1 Kings 9:1-10:29, Acts 8:14-40, Psalms 130:1-8, Proverbs 17:2-3
Today is the 12th day of June. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is great to be here with you today. And off we go to continue to follow the path that leads us through the Bible in a year. And right now that path is leading us through Solomon’s reign in the Old Testament and then through the stories of the early church as we move through the book of Acts. And we’ve just met this person, pretty evil guy named Saul who’s persecuting the church in the book of Acts. And we will certainly get to know him a lot better as we continue forward. From the Good News Translation this week, 1 Kings chapters 9 and 10 today.
Commentary:
Okay. So, in the Old Testament today, we’re obviously reading about Solomon and his ascension to the throne and then the way that he reigned and governed his people. And he was obviously a massive developer, so he brought ancient Israel to its apex moment of civilization and he brought Israel to be the leading influencer of that time. So, people would come from all over bringing gifts, sit with Solomon, hear his wisdom. The people appreciated what was going on. Here’s the thing. What we read today, that is the mountaintop. Everything that we have worked toward getting here since the beginning of the year we have reached the summit. What’s going to happen from here is a bit of a slide down the other side. And we’ll obviously get to that day by day, story by story. And the children of Israel are going to begin to enter into this back and forth, on again, off again relationship with God, which will invariably lead them toward a steady decline. But they’ll be plenty of great stories, plenty of good kings, but we’re gonna be kind of in a back and forth as we continue forward. So, remembering this moment, that we reached this place under Solomon’s rule and reign where peace abounded and prosperity was everywhere and God being worshipped in the Temple of God in Jerusalem with pure hearts. This is a moment to savor.
And then if we fast forward in time and land in the book of Acts, we’re still in the same city, Jerusalem, the Holy Spirit has fallen and now the gospel is beginning to spread out. Peter and John go up into Samaria, Philip is sent by the Holy Spirit south in the opposite direction toward the coast heading back into Egypt to share the gospel. And this man, Saul, that encouraged Stephen’s stoning and has been persecuting the church, he’s got an encounter out on front on him that he doesn’t know about, one that will radically effect the early church and continues to radically effect our lives today.
Prayer:
So, Father, we thank You for Your Word. We thank You for what we find in Your Word, these pictures that we get to look at, these paths that we get to choose and Your Holy Spirit guiding us through the stories of people’s lives that have gone before us, showing us where these pathways lead, where these motivations of mind and heart and will will get us. And, so, Holy Spirit, we can’t navigate on our own and we know that. So, we invite You to come, lead us forward, lead us into truth, lead us deeper into Jesus, we ask. In Jesus’ precious name. Amen.
Announcements:
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And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for next month, which is tomorrow.
Community Prayer and Praise:
Good morning Daily Audio Bible. It is June 8th and I’m calling in requests to prayer needed for those suffering of lack of self-worth and depression and sadness and the inability to see yourselves as who you are in Christ. I remember when I was suffering from depression and I wanted to take my own life. And I didn’t know where to turn and the DAB was introduced to me. And through them, God has used them as a vessel. So,, I just want to say this, the wife of the doctor retiring who doesn’t know how to stand up to him, the Lord guides us, each and every one of us, including you my love, including you. And through that the Lord made you worthy through His reckless love of wanting to give you a new life. I pray that the Lord will open up your heart and eyes and ears to see who you are in Christ and know that when you turn to God’s love, when you turn and wear that full armor that you will see, that you are not be subjected to anyone’s bullying. And this applies to all of us, including myself, that we are worth more than that. So,, I pray in the name of Jesus that you will see that you are loved and that Christ loves you and that you are strong enough. Remember that you can do everything through Christ who will strengthen you because we could never do this on our own. And I pray this in Jesus’ name. __ From Flushing Queens.
