A Walk Through The Word

Nehemiah 1:1-3:14, 1 Corinthians 7:1-24, Psalm 31:19-24, Proverbs 21:4

Today is the 11th day of August, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible, I’m Brian. It is a wonderful day to be here with you around the Global Campfire as we take the next step forward and our next step forward is actually taking us into some new territory right off the bat we concluded the book of Ezra yesterday.

Introduction to the Book of Nehemiah:

Which brings us to the book of Nehemiah and interestingly enough, there was a time when Ezra and Nehemiah were one text, leading some scholars to believe that Ezra was also involved in penning Nehemiah, that he was at least one of the authors, we don’t know that for sure but it has definitely been a tradition. And, we’ll also notice that we’re pretty much gonna pick up where we left off in Ezra as we begin Nehemiah. And what we’ll learn is that Nehemiah was a Hebrew, he was exiled in Persia and he had a pretty high-ranking position. He was a servant but he was a servant to the Persian king, so he had access to the king of the Empire. So, a good job. But this job would’ve allowed him to kind of keep up with the latest updates about what was going on with the return of the exiles to Jerusalem, and the hope and the dream of rebuilding God’s temple in Jerusalem because the temple had been the place where God would dwell in would meet and commune with His people and so the temple meant more than just like…a like a home church or something. It was this symbol of their entire society. And so, for it to have been destroyed, it like destroys something in the heart of the culture and so for this to be revived and rebuilt had a lot of hope behind it, for a lot of people, even people who didn’t plan to return from exile. And Nehemiah, he would think about it, he would think about it, and then he would see the temple unprotected, the temple of God rebuilt, unprotected. So, in his heart began to boil a dream, even a calling, a hope that maybe he could be involved in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem to protect the temple of the most high God. And so, he began to consider it for months and intercede and pray until he got the courage to ask and then he was sent and we’ll see that that’s not the like…so often when we’re looking, when that dream begins to percolate when something in us is born and we’re like, that is where I need to go, that is where I am compelled, that is the direction I feel pulled toward. I feel like God is moving me in this direction. We think well, I’ll pray; I’ll ask and maybe I’ll be sent and that will be that. But that’s not that, and it never is that. So, we’ll see that Nehemiah does go through the preparation and is sent, but that’s not the end of his opposition. That’s not all that he will have to endure but we will also see that he did not deviate. He did not deviate from what he was sent to do, no matter what came against him and he never lost sight that the only hope was the mercy and power of the Lord of God in the situation. And so, I mean just not right there, all of that applies to our life right now. And then we’ll see that this wall does get built and it gets built quick, faster than anybody thoughts. Nehemiah returns to the king. He reports he resumes his role but he’s able to return. And what he finds is a strong wall in a weak people and he steps into that as a leader and restoration in repentance and revival begin to happen. So, there are a lot of books in the Bible that have a lot of really, really important things for us to understand and to live into toward our own freedom and toward our own destiny but Nehemiah just watching the steps watching the way the story plays out and understanding some of the principles that underlie his leadership. Truly, truly speak into our lives today. And so, with that, we begin. We’re reading from the Christian Standard Bible this week. Nehemiah chapter 1 verse 1 through 3 verse 14.

Commentary:

Okay we’ve already done kind of a little bit of an overview where were going in the book of Nehemiah. But the book of Nehemiah isn’t that long and so we’ll move through it pretty quickly. And, we can already see Nehemiah hears news, a passion begins to boil inside of him. He begins to intercede before the Lord about this thing that’s growing inside of him. It’s all quiet, he’s the only one that knows, he and God. And so, this passion grows until there is a bit of a plan in place because he saw him go before the king and when the king was like what’s wrong and what do you want, he had an answer. So, this had been planned. He didn’t just get a burning desire or some kind of wild hair and take off in that direction, just thinking that it’ll be made up as we go along. He planned it out and then he made the journey, got to Jerusalem and didn’t tell anybody for several days. He rested and then he went out and inspected everything himself before he got like an advisory team and all this, he went out and looked the whole thing over, so that he knew what he was facing and that he knew what he was going to be talking about before…before he got the team together to accomplish the goal. So, we see this kind of systematic approach and we’ll continue to see that which is one of the things makes Nehemiah so immediate. In some of the decisions and trajectories that we find ourselves on in our plans.

Prayer:

And so, Father, we thank You for Your words. Thank You for this book of Nehemiah that we’re getting into and we ask Holy Spirit that You use it as a form of template for us as we look at the systematic steps being taken and things being put in place that it sure forward movement toward the goal of the things that get put in place to diminish discouragements because sometimes we feel like we’re all alone out there trying to get something done and it’s discouraging in all the voices are discouraging us. When there is a burning passion inside. So come Holy Spirit into our reading of Nehemiah and into our best laid plans, we pray in the name of Jesus we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

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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.

