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- [00:00]
Briana Nix
This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, it's Bobby Bones. You know Eddie and I recently stopped by. Yeah, in Nashville.
- [00:09]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
It's an incredible nonprofit empowering kids through music education.
- [00:12]
Briana Nix
Thanks to Hyundai.
- [00:14]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
We recorded a special podcast episode while we were there. How do you think learning an instrument helps kids with confidence? Learning an instrument allows them to discover a little bit further of who they
- [00:26]
Briana Nix
are and be comfortable with it and then share a little bit about that with others. And if it's done in an environment
- [00:33]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
that is celebrating and championing them, then that confidence can only go up.
- [00:38]
Briana Nix
The full episode is out now, presented by the Hyundai Ioniq 9.
- [00:41]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
To donate and learn more about Y
- [00:43]
Briana Nix
mission, just visit yahrocks.org support for the
- [00:48]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously.
- [00:51]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
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- [01:07]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
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- [01:44]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
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- [01:50]
Briana Nix
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- [01:53]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
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- [01:54]
Briana Nix
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- [02:01]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
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- [02:01]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
But that's weird.
- [02:03]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Okay, one judgment anyway.
- [02:06]
Briana Nix
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- [02:21]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
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- [02:50]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Notice how some homes sell faster in your neighborhood. It's not luck, it's local. Know how ReMax agents know their street schools and communities inside and out.
- [03:02]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
And with Re Max, those local pros are everywhere.
- [03:05]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Which means when you're ready to buy
- [03:06]
Briana Nix
or sell, you'll get trusted neighborhood insight
- [03:08]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
that puts you a step ahead. Reach out today reMax the experts close to home. Each office independently owned and operated. Well, it's been called the greatest story ever told. The birth of the savior of the world, Jesus. From being born in a manger to his death and resurrection. He is the love of God poured out for all of humanity. But are we really understanding the deep prophetic roots and promises that connect Jesus and the Old Testament? And what do they reveal to us today? We're going to get to that in just a moment. But first, join me. On the table is April Simons. Is this going to be interesting? It's going to be so good. I'm ready to learn. I love good teaching.
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Briana Nix
I do, too. Yeah. And I love that somebody makes it
- [04:15]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
so easy to understand. Right? For sure. Anna Kendall, how are you? I am so glad to be here with my friends. And I'm so excited about our guest today. So we're going to learn a lot. We are. Rachel Lamb Brown, how are you doing?
- [04:26]
Briana Nix
I'm good.
- [04:27]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
How are you? I'm good. I'm good. I'm excited. You know, I feel like I'm able to glean so much from just interviewing people over the years. Exactly. For me, it's like anything I can learn is like a little sponge. Yeah, exactly. And you learn that here at the table. That's right. That's right. Kendra Kelly did.
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Briana Nix
Hey, how are you today?
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Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
I'm good. I'm good.
- [04:45]
Briana Nix
I like these shows because it does connect the dots and it also shows how intentional our God is with every single detail. He cares about that. And I think that's really neat. So I'm excited to learn, too.
- [04:55]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Dorothy Newton. It's almost like the Old and New Testament. There are things that are revealed. Like every time you read and try to understand. Oh, my goodness. I mean, there's so much to comprehend. But, you know, all is not expected of us. One step at a time. Just inviting them in and just letting them lead the way. It's a beautiful thing. It really is. Well, are there hidden gems of prophecy and promises in the account of Jesus life? And how do we unlock them? Rabbi Jason is here to reveal the deep roots of the events of Jesus life found throughout the Old Testament and what they reveal to us about God's power and goodness. Welcome Rabbi Jason Sobel at the table.
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
Shalom. It's great to be with you. Than.
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Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
So good to have you. Why did you write this book?
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
Listen, I wrote this book because I believe God didn't give us the Bible just to be information, but it's meant to be revelation that leads to transformation. And I think the life of Jesus is the model for the transformation that he wants to bring about in our life. And so I think this book is meant to bring transformation and it's meant to bring hope. As we see God in all the details and the intentionality, it reminds us that our future is gonna be better than our past.
- [06:07]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Okay, so just short version of how you came to know Jesus as Messiah.
- [06:12]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Yeah. Grew up in a Jewish family. Very traditional, Very traditional. Was working in the music industry. Looked at the lives of all these famous people. Said, there has to be more to life than just this. Began the spiritual journey studying with my rabbi. Got into Eastern philosophy and meditation. I was meditating. One day, my soul left my body. I went to heaven. I encountered this king in glory on this throne. Felt the power of God in every cell of my body. He told me I was called to serve him. I realized he and my best friend. I didn't understand what that meant. Cause I never had heard the.
- [06:45]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
But he didn't fit into your Eastern philosophy.
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
He didn't fit into the Jewish part or the Eastern part. But my friend John said, jason, could you tell the difference between the Old and the New Testament? I said, sure. He read me Isaiah 53. Bruised for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities. He said, jason's out of the old and the new. I said, it must be the new. He said, no, that's the old. And I began to be provoked to jealousy. Invited me to this messianic congregation, where I got tricked into faith by saying a prayer of salvation by Rabbi Jonathan Cohen.
- [07:16]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
You know ever how the Lord can wrangle you. That's right. That's right. So there is power in praying that prayer. I mean, inviting Jesus in saying, forgive me, come into my heart.
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
Absolutely.
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Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
But you didn't realize when you were saying the prayer what you were saying?
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
I had no idea what I was doing. What I was getting myself into. But God is gracious and I'm glad. Best decision I ever made.
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Briana Nix
How did your life transform after that?
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
You know what, it was like water into wine. I was one thing, and then afterwards I was completely different. I mean spiritually, you know, just the way interacted with people around me. Just a new hope, a new joy, and really a new destiny, A new identity. A new identity, a new destiny.
- [08:02]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
You got John gave you a New Testament and you like read through it. And that was another like, yeah, yeah.
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
So they gave me this New Testament and I read it for the first time. And one of the things that blew me away was not only how Jewish Jesus was in the holidays and the prophecies, but what Jesus said to me. That encounter in heaven was actually a verse in the New Testament which I had never read. And I was like, okay, he's the one Moses and the prophets spoke of. And if that wasn't enough, one week later I get a call from a homeless friend who needs to have his legs amputated from sleeping outside in the winter. And I prayed for him, cause I just read the book of Acts, he got healed, he came to faith and he walked out hospital.
