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.

.

##

If not commenting here, for your convenience, please use this link to visit SusanEstesRecommends/Facebook and place your comments.

Thank you.

Love & Grace--the Ministry Engine

Ministry for God, as witnesses to Jesus is the work that gets the gospel of salvation to the lost. Without love it is impossible. Love is the manifestation that you are of God

"Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophecy" 14:1.

"Pursue love" Jesus said that everyone will know who Christians are because we love each other with the love with which He loves us (John13- 17). Love is the foundation fruit of the Holy Spirit (Mark 12:29-31, Galatians 5).

Desire spiritual gifts" The word 'gifts' is added in the English to help convey what is meant, but the original language says 'desire the Spiritual'. Desire to be filled with the love of God and the power of God to be a witness to the work of Jesus through the cross (Act 1:8) Everything that the Holy Spirit does points to Jesus and the Father, (John 13-17)

So, desire to be the instrument that reveals Jesus and the Father to the world seeking the true and living God. That takes letting the Holy Spirit indwell and fill you. And that is amazing!

'especially that you may prophecy' Paul, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, added this clause with the conjunction 'But' (However, Also, To be sure). It is this kind of speaking witness to Jesus that is the capstone to the work given to born again Christians. For a Christian to correctly speak from and teach from the Bible is how the lost receive the truth of God, (Hebrews 1:1, Romans 10:8-15, 2 Timothy 2:15, 3:16-17)

We serve an amazing God!

Grace is the foundation of all God's works. Without grace we could never be connected to God. It is His grace that supplies the love and life through Jesus Christ.

God's grace is the fuel for all works in Jesus' name.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. For it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything f...or all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God. 2 Corinthians 9:8-11.

If God gives you a ministry and you put all your heart into it and make your sacrifice and offering to God for the ministry to save the lost, God takes all that you give, whatever that is, and multiplies it in ways you cannot imagine.

He uses whatever it is you give, whether material, time, or monetary, for His glory and the purpose of saving the lost. And because you can see His grace abounding for all through your love and service to God and people in need, your thanksgivings will multiply and your praise will be sweet.

##

If not commenting here, for your convenience, please use this link to visit SusanEstesRecommends/Facebook
and place your comments. Thank you.

The Bible, a book like no other

This is an excerpt from chapter 2 of my EBook Squished! Why God Seemingly Destroys Our Fruit

** **

II. The Bible, a book like no other

“Then I said, “Behold, I come: In the scroll of the book it is written of me” (Psalm 40:7).

#

Ever think about why you enter a building on Sunday or any other day of the week and, with a crowd of listening people, stay attentive to a man standing on a platform at the front of a large room and speaking from the Bible? Sounds crazy doesn’t it. What in us desires such dedication? Could we even describe it? As crazy as it sounds, Christians the world over do gather for mutual worship and to listen to godly men teach from the Bible.

Isn’t it amazing how simplistic worship of God is for His people? We know God loves us to frequently gather and listen to teaching of His word.

Wow! And that’s worship!

Have you ever thought about what we are listening to each week in a Bible-based sermon? What exactly do we hear? Are we merely listening with our ears, or our whole being, our soul and spirit?

We have something the earliest Christians didn’t have. Before God spoke through men to write down His words as the Bible we have today, God-fearing people had few copies of the written word, and contained the history of God mainly by memorization and recitation. Oral stories are great but do many of us actually study and retain the word of God when we hear it? Apart from the written word, how accurate is your knowledge about God? How much of the Bible can you tell to someone?

**

Bible study:

“…it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed” (Luke 1:3,4).

Luke and his friend corresponded about Jewish history. Theophilus must have had bits and pieces of information and Luke wanted to set it straight for him to grasp the significance of it all. Luke and Theophilus had a detailed Bible study. Studying the Bible with a friend—what a wonderful privilege between Christian brothers and sisters.

**

What if God didn’t give us any information about Himself and we had to find it on our own? Ever think about not having the Bible to tell us about God in today’s world? What if God had never given us the Bible, from where then would truth come?

What would happen to you if the Bible somehow disappeared, as if it never existed? Do you know enough about God to sustain your relationship with Him? How much Scripture have you memorized. How complete a picture do you have of God?

Is the only time you open your Bible is when you attend church service? What would you rely on if disaster struck? What comfort would you have if you had no access to Scriptures? Would you have to run to another Christian or your pastor for a word from God? What do you do if you lost the availability to that person to help you understand the will of God?

Scary thought isn’t it.

The Bible is a gift we should praise God for every day.

