Hosea 4:1-5:15, 2 John 1-13, Psalms 125:1-5, Proverbs 29:9-11
Today is the 6th day of December. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It’s great to be here with you today, right here in the middle of the week, all ready to take the next step forward. And I’ve got my routine going. So, I’ve my Wind Farm coffee to my left and the microphone, of course, right in front of me, and off we go. So, we began Hosea yesterday. We’ll begin second John today and we’ll talk about that in a few minutes, but first, we’re reading from the English Standard Version this week. Hosea chapter 4 verse 1 through 5:15
Second John:
Okay. So, coming quickly on the heels of John’s first letter, which is fairly short, is second John, the second epistle of John, written shortly after he wrote his first letter and probably to the same people he wrote the first letter to. And this letter was possibly written from Ephesus, where tradition holds that John spent the latter years of his life and was written to encourage and strengthen the church against the false doctrine that was so pervasive around them and to remind them that they needed to guard themselves against these false doctrines and live in truth and love, in contrast to these false teachings. So, similar themes to what we just went through in first John. And there’s no shortage of this today. There’s plenty of things out there to seduce us and it’s very important that we walk in truth and in love, guarding ourselves as we deepen our relationship with Jesus and carry the gospel forward into this world. And, so, we begin. Second John chapter 1.
Commentary:
Okay. So, we read the entirety of second John today. It’s pretty short. It’s more of a note than a letter. And it’s addressed to the elect lady and her children. So, we can only surmise that that means, like, another fellowship and the people that are in that fellowship. So, we don’t know if he’s using the elect lady and her children as a term of endearment or like a code or what, but he’s basically just reiterating what was going on in the first letter, which is a teaching that apparently is coming from people who were once in the fellowship, but who have walked away and rejected Jesus. John is basically warning against that by reminding them, if you have Jesus then you have God, but you can’t have one without the other and that this was the teaching from the beginning. Right? So, if you’re confused, go back to what you were told from the beginning. That hasn’t changed, that hasn’t wavered. And that if we’re going to live in Christ, then we have to obey his commandments and that begins with love. And we can see that things have progressed a bit between the first letter and the second letter about this person who is become an apostate or these people who have become anti-Christ’s because at this point he’s saying, you don’t, you shouldn’t even be around these people. John says, you shouldn’t receive him into your house or give him any greeting. So, him, that could be a specific person or it could be anyone who’s in this camp. And the teaching that is so problematic for John is that people are saying Jesus didn’t come in the flesh. And that is being utterly refuted by John. So, the main point of this letter, we can find beginning at verse nine and it’s essentially what he’s already instructed. ‘Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive them into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.’ So, things have progressed to that point. And tomorrow we will read third John.
Prayer:
Father, we thank You. We thank You for all the tapestry that Your word is, how it touches every point of our existence in every conceivable way. And how You continue to enrich us and grow us up through Your word. And, so, we’re grateful, as we are every day and we invite Your Holy Spirit to continue to lead us into all truth. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Announcements:
dailyaudiobible.com is the website. It’s home base. It’s where you find out what’s going on around here.
So, I mentioned yesterday about the Daily Audio Bible family Christmas, which is kind of our annual Christmas party as a community. And in it, we hear each other’s greetings to one another all over the world and we read through the Christmas story together. And Jill and I, we have a conversation just looking back at the year, looking forward to the new year. And, so, you can call in your Christmas greetings now. And the way that you do that is just to use the prayer line 877-942-4253. And the only rule about that is don’t call a holiday greeting in mixed with a prayer request. If you have a holiday greeting, then call that in. And if you also have something going on that you want your brothers and sisters to walk through with you, call that in separately. But for the next few days we’ll be taking those calls. So, get them in and then we’ll start putting it together. And we’ll have our Christmas party in a couple weeks.
The other thing that is going…well…the other things that are going on are the Daily Audio Bible annual Christmas Box is available. And it’s full of resources, some that you’ll want to keep for yourself, some that you’ll want to give away. That’s the magic of it, you get to choose. So, that’s available at dailyaudiobible.com in the shop, in the Christmas category.
We also have the Daily Audio Bible journals and all of the writing, the Black Wing pencils, and all of the writing paraphernalia that goes with that. And we’ve got some great bundles that make for really wonderful Christmas gifts. So, you can find those in the Daily Audio Bible shop in the Lifestyle category.
And then, lastly, early registration for the More Gathering, our annual women’s conference, that will take place in April, is open. You can find that in the Initiatives section of the website. All of the details are there. So, we’re praying and looking forward to that happening this spring as new life begins to spring forth. So, check that out.
If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, here in the last weeks of the year, thank you, humbly and profoundly for your partnership. There’s a link that’s on the homepage. If you prefer, the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.
And as always if you have a prayer request or comment, or right now, also a holiday greeting, 877-942-4253 is the number to call.
And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.
Community Prayer Requests and Praise Reports:
Good morning from beautiful Cincinnati Ohio. This is Daniel J. Jr.