- [08:40]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Oh my goodness. Maybe we should believe in this Jesus.
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
No doubt he's real. No doubt he's real.
- [08:48]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
The thing about it, like even for people watching to understand that we all have a God shaped vacuum. And you tried all those other things, but it really wasn't filled until Jesus came in. Why is that?
- [09:00]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Listen, I think one of the interesting things like we talk about is that the word for sickness in the Bible literally means to bore out or to make hollow. So sickness comes whether spiritually, emotional, physically or relationally. When there is a hole, a hole creates a vacuum. God creates space. Space needs to be filled. If we don't fill it with God, if we don't fill it with the good, then other things come and occupy that space.
- [09:30]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Because he's our creator.
- [09:31]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Because he's our creator and something has to fill space. And that's why even when Jesus cast out the demons, he said, listen, if you don't do good, the more will come back in return. Right? So I think what happens when we invite Jesus in, he takes the place in our heart that has holes and he begins to fill those holes and he begins to make us whole. The holes in his hands leads to us becoming whole spiritually and emotionally.
- [09:59]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Well, I mean, and he gives us that peace that passes all understanding. All understanding. Okay, so let's talk a little bit about the Birth and the death of Jesus. The significance of that. You talk about that in the book. It's so fascinating and simple, yet profound. And I like it that that's what Jesus was. He would teach simple things to understand through parables, et cetera. And yet they would be so profound. And you would go home and, like, chew on it and like, oh, wow, there's more revelation there.
- [10:28]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Yeah. There's so much more of the story that we miss out on.
- [10:31]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And we want to hear it.
- [10:32]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, so think about it for a mom. I mean, people think he's born in a wooden stable, he's placed in a wooden manger. He's not. He's born in Bethlehem, but he's born in a cave and he's wrapped in swaddling cloth.
- [10:48]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
How do you know he was in a cave?
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
Well, first of all, we know that from the oldest tradition and one of the oldest churches in the world we love taking people to Israel is the Church of the Nativity, and it's built over the cave where Jesus was born. So there's no question. The undisputed belief from the early church till the present day is he's born in a cave.
- [11:11]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Right.
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
And this is so important why? Because these were not ordinary shepherds. They were Levitical shepherds. The flock in Bethlehem was to be used as the sacrifices in the temple.
- [11:23]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Wow.
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
And the lambs primarily were being raised as the Passover lambs. And you can still go there today and see how the shepherd used these caves to birth the lambs and to keep the lambs when their weather was bad. So they find Jesus born in the. These Levitical shepherds find Jesus born in the same caves where the Passover lambs were born. Right. He's born in a cave, a stone cave, a stone feeding trough, the manger. And he's buried in a stone cave at his death. So his birth connects to his death. And then not only that, the second sign is he's gonna. A baby wrapped in swaddling cloth. Well, why is that so significant? Every child was swaddled when they were bor. Well, think about it for a moment. He's swaddled in his birth in linen garments. Because both at his entrance and at his exit, he's wrapped in linen garments at his death. So his beginning points to his end.
- [12:24]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Yes.
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
And it's the same type of garments the high priest would wore simple linen garments on the day of atonement. He is the great high priest both at his birth and in his death. But there's still, something more. I don't believe he was born wrapped in ordinary garments. I believe he's wrapped in priestly garments. Because when the priestly garments were too worn to be used, they had to be repurposed because they were holy. The number one thing they'd be used for was to make the wicks for the seven branch candelabra in the temple, the menorah, God's presence among his people. Well, I believe Jesus was wrapped in priestly garments as a sign to the Levitical shepherds. But where did they get it from? Well, who's Mary's cousin? It's who Elizabeth. And her husband is Zechariah, and he was a what priest? And when Mary walked in, what happened to the child? And she knew he was pregnant with the Messiah. And they knew. This is my belief, but it's. But there has to be a reason why the swaddling cloth is a specific sign from angels in heaven. I believe they knew the Messiah was not only going to be a king, but a priest, and they gave him priestly garments to point to his role as a priest.
- [13:29]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
She would have had those with her, probably on the journey.
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
Of course. Yes, I believe so. Yeah.
- [13:33]
Briana Nix
Sandra, you hear the story, right? You tell the story every year around Christmas time. But whenever you hear the specifics and whenever you understand, every detail matters. Yeah.
- [13:44]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Yes. The salt. You didn't mention the salt.
- [13:46]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Yeah, yeah. So part of the. What's interesting is part of the swaddling process was the salting of the baby. Why? Because before antibiotics, salt kills bacteria. So mother and baby were salted. But what's interesting is that salt represents so much more. He's born in Bethlehem. Why? Because he's fulfilling the promise that one of David's descendants would sit on the throne. God makes a covenant with David. And what type of covenant? 2nd Samuel 7 tells us by a salt covenant. So he's fulfilling the salt covenant. But also every sacrifice in the temple has to be salted. He's not only swaddled like one of the Passover lambs, he's salted like one of the sacrifices that is going to be offered. But most importantly, that sacrifice that. That salting points to. And what's also interesting is that even today on the Sabbath, every Friday night, we say the blessing over the bread and we pour salt on it and we say, who brings forth bread from the earth? Well, Jesus is the bread that comes forth from the earth. He's born in Bethlehem, which means house of bread. He's the bread of heaven, and he's salted. Like we salt the bread every Shabbat on the table. He's fulfilling that. But in ancient Near Eastern culture, salt symbolizes friendship.
- [15:03]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And Bethlehem means what?
- [15:04]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
House of bread. Yeah. And the beautiful thing about him being born in the house of bread, salted as a sacrifice is that salt represents friendship. People would say if they were close friends, there's salt between us. And so he comes to make us friends of God. Part of the salting is the point that he comes to make us friends of God and to be these salt
- [15:25]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
of friends, not only to forgive us, but to make us friends of God to have a relationship where the veil can be torn from the top to the bottom and we can go directly to the Father because of that sacrifice. Okay, so do you remember in the New Testament when they said, how many times a day should we forgive? And Jesus said, 70 times 7. Now break that down to where. And the other thing is. And the other thing is, we want to learn about that, don't we, girls?