##

If not commenting here, for your convenience, please use this link to place comments: SusanEstesRecommends/Facebook

Bits and Pieces From A Notebook

As I listen to preachers on the radio, read scriptures, and have daily Bible devotions, I scribble notes here and there. Here is a selection from my collection of notes and quotes.

# #

Sin entered the world when Adam and Eve ate themselves out of house and home.

The Results of Justice = Jesus took my punishment
The Results of Mercy = God didn't punish me
The Results  of Grace = God lavished His favor on me

#

Justice is getting a ticket

Mercy is not getting a ticket

Grace is Jesus paid for my ticket

#

Salt purifies, preserves, gives flavor, protects, sterilizes, absorbs, irritates.

"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled by men" Matthew 5:13.

Light reveals, spotlights, highlights, burns, dispels darkness, heals, brightens, shines, guides, gives safety, comforts.

"You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven" Matthew 7:14,15,16.

#

We need to take a heavenly perspective on earthly situations.

"Set your mind on things above,
not on things of the earth"
Colossians 3:2

#

"Money is a great servant, but a terrible master"

Unknown

#

"He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Micah 6:8.

3 Ways to put Others before yourself:

• 1. Recognize that Jesus went to the cross for them too. He sees us all the same.
• 2. Pray for others' needs when you are in distress--you will probably know someone else who is struggling with whatever you are struggling with at that time.
• 3. Recognize we all have the same basic needs. As sinners in need of a Savior, we are no different than anyone else.

#

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" Acts 1:8.

    If we are saved in Jesus, we are witnesses to what He has done for us. We are in the courtroom, in the witness box, with the unsaved world staring at us as we relate what Jesus has done.

Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!

#

We are surrounded by the unsaved, yet are we using
our resources right to help them see Jesus?

#

The Grace Gifts of God are all the power of God 

in us by God's grace to give the lost hope in the

salvation of Jesus. Let us not sporadically toss our

knowledge at them, but let God empower us to

tell them the gospel.

#

As in water face reflects face: So a man's heart reveals the man" Proverbs 27:19.

    I pray my actions, words, deeds and life choices reveal the changes Jesus has made in me. May my Christianity reveal to others that I do not have 'religion' but a personal relationship with Jesus. He is not only My God but a loving Person to whom I return love. He is not only my Teacher, but my Friend. May others want what I have in Jesus.

#

"You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to Your word. Teach me good judgement and knowledge, for I believe in Your word. Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word" Psalm 119:65,66,67.

 God is perfect in justice; perfect in punishment.

    The repentant acknowledge their affliction may be God's chastisement for sin. Something needed correction and God brought some punishment that corrected the trouble, thus teaching His child the way he should go. The now corrected one praises and thanks God for starting them in the right direction again.

• I need to accept God's correction.

     As a loving Father, when He corrects me, He knows exactly what punishment is right. He knows just the right amount of punishment. And He knows just the right time for my punishment.

    God says I am His child if I accept chastisement. May I learn from God, my Father, the way I should go and the correct way to live for His glory.

"My son, do  not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives"
Hebrews 12:5,6.

#

"Why do the nations rage, and the people
plot a vain thing?"

Psalm 2:1.

Why be so foolish as to rebel against God?

"He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;

The LORD shall hold them in derision"

Psalm 2:4.

#

"Vanity of vanities", says the Preacher;

"Vanity of vanities, all is vanity"

Ecclesiastes 1:2.

Vanity = soap bubbles

Vanity = ephemeral beauty

Vanity = gusts of wind refreshing the face for a moment

#

When it comes to authority we have a warped sense of right.

"There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way of death" Proverbs 16:25.

#

Relying on our own sense of spiritual direction

is like blindly running into a brick wall.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path"

Psalm 119:105.

# #

For your convenience, please use this link to place comments:  SusanEstesRecommends/Facebook

Thank you.

Get Over It & Get Useful!

For who makes you differ from another? And what do you

 have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, 

why do you boast as if you did not receive it? 

1 Corinthians 4:7

Is God honored by an over exuberant expression or emotion when He does something through or to us?

Where do we get the right to pat ourselves on the back for the supernatural experience of the filling of the Holy Spirit? If a confessed Christian makes a scene about God's powerful manifestation, do they actually understand the Spirit is Almighty, Holy God, who is due all reverence,  honor, and praise? 

"I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you" John 14:18

"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me" John 15:26 

Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one and the same, as God the Father and Jesus are one and the same. God is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. One part of the Trinity does not manifest Himself differently than the others. Nor should we expect God to do anything contrary to what He has shown of Himself in the Bible. His power is His own and He does not share it. When we are surrendered to be used in a supernatural way by God, God will honor Himself as Almighty God, not as an emotional experience, or exuberant display.

"Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever" Hebrews 13:8

Our examples in the Bible, in their relationships with God, didn't talk about having a spiritual experience when God used them some way.

When Ezekiel was taken up by his hair in a vision, he was astonished by the vision, not because of the Spiritual encounter. (Ezekiel 8:3)

Daniel wasn't emotionally giddy when God showed him the interpretations of King Nebuchadnezzar's dreams. He gave God glory for His work, not taking glory that God spoke to Daniel himself. (Daniel 2:19)

On the rooftop, when God showed him the sheet filled with things to eat, Peter didn't jump up and down and run around exclaiming of his awesome Spiritual experience. It was the work of God he declared when he understood the true meaning of the gospel going to the Gentiles. (Acts 10)

Let God be God and be useful when God wants to use you. After all, we are commissioned to simply to obey in giving the gospel (Matthew 28: 18-20). It IS exciting to know we have the supernatural power of God to help us do His work, but that doesn't makes us anything except a born again Christian, created for every good work (Ephesians 2:8,9,10). We all have the same God and access to His power to work through us whichever way God prefers to glorify Himself. 

"But to each one of us grace 

was given according to the measure

 of Christ's gift" Ephesians 4:7.

Get over it and get useful!

For your convenience, please use this link to place comments:   https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes

Thank You 

Commissioned to Give Jesus

Jesus came to the lost, unrepentant world, to save us to repentance. "For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give His life a ransom for many." Mark 10: 35

Jesus hates sin. Sin came into the world through Adam's willful rebellion in the Garden of Eden. Because of sin, no one can be in God's presence. 'For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.' Romans 3:23

Jesus loves sinners. "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' Romans 5: 8

• Christmas celebrates the gift God gave---His Son.

The gift we don't deserve. 'As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.' Romans 3: 10, 11, 12

But the Greatest Gift is: 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life.' John 3: 16

Jesus, God, came to earth, was born of a virgin, died on the cross for the sin of the world, buried in a tomb, rose again the third day from the grave because His sacrifice, in the place of everyone, fulfilled the death penalty required. He ascended back to heaven to sit beside the Father, and He will return one day to take believers to live with Him forever and to judge the unbelievers to separation forever. Without Jesus, there is no hope of salvation. That is the Gospel taught in the Bible from Genesis 1: 1 to Revelation 22: 21

That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He does not want anyone to die and be eternally separate from God in the 'outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth'. He came and died so no one would have to be lost forever. 'In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and gave His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' 1 John 4: 10 

• That is the reason for everyone to celebrate Christmas.

May it be every believing, born again, Christian's desire that no one be eternally separate from God in the 'outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.' May we give Jesus this Christmas.

We attend church services, perform good works, and pray. We sing, fellowship and worship but He desires mercy for the lost from us, not the performance done in His name. He commands that we let others know about the wonderful miracle He gives to the whole world; eternal Salvation. Let us have mercy on the lost and dying world and tell them about the gospel of Jesus.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19

• Remember to wrap all your gifts with loving prayers for salvation of everyone you know.

https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes

For your convience, please leave comments on my Facebook page linked here for the ease of comments. https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes
Thank you. 

God's Gift of Love

"Now abide these three, faith, hope,

and love but the greatest of these is love" 

1 Corinthians 13:13.

Amazing!

Ever really thought about LOVE? The greatest emotion, empathy, sympathy, action, or reaction we can have for anything or anyone is love. Love never fails.

Are you giving away love this Christmas or just gifts you bought with money? Is anyone expecting love from you or just materiel gifts? Are you just giving cash?

I'm not in favor of Gift Cards, either giving them or receiving them. As a donation for someone in need, yes, but it's a poor gift in my estimation. To me they say, "You're not worth the effort to learn more about you. I don't want to know your likes and dislikes. Here's money, go buy something you want, I don't want the relationship". If Gift cards are what someone asks for from me, it says to me. "You don't know me and I don't want you to. I don't want what you might buy me."

Neither am I fond of the excuse "I bought my own gift this year because my spouse wouldn't have bought it for me."

Is there something wrong with this picture or is it just me? Is there a disconnect in there somewhere? If you've been married for any length of time, your spouse should be able to buy you anything and you'd love it.

One year my husband gave me a flour sifter, measuring cups and baking dishes. Wonderful! I love them! I love to cook. He actually thought of something I liked and could use. Absolutely wonderful gift.

Love comes in many different packages, big, small, lumpy, soft, hard, smooth, and jiggly. Some make noise, some don't.

Try wrapping love this year, no matter what it is. Make it a surprise!

