Study Notes From Esther Chapter 6

God has a sense of humor. This may be the funniest chapter in the Bible but also one of the best examples of a godly man not lording it over his enemy’s shame.

6:1-4, God shows up to intercede for Mordecai, Esther, and the Jews. From His heavenly throne, God keeps the king awake. It seems the king combats insomnia by reading his own history. Tonight, God chose his reading material and Xerxes learns Mordecai’s act was unrewarded.

God, when writing the book of Esther, did not record Mordecai as prideful. Even when he saved the king’s life, he never said anything when unrecognized. Both Xerxes and Mordecai seem to have forgotten the episode.

Mordecai’s unpretentiousness is similar to Daniel when he brushed off Belshazzar’s gifts of the royal robe and the gold chain. (Daniel 5:17) A pagan king’s rewards are cheap trifles when your King is Almighty God.

"Let another man praise you. and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips." Proverbs 27:2. 

"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven" Matthew 6:1.

Mordecai is a great example of Peter’s exhortation, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” 1 Peter 5:6.

The servants in the gate put Mordecai and Haman in a battle of wills, (3:2-5) Now Mordecai’s faithful stance is holding and he appears to be winning. Haman, on the other-hand, though he exalted himself, is about to be brought low.

Mordecai did nothing but prepare for God’s answer with fasting and prayer. He exhorted Esther to speak on their behalf and sought God’s protection in faith. When he knew Haman’s sanctioned plot was set to destroy him and his people:

He did not storm the castle.

He did not attack Haman personally.

He did not override Esther's free will.

He trusted Esther's own personal faith.

He fasted and prayed.

He trusted God.

Paul exhorts us to wield the sword of the Spirit with care. “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

We learn obedience through practicing the meekness of our Lord Jesus Christ. For although He has all the power that holds creation, He never uses it to subvert His greater plan of salvation. The pain and humiliation was overcome in victory by obedience. (Hebrews 12:1-3). Mordecai’s obedience sets the stage for Haman’s punishment from God.

Mordecai has let God have the glory. “For whoever humbles himself will be exalted and whoever exalts himself will be humbled” Matthew 23:12.

6:5-11, God has begun to show Himself to the condemned Jews when Haman is forced into the humiliating position of delivering the king’s blessing to Mordecai. The very blessing Haman had imagined his own. The city is seeing the beginning of the end for Haman.

6:12, “Afterward, Mordecai went back to the king’s gate” seems an understatement.

When we see God lift a great burden, we praise with joyful hearts and voices. His time of fasting is over and this is answered prayer. Here, Mordecai appears silent as he waits on God. He still has to wait for Esther to plead to the king.

“Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10.

But there is a stronger witness from Mordecai as he does not lord it over Haman for the episode in the city square. He leaves room for God to bring Haman’s defeat.

“Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him” Proverbs 24:17.

God sees our pride and if displeased, He has the privileged of lifting our enemies back up and not punishing them because we took it upon ourselves to condemn them in their troubles.

In what circumstances might we fail our witness by being prideful?

Haman is now falling before the eyes of the city. Xerxes still is blind to Haman’s jealousy, but it has been in plain sight to all the residents of Shushan. (see J. Vernon McGee’s notes) And God knows Haman’s heart.

6:13-14, Haman has a houseful of eager gossips awaiting his remarks but the man is in defeat. His wife makes the fatalistic statement, “Husband, you’re doomed.”

Esther’s banquet likely forgotten and when he’s summoned back to the palace it was probably the last thing he wanted. For going back to the palace meant being seen by the people as if he’s being ‘taken’ to the king. This could have been avoided if he had only reentered the palace after he had presented Mordecai with the king’s reward.

This entire chapter showcases God’s power over all circumstances, over the evil and the good. Our faith is in the Living God. The Bible is our way of learning about God, there is no other book that showcases Him and Him alone.

"Faith is not a pathetic sentiment, but robust vigorous confidence built on the fact that God is holy love. You cannot see Him just now, you cannot understand what He is doing, but you know Him."—Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

Lesson Points:

1. The subject of the book of Esther is God, not Esther

2. When your enemy falls, do not boast in pride at their defeat.

3. Our patient faith glorifies God

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Being a Teacher Hurts

This is a fact to which I keep needing to submit. Having opportunities to lead Ladies Bible studies, and to speak before groups of women, I need to keep myself in the Bible and be sure that what comes out of my mouth is true to Scriptures and does not blaspheme God.

