Ezekiel 45:13-46:24, 1 Peter 1:13-2:10, Psalm 119:33-48, Proverbs 28:11
Today is the 23rd day of November, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and it’s wonderful to be here with you around the Global Campfire today as we gather and move forward together. Another step forward in front of us. And our next step forward will lead us back into the book of Ezekiel. We are nearing the end of the book of Ezekiel, couple more days. And then yesterday, we began first Peter which we will continue forward in today. We’re reading from the Christian Standard Bible this week. Today, Ezekiel chapter 45 verse 13 through 46 verse 24.
Commentary:
Okay so, here in the United States of America tomorrow, is Thanksgiving Day, that is a really, really major holiday here in this country. And then the day following that, is called Black Friday and everybody shops and shops and shops, right. And it’s Christmas season from that point forward. So were in a time of year, we’ve mentioned it a couple of times along the way, like things speed up, our rhythms shift and change. And most of that’s been said in the context of finishing well, like, day-by-day, step-by-step. This is how we will finish well and that the Scriptures are there in the chaos, if we hadn’t figured that out yet. Like, we see the chaos in the Bible, and we see God working among it. And then we see in our own lives, how disrupted things can be, and the Scriptures are there to lead and guide us and give us perspective. And so, we have some perspective, from Peter’s letter, known as first Peter, today. Although Peter wasn’t making any kind of commentary on, you know, the holiday traditions that may exist in the world 2000 years in the future. He’s speaking about what every day Christian life should look like, but he did say some things today that are particularly poignant for the season that we actually are heading into, 2000 years in the future, celebrating the holidays that we celebrate now. I mean, you just watch, if you got to make a bunch of trips to the grocery store because you’re trying to cook your Thanksgiving dinner and you find things are not in stock. I mean, this can be crazy. Or trying to find a parking place and fighting for your parking place at the grocery store, at the mall or wherever. And then it only amp up right, it’s gonna be Christmas season and we will have goodwill toward all people, like that just ascends upon the earth. But underneath that, we still are trying to not have to walk 4 miles to get to the mall, we really want that front parking place and if we can get it, we’re gonna take it. And if we were about to pull into it and somebody took it from us, well, peace on earth, goodwill toward men, takes on a different complexion. So, if we think about how chaotic it can get to try to come up with a budget for the holiday season and buy everything and run everywhere, and park here and go there and interact with these people and let’s not even get started on family traveling in from out of town and just how we can all get together and be so joyous, that we’re finally together as a family and it’s been a while, and it’s so good to be here and how quickly we just fall into the role that we’ve always played in our family. And it’s so easy for the jokes and the kind of ridicule, and the kind of stuff that all happened when we were kids to just materialize because we don’t know it any other way. But it’s amping things up inside of us, making us feel anxiety and the swirl inside of us. Peter kinda speaks words that are really, really helpful for this season, and I quote, “as obedient children, do not be conformed to the desires of your former ignorance, but as the One who called you is Holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct. For it is written, be holy, because I am Holy.” So, again, Peter’s not talking about the holiday season in years that are millennia from when he wrote this letter. He’s talking about what our every day is supposed to look like. But there isn’t really a better time to get into that rhythm and practice this stuff, than the times that we find that our rhythms are disrupted. Think about it. You’re making stuffing in the kitchen. The cousins are running all over the place. Your siblings are in and out, everybody’s saying what they’re saying, somebody says something a little sideways about the stuffing. Oh, that doesn’t … I don’t know if you put enough sage in that. And how easily we can just flip over into a different…different zone and just start fighting back or holding bitterness in our hearts. We get, I mean, I can’t even think of how many examples we could use. Anything from stolen parking places, the family feuds. We can feel like we have walked with the Holy Spirit during this year, and he has grown us so much and we are so in