Month: February 2018

Exodus 17:8-19:15, Matthew 22:33-23:12, Psalms 27:8-14, Proverbs 6:27-35

Today is the 3^rd day of February. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It’s great to be here with you today at the end of a week. Even though we’re just getting this month going, here we are at the end of another week, and a good week it has been. Plenty for us to think about. So, let’s dive in, go back out into the wilderness with the children of Israel. We’re reading from the English Standard Version. Exodus 17:8 through 19:15.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for another week, another week in Your word as we complete the fifth week together this year, as we take this adventure through the Scriptures. And Father, You have spoken volumes in five weeks. You have touched so many places inside of us in five weeks. We have journeyed through generations, we have journeyed thousands of miles in the stories in the Scriptures and we have journeyed deep within our own hearts as Your word unlocks things, touches things, invites things. So, we take a moment here to thank You for the work that You have begun. We look forward to what the next five weeks will bring because You are comprehensively touching everything about our identity through Your word. And as the children of Israel in the wilderness, You are shaping and reshaping and reforming that identity.  So, Father we invite You. Our hearts remain open. Come, Holy Spirit, and plant the words of the Scriptures in our lives and hearts each and every day, including today. Come, Holy Spirit, we pray. 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 next week on the 7^th, so Wednesday coming up here, I’ll be speaking in Bakersfield, California at New Life Church. It’s a Wednesday evening and looking forward to it. So, if you’re in the area, like I’ve been saying, come out and say hello, hope to see you there. You can get all the details at dailyaudiobible.com in the Events section.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com as well. There’s a link on the homepage. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or, if you prefer, the mailing address is P.O Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or comment, 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

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 Daily Audio Bible community. This is Rachel from Georgia. And I just wanted to reach out for prayer. First off, I do want to say I just recently started listening to the Daily Audio Bible, I guess, maybe about three months ago and I am just loving it. So, hello to everybody. I wanted to reach out for prayer and just see if you could lift me up. For the past about 10 to 12 years struggled pretty severely with depression and it basically kind of comes about 1/3 of the month, pretty much on a regular basis. I am just not…it’s just really hard for me to stay focused on the Lord and His love for me. And there’s a whole multitude of reasons for that, but I am just believing and trusting that He can heal me. I don’t want that just to be the way that I live for the rest of my life. I want to trust and believe that He can do this, He can do this work in me. And, so, I’m reaching out to others from prayer to believe with me and pray for me, that I do not have to live like this, and that you would just pray that I would be completely delivered and that I would see a huge change in my life. I am a young mom, I’m a teacher, I have got two young kids, and I just want to be the greatest mom that I can be, and I don’t want to struggle like this. So, thank you so much. God bless you all. And I’m praying for you.

Hi this is Mimi in Atlanta and I was just listening to today, January 26^th on the prayer line. And I think the mom’s name is Shannon, the son is Jadrian with a J. So, I just want to pray for him and for her and for her mom. I’ve seen major miracles with drug addicted young people here in Atlanta area and even one was with my roommate. She had a son that was almost 30, a heroin addict, and he’s been delivered. So, let’s just pray for this young man. Father, I just thank You so much for deliverance from every sort. Lord, we know that there’s demonic activity and things happening with these young people and the drugs are just so accessible, and they start, and they don’t even realize what it’s going to cost or where it is going to take them. So, Lord I just pray, just like Jesus coming across to that demon possessed man in the graveyard. Nobody wanted to be around him because he was violent and he was just a horrible human with all the demons that were messing with him, but Father you drove them straight out into the pigs and ran them right over the cliff. So, Lord I just pray now, in Jesus name, the name that is above all names, to deliver this young man, wherever he’s at, and whatever he’s doing. Invade his space Lord, just like you have…and I’ve been seeing it with folks at church…and even my roommate…and even with my son’s, Lord, with the addictions they had. And I just pray a hedge of protection around the sweet mom and for her to understand, just like the man that was in the graveyard, that was not him, it was the result of all of the evil demonic presence that were trying to take his life.

Hey DAB family. This is Michael from Mesa. It’s a beautiful morning. Love you all. Thinking about you all. God impressed upon my heart to call out a few folks today and a little prayer. Shannon, from Michigan, with your son. My family very much understands what you’re going through and I pray God’s peace and wisdom upon your life. We got to the point where we just could not handle what was going on with our son and the Lord just made it very clear that it was no longer us or our church family that you work with them anymore. And at some point we actually had to bring the law into what was going on. And as hard as that is for a parent, when it makes itself really clear that that’s the next step in life, then we have to listen to His call, even that way and trust the Lord for what’s going on. And good things have happened as a result, great things have happened as a result, in our family. I don’t know what your situation is exactly, but if it gets to that point, talk to your church family, your local family, pray with them, understand what’s going on, understand what your options are, keep yourself safe. And to make it make it difference in his life, maybe a different way. But God has created him, he’s created the church, he’s created the judicial system. And, so, we put all of that trust in Him for the right outcome. So, be encouraged that you have options to consider and trust in the Lord and where goes. Jordan from Michigan, buddy, day-to-day school, and the challenges are going through, we’ve all been to school. We understand those things that are out there. And, so, we pray for your protection buddy. And we are there with you every day in the classroom and in the halls, we are there with you. And maybe it helps for you to put some things on your desk remember Jesus. A piece of bread in a baggie that just sits there reminding you that He is the bread…

Hi this is Drew from Kansas. I called in a week or two ago asking for prayers. I’ve been struggling with depression since I had to leave my husband due to his abuse and then he divorced me and I’ve had to move a couple times, but I did end up with a paid for house. I ask for help to deliver hurt and resentment that I struggle with and anger turned inward causing depression. The loneliness and hopelessness is a struggle to overcome. The low self-esteem and self-pity that plagues me, God has been working in my life and my situation has improved. Thank you for all of your prayers and thank you Brian for your sensitive expressive reading of God’s word and your comments that I really like. Thank you for the community we hear each day as we take turns calling in. I think of the lady who asked for prayer who is struggling with an angry or __ son. I pray that she will find good ways to protect herself and still communicate love and forgiveness toward her son. That is so hard to do. It takes God’s hand. So, I pray for God’s hand in the matter and protection and peace and blessing for the mom. I pray that the son will come to the Father soon in a realization of where his anger and rebellion is leading him will smack him in the face and wake him up to reality. I pray that he will get the help he needs in overcome his addiction to drugs, that God will get a hold of him and he will become a servant of God, totally devoted to God and thankful for God. I pray that he will turn away from being an attacker of his mom to a protector and thankful for his mom. Until that happens, I pray for you, the mom, that God will get a hold of you so you can have peace, wisdom to take care of yourself, and realization that you are daughter of God, very precious in his sight and worthy of protection and blessing. Back to my situation. I asked the community of DAB to pray for me as I work on a project I believe God has given to minister to myself and every depressed people…

Hi this is Linda and New Hampshire and today’s January 26^th and I just listen to the message from the mom __ . And I just want to know it just touched my heart and I’m praying, praying, praying. I’m actually going write it down and pray every day for your boy, your son. And I know that he might be a bit older but he still our boy, isn’t he? And I’m the mother of a son and two grandsons. And my heart is committed to praying for Jadrian and for peace for you mom. In Jesus’ name Amen.

