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10/02/2018 DAB Transcript

Isaiah 66:1-24, Philippians 3:5-21, Psalms 74:1-23, Proverbs 24:15-16

Today is the 2nd day of October. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I’m Brian. It is always a joy to come around global campfire together and just be together and allow God’s word to wash into our lives and speak to us and reorient our hearts to God. We’re just getting going in this brand new month but we will complete a book today. And it’s been a book we’ve been in for a while. The book of Isaiah. So, we’re reading from the Common English Bible this week. Isaiah 66: 1-24.

Commentary:

Okay. Let’s talk about the book of Philippians - the letter to the Philippians today. And let’s try to focus in and get this very clear for ourselves. A lot of us are married people. And a lot of us aspire to be married people. So, if you’re married, you probably have a wedding ring and you’re probably wearing your wedding ring. So, just look at the wedding ring for a second on your hand. Is that ring your marriage? I mean, it’s not really a trick question. Is the ring your marriage? No matter how many karats of rock you have on your finger or no matter how simple it is, none of us could call our wedding ring our marriage. Instead, it’s a symbol representing the fact that we’ve entered into marriage. A symbol that we receive e during a ritualistic ceremony commonly understood as a wedding. However, those of us who are married understand that being married is quite a bit different than having a symbol wrapped around our finger, which is fundamentally Paul’s point in today’s reading and then pretty much throughout all of his ministry. The covenantal relationship that God offered his people had become empty ritual, like a ring without a marriage. The heart and soul of the relationship had become about rules. So, for Paul, obeying the rules in order to be made righteous before God had proven incomplete. Unless we assume that Paul was only half into his faith, like just sort of culturally participating in his faith, that wasn’t the case. He had obeyed the rules with all of his effort and still could not find a relationship with God in those rules. And that’s exactly what he said today. So, quoting Paul, We don’t put our confidence in rituals performed on the body, though I have good reason to have this kind of confidence. If anyone else has reason to put their confidence in physical advantages, I have even more. Then he goes down the list. I was circumcised on the eighth day. I’m from the people of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin. I’m a Hebrew of Hebrews. With respect to observing the law, I’m a Pharisee. With respect to devotion to the faith, I persecuted the church. With respect to righteousness under the law, I’m blameless. These things were my assets, but I wrote them off as a loss for the sake of Christ. So, Paul’s saying a lot there. He’s saying, I spent my life in utter and absolute devotion, moving on one specific path to become righteous for God and I have thrown it all out as meaningless. That’s saying a lot. Paul was convinced that only the righteous could ever hope to see God, so he applied himself to becoming righteousness through the rituals and ceremonies of his faith. Unfortunately, it didn’t make him righteous. It only revealed his inability to be righteous. Until someone fulfilled the law- Jesus. So, Paul diligently searched the Scriptures. And then through direct revelation from Jesus, Paul realized that faith started the whole story for Abraham. And God counted that faith as righteousness. And therefore, faith could make a person righteous, but obeying the rules and the rituals and the ceremonies could not. Which compelled Paul to put all his faith in Jesus, believing that God was doing a new thing in the world and bringing humanity back into full fellowship with himself through Jesus. This is such a paradigm shift. It’s like the basics of the Christian faith that we take for granted, but this is such a paradigm shift. This is so monumental that Paul was willing to consider all of his previous efforts at being righteous to be a total loss. In Paul’s own words, I consider everything a loss in comparison with the superior value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for him. But what I lost I think of as sewer trash, so that I might gain Christ and be found in him. In Christ, I have righteousness that is not my own. And it does not come from the law, but rather from the faithfulness of Christ. It is the righteousness of God that is based on faith. So, like I was saying, this is fundamental truths of the Christian faith and they permeate Paul’s writings. But, aside from the fact that there’s some repetition here, we still need the repetition because we often mistake the ring for the relationship as we strive to obey the rules so that God will notice us. So, was Paul just on this massive campaign to do away with the rules? Do the tenants of our faith have any value? Do the rules that we try to observe matter? If our salvation is a gift that we can never earn, than what’s the point in trying to live by any rule of life? Well, let’s look at our wedding ring again. Can you make your spouse love you? You cannot. It’s a gift. And since you can’t earn that gift, are you then permitted to do whatever you want to in the marriage? Well, I suppose you could do whatever you want, but it will have repercussions. You can hardly do whatever you want. The exchange of love between two people involves a lot risk and a lot of loyalty. And if the relationship’s healthy, then all of the rules become apparent. We’re not following them out of coercion, but the rules, the respect, the boundaries, they define our love. This was always Paul’s point and he was absolutely convinced that we are on a journey to wholeness and restoration through this relationship with Christ. But if we’re gonna be in love with Jesus, then we need to act like it. It’d be pretty difficult to be honestly claiming we are involved in a thriving marriage while we are betraying our spouse. It’s not that mistakes aren’t made in marriage. We all make mistakes. It’s that we’re going somewhere together and that somewhere is called union. In marriage, we two are becoming one in Christ, in the same way that each of us as individuals are becoming one with Christ. And so with that in mind, Paul gives us some language not only for how to think about our relationship with Jesus, but for that matter, how to think about our relationship with each other, our spouses. Paul said, it’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose. Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and I reach out for the things ahead of me. The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus.

Prayer:

So, Father, we thank You. We thank You for Your word and all that You are speaking to us as we move fully into this new month. And all that this touches inside of us. Yes, we have to confess that, in some ways, we have gotten the cart before the horse in the same way that the audience that Paul was speaking to had. We’ve thought if we could just get our act together and get shiny and sparkly enough, than maybe You’ll pay attention to us when it was never about the rules, but always about being in love, in covenant, in relationship, in union with You. And this is the invitation. We keep trying to clean ourselves up so that You might pay attention to us and You’re saying, I love You as You are. If You will come to me, You don’t  have to clean Yourself up. I will wash it all away. There’s nothing behind You You need to look at.  It’s only out in front of us. This vista of an eternal relationship and covenant that we get to enjoy together. So, Father this has straightened us out for right now. We can see this right this minute. But the world has a way of trying to steal it from us. So,, Holy Spirit, protect these realities. Plant them deep within our hearts and may they  yield bountiful fruit for Your kingdom. In Jesus name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

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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 Street from Sydney Australia, today is Sunday the 1st October. I’m calling today…it’s a very hard call for me because I feel like…I know the enemy is getting to me. I’ve gotta be honest my family, I’ve fallen back into sexual sin but not only that __ getting into talk about other people, rumors, and I’ve been back sliding a bit this last month. and I feel like now I’m taking too much of the __ and I’ve not given back enough and I just want to…I’m using you my lovely family as an accountability partner and I want to be honest with you. Please just ask God to help me to put the…put on the armor of God each day so that I can be stronger. __ earlier this month…I don’t want to wallow in my sorrow and backslide even more, but I want to come to you to confess my sin and move forward again. And keep praying for me DAB family because I love God, I do. And it upsets me a lot that I’m back __ and I really want to keep moving forward. Thank you family. And I’m hopefully calling with better things soon. Love you all very much. Thank you. Mark Street from Sydney Australia.

Hello Daily Audio Bible family. This is Grandma Love and I want to thank Victoria Soldier for praying so verbally and vocally and worldwide for my dad and for him to feel the Spirit of the Lord around him in this important time in his life. It’s a passage we all go through. It’s also quite amazing to me how the Lord has put obstacles in my way and all kinds of diversions and I have ended up right here by his bedside taking care of him. So, __ I’m the one to  __ side. He’s somewhat neglected here at the __ a nursing home. And they have trouble feeding him, hydrating, bathing him and changing him…just cause it’s busy. So, __ the Lord has showed me that  need to be my father’s advocate during this time because he’s unable to advocate for himself __. __ wonderful blessings. And I also wanted to reach out to the lady…I can’t remember her name…that called in on the program and had just buried her dad and is going through a grief period. __ 20 people __. And just know that there’s a time and a place the Lord has placed us in, that He will direct your steps. And give yourself permission to be angry but underneath the anger is the grief, the sorrow. And, so, if anger does tend to tip over then you don’t want to feel the loss…but just remember your husband is waiting for you…

Good day all, this is Robert Learning to Serve in San Antonio Texas. I sure would like a big group hug with all of you. I’m calling to have a praise report, of course, and I should probably call the minute I after I hung up asking for your prayers my sister Jeannie. You know, in 12 years or 11 years, I guess, every time I’ve called for a prayer request it seems like it’s instantaneous, it’s just amazing. God’s gifts are just unmeasurable…and it’s just amazing. I thank you for praying for me with my rheumatoid arthritis. I’ve got my medicine back and for about the last couple weeks it was really difficult but He carried me through it and showed me what to do. And all of your prayers, everything is just…it’s…it’s all of us…it really…it’s so important and it’s so much love it can’t be measured. And I love you all so very, very much and I so appreciate you Brian, so much. You’re so awesome. Well, I’ll see you all later and thank you.