11
more months completed, one more month to go
A year almost gone, yet 31 more days to grow
A year much hard-pressed, much loss, much grief
Worn out with tears, longing for relief
A year with much joy too, much mercy, much grace
God’s blessings overflowing, days I’d not replace
Much deliverance, so much to rejoice
Love poured out praises to give voice
So a year hard-pressed, much grief, much loss
A month yet ahead to press hard like a boss
God bless you all. God bless us all. Let’s continue to press in hard and let’s
see what God has for us this year yet. From beautiful Cincinnati, Ohio this is Daniel
J. Jr. Make it a great day.
Good morning DAB family. Today is December 1st, 2017. This is Patricia from Minnesota. I rarely call but I do listen daily to all of your prayers and lift all of you in your daily prayers. Today I pray that each of you and your loved ones knows that God wants to be with us, that He’s the best and most important part of our lives. Revelations 2:4-5. This month does mark the 4th year for me listening to the Daily Audio Bible. All glory to God, thanks to the Hardin family and the dedication of staff that daily feed our souls. Thank You Father for this precious gift, in the name of Christ, Jesus, I pray. Amen. Family, today, specifically I pray for my oldest 31 year-old son, Tony. Tony travelled to Las Vegas with a new girlfriend. He has just broken up from a ___ relationship with a strong…a strong woman and felt that there was going to be hope and favor in his life and happiness forever. He just…he recently…Tony recently completed 13 years of court probation and this his first travel out of state. I do pray for Christ to cover him and his girlfriend. I pray that that there’s a strong hedge of protection just around him and that during this travel that he does stay sober, strong, and controlled, because we don’t know this woman. And I pray for…just…for all authorities __ and command…all authorities and forces of evil to depart, right now, away from us, our families, our homes and our lands, and cast __ …
Hello Daily Audio Bible family. This is my first call. I’m going by, Dependent on Him from Iowa. And I’ve been so taken aback by the love and support of this Daily Audio Bible family that I couldn’t help but call with a prayer request because I need prayer. So, family, please, if you would pray for my husband and for my marriage. My husband left me unexpectedly 10 months ago and filed for divorce…like…I don’t know…6 months ago, maybe. I have been fighting for this marriage. I know this marriage. I know God is working in this marriage. My husband had turned from God when he left. So, long story short, family, I need prayer for my husband, that he realize his need for Christ back in his life, that he realize that he cannot heal because my husband has been through so much trauma and tragedy in his life. So much, including the loss of a child, that he cannot…he is not healed from any of this and that he needs Christ and that’s the only way that will heal and that relationship is brought back together again. And then I ask family that you pray that my husband turn his heart, after he turns his heart back to God, that he turn it back to me, his wife, and to our marriage, and to the covenant we made. Now I ask that you pray for me for strength because I love my husband. Not only do I love my husband but I love God so much more and will not give up on this marriage and will not give up on my husband because I made a vow and a promise to God and a covenant in the heavenlies. But I’m tired and it’s painful, and the enemy…
Hi Daily Audio Bible. This is Rebecca from Michigan. It is December 1st. Can you believe that? Anyways, I’m already starting my journey of the Christmas Spirit because yesterday, one of my coworkers got a Christmas tree and put lights on and he said everyone can bring a Christmas ornament and decorate it. And it’s like…it’s like one big family even though we may not see Christmas the same way, maybe. But it’s just so awesome. It put me in the Christmas mood to want to go get Christmas ornaments or decorate or sing Christmas songs. And then I put some of the songs on that I got from DAB and with Brian’s daughter singing the Little Drummer Boy. I love that song. That’s my favorite song of that whole album, is The Little Drummer Boy. But right now my instruments in a repair shop. So, I’m praying it will hurry up and get out so I can play the Little Drummer Boy on my flute. And I put my name in a drawing for a piccolo. So, I’m hoping that I win it, but if I don’t I won’t cry. So, anyways, so far, I just wanted to let you know I’m having an awesome Christmas. The Spirit is kicking in and I’m just really enjoying life lately and I think…I miss the Daily Audio Bible it’s such an addiction because…it’s like…I need you guys…I need this…I the Word poured into me because I remember a colleague that…he like…used bad words and talked over you about people and things…
Hi DAB family. This is Joyce in California. It’s been about a year since I last called to update you. I pray along with each call but because of my schedule I don’t have time to listen to the community prayers. I’m the 4th year medical student who failed my board exam twice even though I earned honors taking care of actual patients. I learned that my learning system were due to injuries when I was infant. My parents tried to strangle me the day I was born, December 20th, because I was not the boy that they wanted. My aunt stopped them so I survived. But I was badly abused and neglected thereafter that. I praise God and I forgive my parents because they helped me to understand suffering. God is using all of our brokenness for His glory and restoration. Nothing is too hard for Him. Today is December 1st and I’m asking my DAB family to lift me up in prayer for the next 30 days, especially on my birthday, December 20th, because I have struggled with sadness to remember my worst injuries on that day. Thank you for helping me to stand strong and to live out God’s purpose for my life. My board exams will be on December 29th and 30th and I’m praying for God’s will to be done, that He will use any outcome for His glory. Family, I admit, I’m really afraid to ask for assistance, so, if you could help me contend for this I would appreciate it so much. I’ve worked so hard and I’ve seen so little improvement and I don’t want to be disappointed in myself of disappoint God, which I know I can’t do, but it just feels that way sometimes, you know? And please pray for focus, proficient study, for rapid recall, wisdom, insight, knowledge and understanding. Please pray for healing of my injuries so I can sleep deeply and consolidate memories efficiently. It would mean so much to me knowing that I am being prayed for. Thank you so much. This is Joyce in California. I love you family.