Study Notes from Esther Chapter 4

Esther chapter 4 (theme verse Malachi 3:16)

It’s unfortunate Mordecai’s name isn’t in the Hebrews 11 list of heroes of faith.

4:1, 2, Mordecai is as open as anyone can be about the troubling predicament. His prayers are loud and his petitions of God are very visible. And because he was in sackcloth and ashes, he had to leave the king’s court, as grief and calamity weren’t permitted in the sight of the king. It was customary for kings to ban anything not perfect and beautiful. (Even King David, 2 Samuel 5:1-8)

Mordecai’s faith openly honors God. Jesus said in John 4:23, God is looking for those who would worship Him in Spirit and truth. Matthew 7, Jesus said many who say “Lord, Lord” are fakers, but Mordecai is the genuine article.

James 2:14-26, says Christianity without accompanying visible action is useless. Just saying words proves nothing about faith in God. Someday, everyone who names the name of Jesus will stand before God. Can you image standing there and saying, “Almighty God, here I am. I didn’t offend anyone with my Christianity. I never upset anyone by telling them they were a sinner in need of a Savior. I was such a nice person, not one soul ever felt the guilt of sin because I never said there is One God and One Savior to save them forever from eternal Hell-Fire”

4:3, The rest of the Jews in the city also fervently prayed. It seems Mordecai may have been the Spiritual leader of the Jews and not just Esther. God is being asked to intercede for them. More proof God is in this book as they ask while in sackcloth and ashes God to intercede for them.

4:4-8, Esther knows nothing about the king’s order. Queens were more for show than kingdom affairs. All she knows is Mordecai’s making an uproar. Maybe she thinks his distress is for her. She sends a gift to let him know she’s fine only to learn why Mordecai will not be comforted.

4:9,10,11, Mordecai tells her to go to her husband the king and ask for the decree to be repealed. Esther explains what Mordecai already knew, observance of the One rule that won’t get you killed upon entering the king’s presence. Anyone entering the throne room must be in the approval of the king or they die.

God the Father has One rule for people who are allowed into His presence. (John 3:16, John 14:6, Matthew 22:1-14, Acts 4:12, Rev 19:11-15.)

Jesus answered him and said “Truly, I say, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” John 3:3.

4:13, Mordechai informs Esther that even though she is the Queen, the law will stand even in the Palace. King Xerxes is already known for keeping the laws of the Medes and the Persians, and though he may feel badly about killing her, he would not stop it.

Daniel 6:6-17, King Nebuchadnezzar was as much a prideful fool as Xerxes, when he wrote the law that had Daniel thrown to the lions. He could not repeal it.

4:14, (A parallel of Esther and Mordecai & Father God and Jesus) The book of Esther mentions no wife or birth children. I would presume that had he any family in the city, they too would be crying to the Lord with Mordecai. In telling Esther she has the power to save her people even though she may die, Mordecai, in a sense, gives his (only) beloved child to save the nation. (John 3:16)

4:14, Mordecai comforts her with her greater work for God in explaining she may well have been placed where she is for God’s purpose . But so is Mordecai placed by God right where he can accomplish the part he plays in the plan. The foreshadow of their connection in 2: 21-23is utilized for a greater purpose.

2 Timothy 1: 6 & 7. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" Read also John 14:12-14, 15: 4-8, & 16. God the Holy Spirit, our Helper.

Never underestimate your significance in God’s plan. You may think you’re not doing anything but God may be using you for a greater purpose than you can see. The smallest encouraging smile can move a brother or sister to overcome a trouble you know nothing about.

4:16, Esther makes her prayer request known. The city now goes into unified intercessory prayer. This is the real thing when it comes to a prayer chain.

“Fasting does not make you anything special but it does make God everything in your life.” Anonymous

Esther willing gave herself as a sacrifice for her people. Mordecai didn’t know if he would ever see her alive again but his faith in God let him pray for her and send her to do what only she was positioned to do. She knew she could be dead in a short while, yet she was obedient to her father’s order.

Jesus prayed to His Father “Not My will but Your will be done” Luke 22:42.

Amazing! His city is in an uproar, yet Xerxes is unaffected. His heart is so callous he can ignore the wails and pleas of his own subjects he has doomed.