Hello daily audio Bible family. This is Linda from Charlotte North Carolina. I’m, a new listener and a first-time caller. I am loving this community. I am calling in today to pray specifically for Shannon from Texas and her son Jadrian who is struggling with drug addiction. Shannon, your prayer request touched my heart and resonates with my soul. I am a mother who is experienced the pain of a child with severe drug addiction. My son is in a wonderful recovery program and has been clean and sober since September 2017. As I continue to pray against the spirit of relapse for my son, Jackson, I’m here to encourage you and to tell you that there is hope. Shannon, God hears her crying sees every tear. Stand strong and do not let your faith be shaken by his addiction. You are not dealing with who your son was created to be. You’re dealing with the demon of drug addiction and I rebuke that spirit in the precious name of Jesus. Father, I command your Angels of protection around Jadrian. Protect his mind, body, and spiri,t and bring him to the life-saving realization that he needs to flee from this destructive lifestyle and cling to you. I plead the blood of Jesus over to Jadrian from the top of his head to the soles of his feet. Give his mother Shannon Your perfect peace beyond understanding today. We thank You in advance for deliverance For Jadrian as he walks towards his God-given destiny. We proclaim that Jadrian is working on his testimony and it is going to be a powerful one when he is delivered. And we will be oh so careful to give You all the glory. In Jesus name. Amen. I love you DABbers have a glorious day.

Exodus 15:20-17:7, Matthew 22:1-32, Psalms 27:1-7, Proverbs 6:20-26

Today is…what is today? I was back in last month. Today is the 2^nd day of February. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It’s great to be here with you today. I probably should’ve engaged my brain better before turning the mike on. I probably need just a sip of coffee…hold on. Okay thank you. Much, much better. Today is the 2^nd of February and we’re going to take the next step forward in the Scriptures this year. And, so, that will take us back into the book of Exodus, where the children of Israel have crossed over the Red Sea on dry ground and the enemies of Israel, Egypt’s armies, have been washed away. Exodus chapter 15 verse 19 through 17:7 today.

Commentary:

Alright, let’s go back into the book of Exodus for a minute. So, we will have all noticed that the children of Israel were freed from slavery in Egypt. Right? And that they left Egypt and went out into the wilderness and this was intentional. There was a shorter route to get into the promised land through the land of the Philistines, but God led them into the wilderness. They weren’t ready for battle, they weren’t ready to take the land, and they didn’t know what to do when they got there. The wilderness is going to be the backdrop for a complete identity change. For 400 years now, more than 400 years, these people have been slaves. So, like, there’s no one alive in this camp that doesn’t have the identity of a slave. It’s all that they know. It’s pretty much all that they can remember except for these mythic promises of patriarchs named Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and Joseph. These people are centuries in the past, so they’re stories. But they’re not going to be able to go into the promised land, take the promised land, govern the promised land, live right before God in the promised land with the identity of slave. And God is going to use the wilderness to change that identity.

So, stop there and say the parallels in our own lives are striking. But let’s move on because we begin to get a glimpse of why. Like, we begin to see the way that the wilderness is already pressing in on them. So, they’re out in the barren wilderness. Empty, infertile, stark, unforgiving, wilderness. And have you noticed how many times we find them grumbling? And we can read the story and go, hang on guys, didn’t you just see what God did to set you free in Egypt? Didn’t you just see what he did at the Red Sea to your enemies? Do you not see the cloud and the pillar of fire guiding you? Do you not think if God can do that that he can find water for you, right? I mean, we can see all so clearly.

Alright, pause. Remember those parables we were talking about yesterday when Jesus was talking to the religious leaders who are asking Him whose authority He was doing these things under? And He told them stories and they answered His questions, but in the process, they simply implicated themselves in the story?

Yea, so this story of the children of Israel moving out into the wilderness kind of works the same way. We can read this and go like, okay yeah you guys are in the desert, but didn’t you just see what God did to set you free? You don’t think He can take care of you out here? How often are we grumbling when we go into wilderness seasons? I mean, isn’t that pretty much what we do when find wilderness seasons in our lives? Grumble.

