Study Notes From Esther Chapter 5

Once a week, women from my home church gather for a Bible study. At this time, we are going through the book of Esther. These are the notes for the lesson in Chapter 5. Susan Estes

Esther Chapter 5

5:1, The Jews, at Esther’s request, have been fasting 3 days. (Daniel 10:3). Jesus said that when we fast we do not make it visible and He will see our faith and reward us, (Matthew 6:16-18.) Conceivably, Esther is still fasting, yet she is bathed and dressed in the royal apparel of Queen of the Medes and the Persians. More importantly, through fasting, she ‘washed’ and dressed herself in her faith in Almighty God.

Esther’s entrance is beautiful example of our cleansing by Jesus’ blood and our entrance into God’s Holy Throne room dressed in Jesus’ righteousness? Esther obtained her apparel when she became the bride to the king. All believers obtain glorious apparel when we become the Bride of Christ. (Isaiah 61:10)

5:2, Esther can’t see the future but her faith in action is entering Xerxes court knowing she could die. Trusting God is answering her prayers, she presents herself to Xerxes. Earlier Vashti refused to come wearing the Queenly raiment. Today Esther prepares herself in her royal clothing and presents herself for his inspection. Her care honors his throne, and for whatever reason, he approves.

We dress in royal robes of holiness and daily present ourselves to our King. But unlike Esther’s danger, our King’s throne room is always open to enter with boldness, joy, gladness and praise. (Psalm 100, Hebrews 4:16, 10:19,13:6, Ephesians 3:12). And God approves. He has betrothed us to Himself through our faith. (Ephesians 2:9-10) Hosea 2:19)

5:3, This verse shows God’s sovereignty at work in the faith of His people. Evil is visibly amassing against the Jews while God is moving unseen on their behalf. (Proverbs 21:1) It is conceivable for Xerxes to sign half the kingdom to her control. Historical documentation records women of Persian royalty owned and manage property.

5:4-8, (Proverbs 31:10-12) Knowing the king has the power to kill her even now, her approach is calculated to appeal to his pleasures. (Xerxes is known for his drinking parties. J. Vernon McGee). She does not know what will happen, yet she prepares for God’s future answer. The banquet is not to deceive, but Esther utilizes it to appeal to Xerxes baser nature, which appears to rule much of his decisions.

Inviting Haman is strategic, her invitation deadens any suspicions he could have, plus Xerxes will have the one person who flatters him as his Queen serves him. Esther utilizes the weakness of her king and Haman’s megalomania to facilitate male bonding around food.

5:9-11, Haman thrives on his own self-esteem. When Mordecai still doesn’t bow, Haman cannot even take pleasure knowing he has ordered Mordecai and the Jews killed. Maybe he thought Mordecai would be begging for his life. Haman has no concept of faith in the true and living God.

“For pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.” C.S. Lewis , Mere Christianity

God, the Holy Spirit, gives the extraordinary supernatural gift of faith to those who are facing serious consequences, (1 Corinthians 12:9). Those tortured and murdered for being Christian in the past, and present, are supplied this amazing gift to endure horrendous physical acts against them. Mordecai is sure of his God. (2 Corinthians 5:1)

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego are three men who stood in the power of God without bowing to idolatry, Daniel 3:12.

“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection” Hebrews 11:35b

God says to ask for His supernatural grace and He promises to supply all we need, when we need it. For all that He does in and through us, His body, the church, will bring beautiful glory to Him, (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1).

5:12-14, Haman’s hatred is driven by pride and it’s lethal. Xerxes is a fool and Haman is a servant in power.

“For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bear up: For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food” Proverbs 30:22a.

“A quick tempered man acts foolishly, and a man of wicked intentions is hated” Proverbs 14:17.

5:14, And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made. Haman has no idea that there is a real, powerful, and living God, who does move on behalf of His people.