I have to be aware that what I teach or speak on is something I am certain is Biblically true and in no way will harm my listeners or students in their relationship to God. In that thought, I fear God, that I may in some way get it wrong. Then my judgement is deserved, because I dishonored holy perfect God.

So, when God takes me through something that brings me into closer relationship with Him and restores my faith in Him, this honors God in me. That end is which is the entire purpose of my witness to Him in my life and manifests itself to others.

If you think it doesn't hurt to care about the things of God--try be a teacher of the Bible sometime
One of the things that happens to someone who joins the hosts who in some way teach the Bible, is that God makes them learn the harder lessons than, say, someone who just comes to church once a week and absorbs.

"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive the stricter judgement. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble... in word, he is a perfect man, able to also bridle the whole body" James 3:1,2.

"Be diligent to present yourself approved unto God, a worker who needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the truth" 2 Timothy 2:3.

The teacher must learn the lesson themselves, or otherwise the topic/object is without example in their own lives, making it just stories, tradition, and platitudes.

(in the parable of the good servant) Luke 19:12-27 "So he called ten of his servants, and delivered to them ten minas, and said to them 'Do business till I come'" Luke 19:13.

For God gives us the means and the material to do His business until He calls us to be with Him.

"For I say to you, that to everyone who has will be given; and from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him" Luke 19:26.

And our reward comes in glory when our works go through the fire and we can here God say "Well done, good and faithful servant" Matthew 5:23.

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Salvation Through The Word Of God

The awesomeness of God's Holy Bible is that if anyone wants to know God and finds a Bible, they can read it and come to know God and His free salvation. They don't need to study any other books along side the Bible to lead them to God.

Sometimes too many study helps can get us off track from the simplicity of the Bible. And that can be very, very dangerous. We can get into the most ridiculous arguments over which version is right, but it is the Word of God, not our interpreta...tions of it that save people.

Paul warns, through Timothy, "Remind them of these things charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers" 2 Tim 2:14
and to Titus Paul wrote,"But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless" 3:9.

I've read and heard testimonies of people who have found only a page, or a scrap of the Bible, even a Bible tract, that have been saved through the power and love of God.

If you are a born-again Christian, saved by the grace of God, don't ever, ever, ever say anything about the Holy Bible other than what it says in 2 Timothy 3:16, 

"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"

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

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piecing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" Hebrews 4:12.

"My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement" James 3:1.(Jesus prayed to God the Father) "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" John 17:17.

Don't ever say any part of whatever version of the Holy Bible you prefer is not able to save, for it is the power of God to save. Your thoughts for or against which Scripture is used by God don't have the smallest iota one way or the other. If the words are between the cover of the Holy Bible, God can use it for His glory! And God preserves His word for that very purpose.

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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.

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Video : The Angel That Visited The Shepherds Luke 2:9

This video is an excerpt from the sermon giving by Pastor David Ray Jr at Grace Bible Church, Sangerville Maine on Christmas Day, December 25th, 2016. This was part of his advent series on the visitations of the angels to various people during the amazing incarnation and birth of the Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The sermon title: "The Angel that Visited the Shepherds" from Luke 2:8-21

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.'
'For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be the sign unto you; You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.'
And suddenly there with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill
toward men!"
Luke 2:9-14

(Transcript of the video)

(Angels) They were aware that He’d laid those things aside for a little while, to come to earth to become one of us. To become a sacrifice really for us. You see, they also knew of the fall of man. They had been informed also that God was going to provide a way for the salvation for man. They knew about that. They knew the prophesy had been made that a Savior would come and that a sacrifice would be made. And they understood all of this and they were praising God because they were seeing God’s grace on display. They were thanking God for His indescribable gift. They were looking into the things… our salvation.

Peter talks about that, when he says that angels long to look into our salvation to try to understand. You see they never experienced the kind of salvation we can experience. They haven’t experienced the grace and mercy and forgiveness that we can experience.

You see, angels have never been forgiven. They’ve never been redeemed . And so they long to look into that. They’re interested in how God is working to save us and make salvation available to us.

You know, if the angels glorify God for this wonderful work, how much more should we raise up our voices and praise God for this wonderful work, and honor our Lord and Savior. It’s the greatest thing we can do with our life, is to live for the glory of God. 

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Video by Susan L. Estes

The Miracle of Good Works: Part 3

My home church, Grace Bible Church, offered me the privilege of speaking at the ladies Christmas Tea this year. Here are my notes from my 20 minutes talk to the room of 40+ women, representing

several churches.

This is part three. Be sure to read parts part 1 & part 2 also.

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The Miracle of Good Works: Part Three

Just as Jesus had works to do for God the Father while He walked on this earth, so we also have works to do for God while we are still living here.