So, they’re at the Red Sea. Right? Pharaoh’s armies coming down upon them. There’s open water in front of them and a big army behind them and there’s nothing that they can do. They’re trapped. And, so, they’re freaking out and what does God say? Listen, listen, listen, you don’t have to do anything. All you need to do is look at that army. You see that army coming down upon you? You will never see them again. You don’t have to do anything but watch. And that’s what they did. They watched. They walked across the Red Sea, got to the other side and watched. And the armies were no more. And they never saw them again. And they’re jumping up and down with tambourines, singing, and rejoicing. And then they go out into the desert and what do we find? They’re grumbling. Right? So, they can’t find water and they’re thrashing around and they’re going after Moses and Aaron. And Moses and Aaron are trying to tell them, guys why are you yelling at us? We’re just simply trying to obey God here. You’re grumbling against God and they’re mad and they say things like, oh would that we have died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger. Right? So, that’s kind of the first test of the wilderness. The first thing that has to shift in these people’s hearts is that there is no going back to slavery. And they’re candy coating what slavery was like. They’re longing for the good old days when it was easier than it is now, because now they’re in the wilderness, even though the promise and the promised land is out in front of them. Even though they’re on their way there, they’ve had to go into the wilderness. And, so, all they’re thinking about is the good old days and they are making plans, often, about how to go back, see if the Egyptians will take them back. Oh, is this not us? Is this not our lives? Does this story not become a parable of us? What I can tell you is that the wilderness is a part of this story. It is a formative part of this story. It is an essential part of this story because identity has got to change from slave to chosen. And God brought them out into the wilderness where He could have their full attention, because there was going to be no way for them to operate in their own strength. They didn’t have the skill, they didn’t have knowledge, they didn’t have the tools, they didn’t have the weaponry, they didn’t have…they were not equipped. And I’ve been out there. I mean, a million people out there. There’s no way…there’s no way to survive out there, not with that many people. So, they’re doing a lot of grumbling and at this point God’s being patient. He’s just showing them at every stop He will take care of them.  At every step, their need will be met. That’s what He’s trying to show them, utter dependence on God for life. And, again, are we not reading our own story? Do we not find ourselves moving into the wilderness and thrashing around and complaining and grumbling and trying to make it work and missing the fact that the point of being out there in the first place is to get to the baseline fact that we are utterly dependent on God for life and that He is utterly committed to giving it. It will not be they’re thrashing around out in the wilderness that will get them into the promised land. It will be they’re obedience. And the thrashing around we will see is nothing but wasted energy. And we’ve been following this story since we met Abram. Maybe only a month has passed in our readings, but centuries have passed to bring this about. And it has taken centuries in our own family history to bring us here. And we can choose. We can continue running around, thrashing around or we can slow down. We can be still. We can actually trust. We can slow down enough that we’re not thrashing around inside and be still and listen so that God can show us the next step forward. Right? Just a couple of days we read in the Psalms, friendship with God is for those who fear Him. We talked about that being a circle of friendship, an intimate, allied, counsel. But we’re not going to get clarity on the next right step if running to and fro to every conceivable option, thrashing around, grumbling, complaining and thinking about the good old days, and trying to figure out if maybe we could even go back to those good old days. If we could go back to slavery. We have to decide: are we going to stay a slave or are we going to become chosen? And if we’re going to become chosen, then that’s going to be a process. And the first step in that process is crystal clear clarity that we are utterly, completely dependent on God for life itself.

Prayer:

Father, that strikes really near our hearts. That reaches bedrock. That explains so much. And, so, we’re thankful for that. We’re thankful that our eyes are open. But we have the story of the children of Israel to help us. We see that they’re eyes get opened and then they move on and over time they find other obstacles and are complaining and have lost it. And, so, we realize that we do that, too. We want our eyes to stay open. There is no other hope but You. There isn’t anywhere else to put our hope. And, so, we hope in You. Our eyes are open. We are utterly dependent upon You. And the faster that we can learn that lesson, the more that we can operate in Your kingdom because You can send us anywhere and we don’t fear.  Come, Holy Spirit, plant these truths in our lives, transforming our identity. Transform us to the point that we can’t even remember the days of old and we do not long for good old days because the adventure out in front of us is so much more compelling because we get to do it with You. Come, Holy Spirit, we pray. In Jesus’ name, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, it’s home base, it’s where you find out what’s going on around here.

A few days from now, on the 7^th of this month, so this coming Wednesday, I will be in Bakersfield, California and I’ll be speaking at New Life Church. I’m looking forward to that. So, if you are in the area, come say hello. All the details for this event are at dailyaudiobible.com in the Events section. So, you can find maps and phone numbers and websites and times and the works there. So, check it out. Look forward to seeing you in a few days.

Later in this month, a couple weeks from now, we’ll be getting on a bigger plane, heading across oceans and landing in the land of the Bible, where we’ll be doing a Daily Audio Bible pilgrimage in the land of the Bible. So, if you haven’t begun to follow Daily Audio Bible on social media, like, if you haven’t begun to follow Daily Audio Bible Facebook page and Twitter and stuff like that, this is a good time because we’ll be posting pictures as they’re happening in the land of the Bible. And, so, many of these places you’ll get to see. And we’ll use social media for that because it’s easiest, the most immediate way to do it.  And, of course, I’ll be talking about it here on Daily Audio Bible.  It’s a pilgrimage we do together whether in person or virtually.  It’s something that we do in hopes of making the Bible come alive and expand and become what it is in our lives.  And, so, we’ll look forward to that. And I love it.  I don’t look forward to jetlag. That’s one of my least favorite things. But it’s going to a great time. And if that interests you, we’ll be going back in 2019. And you can find out about that at dailyaudiobible.com in the initiatives section.  Another resource is Promised Land. And I’ve talked about that so we all know what it is but having those kind of handy as we’re moving through the land of the Bible and you being able to engage that way if you’re going virtually can make it come alive as well.  So, check those resources out.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com. There is a link.  It’s on the homepage. Thank you for your partnership. This is how the community exists.  So, thank you. So, there’s a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or, 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, 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

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:

Hello my DAB family. This is Mark S. From Sydney Australia. Today is Friday the 26^th. I’ve just finished listening to the 25^th podcast. And I just heard the prayer request from Joe the Protector and I want to pray for you Joe. And Joe…I just wanted a quick message…Joe, you were the first person that ever prayed for me in one of my prayer requests. I can’t even remember how long ago I started listening…six or seven years ago Joe. So, you’re very special in my heart and I just want to let you know you are the one that gave me such faith in this community Joe. And, so, you’re really very special in my heart Joe. And I just want to let you know Joe, that don’t underestimate the power of calling in, because you’ve converted my heart Joe. It is a trust in this community. Lord, I want to lift Madison up to you Lord. Joe has been a faithful member of Your community Father in heaven. Joe’s daughter Madison is needing  Your help heavenly Father. We come to You as a community lifting Madison up to You Lord. You know how to heal. You can heal and You will heel Lord and we trust You Lord. Lord, we ask You to send Your godly wisdom to all the doctors, to guide them and to help Madison. Send Your Holy Spirit to Madison Lord and help her to recover and recover completely Lord and to follow You and to follow Your love again Lord. Lord we lift up Joe and his whole family too, for Your heavenly patience Lord and comfort Lord. Lord we ask this in Your name. Amen. I love you Joe.