- [15:52]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Yeah. I mean, it's pretty amazing because to understand. And again, Jesus is very intentional in everything he does and everything he says. Every detail is there for a reason. And Hebrew is alphanumeric. There are no Roman numerals in the Bible. The way that you write numbers is with Hebrew letters. So if I say open the chapter one, I'd say open the chapter olive, because olive is the first letter of the Alphabet. It has a numerical value, 1. So every word has a numerical value. Well, why Does Jesus say 490 is the number we have to forgive? He's very specific. Because the numerical value of Bethlehem is 490. The numerical value of Nativity in Hebrew is 490. And the numerical value to be perfect or complete equals 490.
- [16:37]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
How do you get that?
- [16:38]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
So if you add up. So for example, if you add up the letters in Bethlehem. Bethlehem, if you add up all the letters in that, that's what it equals. So, like, for example, if I say. Here's an example. If I say the word love, for example, Aleph is 1. Hey is 5, Beit is 2. If you add up all the letters in that name, it equals 13. So which is the number of love? That's why First Corinthians, chapter 13 is the love chapter with 13, because love, Aleph, Beit. Okay, if you add up all the letters, it equals 13, right? And 13 is also the numerical value to be one Echad. Because love 13 is about becoming one. 13. Right? So if you add up all the letters in the Hebrew beit lehem, it equals 490. Or the letters in Tammim equals 490. Right. So why is that important? Because. Because bread and forgiveness are connected. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us of our trespasses. At the Last Supper, he breaks the bread. This is my body broken for you. And then he says, 70 times 7.
- [17:59]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Right.
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Rabbi Jason Sobel
So reason why Jesus says 490 is it represents the complete forgiveness that Jesus brings as the perfect 490 Passover lamb who's born in Bethlehem. 490. And so it points to what he does for us. The complete forgiveness, Forgiveness and freedom. And also that we're called to forgive others as he forgave us.
- [18:23]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And connect that to the cross and what happened. Connect all of that together.
- [18:28]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Yeah. And so what's interesting is that, you know, people don't ask the question, like, why did Jesus have to die on a cross? If he died on a cross, there's a reason why he died on a cross. What's the deeper spiritual meaning? Well, think about it. How did sin enter the world? Man and woman took from the tree. So God put Jesus on the cross. And cross in Greek literally is the word tree, Zulan. He dies on the tree because we stole from the tree. So in order to make right what they did wrong, Jesus has to be the apple, in a sense, put back or whatever the fruit was back on the tree for you and me.
- [19:03]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
That redeemed it.
- [19:04]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
That redeemed it. He reverses it.
- [19:06]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Yes.
- [19:06]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
And so we can't fix it, but he does. So why are his hands pierced? Because our hands took from the tree. And so his hands were pierced for the sin of our hands taking in the beginning. Why is his side pierced? Because Paul calls him the last Adam. But who led Adam into temptation? It was Eve. And where was she taken from?
- [19:28]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
From his side.
- [19:29]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
So he has his side pierced. Cause he's making atonement for the woman, the one taken from the side. And more than that, he's birthing the new Eve, which is the church. So he's atoning for the first Eve, but he's the Adam. He. He's birthing the new Eve, which is the church. The new one taken from the side. His feet are pierced. Why? Because. What's the first messianic prophecy? The seed of the woman would what, crush the head of the serpent. So Satan's mocking the promises of God, not realizing he's actually fulfilling God's plan by nailing his feet to that tree. Crown of thorns. What's the sign of the curse of Creation. The ground will produce what, thorns and thistles. He's literally taking the curse of creation on his head to reverse it and to restore the blessing. And we get into these details of transformed by the Messiah. And there's more. Listen. Even when it says, it's all in the book, folks. Yeah, listen.
- [20:20]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And you can just rewind and listen again. Cause I'm watching Hendra. She's got her mouth open the whole time while he's telling all this. This is so good.
- [20:29]
Briana Nix
It's hard to believe, like, the intricacy
- [20:32]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
and the details of, like, the word of God and how it. Like, all the prophetic type and shadows and how it all links together. And, like, truly understanding that and hearing that just. It makes God so much more real. You know what I mean?
- [20:46]
Briana Nix
Because he covered everything. He fixed everything. He didn't leave any gape, any hole, no crack. He fixed it all. Why was it so important that Jesus had to wait to be 30 to start his ministry? I always wondered why he couldn't start a little bit earlier, in his 20s.
- [21:00]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And also the discouraging. Was there something to that as well?
- [21:03]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, there's. To all of it, right? I mean, what's amazing is because the more I study, the more I see every single detail. There's not a detail that doesn't have layers and layers of meaning.
- [21:17]
Briana Nix
You know, Rabbi, we have.
- [21:19]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
For years, my husband and I taught on marriage. And what we would say is that when Jesus was pierced in the side, that he bled for marriage, and that was his shed blood to restore marriage. Well, I just watched the passion, but the scourging, you know, with the. That was just almost impossible to watch. I watched it this past weekend. I'm like, why did I listen to Joni? I cried the entire time. But it's so good. It's so good. Yes. So good as well. What about that?
- [21:46]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Yeah, I mean, think about it for a moment. It's a fulfillment of Isaiah 53 that says, by his stripes we are healed. So he has to be. He has to have those stripes. But then think about this as well. Jesus institutes the communion. We call it the Last Supper, but technically was the Passover Seder. So it's the last Passover. So what does he take? He takes the matzah. Look at the physical characteristics of the matzah. It's pierced, it's striped, it's bruised, and it's broken. Literally, the matzah is striped, and it points to his body. The bread of life is striped, just like the Matzah is striped, which points to his body being pure striped bruise, broken for our sins, and that his brokenness leads to our wholeness and that by partaking of him we find life. And I think it's important that he had these stripes. He had these holes. And I think his holes lead to our healing.
- [22:50]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Right? Amen. Yeah. And seeing the visual of that, Dorothy, just made it so much clearer. Clearer. You clarified so much. You know, I thought I knew a lot, but I'm sitting here feeling empty,
- [23:03]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
you know what I mean?
