Isaac, the people of Israel crossing the Red Sea, or the people entering the Promised Land under the leadership of Joshua.

God provides on time, in His time, every time.

Paul's confidence can be found throughout his writings (2 Corinthians 3:4; 7:16; 8:22; 10:2; 11:17; Galatians 5:10; Ephesians 3:12; 2 Thessalonians 3:4).

This verse can, however, be taken out of context. Paul's comment is specifically referring to the ability of a Christian to endure under hardship and persecution. Despite well-meaning use of the words, this text does not teach that a Christian is empowered to accomplish any task simply because they are saved.

Abram was in the land, and this was the place of blessing. God never told him to leave.

But a famine was in the land, and I think one morning Abram pushed back the flap of his tent, looked out, and said, “Sarai, it looks like everybody’s going to Egypt. There’s a famine, you know, and it’s getting worse. Maybe we ought to think about going down.” And I suppose Sarai said, “Anything you want to do, Abram. I’m your wife and I’ll go with you.”

After a few days had gone by and Abram had talked to some of these travelers (probably coming from north of where he was living and bringing the news that the famine was getting worse and was moving south).

I imagine that he said to Sarai one evening, “I think we had better pack up and go to Egypt.”

So Abram and Sarai start down to Egypt. Notice that God had not told him to do that.

When God had appeared to him the last time, He had said, “This is it, Abram, this is the land I am going to give you. You will be a blessing, and I am going to bless you here.”

But, you see, Abram didn’t believe God. He went down into the land of Egypt.

In the Bible, Egypt is a picture of the world. You will find that all the way through. I think it is still a picture of the world. But Abram went down to Egypt.

Our Scripture Of The Week Is:

Hebrews 11:1 KJV
[1] Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

This often-quoted verse gives a direct definition of faith, meant to be read in the context of the rest of this letter. At the end of chapter 10, the writer of Hebrews finished describing why the new covenant in Jesus Christ was superior to the old covenant of animal sacrifices (Hebrews 10:1–18).

This concluded with a reassuring reminder not to "shrink back," but to "have faith" (Hebrews 10:39). The definition given here is meant to tie this command to the examples given later on. After this verse, the writer will explain how the actions of various biblical figures proved both the existence and validity of their faith.

Those contexts—former evidence and future expectation—are essential when interpreting the meaning of these words.

In verse 1 we read: “Now the LORD had said unto Abram.”

We know from other Scriptures that God had called Abram when he lived in Ur of the Chaldees:
“The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. Then came he out of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell” (Acts 7:2–4).

Abraham obeyed God by leaving his home, his business, and the high civilization of Ur, “not knowing whither he went.”

Yet it was not complete obedience because we read that he took with him some of his family. He took with him his father, Terah, and God had told Abraham not to take him.

Why was it that God wanted to get him out of the land and away from his relatives?

We learn the answer in the Book of Joshua. “. . . Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor; and they served other gods” (Josh. 24:2).

They served other gods—Abraham was an idolator. The world was pretty far gone at that time.

God had to move like this if He was going to save humanity. The other alternative for Him was to blot them all out and start over again.

Our Scripture Of The Week Is:

Matthew 6:33 KJVS
[33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

This is one of the key verses in all of Jesus' teaching, commonly used in quotes, artwork, and Bible memorization. Like any other lesson from Christ, it must be understood in the context of the verses that comes before it.

Too often, Jesus' Words here have been ripped out of that context and used to suggest that God will supply endless material blessings if His children seek Him first. That is not, at all, the meaning of this sentence. The context of "these things" are the basic needs of life: food and clothing.

Jesus has commanded His readers not to live in continually worry about how they will obtain those, even if they don't know where the next meal is coming from. He wants them to trust the heavenly Father to provide what is needed for His children because He values them so greatly (Matthew 6:25–32).

Instead of living in constant and fruitless worry, Jesus gives His followers a different outlet for their energy: pursue God's kingdom, trust His righteousness, and leave it to Him to take care of the basic needs of our lives.

The call to "seek first" God's kingdom and righteousness connects to the other teachings Jesus has given in this Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:1–2, 5–6, 16–17).

Motives matter, and only by sincerely putting God first can we pursue righteousness.

Followers of Christ should prioritize living according to the principles He has been teaching (Matthew 6:24; John 14:15).

Jesus' earliest message was the same as that of John the Baptist, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17).

To seek God's kingdom and His righteousness means to live in that ongoing repentance from sin, and to lead the kind of sincere, from-the-heart, devoted-to-God lifestyles Jesus has been describing.

In response, God will make provision for whatever it is we truly "need" in order to accomplish His will.

The first three verses give us the threefold promise of God to Abraham (Abram), and actually this is the hub of the Bible.

The rest of Scripture is an unfolding of this threefold promise.

The first of the threefold promise is the land. God says, “I am going to show you a land, and I am going to give it to you.”

The second part of the promise is the nation—”I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great.” He also promises him, “And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee.”

The third part of the promise is that He would make him a blessing: “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” This is God’s threefold promise.

It is time to open our hearts, minds, and souls to the Word Of GOD.

Our scripture will be coming from:

Genesis 12:1-3 KJV

Welcome to HBS & DwJ Podcast.
I am Jerry Joyce, your host.

Our Scripture Of The Week Is:

Romans 12:4-5 KJV
[4] For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
[5] So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

Paul is describing how living sacrifices live. He has urged Christians—all who have received God's mercy because of their faith in Christ—to offer their everyday lives to God as an ongoing act of worship.

Previous verses made clear that this will require transformation of our minds and perspective so that we can see and understand what God wants and be used by Him to get it done. Now, though, Paul begins to get into what our specific jobs in this sacrificial lifestyle might be.

It turns out that God's purpose for Christians is that we will spend our lives serving each other in specific ways. His analogy here applies broadly to each local congregation, but it also includes the worldwide church in general.

Paul uses the familiar analogy of a human body, something he develops in more detail in 1 Corinthians 12:12–31.

Bodies are a unified whole, containing one person. But that unified body is made up of many different parts that serve wildly different functions from head to toe.

Paul will show in the following verses that the church, meaning all Christians, is similar in that we are the body of Christ. Paul is describing how Christians who have been shown mercy by God—which means all saved believers—should live now.

What kind of a life makes sense?

The prior verse described a human body. It is just one person, but it has many different parts that serve different functions.

Now Paul says that we, as the collective group of Christians, are also a kind of body. We are Christ's body on earth, often referred to as "the church." We are countless different parts in many different places with vastly different jobs, but together we are, by analogy, one unified "being," a single entity with what should be a united purpose.

Paul writes something else about us as part of the body of Christ. None of us exists outside of the body. No Christian is an unattached Christian. We are all members of each other, connected to each other with the purpose of serving each other.

This is what God intends to do with us on this side of eternity.