Hello family. This call is for Joe the protector. Joe, Joe from Atlanta, Nikki, Madison, we’re praying for you. I want all you prayer warriors out there that really know, know to pray, listen to the Holy Spirit and every time…and this is in honor of David from Kansas…not just two o’clock but 10, 2, and 4. If you remember Dr. Pepper, 10, 2, and 4. Every time you think about Joe, the Holy Spirit leads you to. Pray for him. Heavenly Father You are holy holy holy. We cannot even conceive on how holy You are. You are just too good to even try to explain how good You are in words. Lord, we thank You that we can come to You through the blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection. And we can come directly to You. And we do so now on the behalf of Joe the protector. You made him the perfect Joe, big, strong, loving, but Lord we ask You to come against all the powers, the invisible powers and principalities that are against You Lord God. We ask You to put a hedge around Joe and his family. Lift up Nikki and Madison that they would feel Your presence. Joe has faith Lord, we ask You to increase the faith of that household, that You would surround it, that everywhere they go, whether it’s Madison, Nikki, or Joe that Your presence will be with them, and all would be backed up, and feel Your love reflected through them. Lord, we pray these things in Jesus name. We thank You for what You’re about to do in strengthening Joe and Nikki, building up their faith that only You, only You can heal their daughter and come against the forces of darkness and the physical ailments that have…

Hi. Yeah, this is Blind Tony. I just came from a form of checkup on my prostate cancer. And it’s been beautiful for the last four or five years. But anyway, my numbers are slowly creeping back up and now it’s at the point where it has definitely gotten the attention of my urologist. And they’re sending me for a bone scan and a CT scan for my chest, my abdomen, and pelvic areas to see if there’s some definitive areas that need to be treated with radiation. And then we’re going to have to start another round of hormone therapy with its own set of negatives and side effects. But it’s all good. I’m just calling because the fervent effectual prayer of the righteous avails much with God, according to James. So, I want to solicit the prayers and support of my DAB family to be with me as I get ready to go through this again. And know, it is all good, because many are the afflictions of the righteous but God rescues us out of all of them. There’s no trial or hardship or affliction that hits us that’s not common to all the men. But we stick together and we pray together and we learn together and we lean on God’s promises together. And He is faithful and just and He is the reward of those that honestly seek in him. So, we know that whatever our lot, it is well with our soul. Anyway, just wanted to share that with you. Know that you are loved. All right. Thank you. Bye-bye. Oh, you can contact me at blindtony1016@gmail.com. Okay. Bye-bye.

Hi, this is Bonnie from Virginia. I am calling to request my DAB family to pray for my son __. As I mentioned a long time ago that he has been incarcerated and did not get the chance to get out. They sent him…and did not allow him to come back home, but he is going to be released on this February 12^th  of 2018. And I want you all to pray for him, that once he comes home he would have desire to go to church. I also bought the Sneezing Jesus book and I have given it to him. It seems like he hasn’t started reading it yet. So, please pray that he could have a heart to start reading that book and get closer to God before he gets out from jail. I would really appreciate your prayers. Thank you and I may call back later.

Good morning Daily Audio Bible friends. This is Tara from Maine. I’m a first-time caller. I’m calling to ask for you to pray for my mom. She has been diagnosed with stage IV cancer. She is a very vibrant woman and our prayers have been that she will just continue to live out her life that way. She started her chemo treatment and has had no side effects and our prayer is that that will continue. I so appreciate your prayers. God bless you all.

Hey, Daily Audio Bible prayer warriors. This is Dr. John and we need to go to war for the kids. Hey, everybody put on your armor and let’s roll. In the name of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I command any unclean spirits coming against Joe’s daughter Madison, any spirit of depression, any spirit of anxiety, any spirit of diminishment, any spirit of fear, any spirit that is causing her to feel suicidal I command you in Jesus name to be bound and cast away to Jesus feet. And I also pray for Jadrian. In Jesus’ name I command any unclean spirits coming against Jadrian, especially any spirit of depression, any spirit of anger, any spirit of bitterness, any spirit of fear, any spirit of addiction, any self-diminishment spirit coming against Jadrian to be bound and cast away to Jesus feet. Family, thank you for praying for them. We hope that they will…we know that they can be free by Jesus’ power. Thank you for joining with me that we can set the captives free through Jesus. We pray this in His holy, mighty, and victorious name. Amen.

Exodus 13:17b-15:19, Matthew 21:23-46, Psalms 26:1-12, Proverbs 6:16-19

Today is the 1^st day of February. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian, it’s good to be here with you. And now we’re not on the threshold of a shiny, sparkly, new week. We are here at the beginning of a shiny, sparkly, new month, which means that we have also completed a month together. And what ground we have covered. So, I’m looking forward to seeing where the trail leads us through this month of February. And we’ll pick up where we left off. Of course, yesterday. That will lead us back into the book of Exodus where the children of Israel have finally tasted the first spoonful of freedom, but as we’ll see, even though there free, that does not mean they are devoid of challenge. Exodus chapter 13 verse 17 through 15 verse 19. We’re reading from the English Standard version this week.

Commentary:

Okay. So, Jesus is being confronted by religious leaders. That’s not a surprise. That happens quite a bit in the Gospels. And we will have noticed, even at this point in the book of Matthew, that a lot of times when Jesus is having a conversation or teaching something he’ll use an illustration, he’ll tell a story. It’s called a parable. The parable is basically a story that’s an illustration of what’s being communicated because that’s largely how we, as human beings, communicate. We communicate through story. So, like, you’re sitting down with friend, your catching up, you tell stories. Right? You don’t come in with a bullet list of facts that you just want to convey, and you convey your facts, and they convey their facts, and you leave…like…you tell the stories, because, when we tell things as a story we can embed in them the emotions of the story. They’re more than facts. We can bring in how everything felt and we can bring in all the details of life. This gives us a more comprehensive way to communicate. And Jesus did this as a matter of teaching style, consistently. So, the religious leaders come to Jesus and they keep coming to Jesus kind of testing Him, trying to get and say something, trying to get him to slip up. And, so, they’re asking him, who gave him permission, basically. Who gave Him permission? By whose authority is He doing what He’s doing. And He gets asked these kinds of questions often. And we can see in Jesus responses how He, is able to navigate these things. He is always able to see what’s going on behind what’s being communicated. Like, He can see the motive. And He always speaks to that. No matter what’s been asked or said to Him, He always speaks to the motive. He always speaks to the heart of the matter. So, in this case Jesus is being asked about the authority that He has been granted to do what He’s doing. Who gave that to Him? And He answers that with a question of His own. And it’s about John the Baptist. Because what John the Baptist was doing and what Jesus is doing are part of the same move of God to do something new in the world, to make a massive transformation to the world. So, He goes back to John and asks the people who are questioning Him where John got his authority. Was it God or was it man? That’s an unanswerable question that exposes the motives and the heart of the matter with these people. They can’t answer that question because they’d seen what John was doing. They’d seen how he was drawing a crowd, but they’d also seen how people were repenting and their lives were being transformed and they were jealous. This could make them lose control. So, they sat on the sidelines. They couldn’t do anything about it because the people thought John was a prophet, but rather than realizing, hey, God may have sent a prophet to us, God may be speaking to us again through the voice of a prophet. Something big has happened, something that hasn’t happened for centuries. Rather than doing that they stayed on the sidelines and mocked. They rejected this in the same way that they’re rejecting Jesus. And Jesus is holding the same kind of status among the people, that of a prophetic voice, an anointed of God, a miracle worker, a healer. So, Jesus tells some stories. And the stories are all to illustrate everything that’s happening in this confrontation. So, He talks about a man who had a couple of sons. And He tells the first son to go and work in the vineyard. And the first son tells him he’s not going to do it. But then, later, he thinks about it and changes his mind and goes into the vineyard. Then he talks to the other son and tells him to do the same thing and the son tells him, yeah sure I’ll go. But then he doesn’t. And then Jesus asks, so, who did the will of the Father? And they answered correctly, the first one. Well, they just admitted to what they’re doing. They could understand Jesus illustration, His parable but they couldn’t understand that this was them. So, the father asks the first son to go into the vineyard and the son says, no, I’m not going to go, but then he changes his mind and goes. This is like the people that are coming down to John the Baptist, who know their culture, and know their faith, but are not participating in it, but then change their minds and are willing to obey. But repent means exactly that, to change your mind. So, they changed their ways, they change their mind and go into the vineyard. So, tax collectors, prostitutes, they’re changing their mind about their faith about walking with God, repenting and going into the vineyard, whereas the other son in this parable is saying, sure, I’ll go, sure I’ll go, which represents these religious leaders, thinking that there right with the Father, but they’re just giving lip service to the whole thing. They don’t go and actually participate in the kingdom. And, so, when Jesus asks who did the will of the Father in this story, they’re able to say, the one who said no I’m not going to go but then changed their mind and actually obeyed. So, they answered correctly, but implicated themselves as the offender. Same with the other story. There’s a master of a house. He planted a vineyard. Right? So, he bought the property and fixed it all up for tenant farmers. He leased it out and then when the harvest came he sent some servants to collect his share. But these tenant farmers didn’t give their share, they beat up and killed the servants who came to collect the owners share. This is like the prophetic voices and leaders and kings that God had sent throughout the story of the Hebrew people. So, the master then sends another delegation. In other words, he tries again. And again, they reject. This probably represents John the Baptist’s ministry. Once again, God is sending someone. He’d trying again, but again, they completely reject. And, so, the master then sends his son, thinking that certainly they will respect the heir, the one who owns it all, ultimately, but they don’t, they kill the son. You can see the parallels very clearly. But then Jesus asks a question. What’s the master going to do? What’s the owner of this vineyard going to do? And they answer correctly. He’s going to come wipe those people out. And once again they’ve implicated themselves. So, rather than just…some kind of confrontation…it’s one of the many people who are coming to try to catch Jesus. Jesus is truly trying to show them the error of their ways. He’s truly trying to get them to open their eyes. And they can see what He’s saying, but rather than falling to their knees, rather than repenting they’re just mad at Jesus because he’s embarrassing them. But Jesus is just trying to help them. But they’re not going to listen. Jesus knows they’re not going to listen. But then we have to look into these stories and ask ourselves, are we listening? Do we have ears to hear? Has the master invited us into the story and we’ve said no were not going there? I’ll go some places, but I’m not going there, I’m not going into that. But then think it over and change our minds, repent. Or are we the people that are like, yes, of course master, of course I will, but then we don’t. In this story it was the first son, the one who said no, but then changed his mind and obeyed that did the will of the Father. So, making mistakes, that’s not the issue here. Falling down, that’s not the issue here. Sven saying no, that’s not the issue here. The first son did say no, but then thought the whole thing through and repented and obeyed. It was the other one, the one who had it all together, the one who looked like they were obedient and said yes, but did not obey, who did not do the will of the Father in this story. And in the other one we have this illustration of multiple attempts to get the tenant farmers to do what they had agreed upon, but they rejected. And we see in the Bible, multiple, multiples, upon multiples, upon multiples, of attempts by God to lead His people forward. And if we sit down and think about our lives, we can see multiple attempts, attempt, after attempt, after attempt, to get our attention and lead us forward. Are we listening or are we rejecting?

Prayer:

Father, as we do every day, we invite You into the Scriptures that were spoken over us today. And we invite Your Holy Spirit to show us the places that we need to repent honestly, places we need to change our mind and obey, the places that we’ve given lip service to things, but had no intention of actually following through, the times that You’ve come for us, over, and over, and over, and we’ve rejected You. We invite You into those areas of our lives that exist now. We need to change our mind about those things. And the first way to do that is to understand them and name them and let them be out in the light. And, so, Holy Spirit, You bring light and good news and life. You lead us into all truth. You reveal the narrow path that leads to life. And, so, we’re inviting You to speak to us. Show us the ways that we’re resisting. Show us the ways that we’re rejecting. Show us the ways that we find ourselves like religious leaders who are more interested in protecting their control. Help us Father, because these things can dwell inside of us even for decades that us without us really knowing how to name them. So, and we invite You to come, Holy Spirit and lead us into all truth. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is the website, its home base, its where you find out what’s going on around here.

So, it’s the first day of a brand-new month. So, we’ve already gone through the first month of the year. Right? It was just Christmas. It just moves and moves and moves so quickly. So, we find ourselves in the second month of the year and immediately on the calendar we’re looking at the 7^th. So, less than a week from now, a week from yesterday, I’ll be speaking in Bakersfield California at New life Church. That’s a Wednesday evening. Looking forward to that very much. And, so, if you are in the area, love to meet you, love to shake your hand. Come out and say hello. You can get all the details at dailyaudiobible.com in the Events section.

Also, while you are at dailyaudiobible.com you can click the Community section and find out different ways to interact and connect on social media are at the Prayer Wall. So, plug in there.

The Daily Audio Bible shop is also at dailyaudiobible.com. Of course, all of these things you can find the app as well. But there are a number of resources and the Daily Audio Bible shop that are designed specifically for the journey through the Scriptures in a year, including the Promised Land films that we’ve talked about a couple of times, the new Daily Audio Bible journals and the writing equipment that goes with that to make for a wonderful experience. Our Wind Farm coffees and teas are in the shop. You can even have those sent to you every month, if you choose, at the coffee club. So, check out those things while you are dailyaudiobible.com.