Good afternoon this is Chandra calling from Maryland. The first thing I want to ask everybody in the community, to please keep me in prayer just as much as I’m hearing your requests and even those who aren’t able to call in. For some reason for the past couple of weeks I have been dealing with depression and anxiety and just wanting to give up and not wanting to move any further and progress and I’ve been dealing with a lot in the spiritual realm. And I have been standing on Psalms 139 and 1 Peter 3, 5, and 6 about, you know, why is my soul so downcast. And I’m standing on, I can’t remember the particular verse, where the servant was asking the prophet, you know, what’s going on? And then when the prophet asked to change his perspective how he actually saw that there was more for him then against him. And, I ask that you guys keep me in prayer, again, just as I’m doing you. I don’t know why, I don’t know what’s going on in the spiritual realm but I thank you that God is keeping me in all my ways just as he’s keeping everyone who’s going through something as well. Please know that I love you guys and I’m consistently praying for and with you. Okay. Bye.
Hi neighbors. It’s Lisa the encourager. I just wanted to call and thank everyone that prayed for my husband. He’s starting his new job on Monday. So,, praise the Lord and thank you all so very much. I also wanted to pray tonight for the Family Reunion and I pray that everybody that wants to go, can go, including myself. I would love to meet all of you and give you hugs and just thank Brian and Jill so much for this community and everything they’ve done to put it all together. And also, I want to pray, especially for those that are out there that are struggling with loneliness and maybe not feeling connected to anyone or those that are having the feeling of, maybe, I hate to even say it, but just feeling of maybe taking their life. And I just want you to know that I love you and God loves you and to be encouraged and know that this community loves you and that you are loved by God and there is a purpose for your life and to be encouraged to volunteer. And that way you will see that purpose in your life and see how much you can give to others and feel fulfilled in that way. So,, I’m going to pray for those that might be feeling that way. Dear Lord, I thank you so much God for Daily Audio Bible. I pray so much Lord, that the people that want to go to the reunion in September, Lord, that they will be able to have the means to go. And I also pray for any when that’s struggling with suicidal thoughts today or this week or this year…
Good morning DAB family. Brian, thank you so much for your words of encouragement when I make this phone call. So,, this is Lynn from Florida and I’m asking you guys to pray for me. And I’ll tell you what it is. So,, the last several months I have really been, I think my step has been closer to God. And I feel like there is a relationship glass ceiling that I need to break through so that my relationship grows even closer to God my Father and Jesus. I really feel like God is pulling me closer to Him and I want to go there; however, I’m stuck, there’s a glass ceiling, for some reason I can’t move on. And at the same time, I just feel Satan, he is battling me on every side, through my family, through my work, through my everything, through driving. I just feel like I am in the middle of a battle zone and I have no…now I know I’m never alone…I have Jesus…He’s always with me…I know the Holy Spirit is in me…but…but I’m feeling so alone. I have no one to talk to…and to explain this to who I feel would understand. But I know that there’s a lot of you out there that are prayer warriors who understand what I’m trying to say and what I’m going through and I ask you to pray for me, to pray that…that Satan leaves me alone, that evil stays away from me, that temptation just stops, and that the place where God wants me to go, the door opens wide…
Hi family, this is Kim the pediatrician from Eastern Kentucky and it’s Saturday, June the 9th and I just heard all the prayer requests and I had to call in. They all touched me so. The first one, the women with the marriage problem who’s married to the doctor, it just touched my heart, I guess where I’m a pediatrician but, you know, there’s doctors that are very arrogant and controlling. And your husband sounds like that’s one of them, but I’m just praying that you will find the courage you need in the Lord, not, you don’t have to be strong in yourself, but in the Lord, His strength, His courage, His direction, that you will know what you need to do in this situation. I’m praying for you sister and I love you. The second one, the single mom. I didn’t catch her name but I’m praying that you will experience that John 10:10, that abundant life that Jesus came to you for, that you would look and count your blessings over your burdens and just refocus on the good that God has done. Be thankful for what you have and I know He’s going to turn us all around for you. Annette A., I traveled recently and in the airport there was a sign that said Oklahoma City, and I thought of you my sister. I love you. I will be praying for David. And yes God, keep opening our eyes. We need You so much God. Our hearts are only full with You in them. Jeanette in Charlotte and your husband with Parkinson’s. Oh Lord, turn that around. And I just leave you with these words from, like Diane our sister in Newburgh Indiana, our world is broken but praise God, shalom, shalom. Wholeness, wholeness is available to us because of Jesus. Be blessed family. I’m praying for you…