Malcolm Cox

The second episode of an occasional series as I trace my thinking and feeling after the death of my mother.

Today I reflect on two dreams I had about my mother last night.

I wish you joy in the morning no matter what comes in the night.

God bless, Malcolm

A personal and unedited series in which I express my journey of grief after the death of my mother.

Today is the day after her burial.

God bless, Malcolm

A sermon for the Watford church of Christ

Intro - setting the scene

Last time - what happens when we walk with God

Chapter 17 - circumcision covenant; Sarah the mother; next year; upgraded promises

Change comes at God's timing; He has good in mind for us; we have a part to play; need closer walk with God as life goes on

I could talk about.....

Heb 13:2 - 'strangers

Matt 9:23-25 - Jesus laughed at because believes impossible

I will talk about...

The benefits of walking in the presence of God

1. He is the only legitimate judge

2. He cares about everyone

Abraham a man of humility and boldness

Conclusion

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). 

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmcox.org/). 

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review. 

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11) 

God bless, Malcolm

A sermon for the Watford church of Christ

Introduction

1. God

Q: “What does God expect of Abraham?” “What does he hope this will achieve?” “What do we make of the fact he waited until Abraham was 99 and Sarah 90 years old?” “What might be the reason God does not rebuke Abraham for his laughter (Isaac means laugh)?”

A growing relationship - walking before God; deeper relationship as time goes by;

A growing set of promises - expanded....; Sarai - Sarah; Abram - Abraham

A growing partnership - God devoted to covenant, asks for Abraham’s devotion in circumcision (explain some background to circumcision)

2. Abram - “as for you”, v9

Q: “How do you suppose Abraham might be feeling as he hears these upgraded promises?” “How do you suppose he felt about circumcision?” “What do you make of his request regarding Ishmael?” “Given there was a year or so before Isaac was to be born, what do you make of Abraham’s urgency?”

Receives grace - laughed in heart; prayer answered re Ishmael

Called to greater faith (devotion) - walk before God (how know we are doing this?); circumcise - trust God;

Urgent and thorough - faith in action (son not coming until next year, but gets on with circumcision)

Conclusion

Lesson for us today:

Circumcised hearts: Lev 26:41; Deut 10:16; 30:6; Jer 4:4; Rom 2.29;

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand! Those who want to impress people by means of the flesh are trying to compel you to be circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ. Not even those who are circumcised keep the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your circumcision in the flesh. May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule—to the Israel of God. From now on, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.” (Galatians 6:1–18 NIV11)Jesus: has made us a new creation via the cross

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). 

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmcox.org/). 

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review. 

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11) 

God bless, Malcolm

- Just had high point of Gen 15: promises, sacrifice, covenant, faith/righteousness

- Women in foreground - Abraham in background

- Fundamentally, this is not about men and women as such, but about impatience

- We have seen Abraham's faith tested and will see it tested again. This time it is Sarah's test of faith which is highlighted

- We also learn a lot about the LORD: vv2,5,7,9,10,11,13

- Very emotional introduction!

---

The causes and consequences of impatience - and God's answer

Q: What problems can you spot?

Q: Sources of shame?

What is going on here?

Gen 3 all over again: "took...gave"; "agreed" = "listened". Easy, but tragic.

Fitting in with culture - rich women would do this; polygamy not banned by God specifically, but Gen 2 implies it is not God's will;

What's missing? No mention of God.

Consequences of manipulation and control: jealousy, 'violence' (flood) - strong emotions; 'mistreated' (Egypt) - Sarai's dark heart - lie ours when consumed by something; everyone loses - Hagar has lost her home, Sarai her maid (as well as her mind!); Abram his second wife and his son

What will happen - enter the LORD!

What fuels impatience? 10 years later.....

External: Shame & fear

Fitting in with culture - expectations. Family pressure; social class pressure; cultural background pressure; church pressure

What helps - big picture thinking

            God is working on you for your benefit....

            “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2–4 NAS95)

            God has a different way for you to live...

            “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1–2 NAS95)

Internal: Desire for personal satisfaction

Make me feel 'whole'

What helps - keeping a firm grip on the end game...

            “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Hebrews 10:36 NIV11)

            God has a different way for us to go....

            “And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd.” (Ephesians 4:17 MESSAGE)

- Typical causes of shame for a Christian: in church - my kids are not Xtns etc; outside church - don't join in with immoral lifestyle, don't fit in.