Prayers and Encouragements:

Hi I’m calling in for the lady who is having a baby and everyone in her family supports it except for her I wanted to say, I’m only 16 so, I’ve never actually you know, been pregnant before or any of that but I wanted to say that one of the things that stuck out to me about your prayer is how you kept saying I can’t. And I realize that on my dresser I have the verse that says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and I feel like in times we feel like we can’t. That verse is just one of those verses that sticks out to me. You’re right, in your strength you can’t but in God’s you can. So, I’m praying for you and I just ask that you’re encouraged by that, I obviously again have never had kids so I just wanted to say God can help you and He can do what you cannot do. And He can give you a heart and He can help you through this trial and I just really hope that you’re encouraged by this.

Hi DAB family this is Toni from Germany. I’ve been out of pocket for a while and some of you might have recognized that. So, I am leaving this message because the DAB family is on my mind and in my heart. And you are just so present before me. And I want to just give you a virtual hug. Wrap my arms around everyone of you around the world and embrace you and send prayers for whatever needs you have. And, I also want to of course, the Hardin Family, Brian, a special, special hug for each of you as you try to continue on and carry this ministry. I can’t imagine how the enemy works against and tries to block your efforts. So, I’d ask the family to join with me in praying for Brian and Jill and Ezekiel who are doing the readings and everybody else behind the scenes to rebuke the enemy. And to give the energy, the creativity, the inspiration and to carry forth this ministry. But I also, I feel specially, especially that we need to pray for Brian to give him that energy to renew his spirit to carry on and get into the Holy Spirit and proclaim it to us. God bless you all, I love you.

Hello this is Jayden. Can you please pray for me. This is Betsiada. We’ve been diagnosed with COVID. It’s been a couple of days, we’re laying in bed but we’re making it. We love you guys, keep us in your prayers. Amen.

Hi DAB, this is Candance from Oregon. Let’s pray for the nation of Haiti. Dear Lord, we pray for wisdom for those in power in Haiti to find peaceful solutions to ending the violence. We pray that gang leader’s will recognized violence is not the solution to ending the economic and political problem and instead strive for peace and unity. We pray that families who live in fear will find God’s peace to help them through despair. We pray that the hearts of the Haitian people will be filled with forgiveness for those involved in the recent assassination so they can move forward with compassion rather than anger and hate. We pray for the swift and fair administration of vaccines and that Haitians will take the necessary precautions to slow the spread of the virus. And Lord we pray for our dear Sussi from Colorado and all of those who work with her that they will remain healthy and safe as they work as they continue their work after so many years. And that there will be fruit. Lord, come, in Jesus name we pray.

Hey DAB family it’s Doctor John need urgent prayer. So, I had my glaucoma surgery on Tuesday, things were going okay, just some minor complications but then probably just probably about half an hour ago I was bending over and sharp shooting pain and my vision is gone to light and dark. I’m afraid there is bleeding in my eye. And that I might lose the vision in that eye, if you could please pray for me. I’d appreciate it, thanks. Bye Bye.

Hey this is PJ from NC I have called to encourage and to pray. Encouragement: when I was four years old and on a family vacation, I fell 15 feet landed on the pavement below on my head cracked my skull from the front to the back, spent two weeks in a out-of-state hospital ruining the family vacation. And what they told my parents, the neurologist said that if I walked again I would certainly never run like other kids that I would have headaches all my life. And I would probably never develop beyond a five or six-year-old. And for two years that’s exactly what my family saw, for two years, my family, my church family contended every day, every week, every month in prayer for the miraculous in my life and saw nothing. And then one day, just like a switch was flipped God did the miraculous and all of that was rectified and not only rectified but He did it so complete that not only did I learn to walk and run, but in high school I lettered in four sports. Not only did I develop beyond where they’ve said I’ve excelled in academics and career and today at 55 I find myself in ministry and beyond that, I’ve never had a headache day in my life ever. I don’t know what one feels like. And with that in mind, I want us to pray. God today we come before you and we contend for the people who have submitted prayer requests today. Lord, we contend for those who have submitted in the past, Lord do miracles in God’s Smile. God set Lauren’s emotions and mind in order. God, we pray for those who are sick with COVID, God we pray that you would bring healing to them. God, we pray for those who have broken relationships and emotional needs and financial needs. God, we pray that You would do miraculous. We contend as a DAB family today. And we pray this in Christ name. Amen.

Ezra 10:1-44, 1 Corinthians 6:1-20, Psalms 31:9-18, Proverbs 21:3

Today is the 10^th day of August welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it is wonderful to be here with you today as we come…come around the Global Campfire and get ready to take the next step forward together just releasing all of the stuff that’s swirling around us, giving our heart permission to just relax and allow God’s word to speak to us and guide our steps. And, so, let’s dive in. We’ve been working our way through the book of Ezra. Today we will conclude the book of Ezra by reading Ezra chapter 10. And we’re reading from a Christian Standard Bible this week.