The very essence of secularism is the thesis that the here and now is all there is. There is no realm of the eternal. But as Christians, we are called to consider the present in light of the eternal. This is what Jesus preached again and again. What does it profit a man if in this time and in this place he gains the whole world, but he loses his own soul (Luke 9:25)? —Dr. R.C. Sproul, Founder & Chairman of Ligonier Ministries, and author of Crucial Questions

The world is full of false gods, and those who believe in them suffer blindness to the fact their gods never answer or move one way or the other. They base their ‘faith’ on favorable or unfavorable circumstantial acts that happen to them. (Horoscope, Karma, Luck, The stars, Chance, The lottery)

We have the Almighty GOD as our GOD. He really is HOLY GOD. Let us get to know Him in a truly personal way that transcends this earth. For this earth is passing away. Our GOD is Everlasting.

Lesson points:

1. Prayer is a real connection between us and Almighty God

2. Believe God at His Word. (Hebrews 4:12) Read it to know it

3. Daily ask God to empower you for His service. (2 Corinthians 4:6,7)

4. Get to know your God.

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The Lamb Of God

As He grew up, Jesus saw the yearly Passover lamb killed for the Atonement for sin.

At some point in the 33 years prior to the cross, Jesus, fully human and fully God the Son, accepted the knowledge of why He came to earth.

John the Baptist said on seeing Jesus, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

His last night on earth, facing the horrifying death of the cross the next day, Jesus said to God the Father, "Not My will, but Yours be done."

At some point, Jesus the Man knew what His life was worth. He knew what His sacrifice was worth.

It was worth our lives.

Do we know this?

Do you know this?

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life" John 3:16.

If you have never asked Jesus to be your Savior, forgive you and be your Lord, pray something like this. Pray from the heart, with faith.

"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner who deserves hell. I know You love me so much You died on the cross for my sin. Please forgive me of my sins against You God and against my fellow men. Please save me Jesus and be my Lord and Savior. Thank you, Lord Jesus for saving me."

If you prayed this prayer, begin reading the Bible and find other believers. Go to a Bible teaching church or join a Bible teaching group.

You may feel differently, you may not, but believe that God has heard you and He has heard your heart say the prayer. He has come to you and He has saved you forever and ever.

Tell someone you have been born again into Jesus and want to learn more about Him.

And I, Susan Estes, welcome you my Brother, my Sister, into the family of God.

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God Designed Christianity for His Glory!

Paul's letter to Ephesians reveals the awesomeness of the grace of God that saves us. Our God is so awesome!

The entire first chapter of this book explains the simplicity of our faith. He established all of Christianity before we even knew anything about Him. He laid down the foundation of our faith in heaven in Christ Jesus before man existed.

That's one of those things we can't really get our heads around but when we're born-again and in Christ Jesus by faith, we can see the kingdom of God. We can undeniable accept our life in Christ because God is the power in us to do so.

And then there's the great explanation of grace in 2:8-10 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works. lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

We have something supernatural that the religions based on the world ideas cannot even comprehend. Heavenly God is the Author of the Christian faith. We are saved in Jesus' sacrificial death for it pleased God to do so to save everyone in the world. And all those who accept Jesus as Savior have that predestined power of Christianity in this new life in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Amazing Grace!!!!

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Insult My Sacrifice To God

Leviticus Chapter 22 has an interesting list of people God says can and can't eat the holy and most holy offerings.

"And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to Aaron and his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they do not profane My holy name by what they dedicate to Me: I am the LORD'" 22:1,2.

The church should be careful to maintain holiness to God as we share meals with unbelievers. Our contributions should be realized as holy offerings to the Lord our God. Taking donations from the unsaved should be forbidden so as not to profane God's holiness in their eyes.

Though the Hebrew Law isn't an integral part of what the church follows, we do know the need for keeping Jesus' Name and Person holy. And in light of some practices where unbelievers are invited to share meals in a church building, I think we need to be a bit stronger in showing holiness of Jesus' Name and Personage to unbelievers today. (I am not promoting legalism)

I say this in regards to the practice of many church's 'public suppers' where a donation is taken or a fee is charged. The unsaved have no concept of God's holiness, His Sovereignty, or that He doesn't need anyone's money.

