Jeremiah 6:16-8:7, Colossians 2:8-23, Psalm 78:1-31, Proverbs 24:26
Today is the sixth day of the month of October, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and it is wonderful to be here with you today, as we continue our journey into and through the fourth quarter of the year. And the changing of the seasons as. Well, here in the northern hemisphere things begin to cool down and get ready to rest for the winter. Yeah it’s, here in the rolling hills of Tennessee, the leaves will really do their magic and it can be really, really lovely during this month. And into next month of course, and depends on where you are in the world. It could be just about time to turn springtime, if you’re in the southern hemisphere. And if you’re in the northern hemisphere, depending where you are, if you’re up north it’s like, yeah, about time to snow. Like, it will be nice and warm and leaves changing and everything here in the rolling hills of Tennessee for another month, into November, but by November it snows plenty of places in the northern hemisphere. So anyway, I don’t know how we got on a big thing about weather, I’m not really a weather man. I guess, I’m just looking outside, as we prepare to take our next step forward and let’s do more than just prepare, let’s take the next step forward. We are working our way through the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. We’re reading from the New International Version this week, and today Jeremiah chapter 6 verse 16 through 8 verse 7.
Commentary:
Okay, I wanna reread for us a small paragraph, a few verses out of the letter to the Colossians today, because this is a very concise description of who Jesus is, what He has done for us, and who we are because of what He has done. In other words, this is a very concise spiritual description of our reality. And so, Paul says, “in Christ all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form”, right. So, in Jesus the fullness of God exists in bodily form, “and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority,” right. So, in other words, He is the most high. There is none above Him. “In him you were also circumcised with the circumcision not performed by human hands, your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised with Him through your faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Paul saying like, we were utterly changed because of Jesus. Fundamentally and profoundly changed, changed from death to life, a new creature. Paul unpacks this by saying and I quote, “when you were dead in your sins and in the un-circumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ,” right. So, when you were dead, God made you alive. “He forgave us all our sins. Having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us. He has taken it away, nailing it to the cross and having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” So, I mean, I realize these are foundational pieces of theology, that describe the Christian faith and describe the spiritual reality of our lives. So, well I know we’ve heard some of this before because we’ve read it other letters and we’re pretty far into the Bible. So, we understand these precepts and concepts. The question is do we live like this is the truth? Is it our actual functional reality. This is something that the Colossians were struggling with, and Paul tells them, and I quote, “since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules?” And that right there is a big question. The question that we need to meditate upon today and invite God into. If Jesus is the most high God wrapped in flash, who has come and put us back together, what was broken is restored, and what was old is gone and we are new. If that’s true then Paul’s question is fair, since you died with Christ, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to it?
Prayer:
And Holy Spirit come into that question as we spend time going through the question and contemplating it today. If what you have done for us is so fundamentally shifting, why would we choose anything less than total freedom. A freedom that you, that you offered to us. Why do we choose to be less then who we are in You? And the truth is, there are so many stories and so many ways to try to answer that. The woundings of our lives, the way we were raised, the experiences that we’ve had, the fact that were rarely paying attention. And even the fact that sometimes we live as if this weren’t true and enter into doubt. There’s all kinds of reasons that we would choose to be less, but may we begin to understand that we are choosing this. The reality that you have presented to us, is that we have been made new, who we were died, who we are is a resurrected child of God. May we not only contemplate why we would choose less but also give us the resolve to choose all that You have for us. We ask this in the precious and mighty name of Jesus, in whom all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form. And You have brought us to fullness, and we accept. Help us to walk in fullness, we pray, in Jesus name. Amen.
Announcements:
dailyaudiobible.com that is home, home base, home of the Global Campfire. It’s where you can find out what’s going on around here. As I mentioned most every day. So, certainly check it out. Check out the Daily Audio Bible app. If you haven’t, just search for Daily Audio Bible in the App Store that works with your device and then all this will be in the palm of your hand. Check out the different sections like the Community Section or the Daily Audio Bible Shop. Just kind of browse around and get familiar and get connected.
If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible. If having a place around the Global Campfire to come to each and every day. This little oasis that we make of peace and serenity together each day. If that is life-giving to you, then thank you for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address is P.O. Box 1996 Springhill, Tennessee 37174.
And as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app, no matter where you are in the world. That’s the little red button up at the top or there are a number of numbers that you can call: in the Americas 877-942-4253 is the number to dial, if you are in the UK or Europe 44 2036 088078 is the number call, and if you are in Australia or that part of the world 61 3 8820 5459 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.
Prayer and Encouragement:
Hi, this is Toni from Germany, and this message is for Rebecca from Michigan. It’s so nice to hear you again. Yeah, I would say that in your situation, my though is, where is the commonality in your experiences with what other people feel? Yeah, you can go to church and be sitting alone but you know ahead of you can be a family together. But maybe one of those individuals sitting with the family, feels completely alone. I remember going to a retreat once when I was younger and when we first arrived everybody was so joyful and I’m thinking these guys just don’t know what suffering is. I was kind of ignorant. And in the week, in the weekend retreat suddenly people started to let down their mask and share what they were fighting with, what they were contending with. Oh my God, to see the individual trials, challenges, their vulnerability. So, I would just say, you know, you may not see it but a lot of things you’re contending with, many, many, many, many other people, more than not, are contending with. For example, I don’t think anyone here has ever not said something that another person considered inappropriate. Also, no one wants to be treated badly by others. Most people are protective in that regard. And then I would just encourage you to look for Bible figures that can inspire you on your journey. God Bless you.