Hi this is Sonja calling from Tampa. I believe it was the September 11th podcast that spoke about putting your hope in God and in God alone for your survival. Being independent since the 15 and always working, I found the wilderness at age 32 very scary. But it was through this journey that I learned how to put my hope and trust in God for my complete survival. As a single parent with two children it was very challenging but I would not trade it for the world because it was through the wilderness that I truly learned the meaning of what it meant to trust God. I remember as if it were yesterday while I was praying the Holy Spirit kept prompting me to go to the store and I kept telling God that I did not want to waste my gas. I only had $15 in my pocket but I kept hearing that soft voice over and over so I finally gave in and drove to the store. Mind you, I’m walking around with an empty shopping cart down each aisle wondering why God prompted me to come. I finally chalk it up to a test of obedience as I get ready to head home. Then in front of me is a manager special and I’m baffled it’s $4 dollars off. That means the chicken breast would only be $0.59. I’m blown away about the price and I check with the staff and they tell me is right. I check the expiration date and load the grocery cart with 16 pounds chicken ranging from $0.39 two $0.59 a pack. I get in the car and I begin to cry and praise God for His greatness. Needless to say I blessed my mom, my neighbors, and everybody else I could think of with chicken and still have plenty in the freezer to create every chicken recipe known to man.

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday October 2, 2018 (NIV)

Isaiah 66

Where God may be found

66 The Lord says:
Heaven is my throne,
and earth is my footstool.
So where could you build a house for me,
and where could my resting place be?
2 My hand made all these things
and brought them into being, says the Lord.
But here is where I will look:
to the humble and contrite in spirit,
who tremble at my word.

3 The one who slaughters an ox kills a person;
the one who sacrifices a sheep breaks a dog’s neck;
the one who makes a grain offering offers swine’s blood;
the one who burns incense blesses an idol.
All these have chosen their own ways,
and prefer their detestable things.
4 So I too will choose to punish them,
to bring horrors upon them,
since I called and no one answered.
I spoke and no one heard,
but they did evil in my eyes.
What I didn’t want, they chose.

5 Listen to the Lord’s word,
you who tremble at his word:
Your family members, those who hate and exclude you because of my name,
have said, “Let the Lord be glorified;
let’s see your joy.”
But they will be ashamed.
6 The sound of an uproar from the city! A sound from the temple!
The sound of the Lord repaying his enemies what they have earned.

Mother Zion

7 Before she was in labor, she gave birth.
Before her pangs came upon her, she delivered a boy.
8 Whoever heard of such a thing?
Whoever saw such things as these?
Can a land come to birth in one day?
Can a nation be born all at once?
Yet as soon as birth pangs came,
Zion bore her children.
9 Will I open the womb and not bring to birth? says the Lord.
Will I, who create life, close the womb? says your God.
10 Celebrate with Jerusalem; be happy with her,
all you who love her!
Rejoice with her in joy,
all you who mourn over her,
11 so that you may nurse and be satisfied
from her comforting breasts,
that you may drink and be refreshed
from her full breasts.
12 The Lord says:
Look, I’m extending prosperity to her like a river,
and the wealth of nations like an overflowing stream.
You will nurse and be carried on the hip
and bounced upon the knee.

13 As a mother comforts her child,
so I will comfort you;
in Jerusalem you will be comforted.
14 When you see this, your heart will rejoice;
your entire being will flourish like grass.
The Lord’s power will be known among his servants,
but his fury among his enemies.
15 The Lord will come with fire,
God’s chariots like a windstorm,
to repay in hot anger,
to rebuke with fiery flames.
16 With fire and with sword the Lord will judge all humanity;
many will be slain by the Lord.

17 Those who became holy and purify themselves, following their leader into the gardens,[a] who eat pork, detestable animals, and mice, will meet their end together, says the Lord.

Worshippers gathered from the nations

18 Because of their actions and thoughts, I’m coming to gather all nations and cultures. They will come to see my glory. 19 I will put a sign on them, by sending out some of the survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Libya, and Lydia, and to the archers of Cilicia and Greece—distant coastlands that haven’t heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will declare my glory among the nations. 20 They will bring your family members from all nations as an offering to the Lord—on horses, in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels—to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, like Israelites bringing an offering in purified containers to the Lord’s house. 21 I will select some of them as priests and Levites, says the Lord.

22 As the new heavens and the new earth that I’m making will endure before me, says the Lord,
so your descendants and your name will endure.
23 From month to month and from Sabbath to Sabbath,
all humanity will come to worship me, says the Lord.
24 They will go out and see the corpses
of the people who rebelled against me,
where their worm never dies, where their fire is never extinguished.
They will be a horror to everyone.

Footnotes:

  1. Isaiah 66:17 Heb uncertain
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Philippians 3

Values and priorities

3 So then, my brothers and sisters, be glad in the Lord. It’s no trouble for me to repeat the same things to you because they will help keep you on track. 2 Watch out for the “dogs.” Watch out for people who do evil things. Watch out for those who insist on circumcision, which is really mutilation. 3 We are the circumcision. We are the ones who serve by God’s Spirit and who boast in Christ Jesus. We don’t put our confidence in rituals performed on the body, 4 though I have good reason to have this kind of confidence. If anyone else has reason to put their confidence in physical advantages, I have even more:

5 I was circumcised on the eighth day.

I am from the people of Israel and the tribe of Benjamin.

I am a Hebrew of the Hebrews.

With respect to observing the Law, I’m a Pharisee.

6 With respect to devotion to the faith, I harassed the church.

With respect to righteousness under the Law, I’m blameless.

7 These things were my assets, but I wrote them off as a loss for the sake of Christ. 8 But even beyond that, I consider everything a loss in comparison with the superior value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have lost everything for him, but what I lost I think of as sewer trash, so that I might gain Christ 9 and be found in him. In Christ I have a righteousness that is not my own and that does not come from the Law but rather from the faithfulness of Christ. It is the righteousness of God that is based on faith. 10 The righteousness that I have comes from knowing Christ, the power of his resurrection, and the participation in his sufferings. It includes being conformed to his death 11 so that I may perhaps reach the goal of the resurrection of the dead.

12 It’s not that I have already reached this goal or have already been perfected, but I pursue it, so that I may grab hold of it because Christ grabbed hold of me for just this purpose. 13 Brothers and sisters, I myself don’t think I’ve reached it, but I do this one thing: I forget about the things behind me and reach out for the things ahead of me. 14 The goal I pursue is the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus. 15 So all of us who are spiritually mature should think this way, and if anyone thinks differently, God will reveal it to him or her. 16 Only let’s live in a way that is consistent with whatever level we have reached.

Imitate Paul

17 Brothers and sisters, become imitators of me and watch those who live this way—you can use us as models. 18 As I have told you many times and now say with deep sadness, many people live as enemies of the cross. 19 Their lives end with destruction. Their god is their stomach, and they take pride in their disgrace because their thoughts focus on earthly things. 20 Our citizenship is in heaven. We look forward to a savior that comes from there—the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform our humble bodies so that they are like his glorious body, by the power that also makes him able to subject all things to himself.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Psalm 74

Psalm 74

A maskil[a] of Asaph.

74 God, why have you abandoned us forever?
Why does your anger smolder
at the sheep of your own pasture?
2 Remember your congregation
that you took as your own long ago,
that you redeemed to be the tribe of your own possession—
remember Mount Zion, where you dwell.
3 March to the unending ruins,
to all that the enemy destroyed in the sanctuary.

4 Your enemies roared in your own meeting place;
they set up their own signs there!
5 It looked like axes raised
against a thicket of trees.[b]
6 And then all its carvings
they hacked down with hatchet and pick.
7 They set fire to your sanctuary, burned it to the ground;
they defiled the dwelling place of your name.
8 They said in their hearts, We’ll kill all of them together!
They burned all of God’s meeting places in the land.
9 We don’t see our own signs anymore.
No prophet is left.
And none of us know how long it will last.

10 How long, God, will foes insult you?
Are enemies going to abuse your name forever?
11 Why do you pull your hand back?
Why do you hold your strong hand close to your chest?

12 Yet God has been my king from ancient days—
God, who makes salvation happen in the heart of the earth!
13 You split the sea with your power.
You shattered the heads of the sea monsters on the water.
14 You crushed Leviathan’s heads.
You gave it to the desert dwellers for food!
15 You split open springs and streams;
you made strong-flowing rivers dry right up.
16 The day belongs to you! The night too!
You established both the moon and the sun.
17 You set all the boundaries of the earth in place.
Summer and winter? You made them!

18 So remember this, Lord:
how enemies have insulted you,
how unbelieving fools have abused your name.
19 Don’t deliver the life of your dove to wild animals!
Don’t forget the lives of your afflicted people forever!
20 Consider the covenant!
Because the land’s dark places are full of violence.
21 Don’t let the oppressed live in shame.
No, let the poor and needy praise your name!