a different place than we were when the beginning of the year started, but we can be around that table and something gets said and we’re just, it’s like we’re a little kid again. Just trapped in a place that we left a long, long time ago, but pulled right back into. And it’s very, very easy for us to retaliate, even if we don’t say anything out loud, we’re like, thinking it, but maybe we’re saying it. But maybe we should say something, before we say anything. Maybe we should say, you must be holy, because I am Holy. Like, what would that change? If the voice of criticism or ridicule comes our way and our reaction is typically to ball up our fists and start swinging. Right, or to start spewing angry, hurtful words. Just a small pause, you must be holy, because I am Holy, immediately resets are posture. And Peter says some other things that are supposed to be our normal everyday life but also, give us a particularly good opportunity to practice them as we’re in this, disrupted season. So, Peter says, since you have purified yourselves by your obedience to the truth, so that you show sincere brotherly love for each other, from a pure heart love one another constantly, because you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. So, if we’re sitting around the table and I don’t know, easy things to talk about like politics comes up and we’re hearing things that we don’t ascribe to or like that this is about to blow up, like the Thanksgiving table is about to be set on fire. But remembering you must be holy, because I am holy, can rescue us. Remembering what we just read, from a pure heart, love one another constantly or from our reading today, rid yourselves of all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy and all slander, like newborn infants desire the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow up into your salvation. So much there just from a little bit that we read today from this letter that can be applied to the season that we’re in because it’s supposed to be applied to the totality of our lives. And the beautiful thing is that, as we continue through, from now through the end of the year, almost every day, we’re going to be given things from the Scriptures that we need to live through the day, to navigate the day properly, if we’re paying attention, just like today. So, let’s take these things to heart, brothers and sisters, because we can change the complexion of what this holiday season looks like in our families. Like, we’re out in front and it’s just like when we come to the beginning of a shiny, sparkly, new week every week and we talk about how it’s all out in front of us and nothing good or bad has happened yet and the choices that we make, and the words that we say, and the actions that we commit, that will tell the story of the week. It’s the same for us now in this season, our thoughts, words and deeds will tell what the story of the holiday season this year is going to look like. Maybe we can sit around waiting for things to happen and maybe we just react to those things. Or maybe we decide, in advance, to love deeply, to rid ourselves of all malice and deceit, to not be an actor are a hypocrite, to not envy, not slander people, but rather to be like a newborn infant desiring the pure milk of the word. If we decide in advance and commit to a course of action that will allow us to be obedient to what is being told to us in the Scriptures; we will bring good into all the situations that we encounter. And if we get blindsided and we’re about to fall into an old trap, just remember, you must be holy, because I am holy, can reset us. And so, let’s put it into practice.
Prayer:
And father, we are coming into a busy season. We are indeed coming into a time when we need to put this into practice, but this should be our daily practice. And if it hasn’t been our daily practice, then we ask for Your forgiveness. We’re starting to practice right now and we’re going to practice through a season that’s going to give us plenty of opportunity to practice and then we’re gonna keep practicing, because You will lead us into all truth and it is Your desire that your sons and daughters grow up and be mature in Your kingdom, representing You as an ambassador in this world, being a witness to the light. This is our desire, that we be a witness to the light and the light will not be overcome by the darkness, because we are choosing in advance to not go into the darkness. Holy Spirit, come, we will not do this on our own and succeed. We don’t do anything on our own and succeed, we need Your help, and we ask for it and we rejoice in it in advance and thank You for it in advance. So, that we can sit back, move forward and watch You at work in our lives. Come Holy Spirit, we pray in the name of Jesus into this season. Amen.