Lesson points:

1. Be visibly Christian

2. Never underestimate the significance of your smallest Christian action.

3. Pray about everything. (Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Extra reading: 1 Samuel 25. Another powerful man who ignored the right thing and put his people in danger. His wife was more understanding to the affairs of the household than he was and like Esther, she took her life into her hands to avert disaster.

Special application: Sometime this week, lay your hands on a close relative and pray for them. (Husband, child, family member, or a friend)

Something like this: “My Dear Father in heaven, I pray for my husband. Please bless his day, keep him safe, help him be the husband only You can help him be. Help me be his wife. Please be the God of this house, Thank you Lord . Amen"

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Thank you.

Do You Want Revival?

Brought dynamically alive by God for His work would be great!

But, is it possible, if God the Holy Spirit revealed Himself to some congregations today, might there be more weeping than rejoicing.

To have the perfect presence of God come into the midst of a Sunday congregation would expose how terribly sinful we are and how unfit we are for His work. When Peter saw one miracle, he fell at Jesus' feet and begged Him to leave,(Luke 5:5-8). And Peter was a godly man seeking the coming of his Messiah, (John 1:40, 41).

In the past, when the God's revivals came, the men and women went into small groups of prayer, and earnestly sought God for themselves, fasting, asking to be cleansed, forgiven, and made right for the work. And then they turned their prayers toward the needs of others.

And God answered their faith and faithful prayers to change them and the areas around them for a generation.

"Fear of the LORD is instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility" Proverbs 15:33.

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" 1 Peter 5:6.

"But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction, but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Now to Him who is able to keep
you from stumbling, and to present you faultless
before the presence of His glory
with exceeding joy, to God our Savior,
who alone is wise, be glory and majesty. dominion and power,
both now and forever.
Amen."
Jude 20-25.

To be revived, you must admit you're dead and without power in yourself, trusting God to bring life back to your body.

Wanting revival shouldn't be for personal benefit, it should be a desire for our God to be revealed and glorified by the changes in our lives and the lives of those who will be saved by His grace and love.

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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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Complete Swap & Trade--It's A Great Deal!!!

I have a 1 billion dollar, fully furnished home, on 1000 acres of private landscaped land. I offer to completely swap it for your house. Plus it's tax free and I pay for all maintenance for the rest of your life. Also, before you leave your house, you may smash all the windows, break everything inside, destroy the grounds, tear huge holes in every wall, floor and ceiling. You have the privilege of running up a huge mortgage, and homeowner's debt.

And I swap my beautiful home... completely to you for yours, no strings attached...would you take it?

Jesus has such a deal with you.

God has given absolutely everything He had, even going to death on the cross.

He offers you eternal life with Him in Paradise and all you have to do is give Him your life now, with all it's broken pieces, dirty laundry, loaded baggage.

He'll make a complete swap with you, giving you His eternal life, His comfort, His peace, His new birth, His riches in heaven and a new body on the new earth He has prepared for the future.
You exchange all the temporary brokenness of this life for paradise without end in the next.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have become new" 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Everyone born from Adam is dead in their trespasses and sins. Only through Jesus can you be born again into the new life of righteousness and be prepared for God's kingdom.

You can choose to live in paradise with God or you can choose to die forever in hell. God only pleads with you to ask Him for forgiveness and salvation from eternal death. God won't force you to accept eternal life. It's your choice.

While I do not have a 1 billion dollar home to swap--if the offer came to you, would you turn down a 1 billion dollar home that comes without strings?

So- would you turn down God's offer of His free salvation?

"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" John 3:36.

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Jesus- God Our Servant

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,

and to give His life a ransom for many" Mark 10:45.

Some of the things Jesus did:

He listened. He taught.
He wept with and for people.
He fed people. He led people. He walked with people. He ate with people.
He attended parties.
He helped people. He healed.
He read. He told the truth to everyone.
He played with children. He prayed for people. He counseled.
He gave people what really they wanted. He told people how to do things.
He gave examples. He gave Himself as an example.
He told stories. He cooked meals. He was willing to go anywhere.
He observed God’s laws and man’s laws, (when they didn’t contradict.) He was obedient to God the Father.
He loved people, even His enemies.
He sang songs.
He traveled with little expense. He was honest and just in all His dealings.
He forgave.
He touched the untouchable. He approached the unapproachable.
He was kind.
He helped Fathers and Mothers. He spoke with both men and with women.
He accepted poor, rich, soldiers, businessmen and women, housewives, teachers, bankers, laborers, lawyers, government officials, religious and non-religious, sinners and self-righteous.