Commentary:

Okay. So as we continue our…our journey through the letter, the letter to the Corinthians, known as first Corinthians we’re seeing that Paul is…is being pretty direct and confronting some things that he believes should not be present in the community of faith in Corinth or really for that matter, anywhere. So, basically he begins with disputes and he’s like, why are you taking each other to court basically. Isn’t there anybody wise among you? Is there no wise people? Is there no way to handle these matters? And what he’s ultimately getting at here is do you understand that you are the light, that you are the example, that you are setting the standard? And he’s pretty direct. I quote Paul, “as it is to have legal disputes against one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? Instead, you yourselves do wrong and cheat, and you do this to brothers and sisters.” Paul’s point is that that sets a standard, that sets an example. That’s not the example that we as the body of Christ want to bear witness to in the world. We need to bear witness to the light. So, we can obviously…I mean we can take that on board and apply it to any kind of sets of circumstances in our own lives, but we can see he wouldn’t be addressing this if it weren’t going on in the church. So, we can look back and go even back at the beginning this stuff was going on. This has been a struggle all along. And sort of the underlying theme that’s going on here, as Paul confronts a couple of things is actual freedom. Are you actually free if you are entangled in some kind of very long-drawn-out lawsuit with a brother or sister? That’s basically his point. But then he turns to say like everything is permissible for me but not everything is beneficial. So, we are free to do what we want, but not everything that we do has any benefit. And some of the things that we do can be destructive and is that freedom? So, Paul says, “everything is permissible for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” Why? Because that’s not freedom. And then Paul goes into the things that we do with our bodies and the ways that we sin against one another with our bodies. And again the underlying theme is freedom. He's…he’s saying your body is a part of Christ’s body, the body of Christ are those who believe in Christ on this world and you’re a part of that body. In fact, Paul says your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God. You’re not your own. You were bought at a price. So, glorify God with your body. So, we can look at the territory that we’ve been in for these first chapters of first Corinthians in this letter and go, a lot of confrontation and condemnation, but it's…the point is freedom. The point is freedom as perceived by the quote unquote world is upside down and backwards like everything else in this world, which is what Jesus taught and what the New Testament teaches. So, when we discover that we are free in Christ so often we think about that in terms of freedom…like I can say I can do whatever I want. I’m free. Sin has no control over me, has no claim to me. I’m free. And then we think of it in worldly terms, and this is what Paul’s bringing out in his letter. So, it kind of boils down to sexual immorality and the kind of confrontation that we have with each other and the ways that we fight against one another, diminishing the light, diminishing the witness that we are to be in this world for the rest of the world, to reveal that there’s a better way. If all we’re doing is the same way and overlaying words that say we’re Christians but we’re not different than we’re not revealing this kingdom and we’re not being the light. And, so, when we realize that true freedom is to understand that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, God. We are housing the Spirit of God within us. So, anything that we would rather not include God in we shouldn’t be participating in because God is within us, the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, according to Paul. If we understood…like if we believed that, that’s a game changer, that’s a life changer, that’s a world changer, that we are walking around, and wherever we go the Spirit goes because the Spirit is within us. We bring the spirit of God into every situation that we walk into, or we should if we were aware of our true freedoms.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit well up from within. May we become aware of this reality that is never off and always on. We were bought with a price. That purchase was our freedom. We are free from the claims and the customs of this world. We are freed to be true. Come Holy Spirit and lead us into all truth we pray. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, that’s the website, its where you find out what’s going on around here. And as I say often, if you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app you can access everything that’s going on around here there.

So, be aware of the Community section. That is so important. That’s where the Prayer Wall is and lives and is always happening. So, there’s always somewhere to reach out for prayer, there’s always somewhere to go and pray for one another. I mean we are all living human lives. And, so, right? You never know what the days gonna bring exactly and we always are in need of prayer and just to know that we’re not alone. That makes such a difference, to know that this journey is not a solitary one. We are in this together. And, so, be aware of the Prayer Wall. In there in the Community section is also links to get connected on the different social media channels that we are involved in. So, be aware of that. Check that out. Like check out the Daily Audio Bible women’s page. Jill is continually posting encouragement there. It’s fantastic. So, if you’re a woman then there is a place to get connected and the DAB friends there is a place to get connected. There’s plenty of places to get connected. And also following the Daily Audio Bible channels so that whatever social media platform your on if there’s an announcement of some sort or whatever that you’re able to get that. So, check it all out in the Community section.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, thank you. Thank you. I’m looking at the calendar and going…well…we do have a way to go in this year. It’s going faster than I thought. But we do have a ways to go this year but all of these years have been in this story day by day step-by-step together and it’s a beautiful thing because if we hadn’t been together we…we wouldn’t be making the next step forward. And, so, thank you. If what’s happening here, bringing the spoken word of God and being in community together around the Global Campfire that is life-giving to you than thank you for being life-giving. There is a link on the homepage. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app, which is the little red button up at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.

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:

Hey, DABbers it’s Kira Contrite Spirit. And for months and months maybe even a year I had seen this guy who lives in his car right off of the trail behind a house in the alley and just started waving to him and he waved back and so we’ve been waving at each other. And the other day the Holy Spirit put on my heart real strong to…well…it…it, you know, went for a couple days and then I said I better just listen to the Holy Spirit. And, so, it put…put on my heart to go and talk to him and then to give him some food and it was really, really hot. And, so, I got some eggs together and a beverage and just some fruit and…and I just, you know, went up to him and real friendly talked to him. He…for a little while told him my story. He said that he believes in Jesus, but he doesn’t necessarily believe Jesus is the only way to God. So, please pray for him. His name is You and he’s 75 and, you know, he’s really, really, you know, cool guy. And I just want to encourage anybody out there, you know, don’t be afraid to talk to people, you know, even if they’re down and out because, I don’t know, I think those are the folks that need it the most, need the light that we have. So, shine your light and spread the word. I love you, DABbers. Amen.