22 God, rise up! Make your case!
Remember how unbelieving fools insult you all day long.
23 Don’t forget the voices of your enemies,
the racket of your adversaries that never quits.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 74:1 Perhaps instruction; the root is used in Ps 32:8.
  2. Psalm 74:5 Heb uncertain
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Proverbs 24:15-16

15 Wicked one, don’t wait secretly at the home of the righteous.
Don’t destroy their dwelling.
16 The righteous may fall seven times but still get up,
but the wicked will stumble into trouble.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

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10/01/2018 DAB Transcript

Isaiah 62:6-65:25, Philippians 2:19-3:4, Psalms 73:1-28, Proverbs 24:13-14

Community Prayer and Praise:

All is well. Thank You Father for Your mercy. Thank You Father for this child of God __ the body of Christ. We pray to You through Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ for Your guidance, strength, justice, heavy favor, and wisdom, for friends, this moment, today. Thank You Father for Your faith and the eyes of faith You have given us to focus on that which we do not see in the natural yet can see clearly believing in and through the promises You have already spoken in the living word of God, living this day You made inside our hearts. Father, You said Your name is, I am that I am. Father, You said we can do all things through Christ. Father, You said all things work together for good and those who love You and are called according to Your purpose. Father, thank You that You already answered this prayer for Freddy. Thank You Father that I can type this message to Your child of God here in faith because I just know Father in Your perfect will all is well. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hi everybody this is Lisa the Encourager. I just wanted to call in tonight to pray for Elizabeth and I also wanted to welcome her and her. And she also who wanted us to pray for her husband, Jason. But I just want to welcome you, Elizabeth, to the Daily Audio Bible and release some virtual balloons in celebration of your two weeks of being with us. I’m so happy that you have joined such a wonderful group. And we just want to know I just…I admire you for calling in and having the courage to pray for your husband and…or ask us to pray for your husband. And I definitely will be playing for Jason. And also, that he’ll be able to, like you said, just bring down the walls of the things are that are affecting his life and having an impact on his temper. And I just pray that the Lord will help him have a breakthrough there. And I think you are doing such a wonderful lovely thing for your husband just by praying for him. Even the small prayer that you prayed over him when you called in your request, I thought it was really beautiful. And I will pray for your husband. And I think if you continue to have a faith and pray for him that will…your righteousness and faith will help them in that area. Also wanted to pray most especially from Melody and her son, Melody in Canada and her son is living on the streets right now because of an addiction that has pulled him back out into the world of this horrible addiction. And Melody I just want you to know I love you and I’m sorry for what you’re going through with your son and I’m really gonna be praying for him. And I pray that you will have…you will be able to just give him over to God and hopefully that will help you with the fears and the unsettledness that you have when he’s away from you. And the unknown…

Hey Daily Audio Bible. My name’s Levi. I’m from Dallas Texas. I’m calling because I’ve been hearing a lot of voicemails of mothers and they’re praying for the sons to come home. And I felt like, I just wanted to call and encourage. I’m 24 years old and I ran away from home and from God for, you know, between three to five years. And my parents were really by covering. My mom was constantly praying for me. I’m sure I kept her up a lot at night time. But she was constantly praying and she never gave up and she was strong and her faith is the covering that protected me because I refused to have the Lord’s covering. And because of her prayers I really believe she saved my life. So, I just wanted to do a quick encouragement and say, just do not give up on your sons. Keep praying. The Lord is fighting with you and for you. He will never abandon you and He is there for your son. And we’re calling all of the sons, all the prodigal sons. My mom will probably even hear this one day. I love you guys and thank you. Bye.

Hi family, this is Laura calling from San Diego. I was listening to the prayer from Saturday the 28th…29th and I heard Miguel from Santa Rosa praying as he bandaged his foot over sexual sin. And I just want to pray along with him and with our community. I’m so thankful that we have this place where we can bring everything to bear in front of God. And, so, let’s play together. Holy Spirit, we come before You and we commit the deepest places of our hearts and our desires into Your hands. I pray for my brothers and sisters Lord. This is an area we don’t talk about much in the church and in our day it’s so rampant that people are doing things. I think it probably always has been Lord. But we bring these deepest places of our hearts before You and we confess Lord that our desire has been toward wanting to be in relationship and in pleasure and these are things that You give us, but Lord we ask that You would put our hearts and our minds set on You, that we know that You are the source of fulfillment for our lives and these things are not, and we believe the truth that we don’t believe the lie. And we trust You and when our mind starts to think that those other things are desirable, I pray Lord that You would help us take captive those dots and put them down and put our minds on You and put our minds on the fulfillment that You bring. And I know Lord from practice and from experience Lord that Your Holy Spirit ministers in those moments and that Lord You bring us back into…

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday October 1, 2018 (NIV)

Isaiah 62:6-65:25

6 Upon your walls, Jerusalem,
I have appointed sentinels.
Continually, all day and all night,
they won’t keep silent.
You who call on the Lord, don’t rest,
7 and don’t allow God to rest
until he establishes Jerusalem,
and makes it the praise of the earth.
8 The Lord has promised
with raised hand and strong arm:
I will never again give your grain
as food for your enemies.
Foreigners won’t drink your wine
for which you labored.
9 Those who harvest will eat it
and will praise the Lord;
those who gather will drink it
in my holy courtyards.

10 Pass through, pass through the gates;
prepare the way for the people!
Build, build the road;
clear away the stones!
Raise up a signal for the peoples.
11 This is what the Lord announced
to the earth’s distant regions:
Say to Daughter Zion, “Look! Your deliverer arrives,
bringing reward and payment!”
12 They will be called The Holy People,
Redeemed By the Lord.
And you will be called Sought After—
A City That Is Not Abandoned.

Vengeance against the nations

63 Who is this coming from Edom,
from Bozrah in bright red garments,
this splendidly dressed one, striding[a] with great power?
It is I, proclaiming righteousness, powerful to save!
2 Why is your clothing red,
and your garments like those of one who stomps on grapes?
3 I have pressed out in the vat by myself—from the peoples, no one was with me.
I stomped on them in my anger,
trampled them in my wrath.
Their blood splashed on my garments,
and stained all my clothing,
4 because I intended a day of vengeance;
the year of my deliverance had arrived.
5 I looked and found no helper;
I was astonished to find no supporter.
But my arm brought victory for me;
my wrath helped me.
6 I trampled down nations in my anger
and made them drunk on my wrath;
I spilled their blood on the ground.

Prayer of yearning

7 I will recount the Lord’s faithful acts;
I will sing the Lord’s praises,
because of all the Lord did for us,
for God’s great favor toward the house of Israel.
God treated them compassionately
and with deep affection.
8 God said, “Truly, they are my people,
children who won’t do what is wrong.”
God became their savior.
9 During all their distress, God also was distressed,
so a messenger who served him saved them.
In love and mercy God redeemed them,
lifting and carrying them throughout earlier times.
10 But they rebelled,
and made God’s holy spirit terribly sad,
so that he turned into their enemy—
he fought against them!

11 Then they remembered earlier times,
when he rescued his people.[b]
Where was the one who drew them up from the sea,
the shepherd[c] of the flock?
Where was the one who put within them his holy spirit;
12 the one who guided Moses’ strong hand
with his glorious arm;
who split the water for them
to create an enduring reputation for himself,
13 and who guided them through the depths?
Like a horse in the desert, they didn’t stumble.
14 Like cattle descending to the valley,
the Lord’s spirit brought them to rest.
In this way you led your people
and made for yourself a glorious reputation.

15 Look down from heaven and see,
from your holy and glorious perch.
Where are your energy and your might,
your concern and your pity?
Don’t hold back![d]
16 You are surely our father,
even though Abraham doesn’t know us,
and Israel doesn’t recognize us.
You, Lord, are our father;
your reputation since long ago is that of our redeemer.
17 Why do you lead us astray, Lord,
from your ways?
Why do you harden our heart
so we don’t fear you?
Return for the sake of your servants
the tribes that are your heritage!
18 Why did the wicked bring down your holy place?[e]
Why did our enemies trample your sanctuary?
19 For too long we have been like those you don’t rule,
like those not known by your name.

64 [f] If only you would tear open the heavens and come down!
Mountains would quake before you
2 like fire igniting brushwood or making water boil.
[g] If you would make your name known to your enemies,
the nations would tremble in your presence.

3 When you accomplished wonders beyond all our expectations;
when you came down, mountains quaked before you.
4 From ancient times,
no one has heard,
no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any god but you
who acts on behalf of those who wait for him![h]
5 You look after those who gladly do right;
they will praise you for your ways.[i]
But you were angry when we sinned;
you hid yourself when we did wrong.[j]
6 We have all become like the unclean;
all our righteous deeds are like a menstrual rag.
All of us wither like a leaf;
our sins, like the wind, carry us away.
7 No one calls on your name;
no one bothers to hold on to you,
for you have hidden yourself from us,
and have handed us over[k] to our sin.

8 But now, Lord, you are our father.
We are the clay, and you are our potter.
All of us are the work of your hand.
9 Don’t rage so fiercely, Lord;
don’t hold our sins against us forever,
but gaze now on your people, all of us:
10 Your holy cities have become a wilderness;
Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a wasteland.
11 Our holy, glorious house,
where our ancestors praised you,
has gone up in flames;
all that we treasured has become a ruin.
12 After all this, will you hold back, Lord?
Will you keep silent and torment us so terribly?

Judgment for idolators

65 I was ready to respond to those who didn’t ask.
I was ready to be found by those who didn’t look for me.
I said, “I’m here! I’m here!” to a nation
that didn’t call on my name.
2 I extended my hands all day
to a rebellious people
walking in a way that isn’t good,
following their own plans;
3 people who provoke me to my face continually,
sacrificing in gardens and burning incense on bricks,
4 who sit in tombs
and spend the night among rocks;[l]
who eat swine’s flesh
with broth of unclean meat in their bowls;
5 who say, “Keep to yourself!
Keep away from me! I’m too holy for you.”
These people ignite my anger
like a fire that burns all day.
6 Look, this stands written before me.
I won’t be silent, but I will repay;
I will repay in full measure
7 your sins and the sins of your ancestors as well,
says the Lord.
Since they burned incense on the mountains,
and mocked me in the hills,
I will count out to them
full payment for their actions.