If you want to partner with the community here that keeps this global campfire burning every day, thank you. We are in year 13 now, seven days a week, well, for 12 full years and now we are 12 years and one full month. And we’ve done that because we’ve been able to do it together. So, thank you for your partnership, profoundly. Thank you, because, literally, there would be no other way. We would not be able to do this. Thank you. There’s a link on the homepage of dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or, 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, 877-942-4253 is the number to dial.

And that’s it for today. I am Brian I love you. I’m looking forward to spending this month together with you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hello DAB family. This is Abiding in Him and I want to pray for Joe the Protector. Heavenly Father, Your heart loves to hear Joe’s voice. It’s so warm and inviting. It always is and has been heavenly Father. But its sunk. We hear the misery that his family is going through now. Lord, we call him the protector because he’s always prayed over us, he’s always encouraged us, he’s always been there for us over the years. But he can’t protect everyone, but you Lord are the true protector. You look to and fro. You know our comings and goings. Nothing is outside of your surveillance. So, Lord show yourself as the protector in this protector’s life. Please touch the heart of his baby girl. Lord, wrap your arms around Madison, strengthen her from the inside out, let Your Spirit to descend upon her in a special way that overrides all the dark lies of the evil one and opens her eyes to the oceans of love that she sits at the bottom of. Pull her back from the depths of this depression Lord. Bring forth a new reality in her. She is beyond what Joe the protector can do, but she’s not beyond what You can do. Rise up Lord, rise up, watch this child. Wake her up and put her back the palm of the Father. Be with Joe, be with his wife, be with the rest of the family, help them through this difficult time. Bring doctors and nurses and technicians together Lord and make it happen. And show her Yourself that You’re the ultimate protector.

Hello Daily Audio Bible family. It’s Richard from Québec Canada. Yes…it’s been like almost a year that I didn’t call in and I didn’t call to wish Merry Christmas. So, I will wish you a late Merry Christmas and a beginning of a very beautiful happy new year to everybody. I changed my phone. I know it’s not an excuse, but by changing my phone…all my numbers…I didn’t get all my numbers…I didn’t get the prayer number, and it took me a while to just stop and write it down. But I want all of you to know that I’ve been listening faithfully to the reading of the Bible and it’s always a blessing, filling my soul with God, being in touch with God. I love you Brian and Jill and all the team behind the Daily Audio Bible family. I love you all you family and my prayers are with you. And, yeah, I just wanted to say God is good, God is good, God is very good in my life and my couple, my beautiful wife, and I’m going now like three…three…almost like three services every Sunday, two different church. We’re going to downtown Montréal Evangel church, shout out, alleluia, the Evangel people listening to the Daily Audio Bible. And Emmanuel Pentecostal church with pastor ___ Matthew. Alleluia, he’s in East India now. So, please pray for him. He’s doing a big ministry there. And also, at Evangel, we have a team that is going to Ukraine. And I heard in the news that in Ukraine there’s a big revival because the government has lifted the thing there that we can now be able to preach the word of God freely there. So, it’s amazing what God is doing in my life, and your life, and it’s amazing and just want to praise the Lord today… This beautiful…

Yeah, hi I’m calling in because I just heard a call, a prayer request for Jordan in Michigan. He’s a teacher and, you know, I really related to you Jordan and I wanted to reach out and just say I’m going to pray for you and let you know that because, I, you know, I was interviewing to be a teacher this past school season. And I totally get where you’re coming from. It is so much confusion that is brought on and disillusion. I want to say there’s so much, just, contemporary clutter and politics going on in the school system. And it is clear that this is not a healthy environment to me…and I haven’t even entered the working force. I didn’t get hired. Praise God. I think it is actually…I think it’s actually a prayer request. God lead me in another direction. I really wanted to. Right? And I thought it was where God was leading me, to help children and be a part of the teaching, learning community for the kids, but the school systems are really hard to navigate for anyone, whether you’re adult or child. So, Jordan I feel your pain brother, and I’m praying for you. And I just wanted to say one more thing real quick. We are all, we’re all searching, and God is the only beacon of light. So, just hang in there Jordan. And everyone else just keep praying and believing in him. Have faith.

Hey family it’s 25^th of January and this is Keith from New Hampshire calling. I just heard Joe from Georgia asking for prayer for Maddison. And Joe, I thank you for calling in. You know, when I heard your call, just really felt impressed. You know, I worry about the things that I have going on in my life and when I hear something like that it just makes me realize that my problems are so small. And I wanted you to know brother I’m praying for you. I’m going to pray…and let’s all pray right now. Dear heavenly Father, I just want You to give Joe and his family a hedge of protection like we read about that the adversary accused You of placing around Job. And, you know, there’s times in our lives when we really need that type of hedge of protection Father. You understand depression and anxiety and our complexities and our mind and our emotions better than we possibly could because you made us. And you know what remedies would be the most beneficial to us and it’s presumptuous of me to even think I can pray in such a way that would be beneficial to them. But I pray Father that You would release whatever remedies and healing and hedges of protection and angels that can come and fight their battles for them on the spiritual plane Father. I just want to lift up that family, the stress and pressure that everyone feels when someone is sick and no one can understand why and how. And I just want to pray Father, You know where Your children and we shouldn’t have to be desperate. We’ve got You as our Father and Your Son as our Savior and I get righteously indignant when I hear…

Yes. This is Christine from Washington state and I heard Jaden this morning requesting prayer, she’s from New York, she’s 11 years old. And honey, I wish you were closer to me. So, I just feel like I want to put my arms around you. I’m praying for your family, for healing for everyone, for your mother, your stepfather, your grandmother. And I pray wisdom for you and the people that already deciding where you should be, what’s the best situation for you. So, we just need to trust that God is going to take care of you honey. And you are wise. Your wise beyond your years to reach out for help. So, you are in my prayers. I also wanted to request prayers for, there’s been a rash of suicides in our area, and a good friend of my sons, her husband committed suicide recently. And I’m just requesting prayers for young people. There was a young woman that called in, I’ve been praying for you. Your son committed suicide and I am so sorry and praying for you too. It’s an epidemic. Satan is after our young people, our marriages. I also wanted to pray that, there’s a man, that children are, they’re are grown children, they are competitive athletes, I think in other countries. I hike a lot when I listen, so I don’t have names, but you’ve just been praying for my marriage and I’m thankful for you and I’m praying for your children as well. Anyways, I love you all. Blessings.