If a congregation cannot afford the offering of a meal for God's glory then they shouldn't be having 'public suppers' and making the unsaved pay for it.

No money should be taken from the unsaved person who comes to share the meal, and their attempted donations should be refused,  so as to let God show Himself mighty in the congregation and among the lost.

You can't keep people from trying to pay for their salvation on a Sunday, or anytime you pass an offering basket. To help alleviate this problem, it should be remarked upon as the offering is taken. But if a person goes away offended because a church wouldn't take their money at a Free Supper, AMEN & so much the more glory to God!

There are far too many 'churches' that get their support by selling suppers. For me. if a church refuses to accept money for any meals served where the general public is invited and gets a reputation of being the only church that doesn't take money, then they've set a precedent for the other Bible-based churches to follow.

They've become witnesses to the unsaved public, and other believers, that they know their God can supply all our needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.(Philippians 4:17-20)

Too many unsaved people have too many opportunities to try to buy their way into heaven through churches that accept any and all donations.

And on the particular night when inviting the general public to a supper and a believer tries to donate, I would turn down their money also. Just to set the example and not give any area of confusion as to the offering we are making to our God.

I mean, a believer has any number of opportunities to give. If we have the meal planned and enough of everything, then donations are superfluous at that time. It's like they're telling me, "You can't afford to give this much to God, so take this money and replenish your out of pocket expense." I would consider their money an insult to my faith in God. And a further insult to my sacrificial offering to my God.

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None Perfect, No Not One!

Born again Christians are not perfect people.

Born again Christians are imperfect people living on this imperfect earth who know God saves imperfect people and He will change us into perfect people in the next life for all eternity.

  "Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
  Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--
  in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." 1 Corinthians 15:50-53."


Perfect, Holy God knows we're not perfect but by His grace He chooses to accept all believers as perfected in His Son Jesus. Because born again Christians accept Jesus' death on the cross as the substitute for their own punishment, God gives all believers this future of perfection guaranteed in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

  "So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
  "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?"
  The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:54-57."

Have you gotten your guarantee of perfection yet?

   "Jesus said, "Unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" John 3:3."

"Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." Hebrews 3:7."

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Do You View Circumstances Through Scripture Glasses?

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" 2 Timothy 3:16,17.

If we look at all the uses of maximizing Scripture in our daily lives, decision making, the eyes we see through, and the way we discern our circumstances, our lives can be the easiest way to exalt our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And just maybe it will be contrary to what we might have originally thought.

Scripture Glasses for Church Ministry

"There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. There are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all" 1 Corinthians 12:4-7.

If God has given someone a vision and you don't see how it is going to work out, accept that maybe you don't have a part in their ministry but you should do your ministry alongside them and thus build the body of Christ as you exercise your gifts.

The growth their vision brings is going to offer you more opportunities to serve God in your gifting because this person is being faithful in theirs.

As when Peter preached the first sermon; many gifts were used after the church began to grow.

"Then those who gladly received his (Peter's) word were baptized; and that day three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers. Then the fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles" Acts 2:41,42,43.

Scripture Glasses for Personal Witness

"For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God"
Romans 10:17.

When witnessing, try to speak verses during the opportunities. It doesn't matter if the other person can recite Bible verses. If they don't know God, their recitation is nothing. When you speak the word of God, you are representing Almighty God and His power is in the words you speak.

"And when He (The Holy Spirit) has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement" John 16:8.

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" 1 John 4:4.

Scripture Glasses in Obedience to Serve

Even when you've done everything right in your witness, and the person you have witnessed to doesn't receive what you've told them and maybe even gotten really angry, God's word has done exactly what God intended.

You could be witnessing to someone and think you blew it but it could be God has done something you don't know anything about!

"For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and shall prosper in that thing for which I sent it" Isaiah 55:10,11.

Scripture Glasses When Things Change

How do you view someone leaving your church for another body of Christ. Is your sorrow for losing a number or a member? Are you upset because they went to a rival congregation? Are you upset because you and they maybe couldn't reconcile a disagreement?

How about this--Are you sorry that maybe your church lost an evangelist, a prophet, a preacher, an administrator, a teacher, an encourager, or an exhorter.