 And some things Jesus didn't do:

He never demanded service.
He never hurt people, not even His enemies.
He never manipulated anyone.
He never coerced anyone.
He never forced anyone to do or not do anything.
He didn’t gossip.
He didn’t hate anyone for deserting Him.
He never took revenge for an insult.
He never played tricks.
He never insulted anyone.

Christians have something in Jesus that the world religions cannot comprehend. Even as they search for what we have, they deny that we have found it in Jesus. Man-made religions and man-created gods make their followers obey rules as means of perfection.

The God who gave His life for the sins of the world not only asks us to obey, He provides the power to obey.

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself

unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me.

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him,

bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4 & 5.

• As a Man, Jesus was the best friend we could ever have.
• As Lord, Jesus deserves our obedience. 
• As our teacher, Jesus showed us how we ought to act and work.

As God, Jesus could have shown all His power and brought Himself the glory that is due Him. Instead of God crushing the rebellion of mankind in Adam, Jesus, the Savior, made this statement,

“If you love Me, keep My commandments" John 14:15

 Jesus gave us the examples; let us follow Him. 

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5 Actions That Will Beautify Any Christian Woman

"Do not let your adornment be merely outward

--arranging the hair, wearing gold or putting on

fine apparel--rather let it be the hidden person

of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a

gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious

in the sight of God"

1 Peter 3:3 & 4

This verse has a bad reputation but it's actually a call for Christian women to rejoice in their womanhood.

Christian women should take a stand and say, "Yes, because I love God, I am different. I refuse to let society fads and fashions stereotype me and my styles."

Here are 5 verses that can influence the way women can show off the beauty in Christianity. 

“Judge not, that you be not judged” Matthew 7: 1

     A woman's judgement, either for or against someone or something, many times will be for the safety of herself, her spouse, her children, her extended family or her friends.
     Judgement condemning someone which may forever keep them from God is never the role of a Christian. Condemnation is God’s job but, if this form of judging is your habitual sin, He will absolutely forgive all who ask for forgiveness.
     This verse also warns us when judging to make sure the impact of our choice does not condemn us. If making a decision for or against anyone, use discernment to judge fairly, and strive to deliberately harm no one.
     God gave women a special personality trait of high emotional influence and because of this, when judging someone; you must carefully examine your reasons. Any necessary judgments women make are to improve the good things and destroy the bad things to create safer and cleaner lives.

“But I say to you that for every idle word men, (women), may speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment” Matthew 12: 36.
     Communication is essential to life. The correct language can open doors and incorrect language can close doors. With a carefully sustained clean conduct, women can control a major part of the language spoken in their homes, work place and in public. Commonality of speech for women doesn’t have to assume coarseness or gutter-talk.
     Women can show off their beauty and attractiveness by their everyday speaking. Clean speech and behavior can especially enhance a woman’s character, style, beauty, and desirability.

“And just as you want men, (women), to do to you, you also do to them likewise” Luke 6: 31
     Rudeness mars beauty. Sometimes called the ‘golden rule’, it is a real fact, if you want people to be polite and nice, show yourself to be polite and nice. Women can be strong leaders in this area of personal and public life. A mother can teach her children how kind words and actions can help them achieve much. On the job, favorable actions and manners will get better reviews. If you want to have any influence, use the ‘golden rule’ and see what can happen around you.

“But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing” Matthew 6: 3.
     Visibly heightened emotions are created part of women. Love, joy, anger, sympathy, empathy, and mother's love and protection; women show these traits with more vulnerability than men. If managed well, they can be a part of our hidden beauty that makes us attractive. Women can utilize their God given emotional specialties as wonderful givers, doers, motivators, counselors, and encouragers.
     Have you ever done something for someone who wasn’t expecting it, and you did it just for the joy of giving? While God made men to be subtly appreciative, God made woman with the capacity of giving and receiving with more emotion.
     Is there anyone you can help without thinking of any return for your effort?