Summary: Hagar trying to get what she wants (like Eve, Babel, Abe in Egypt, Lot & King of Sodom); Abraham opting for the quiet life.

---

Q: What do we learn about God from the actions and attitude of the Angel of the LORD?

- What is going on here?

    - The LORD springs into action: seeking; finding; listening; instructing; comforting; guiding; seeing

        - Went looking - like Adam and Eve

        - Gentle with her

        - First mention of her NAME is by God, not mistress or husband

    - Hagar is helped: reassured; rescued; redirected;

        - Going home - but her home no more

            - Abram protects an Egyptian 'slave' - opposite of what will happen to his descendants

        - Will suffer

            - But for a good purpose, meaningful

            - LORD honest

            - Not justification for domestic abuse

    - Abram gets a son

- Key points for us

    - 'sees'

        - me, even me!

        - Dawn - difference between being watched and being seen

        - Psalm 139:1-18

    - faith

        - Lacking in Sarai & Abram

        - Seen in Hagar

---

Hagar..Abe..son..Abe..Ishmael..son..Abe..Hagar..Ishmael

Isaac another 14 years: did Ch16 delay this?

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 40

Today we start chapter 20.

“Now Abraham moved on from there into the region of the Negev and lived between Kadesh and Shur. For a while he stayed in Gerar, and there Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” Then Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her.” (Genesis 20:1–2 NIV11)

What are we seeing here? A sin pattern.

We don’t know why Abraham moved into the Negev. Perhaps it was the shock of the situation regarding Sodom, Gomorrah and Lot. It could be that word of what Lot’s daughters had done reached him. Bad news regarding family might be the most disturbing news of all.

It is notable that although he goes to the Negev he doesn’t carry on as far as Egypt this time. Perhaps he has learned at least one lesson – Egypt is not a safe refuge (Genesis 12:9-10).

Abraham stays in Gerar on the South Eastern border of Canaan. There he repeats a half-truth - the most dangerous truth of all. Yes, Sarah is his ‘sister’ in one sense (Genesis 20:12), but, Abraham is fully aware that her status as his wife outweighs any other designation. Neither lies nor half-lies fool God. They fool Abimelek - temporarily.

Devotional thought for today

We will unpack the detail of what happens in Gerar in the following podcasts. Today let’s consider an unfortunate reality. You and I repeat sins. Some rarely. Some frequently.

I remember a talk I heard many years ago. It might have been Mike Tolliver. He opined that we never ultimately overcome all sins. Not in this life:

“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8 NIV11)

Yet, Mike said, it should be possible to eliminate some sins completely. If we believe in the power of the Spirit, and the ever-increasing Christ-likeness God is growing in us, then is it not possible to overcome some sins?

“And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV11)

What do you think? Do you have a vision to conquer a sin?

Prayer point for today

Ask God to help you develop the faith to defeat a repeated sin in your life

If you have any questions or feedback please contact me: [email protected].

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

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.

Today we conclude chapter 19.

“Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave. One day the older daughter said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is no man around here to give us children—as is the custom all over the earth. Let’s get our father to drink wine and then sleep with him and preserve our family line through our father.” That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and slept with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. The next day the older daughter said to the younger, “Last night I slept with my father. Let’s get him to drink wine again tonight, and you go in and sleep with him so we can preserve our family line through our father.” So they got their father to drink wine that night also, and the younger daughter went in and slept with him. Again he was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. So both of Lot’s daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.” (Genesis 19:30–38 NIV11)

What are we seeing here? The consequences of being dominated by greed and fear.

Lot could have stayed close to Abraham but the allure of the fertile land excited his greed and he moved away. Now he lives in a cave - the home of refugees and the dead.

The mountains, a destination of safety when offered by God, are now a location of family tragedy. Lot went to Zoar out of fear, and then left Zoar out of fear, not faith.

The LORD “remembered Abraham” in verse 29 and rescued Lot. In this account there is no mention of the LORD. Lot’s daughters attempt to ‘rescue’ their future with disastrous results.

Greed and fear are fearsome forces. We master them, or we are destroyed by them. The temptations to greed and fear drive us to God for strength, or they drive a wedge between us and our Heavenly Father.

“Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”” (Luke 12:15 NIV11)

We are all afraid from time to time. Feeling fear is not the problem - giving in to fear is. The reality is God’s love, not the disaster scenario we have concocted in our heads.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27 NIV11)

Take your greed temptation to God. Take your fears to your Heavenly Father. He will give you the faith of Abraham and quell the fear of Lot if you let him.