Good morning Daily Audio Bible family this is Daniel in Arizona. It’s been…it’s been a long time since I’ve called in but I have this burden on my heart because I’m going through it myself, but I’ve been praying for actually I say the men of this nation, but I mean maybe the men of this world. A lot of times we try to go it alone and we weren’t designed…we weren’t created to be alone we were created to be part of a tribe and I’m praying for the men who feel isolated and alone and don’t have good friends to lean on or to talk to, good male friends and I’m praying that for myself. I’m praying…I’ve been having this burden of just wanting good men in my life, good friends who are…not only push me to be better but to push me to be closer to God. And I’m praying for all the men on this group, all the men who listen, I’m praying encouragement and life and God has surrounded you with good men who are willing to serve the Lord, serve others, and serve their families. That’s just been a huge burden on my heart, and I pray that…I pray that we would all reach out together, that we are part of one family under God and that we’re not alone, that you don’t do this alone. Alright I love you. Be blessed.

Good morning DAB family it’s August 5^th and this is Sally in Massachusetts Amazed by Grace. Just want to thank the Lord for this community and for all He’s doing and leading us. And thank you again for Brian and Jill and all the team that makes this ministry possible. I’m praying with you all each day and thanking the Lord that He hears us, that He answers. And today I wanna pray particularly for Gigi. Thank you so much for calling Gigi. Thank you for your honesty and your vulnerability. God does hear you and He does love you. And I would just encourage you to lay all your dreams on the altar, your dreams of going to nurses training, this pregnancy and all the future plans that you had in mind. Just give them all to God. He loves you. This baby is not an accident and if the plans you had for nurses training need to be put on hold for a little while, trust God. He loves you. He loves you. He loves this baby. He loves your husband and your family, and He wants you to know His joy and peace as you trust Him. So, hard to trust when things are different than we expected them to be but trust His love. Trust His grace. Trust His mercy because He does love you and want what’s best for you and that you may be to the praise of His glory. Blessings on you Gigi and your family. In Jesus’ powerful name I pray for you for grace and peace. Amen.

My name is All for Him in Alton IL. I’ve been listening for five years I’ve wanted to call in so many times just to kind of connect with everybody. I really do appreciate the ones that call in, but this is my first time and I think a lot of time people are just kind of shy like me but they’re out there. My heart resonated with the lady who called in requesting prayer for her son and daughter in law who are taking in their niece who had attempted suicide and was sad when she didn’t die. Our granddaughter also falls into this category, and I just wanted to pray for all these kids, these young people who are being taught not the truth about You, they’re being told things that turn them away from You and they feel hopeless, and they feel lost. Lord, I lift them up to You, just this younger generation that doesn’t really know you. And Father I just pray that Your Holy Spirit would pour out and that a miracle it happened and they would come to know You. And I pray this in Your precious name. Amen.

Good morning this is Jamie from Arizona, and I just heard the prayer of the young lady who’s pregnant and in nursing school and I just wanted to offer a word of encouragement. I’ve been in your shoes honey. I waited so long to go back to school, and I was so excited, and I wasn’t expecting to be pregnant but I was excited. But I want to tell you that God will work a way for you. I actually delivered the day of my organic chemistry lab exams, and I couldn’t even do them because I wasn’t allowed in the lab because I was pregnant, but I will tell you that God worked and my professors. I was allowed to take my exams at home. And the thing with nursing and nursing programs is that you don’t have to have an A, you just need to get through. And you’ll find your professors will encourage you and will work with you. And when that baby is born nursing school will be important but there is nothing as important as a child. And I just want to encourage you that when that way was so dark, and I didn’t know how I was ever going to finish God worked it out and He made a way and He’ll make a way for you too. I just want you to know I’m praying for you. I know pregnancy is overwhelming and nursing school is overwhelming but take it a day at a time don’t try to look all the way down the road because we never know what is down that road and I could tell you that that child was such a blessing, and my nursing degree was such a blessing. It wasn’t the way I planned it but it was the way that God planned it and I’ve been in nursing 30 years now I wouldn’t change a thing about how that course went. So, please just know that we’re praying for you and your hormones are surging and you know that…

He my outstanding DAB fam this is out of breath Kingdom Seeker Daniel having a little stroll after meal on this evening of August 5^th. This message goes out to my dear sister Gigi. Oh dear sister I heard your cry. Listen I have this particular scripture posted on my TV so whenever I’m looking at the TV reminded of this verse of scripture. And I want to encourage your heart with Isaiah 41 and verse 10. God says to Israel and He’s saying to Gigi fear not for I am with you. Do not be dismayed Gigi for I am your God. Gigi, I will strengthen you. Gigi, I will help you. Gigi, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Dear daughter of the King lift up your head and know that the Lord is with you and in this glorious season of pregnancy. He sees everything going on with you and your life and He’s going to help you. He’s going to strengthen you and He is going to uphold you. Be encouraged. Be encouraged. Be encouraged daughter of the king. He’s got you and you will come through this victorious. Love you sis.

