Day 274 of Immerse: God's Judgments against Nations

In this episode of Immerse, we read through God's proclamations of judgment against various nations. The Lord speaks to different prophets, relaying messages of impending doom and destruction for the Ammonites, Moabites, Edomites, Philistines, people of Tyre, and Egyptians due to their transgressions and pride. Through these vivid prophecies, we see God’s sovereignty and the certainty of His judgments. Additionally, the episode underscores the importance of Israel's faithfulness and the consequences of placing trust in other nations. Join us as we continue our journey through the Bible, gaining deeper understanding of God's justice and righteousness.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:04 Prophecy Against Ammon
01:19 Judgment on Moab
01:59 Condemnation of Edom
02:33 Philistia's Fate
03:08 Prophecy Against Tyre
07:13 Lament for Tyre
15:51 Judgment on Sidon
17:17 Prophecy Against Egypt
21:20 Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Buy Immerse: Prophets Now!

Volume 4 

Immerse: Prophets is the fourth of six volumes of the Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience program. Prophets presents the First Testament prophets in groupings that represent four historical periods, beginning with the prophets who spoke before the fall of Israel’s northern kingdom (Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah), then before the fall of the southern kingdom (Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk), around the time of Jerusalem’s destruction (Jeremiah, Obadiah, Ezekiel), and after the return from exile (Haggai, Zechariah, Joel, Malachi).

4 Questions to get your conversations started:
1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Beginnings instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
   for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open,
   honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Beginnings, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”

Marriage is a unique gift of God, but sometimes it can be hard to navigate. That’s why George and Tondra Gregory are dedicated to helping couples build a successful game plan within their marriage. When you work with your spouse and adopt a winning mindset, you can create a strong and healthy marriage.

Receive a copy of The Marriage Game Plan by George and Tondra Gregory and an audio download of "Build a Winning Game Plan for Your Marriage" for your donation of any amount!

Get More Episode Resources 

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Satan hates to see you pray. He does not scatter when you listen to a sermon. Demons do not backpedal when you perform acts of benevolence.  The principalities of hell are not flustered when you open a Christian book.  But the walls of hell shake when, with an honest heart and faithful confession, you bow your head and pray. Satan knows the power of prayer.

Do you long for peace? Then pray. “Prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long” (Ephesians 6:18 MSG). You cannot control events that are uncontrollable, so don’t try. You cannot change the future as long as the future is in the future, so don’t try. There is so much we cannot do. But there is one thing we must do. We must pray.

Read more Tame Your Thoughts: Three Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Day 273: Prophecy and Judgment - Messages from the Sovereign Lord

On day 273 of the Immerse: The Daily Bible Reading Experience, we explore a series of profound messages and prophecies delivered by the Lord. The narrative addresses the impending judgment on the southern wilderness of the Negev, Jerusalem, Israel, and the Ammonites, revealing the divine wrath due to their corrupt and wicked ways. Through vivid metaphors and somber prophecies, the reading depicts the moral and spiritual decay of these regions, emphasizing the consequences of idolatry, prostitution, and lack of faith. The text concludes with a poignant personal trial for Ezekiel, symbolizing the suffering and loss awaiting the people of Israel, ultimately serving as a solemn reminder of the Lord's judgment and justice.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:04 Prophecy Against the South
00:51 Judgment on Jerusalem
02:10 The Sword of Babylon
00:04 The Worthless Slag of Israel
11:34 The Two Sisters: Oholah and Oholibah
20:02 The Boiling Pot of Jerusalem
22:29 Ezekiel's Personal Tragedy
24:50 Conclusion and Farewell

Buy Immerse: Prophets Now!

Volume 4 

Immerse: Prophets is the fourth of six volumes of the Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience program. Prophets presents the First Testament prophets in groupings that represent four historical periods, beginning with the prophets who spoke before the fall of Israel’s northern kingdom (Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah), then before the fall of the southern kingdom (Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk), around the time of Jerusalem’s destruction (Jeremiah, Obadiah, Ezekiel), and after the return from exile (Haggai, Zechariah, Joel, Malachi).

4 Questions to get your conversations started:
1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Beginnings instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
   for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open,
   honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Beginnings, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”

Marriage is a unique gift of God, but sometimes it can be hard to navigate. That’s why George and Tondra Gregory are dedicated to helping couples build a successful game plan within their marriage. When you work with your spouse and adopt a winning mindset, you can create a strong and healthy marriage.