8 The Lord proclaims:
As new wine is found in the grape cluster,
and someone says, “Don’t destroy it, for there is a blessing in it,”
so I will do for the sake of my servants
and not destroy everything:
9 I will bring out offspring from Jacob,
and from Judah, heirs to my mountains.
My chosen ones will take possession;
my servants will dwell there.
10 Sharon will become a pasture for sheep,
and the Achor Valley a resting place for cattle,
for my people who seek me.
11 But you who abandon the Lord,
who forget my holy mountain,
who set a table for a god of good fortune,
and fill cups of mixed wine for a god of fate:
12 I will offer you to the sword.
You will all bow down for slaughter,
because I called and you didn’t answer;
I spoke and you wouldn’t hear.
You did what I considered evil,
and chose what I didn’t want.
13 Therefore, the Lord God says:
Look, my servants will eat, but you will hunger.
My servants will drink, but you will thirst.
My servants will rejoice, but you will be ashamed.
14 My servants will sing with contented hearts,
but you will cry out from heartache;
with broken spirits you will wail.
15 You will leave your name behind for my chosen ones to curse:
“May the Lord God kill you!
May he call his servants by a different name!”
16 Those who pronounce a blessing in the land
will do so by the God called Amen;
those who make a solemn pledge in the land will do so by the God called Amen.[m]
Past troubles will be forgotten
and hidden from my sight.

New creation and new Jerusalem

17 Look! I’m creating a new heaven and a new earth:
past events won’t be remembered;
they won’t come to mind.
18 Be glad and rejoice forever
in what I’m creating,
because I’m creating Jerusalem as a joy
and her people as a source of gladness.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad about my people.
No one will ever hear the sound of weeping or crying in it again.
20 No more will babies live only a few days,
or the old fail to live out their days.
The one who dies at a hundred will be like a young person,
and the one falling short of a hundred will seem cursed.
21 They will build houses and live in them;
they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They won’t build for others to live in,
nor plant for others to eat.
Like the days of a tree will be the days of my people;
my chosen will make full use of their handiwork.
23 They won’t labor in vain,
nor bear children to a world of horrors,
because they will be people blessed by the Lord,
they along with their descendants.
24 Before they call, I will answer;
while they are still speaking, I will hear.
25 Wolf and lamb will graze together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
but the snake—its food will be dust.
They won’t hurt or destroy at any place on my holy mountain,
says the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Isaiah 63:1 Or stooping
  2. Isaiah 63:11 Or Moses, his people
  3. Isaiah 63:11 LXX, Tg; MT shepherds
  4. Isaiah 63:15 Heb uncertain
  5. Isaiah 63:18 Cf LXX, Vulg; Heb uncertain
  6. Isaiah 64:1 63:19b in Heb
  7. Isaiah 64:2 64:1 in Heb
  8. Isaiah 64:4 Heb uncertain
  9. Isaiah 64:5 Heb uncertain
  10. Isaiah 64:5 Heb uncertain
  11. Isaiah 64:7 LXX, cf Syr, Tg, Vulg; MT melted
  12. Isaiah 65:4 Or in guarded places
  13. Isaiah 65:16 Or so be it
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Philippians 2:19-30

Sending Timothy and Epaphroditus

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to see you soon so that I may be encouraged by hearing about you. 20 I have no one like him. He is a person who genuinely cares about your well-being. 21 All the others put their own business ahead of Jesus Christ’s business. 22 You know his character, how he labors with me for the gospel like a son works with his father. 23 So he is the one that I hope to send as soon as I find out how things turn out here for me. 24 I trust in the Lord that I also will visit you soon.

25 I think it is also necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. He is my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier; and he is your representative who serves my needs. 26 He misses you all, and he was upset because you heard he was sick. 27 In fact, he was so sick that he nearly died. But God had mercy on him—and not just on him but also on me, because his death would have caused me great sorrow. 28 Therefore, I am sending him immediately so that when you see him again you can be glad and I won’t worry. 29 So welcome him in the Lord with great joy and show great respect for people like him. 30 He risked his life and almost died for the work of Christ, and he did this to make up for the help you couldn’t give me.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Psalm 73

BOOK III

(Psalms 73–89)

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

73 Truly God is good to Israel,
to those who are have a pure heart.
2 But me? My feet had almost stumbled;
my steps had nearly slipped
3 because I envied the arrogant;
I observed how the wicked are well off:
4 They suffer no pain;
their bodies are fit and strong.
5 They are never in trouble;
they aren’t weighed down like other people.
6 That’s why they wear arrogance like a necklace,
why violence covers them like clothes.
7 Their eyes bulge out from eating so well;
their hearts overflow with delusions.
8 They scoff and talk so cruel;
from their privileged positions
they plan oppression.
9 Their mouths dare to speak against heaven!
Their tongues roam the earth!
10 That’s why people keep going back to them,
keep approving what they say.[a]
11 And what they say is this: “How could God possibly know!
Does the Most High know anything at all!”
12 Look at these wicked ones,
always relaxed, piling up the wealth!

13 Meanwhile, I’ve kept my heart pure for no good reason;
I’ve washed my hands to stay innocent for nothing.
14 I’m weighed down all day long.
I’m punished every morning.
15 If I said, “I will talk about all this,”
I would have been unfaithful to your children.
16 But when I tried to understand these things,
it just seemed like hard work
17 until I entered God’s sanctuary
and understood what would happen to the wicked.
18 You will definitely put them on a slippery path;
you will make them fall into ruin!
19 How quickly they are devastated,
utterly destroyed by terrors!
20 As quickly as a dream departs from someone waking up, my Lord,
when you are stirred up, you make them disappear.[b]

21 When my heart was bitter,
when I was all cut up inside,
22 I was stupid and ignorant.
I acted like nothing but an animal toward you.
23 But I was still always with you!
You held my strong hand!
24 You have guided me with your advice;
later you will receive me with glory.
25 Do I have anyone else in heaven?
There’s nothing on earth I desire except you.
26 My body and my heart fail,
but God is my heart’s rock and my share forever.
27 Look! Those far from you die;
you annihilate all those who are unfaithful to you.
28 But me? It’s good for me to be near God.
I have taken my refuge in you, my Lord God,
so I can talk all about your works!

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 73:10 Heb uncertain
  2. Psalm 73:20 Heb uncertain
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Proverbs 24:13-14

13 My child, eat honey, for it is good.
The honeycomb is sweet in your mouth.
14 Know that wisdom is like that for your whole being.
If you find it, there is a future.
Your hope won’t be cut off.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Posted on

09/30/2018 DAB Transcript

Isaiah 60:1-62:5, Philippians 1:27-2:18, Psalms 72:1-20, Proverbs 24:1-20

Today is the 30th day of September. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It’s great to be here with you at the beginning of a shiny, sparkly, brand-new week and the closing of another month. So, this marks the end of nine months consecutively, seven days a week that we have been moving our way through the Bible and that leaves us one quarter to go, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s be right here and enjoy the final moments that we have together in this month. It’s a brand-new week so we will read from a new translation, we’ll read from the Common English Bible. And we have finally reached the 60th chapter of Isaiah. So, we will be finishing up Isaiah soon, there’s 66 chapters. And today we’ll read Isaiah 60 verse 1 through 62 verse 5.

Prayer:

Father, we thank You for Your word. We thank You for this brand-new week to live into and walk into with You. And we invite Your Holy Spirit and ask that You lead us. And Father, we ask that we discipline ourselves enough to be aware and vigilant and listening for Your leadership and guidance. And Father, even as we begin this new week and this ninth month of the year, we look into the final quarter and it’s the busiest time of year. And, so, we invite Your Holy Spirit to lead and guide us through all that is before us as we prepare to move into the autumn here in the northern hemisphere and as our brothers and sisters prepare to move into springtime in the southern hemisphere. I thank You for Your goodness and Your faithfulness to us, Your merciful kindness toward us. We love You, we worship You, we declare Your faithfulness as we look back over the months of this year and we know that You will be faithful as we move forward. So, come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

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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 family. This is His Beloved from California, first-time caller. I’ve been listening for 2 ½ years. I went to their women’s retreat in Georgia this year and was able to meet incredible women and Brian and Jill and their family and it was so amazing and I feel so connected to all and I’m just blessed to have you in my daily life. I am calling, finally, because I need prayer. I just got a bad…not bad…I can’t call that bad…I just got a report from a test that I had done for my yearly exam and instead of getting nervous I decided to pull over and call prayer and __ my family on __ with prayer. I would just like everyone to pray for me, that it’s nothing and my test results will come back in a week and everything will be fine. I hope that finds everyone well and I love you all and there’s so many people that I just…I enjoy listening to every morning. You’re so special. And God bless you all. Thank you Brian and Jill for this incredible community and your family. Amen…Amen brothers and sisters. Bye.

Hi Daily Audio Bible family. This is Rihanna calling and I’m really just reaching out for some prayers. I’ve been struggling with an eating disorder for probably around 10 years, but my anorexia reached the worst it’s ever reached and caused to lose some cognitive functioning and electrolyte imbalance. So, I’m just really reaching out for prayers during my recovery as I’ve been in treatment for the last month and ½ and I’m just continuing to ask for God’s strength and to feel back into fullness and __. Thank you for your love. Bye.