- [23:04]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Because there's so much. The way you explain it and clarify, it's a beautiful thing. I think, too, that God is so much in the details and he did so much for us. And all it takes of us, if we don't know God, is just simply calling out to him and we can accept him into our hearts and live forever with Him. And I think of the extent, like you said, Dorothy, all that we've heard that you explained is just amazing. But God did it for each of us, and each of us can have him as our own Father. He did. How can you not believe in God when exactly all these existing. Well, I mean, but there are people watching right now that you just kind of started watching. You're like, who are these people here? What are they talking about? Who's the guy with the hat on? What is the deal? But it really is just as simple that. I mean, Christianity is something that helps you to understand that God did everything. He sent his son to die on the cross for us, for our sin. And it's a free gift. And a lot of people don't understand other religions. You have to do something or you have to give something or you have to die. But it's not that way with what we're talking about. Would you just look in the camera and just pray a simple prayer? We'll repeat after you and just explain why this prayer is so important for someone watching right now.
- [24:22]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Listen, the scripture is very clear that if you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth, you find salvation. And salvation isn't just the promise that one day when you die, you're going to go to heaven. It's the promise of abundant life, both now and in the future. When he dies on that cross, he dies to bring spiritual, emotional, relational, and physical healing and wholeness into your life. And that's why believing in Jesus and what he's done for us is so important. But he gives it to us as a free gift. But we have to be willing to receive it and the way that we receive it is we pray and ask him to come into our lives and to come into our heart, and we'll do that now. But that's that invitation to you. He stands at the door. He knocks. He wants to come in and have this relationship with you and bring healing and transformation. But we have to know that we can't save ourselves. We can't heal ourselves. We can't reform our life. We need his presence and power to do it for us. And so if you want this reality of transformation and eternal life, then just pray this prayer with me. Say, heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus. That he died for me in my place, that he was buried for me, that he rose from the dead, that I might find abundant life, forgiveness of sins, healing and transformation. I invite you into my heart right now. I believe you are Lord and Savior.
- [26:14]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
I believe you are our Lord and Savior.
- [26:16]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
I ask that you bring that wholeness to me right now.
- [26:20]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
I ask that you bring that wholeness to me right now.
- [26:22]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Spiritually, physically, emotionally, and relationally. I ask these things in the name of Jesus, my Messiah.
- [26:32]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Jesus the Messiah.
- [26:33]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Amen.
- [26:34]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Amen. Amen. I want to say that for those of you that prayed that prayer, we're so excited about what God has for you. He has an incredible plan and purpose for you being on the earth right now. I think that's important for you to understand. That prayer not only prepares us for heaven one day because we're all going to die, but it also enables us to go through doors and connect to the One who created us and be used in a way that we may have never even imagined. Is that true?
- [27:05]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Yeah, absolutely. What I love about what Jesus does for us, and I talk about it in the book, is that there's so many levels of transformation that he wants to bring. He doesn't just want to save our soul. Yes. He wants to transform our entire being. So I had this encounter, right? And the Lord said to me one day, he says to me, jason, who do you say that I am? You know, And I'm thinking, like, Caesarea Philippi. When Jesus asked the disciples, like, lord, you're the Messiah. You're. He said, no, Jason. He goes, that's not what I'm saying to you. He said, I'm not saying, who do you say that I am? I'm asking you, Lord, who do you say I, Jason, am?
- [27:43]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Wow.
- [27:44]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Because identity is destiny. The two most important questions in his life is, who is Jesus? And the second is, who does he say we are in light of what it is that he's done for us. And when we receive him, he transforms our identity. We go from being. We go from being like slaves and servants to becoming sons and daughters. We go from being sinners to becoming transformed saints in Him. We go from living, from fear to faith. We go from death to life, from cursed to blessed. He transforms our identity. And then he gives us a new destiny. There is a very specific call and purpose on our life when you come to know on every single person's life. And one of the things, this beautiful thing, we talk about it in the chapter on Pentecost, he gives us the Holy Spirit.
- [28:41]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Yes.
- [28:41]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
The beautiful thing about that is in the Old Testament, only prophet priests and kings got the Holy Spirit if you were being selected for a specific divine assignment. But here's the beautiful thing. When Jesus calls us to follow him like he did the disciples, and again, we talk about in the Book, he invites us onto the team. If you believe in him, Guess what? You're on team Jesus. You made the cut. You didn't get cut from the team. You're on the team.
- [29:10]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
You're on the A team.
- [29:11]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
You're on the A team. And there's something better, right? I love basketball. I made the basketball team. It's great to make the team, but let me tell you, it sucks if you make the team and you sit on the bench, right? No one is called to sit on the bench. Everyone is called to get in the game. And the proof is he's given us the Holy Spirit. That means he's empowered us for a purpose. Not to sit on the bench, but to do what he did. And that's a promise. Greater things than these you can do.
- [29:40]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Yeah. So good. Well, will you come back and we'll pick another subject Love to dissect. And you can say, and what you don't know is, da, da, da. And then. And I want to point out this, y' all love that, right? So good. So good. Well, we're out of time. But when we look at the Bible from COVID to cover, we see some powerful, important truths. That God has a plan. He has a plan for your life. And he loves each and every one of us and he keeps his promises. I promise you, if you trust in Jesus, you'll never be the same. And you'll feel his presence every day. And you'll understand that he wants to have a personal relationship with you where you can talk to him. You can read the word of God. He can speak to you and you can hear that still small voice that wants to have a relationship with you more than anything. If you're watching and you're thinking, I want these promises for my life, all it takes is a surrendered heart and inviting Jesus to be lord of your life. And that's exactly what happened with Jason just a few moments ago. If you prayed that prayer, let us know. I want to send you the gospel of John. It's just a free gift to get you started on your walk of faith. And if you're watching today and you need prayer over any area of your life, maybe you're going through something, maybe you're believing God for something, maybe you just need prayer about a certain situation. That's why we're here. That's why the number's on the screen. Our prayer partners are standing by, ready to pray with you. I want to thank Rabbi Jason for joining us today. Be sure you pick up a copy of his book transformed by the messiah. How old and new testament Jesus connections reveal God's intentional story for your life. It's a fascinating read. He's such a great Bible teacher. For more, you can visit him online at Fusion Global. Be sure to follow us on all social media. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for full episodes, exclusive content and let us know how table talk is touching your life. You can also listen to the Joni table talk podcast available on all the major platforms. I want to thank you for watching. I'm excited for those of you that prayed that prayer. I do believe that the best is yet to come. So you be encouraged today. We'll see you next time.
- [31:42]
Briana Nix
Bye Bye for today.