Ezra 8:21-9:15, 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Psalm 31:1-8, Proverbs 21:1-2

Today is the 9th day of August, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible, I’m Brian, it’s great to be here with you today as we do what we do, take the next step forward together. And that next step will lead us into the book of Ezra today chapter 8 verse 21 through 9, verse 15.

Commentary:

Okay, it’s kinda hard not to notice the parallels that have aligned themselves in today’s reading, both in Ezra and in 1 Corinthians. Even though these events happened centuries apart from each other. So, let’s just take a look at what’s going on here. In Ezra, we began by, you know, hearing the journey taken to Jerusalem with these people coming back for the first time. Ezra, a leader before God comes back rests, counts out the money, make sure everything is there and then begins to observe what’s going on and begins to hear the reports that some of the very things that it undermined their culture and their society, namely mixture, in this case, were occurring again. So, some of the very things that caused the temple to ultimately be destroyed and the people taken into exile, when they returned from exile, they began those practices again. So, for Ezra arriving as a leader before God to lead people in the worship of God, set up the systems that governed that and governed the culture, he’s discovering this and he’s, according to what we read today, devastated. Devastated, that’s a big word. Like it wasn’t like an annoyance or a roll of the eyes, he tore his clothes and sat down, devastated all day until the evening sacrifice. And then in his humiliation, he got up and prayed a prayer, a plea for mercy and a prayer of repentance and we’ll go back to that. It’s easy for us in a very intermingled world to look at the situation and go why are you so devastated, like why can’t people be together, like why can’t they associate together but there was a point when…when God came to Abraham, which was back at the very first beginning weeks of our year, He said he was going to create a new set of people, essentially, and it was a people with promise and there was a son of promise, Isaac, and remember the whole journey. But the point was that God was coming to earth’s people and setting apart a certain group of people that he had chosen for a particular purpose, not because they were better human beings or somehow they were superior to other people in humanity, but because this people would be His people, and they would be ordered around knowing the one true God, and they would build a culture that would broadcast that to the world. A nation of priests, a nation who feared God, a nation who walked with God to reveal to the people of earth. First of all, there is one true most high God. There is no other and secondly to show what that looks like, how that can be lived so that the example can be set for the rest of the world. They didn’t do that, like we’ve read the whole story, only in fits and starts. Kinda like us, only in fits and starts, did they do this and when they did they prospered and when they didn’t, they were no longer setting an example. They were being influenced and led astray, so no longer were they this nation of priests shining the light into the world and showing and revealing the one true God and how to walk with that one true God. Instead, they were being seduced away. They were not being the influencers; they were being the influenced. In Ezra’s like you’ve got to be kidding me, this is what destroyed us. So, he’s devastated. They aren’t setting a precedent or setting a standard, they’re mixing the standard with all kinds of other practices. Things that had led to their own destruction. Then we flip into 1 Corinthians in Paul’s writing to the church there and he’s pretty clear like not talking about judging everybody in the world, you can’t judge everybody in the world. And you can’t have an opinion about what everybody does out there, that’s, God will judge that. But inside this community of faith, this is supposed to be a new species. This is supposed to be a new thing that God is doing in the world, one in which everyone is welcome, but you have to open your eyes and know that you died, to who you were and you started over. There’s a new standard, a standard of love. And when you do things that really can’t be done in the name of Jesus, then it’s mixture that’s leading nowhere, it will ultimately, it will ultimately lead to destruction. It’s the precedent of this whole story. And for Paul, he’s a Jewish person who knows this story well and recognizes that God is doing something new in the world that he did this new thing by coming in the person of Jesus to accomplish it, and that has to change things. We can’t just go oh, I’m free and then intermingle ourselves into bondage that destroys us and then blame God for it. And man, we can rationalize just about anything, but truly, if we are honest just with ourselves, if we can be, if we pause and contemplate a set of actions that we are going to engage our mind and heart and body to participate in. We know in the core of ourselves whether that is right or whether that is wrong for us, whether that is clean, or whether that is unclean for us, whether that is holy, or whether that is unholy mixture for us. Because, because there is a couple of really, really critical things that we must observe and pay attention to. One, when we go against the flow of our new nature in Christ, we are not headed for abundance, we are headed for destruction. We are not headed into further freedoms, we are free. All of these things that we mix and intermingle, they eventually lead us into deception, where we have to wear a mask, where we aren’t true, we aren’t really who we were made to be, we’re a lot of things, we put on a lot of masks in every different circumstance, so that we are divided within ourselves. When freedom is, hey, there’s a way that this works. Love the Lord your God with all your heart. Love your neighbor as yourself. If you can’t participate in it in the name of Jesus, then don’t do it. Why do you want to hurt yourself? Why do you want to lead yourself to destruction? And so, you can see why Ezra would be on the ground with torn robes devastated, because this stuff is going nowhere. And so, truly the Bible has led us today into a place to consider these things because we’re supposed to be the light of the world. Right, we may have all kinds of freedoms and don’t have to obey the Mosaic law but we’re supposed to be the light of the world. The mission hasn’t really changed. Everyone is invited but we, who have been reborn, we’re the ones supposed to be showing the rest of the world that there is a better way to be here together. That there is a better way to be a human being and if we look around man, we see the mixture, that’s what we’re full of is the mixture. And this doesn’t mean like oh okay well then, I’m gonna stop drinking wine, it’s the stuff that is intermingled in our hearts, it is bringing us anxiety and confusion that is forcing us to have several different identities in several different circumstances; we’re invited to be the light of the world, we’re invited to be true. And when we are true, we are not only walking in the light, we are free. And so, we can easily go back to Ezra chapter 9 and see this…this prayer, this plea for mercy, this cry of repentance. And maybe it’s words can actually be meaningful to us because were guilty too.