Hello, this is Zach from North Carolina and I was calling today because my wife, Kelly, is going in for in vitro fertilization, which is IVF. We’re having a frozen embryo transfer today and we would just really love it and cherish your prayers, that she’s able to get pregnant. It will be a couple weeks from now when were able to find out, but we just pray for those suffering from infertility around the world. And I really ask you to lift up my wife Kelly in your prayers, that this procedure works and that everything goes well and that we have a healthy baby in 10 months. Thank you for everything. Love listening to Daily Audio Bible and love all your prayers.

This is Becky in Louisiana. I’m calling with an urgent prayer request for my God child. Her name is Angelique and she is threatening her husband. She’s threatening to burn down their home in West Virginia and she is the granddaughter of my husband’s sister. And my husband’s sister is passed away now but she was mentally ill her whole life. And then this girl’s father committed suicide. But before he did that, he killed his wife and killed another man and then killed himself. So, she’s threatening her husband and he’s in West Virginia. He’s calling me for help and he’s going to the authorities to see if he can get some kind of restraining order on her. I think she has what they call paranoid personality disorder. And she’s just traveling around the country and I’m afraid she’s a danger to other people out there on the highway. She’s living in her car. And I just would really beg for y’all to please pray with us. I called about this and put it on the Prayer Wall about a year ago and nothing happened. And I just got really hurt and disappointed about the whole thing, but I know that God hears our prayers and I know that He can do anything. And, so please, once again I’m asking you to pray for Angelique, my godchild. This is Becky in Louisiana and I’ll be…I’m expecting a miracle in Angelique’s life. In Jesus’ name. Thank you so much. Bye-bye.

Posted on

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Sunday September 30, 2018 (NIV)

Isaiah 60:1-62:5

Jerusalem’s coming radiance

60 Arise! Shine! Your light has come;
the Lord’s glory has shone upon you.
2 Though darkness covers the earth
and gloom the nations,
the Lord will shine upon you;
God’s glory will appear over you.
3 Nations will come to your light
and kings to your dawning radiance.

4 Lift up your eyes and look all around:
they are all gathered; they have come to you.
Your sons will come from far away,
and your daughters on caregivers’ hips.
5 Then you will see and be radiant;
your heart will tremble and open wide,
because the sea’s abundance will be turned over to you;
the nations’ wealth will come to you.
6 Countless camels will cover your land,
young camels from Midian and Ephah.
They will all come from Sheba,
carrying gold and incense,
proclaiming the Lord’s praises.
7 All Kedar’s sheep will be gathered for you;
rams from Nebaioth will be your offerings;
they will be accepted on my altar,
and I will glorify my splendid house.

8 Who are these who fly like a cloud,
like doves to their shelters?
9 I’m the hope of the coastlands.
Ships from Tarshish are in the lead
to bring your children from afar,
their silver and gold with them
for the name of the Lord your God
and for the holy one of Israel, who has glorified you.
10 Foreigners will rebuild your walls,
and their kings will serve you.
Though in my rage I struck you down,
in my favor I have consoled you.
11 Your gates will be open continually;
day and night they won’t close,
to bring to you the wealth of nations,
and their kings led in procession.
12 The nation and the dynasty
that won’t serve you will perish;
such nations will be devastated.
13 Lebanon’s glory will come upon you,
cypress, elm, and pine,
to glorify the site of my sanctuary,
and I will honor my royal footstool.
14 The children of your tormenters will come bending low to you;
all who despised you will bow down at your feet.
They will call you The Lord’s City,
Zion, of the holy one of Israel.
15 Instead of being abandoned,
hated, and forbidden,
I will make you majestic forever,
a joy for all generations.
16 You will suck the milk of nations,
and nurse at royal breasts.
You will know that I am the Lord, your savior
and your redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob.
17 Instead of bronze I will bring gold;
instead of iron I will bring silver;
instead of wood, bronze;
and instead of stones, iron.
I will make peace your governor
and righteousness your taskmaster.
18 Violence will no longer resound throughout your land,
nor devastation or destruction within your borders.
You will call your walls Salvation,
and your gates Praise.
19 The sun will no longer be your light by day,
nor will the moon shine for illumination by night.[a]
The Lord will be your everlasting light;
your God will be your glory.
20 Your sun will no longer set;
your moon will no longer wane.
The Lord will be an everlasting light for you,
and your days of mourning will be ended.
21 Your people will all be righteous;
they will possess the land forever.
They are the shoot that I planted,
the work of my hands, to glorify myself.
22 The least will become a thousand,
and the smallest a powerful people.
I am the Lord; at the right moment, I will hurry it along.

Joyful proclamations

61 The Lord God’s spirit is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me.
He has sent me
to bring good news to the poor,
to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim release for captives,
and liberation for prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and a day of vindication for our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3 to provide for Zion’s mourners,
to give them a crown in place of ashes,
oil of joy in place of mourning,
a mantle of praise in place of discouragement.
They will be called Oaks of Righteousness,
planted by the Lord to glorify himself.
4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins;
they will restore formerly deserted places;
they will renew ruined cities,
places deserted in generations past.

5 Foreigners will stay and shepherd your sheep,
and strangers will be your farmers and vinedressers.
6 You will be called The Priests of the Lord;
Ministers of Our God, they will say about you.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and fatten[b] yourself on their riches.
7 Instead of shame, their[c] portion will be double;
instead of disgrace, they will rejoice over their share.
They will possess a double portion in their land;
everlasting joy will be theirs.
8 I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery and dishonesty.[d]
I will faithfully give them their wage,
and make with them an enduring covenant.
9 Their offspring will be known among the nations,
and their descendants among the peoples.
All who see them will recognize
that they are a people blessed by the Lord.

10 I surely rejoice in the Lord;
my heart is joyful because of my God,
because he has clothed me with clothes of victory,
wrapped me in a robe of righteousness
like a bridegroom in a priestly crown,
and like a bride adorned in jewelry.
11 As the earth puts out its growth,
and as a garden grows its seeds,
so the Lord God will grow righteousness and praise before all the nations.

Jerusalem redeemed

62 For Zion’s sake I won’t keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I won’t sit still
until her righteousness shines out like a light,
and her salvation blazes like a torch.
2 Nations will see your righteousness,
all kings your glory.
You will be called by a new name,
which the Lord’s own mouth will determine.
3 You will be a splendid garland in the Lord’s hand,
a royal turban in the palm of God’s hand.
4 You will no longer be called Abandoned,
and your land will no longer be called Deserted.
Instead, you will be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land, Married.
Because the Lord delights in you,
your land will be cared for once again.
5 As a young man marries a young woman,
so your sons will marry you.
With the joy of a bridegroom because of his bride,
so your God will rejoice because of you.

Footnotes:

  1. Isaiah 60:19 Cf DSS (1QIsaa), LXX; MT lacks by night.
  2. Isaiah 61:6 Heb uncertain
  3. Isaiah 61:7 Or your
  4. Isaiah 61:8 Heb manuscripts, LXX, Syr, Tg; MT robbery with an entirely burned offering
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Philippians 1:27-2:18

Live worthy of the gospel

27 Most important, live together in a manner worthy of Christ’s gospel. Do this, whether I come and see you or I’m absent and hear about you. Do this so that you stand firm, united in one spirit and mind as you struggle together to remain faithful to the gospel. 28 That way, you won’t be afraid of anything your enemies do. Your faithfulness and courage are a sign of their coming destruction and your salvation, which is from God. 29 God has generously granted you the privilege, not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for Christ’s sake. 30 You are having the same struggle that you saw me face and now hear that I’m still facing.

Imitate Christ

2 Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, 2 complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. 3 Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. 4 Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. 5 Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus:

6 Though he was in the form of God,
he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit.
7 But he emptied himself
by taking the form of a slave
and by becoming like human beings.
When he found himself in the form of a human,
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
9 Therefore, God highly honored him
and gave him a name above all names,
10 so that at the name of Jesus everyone
in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow
11 and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Carry out your salvation

12 Therefore, my loved ones, just as you always obey me, not just when I am present but now even more while I am away, carry out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 God is the one who enables you both to want and to actually live out his good purposes. 14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, innocent children of God surrounded by people who are crooked and corrupt. Among these people you shine like stars in the world 16 because you hold on to the word of life. This will allow me to say on the day of Christ that I haven’t run for nothing or worked for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured out like a drink offering upon the altar of service for your faith, I am glad. I’m glad with all of you. 18 You should be glad about this in the same way. Be glad with me!

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Psalm 72

Psalm 72

Of Solomon.

72 God, give your judgments to the king.
Give your righteousness to the king’s son.
2 Let him judge your people with righteousness
and your poor ones with justice.
3 Let the mountains bring peace to the people;
let the hills bring righteousness.
4 Let the king bring justice to people who are poor;
let him save the children of those who are needy,
but let him crush oppressors!
5 Let the king live[a] as long as the sun,
as long as the moon,
generation to generation.
6 Let him fall like rain upon fresh-cut grass,
like showers that water the earth.
7 Let the righteous flourish throughout their lives,
and let peace prosper until the moon is no more.
8 Let the king rule from sea to sea,
from the river to the ends of the earth.
9 Let the desert dwellers bow low before him;
let his enemies lick the dust.
10 Let the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute;
let the kings of Sheba and Seba present gifts.
11 Let all the kings bow down before him;
let all the nations serve him.