- [32:16]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Well, she's a singer songwriter whose voice has been heard by millions around the world. From church pews to American Idol, Please welcome Brianna nix. As she sings another mile.
- [32:32]
Briana Nix
Pieces shattered like a pile Life can be as cold and hard as concrete and every reason not to keep on moving Every time the ground pulls you out from under your feet oh take it step by step oh, I keep
- [33:06]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
doing myself
- [33:09]
Briana Nix
A little more storm til the sun shines Little more sea to the shoreline hold on, hold tight Everything's gonna be all right A little more hope when it's running out Little more faith to kill the town Another cheer for another smile when you wanna give up go another. Reaching Fighting through that feeling I'm trying to control everything that I can change oh take it step by step oh I keep telling myself A little more storm till the sunshine Little more sea to the shoreline hold on, hold tight Everything's going to be all right A little more hope when it's running out Little more faith to kill the town Another chip on another smile when you want to give up go another mile Another dance another try another fall and another foul. Oh, Little more storm till the sun shines Little more sea to the shoreline hold on, hold tight Everything's going to be all right A little more hope when it's running out Little more faith to kill me down Another cheer for another song when you want to give up go another mouth.
- [35:31]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Well, from a broken home to healing through music. Briana Nix is proof that God can rewrite any story Today. She's here to share how the lord carried her from rejection to restoration and how he's using her voice to bring hope to millions. But before we get to that, join me on the table. Cindy Johnston. Hello. We love music, don't we?
- [35:50]
Briana Nix
Oh, yes.
- [35:51]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And I love American idol. I watched our guests. I voted every week, and I had my husband vote every week.
- [35:59]
Briana Nix
You voted every week for her every week?
- [36:00]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Yes, every week. But I was so touched by her love for Jesus, and she shined so bright on that. She really did. Anna Kendall. Yes. She is beautiful. And music heals, doesn't it? Music heals our souls. It really does. Rachel Ann Brown. Hi. American idol. Did you ever watch? You know, I watched, like, back in the day, but I haven't in a while. But from hearing the chatter at the table. You're gonna go back and watch that? I need to go back and watch it.
- [36:27]
Briana Nix
You too. You guys are amazing today.
- [36:29]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
That's right. Dorothy Newton. How are you? Dorothy and I watched it. I hope it's the right show where they did an Easter program with cece singing. That was American idol. Oh, my goodness. That was the best. I mean, the entire show was all about Christ. It was beautiful. It was good. It's good. Everyone, welcome. Briana, welcome to the table. So good to have you.
- [36:50]
Briana Nix
It's so good to be here. I'm so excited.
- [36:52]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
She said, well, I would rather do anything than the interview. Just let me sing. I said, but you're gonna have fun here at the table. You shared a little bit of your story on American idol, But it wasn't always easy growing up. Talk a little bit about that.
- [37:04]
Briana Nix
It's crazy for me to talk about it because I just never dreamed that, first of all, the lord would restore me in a place to be able to talk about it. But just growing up, I came from a typical broken home. I didn't have a father in my life. My mom struggled with alcohol. My cousin struggled with drugs. It was just a very Familiar thing for us. And we would just throw Jesus in there every once in a while and call ourselves Christians and so.
- [37:28]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
So did you ever get wrapped up in any of that since it was all around you?
- [37:32]
Briana Nix
I did. It was about like 10, 11 years old when I started really questioning like why things didn't make sense. Like this man, that is my stepdad, I found out was not really my dad. And so I started asking questions like, okay, well where is he? And then I came and found out from my mom, you know, she finally broke and told me. And from that moment, I remember it was in our car when she told me that. And I just had this like, it felt like I was like stabbed in the heart and it was a wound and I carried that wound. And when I was around, you know, like 15, 16 years old, you know, I got wrapped up in the high school typical stuff, you know, drugs and drinking and partying and trying to run away from my mom. And I didn't want anything to do with God at all because the people, like I said in my family that you know, claim to have him, they'd never lived the life that showed him. And it really just turned me off.
- [38:22]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Right.
- [38:22]
Briana Nix
So I was like, absolutely not, there's no way. And I was kind of trying to run the opposite way, but also trying to feel what was missing inside. And I didn't know how.
- [38:31]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Yeah, because you know, there's a God shaped vacuum in all of us that only God can feel. And you heard about him, but you hadn't really seen him as far as a human being on this earth walking out a Christian life that was real and authentic. So how did you kind of come to know the Lord after going through that?
- [38:50]
Briana Nix
It's kind of a crazy story because it's like in between of a mix of rebellion and also like kind of coming back walking. I was just very confused. But I remember my nephew, he really sick and we were told, you know, that we would have to move into an hour radius of his children hospital that he was having to attend for, you know, procedures and stuff like that. So not only was I dealing with like, you know, my family, the issues, and then also the rejection from my dad. But then I got moved from a place that was home into a location I had no idea anybody, you know, at all. I didn't have any friends, nothing. And anyways, I remember my mom, she got ahold of the Lord at that time. The Lord really dealt with her and she gave up alcohol. Had her last drink when I was 12. But at the she threw me into the church. Oh, I was mad. I was angry. She made me go every single Friday night. Whether I liked it or not is
- [39:38]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
what she told me. But God really did love her.
- [39:41]
Briana Nix
He did. It was when she made that commitment that it changed my destiny, Seriously. And my whole family's destiny. And I'm so thankful that she yielded, because even though it was rough and it was hard, and she went through all these things, you know, she had to surrender first so I could get a taste of it.
- [39:56]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Yeah. So what do you think? Because you're kind of rebellious about going to church, but at some point, God began to deal with you.
- [40:02]
Briana Nix
He sure did. I remember I was coming to Youth on Friday night and trying to go just to see the boys and just hang out. And I remember we were in a school.
- [40:12]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
I've interviewed the boys before, the men before, who said they went to youth group just to meet the girl. Now we met a girl that just went to meet the boys.
- [40:20]
Briana Nix
Yeah, we all did. Exactly. But I remember I kept going. And it was one Friday in particular. I didn't really know what the Holy Spirit felt like. But I remember I was sitting in the chair and the worship kind of just broke out, and people were going to the altars early, and I was sitting there, and I just felt so, like, even to this moment, I remember how I felt just so heavy with peace and fire. It was like the same combination.
- [40:46]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
It's almost like the Holy Spirit wrapping a blanket around.