Receive a copy of The Marriage Game Plan by George and Tondra Gregory and an audio download of "Build a Winning Game Plan for Your Marriage" for your donation of any amount!

Get More Episode Resources 

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Jesus offers this assurance: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27 NKJV).

Jesus contrasts two types of peace—the peace the world offers and the peace he offers. The peace the world offers depends upon circumstances. If the weather is right, if the traffic is light, if the stock market is up. If…If…If. Exchange if peace for his peace. We can have the peace of Jesus. We can uproot thoughts of catastrophe and replace them with truths like this one: “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts” (Philippians 4:7 NKJV).

When your heart needs peace, trust God.

Read more Tame Your Thoughts: Three Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.

Day 272: Confronting Sin, Redemption, and Prophecy - Immerse Bible Reading Experience

In today's reading for Day 272 of the Immerse Bible Reading Experience, we delve into the stern messages from the Sovereign Lord through the prophet Ezekiel. This passage rebukes the city of Jerusalem for its detestable sins, depicting Jerusalem's journey from abandonment to redemption, and ultimately its fall due to continued idolatry and unfaithfulness. We explore a riddle about two eagles which symbolizes Israel's alliances and betrayals, followed by a potent discussion on individual accountability and the consequences of sin. We then move to the future promise of restoration and a powerful narrative showcasing God's judgment and mercy, emphasizing the importance of repentance and righteousness.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:04 Jerusalem's Detestable Sins
01:18 God's Covenant and Adornments
02:24 Prostitution and Idolatry
05:32 Judgment and Punishment
10:12 The Riddle of the Eagles
14:37 Individual Responsibility
22:11 Israel's Rebellion and God's Mercy
30:30 Conclusion and Farewell

Buy Immerse: Prophets Now!

Volume 4 

Immerse: Prophets is the fourth of six volumes of the Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience program. Prophets presents the First Testament prophets in groupings that represent four historical periods, beginning with the prophets who spoke before the fall of Israel’s northern kingdom (Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah), then before the fall of the southern kingdom (Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk), around the time of Jerusalem’s destruction (Jeremiah, Obadiah, Ezekiel), and after the return from exile (Haggai, Zechariah, Joel, Malachi).

4 Questions to get your conversations started:
1. What stood out to you this week?
2. Was there anything confusing or troubling?
3. Did anything make you think differently about God?
4. How might this change the way we live?

QUICK START GUIDE
3 ways to get the most out of your experience

1. Use Immerse: Beginnings instead of your regular chapter and verse Bible. This special reader’s edition restores the Bible to its natural simplicity and beauty by removing chapter and verse numbers and other historical additions. Letters look like letters, songs look like songs, and the original literary structures are visible in each book.
2. Commit to making this a community experience. Immerse is designed for groups to encounter large portions of the Bible together
   for 8 weeks–more like a book club, less like a Bible study. By meeting every week in small groups and discussing what you read in open,
   honest conversations, you and your community can come together to be transformed through an authentic experience with the Scriptures.
3. Aim to understand the big story. Read through “The Stories and the Story” (p. 483) to see how the books of the Bible work together to tell God’s story of his creation’s restoration. As you read through Immerse: Beginnings, rather than ask, “How do I fit God into my busy life?” begin asking, “How can I join in God’s great plan by living out my part in his story?”

The struggle to give our kids a biblical education is real. Kori Pennypacker shares how her ministry, Bible2School, provides free Bible programs to help young students grow their faith in public school. Learn how to develop Christian values in our kids from an early age!  

Bring Your Bible to School Day is an annual celebration that empowers Christians to live out their faith. All it takes are two simple steps—bringing your Bible and sharing what God's Word means to you! Sign up to learn more!

Get More Episode Resources 

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.

Philippians 4:4 commands, “Be full of joy in the Lord always. Again I will say, be full of joy.”

How can you be full of joy when you’ve got bills to pay and kids to raise? Those anxious, negative thoughts? Refuse to indulge them. Grab the weed of anxiety and give it a good yank. Then before the enemy can sow a seed, remind him and yourself that you live life “in the Lord.”

If you believe you face your problems alone, you will never find deep and lasting peace. On the other hand, if you believe that you face your challenges in the Lord—in the presence of the Lord, in the name of the Lord, in the power of the Lord, in the protection of the Lord—then you can be full of joy because you are full of the Lord.

Read more Tame Your Thoughts: Three Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life

For more inspirational messages please visit Max Lucado.