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets,
some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers"
Ephesians 4:11.

Do you ever consider maybe God has given that person who's leaving a vision so strong God has to move them to a place where He can use them, because traditions or patterns at your church are too restrictive?

"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" Acts 3:2.

"Send Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their journey with haste, that they may lack nothing" Titus 3:13.

If you've been praying for revival, watch for God to do things that are contrary to your comfort zone.

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The Sweetness Of God Changing Us, also known as, The Chocolate Pie Mix

Instant chocolate pudding mix was

created to become something more

I beseech you therefore, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.  Romans 12: 1, 2

Every person born is created by God to worship Him. But does that happen? No.

Imagine a nice golden pie crust as God. He is available and ready to receive everyone. Now pour us, the instant chocolate pudding mix into this crust. Now there's just a pile of dark brown powder in the center of the crust. It has neither adhered to itself nor to the pie crust.

Doesn't do much for the appetite does it?

Can the powdered mix make itself into something more appealing, even though it's sitting inside the crust? No.

So, as this instant chocolate pudding mix, we are incapable of changing into something else. We’re just not going to make a pie of ourselves in the state we are in. Dust, powder. Nothing. No one would want to eat pie crust filled with chocolate powder.

But, God wants us to be in Him. To do that, we have to change into people who can worship Him. People who are in Him.

Imagine cold milk as the Holy Spirit. Now this chocolate powder wants to be a pie in God, so God pours in the Holy Spirit. Instantly, there is a change! God whisks us around, changing us. The instant pudding mix has now become something new. Now when in God, the pie crust, we are made a beautiful pie, sharable, sweet, and delicious.

To get to this new creation, we needed the Holy Spirit in us and then some whisking around to make us something we weren't before. But being beaten with a whisk is painful, disgusting, and messy.

Nevertheless, it had to happen. It is the only way to get us into what God wants us to be. This takes some changes we may not like, but in the end, we are better than we were before.

Because God loves us, He saves us. Jesus saves us and God immediately changes us. It is a fact of the Christian life. Otherwise, we are not part of Him. Lack of God’s changing us is visible to everyone. Other Christians know it and the world knows it. If you don’t change under God’s love and instruction, the world knows you are not a Christian. You won’t fit in the pie. You're just loose powder that can be blown here and there without the Holy Spirit, the mixed in milk, and without any adherence to God, the pie crust.

Expiration dates on packages mean that stores have to throw food away. Think of the millions of instant chocolate pudding boxes that get thrown into the dumpsters, never made into a pie. They’re lost forever, burned in incinerators and thrown on dumps.

Those people never asked God to save them or forgive them and they expired, their time was up and they are forever lost.

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Obedience Is A Choice

*Before this idea became a reality, I thought I was okay; I was born again after all, but no, ‘fire insurance’ isn’t enough; He wants obedience.

“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him” 

(1 John 3: 3, 4, 5, 6).

*S. L. Estes.Squished!  WestBowPress.

God wants my obedience

He enjoys my obedience

My obedience brings Him glory

In my Ebook Squished! Why God Seemingly Destroys Our Fruit, in Chapter 6 From Dregs To Pure, I explain God’s merciful and gracious deliverance of me from drugs, alcohol and suicide. Looking back, I am amazed from what God rescued me, leaving me with a new perspective on Jesus saying “the one who has been forgiven much, loves much.”(cf Luke 7:47)

 My closet has been cleaned, so to speak, of the things my old life would enjoy. That done, in my new position in Christ, I am more conscious of what my witness for Jesus looks like to unbelievers and those who knew me ‘when.”

Even as I come to understand the purification of my life, I am learning, even today, that my purification is something in which I need to be involved. While I may not have an urge to do the things I once did, I need to subdue the old nature that sometimes brings the memory and habits back with an all too familiar instinct.