When Isaiah saw Almighty God on His throne, he asked God to send him into his work.

Ephesians 3:11 says we have a boldness to enter into the throne room of God. That’s where our marching orders come from. And the more we come to the throne room of God—the more we will see God and His glorious works on earth. And apart from the times of direct Divine interventions, God glorious works get done through His church. That’s us! What a privilege!

Do you know that just coming to a Sunday service is exercising your faith? Why else would you come to hear a man speak for an hour from this book? You believe in the God who wrote it, that’s the why.

James 1:27 says pure and undefiled religion before God is to visit widows and orphans and keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Consider this--women who have unsaved husbands can be seen as widows in the church, and children who are the only Christians in their homes can be seen as orphans. They need your help, your strength, your Spiritual guidance?

The Bible is our key to the mind of God—If you want to make a list of what constitutes good works in the name of God—read the Bible.

Ephesians 2:10 implies God has different good works for everyone to do. Don’t get hung up on someone else’s service to God. Somethings God has given to me weren’t meant for you and things He’s given you weren’t meant for me. God is still the originator.

Corinthians says the body of Christ has different functions. I’m a Big Toe and you’re an Ear. I as a big toe can’t listen compassionately to the pain of others, but my work is to keep the body balanced and mobile. And no one walks on their ears.

The ears wear pretty jewelry, but piercing a big toe would be weird. The ear is out in the open and delicate, while the big toe gets shoved into stinky socks and slammed into furniture.

No matter our different works, our most important work is to be witnesses to Him. The Holy Spirit enables us to walk naturally as Christians. The good works will just happen as we live our lives in Jesus. That’s not something consciously done but unconsciously done.

Not everyone is suited for children’s church, nursery, teen groups, Senior services. Or you can’t possibly give any more then you’re already giving? You’re not able to visit homebound, or make telephone calls? But everyone can encourage those who can and do. Strengthen their ministry. Be a firm foundation of faith for them.

The first church in Acts 2 grew because the believers gathered together and rejoiced in their salvation. That’s all they did and God brought more people in.

Your presence where you gather for worship is a witness to everyone who drives by your church. Jesus said where two or three are gathered in My name, I am in their midst” Where you consistently gather, God will bring people, because He wants the unsaved saved.

Our good works originate in heaven—always remember that. God created us—that means He created our faith and good works. They’re His works to begin with—we just do them as they come to us. The more you do, the more will come. God knows your capacity and your limits. Don’t worry about the power, He is it. He empowers us to do all the things we need to do for Him.

Ask Him to fill you afresh every day to do all you can for His glory.

Whatever you do as a Christian woman to help build, strengthen, and encourage others is a good work. Whatever helps spread the gospel is a part of the greater work Jesus left for us to do. “Go therefore into all the world and present the gospel, making disciples.”

We’re familiar with Galatians 6:9 & 10. "And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those of the household of faith”

But there’s an added extreme to our commissioned works for God. We have the privilege of not only having Almighty God reveal His plans for us, He empowers us to do all He has planned for us. We don’t do it on our own strength, power, and resources. God supplies all of it. We’re just the head, hands, & feet that get it done.

Hebrews 12 teaches me to recognize the Author and Finisher of my faith. The one who commissioned me for it.

When the disciples came back rejoicing because they overpowered demons, Jesus said “Don’t rejoice over that, Rejoice your names are in the Book of Life” (Luke 10:20). Our boasting’s not in the work—but in the One for whom we work.

Paul, while shut up in prison was occupied with his major employment, his prayers.

He says in his 1 letter to the Corinthians “I work harder than any of them, though it is not I, but the grace of God that is with me” 1 Corinthians 15:10. 

If you can’t do something physically, prayer is the ultimate expression of faith. For no one can see your prayer. No one can quantify your prayer. No one can put a cost on your prayer. No one can steal your prayer. No one can destroy your prayer with hate, or material harm. No one can take the credit for your prayer. No one can speak the prayers God has given you to speak. 

Your faith is proven the greatest when you pray. If you can’t do anything else—prayer is your greatest work for you are seeking God’s will on earth as it is in heaven. He can work through your prayer of faith to do mighty things.

Conclude Repeat Ephesians 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.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 explicitly explains that if you’re not a born again believer in Christ Jesus—you have no good works to do for Him. You are saved by grace through faith, not of works. No good work is able to save anybody.

You cannot expect God to accept your work before you are born again into Christ Jesus by faith. You first have to come to God the Father believing Jesus took the wrath of God by His death on the cross for your sins.