12 Let it be so, because he delivers the needy who cry out,
the poor, and those who have no helper.
13 He has compassion on the weak and the needy;
he saves the lives of those who are in need.
14 He redeems their lives from oppression and violence;
their blood is precious in his eyes.

15 Let the king live long!
Let Sheba’s gold be given to him!
Let him be prayed for always!
Let him be blessed all day long!
16 Let there be abundant grain in the land.
Let it wave on the mountaintops.
Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon.
Let it thrive like grass on the land.
17 Let the king’s name last forever.
Let his name endure as long as the sun.
Let all the nations be blessed through him and call him happy.

18 Bless the Lord God, the God of Israel—
the only one who does wondrous things!
19 Bless God’s glorious name forever;
let his glory fill all the earth!
Amen and Amen!

20 The prayers of David, Jesse’s son, are ended.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 72:5 LXX; MT May they fear you.
Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

Proverbs 24:11-12

11 Rescue those being taken off to death;
and from those staggering to the slaughter, don’t hold back.
12 If you say, “Look, we didn’t know about it,”
the one who weighs hearts—doesn’t he understand?
The one who protects your life—he knows.
He makes people pay for their actions.

Common English Bible (CEB)

Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible

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09/29/2018 DAB Transcript

Isaiah 57:14-59:21, Philippians 1:1-26, Psalms 71:1-24, Proverbs 24:9-10

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hi Daily Audio Bible, this is Paul from Houston and it is the 25th of September and I just wanted to ask for prayer or my marriage. I’ve been married 20 years this past July and separated over a year and half. And I’m still standing, believing that God can work miracles in the situation as He’s working in my life to remove an addiction but also to allow me to work with different men from separated families and places that He’s taken me. And I thank Him for that but just praying that God will restore my family and give me time with my children and that my wife’s heart would change in some ways. And I know it’s a tall order at times but, you know, I believe that God is faithful and just and He…He sees our hearts and He knows our plans that He has for us. And I now He uses us in situations, even in a tough place, to help us to grow to seek Him, to find Him, and to learn more about who He is in the middle of the toughest places of our lives. And I just want to pray for other marriages out there, that God would become the center of your marriage, that He would be the source of all your contentment, and the source of your provision, and the source of your love and your family. So, anyways, I just thank you all for praying for me and my family and my marriage. I have three wonderful kids and I’m just asking God for time with them. And thank you, thank you very much. Paul from Houston. Love you guys. Have a great…hope you’re having a great September. Bye.

Hi dear brothers and sisters. I just wanted to say that this isn’t just for one of our sisters for most of us. I‘m calling regarding the mother whose heart is broken for her son who has chosen to go back out on the street again for drugs that has claimed his desire. And, you know, unless he has totally rebuked the Lord, the Lord has not left him sister. He is walking the streets with Him and the Angels of the Lord are surrounding him. And that is our prayer, is that they continue to be there, they hold him, protect him, and are there for him through each moment he says please, each moment he says help, each moment he says…you know…no. And, you know, yes he may immediately turn around and say give me more, or find at the shelter about, once he finds this shelter he changes his mind yet again. But every time that it helps build up that stitching the relationship between the Lord he, because he is still connected, he will still find a way to talk to the Lord even if it’s only in his heart. And that’s what we are praying for, that that prodigal will eventually come home and that he is always with the Lord no matter what happens. In Jesus’ name we pray for you and he. Amen.

Hi family, it’s Shannon from Texas and I just recorded a message and then deleted it because I’m not really sure what to say and how to pray about this. I’ve called in about it before, about my son Jadrian and his rap lyrics. It goes much deeper than that because, obviously, if he’s rapping about murder and talking about murdering of mothers and children and so much more than that. He’s constantly is spewing this hatred and I don’t even like speaking on it because I’ve tried so hard and I do see him the best I can. Lord help me. Ask for the Spirit because I know that the outcome is good. But it is wearing me down and I am tired of feeling guilty for the fact that it has worn me down. And I’ve been doing this for about eight years. And his energy has been so…it overtakes everything. And I have to go and fake it…and fake it with jobs. And after a couple years get fired and try to tell people in social work. And it’s like…I have to put a smile my face and let them know that I was going home to getting cursed out 24 hours a day. And then my mom was buying him cars and then he was wrecking them and every time the phone rang I jumped and thought that it was the police calling. And I’m just…I need prayer. I tried so hard to be positive. I just need prayer. And I need…I have the faith. I do have the faith but I just…I need prayer for people that will believe with me, that this…this is not over that there is still hope…

Hi there Daily Audio Bible family. My name is Catherine. I’ve been a longtime listener, probably about five years and yet I’ve never actually called in. I’ve gotten close. I’ve thought about what I want to call in for but I always remember those people that have phoned and said that you’re praying for those of us who haven’t been brave enough to phone in. And I’ve taken such comfort from that. Really guys, you’ve gotten me through so much and am so grateful and I pray with you. Brian I want to thank you. You speak of being an introvert and yet you have been able to touch millions of people’s lives to a degree that I don’t always think you understand. Well, I hope you do because you’re doing such a great job and I’m truly grateful. But actually the reason for my call today is a matter that’s close to my heart, and that is to pray for children with ADHD or anything that makes them feel like they’re not normal. I have a daughter, she has mild ADHD and it’s just really tough to see her struggle. And it takes a toll on her confidence. And the more people I talk to with children and similar boats, you know, God doesn’t make mistakes and this is what I tell my kid and I tell the friends of mine who have children struggling and anybody for that matter. God doesn’t make mistakes, He knows you, He planned you, He planned these little kids of ours. And they’re awesome. And we don’t know why, but I’ve told my daughter, I know somewhere in her life we’re gonna have that ahha moment where we go, this is why God made you the way you are. So, anybody with a child with ADHD, I’m praying for them, I’m praying for you and just anybody who feels like they don’t quite belong. You are loved and God made you exactly the way you’re meant to be. Bye family.

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Saturday September 29, 2018 (NIV)

Isaiah 57:14-59:21

God Forgives the Repentant

14 God says, “Rebuild the road!
Clear away the rocks and stones
so my people can return from captivity.”
15 The high and lofty one who lives in eternity,
the Holy One, says this:
“I live in the high and holy place
with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.
I restore the crushed spirit of the humble
and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
16 For I will not fight against you forever;
I will not always be angry.
If I were, all people would pass away—
all the souls I have made.
17 I was angry,
so I punished these greedy people.
I withdrew from them,
but they kept going on their own stubborn way.
18 I have seen what they do,
but I will heal them anyway!
I will lead them.
I will comfort those who mourn,
19 bringing words of praise to their lips.
May they have abundant peace, both near and far,”
says the Lord, who heals them.
20 “But those who still reject me are like the restless sea,
which is never still
but continually churns up mud and dirt.
21 There is no peace for the wicked,”
says my God.

True and False Worship

58 “Shout with the voice of a trumpet blast.
Shout aloud! Don’t be timid.
Tell my people Israel[a] of their sins!
2 Yet they act so pious!
They come to the Temple every day
and seem delighted to learn all about me.
They act like a righteous nation
that would never abandon the laws of its God.
They ask me to take action on their behalf,
pretending they want to be near me.
3 ‘We have fasted before you!’ they say.
‘Why aren’t you impressed?
We have been very hard on ourselves,
and you don’t even notice it!’

“I will tell you why!” I respond.
“It’s because you are fasting to please yourselves.
Even while you fast,
you keep oppressing your workers.
4 What good is fasting
when you keep on fighting and quarreling?
This kind of fasting
will never get you anywhere with me.
5 You humble yourselves
by going through the motions of penance,
bowing your heads
like reeds bending in the wind.
You dress in burlap
and cover yourselves with ashes.
Is this what you call fasting?
Do you really think this will please the Lord?

6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
7 Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10 Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
and a restorer of homes.

13 “Keep the Sabbath day holy.
Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,
but enjoy the Sabbath
and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.
Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,
and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.
14 Then the Lord will be your delight.
I will give you great honor
and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Warnings against Sin

59 Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you,
nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call.
2 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God.
Because of your sins, he has turned away
and will not listen anymore.
3 Your hands are the hands of murderers,
and your fingers are filthy with sin.
Your lips are full of lies,
and your mouth spews corruption.

4 No one cares about being fair and honest.
The people’s lawsuits are based on lies.
They conceive evil deeds
and then give birth to sin.
5 They hatch deadly snakes
and weave spiders’ webs.
Whoever eats their eggs will die;
whoever cracks them will hatch a viper.
6 Their webs can’t be made into clothing,
and nothing they do is productive.
All their activity is filled with sin,
and violence is their trademark.
7 Their feet run to do evil,
and they rush to commit murder.
They think only about sinning.
Misery and destruction always follow them.
8 They don’t know where to find peace
or what it means to be just and good.
They have mapped out crooked roads,
and no one who follows them knows a moment’s peace.

9 So there is no justice among us,
and we know nothing about right living.
We look for light but find only darkness.
We look for bright skies but walk in gloom.
10 We grope like the blind along a wall,
feeling our way like people without eyes.
Even at brightest noontime,
we stumble as though it were dark.
Among the living,
we are like the dead.
11 We growl like hungry bears;
we moan like mournful doves.
We look for justice, but it never comes.
We look for rescue, but it is far away from us.
12 For our sins are piled up before God
and testify against us.
Yes, we know what sinners we are.
13 We know we have rebelled and have denied the Lord.
We have turned our backs on our God.
We know how unfair and oppressive we have been,
carefully planning our deceitful lies.
14 Our courts oppose the righteous,
and justice is nowhere to be found.
Truth stumbles in the streets,
and honesty has been outlawed.
15 Yes, truth is gone,
and anyone who renounces evil is attacked.