As Paul said, my new knowledge toward the consciousness of others helps me control my choices and appetites. (cf 1 Corinthians 10: 29)

Peter says it well in his first letter, (paraphrase 1 Peter 4:4), as those with whom I partied now think I’m foolish or even brainwashed by religion and the church. On the other hand, I feel privileged to show my new freedom in Christ not to do those things even as I am saddened by their blindness and reviling. (cf 1 Peter 4:14)

Jesus has made me different. I cannot make this knowledge of His supernatural change in me disappear. I cannot tell my detractors that I’m a Christian because I decided one day to become a follower of Jesus and clean up my life so I could join a church. It didn’t happen that way.

God found a lost person, and when He called me, I answered Him. A sinner in need of salvation, I came to Him to have my sins washed away forever and ever.

In the verses of 1 John above, I am no longer able to habitually sin in the former way. I didn’t changed me. My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ changed me. I am striving to obedience and today that can be a day-to-day experience. But obedience is easier when I reflect on what God has done for me.

Glory to God. Amen.

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Peace, Peace, & Peace

"My peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, Neither let it be afraid" John 24: 27.

We sing songs about peaceful times at Christmas. Many people say they ask for world peace at Christmas. There have been large gatherings of multicultural groups striving to produce peace in the world. Musical groups have banded in huge members to try and sing peace into existence. Governments attempt to politic peace into existence. It is a very good thing to strive for and we certainly should do all we can to maintain peace everywhere.

We certainly need peace and almost all these reasoning people have a good idea of how this peace should be accomplished. The trouble with the reasoning is they have yet to find a way to endue everyone with a peaceful heart. For there to be peace throughout the world the peace must come first inside a person before peace comes forth in effective presentation.


We need a peace that does not come with conditions.

"My peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you: not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" John 24: 27.

The supernatural peace of God provides that peace. Accepting Jesus brings that inner peace. Born again into the family of God helps us have that peace. It is nothing we produced. It is something Jesus gives.

Yes, yes, yes---may there be peace on earth this year! May many people come to know Jesus as their personal Savior this year!

Amen.

"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.

Headed for Hell Fire

Hello, I'm Susan Estes. For all of you who knew me when I was using drugs and alcohol and who cannot understand what has got into me, I want to say He's Jesus, my Lord and Savior.

You may have the notion I 'cleaned' myself up and 'got religion' and that's why I gave up drugs, drink, & the crazy life. You may think I claim I'm going to Heaven by my change of life.

Nope--I couldn't have cleaned myself up enough. I was headed for Hell Fire, not because of the drugs, alcohol, or promiscuity. I was headed to Hell Fire because in the Garden of Eden Adam defied God's ONE rule. Adam's ONE sin sentenced ALL people to Hell Fire. God told Adam "There's ONE tree in Eden you are NOT to eat from. When you eat it you will surely die." Adam chose the fruit of death for all people. Adam killed everyone. Adam sent me to Hell for eternity.

For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23

Just because I quit the drugs, alcohol, and the crazy life, doesn't make a bit of difference to purge me of the inherited sin of Adam. ONE sin killed me forever. ONE sin keeps me out of Heaven. I can't do a thing to keep me out of Hell Fire. I will never get to Heaven.

As for my believing Jesus--He SAVED me from Eternal Hell Fire. Jesus came to DIE to pay the death sentence brought on by Adam. ONE sin killed me--ONE death saved me.

God said ALL who look at Jesus hanging on the cross 2000 years ago, dying in their place will be saved. I did and I do. I cried, "God forgive me because I know Jesus did that for me. God thank you for making a way for me to escape eternal Hell Fire. Forgive my sin and save me."

That's why I'm a CHRISTIAN. I am saved for eternal Heaven because I feared eternal Hell Fire. I cried to God for forgiveness from being a sinful descendant of Adam.

THAT is what makes me right with God and ONLY that. Jesus loves me and died for me while I was STILL a druggie, drunk and crazy. He died for me without first asking me to clean myself up. And I am not a druggie, or a drunk, or a suicidal crazy anymore because I love Jesus more.

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God" 1 John 5:13.

God Tell's Them Off--Not So Subtly

 "Now it came to pass on the next day that Moses went into the tabernacle of witness, and behold, the rod of Aaron, of the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth buds, had produced blossoms and yielded ripe almonds" 

Numbers 17:8.