“…Esau…took wives, Judith…and Basemath…and they were a grief to Isaac and Rebekah” Genesis 26: 33, 34.
     Family relationships can be a struggle at any time. A woman can trouble her own house or she can make it comfortable. Everyone will admire a woman, whether married or unmarried, who can maintain a good home. Habitual good and bad behavior is something learned or unlearned.
     In former decades, before the push for what is touted as equality, before she left home, most girls were taught the ways of femininity for her own benefit. While a woman can be computer programmers, drive trucks, be CEO of large companies, and run for President of the United States with no condemnation against her womanhood, she should present maturity and good behavior while preforming her public duties and personal actions.
     God gave Christians the closeness of church family. Let the Christian woman seek good friends with sound advice on how to manage her home, business, and her life. A fun circle of close woman-friends can encourage each other in good works.

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Are there any special Bible verses you make an effort to obey to enhance your Christian beauty?

(There are no guarantees that these suggestions will change anyone's situation if implemented. While these descriptions are in general and do not apply to all situations, they can be effectively true in the Christian woman who strives to please God.)

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Did They Really Believe Him To Be More Than A Man?

Have you ever wondered what the disciples were doing when Jesus came into Jerusalem on the donkey? What they were thinking? Do you think they really understood?

Just a few days before Jesus entered the city, Peter had answered Jesus' question “Who do you say I am?" with “You are the Christ, the Son Of God” but none of them were thinking of the prophecies of Isaiah, even after Jesus explains it to them.

On the way to Jerusalem, James and John asked for the two seats on either side of his throne, but they are thinking of an earthly throne. We can assume that Judas might be thinking of the monies he would have to hand; about having permanent place in the court next to the king. However, what were the others thinking; Andrew, Simon the Zealot, Bartholomew; what of the women?

It appears from the texts, they believe they’re on the way to Jerusalem to see the Deliverer of the Hebrews take over the kingdom of Rome. They know he has the power. For three years he’s shown them incredible things. But do they really believe him more than a man?

I doubt anyone was surprised by this entrance. Jesus has a big crowd of followers and the news of his coming has probably been circulating for days. What everyone is waiting for is a powerful leader charging in to defeat Rome.

They're most likely thinking Isaiah's prophecy is being fulfilled right in front of them. "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. And the government shall be upon His shoulders and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. but they stopped at the Government shall be upon His shoulders."

Jesus enters the city with great fanfare. No Jewish person has ever been welcomed into Jerusalem with such spontaneous celebration. During this cheering and praise there were Romans on the streets, watching and probably at arms ready, Red Alert. But the first thing Jesus does is go into the temple and chase out the religious cheats. Jesus stays at the temple the rest of the week. He doesn’t go anywhere near the Romans or the seat of power of Rome in Jerusalem. The soldiers probably relax.

But the Disciples are still waiting, all week, for him to attack Rome. Judas is getting disgusted but are the rest getting perplexed? Wondering?

What the people got was a quiet man with one thing on his mind, of which they failed to understand.

They just didn't get it.

The night of his betrayal, his disciples are so unaware, they go to sleep. They’ve completely forgotten that Jesus came there to die. He’d told them. But nothing has happened and they’re not paying attention. To them, at what we call the last supper, the cup and bread didn’t mean what it does to us. Christians know what it means.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him, will not die but have eternal life." John 3:16.

His broken body and spilled blood is our salvation. That whole week of Jesus in Jerusalem was the examination of the Lamb for Passover. The Priests examined Him and in the end could find no fault. They had to accept a lie to kill him.

We have to accept his death to be saved. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23.

We look on the beautiful, perfect Lamb of God at the end of that week, broken and bloody for our salvation. Jesus rode into quietly Jerusalem on a donkey and at the end of the week died horribly on a cross to give us the kingdom.

What the Disciples thought was going to happen that particular Passover week, ultimately happens, at the end of times. And this ride into Jerusalem means just as much to us today in bringing in the kingdom.

Later, they fully understood Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, but just then, they were blind.

Jesus is fully God and fully Man.
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Boaz, Ruth & the Closer Relative

In Chapter 4 of the book of Ruth we see Boaz and the Closer Relative of Naomi transact the Kinsman/Redeemer law. And it all plays out to God's satisfaction when Boaz and Ruth are finally wed to live happily ever after.

