maggiemuggins

Must be getting older than I thought. I answered Sunday's question again. Q2. How did Abraham demonstrate his humility before God? He humbled himself and kept letting the Lord know that he knew his place, while letting God know also that he expected God to listen to him. Why must boldness be tempered with humility? We cannot be bold without humbleness, because that would be like admitting that we think we know more than God does. (And that is a big No,No)

Q1. What is the basis of Abraham's argument that God should spare Sodom? To save any righteous people found there. God had promised Abraham that if he would trust and obey Him, that he would become a great nation. Abraham must be a just, and godly man. God knows that Abraham will do what is righteous. And so, Abraham expects God to be just Himself. "Don't kill the righteous along with the ungodly" says Abraham. How does it relate to God's character? It relates because God is righteous. He cannot commit sin. And Abraham classes the killing of righteous people to be sinful, and so he tells God how he feels. We had a Concert of Prayer at church last evening. It was wonderful. Very uplifting. Very close to Jesus.

Q1. What is the basis of Abraham's agrument that God should spare Sodom?How does it relate to God's character? To save as many righteous people as may be there. God has promised Abraham that if he will trust and obey Him, that he will be a great nation. Abraham must be a just and godly man. God knows that Abraham will do what is righteous. And so, Abraham expects God to be just Himself. "Don't kill the righteous along with the ungodly." It relates, because God is righteous. He cannot commit sin. And Abraham classes the killing of righteous people to be sinful, and so he tells God how he feels. These studies are teaching me that I must be more bold and persevering when I pray for my loved ones who are still lost. First I must pray for a bold and persevering spirit in me. I have to learn that meekness is good when you are trying to settle a dispute, but that boldness, tempered with fortitude are needed when we are praying about something that means a lot to us. And realizing that it means a lot more to God. Dear God, what an awesome, wonderful, omniscient Father You are.

Q4. Hoe can prayer change God's mind without conflicting with the doctrine of the Immutability of God? First, let me look up all the large words here. Okay, Got it. I don't believe that anything that God does can conflict with any other part of Him? Who are we to judge what God can or cannot do? My answer: If we reason with God on the strength of His promises, then He can, and will (as we have read) relent (become less severe) in the anger He has displayed. This does not change the fact that He is unchangeable, but continues to show that He does mete out mercy. As He said in Ex. 33:19, "I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion." And He chose to have compassion on the Israelites. Can God answer a prayer for something outside the scope of His will? I believe that God, our loving Father, can answer a prayer whether it is "inside" or "outside" the scope of His will. How can we expect to know what the scope of His will is? Let us just read His Word and stop thinking about what humans (theologians) are trying to fathom from it. In the end He will show us all things. For now, Our thoughts are not His thoughts. He is much more advanced in wisdom and knowledge than the best theologians. It is hard enough for a Christian to try to live by His Word without worrying about what some theologian trys to make of that Word.

Q3. How can a wrong understanding of determinism and predestination keep us from the kind of prayer that Moses prayed? First, I believe that God does not will sinful actions, but He does allow them to happen. Up to this point, I have used a passive "thy will be done". My prayers were not gutsy. If we don't understand determinism and predestination (to some point at least) we will be passive in prayer. As a five year old Christian, I can see that I have a "lotta learnin" to do. What do you call a belief that our prayers make no difference to God's response? I call it unbelief in the ONE TRUE GOD. If our prayers can't make a difference, we may as well not bother. We are wasting our time, and God is not listening anyway. Apologies to anyone who might take offense to my remarks, especially because you may not understand them the way I mean them. However, this is a forum for each one to say what they think, is it not?

Q2 What aspects of Moses' prayer of intercession should we emulate in our own prayers? A sacrificial love for all people. Upon what logical grounds does Moses offer this bold appeal to God? The promises that God gave to the Patriarchs. What do you think it means to "pray the promises of God"? It means reminding God that we remember the promises He made. How does knowing the Bible help you get your prayers answered? You won't have to look up Scripture when you need it for prayer, it will be right on the tip of your memory. How does this help our prayers be within God's will? Because we are praying for Him to continue to uphold His own divine promises.

Q1. What had the people done that was so bad? They got Aaron to make a golden calf idol for them to worship. They had turned their backs on God and made an idol, which He forbade them to do. How can a loving God be angry? Because He hates sin. He created us to love Him and obey His commandments. He is angry, but it is the sin that He hates, not the people. Is God's sentence to destroy Israel and raise up a new nation through Moses justified? Yes. He would be justified in raising up a new nation. He had trusted Adam, and Noah. Adam sinned before Him and Noah's offspring did too. God was tired of sin and wanted Moses to stand against the evil that was still in the people of Israel.

Q4 Why should we continually ask forgiveness? Because we are continually living in a human environment where we get hurt by a silly comment, or a silly action by someone near to us, and we retaliate in a human nature, which is sinful. How can unforgiveness on our part block God's blessing? Unforgiveness of others can block God's blessing to us because our heart is not free from hurt and God wants us to forgive. How can unforgiveness block God's forgiveness? Unforgiveness can block God's forgiveness because we only receive as much forgiveness as we are willing to give.

Q3 Why do we seek to be independent of asking anyone for help? We are too proud to ask anyone for help. We keep forgetting Prov. 16:18. Our human pride makes us haughty. Why do we seek to be independent of God? Because we always seem to come out on top, we ignore the fact that God is our ultimate provider. Why should we ask God to "give us" our daily bread so long as we can earn a living for ourselves? Because everything that we are, everything that we do, everything we earn, (career) everything we can ever hope to be, is a gift from the Father.

Q2. In what sense are we asking that the Father's kingdom should come? We are asking that this world as we know it come to an end, and His kingdom as we read of it come to replace all the evil and suffering that we know. Why are we asking for the Father's will to be done here on earth? We are asking for His will to be done on earth because we know that Satan's stronghold will be done with, and we look forward to His wonderful kingdom in the new earth. How should this prayer affect our living? This should affect our living by making us be in His Word more often, and by allowing the Holy Spirit to change all of the wrong things within us, so that we grow ever closer to the goal of eternal life.