Blessed is Pelham who walks not in the counsel of the wicked nor stands in the wake of sinners nor sits in the seat of scoffers. Pelham delights in the law of the Lord and in His law Pelham meditates day and night. Pelham is like a tree planted by a stream that yields fruit in season and it’s leaf’s do not wither. In all that Pelham does he prospers. That’s Psalm 1. Hi Pelham. This is Shelley in Oklahoma. I was painting my living room today when you called and over the next hour I just felt compelled to just keep lifting up you and keep lifting up your family. I’m so sorry that this unwanted career switch has happened. I wanted to tell you, I know this is a time of struggle, but you and Molly are going to have these through your marriage. And you need to remember, and this is so hard, that this is a season. This is and forever. This is a season. Your family is under attack and you must make sure that you and Molly are both pulling the wagon in the same direction. Communication is so important at this time. Keep in mind, it is really important, that those two babies have an intact family consisting of the two of the people who love them the most. Everything else fades back to that. Talk to God and talk to each other. I’m praying for you Pelham and for Molly and I know this whole community is also. You’ve always been so humble and so transparent on your journey through so many trials. You are so brave and you are seeking good things for your family. Find ways to ride out this season and thank God every day for every blessing that you have. I’ll keep praying. Keep us posted on how things go. Love you Pelham and I’m lifting you up.

Exodus 12:14-13:17a, Matthew 20:29-21:22, Psalms 25:12-22, Proverbs 6:12-15

Today is the 31^st day of January. And, so, we know what that means. We’ll be concluding our first full month of the year together today, which is an important mile marker. You’ve made it this far. And if you’ve made it this far then you can make it through the next month. And at this point, that’s really where to focus, day after day, step-by-step, week after week, and a month comes. And we cross over these thresholds of months and we can look back over the last month and say, yeah, this has been good for me, making this rhythm, taking just this little space out of my day to focus my attention away from all of the things that are stirring, and center myself. And it’s doing something inside. So, well done. We’re going to complete our first month together for this year. And in the Old Testament we’re in the middle of some drama, which has been pretty much the norm. A lot has been going on in the context, for the stories that are in the Bible are starting to emerge and become apparent. We’re starting to know who people are, we’re starting to know where these places are. So, the children of Israel have just gone through…well…Egypt has just gone through some’s pretty severe plagues, very severe plagues, and they’re about to be set free. Exodus chapter 12 verse 14 through 13:16 today. And we’re reading from the English standard version this week.

Commentary:

