2 Kings 6:1-7:20, Acts 15:36-16:15, Psalms 142:1-7, Proverbs 17:24-25
Today is the 24th day of June. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It’s great to be here with you. And we twist the knob and open the door and step through the threshold of a shiny, sparkly, new week, which means that we’ll read from a new translation this week. We’ll read from the Gods Word Translation. And, of course, we’ll be picking up where we left off. 2 Kings, chapter 6 and 7 today.
Commentary:
Okay. So, in second Kings we had a couple of stories told today, all involving Elisha the prophet and involving the Aramaeans as they tried to intimidate and conquer Israel. So, we have the very famous story of Elisha being able to tell the king of Israel where the Aramaeans were hiding and that God is telling Elisha this and he even knows what the king says in his bedroom. So, the surround the city and there are more who are with us that are with them, Elisha says. So, it’s a very, very famous story. And without any bloodshed whatsoever, that story ends the feud between the Aramaeans and the Israelites for a while but not forever. Then King Benhadad of Aram blockades Samaria, trying to take over the capital city. And it’s gotten so bad the people are eating each other. Okay. So, that’s pretty bad. And the king plans to king Elisha over it. Elisha prophesies that things won’t be that way in 24 hours. And we know how the story goes. These leprous men go into the Aramaean camp and find it empty, and then they start hoarding things because there’s, like, an overwhelming plenty all the sudden. And there are already outcasts so they start hoarding things. And then they come back together and realize, what we are doing is not right. In fact, that’s a direct quotation from the Bible. What we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we are not telling anyone about it. All of the sudden we have a story being told that has become a mirror because we know what it’s like to be isolated and walled off and surrounded by the enemy. We know what it was like to be completely lost and floundering. We look around at the world and see the bondage, the starving souls of people who are floundering, who are eating each other, metaphorically. We see all of the conflict, the spiritual starvation and it’s like we are those who leprous people. We walk out of starvation, we walk out of lack and into plenty. And then we enjoy it, start hoarding it, start building a subculture around it, but we have to realize that maybe what we’re doing is not right. This is a day of good news and we’re not telling anyone about it. The leprous people went back and got word to the king who went to investigate and restoration came to Samaria. In a spiritual sense, we’re like this. We’ve found the good news. We’ve found the hope of humanity, the rescue of the world, the restoration of all things. And maybe we hoard it more than we share that this is a day of good news. So, think about that as you move into this new week. Realize that you are carrying within yourself the hope of humanity and all that Jesus has done on our behalf. And this is good news. This is in a sales pitch. This is in a marketing ploy. This is the good news of the gospel, the hope of humanity. And we have it. And we can bring that hope and that good news to a world in bondage, starving. What’s that going to look like for you this week?
Prayer:
Father, we invite Your Holy Spirit is into that. That hits close to home and we need Your guidance and leadership in exactly how it is that we are to orient ourselves to this good news and freedom and how it is that we are to live it out in this world, being a light in this world, being the salt of the earth. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.
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Next up on the calendar is July 7th, which happens to be a Saturday this year. And that’s the day of the Daily Audio Bible long walk. It’s an annual tradition. This will be our 11th annual Daily Audio Bible long walk. And you probably get the drift. We’ve been talking about it for a few days. It’s just very simple. Circle the day on your calendar and set it aside. It’s a day for you to walk with God. Not that you’re not walking with God every day, but a day to intentionally go for a long walk, as if you have fallen in love with the Lord. And time doesn’t matter. And you have a lot to talk about because life is so busy. This is a chance to say it all and a chance to allow God to speak in response in ways that only He can. And it takes place, right here, in the middle part of the year so that we can look back, look back at all that God has spoken to us through His word this year and invite Him into what is yet to come as He continues to lead us forward. And, so, is an individual, very solitary thing. I mean, you can go with friends or whatever, you go as family. People go as couples, people go as individuals, but it’s a very individual time with God. But it’s something we’ll be doing all over the world as a community. So, wherever you go, and go somewhere beautiful, go somewhere where you can actually drink in the beauty and exquisite detail of nature. And maybe snap a picture or shoot a little video. Post that back to the Daily Audio Bible Facebook page which is Facebook.com/dailyaudiobible. And this becomes a beautiful, beautiful community thing. We get these beautiful windows into each other’s lives and it’s a lot of fun. So, make plans for that July 7th.