The greatest love you can give this year is to give Christ Jesus to your unsaved relatives and friends. Pray for them. When you are with them, ask if you may pray for them. Ask them if you can talk about Jesus. Make the Christmas story the main feature in your festivities.
My husband and I send a lot of cards and everyone of them had a handwritten Bible verse and signature. It is something we do every year. We take our time, beginning just after Thanksgiving and do small lots several days a week. Most of the people we send to do not know Jesus in a personal way. It's one way we send love each Christmas.

God's love for us came wrapped in rags on a bed of hay. The greatest gift in a simple package. How will you wrap Jesus to give Him away this year?

https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes

For your convience, please leave comments on my Facebook page linked here for the ease of comments. https://www.facebook.com/InterestSusanEstes

Thank you. 

Re-Post: They Missed Christmas. originally posted 12/14/13

They Missed Christmas

   The innkeeper missed Christmas. He turned away a woman heavy with child because she and her husband could not pay enough for him to bother to oust another paying guest.

   The guests of the inn missed Christmas. Not one of them took pity on the woman to give up their room for her comfort.

   The town of Bethlehem missed Christmas. When the shepherds came into the city seeking the wondrous thing proclaimed by the angels, no one ventured to search out why they were excited.

   Months later, the Priests and Scribes missed Christmas.

An entourage of men, Astrologers from another country, came because of a new star that had appeared. They knew the prophecy that this new star announced the birth of the King of the Jews. When questioned by Herod about what these travelers were talking about, the Priests and Scribes answered correctly that the King would be born in Bethlehem. Nevertheless, they never went to see for themselves.

   Herod missed Christmas. He believed the Travelers about the new King and out of jealousy, he tried to kill the baby to get rid of the threat to his reign.

   Many people on December 25 will miss Christmas. Millions will have parties; laugh and exchange gifts but they will miss the real gift of Christmas.

  

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son and whoever believes on Him will not die but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Let us not miss Christmas.

Scenario of a Witness

This is a totally fictional account of a witness scene.

Unbeliever: “Why should I believe?” 

Christian: “Well, where do you want to spend eternity, heaven or hell?”

Unbeliever: “Is there a heaven or hell?”

Christian: “What happens to you when you die?”

Unbeliever: (after a pause) “I don’t know.”

Christian: “Heaven is God’s house, it’s where He lives. Why should God let you into His heaven?”

Unbeliever: “Why would a good God send anyone to hell?”

Christian: “Would you let a child murderer with bloody hands and wielding the murder weapon into your house?”

Unbeliever: “No way!”

Christian: “So God should let them into His house?”

Unbeliever—a very long pause with no answer.

Christian: “If you have house rules about who gets into your house, why can’t God have His own rules?”

Unbeliever: “I’m not a murderer.”

Christian: “But God’s house rules say you must believe that His Son Jesus died for your sins and accept Him as your Savior. That’s the only way you can enter God’s house. 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not die but have eternal life. That John 3:16.'”

Unbeliever: “That’s stupid.”

Christian: “Why is it stupid?”

Unbeliever: “You want me to believe in a God that killed His own Son, where’s the goodness in that?”

Christian: “Romans 6:23 says ‘The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Jesus gave His life to give you eternal life. Someone had to die and Jesus did that in your place. Do you want to die forever or go to heaven?”

Unbeliever: “There are other religions in the world; there must be other ways to heaven.”

Christian: “So what you're saying is you can set your own house rules but God isn’t allowed to set His own house rules about who can enter? It's God's house so why can't He allow only those people to enter who ask Jesus to be their Savior?”

Unbeliever: “That’s pretty narrow-minded. Why would God not let in good people no matter what religion they believe?”

Christian: “If I show up tonight at midnight and break through your bedroom wall with a bazooka to get in, hold you at gunpoint, burn your house down, and force you to take my billion dollars gift, what would happen?”

Unbeliever: “That’s crazy. I’d call the police.”

Christian: “But I want to give you a billion dollars. Why can’t I do it my own way?”

Unbeliever: “Because you can’t do that. You can’t expect anyone to let you destroy their house to give them a gift, not even a billion dollars. That’s crazy!”

Christian: "But I want to give you a billion dollars, isn't that a good thing to do?"

Unbeliever: "If you want to give me anything, you come to my front door and knock. If I know what you're offering, I'll consider it."

Christian:  "God wants to give you a gift for free yet you want to blow into His house on your own terms.”

Unbeliever: “That’s not the same thing.”

Christian: “But you agree heaven is God’s house?”

Unbeliever: “Yeah, all right.”

Christian: “So why should God let you into His house?"

Somewhere along here, the conversation goes the way of salvation or the unbeliever walks away. 

Would you ever use this scenario, or what might you change?