The Lord looked and was displeased
to find there was no justice.
16 He was amazed to see that no one intervened
to help the oppressed.
So he himself stepped in to save them with his strong arm,
and his justice sustained him.
17 He put on righteousness as his body armor
and placed the helmet of salvation on his head.
He clothed himself with a robe of vengeance
and wrapped himself in a cloak of divine passion.
18 He will repay his enemies for their evil deeds.
His fury will fall on his foes.
He will pay them back even to the ends of the earth.
19 In the west, people will respect the name of the Lord;
in the east, they will glorify him.
For he will come like a raging flood tide
driven by the breath of the Lord.[b]

20 “The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem
to buy back those in Israel
who have turned from their sins,”[c]
says the Lord.

21 “And this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit will not leave them, and neither will these words I have given you. They will be on your lips and on the lips of your children and your children’s children forever. I, the Lord, have spoken!

Footnotes:

  1. 58:1 Hebrew Jacob. See note on 14:1.
  2. 59:19 Or When the enemy comes like a raging flood tide, / the Spirit of the Lord will drive him back.
  3. 59:20 Hebrew The Redeemer will come to Zion / to buy back those in Jacob / who have turned from their sins. Greek version reads The one who rescues will come on behalf of Zion, / and he will turn Jacob away from ungodliness. Compare Rom 11:26.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Philippians 1:1-26

Greetings from Paul

1 This letter is from Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus.

I am writing to all of God’s holy people in Philippi who belong to Christ Jesus, including the church leaders[a] and deacons.

2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer

3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. 4 Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, 5 for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. 6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

7 So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. 8 God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ[b]—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

Paul’s Joy That Christ Is Preached

12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters,[c] that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard,[d] knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers[e] here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message[f] without fear.

15 It’s true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn’t matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.

Paul’s Life for Christ

20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

25 Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith. 26 And when I come to you again, you will have even more reason to take pride in Christ Jesus because of what he is doing through me.

Footnotes:

  1. 1:1 Or overseers, or bishops.
  2. 1:11 Greek with the fruit of righteousness through Jesus Christ.
  3. 1:12 Greek brothers.
  4. 1:13 Greek including all the Praetorium.
  5. 1:14a Greek brothers in the Lord.
  6. 1:14b Some manuscripts read speak the message.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 71

Psalm 71

1 O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
don’t let me be disgraced.
2 Save me and rescue me,
for you do what is right.
Turn your ear to listen to me,
and set me free.
3 Be my rock of safety
where I can always hide.
Give the order to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked,
from the clutches of cruel oppressors.
5 O Lord, you alone are my hope.
I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.
6 Yes, you have been with me from birth;
from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
No wonder I am always praising you!

7 My life is an example to many,
because you have been my strength and protection.
8 That is why I can never stop praising you;
I declare your glory all day long.
9 And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside.
Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.
10 For my enemies are whispering against me.
They are plotting together to kill me.
11 They say, “God has abandoned him.
Let’s go and get him,
for no one will help him now.”

12 O God, don’t stay away.
My God, please hurry to help me.
13 Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers.
Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me.
14 But I will keep on hoping for your help;
I will praise you more and more.
15 I will tell everyone about your righteousness.
All day long I will proclaim your saving power,
though I am not skilled with words.[a]
16 I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord.
I will tell everyone that you alone are just.

17 O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood,
and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.
18 Now that I am old and gray,
do not abandon me, O God.
Let me proclaim your power to this new generation,
your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens.
You have done such wonderful things.
Who can compare with you, O God?
20 You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
but you will restore me to life again
and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
21 You will restore me to even greater honor
and comfort me once again.

22 Then I will praise you with music on the harp,
because you are faithful to your promises, O my God.
I will sing praises to you with a lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 I will shout for joy and sing your praises,
for you have ransomed me.
24 I will tell about your righteous deeds
all day long,
for everyone who tried to hurt me
has been shamed and humiliated.

Footnotes:

  1. 71:15 Or though I cannot count it.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 24:9-10

9 The schemes of a fool are sinful;
everyone detests a mocker.

10 If you fail under pressure,
your strength is too small.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


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09/28/2018 DAB Transcript

Isaiah 54:1-57:13, Ephesians 6:1-24, Psalms 70:1-5, Proverbs 24:8

Today is the 28th day of September. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian. It is a pleasure and an honor to be here with you today as we put one foot in front of the other and take the next step forward on our adventure through the Scriptures this year. In the Old Testament we’re working through the book of Isaiah, which is one of the one of the longest books in the Bible. It has 66 chapters. And today we will read chapters 54, 55, 56 and into 57. So, we are making progress but it’s a long book and we’re working our way through. So let’s get to it. We’re reading from the New Living Translation this week. Isaiah 54:1 through 57:13.

Commentary:

Okay. So, we concluded Paul’s letter to the Ephesians today and if we just look back over the last few days in Ephesians, we should be able to notice that we climbed some of them as beautiful mountain vistas of our faith and in we’re able to look out and see just how vast and how beautiful and unspeakable and almost too good is the work that God has done for us and what it means to our lives. So, in light of the treasures of the gospel found in Ephesians, Paul chose to close with what has become some of the most known and quoted portions of the entire New Testament, right? Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. That is a super famous passage of Scripture. But have you ever taken the time to consider…I mean…like…we will quote these Scriptures, but have we ever like sat down and thought about what they’re saying? Because if Paul’s words are true, then our reality is far more vast than we almost ever pay attention to, which would explain a lot. For example, if we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, then why are these the battles we choose to fight? Right? If the issue that manifests itself and the unfolding of our daily lives are influenced by spiritual realms, is it any wonder that we’re confused when we ignore or diminish this reality? But paying attention to it doesn’t mean figuring out what principality made you have a bad morning and is making you late for work today. Paying attention and navigating from a spiritual place is the act of staying present and being present to the Holy Spirit, right? The spiritual realms. We usually, when we’re thinking of the spiritual realms we’re thinking about the demonic, right? The dark. The evil. But which realm is it that the Holy Spirit operates in our lives from? We’re just usually not paying attention. And all of this was a lead in for Paul. He didn’t just close the letter by just saying, you know, you need to pay more attention to the fact that there’s a spiritual context for our physically human lives, right? He gave one last treasure, a little peek at the resources that God has given us to navigate all of this, right? Put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. And then after the battle you will be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the good news so that you will be fully prepared. And in addition all these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. And put on salvation as your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. And stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all the believers everywhere. So, Paul is saying there are resources that are powerful, unspeakably powerful, and available for you to navigate in a reality that is beyond just your physical five senses and your body. Instead, you can participate as you were intended to participate also in the spiritual realm. So, according to Paul, we need to get dressed, right? Like, none of us are gonna walk around naked today, right? Even if we don’t walk out the front door, even if we’re just staying home today, we’re probably not gonna walk around our house all day naked. So, why do we so often walk around naked, spiritually and then blame God when we get blindsided? We have to put on the belt of truth which holds everything together and holds everything up, right? That’s what a belt does. And if we don’t walk in truth today, right, within ourselves and with everyone else then the very element that holds everything else in place is going to be missing. And we have to put on the body armor, the breastplate of righteousness. According Paul’s metaphor, God’s righteousness is the one thing that will protect our hearts. And this is available as we already know. Paul told us to put on our new nature created to be like God, truly righteous and holy. We just read this like yesterday or the day before. Right, so if we’re not gonna wear righteousness we’re not going to have something that is going to protect our hearts, right? So, this starts making sense when you realize, oh man, I walk around naked all of the time. I’m exposing what is most vital to the onslaught and attack of other people’s words or actions. I leave myself exposed. And our shoes are to be the peace that comes from the good news. So, whatever we walk into, our awareness goodness of God and the way that He rescued our lives. This prepares us. Wherever we go, so goes the good news. And as a shield, we have faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. And as we’ve learned, faith is the activator of everything. This is like crucial, fundamental to Paul’s message. And if our faith is rooted in the reality of the gospel then nothing can penetrate it. We can only be vulnerable if we lower our shield through doubt. And our helmet is salvation. It protects our minds, our awareness that we are righteous before God. And our participation in experiencing friendship and intimacy with Him as a beloved child continually renews our identity. So, according to Paul, suiting up like this will protect us, but it’s not just about a defensive posture, we’re also given an offensive weapon in the form of the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, which goes much deeper than just like assuming, I read my Bible today, right? I listened to the Daily Audio Bible today. And when I do, I’m swinging my sword at the devil. Consider the implications. When God speaks and things get created out of nothing. From our reading in Isaiah today. God said of His word it will accomplish all I wanted to and it will prosper everywhere I send it. So, how can we understate or underestimate that kind of power. And this is what we are supposed to carry at the ready. And then lastly, we’re to participate by praying in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. And as we’ve said, many times, this is like too good to be true because what we’re saying is that an ongoing discussion with God is possible, right? One that will instruct us and inform our decisions. That we can have a continual communion and interaction with the Holy Spirit? This is like the best news ever. So, If we like take Ephesians in its entire scope, and then consider all that we’ve been given in order to navigate our lives, we have to agree that we are equipped, like, we are equipped. We may not suit up. We may not go into the day prepared, but we are equipped for this life. God has fully given us everything we need to operate as His sons and daughters in this world. So, like if you…if you ever read the Gospels and wonder, like, how did…how did Jesus navigate as a human being in a fallen world, this is how he did it. These are the gifts that have been bestowed upon us because we’re supposed to be becoming like him, right? We’re supposed to be becoming Christlike. So, we have all of these resources. So, at some point we have to ask ourselves what we’re waiting for. Are we really, really this codependent on the chaos? Do we really need all of this drama? Ae we always cowering in a hole somewhere waiting for the other shoe to drop? That’s just not the description of the life of faith that we find in the book of Ephesians. We are told that we are equipped for things that are so great that they are almost impossible to comprehend. Sons and daughters of the most high God bearing the nature of the Almighty God, fully equipped to navigate in this world if will simply be aware.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, come. Come into that. It’s very, very encouraging. Like, talking about stuff like this is so deeply encouraging but we lived long enough to know that when we leave this little space that were in right now and get back to the nitty-gritty of the day, it will be stolen from us before we even realize it if we’re not paying attention. You have given us permission to be Your sons and daughters in this world as ambassadors and that’s what we want to be today. And, so, we suit up and ask you, Holy Spirit, lead us into all truth 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. So, be sure to check in and check it out.