Because Boaz was going to carry out the Kinsman/Redeemer law to it's fullest extent, none of the land he obtained in keeping the law would be his. It would go to Obed, their son, who would inherit to perpetuate the family name of his grandfather Elimilech.
All Boaz took from this marriage was Ruth. Just as when we become the bride of Christ, we bring nothing with us into the marriage but ourselves, redeemed by our Savior.

This simile is not a perfect fit, and I have never heard this connection before; I could be way wrong, but I do like it.

• The Closer Relative = God the Father
• Boaz = Jesus
• Ruth= us, the church, the bride of Christ

• Ruth came to Boaz and asked him to marry her. We come to Jesus and ask Him to save us.
• Boaz presents Ruth to the Closer Relative. Jesus presents us to God the Father.
• The Closer Relative does not become the husband but gives her to Boaz. God the Father gives us to Jesus, His Son, to be His bride.

• And, to add another far out extension is Naomi, who led Ruth to Boaz = the Holy Spirit leads us to God and Jesus.

• Jesus, the Son, is the way to the Father, who ultimately extends His grace to us when we ask His forgiveness. Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6).
• Jesus says "no one comes to Him expect the Father draws them." (John 6:44).
• Jesus says that "the Father gives all to Him." (John 6:37).
• All born again Christians are called the Bride and are married to Jesus, because God the Father gave us all to His Son. (Ephesians 5:27).

The First Kinsman Redeemer

(God the Father)

gives us to

the One who is the Bridegroom

(Jesus)

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Jesus Is God From Everlasting To Everlasting

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

The Bible holds all the power of God in it's words, so knowing some good verses (they're all good) to speak when witnessing helps allow the powerful Spirit of God to convict the person to whom you are witnessing.

Jesus said… “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:12, 13

The Webster Dictionary definition of repent is a verb, a visual action on our part. Latin poenitēre, to cause to feel sorry, regret. “Being sorry for my wrong.” Outward visual of grief over committing a wrongdoing.

Webster’s defines penitent as an adjective, a description of an action, also in the definition of the Latin root repent and to suffer. Paenit-(ere) plus pa-ti.

“I am sorry and turning from my wrongdoing and doing the correct.” The penitent person displays a distinct visual action from wrong to right, a change of heart for accountability and credibility.

Webster’s defines mercy as a noun, an object, or something of substance. Latin root word: mercēd: wages, reward. Late Latin root word: favor, leniency. “I will pity.” The action of not giving punishment deserved by a wrongdoing. 

Jesus came to the lost, unrepentant world,

to save us to repentance

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to 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. We inherited Adam’s sin because we all descended from Adam. That means that the absolute best behaved, most generous, most morally right person ever to live is still a sinner. Because of sin, no one can be in God’s presence. Only perfect people can stand before God, and no one is perfect. Our imperfection is sin. We have all missed having sinless perfection.

‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ Romans 3:23

All people are sinners

Jesus loves sinners

‘But God demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ Romans 5: 8

God is perfect. God’s perfection cannot and will not tolerate sin. He must and will destroy any and all imperfection.

‘Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.’ 1 Timothy 6:16
We all are condemned to death—to separation from God in the ‘outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 8:12

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

The gift He gives that 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

The Good news is: ‘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
 

Grace

is

God’s favor

on an

unlovable,

undeserving,

sinful world!

Christians are born again believers, once were unrepentant, He has now made penitent. Those trusting in Jesus for Salvation can and will stand in the presence of God. The grace of God allows them to come near Him. Our Salvation is our faith in Jesus.

‘And being found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.’ Philippians 3: 9

If you do not have the Son of God, you are not His. You are still in your sins, unrepentant, and destined for eternal death.

‘He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.’ 1 John 5: 12

The Good News: ‘…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,…’ 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4

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 for mankind fulfilled the death penalty required. He ascended back to heaven to sit on the throne beside the Father, and He will return someday 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. He does not want anyone to die and be eternally separate from God in the outer darkness, where there will be wailing a 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 sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.’ 1 John 4: 10

May it be every believing, born again Christian’s desire that no one die and be eternally separate from God in the ‘outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’

We attend church, perform good works, and pray. We sing, fellowship, and worship but He desires mercy from us, not just the performance done in His name. He commands that we are to 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 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

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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 Strange & Worshipful Story-Luke Chapter 2

David Ray Jr.