Okay. So, as we end this month together, we encounter what I find to be one of the most compelling verses of Scripture in the Bible. And that is from the book of Psalms. ‘The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them His covenant. And this passage has always compelled me, intrigued me, because it’s one of the only places in Scripture that this level of intimacy is stated so starkly. And I’ve always found it tremendously encouraging. Like, this is available. We can be friends of God. Right?  So, it’s very encouraging. I am a friend of God. He calls me friend. We’ll sing those kinds of songs. So, it’s like, yay, God is my friend. But today, when we read this passage from Psalm 25, it kind of stopped me in my tracks. So, the truth is I finished reading the Psalms and then I read the Proverbs and it’s been an hour and half since then, because I’ve been walking in circles in my office talking to God about our friendship. And as can be at times with me, there’s plenty of existential angst involved and just wondering conversation. So, I do a couple of laps around the office and go back to the screen and look at this passage of Scripture and do a few more laps around office, come back and read it again, because I think if I had to name my number one desire, spiritually in my life, it would be that, friendship with the Lord. So, for some reason today I’m like, okay, I have to wrestle this to the ground. I need to know what we’re talking about here. So, I did what I do a lot, I’ll go back into the original languages, trying to get back to the original intent. And, so, I’m starting out with fear. Friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him. What are we talking about here? And usually, you know, when the fear of the Lord is discussed…and believe me…the fear of the Lord is throughout the whole Bible…we kind of move away from actual fear, like being afraid, and more toward awe, reverence, because that truly is a part of it. So, we leave it there because It’s just cleaner. Right? The fear of the Lord is just being in awe of him, having reverence for Him. That’s just cleaner than being afraid. But being cautious and afraid is a part of this word. So, I’m doing a couple more laps around the office trying to think of a time that I’ve been cautious, and afraid, and reverent, and in awe, all at the same time, because there’s been plenty of times I’ve of been in awe of something, including God, or wonder. There have been times where I have been reverent, very reverent, and certainly, there have been plenty of times that I’ve been afraid, lots and lots of times. But when have I ever felt all of those things at once? I’m sure if I circle the office for another hour and a half, I could find places in my life where I’ve experienced all of those things, but the one thing that came to mind was the birth of my children, especially the birth of my firstborn son, Tyler. Right? Because everything had changed. I had become a father. And I was in awe. I was experiencing wonder. I was reverent. But I was afraid. And I experienced this in varying degrees with all five of my kids. So, I’m doing laps around my office trying to conjure that up, like, remember what that felt like, all of those things, all at the same time. And I began to realize, I’m not sure that’s ever really going away. When the kids get older they mature, the grow up. Right? So, you have a whole different set of fears and anxieties and wonder and reverence and awe. But I’m not sure it ever really goes away. I mean, you raise kids and sometimes you are in awe in a negative way, like, you cannot believe they did this or that. But I’m not sure never really goes away. So, then I started thinking, is that how I feel about God? Because friendship with God is for those who fear Him. So, I do some more laps around the office and I’m just talking. God, I can think of lots of times in my life when I’ve been afraid of You. Lots. And I can just feel Him in the in the silence of the room as I walk, almost as if to say, go on. And I find myself confessing, I think I’m always a little afraid of You, because frankly, I don’t know how to quantify You. There is nothing to which I can compare You. I have no reference point. You’re too big. You’re too great. You’re too strong. You’re too everywhere in all things. I don’t know how to…I don’t know how to get my mind around it. I don’t know how to reach out and touch it. And sometimes that leads me to doubt, because sometimes I think I’m talking to everything and nothing at the same time. I’m just, in those times, choosing, making a choice to believe, even if I can’t see or feel or anything. I choose to believe. And then I come back to the screen again and read the passage. Friendship with God is for those who fear Him. And like friendship and fear don’t usually go together. Like, those aren’t usually the words put together. Like, I’m not afraid of my friends. So, I’m doing laps on that one. I swear I’ve walked a couple of miles. But this becomes stark to me because I start thinking, I’m not sure I’m all that great of a friend. I mean, partly because I’m an introvert. I know, I’m in front of this mic every single day of my life, and I know I’m hearing you hear me talk and we’re talking to each other, but the reality is, I get to do this by myself. I’m naturally an introverted thinker. And most of my life is in my head. So, I’m doing laps on that. And I begin to realize all intimacy has an element of fear involved. Not the superficial kind of transactional relationships that we normally have and call friendships. Rather, true intimacy. I’m not talking like sexual intimacy or anything like that…just intimacy itself. Because intimacy itself requires risk. Like, you can’t go there without risk. And what is being risked it’s that we can get crushed. And we’ve probably all been crushed. So, once that happens, you kind of learn your lesson and then you go into other relationships with that guard up. And, so, then we have varying levels of friendship. So, I come back to the screen and looking at this word, friendship. What kind of friendship is God talking about here in this psalm. And, so, I go back to these words and the kind of friendship being described here is like a circle. Like you’re inside of an unbroken circle. You’re a part of a council. It’s a fellowship. It is intimate and secret. And, so, I get back up and start walking again, realizing the kind of fear that I experienced at the birth of my children, the awe and reverence and overwhelming fear that I don’t have what it takes to do this is quite different than the telegraphed fear that we take in as a guard into relationships. The kind of fear that were talking about in the Psalms as a relates to friendship with God is all consuming, because you’re risking everything. You’re risking your entire identity. You’re risking your heart even when you can’t see. You’re risking your heart even when you can’t feel it. And you’re swearing allegiance unto death, which is a fearful, awesome, wondrous, reverent thing to do. The image that comes to my mind is of a knight kneeling with his sword facing the ground out in front of him before his king, swearing allegiance to protect the king and the kingdom, the king’s name and all of his interests with honor until death. Come what may. And there’s no going back from that. This is what is required to be in a circle of friendship with God. And, so, we could cut here to a scene, you know, where the armies are riding out, the banners are flying before them, the swords are held high, everything, you know, it’s just this wonderful thing that’s inspiring, because we’d like those kinds of inspiring images, but I think it’s far less about that and far more about staying true when the fog of life is so thick that you could cut it with a sword. Staying true in depression is overwhelming. Staying true when anxiety is taking your breath away. Staying true when everything feels like it’s crumbling. And I know. I hear your calls. I travel. I know. There’s a lot of depression and anxiety in the world today. And lest you think those things never, never knock on my door, that’s not the case. I know what it feels like to be under a cloud. I know what anxiety is like. But isn’t it in those times that we want God to be our friend, but we’re not being much of a friend ourselves, because the anxieties are like hooks in our flesh, pulling us in so many directions that nothing is making sense. And I did some laps around the office on that and kind of came to what we tell each other in these kinds of times. Well, when I am weak He is strong. But then I started confessing, God when am I not week? Especially compared to you, when am I not week? And then I felt the words bubbling up out from my heart. When am I not strong son? And I felt fear and I felt awe and I felt reverence. And I circled back to the screen again to read that verse in its context. Who is the man who fears the Lord? Him he will he instruct in the way that he should choose. His soul shall abide in well-being and his offspring shall inherit the land. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He makes it known to them is covenant. And doesn’t that address most of our anxieties and fears? Isn’t most of our anxiety and fear about choices that we have to make, the well-being of our soul, and hope for our offspring? And all of the sudden we have a passage of Scripture that is all-encompassing, that is touching everything about us, that is addressing our fears and inviting us rather than giving our allegiance to that, that we might swear our allegiance to God. The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them his covenant. And what is his covenant? It’s His promise. And what is His promise? That He will never leave us. That He will never abandon us. That He’s got us and nothing can take us away from Him. Nothing. This word covenant, this is way more than just a promise. It’s like a treaty. It’s an instrument that makes allies. God is saying, He will be our ally. He will bring us into the circle of friendship if we will simply swear the allegiance to Him that He has given to us. And that should evoke fear and wonder and awe and reverence, because there is no one else that can make that guarantee. There is no one else can make that promise. God is too big, to strong, to everywhere, to everything, for us to fully comprehend, and as near as our next breath. So, if we’re going to fear, may we fear God. And if we want to be the friend of God, if we actually want true intimacy, then we’re going to have to risk it all and be willing to be a friend to God and not just a taker.

Prayer:

Father, the idea that we can be intimate allies with one another, that we can be in a circle of friendship with one another, certainly describes the longing of our hearts. And we see that Your offering this kind of friendship, but we’re also seeing that it’s all or nothing. A part-time relationship where we get to hook up with whoever we want, that’s not what You’re looking for. You’re looking for sworn allegiance because that’s what You’re giving to us. And we acknowledge, Jesus, that You invited us to count the cost, to understand what we were getting ourselves into, that there would be no going back. And yet Lord, we’ve certainly tried. We’ve walked out of the relationship plenty of times. We’ve stepped out on You plenty of times and you’ve stayed true. You’ve stayed true when we haven’t stayed true and that’s because we’ve lost sight, we’ve lost the plot of our story. Life has come in and flattened and confused us. And rather than running to You, our ally, we’ve run away from you and we’re sorry. We’re sorry for thinking that this relationship is about you answering prayers and that’s it, this transaction. We ask You for something and You do it. We confess that we haven’t been a good friend and we’re sorry. So, we invite Your Holy Spirit in this moment to reunite us. We don’t want another moment of our lives to pass that You are not invited into and that You are not a part of. And, so, Father, we are beginning a conversation right now, but we have lots to talk about and we invite your Holy Spirit to lead us into intimacy and friendship with You. Come, Jesus. We pray in Your name. Amen.

Song:

Matt Redmon

Intimacy

One thing my heart is set upon

One thing that I would ask

To know You, Lord, as close as one

Could hope to on this earth

Intimacy

O Jesus, intimacy

My treasure will be, O Jesus

Your intimacy

To look upon Your beauty, Lord

Your glory and Your heart

To know You close, and closer still

Watch day upon this earth

Intimacy

O Jesus, intimacy

My treasure will be, O Jesus

Your intimacy

Lord, since the day I saw You first

My soul was satisfied

And yet because I see in part

I’m searching, more to find

Intimacy

O Jesus, intimacy

My treasure will be, O Jesus

Your intimacy

Intimacy

O Jesus, intimacy

My treasure will be, O Jesus

Your intimacy

Intimacy

O Jesus, intimacy

My treasure will be, O Jesus

Your intimacy