Genesis 19:29

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.

From Background Notes [BN] for February 4^th/5^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Whereas Abraham wanted God to spare the city for the sake of a magical minimum, God worked His purposes outside the human box and simply delivered Lot and his family from the city.

Genesis 18:23-24

Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it?

From Background Notes [BN] for February 4^th/5^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

He is considered the “father of faith” to the three great monotheistic religions. His story begins with a call and unfolds as a series of tests, proving and strengthening his trust in Yahweh, his covenant partner.

Hebrews 5:7-9

During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.

James 1:6

But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

From Background Notes [BN] for January 28^th/29^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Does this mean that a person will receive anything he asks for if he simply believes?

Psalm 66:18-20

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

From Background Notes [BN] for January 28^th/29^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Hindrances to prayer take the form of “sin in my heart,” the psalmist says: “The Lord would not have listened.”

 

John 10:27

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

From Background Notes [BN] for January 28^th/29^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

“Listening” in the biblical sense commonly involves a willingness to obey and not only to pay attention.

Psalm 36:7-9

How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

What choice have you made?  

Psalm 35:26-28

May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace. May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.” My tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long.

How’s your prayer life?  Are you aware you can bring anything/everything to the LORD?

1 Samuel 1:9-11

Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up.  Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the LORD’s house.  In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the LORD, weeping bitterly.  And she made a vow, saying, “LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”

From Background Notes [BN] for January 21^st/22^nd written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Hannah stands in the presence of the Lord, symbolized by the sacred tabernacle and its High Priest.

Mark 12:38-40

As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

From Background Notes [BN] for January 14^th/15^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

For Jesus, in this last of his conversations inside the Temple, the widow comes to epitomizes all that is wrong with Israel's social and religious fabric. Any society that allows its widows and its poor to be abused, and in fact, participates materially in that abuse--such a society is on a collision course with disaster.

Malachi 3:8

“Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings.

From Background Notes [BN] for January 14^th/15^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

Thus, God begins the Malachi passage with the reminder of His faithfulness, and that His reliability guarantees Israel’s very existence. However, the faithfulness of God had not been consistently met by the faith of Israel who had refused to maintain the practice of the tithe. The net effect was that they “robbed God.”

Deuteronomy 15:6

"For the LORD your God will bless you as he has promised, and you will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. You will rule over many nations but none will rule over you.”

Is there a correlation between indebtedness and freedom?

Deuteronomy 14:27

"And do not neglect the Levites living in your towns, for they have no allotment or inheritance of their own.”

From Background Notes [BN] for January 14^th/15^th written by Pastor Bob Brown:

In effect the religious orders of Israel had given up the right to land ownership as such, and they lived instead on land owned by others.
 

Psalm 24:1-2

The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters.

How’s your “tithing” going?  J 
 

Psalm 23:1-4

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,  he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Are you aware that He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world?

Psalm 22:29-31

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him - those who cannot keep themselves alive.  Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn:

He has done it!

Have you taught the future generations about our Lord?