Prayer:

And so, Father we come together here before You as if we were on our knees, humbled, devastated to realize that not only have we’ve been counteracting Your work in our lives but we’ve been sabotaging Your will and sabotaging ourselves. So, we pray from the Scriptures, our Lord God, we are ashamed and embarrassed to lift our face toward You Lord, because our iniquities are higher than our heads and our guilt is as high as the heavens. Our guilt has been terrible from the days of our ancestors until the present. Because of our iniquities, we have been handed over, along with our kings and priests to the surrounding kings into the sword captivity plundering and open shame. And now, for a brief, moment grace has come from the Lord our God to preserve a remnant for us and give us a stake in His holy place, even in our slavery God has given us a little relief and light to our eyes, though we are slaves, our God has not abandoned us in our slavery. He has extended grace to us, giving us relief so that we can rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins. Now, Lord, what can we say in light of this, we have abandoned the commands You gave through Your servants the prophets, after all that has happened to us because of our evil deeds and terrible guilt. Though You God have punished less than our iniquities deserve and have allowed us to survive. Should we break your commands again. Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we survive as a remnant today. Here we are before you with our guilt, though no one can stand in your presence, because of this. Father, we repent and we understand that the only reason we can stand in Your presence is that You came and rescued us and allowed it. You want us in Your presence. You want us as Your children. You want us to be the light of the world because you want all of Earth’s people to be welcomed in and yet we are seduced into the mixture so that we have been influenced, we have not been the influencer. And so come, Holy Spirit in this moment of repentance and wash us clean. Help us to reset and restart by taking the next steps that are right before You. We pray for mercy, just as Ezra did, we pray in repentance for forgiveness in the name of Jesus we ask. Amen.

Ezra 7:1-8:20, 1 Corinthians 4:1-21, Psalms 30:1-12, Proverbs 20:28-30

Today is the 8^th day of August welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I’m Brian it’s awesome to be here with you today because we’re here at the threshold. We’re throwing open the windows and the doors on this brand-new shiny sparkly week. We normally recognize that we’re beginning…beginning a new week because it’s a really awesome time to understand that it’s in front of us. It’s in the future and we can choose how we’re gonna live this week in advance no matter what might come our way, whether known or unexpected. We can center ourselves and root ourselves in our anchor, which is the Lord of Heaven’s armies. And one of the ways that we reorient ourselves to God is through the Scriptures. And, so, we’ve got a brand-new week, whole new set of territory to move through, lots of things to talk about and life to live together in community as we take the next step forward. And, so, let’s do that. We’ll read from the Christian Standard Bible this week and picking up where we left off yesterday. Ezra chapter 7 verse 1 through eight verse 20.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word and we thank You that we’ve walked through this threshold into a brand-new week. And we always pay attention to these new beginnings even though it’s just another week. It is a start. A similar start was found in the book of Psalms today. Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning. We always have the chance to begin anew with You and begin to take the next right steps forward as You lead and direct our lives. May we pay attention to Your leading. May we slow things down and not react to everything but to just take it all in and invite Your spirit to guide our steps. And we might live a peaceful and joyful week as we walk with You. Come Holy Spirit into all this we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Good morning my lovely family it’s Susan from Canada __ calling and today I have a wonderful praise report. We were at the oncologist yesterday for my son Keith and he…he had had a CT scan on the 27^th of July, and it shows no tumors in his lungs. He had seven of them and now there is none. There is some nodules, several, they said nodules but they’re only one to three millimeters in size. So, they’re not going to do anything about them right now and there is extensive lung damage from the radiation he had. But praise God, praise God they are all gone the tumor…the…any measurable type of tumor is just gone in the name of Jesus. I just thank you Lord Jesus. I can’t thank you enough. So, we’re…we are all unpacked in __ Belleville and Keith is off my worry list to a great degree. So, I am just gonna relax and enjoy the rest of the summer with my grandkids. I’m so happy. Thank you for your prayers one and all. And keep praying. Keep praying he’s still very weak and tired but just…awe…it’s just such a joyful time period and I just give God the praise and glory for this wonderful break where I can enjoy some time with family. Love you all and pray for you all. God bless.