This was the Introduction I wrote for the 2015 Christmas Program at Grace Bible Church, Sangerville, Maine. This wasn't read, because our Pastor, David Ray Jr., prepared a better opening.

However, this says much about God's plan to save all mankind from their sin. And if it hadn't been for the strange birth of God becoming a Man, we never would have had the Cross to celebrate at what we call Easter.

They Missed Christmas

Introduction:

Before God ever created the world, He knew everything that would happen on earth. He knew that man would sin and destroy the perfect world God created. Man would reject Him and rebel and sin would rule.  Because of this flaw, God had to destroy the sin and that meant destroying the sinners. But God so loved His wonderful creation, He had a plan to save everyone from their sins. That plan was that He would come and be destroyed in the place of all the people God lovingly created for His pleasure.

Over 2000 years ago, God fulfilled part of that plan when He became a man, born of a virgin and living here among us for 33 and a half years. Then He died the death that sin deserves so he could allow us back into His perfection again.

On the day we call Christmas, we remember the day that God came to earth. God came to earth as a small, poor baby and that was just the beginning of the life God planned for Himself. The story is strange and beautiful, full of worship, and anger, and love and murder. Several people knew and embraced the miracle of the first Christmas, and yet at the same time, many rejected it and missed Christmas.

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The Children's Program----Flash Fiction

This fictional story is based on an actual children's skit I designed when I was teaching the 4 & 5 year olds in our Children's Program. The skit was never enacted, and I should also say neither did we have any of the disasters on stage that are mentioned. The personalities do not represent any known, or unknown, children, teachers or congregations.

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The Children's Program

     In taking her new position as the new Sunday School teacher of the four and five year olds, Sarah knew one of her duties would be for her class to deliver a performance in an end of the season program. This was a church tradition from the adults down to the youngest when the Sunday School classes ended for the summer months.

     She enjoyed her time with the children, yet she couldn't help but recall the horrors of the past. The incidents of children, and even the teachers, fighting on stage. Costume malfunctions or no one sang except the teacher, or children crying and running from the platform. Several years, no one learned their lines and teacher cued each word for word so the entire skit was an echoed speech, with the teacher speaking and the child repeating it back. Not wanting to present a similar disaster, with the age she was entrusted with, Sarah wondered if her class would be able to do anything.

     With the requirement in mind, during the ensuing weeks, she learned her children’s personalities. Amanda was shy and very small for her age. Harry liked to talk and chattered away sometimes incessantly. Freddy liked attending, but as his parents had joint custody, missed every third week away visiting his father. Sylvie would take off her shoes and socks as soon as she entered the building, frequently forgetting where she left them. Ginny disrupted the class screaming for her Mommy. At her mother’s request, if her antics became too unruly, punishment meant banishment to the nursery. This was unfortunate, as Ginny learned this trick and she would go smugly to play with the babies, whenever Sarah couldn't take it anymore. Naomi and her sister Valerie were the smartest and studied, answering well and asking good questions. Then there was Christopher the bully. Many times Christopher spent some of his Sunday School time standing in the corner for having hit, kicked or bitten someone, namely Sarah. Occasionally a new child would come for only one Sunday, or possibly a few weeks.

     Easter came and went and Sarah still hadn’t anything planned. When asked about it she would answer she was working on it but she knew it was a half-lie, which made her feel worse. She feared producing the disaster everyone seemed to expect. During the first week of May, she spent her noon lunchtime fasting and praying while seated in her car in the parking garage where she worked, her open Bible on the steering wheel. Pausing from her reading, she said, “God, it seems such a simple thing, why is it such a complicated task when it just involves these little children? You know them, Lord Jesus. There must be something they can do for you.” Refocusing on the Bible, she smiled, for there in front of her was the simplest answer.

      The day of the end of the season program, Sarah felt proud when all seven children attended. They had all enjoyed rehearsals, with Christopher taking his roll with gusto and Ginny apparently willing to participate.