A group of people opposed Aaron, challenging his right to be priest in the tabernacle. God stepped in and made it an absolute fact that He approved of Aaron's service.

In having a dead stick produce leaves, buds, and ripe fruit, God left no room for anyone to not know He chose Aaron.

We will always have people jealous of our ministry, especially if God blesses it. Many people will only see 'our' success and forget that we're only being an obedient servant, pleasing our Master. It's the Master's choice to bless openly, which He often does.

Every employment opportunity in the secular has an equivalent in the Body of Christ. It is God who empowers that career to further His kingdom and bring lost people to salvation through what you do.

When God does take your service to new levels, always remember it is never your power, strength, knowledge or ability to get the Supernatural work of God done. Only God has the power to make His word or His work different than any other words spoken or work done on earth. You're just the servant--be a good one.

Let God take care of the jealous people.

Adaptation Strengthens Character

“When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt” Matthew 2: 14.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, went through many changes early on in her marriage. We know from Scripture, her home life took a few odd turns, some very severe. Yet, she seems to have had a very compilable spirit that accepted change easily. Though we have scant information of her attitude in all her circumstances, she does appear willing to adapt to drastic measures for the safety of her Child. 

If her husband, family, or home is in need, upheaval, or odd circumstances, a woman should not evade big changes. Many times adaptation strengthens a woman’s character and worth. Knowledge utilized in practicality is essential for a good home; and home is anywhere the family lives.

 Adaptation Strengthens Character

 

The Gospel for *Anna: Part 4 of 4

"But He needed to go through Samaria" John 4:4

I had begun my first prayers for *Anna about five years previous. I want everyone to come to know Jesus as their Savior. Jesus died for Anna also. She needs to hear the Gospel too.

I thought it was a disaster. The whole arrangement collapsed. It wasn't going to be the Outreach ministry I had imagined. I wouldn't be speaking to a group of over 40 women after all. I misunderstood the Activities Committees' plans. Now I was apologizing to all those Facebook friends I invited. How awful. How embarrassing.

I was on my way to pick up Anna at the hospital. Her husband, my sister's husband's brother has Crohn's Disease and was very sick. Anna had taken him to the ER that morning, vomiting blood. Now that he was stabilized and in a room at least overnight, she needed a ride home. Anna can't drive. My sister's husband is deaf, so he can't answer the telephone. My sister was at work, so she asked me if I could pick up Anna .

Yes, I could.

While waiting for Anna to call, I was on Facebook, making my apologies. When Anna called, before I left, I told my husband to pray for me as I wanted an opening to present the Gospel. Driving to the hospital, I was praying, "Please God, don't let me mess it up. Make it the easiest opening I could have. I've got about fifteen minutes to make it happen while I've got her in the car. Be glorified in this, Lord."

In the hospital parking lot, Anna got into the car. Before I'd driven from the lot, Anna said, "Thank you for taking this time from your day to come and get me."
I said, "You're welcome. I was glad for the interruption anyway. I was apologizing to 40 Facebook friends."
Anna asked "Why were you doing that?"

Wow! There it was--God's opening! I silently said, "Thank you, Lord," and proceeded to explain to Anna about the mixed-up mess that was supposed to be my speaking engagement.

Anna asked me what church I attended. I told her about Grace Bible Church, Sangerville, Maine and our Nondenominational status. How we believe the Bible is the infallible word of God. We believe God is fully Three-In-One Persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus is fully God yet came to earth as a Man, born of a Virgin. He lived a sinless life for 33 and 1/2 years on this earth. He died, crucified on a Roman Cross as God's perfect Sacrifice for all the sins of the world. He was buried in the grave for three days and nights then rose again. He ascended back to heaven to sit down at the right hand of God. And some day Jesus is returning for all those who believe on Him. All who call upon His name.

In a little under twelve miles, I got to tell Anna the Gospel. She had never ever before heard what I had said.