- [40:49]
Briana Nix
Oh, it was like. It was just like warmth. I don't know. And it was just a peaceful warmth. And I remember sitting, and I'm like, you know, like, I don't know what this is.
- [40:57]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
What is this?
- [40:57]
Briana Nix
It was like an urge to get up and go to the altars. And so I remember I got up and went to the altars, and I'll never forget, I had two friends that were standing beside me. And she said, brianna, do you know Jesus? And I said, yeah, I know Jesus. You know, I looked at her real angry. She said, but do you know him? Do you have a relationship? Is he here? And I was like, no, I don't want to. And she's like, but he's calling you. Do you want to? She asked me again. I said, yeah, I want to. You know? So she led me. Sorry, I'm emotional already. But she led me into, you know, the Sinner's Prayer. And I remember that same night I actually got filled with the Holy Ghost. So it was just crazy. I basked in the presence of the Lord. I sat there, I gave my life to him, surrendered, and I got filled with the Holy Spirit that night.
- [41:38]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Oh, wow. And how old were you at that point, Brianna?
- [41:41]
Briana Nix
12, but, you know, I was 12. Wow. But the thing I was mentioning earlier, I was really. The thing that really stumbled me for a while was my dad, even to this past year. But I remember, you know, I gave my life to Christ. I was doing really, really good. But the devil would come in and he would use the same thing to get me off. And I would feel it and have questions. So then I would turn to what everyone else in my family turned to because I was still hurting. You know, he was my savior, but I was still hurting. I didn't know how to give this to him. And so I got into alcohol. I got into, you know, small drugs and stuff like that when I was like 15, 16. So it was a very roller coaster ride. And when I got to like 18, 19, 20 in that range, that's when I feel like I matured and had an understanding better of the Word. And that's when I think the relationship actually, like, blossomed with Christ, if that makes sense.
- [42:31]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Absolutely.
- [42:31]
Briana Nix
You know what I mean?
- [42:32]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
So you started to really mature and grow in the things of God. And I think it's hard sometimes, Rachel, don't you think, in the church, when we see someone have an encounter with God and we just think there's going to be on the straight and narrow, but we have to understand as human beings, they might fall. You just pick yourself back up again. Right. It doesn't mean you don't love Jesus. Right? Yeah. I'm so grateful for the grace of Jesus that constantly is calling us back home. And the price that he paid for
- [42:59]
Briana Nix
us on the cross is in the.
- [43:01]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
For anything that we might ever do. And all we have to do is surrender our heart again and again and again. And he's always waiting with open arms. When did you feel like that you got to a place where you didn't run to the things of the world, addictions, to try to feel the pain. Did the Lord begin to heal that?
- [43:20]
Briana Nix
He really started. Honestly, like, it's. I feel like I'm a broken record, but I'm very stuck. And my husband's probably going to be so shocked that I'm admitting this, but I am so stubborn.
- [43:31]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Husband. Don't watch this. Don't watch this part right here.
- [43:33]
Briana Nix
And very hardheaded. And there was things that, you know, the Lord would really. At the time, I didn't understand what conviction was either, but he would bring to me, asking me to surrender. And I just was really having a hard time yielding. But then, you know, over the course of, you know, my relationship, as it blossomed, and I learned what sanctification was and justification and the difference between it and being righteous and all these kind of things, you know, I was able to yield, but I still struggled. You know, we're all human. We still struggle to this day. But it has been easier as I have fallen in love with him and gotten to know his true character and know that God is not trying to take these things out of my life so I could be miserable, but instead, he's trying to take them out so I can actually be happier, you know, and be blessed and have favor and see what he's trying to do in my life.
- [44:16]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
So eventually, a young man came into your life. Tell us about him.
- [44:21]
Briana Nix
He is the best. He's amazing.
- [44:23]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
He loves Jesus. He does.
- [44:25]
Briana Nix
And he's a really big part of. Of my testimony, honestly. I remember I was dating a boy. I broke up with him from the youth group, and it was like, two weeks later, I'm like, I'm never dating a boy ever again. This is the stupidest thing. And I went to my pastor, and I'm like, I'm never gonna get married. Well, anyways, two weeks later, I met my husband. And I didn't know he was gonna be my husband, but he did. We were at McAllister's, and I had a friend's car who broke down. And I was like, what's going on? Like, what's happening? He walked over and put himself into my car window. And I'm like, you're weird.
- [44:59]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
You know?
- [45:00]
Briana Nix
And he was like, you know, talking to me, and I'm like, where are you from? And he's like, oklahoma. And I'm like, that makes sense.
- [45:05]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Why?
- [45:05]
Briana Nix
You're just like, all in my space. You're from Oklahoma. You don't know any better. Like, Texas, Oklahoma rivalry. But anyways, long story short, he ended up getting my number from a girl in my youth group, and we started chatting that night and that very same night through, like, an Instagram message. He was like, I don't really want a relationship right now. I'm not ready for it. I gotta get finances together, all this stuff. But you will be my wife, and we'll be talking soon.
- [45:26]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
What?
- [45:28]
Briana Nix
You are the weirdest guy in the whole world. You know, you're not even my type.
- [45:32]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
You know, listen, when you make Rachel's mouth go open, you know, she's been shocked Right?
- [45:38]
Briana Nix
Yeah.
- [45:39]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Wow. I love that. But did that make you run so far?
- [45:42]
Briana Nix
Cause that was. It was weird. Yeah, I was definitely like, you're so weird, you know? But you kind of liked it a little bit. I did.
- [45:49]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
A little bit.
- [45:50]
Briana Nix
I was like, wait, he's playing hard to get, you know? So it kind of raised a little, you know, eyebrows. So, like, be curious about him. But it was funny. Cause, you know, back in the day, Snapchat was, like, a huge way for people to talk and stuff. And so I went ahead and added him that night on Snapchat, forgot about him, put him in the dust. And I remember one day I randomly sat on, like, a streak, you know, where it's just like, it goes to all your friends and kind of like, shows you what you're doing. And he texts me back, and he's like, oh, you just can't get enough of me. And I'm like, who is this guy? You know? And then I realized it was Zach, Austin, you know, my husband, you know, and he's like, can I just call you for a second? I just want to talk. And I was like, sure. And we didn't ever stop talking. That was the conversation.
- [46:28]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
That's how, you know. And so you were married, like, how soon after that?