Announcements:
dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it is the website, it is where you can find out what’s going on around here. And so, what is going on around here. So, if you live in the United States. Then tomorrow will be a national holiday that we call Thanksgiving. And there are Thanksgiving celebrations and gratitude celebrations throughout the earth. This just happens to be the one happening in the country that I live in. And what happens is, we have Thanksgiving and then the day after Thanksgiving is black Friday. And so, like all day during Thanksgiving Day, will be being festive and enjoying our families and doing whatever were gonna do. Meanwhile our inboxes are getting cram full of Black Friday deals, so that we get in the swing of things. And I just want to be out in front of that and just let you know that the Daily Audio Bible Christmas Box for the year 2022, is now available now. Now, like you go to dailyaudiobible.com or go into the app and go to the Daily Audio Bible Shop and you will find a Christmas Section there and in the Christmas Section you will find the annual Daily Audio Bible family Christmas box. This is the biggest, I think the biggest we’ve packed this one this year. We have for the very first time in the Christmas box this year, Promised Land, Photographs from the Land of the Bible, which is a beautiful photographic journey through the land of the Bible. It’s like a coffee table size addition. It’s something that is displayable in your home and a joy to kind of peruse as we’re going through the Bible. So, that is in the Christmas box this year. The God of Your Story is also included in the Christmas box this year. So, Promised Land and The God of Your Story both beautiful, hardbound, high-quality additions in the Christmas box this year. We are also including Reframe: From the God We’ve Made to God with Us, which is another written resource that that I’ve been able to write. As well as Sneezing Jesus, How God Redeems our Humanity. So, we’ve been able to put all of those together in the…in the Christmas box for the first time. So that’s exciting. Also, your choice of wind farm DAB blend coffee or we’re doing honey bush and ribose tea this year. So, your choice coffee or tea. We have the Global Campfire candle in the Christmas box this year. Love this candle, loved a couple years ago working with a perfumer, just like getting the aroma right so, that it would smell like a candle, but it would smell like a campfire, I just, yeah, the Global Campfire, just kind of bringing it right…right in, as we move through the Scriptures each day. So, the Global Campfire candle is in the Christmas box this year. The Daily Audio Bible 2022 Christmas Ornaments, with our word for the year, Rooted, on it, is in the Christmas box. And you can only get the ornaments in the Christmas box. And we have, well I have a tree, that has all of the different years going back to when we began ornaments, probably a decade ago now. And, so each year, I put a new ornament on my tree. I look at those ornaments and I’m humbled by them because each one of them represents a year in community, in the Bible. So easy to look at an ornament go well, that represents a year, even though that took a whole year to navigate. And all of the issues of life, that come in a year but it’s nice to be able to look at it and go, we’re still here, we made it through another year. So, the 2022 ornament, is in the Christmas box this year, as well as a Global Campfire pop socket, for your, well, whatever it is you need a pop socket for, for your phone, for your tablet, little way to hold it in your hand, a little way to keep it in your hand, if you are the pop socket type that’s in the Christmas box. And then two Global Campfire stickers, to put wherever…wherever you like. So, it is a jampacked full Christmas box this year. Super-duper excited. I remember when we went through COVID and trying to figure out how we would even do a Christmas box. And then being able to get back to it last year, but this this year, we’ve got it all planned out and packed full and so excited for that. You can find the Christmas box for 2022 in the Christmas section of either a dailyaudiobible.com or by going to the Shop from within the Daily Audio Bible app, and you should have no problem finding it. So, check that out.
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And that’s it for today, I’m Brian, I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here, tomorrow.
Prayer and Encouragements:
Father, I come humbly and prayer before your throne, once again
Because you’re all mighty God and the deliverer of all men
There is so many people among us who are hurting and in pain
With very serious problems Father, with few options, there tears fall like rain
You said you’re keeping a skin bag, each and every one of our tears
You said every hair on our head is numbered and you know the sum of all our hairs
You said you’ve written down in your book, every one of our parts, before even one of them was ever formed and only you know our hearts
And on top of that you offered us adoption as sons, once our hearts had been conformed
So, we come to you through Jesus humble, tired and worn
Walking by faith, to this place that we consider to be safe
But then we have all these problems that don’t go away
Even though we cry out to you day-after-day
Like people with cancer, people who need a liver
And so many other problems father from which only you can deliver
Strengthen us Father so we can endure to the end
And if our faith gets a little bit shaky, please revive us again
And help us to see that when we’re under such strong attack
That it’s really just the wicked ones, trying hard to turn us back
Help us Father, to commit ourselves anew
Help us to surrender all, everyday unto you
blindtony1016@gmail.com I’d like to give a shout out to Sherlock Washington on the Case, know you’re very much loved, prayed for daily 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 flowing ya’ll. Alright, bye bye.