     Her class performing first, Sarah assembled them behind the curtain on the left side of the stage. Their only prop was a huge refrigerator box lain horizontally on a rolling platform Sarah had requested made. She could feel the stares of the congregation and their skepticism, knowing they anticipated the traditional fracas. Saying a small prayer with her children, she nodded for them to go out, while shushing the giggling girls.

     Christopher, Harry, and Freddy pushed the refrigerator carton to the center of the stage. Sarah followed, taking her place behind the box as the boys stood to either side, Harry and Freddy on the left and Christopher on the right. None of the girls was in sight.

     Sarah smiled at the staring faces, pleased to see the parents in the crowd. With no preliminaries, she opened the skit by reciting Hebrews 12:1. “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.” When she finished, the boys, in unison, loudly yelled, “What can we give to Jesus?”

     Immediately, the top of the box flew open and the four girls popped into view, arms raised, and tossing streamers of colorful paper. All seven children and Sarah, arms raised, yelled the answer “Ourselves!”

     With the platform littered with the streamers and each child smiling broadly, they took their bows. Then the boys shoved the box back behind the curtain, with the giggling girls still in the box. Off stage, the children clustered around Sarah, anxiously waiting for the response. For a moment the auditorium was silent, then someone began to clap, and then another, and so on until the entire room was applauding.

     Sarah quickly shooed the children onto stage to take another bow then hugged them all tightly as they came rushing back again. Kissing their faces, she said, “Thank you, Jesus, for trusting me with these children.”

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Divine Math in 2 Peter

"as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue," 2 Peter 1:3.

Good start---His divine power. All believers have this and it empowers us for life and godliness--it just does. Without reservations or demands, we have supernatural knowledge of Jesus. As the next verses tell us empowerment of the knowledge of God is the means by which we add these attributes, abilities and changes to our daily lives.

"But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your virtue knowledge, to knowledge self control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love," 2 Peter 1: 4-7

If we believe verse 3 then these things will readily manifest in our lives. We cannot help but be the lights shining the presence of our God because this is already given to us by His divine power.

In conclusion....we change the word 'if' in verse 4 to 'since these things are yours' (ours)--there is no way they cannot manifest themselves because they are God's nature in us. Therefore these are not ours to produce by any strength we assert but because of the faithfulness of the Divine Power.

"For if these things are yours and abound you will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" 2 Peter 1: 8.

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Who Did Jesus Die For

Ever think about the millions--billions--of people who have lived before us? All those who will live after us (if the Lord delays His appearing throughout our lives)

Ever think about all the rebellious in the tribulation period?

Christ died for the sins of the world to reconcile everyone to God the Father.

The Natives who met the Europeans who came across the Atlantic. The Vikings. Attila, the Hun. The people indigenous to Australia, Africa, North America, South Americans, and Asia. All the Mayans, Incas. Every nationality, tribe, and people groups.

All the slaves bought and sold before and after the War between the states--and their owners.

Everyone who have died or been buried at sea, since the flood in Noah's day--even those dead before and during that flood.

Everyone killed in WWI and WWII and every war the world has ever fought.

Every baby who died before birth, and in abortions.

Everyone who has been murdered and their murderers.

Everyone in your family tree.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 
Romans 3: 23.

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

God came to earth as a man to die the death earned by everyone being a sinner. He died on the cross, was buried three days and rose again from the grave to prove His death was sufficient for the punishment of all sin.

You name the person and Jesus took their sin. You name the sin and Jesus wore it. He did it even though all of mankind didn't and doesn't know they are lost, from Adam to the last person who dies at Armageddon.

At some point after Adam chose to leave the worship of the true God by his singular disobedience, mankind went on to create false gods. This practice spread throughout the world as nations began leaving and growing apart from their origins in the fertile valley where God made Adam. Romans 1: 18-20 says ALL people have the reason and capability to see God in all His creation, and are without excuse not to seek the True and Living God.

The Bible says no one seeks God. Not one does good. (cf Romans 3: 10--18)

Salvation is God's Amazing Grace! Just because He chose to do it.

There is only one sin that will keep anyone out of heaven--refusing to accept the free gift of salvation God provided for all of mankind.

But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, 

but is in danger of eternal damnation" Mark 3: 29

But

For all who call upon the name of Jesus shall be saved. Romans 10: 13

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