Numbers 15:17-16:40, Mark 15:1-47, Psalms 54:1-7, Proverbs 11:5-6
Today is the 11th day of March. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is a pleasure, it is a joy, and truly an honor to be here…just to be here at all. To be here around the global campfire together with you, what…wat an honor that we can come together no matter where we are on this planet and take another step forward in God’s word. So, we’re reading from the English Standard Version this week We’re working our way through the book of Numbers. Spies have come out of the promised land with a less than stellar report. The less than stellar report has spread throughout the camp. A herd mentality has assembled itself. People are talking about going in…like going in and taking the promised land even though God won’t go with them. Others are talking to go back and asking if they can be slaves in Egypt again. And that’s where we find ourselves. Moses and Aaron are on their faces before the Lord begging God not to destroy these people who want to stone them. Numbers chapter 15 verse 17 through 16 verse 40 today.
Commentary:
Okay. So, even as we kind of get going in our work week this week and even as we mentioned last week, just last Wednesday, so, just a few days ago, we began the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. So here we find ourselves at the beginning of the season of Lent moving ourselves toward Easter and we are encountering the story of the crucifixion - the arrest, the trial, the death of Jesus, and the aftermath. And, of course, the ultimate aftermath of the death of Jesus was that Jesus was resurrected back to life, but, you know, some days passed and you can only imagine, if you’d put all of your hope in someone and someone’s claims and you believed with all your heart but then you watched that person die then you’re gonna have to have a new level of faith that reaches beyond what you think you know, right? I mean, because if you’ve want someone die and then laid in a tomb then, I mean, it stands to reason that their not coming back. So, you’ve got to…if you believe that they’re going to come back you’ve gotta reach in faith beyond yourself. And we see that the disciples and those who were following Jesus, you know, they had a considerable struggle in that area. Fair enough. I mean, so would we. At least so would I. And, so, here we are in this season. In the Old Testament we’re watching the repercussions of sin. In the New Testament we see how that had grown to the point that the son of God could be killed at the hands of his chosen people. Ironically throughout our church history, we’ve exacerbated the problem. There’s been so much anti-Semitism over this kind of thing read into the Scriptures and then the Jewish people have been persecuted throughout history when the bottom line friends is that we’re all culpable. Unless you’re perfect your culpable in and of yourself in your own strengths. There isn’t a more stark picture of the cost or price of sin then to see the Savior of our souls, our Creator, our friend that sticks closer than a brother with spikes attaching him to a cross. And that is, that is where we are supposed to be focusing our hearts attention in this particular season called Lent. The price of sin, where sin leads, what it’s outcomes will do to us. We talked yesterday about deception and deception is something that we must invite the Holy Spirit into as we move toward Easter if we’re gonna observe this season. And whether you do or not is totally up to you, but since we’re reading the story of the crucifixion and were right here in the season and it’s worth at least talking about because we’re supposed to understand what this cost. Cause when we understand that something cost something precious, well then, that’s how it gets its value. That’s how human beings give value to something and it allows us to open our hearts and realize every bit of deception, every bit of rebelliousness, every bit of whatever would separate us from God, whatever it is that’s within us, it is killing us. It may not kill us dead, but it is poison to our souls and it is leading us away from God and we’re supposed to be aware of that and vigilant about it and enduring through it and resisting and rejecting it. And, so, in this season, that’s when we open our hearts and invite God, whatever. Like, look in my life, I have tried to put in my life everything of your spirit that I can but I am not capable of ordering myself properly. Whatever is going on I surrender, I submit. I invite you to rearrange whatever needs to be rearranged in my life.
Prayer:
Father, that is our prayer. Whatever is in our lives we give You permission to remove it, to elevate, to demote it, to re-prioritize it. Whatever doesn’t belong in our lives, take out. Whatever is missing from our lives, insert. We open ourselves fully before You, contemplating how much You love us and what it cost to bring us near. And, so, we trust You and ask You to order our lives appropriately so that as we emerge from this season, having fully contemplated what it cost to bring us our salvation we will also come out of this season with great rejoicing because You didn’t stay dead, You were resurrected. And, so, all that You have reordered in our lives is now in alignment and we rejoice and go into the year experiencing the repercussions of the resurrection rather than the repercussions of sin. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.
Announcements:
dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, its where you find out what’s going on around here.