Before she got out of the car, I asked her about what I'd said and she said she'd think about it. I pulled the Bible Tract from my pocket, the one with the church information stamped on the back, and told her to read it. It would say all the things she would need to understand Jesus died for her. Before she closed the door, I told her I prayed for her and I would continue to pray for her.

I had started the day with tears in my eyes thinking everything was ruined. My opportunity to present the Gospel to a large group, with possibly several unsaved ladies in attendance, had collapsed into shambles. It had been a puff of a dream, something I thought I had conjured up that I wanted God to endorse. I thought I had gotten it so wrong.

Now I was crying for joy. There was nothing wrong! Everything was exactly right. It wasn't about my speaking at all. It was all about God answering my prayer to give the Gospel to Anna. The whole episode was just to present the Good News to Anna .

God had planned all of this.

I needed to go through 'Samaria' .

If the Activities Committee hadn't given me the opportunity to speak, I wouldn't have begun making the plans. If someone else had called the restaurant, I personally wouldn't have discovered the mess-up. If I hadn't gotten upset enough to try and right the mistake I'd made, I wouldn't have gone to the restaurant. If I hadn't wanted some church information to give to the restaurant manager, I wouldn't have discovered the Bible Tract in my pocket. If my sister hadn't offered me the exercise machine, I wouldn't have gone to see her that day. If my friend had gone with me to the restaurant, I wouldn't have gone to visit my sister at her office. If I hadn't invited all those women, there wouldn't have been the apology that gave me the opening I needed to start talking about Jesus to Anna.

Anna didn't accept Jesus that day.

I haven't seen Anna since but God has a handle on her because she heard the Gospel for the very first time in her life. God planned all along to answer my prayer but it was in His time.

Never stop praying. Never imagine an old request isn't remembered by God. An Outreach is any time you can tell someone about Jesus.

You can pray for Anna. She still has time to accept Jesus. Her husband too. My sister and her husband also.

*Anna is not her real name.

The Gospel for *+Anna: Another Chapter

"Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ..." Colossians 4:3

Through a lesson in patience, God opened an opportunity for me, in answer to a prayer I had made five years previous. I wanted a certain woman to hear the Gospel and I asked God to provide the way for her to hear it. I didn't know how God intended to do it, but I knew He wanted her to hear about His freely given Sacrifice for her sins.

I prayed for *Anna to hear the Gospel and she did, in an amazing way, set up by God. (See the four previous posts The Gospel for Anna: Parts 1, 2, 3, & 4)

Here are some details of the speaking engagement that didn't happen.

The Ladies Activities Committee of my church plans several fun things for women, their daughters, and granddaughters to do every weekend. It's usually an open invitation to participate on Saturdays. Game days, carpooling to sporting events, Quilting, Teas, lunches, dinners, scrap-booking, etc. One date scheduled was to eat out at a newly opened restaurant, and I would speak on Biblical-based New Years Resolutions.

We discovered the restaurant was not able to accommodate us. It was too small and not arranged to let us all sit together en-mass. So my Pastor's wife asked another area eatery to let us use their separate dining area. It wouldn't be an outreach ministry as I preferred but only our small group of about fifteeen. Still, I would get to speak in this arrangement.

The plans were made. We had the room at noon for lunch and my presentation. I had scrapped the New Years Resolution theme to tell them about The Gospel for Anna instead. It was a mighty answer to prayer and a wonderful conclusion to the seeming mess we had thought happened. No one as yet but myself, my husband and my best friend knew how God had worked it out.

We arrived at our destination and alas---we didn't have the room! The second shift manager had booked another group at 1:00 o'clock, not knowing the first shift manager had let the room to us for noon. The second shift manger was afraid we wouldn't be done with the room in time, so he wouldn't let us in. We ended up eating amid the lunch crowd, without any opportunity for the presentation.

I was bursting with joy, glorifying God for His work. I was so pleased to discover that the entire episode was truly to get the Gospel to Anna. It was not about me speaking to anyone but her.

Oh, God be gloried! I wait to hear soon that Anna has accepted Jesus! That would be so awesome.

*Anna is not her real name.