- [46:32]
Briana Nix
A year after that? Yeah, we got engaged six months into dating, and it was like, three weeks in when I finally, like, kind of felt it, too. Like, this is my husband.
- [46:41]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And what. What about the God card in all of this?
- [46:44]
Briana Nix
The God card in that is Austin. Like, even to this day, like, of course we still have our ups and downs. It's marriage. Marriage is, you know, marriage. He has been the rock I never had.
- [46:57]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Yeah.
- [46:58]
Briana Nix
Like, in so many different situations. I've never had a man pray over me before in my life. And when he did that, it was kind of just, like, the weirdest but best feeling in the world. He has. He has helped me deal with my trauma. He's helped me understand scripture. You know, like, I had the Bible and all these things and trying to study it, but he's really helped me break it down and learn. And he's just, like, the best father, and he leads our home. You know, he's just. He's amazing. He's awesome. He's definitely my. My God card.
- [47:25]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
How long have you guys been married?
- [47:26]
Briana Nix
We just celebrated six years and.
- [47:28]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Six years. Okay, so when did the American Idol. When did that happen?
- [47:32]
Briana Nix
Yeah, just this past year. So it's been.
- [47:34]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
So how did. Did you want to do it? Did he want you to do it. You were singing in church, right?
- [47:39]
Briana Nix
Yeah.
- [47:40]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
You always loved to sing.
- [47:41]
Briana Nix
I have always loved to sing. It's just been my outlet to deal with all the stuff I was dealing with. And he's also like, that's another thing that I feel is so God ordained. Is he putting. He plays basically any instrument he can pick up. So not fair.
- [47:54]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
So he's encouraging you?
- [47:55]
Briana Nix
Oh, he accompanies me all the time. Like, we'll do worship events and he's like, either on the piano or over here on the guitar or whatever. It's a God card, you know, to fulfill.
- [48:04]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Okay, so how did you get the audition? Did you want to do it? Did he want you to do it? Did your mom want you to do it?
- [48:09]
Briana Nix
It was funny because I was going through a situation where I was having a really hard time walking for a while, and so I was kind of bed bound for a hot minute. And, you know, when you're in a desperate place, you really just like, seek prayer and seek your relationship. And I remember it was really, really late night one night and I was on Facebook and I saw an ad pop up and it was an American Idol ad to go audition. And I just felt like the holy spirit pricked me and was like, go get a video. You know, that we actually backing up a little bit. Felt already prompted from the holy spirit to start posting on social media. So he kind of brought that to my attention. Go get a video that you've already posted and submit it. Didn't tell no one about it. I was afraid I was going to get rejected of it. So I didn't mention it to Austin nobody.
- [48:50]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
You little sneaky thing.
- [48:52]
Briana Nix
Excuse me. Yeah. And then it was like a month later. Totally forgot that I even put a submission tape in. I was in the bed and I went on my emails to go help someone with like a coaching thing that I was doing. And I saw this notification. I was like, what? And they're like, we love you. We want to see you for another audition. I got a pillow and I'm like, wake up. I want to be on American Idol. And he's like, what? You know, and so it's just been a crazy ride.
- [49:17]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Did you have a child by then?
- [49:18]
Briana Nix
I did, yeah.
- [49:20]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Yeah.
- [49:20]
Briana Nix
So it's like just crazy rides.
- [49:21]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Okay, so you went for the audition. What happened?
- [49:24]
Briana Nix
They gave me a yes. All three yeses.
- [49:26]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Three.
- [49:26]
Briana Nix
And I have not had a chance to breathe ever since. Oh, yeah. And like, God told me it was so weird because. And my mom, my whole family can testify to this. I said, I don't know how far this means, I said, but God told me I'm going to go all the way. All the way. I was like, maybe that's the winner or the last episode. And, you know, it was the very last episode. But he kept me and he kept his word.
- [49:46]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
So you ended it in the.
- [49:48]
Briana Nix
I did, yeah. Talk about your life after American Idol.
- [49:51]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Cause you didn't win, but you placed top three. Yes. What doors has the Lord opened since then?
- [49:55]
Briana Nix
So my very first single that I've ever been able to put out in the world reached number one in country and Christian radio in Billboard. That's awesome. That was so cool.
- [50:03]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
What's the name of it?
- [50:04]
Briana Nix
Higher.
- [50:05]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
Higher. Okay.
- [50:05]
Briana Nix
So that was really cool. I've been able to write my own music and I'm working on some really, really cool things right now. But I just released my second new song called Another Mile, and it's just been amazing. I've been able to sing at the Grand Ole Opry and just go to different events, women conferences, and encourage women in testimony and singing.
- [50:24]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
So what's your, like, greatest dream or
- [50:27]
Briana Nix
goal now for your life? I have a vision in my heart, but I believe that the Lord has revealed to me. And I don't know when, don't know how it's going to work out, but I have a vision where there's 10,000, 15,000 women in a room and I am leading worship. And someone's going to come and do a devotion and there's going to be different women that share testimonies, and women are going to be set free from rejection. They're going to be set free from anxiety and bondage, drugs, all the things that tried. The enemy tried to take my family.
- [50:58]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And that's your testimony?
- [51:00]
Briana Nix
Yes.
- [51:00]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
So you're going to. You're going to share that testimony? That's my biggest challenge. And you're going to sing.
- [51:04]
Briana Nix
Yeah, yeah.
- [51:06]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And are you available for like, some of these women's conferences to do that?
- [51:09]
Briana Nix
Yeah, I am for sure. You just got to book me and we'll get it going and we'll have a great time in the Lord.
- [51:15]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And Austin will come and play. He will.
- [51:18]
Briana Nix
He will.
- [51:18]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And you'll bring the little. How old is he now?
- [51:20]
Briana Nix
He'll be five in February.
- [51:22]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
What goodness. Can you believe? That's awesome.
- [51:25]
Briana Nix
It's crazy.
- [51:25]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
You know, Jodie, you mentioned the God
- [51:27]
Briana Nix
shaped vacuum that we all have before we meet the Lord.
- [51:31]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And when we try to fill it with relationships or drugs or alcohol or whatever, it doesn't make the vacuum smaller. It gets bigger. The more things we try to fill it that are of the world, it makes it bigger. Because you did that, right? I did that before you came to the Lord. We only fill it with God, and that's the only thing that will work. So everybody who's trying to fill it
- [51:51]
Briana Nix
with whatever, that vacuum is getting bigger
- [51:54]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
and bigger and bigger until you give it to God, let him fill it.