Check out the Prayer Wall. Pray for your brothers and sisters there and stay connected.

If you want partner with the Daily Audio Bible, you can do that at dailyaudiobible.com as well. There is a link on the homepage. And I thank you humbly and truly profoundly. We wouldn’t be here. We wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing if we didn’t do it together. And that’s just a fact. So, thank you for your partnership. 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.

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The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday September 28, 2018 (NIV)

Isaiah 54:1-57:13

Future Glory for Jerusalem

54 “Sing, O childless woman,
you who have never given birth!
Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem,
you who have never been in labor.
For the desolate woman now has more children
than the woman who lives with her husband,”
says the Lord.
2 “Enlarge your house; build an addition.
Spread out your home, and spare no expense!
3 For you will soon be bursting at the seams.
Your descendants will occupy other nations
and resettle the ruined cities.

4 “Fear not; you will no longer live in shame.
Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you.
You will no longer remember the shame of your youth
and the sorrows of widowhood.
5 For your Creator will be your husband;
the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name!
He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
the God of all the earth.
6 For the Lord has called you back from your grief—
as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,”
says your God.
7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with great compassion I will take you back.
8 In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while.
But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord, your Redeemer.

9 “Just as I swore in the time of Noah
that I would never again let a flood cover the earth,
so now I swear
that I will never again be angry and punish you.
10 For the mountains may move
and the hills disappear,
but even then my faithful love for you will remain.
My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”
says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

11 “O storm-battered city,
troubled and desolate!
I will rebuild you with precious jewels
and make your foundations from lapis lazuli.
12 I will make your towers of sparkling rubies,
your gates of shining gems,
and your walls of precious stones.
13 I will teach all your children,
and they will enjoy great peace.
14 You will be secure under a government that is just and fair.
Your enemies will stay far away.
You will live in peace,
and terror will not come near.
15 If any nation comes to fight you,
it is not because I sent them.
Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat.

16 “I have created the blacksmith
who fans the coals beneath the forge
and makes the weapons of destruction.
And I have created the armies that destroy.
17 But in that coming day
no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice
raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;
their vindication will come from me.
I, the Lord, have spoken!

Invitation to the Lord’s Salvation

55 “Is anyone thirsty?
Come and drink—
even if you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk—
it’s all free!
2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?
Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
You will enjoy the finest food.

3 “Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
4 See how I used him to display my power among the peoples.
I made him a leader among the nations.
5 You also will command nations you do not know,
and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey,
because I, the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”

6 Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
7 Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
“And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways
and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens
and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
producing seed for the farmer
and bread for the hungry.
11 It is the same with my word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
12 You will live in joy and peace.
The mountains and hills will burst into song,
and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
13 Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name;
they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”

Blessings for All Nations

56 This is what the Lord says:

“Be just and fair to all.
Do what is right and good,
for I am coming soon to rescue you
and to display my righteousness among you.
2 Blessed are all those
who are careful to do this.
Blessed are those who honor my Sabbath days of rest
and keep themselves from doing wrong.

3 “Don’t let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say,
‘The Lord will never let me be part of his people.’
And don’t let the eunuchs say,
‘I’m a dried-up tree with no children and no future.’
4 For this is what the Lord says:
I will bless those eunuchs
who keep my Sabbath days holy
and who choose to do what pleases me
and commit their lives to me.
5 I will give them—within the walls of my house—
a memorial and a name
far greater than sons and daughters could give.
For the name I give them is an everlasting one.
It will never disappear!

6 “I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord,
who serve him and love his name,
who worship him and do not desecrate the Sabbath day of rest,
and who hold fast to my covenant.
7 I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem
and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer.
I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices,
because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
8 For the Sovereign Lord,
who brings back the outcasts of Israel, says:
I will bring others, too,
besides my people Israel.”

Sinful Leaders Condemned

9 Come, wild animals of the field!
Come, wild animals of the forest!
Come and devour my people!
10 For the leaders of my people—
the Lord’s watchmen, his shepherds—
are blind and ignorant.
They are like silent watchdogs
that give no warning when danger comes.
They love to lie around, sleeping and dreaming.
11 Like greedy dogs, they are never satisfied.
They are ignorant shepherds,
all following their own path
and intent on personal gain.
12 “Come,” they say, “let’s get some wine and have a party.
Let’s all get drunk.
Then tomorrow we’ll do it again
and have an even bigger party!”

57 Good people pass away;
the godly often die before their time.
But no one seems to care or wonder why.
No one seems to understand
that God is protecting them from the evil to come.
2 For those who follow godly paths
will rest in peace when they die.

Idolatrous Worship Condemned

3 “But you—come here, you witches’ children,
you offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!
4 Whom do you mock,
making faces and sticking out your tongues?
You children of sinners and liars!
5 You worship your idols with great passion
beneath the oaks and under every green tree.
You sacrifice your children down in the valleys,
among the jagged rocks in the cliffs.
6 Your gods are the smooth stones in the valleys.
You worship them with liquid offerings and grain offerings.
They, not I, are your inheritance.
Do you think all this makes me happy?
7 You have committed adultery on every high mountain.
There you have worshiped idols
and have been unfaithful to me.
8 You have put pagan symbols
on your doorposts and behind your doors.
You have left me
and climbed into bed with these detestable gods.
You have committed yourselves to them.
You love to look at their naked bodies.
9 You have gone to Molech[a]
with olive oil and many perfumes,
sending your agents far and wide,
even to the world of the dead.[b]
10 You grew weary in your search,
but you never gave up.
Desire gave you renewed strength,
and you did not grow weary.

11 “Are you afraid of these idols?
Do they terrify you?
Is that why you have lied to me
and forgotten me and my words?
Is it because of my long silence
that you no longer fear me?
12 Now I will expose your so-called good deeds.
None of them will help you.
13 Let’s see if your idols can save you
when you cry to them for help.
Why, a puff of wind can knock them down!
If you just breathe on them, they fall over!
But whoever trusts in me will inherit the land
and possess my holy mountain.”

Footnotes:

  1. 57:9a Or to the king.
  2. 57:9b Hebrew to Sheol.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Ephesians 6

Children and Parents

6 Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord,[a] for this is the right thing to do. 2 “Honor your father and mother.” This is the first commandment with a promise: 3 If you honor your father and mother, “things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.”[b]

4 Fathers,[c] do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.

Slaves and Masters

5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 6 Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. 7 Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 8 Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free.

9 Masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Don’t threaten them; remember, you both have the same Master in heaven, and he has no favorites.

The Whole Armor of God

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[d] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[e] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[f] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.[g]

19 And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike.[h] 20 I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.

Final Greetings

21 To bring you up to date, Tychicus will give you a full report about what I am doing and how I am getting along. He is a beloved brother and faithful helper in the Lord’s work. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose—to let you know how we are doing and to encourage you.

23 Peace be with you, dear brothers and sisters,[i] and may God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you love with faithfulness. 24 May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.

Footnotes:

  1. 6:1 Or Children, obey your parents who belong to the Lord; some manuscripts read simply Children, obey your parents.
  2. 6:2-3 Exod 20:12; Deut 5:16.
  3. 6:4 Or Parents.
  4. 6:12 Some manuscripts read you.
  5. 6:15 Or For shoes, put on the readiness to preach the Good News of peace with God.
  6. 6:16 Greek the evil one.
  7. 6:18 Greek all of God’s holy people.
  8. 6:19 Greek explain the mystery of the Good News; some manuscripts read simply explain the mystery.
  9. 6:23 Greek brothers.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Psalm 70

Psalm 70

For the choir director: A psalm of David, asking God to remember him.

1 Please, God, rescue me!
Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
2 May those who try to kill me
be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
be turned back in disgrace.
3 Let them be horrified by their shame,
for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”
4 But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “God is great!”
5 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
please hurry to my aid, O God.
You are my helper and my savior;
O Lord, do not delay.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.


Proverbs 24:8

8 A person who plans evil
will get a reputation as a troublemaker.

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.