+Anna and her husband are now moved into my sister's trailer.

Body Parts

"For in fact the body is not one member but many" 1 Corinthians 12:14.

There's a popluar trite saying "Grow where you're planted." Good advice---for a plant.

God calls the Church a Body. Because we can learn what the physical body does, we should be learning what the Body of Christ can do.

God says His church is a body, with many parts. The human body can preform many things. Physically we can do things with our hands. We walk with our feet. We talk with our mouths. We see with our eyes. We hear with our ears. We think with our brains. We love with our inner heart. We feel pain through nerves. We breath with our lungs. We pump blood through veins with the physical heart. We exert pressure with muscles. We digest with our internal organs.

There are atoms, cells, DNA, RNA, vessels, bones, minerals, water, air, and more that God made into the form that is us. God's design does millions of things, because God wanted it to do all those things. Everything that the body does brings God glory.

Praise the LORD!

It stands to reason, if God's physical design does that for which it was made, then the Body of Christ--His Church--should also do everything He designed it to do for His glory.

I believe the Bible 100% of 100%

No one has been able to explain, apart from the Bible, how the man Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophecies about Himself. If you can’t believe the Bible, then you try to explain how Jesus did it without being the God who wrote it previously to show He was coming.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" 2 Timothy 3:16.

Hold your breath and say your name. -------It's impossible.

2 Timothy 3:16 says the Bible is God breathed. God spoke it. If you cannot speak without breathing, then believe God spoke every word with His breath, inhaling and exhaling. God is real.

You don't want to believe in God? Okay. You can believe anything you want to imagine. You can have any faith in any afterlife you want to imagine. You can reject faith in the God of the Bible and you can refuse to believe Jesus is God come to earth born of a virgin, lived 33 years, died on a Roman cross for your sins, was buried three days and resurrected again. After which He returned to the heaven He came from. (cf 1 Corinthians 15: 1-5)

You can refuse to believe all of that. God lets you and that should tell you something about His love for you. (Romans 5:6)

But to believe in any other god, you have to ask yourself why you have to have another god.

Why do you want to go somewhere after you die? Since you have in mind a perfect place or a safe place to go after you die, you have to believe "I am good enough to get to my paradise". 

So, what are your standards for getting to your dream paradise? Compared to another, are you actually good enough to make it? Do you're standards of accpetance to your imagined paradise fluctuate with your circumstances?

I believe the Bible. The Bible says Adam kicked me out of God’s perfect light. Because I am a progeny of Adam, I perpetuate his sin in myself. I can't get to Heaven because of my imperfections. I'm a sinner. So there!

God cannot accept imperfection. God cannot overlook imperfection. Imperfection cannot live in the presence of God’s perfection. God has to kill and destroy all imperfection. I’m imperfect. God has to kill and destroy me; body, soul and spirit. That's Hell and Damnation and the Lake of Fire for eternity. (Romans 3: 23, & 6:23)

Jesus, God the Son, came to earth in the form of a Man to die-- being God, He lived as the perfect Man. Because Jesus was the perfect Man, He died for Adam’s progeny, us. For Me. (John 3:16)

I believe this and I asked Jesus to forgive me for the imperfection in me, MY sin. I asked Him to accept me into His death on the cross, where God destroyed my imperfecion, my sins. Because Jesus loves me, He died in my place, my substitute.

When I asked Him to save me, Jesus did.(Romans 10:13)

I cannot explain this to you if you have never asked Jesus to save you but I know it inside me it is true.(1 John 5: 13)

"Jesus answered and said... "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (cf John 3:3)

You can keep your belief and discover if you have a perfect place to go after you die. But I know 100% I am going to perfect heaven to be with God. I have given up all the gods of this earth that replaced the God of the Bible and I know I am going to heaven to be with my God someday.

If you want to know 100% you are saved and going to heaven, get a Bible and read the verses offered in this blog. Ask the Living, Holy, Merciful, Almighty God your questions. I guarantee, God will answer you through some person, or some word.  When you hear Him, then its up to you to believe Him or not.

Romans 10:17