Hey Daily Audio Bible family, this is Travis from Alberta, Canada. Rebecca from Michigan, I just heard your message today. I relate so much to what you’re going through. You know, I, for 8 years, I didn’t go to church. This was before COVID. Eight years I didn’t go to church because, you know, I was hurt by the church, and I didn’t know how to trust people. And so, I literally just stand in my house and did church from online or just read my Bible, listened to the Daily Audio Bible and for many years, the Daily Audio Bible was my church family. And I know how scary it can be when you’re in that mindset of seclusion and then you try to go back to church. And then you just feel more scared and things like that. But I just want to say that, keep trying. Like, we were created by God to do this, this life, this life of faith in community. And I just wanted to encourage you. I’m a guy that also deals with anxiety and depression. And I just, if the church that you’re going to right now doesn’t, doesn’t make you feel safe or anything like that, maybe it’s time to start and looking for a different church. But I just want to encourage you to not give up, to get back out there and to find a church that you can feel at home. And just know that you have a home here at the Daily Audio Bible. God bless you all. Bye.
Hi DAB family, this is Dorothy out in California. Just wanted to reach out to some of the DABers. Biola of Maryland, I’m so sorry for your loss. I pray that God comforts you. And Anne out in California, don’t feel guilty, I pray that God guides you. And Renzo, thank you for being an inspiration in following God’s conviction and calling in your life. It’s inspiring to me to follow God, even when his instructions are difficult or unusual. I love you DAB family so much, all of you. And I pray that God blesses you and guides you and comforts you and heals you and just meets you were all your needs are. I pray that God, blesses you and makes His face shine upon you and gives you peace. I love you DAB family.
I’m calling because I heard a prayer request from our brother on September 26th and you didn’t leave your name, but you said that you are struggling with your faith, and you don’t even know if you’re a Christian. And I just want to share a little bit about my story, and I hope it will encourage you. I…I was not raised in a Christian home; I was raised with Atheism, really indoctrinated in Atheism. So, I didn’t even believe in God. But God loves us so much and He has an amazing and really just wonderful ways of drawing me to Him all my life. And I didn’t even recognize it a lot of times. But He’s just, I can look back and see how He’s been working in my life. And my walk with Him, my journey has been really a rough road. I’ve drawn near to Him, as He’s drawn me to himself but then I’ve also walked away. There’s been a lot of ups and downs and I’ve been on a lot of detours, some small, some big. But at one point I was sitting at my kitchen table, and I was reading my Bible in the morning at breakfast. And I just said to God very honestly, I just said, I don’t even know if I believe this is Your word. I don’t even know if I know You. I don’t even know if I believe in You. And I told Him I really want too though. And it was, it’s just been so amazing. Ever since then He has just lead me into a much deeper relationship with Him and helped me to really know Him and really understand Him and really opened His word to me. So, I just pray brother, be honest with yourself but also, be honest with God and He will lead you to Him. God bless you. I’ll be praying for you.
Recently I’ve been reflecting on a picture I received from my brother Mike, it was taken a little over ten years ago. And in this picture, he and I are standing in the back yard, under a big pecan tree, beaming with pride. Smiling our mother and father’s smile. His son, little Mike was there, my grandson, Denzel was there. Two young men, strong, full of promise, ready to face the challenges that the world would offer. My daughter Niecey is also in this picture. A beautiful young princess, Denzel’s mother, another person, full of promise. Also, in this picture was my little dog Kimey, an all-American mix, that doesn’t know that humans can be cruel. When I think about this picture, I think about Job and how quickly life can change. Job’s life was abundantly blessed. Until God gave Satan permission to touch it. And then his before and after was dramatic. And the people in this picture, the before and after, was pretty dramatic too. I am now blind, my brother Mike is dead, little Mike and Denzel both are incarcerated and my daughter Niecey, suffered a massive stroke that left her with severe limitations, when it comes to speech and mobility. My little dog Kimey was stolen right out of the yard and has never been seen since. But just like Job, I to say, even if He slay me, yet will I serve Him. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Blindtony1016@gmail.com. Like to give a shout out to David Michael Thice and Darlene, know you’re very much loved and thought of often. And once again Brian and the Hardin Family, thank you for this wonderful podcast for God’s Holy Spirit to flow. Keep it flowin ya’ll. Alright, bye bye.
Ozzy Bear, this is from Treasure to Treasure. And I was going to wait to call in after I had finished listening to all the community prayers and had something else, I was going to say after my first time back the other day. But God has prompted me go ahead and reach out to you. I am over the edge of the cliff also. But I’m hanging on and here’s my hand. Ozzy Bear reach out and grab ahold and climb up over me. And reach up to the DAB who are on the top of the mountain, reaching down to help us. Grab ahold of them and pull them up in their strength and then grab ahold and pull me up and all of the others who are over the edge and suffering and just hanging on for dear life. I understand fully how you feel, cause I’ve even said with my own mouth, if this is just existing, why, it’s not living. But there’s just something that keeps me going and all of the prayers and the messages going out from the DAB community who call me back and tell me they miss me. Those prayers are what have kept me from just totally just walking away and saying it’s not worth it. I don’t know your complete situation any better than you know mine but the hellish circumstances that I have been dealing with, I understand. So, grab ahold sister. Help me, help others.