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And that’s it for today. It’s going to be a great week. I’m Brian I love you and I’ll be waiting for here is tomorrow.
Community Prayer and Praise:
Yes. This is Beautiful Soul out of North Carolina. I call myself Beautiful Soul because God showed me that my soul was created beautiful and that I should not be down on myself and that I should not have low self-esteem about myself because He created me beautiful. He doesn’t create junk. The reason why I say this is because I heard a podcast on June 20th, a DAB member by the name of Keisha whose suffering from depression, is suffering from health issues, is suffering from family issues, and she’s suffering from being morbidly obese. I’m speaking to you directly Keisha. You touched my heart this morning. God just spoke to my Spirit because I’ve gone through the same struggles that you’ve had. And I can identify with what you’re feeling. But the thing that touched me the most about what you said was that you were ashamed to ask to help us to pray for you. Let me tell you something. In first Peter 3 and 4, God speaks about not looking it the outward appearance but looking at the inward appearance. He is in love with your soul and your heart. There’s no reason you should be ashamed to ask for help because that’s what we’re all here for and that’s what God put us here for. To pray with each other. I want you to know that you’re not alone, that there’s nothing wrong with you. No matter what you…even if you weigh…I was morbidly obese too and God helped me get the weight off. It takes three measures but God gives. It wasn’t even about the weight or if I got it off of me. It was about the way I perceived myself. And I want you to know that you are beautiful. You’re absolutely beautiful and…
Hi. My name is Sherry and I am caller from the second time and I’ve been listening to Daily Audio Bible for three years and this is the first year I have dedicated myself to listening on time. I’ve called them before as regards to the job that I hold as a social worker. God knows my heart that I no longer like this job because of the racism, the politics, the mistreatment and as one of the ladies that called in before said, it’s difficult to be in a hostile environment where racism is on the rampage. I ask for prayer that God to sustain me for the next seven months or nine months before I retire. I get up every morning and I cry. So, I’m asking for your prayers that…
Hey everybody this is PJ from Vermont, a five years, or so, listener. I’ve called a few times. I just wanted to say, first, shout out to Keisha. She just called in and wanted to hear her name. And, so, I’m saying it and I pray for her and that God may answer her prayers. She’s knocking Lord, please open the door. She’s asking that she receive. And, so, I just want to say a prayer for her and also, I pray for everybody who calls in and all those who don’t call and every day, and for you Brian. Thank you so much for your family. And I want to encourage those new people listening in, the Daily Audio Bible hass made a huge difference in my life. I have, you know, ups and downs, loss of spouse, loss of job but I am definitely…my faith is stronger than ever and I definitely attribute that to this family and to the word, of course, most importantly. And the format which allows us to consume it bit by bit and supporting prayers. So, just wanted to, just yeah, say thank you. God bless you. Bye.
Hi everyone. This is Melody from Canada. And I just heard Keisha’s call. And Keisha, you just touched my heart so much and I am really proud of you for your courage in asking for prayers about your weight. And I just really want to say that you are beautiful in God’s eyes. And you are His lovely daughter. And I just pray that you will receive that affirmation from Him and that love from Him and that He lifts you out of your depression. I struggled with depression for a time as well and I just know that the joy of the Lord is your strength and I pray blessing over you in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Hi this is __ from Lynncor. Just going to work. Originally I was a Sikh. I’m a Christian. I believe in Jesus Christ. Regular Lister. I heard a phone prayer request from Keisha. Keisha you’re suffering from depression and you have…you’re saying, a generational curse of depression. Sister, I am praying for you. Be strong. Be strong in Christ. Know that Galatian 3:13 says that Jesus Christ took our curses by. He took our curses Generational curses are broken. We believe that. We believe that and claim that. Jesus Christ not only took our sins. Jesus Christ not only took our sufferings. First Peter 2:24, by the stripes of Jesus Christ we are healed. We believe and claim that and not only that, like I said, Galatian 3:13, He also took our curses. You are curse free. Every curse, generational curse, in the name of Jesus Christ be broken on you and all your family members who believe in Christ. Sister, be strong. And I also pray for brother Curtis from Cali. He used to call a long time ago and I haven’t heard from you. Please call in how you are doing and all those people, Blind Tony, and all those wonderful people. I hear you. I hear your prayers are wonderful. It’s a blessing, it’s a blessing. And God bless you all. Thank you, Brian. Thank you, Jill for the wonderful work you’re doing. God bless your ministry. God bless you. Bye.