One of the main things that we’re talking about right now because it’s coming up here in just few weeks is the More Gathering for women. And, of course, the More Gathering has traditionally taken place in the mountains of North Georgia about an hour outside of Atlanta near Jasper, Georgia. In fact, the More Gathering has only ever been there, but this is the final year that the More Gathering will be there at least for now. And not exactly sure. We’re just following the Lord. And I’m saying that season has drawn to a close. And, so, we want to celebrate what God has done on the top of that mountain, we want to rejoice, we want to all come back together and move through this and allow God to come again on Sharp Top mountain. So, you can get all the details for the More Gathering for women at moregathering.com or you can go to dailyaudiobible.com and go to the Initiatives section and that’ll take you to the same place. And indeed, we have been praying and interceding over every aspect of this event for months. And, so, we’ve been praying for all of you who will be in attendance and we’re very much looking forward to all that God will do. So, I hope to see you there.
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And that’s it for today. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.
Community Prayer and Praise:
Hi, my name is Jamie and I’m calling in response to the prayer requests on March 6th. God has his way in everyone’s life. Lord we praise you. Anyone who is struggling and in need of prayer, I pray that there is peace upon your life and strength within your heart. Know that whatever struggles you face God is always __ way. God can handle anything. Talk to Him as your heavenly Father and He will listen, He will listen and never forsake you. I want to reach out to Angela who spoke on her suicidal thoughts. Angela, I’ve been there, I know how hard it is. Please know its Satan’s voice, that’s not God. Overcome evil with good. In moments of weakness Satan’s attack is armed every excuse to distance us from God. I have overcome Satan’s attempts. It’s been recent, over the past month or two. And since then I’m filled with peace and purpose. I will never turn back. Know Angela that you’re not alone. Go to church during the day. That is God’s sanctuary, that Satan can’t reach you there. You are strong. Don’t give up on yourself. Your daughter keeps you happy and when she’s not around God is your Savior. Trust in God. Know that your life is a blessing to the world. Angela you are worthy do not grieve for the joy of the Lord is your strength. This too shall pass.
Hi family this is Melissa from Albertville Alabama. Kristi from Kentucky. Thank God girl. I heard your testimony this morning and I tell you, you gave me chills, but my mama always told me sometimes when you have a little hinderance like a blown-out tire or a kid getting sick in their clothes, maybe God is keeping you from trouble, keeping you from an accident or something. So, I’m the type of person that always likes to be on time but sometimes there’s a reason why we can’t get where we need to get on time because God might be saving us from something. So, I just wanted to let you know I thank God you’re okay Kristi. We love you. I’m so glad you’re back. And family, please pray for Alabama, Tennessee, I think Georgia. We’re under the gun again and on Saturday we’re supposed to get severe weather again so you all please, please, please let’s keep us lifted up. And some of the DAB kids I was thinking about. Norman, Harmony, Joshua, little Jillian, I’m wondering how she’s doing. And I can’t think of all the kids. Y’all keep Gabby lifted up also. I love you all so much. Love you Brian. love you Jill. Bye-bye.
Hey fellow DABbers this is Joe the Protector from Georgia. It’s March 8th at about 735 in the morning. Should have called in a couple days ago, should have called in more than even that. But anyhow, I’ve got someone new to protect. My daughter had her baby March 6th at 1220 in the afternoon. Little girl 614 and 19 pounds or 19 inches long. I’m sorry. 6 lbs. 14 oz. 19 inches long. Anyhow, so just wanted to call in and just ask for prayers in that whole situation just with my daughter being a new mom and everything. So, if you all will just please lift that up. Also, I heard Kristi from Kentucky call in about being in the middle of the storm due to travels. Well, praise the Lord you weren’t in the middle of it; however, we were, but weren’t affected by any means. So, the storm hit us probably on 10 miles on each side of my…where I live that. And, so, it went on either side of my house and didn’t affect us at all. Had some trees swaying but nothing adverse. So, praise the Lord even though there was massive destruction. So, just pray for the ones that did have the destruction and loss of lives. All right. Love you all. Have a blessed day.
Good morning family this is Lisa from Illinois. I am calling for prayer for my 16-year-old daughter Catherine. She is getting heavy into drugs and my husband and I are doing everything we can to help her, but she’s made it clear she doesn’t want help and pretty much any time she leaves the house she’s finding a way to get drugs. So, we literally are a point we don’t we don’t know what to do anymore. She finds a way to get it school, at her job and that’s pretty much all we let her do now because we can’t let her leave the house otherwise. I just ask for prayer for wisdom and that she comes to her senses. Thank you, family. Bye-bye.