Hey there DAB family it’s James the teacher in LA. I’m just having a…a moment here this morning. I want to let you guys know I pray with you whenever I hear the prayer requests every day. The lady who just called in on August 4^th for her multiple myeloma, I am praying relief and restoration of health for you. For those of you who have experienced unimaginable losses, pain, exhaustion, depression, physical health, mental health it’s all really one. I…I pray for all of you, for restoration, for God’s touch and comfort. But I had a realization as I had…as I had been listening. Every one of us is suffering with something in this life. Every one of us is suffering with something in this life. And many of us are not suffering as badly as others of our brothers and sisters. Yes, we all suffer but we all should also be remembering to give thanks to God for all the things that we don’t suffer. And even when we do go through really terrible hardships, we continue to draw breath. We continue to have breath in our lungs if we’re on this earth with which we can praise God. And even if we can’t speak, we can praise God in our hearts. And I need to remember that every day. So, I praise God for life on this earth and life everlasting and the world after when we go to be with Him and when He will come to be with us. Amen. Hallelujah. I love you family.

Hi Daily Audio Bible and brothers and sisters my name is Eugene I’m 24 years old. I’m currently in Dallas TX but I’m just visiting family. I live in New York, and I just ask for your prayers. My life for the past five years has been pretty difficult ever since my dad passed away. And I’ve gotten closer to God and gotten stronger in my faith but I’m also having a problem with physical deformity in my torso which makes it hard to be around people. So, it’s been a lonely few years. And, so, yeah I would just ask for your prayer for healing in my body and just joy in my life and just to be able to be social with others and, yeah, not…not be so self-conscious. Yeah. thank you so much. God bless you.

Hi, I’m a first-time caller my name is Ann my parents gave me that name I go by Annie but I’m gonna be called Savior by Grace because that’s what the name means. I’m calling for the woman who has a daughter that has anorexia. I want you to know that I had anorexia when I was 13. I’m 53 now so this is 1981 and I was as tall as I am now at 5’6” and I got down to 78 pounds and I was hospitalized for five and a half weeks and my poor parents…my poor parents did not know what to do. A friend of mine said that it was the first time that she saw my dad cry and I’m one of four kids. And my dad was angry at me also. He poked me once in church and he say’s look what you’re doing to your mother because my mum was crying. But I had no idea…I had no idea what I was doing. So, there was a lot of prayer around me and I want you to know that I recovered. And I’m fine now, no eating disorders, nothing. So, I believe that God did heal me, and I will pray for your daughter too. And kids you know, we don’t know we do to my parents…our parents. So, I was really happy to hear you express that and it made me so sad for what I put my parents through so long ago. And prayer does work so let’s pray. Dear God please work this precious child see but she’s loved by You, and she can relax. She doesn’t have control every little thing in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Dear God, I lift up the little boy and his family who saved his sister but ended up drowning. What a precious little heart. Lord I pray the best for him. I pray Your will for him Lord. I pray that You will just come and help that family in whatever your divine plan is for him Lord. Please help him to thrive wherever he is. Thank You. Thank You Lord for this little boy who gave his…who gave himself to save his sister. What a sweet, sweet little boy. I also pray for the little one in hospice with cancer Lord. I pray for him and his family Lord. I pray for healing over these children. Lord, we know You love him…them and You know what’s best for them and You know where they’re going to be and happy and thrive and where they belong Lord. So, I just pray that you be with them and their families. And I pray for Gigi. I pray for peace for her. Help her to be able to rest and to take a break and help her to be OK with it. If anything…if COVID has taught us anything it’s been had a slow down and just stop and rest, and…and Lord I pray that she will just be able to take a rest and to put things aside and…and focus on her child and her family Lord. Amen.

Ezra 4:24-6:22, 1 Corinthians 3:5-23, Psalm 29:1-11, Proverbs 20:26-27

Today is August 7th, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible, I am Brian, it’s wonderful as it always is to be here with you as we come around the Global Campfire together. Exhale, let it all go for a little bit as we just allow the Scriptures to come into our lives with open hearts and open minds, pushing pause on the cares of life, giving ourselves permission to catch our breath and reorient ourselves to God and allow his Spirit to renew us. So, let’s dive into the Old Testament. We’re in the book of Ezra today chapter 4 verse 24 through 6 verse 22.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word and again we thank You for another week that has gone by, another week, this first full week of August this eighth month of the year and we are grateful for Your faithfulness to us and for the gift of the Scriptures that You have offered to us to counsel and correct and lead and direct our steps. So, Holy Spirit, we invite You to come into all that we read this week, all that we talked about this week and seal it in our hearts that it might yield fruits. The fruit of this spirit in our lives. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com is home base, it’s the website, it’s how to get connected, how to find out what’s going on around here, so check that out and if you’re using the Daily Audio Bible app you  can check it out from within the app, there’s a little drawer icon in the upper left-hand corner, if you press that a little drawer pops out and then you can find things like the Daily Audio Bible Shop where the resources for the journey that we are on exist, as well as the Community section where you can get connected on social media or the Prayer Wall is there. And you can always pray you can always ask for prayer, so check that out as well.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, if what’s going on here is life giving to you and makes a difference than thank you for your partnership as we navigate these summer months. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button and that’s 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 and that will, well, it’s Hotline button so you can share no matter where you are the world’s or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that’s it for today, I’m Brian, I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Prayers and Encouragements:

Hi this is Victorious Solider just calling to pray for some of the DABers. I want to pray for the young man who said that he was tired. Sometimes we get tired in waiting for the Lord but I want to encourage you my brother it says that he that wait upon the Lord, He shall renew their strength, you shall mount on wings as eagles, they shall run and not faint and whatsoever they doeth he shall prosper beyond __ not so but on which the wind driveth away. I remember on the alter that I was tired and I put my trust in the Lord and He lifted my burdens and He gave me life. My brother, you want life as God, say I’m tired Lord I want life. And let the Lord give you that life. That’s what He wants to give you. I just pray for you my brother, I ask you, I ask you to trust ___ I heard a story about her daughter. I ask you to bless her daughter. I ask you to touch the young woman who’s moving and going away. I remember the days that I moved in the military and didn’t know what was gonna be there when I got there. But God always provides. And I praying my sister in my spirit and in my soul that God bless you with everything in abundance as He always do. That’s the kind of God He is. We just have to get used to that, he’s an abundant God. Lord I just thank You for touching Your people. I just thank you for blessing my sister and the one that was talking about the beautiful pool, it’s so good to hear your voice and it’s so good to know you. Oh Lord, I just ask you to bless em. Give em life and favor. Oh Lord, strengthen somebody today that don’t know You. Touch our children Lord and guide them to you. Lord, I pray also for my precious brother and your precious brother my precious brother is in the hospital in intensive care with Corona virus and a.

Hi this is Gina, God’s Princess Warrior. Just wanted to call and ask for prayer for my sister and family, my five girls. My younger sister, she and her husband just lost son yesterday, she found him in his bedroom with a drug overdose. And he was 17 and yesterday being August 2nd that she found him and August 1st was her birthday. So, the night before they had celebrated and everything so, just keep my sister Chrissy and her family in prayer. She, after having a several miscarriages they adopted two children and then she got pregnant with her third who was the son, yesterday, and he was a spitting image, looked just like our dad. And so, I can’t imagine finding your child in your home. It’s actually a brand-new home they just built, their retired now. And just moved in last October so, if you could please just be in prayer for our family. This is a great loss, please pray. They actually just talked to him two days ago about his drug addiction and were seeking for him. So, please just be in prayer for our family. And

Hello, my name is Julia I was just listening to the August 3rd podcast and I’m just seeing this repetition of mental health issues kind of coming up. I work in the mental health field and so I just wanted to come on an just pray for some people. I know there was a mom who was calling in about her daughter who was suicidal. There was also a friend calling in for their friend who was a cutter and just multiple things going on, and so I just want to lift these people up and anybody else who may be struggling with some mental health stuff. Lord, I just thank You right now that You are the King of glory the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle we lift Your name up above everything Father God, we just thank You that you are the way the truth and the life Lord. And so, when the enemy tries to come and tries to deceive us or putt lies in us or nocks us down Lord, we can just turn back to word knowing that we are never lost Lord because You’re the way. And right now, Lord, I just thank You Lord for these people that were brought forth, Lord. Right now, and we lift them up to You, Lord. I thank You Lord that because you died for us Lord, You freed us from all mental torment. You freed us from all sickness and disease Lord. You freed us from all sin, Father God. You made a spectacle out of the enemy on the cross, Father, and I just pray Lord that You would help us to renew our minds in Your word Father God. I take the authority You have given us over the enemy right now and Satan we speak to you and we serve you notice. You are to stand down and stay down in the name of Jesus, you have no right to these people. I declare that they have the mind of Christ. That they do not operate of

Hello, this is Debbie from Canada. And my son Lucas really needs prayer. He’s struggled keeping jobs. He’s just moved to the big city and he’s lost 5 jobs already. He’s on the autism scale but he’s still quite independent, so he struggles with obsessiveness and listening and remembering. He’s slow and so he really needs to find work where the boss and the company understand his situation and there willing to keep him on and he really needs that stability. He…he knows Jesus, he knows that he is loved and but he’s just really struggling and angry and doesn’t get it. Also, his girlfriend is not a Christian and it’s not a good situation there really either so I’d really appreciate if you could pray for Lucas that he could find stable work situation. Thank you so much. I listen to DAB all the time. Bye for now.

Hello brothers and sister. I’m excited. It’s been a little bit again but I’m still less than a month behind. But I just felt encouraged to call and just some encouragement and some prayer. Cheering Jasmine from Florida, no sorry, Jasmine from Virginia and then having her talk about Lorenzo from Florida. I mean, like it is, it’s encouraging for myself being in that age group and I’m just, I’m just glad God has us here. And just to pray over school, maybe you’re gonna be senior maybe look for colleges just maybe were still high school. But I just pray that God might take us on a journey that is glorious. I mean, really glorious. And that throughout that journey we might praise Him and He just might get that praise. It makes me feel a little bit more comfortable if there are people in this community that are my age. I just pray a blessing on all the teenagers. And just tonight August 3rd I am thanking God for this community. In Jesus name. Amen.