- [51:58]
Briana Nix
There is, like, an image that I saw years back, and I experienced it when I finally surrendered and let go of this stuff, especially with my dad. And it was Jesus. He had this gigantic teddy bear behind his back, and there was, you know, a kid representing us, and he had this small teddy bear. And he was like, God, I don't want to give up. But behind Jesus had this gigantic thing in store. And that's exactly what it is. It's like you feel like. But I'm feeling all this stuff, and this is filling it up and making me feel better. But in return, it's like God has so much more, so much more. Peace, deliverance, and freedom. The great truth is not what we
- [52:35]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
give up, it's what we get.
- [52:36]
Briana Nix
Exactly.
- [52:37]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
That's the great truth. So good. What was your mom's reaction to all of this? Just to see how far that you've come.
- [52:43]
Briana Nix
She was there. She's hilarious. Yeah, she is so funny. Like, someday she'd be like, oh, I don't know, Brianna. If you're gonna make it. I figured out, she's like, you're gonna
- [52:51]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
go all the way.
- [52:52]
Briana Nix
She was always, like, back and forth.
- [52:54]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
You know, she's telling everybody, vote. She's on tonight.
- [52:56]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
Vote.
- [52:57]
Briana Nix
She's like, making like she had, like, 15 phones. I'm just kidding. She was my greatest supporter, too.
- [53:02]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
I love that. What did you hear that people were saying about you? Why were they voting for you?
- [53:08]
Briana Nix
One of the biggest things that really stuck out to me is they would say, I just love how unapologet you are about your faith and how you are not afraid to share where you've been broken and how God has restored you. And I mentioned at the very beginning of this is I never, ever could have dreamed that God could have picked and put my heart back the way he has. And I've been able to talk about it, you know, so people to say that I'm just like, that's only a God thing.
- [53:36]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
You're such a beautiful, beautiful person. I mean, I can tell inside and out. And God, God has greater plans for you, Greater than anything you could ever imagine. So my question is, you know, what are some practical things that you're doing to stay grounded in your faith so that you can continue to walk in everything that God has planned for you?
- [53:58]
Briana Nix
So, like, the biggest thing, I think, is that personal devotional time. It's just like you're never too. I don't know, like, you never know too much about the Word. You can read a scripture 40 times and learn something every time you read it.
- [54:12]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
That personal relationship is.
- [54:14]
Briana Nix
I think it's just, like, always making room. Yeah, it's like, yes, I'm busy. Yes, my schedule's full. But it's never too full to go and speak to the One who set me free and put me where I am right now.
- [54:25]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
And he wants that. And he'll speak to you. He'll speak to you through his word, through your music. And that's so important, to have that quiet time with the Lord every day.
- [54:35]
Briana Nix
It is.
- [54:36]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
It really is. Whether it's the morning, noon, or night, whenever, whatever it is. It's just important that you keep that personal relationship with God. He wants to be personal with you, and it will change your life. I know all of us, we've talked about, you know, where we are and our little spot, you know, that we have, where we go and spend time with the Lord. And I tell you what, that's so important. Thank you for sharing your story.
- [55:01]
Briana Nix
Thank you for having me and getting to talk to all you ladies.
- [55:04]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
You did so good. We are at. But I want you to remember that no matter how broken your past may be, God can restore and redeem all of it. Just like Jeremiah 29:11 says. For I know the plans I have for you. I love this. Plans to prosper you, not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future. So if you're watching today and you need prayer or you don't know Jesus, it's so easy just to invite him in. Just say, jesus, forgive me. Come into my heart right now. Forgive me. And I tell you what, he will meet you right where you are, and he will forgive you. And that's the most important prayer that you could pray today. We have amazing prayer partners that are standing by that would love to pray with you, encourage you. If you prayed that prayer, I'd love to send you the Book of John, the Gospel of John. It's just one of the books of the Bible. There's 66 books in the Bible, so you get in the Bible. I mean, Brianna was talking about how important reading the Word of God is to. But I'll send you the Gospel of John and that's just a great place to start. And I just, I'm really excited about what God has for you in the days ahead. But I want to thank Brianna for joining us today and for more info, you can visit her online@breonanicksmusic.com like she said, she's available to speak and sing. I know she'd be a blessing for many of your events that you have. Those of you that have women's events at your church, as always, of course, make sure to follow us on all social media subscribers. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for full episodes exclusive content. Let us know how Table Talk is touching your life. We love hearing from you. You can also listen to the Joni Table Talk podcast, available now on all the major platforms. And, well, we couldn't let Briana leave without sharing one more song. But please welcome her back to the stage as she sings In Jesus Name. Thank you so much for watching. We'll see you next time. Bye bye. For today I speak the name of
- [56:54]
Briana Nix
Jesus over you in your hurting, in your sorrow Ask my God to move I speak the name cause it's all that I can do in desperation I'll seek heaven and pray this fight for you I pray for your healing the circumstances would change I pray that the fear inside would flee In Jesus name I pray that a breakthrough what happened today I pray miracles over your life and Jesus name In Jesus name. I speak the name of all authority Declaring blessings every promise he's faithful to keep I speak the name no grave could ever hold Cuz he is greater, he is stronger He's a God impossible I pray for your heing the circumstances would change I pray that the fear inside would flee In Jesus name I beat out of the breakthrough what happened
- [58:37]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
today
- [58:40]
Briana Nix
I pray miracles over your life In Jesus name In Jesus name oh come believe it come receive it
- [59:01]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
the
- [59:01]
Briana Nix
power of the spirit is now forever yours Come believe it right now receive it in the mighty name of Jesus all things are possible. I pray for your heaven circumstances would
- [59:28]
Rabbi Jason Sobel
change
- [59:30]
Briana Nix
I pray that the fear inside would flee In Jesus name I pray that I break through what happened today I pray miracles over your life In Jesus name I pray Pray for revival restoration of faith I pray that the dead will come to life In Jesus name. In jesus name.
- [60:18]
Host (possibly Bobby Bones or Rachel Ann Brown)
This is an I heart podcast.
- [60:21]
Briana Nix
Guaranteed human.