Ask God to help you master your temptations to greed and fear

If you have any questions or feedback please contact me: [email protected].

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

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.

 

 

Today we continue in chapter 19.

 

“By the time Lot reached Zoar, the sun had risen over the land. Then the LORD rained down burning sulfur on Sodom and Gomorrah—from the LORD out of the heavens. Thus he overthrew those cities and the entire plain, destroying all those living in the cities—and also the vegetation in the land. But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. Early the next morning Abraham got up and returned to the place where he had stood before the LORD. He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah, toward all the land of the plain, and he saw dense smoke rising from the land, like smoke from a furnace. So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, he remembered Abraham, and he brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.” (Genesis 19:23–29 NIV11)

 

What are we seeing here? God pays attention to sincere prayers.

 

There is no getting away from the fact that this scene is tragic. We don’t have time to go into the reasons for God’s drastic action. That will have to wait for a teaching opportunity. But, given that God is just, the situation in Sodom must have been so dreadful that had we been there we would have understood God’s actions.

 

Perhaps to key phrase in this section is, “he remembered Abraham”. What does this mean? Had the LORD forgotten him? Unlikely. It seems that, although Abraham’s intercessory prayers did not save Sodom, they influenced the Lord in rescuing Lot and his family.

 

 

As Abraham surveys the wreckage of Sodom we do not know whether he is aware that Lot has been rescued. For all he knows his prayers were inadequate and a waste of time. Yet God, in his friendship with Abraham, and in honouring his covenant with him, has attended to his prayers and rescued his nephew.

 

Sometimes we pray and don’t see our prayers answered. Or at least we don’t see them answered before our eyes. Who knows what effect they are having in places we cannot see? No intercessory prayer is wasted. It has its affect on somebody somewhere. We may never be aware of the full impact of her prayers until we are in the next life. God always “remembers” you and your prayers.

 

 

Ask God to grant you the confidence that he always ‘remembers’ you and your prayers

 

If you have any questions or feedback please contact me: [email protected].

 

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

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.

Today we continue in chapter 19.

“The two men said to Lot, “Do you have anyone else here—sons-in-law, sons or daughters, or anyone else in the city who belongs to you? Get them out of here, because we are going to destroy this place. The outcry to the LORD against its people is so great that he has sent us to destroy it.” So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were pledged to marry his daughters. He said, “Hurry and get out of this place, because the LORD is about to destroy the city!” But his sons-in-law thought he was joking. With the coming of dawn, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Hurry! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or you will be swept away when the city is punished.” When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the LORD was merciful to them. As soon as they had brought them out, one of them said, “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere in the plain! Flee to the mountains or you will be swept away!” But Lot said to them, “No, my lords, please! Your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown great kindness to me in sparing my life. But I can’t flee to the mountains; this disaster will overtake me, and I’ll die. Look, here is a town near enough to run to, and it is small. Let me flee to it—it is very small, isn’t it? Then my life will be spared.” He said to him, “Very well, I will grant this request too; I will not overthrow the town you speak of. But flee there quickly, because I cannot do anything until you reach it.” (That is why the town was called Zoar. )” (Genesis 19:12–22 NIV11)

What are we seeing here? The dangers of doubting God.

Why do his sons in law not to take him seriously? Might it be that his lack of respect for God has rubbed off on them? Where Abraham is urgent, Lot hesitates. Where Abraham is thorough Lot looks to compromise. He has been told the mountains will be his salvation, but his interpretation is that aiming at the mountains will bring him to disaster. He is forgetting that this is God’s judgement and he is in control.

Lot is struggling to obey and trust God. The angels have already performed a miracle in blinding the men at his door. He should have had no trouble taking them seriously and doing what they said.

Having a doubt is not a problem. Expressing that doubt is not blasphemous. What is tragic is when doubt is used to to argue ourselves out of obedience. 

Do you not allow doubt to drive you away from God. Your doubts are within your control. Perhaps you can prevent yourself from thinking doubtful thoughts, but you can take those doubts to God and allow him to help you to resolve them in his presence

“Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”” (John 20:27 NIV11)

Tell God your doubts and ask him to help you process them in a spiritually healthy way

If you have any questions or feedback please contact me: [email protected].

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

Dr. Boakye watch takes us on a tour of the New Testament revealing faith lessons from the life of Abraham. 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]). 

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://[www.malcolmcox.org](http://www.malcolmcox.org/). 

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review. 

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11) 

God bless, Malcolm