Good morning Daily Audio Bible. I am a member of the Daily Audio Bible and I’ve been a member since 2011 but this is just the second time, I got a chance to call in. Just wanted to touch bases with everyone and let you know I am fighting with you and praying daily. And I might not call in but I’m sending prayers us for each and every one. But this morning, I have a prayer request. Well, I call myself Waters in Virginia. Well, this morning I wake up and I have swelling all in my lower cheek. I’ve had this going on and off for about two months, maybe a little longer. And I went to doctors and they don’t know what it is. They say that it’s nothing to be worried about. Not allergy because we went through the allergy testing. But not the allergy but they actually do the allergy puncture where they do samples. They just did blood tests. But anyway, I want you guys to keep me in prayer that the Lord, I’m believing God for my healing. And I’m thanking him and praising him each and every day. I know God is an answer to all things. And prayer can never fail meaning. Just want you to keep me in prayer, that this healing ceases in the name of Jesus. And my health be restored. And I’m praying that everyone be blessed. All the calls that call in, I’m praying with you. Can’t just name each and every one of you right now. But I am with you and I know God is with all of us and God is the healer and I know God is with us and in us and we just believe, receive from God. Have a blessed day in the name of Jesus. Thank you.
Hello, my Daily Audio Family. I’m listening to all the prayer requests. It breaks my heart to hear so many that I need, the girl that’s sad. And she’s tired of being sad. I pray God, that You, in Jesus name, give her the joy of the Lord. That You’ll let her know, Father, show her Lord, why she is so sad, Father God. Father, speak to her rest, she sleeps Father God. And resting, Holy Spirit, speak to her life. Father, breath joy in her life, Father. In Jesus name. I pray for the husband who’s in that big, that has a bad addiction to drugs. Lord God, I pray that You speak to him as he sleeps, as he rests and he’ll hear your voice, Father. Heal him, show him your way, Father. Make a way Father God. To all of my friends that are with Christ in Prayer, the Father. I ask you this in Jesus name. There’s nothing impossible for you, dear Father. You sent Jesus to cure the sick, to heal them all, to rescue them, to restore them, Father God. Give them the joy of salvation, Father. Reach down to those that are in need, Father God. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.
Hi Shawn, I heard you and you are in my prayers. I battled addiction from 26 years old, to 41 years old, so 15 years. In my experience, and to overcome, I did four things. I stopped drinking because even the more we drink, led to drug use. This required a mindset change. I also had the support system, in my case, my wife, who assisted me to understand the reasons for my actions: past trauma, lifestyle and so on. Three, I changed the places I went to and I adopted a healthier lifestyle. I exercised frequently and felt more joy. I stopped going to locations that drug use. For example, bars, until I had the strength. I diligently studied the Bible, using the DAB platform and to apply it to my life. I have now been sober for over three years. I never felt better. I wish the same for you brother. God bless.
Good morning, this is Nobody Gets Left Behind, in Colorado. I’m thankful for all my DAB family, the multitude from around the world. That we’ll gather one day before the throne of our Father God, a throne near the sea of glass, with our mighty King Jesus, seated at his right hand. I have a praise report for you. My brother Jeremy was freed from prison, he was there for almost 20 years. He’s now able to listen to the DAB every morning with me. We get to Bible study in fellowship and go over it together. I also wanted to let you know that my daughter Halo, she’s being recorded in a music studio. She’s singing worship music that God gave me to write. I also want to give a praise report for the Wednesday Bible group that we have, that’s based off the DAB studies. It’s still going strong. Shout out to all my brothers and sisters in Colorado that are in that group that are listening. I did want to thank the gentlemen that said the prayer for the baby Storm, that has cancer. Brother, your prayer and your words just touched my heart. I just want you to know I’m very thankful for that. I’m thankful for all of your words and prayers family. It just always touches my heart; it always just fills me with so much love and gratitude. I do have one quick praise or prayer request. If you can please pray for my mother Katherine who’s been homeless since January. She lives in a tent. It’s pretty cold here in Colorado now, below freezing. And every day I wake up, I just pray that she’s not dead. But if you could just pray for that, I would really appreciate that. I love you guys so much. Until next time.