And after we’re saved, let’s not approach doing good works as a duty—I have to do this because I’m a Christian—instead let us live as a Christian because it is the most ordinary thing we do as one in Christ Jesus. They originate with Him.

The good works are ready for us—the miracles of good works on earth for God our Father’s glory.

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The Miracle of Good Works: Part 2

My home church, Grace Bible Church, offered me the privilege of speaking at the ladies Christmas Tea this year. Here are my notes from my 20 minutes talk to the room of 40+ women, representing several churches.

This is part two. Be sure to read part 1 & part 3 also.

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The Miracle of Good Works: Part Two

I’m not only placed in the church body, I’m in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. I’m walking on the earth but I’m no longer attached to it. The material doesn’t hold the same appeal any more—but the Spiritual things of God draw me toward Him and His glory.

Do you ever think about the idea that everything that God does here on earth and in our lives is a miracle? We tend to put miracles into the status of Peter walking on water, Lazarus rising from the dead, fire coming down and consuming the sacrifice, or Jesus’ resurrection. Those are huge miracles. But to be truthful, because we’re so finite, we’re so small, we’re so incapable of living without God’s breath in our lungs, everything God does in and through us is a huge miracle.

Verse 10 says our good works were prepared beforehand. Our good works originate in heaven. God knows what He has planned for each and every one of His children. Psalms 139 says God has all our days fashioned for us---so that includes our good works.

“Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” Matthew 5:16.

Is there any human since Adam who is not part of God’s creation?

Since God created everything—He created the faith everyone has and He created the good works everyone does.

God says that if anyone gives someone a cup of cold water in His name, they are to be rewarded with high honors.

You’re familiar with Galatians 6:7 &8, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

That goes along with the caution of Ephesians 2:9. “Lest anyone boast.” Anyone can do a good work, but the motive can be misused to satisfy the flesh.

There is a sore evil that many people have amassed good deeds thinking it pleased God. Sadly, when they stand before God, their good works will not pay their way into God’s heaven.

Adolf Hitler may have given someone who needed it a cup of cold water. Adolf Hitler, Sadam Husien, Osama Ben laden may have done an unselfish good work at some point in their lives.

It is something very hard to really grasp—but since God created everything, even the good works an unsaved person does is still a good work that God knew they were going to do. Many unbelievers do beneficial good works. Unfortunately, none are done for the glory of God. Not one of them brings God the glory and honor He deserves.

Billionaires give huge amounts of money to charities but it is not recorded in God’s name. Great people have worked to obtain world peace but it was never for the glory of God. Their good work is wasted effort for their eternity, although it also was there beforehand, created in heaven.

Since they also are a part of God’s creation—God created in them the faith to believe in Him. They never came to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and wasted their God-given faith.

We born again Christians have a different agenda entirely. We have a heavenly account book for the works we do that bring honor and glory to God. Verse 10 says there are good works God created beforehand for Christians to walk in. We manifest them as we do the will of God.

And there is a big difference between our good works and the good works of an unbeliever. The qualifier between a Christian’s good works and an unsaved person’s good works in verse 8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.

Oswald Chambers says in the devotional My Utmost for His Highest that once we are saved in Christ Jesus, being a Christian should be automatic and doing good works should be as natural as breathing.

The fun part of our good works is with every work we do for God is a miracle done through us on earth! Miracles occur every time we do a good work that honors God and presents Him to the world because we’re bringing out of God’s storehouse in heaven the works that He created for us to do. They originated in heaven.

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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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God Shows No Partiality

Then Peter opened his mouth and said, "In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality" Acts 10:34.

God created mankind; every nation, tribe, and people group.

The Gospel, the Good News of salvation, which tells of redemption through Jesus' death. burial and resurrection is for all peoples living all over the world. God shows no partiality.

I believe, because of Romans 1:20, that God will manifest Himself to even in the remotest areas of the world if a person will look at creation around them and think "There must be a Creator."

"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse" Romans 1:20.

Also because of Psalm 19

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge, There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world" Psalm 19:1-4.

The amazing creation around us is witness to a Creator.

And because of Romans 2:11-16, where the remotest person who has never heard of Jesus, if they will listen to the moral conscious that God gives all people and consider the consequences of their sins and righteousness, I believe God will manifest Himself to that person somehow.

(Extra)

God has a sense of humor.

Acts 10:34 begins with the phrase "Then Peter opened his mouth".

If you've studied Peter, you know his habit of opening his mouth when he should have kept it shut. And we know God the Father cut him off once, (Mark 9:5-7), and Jesus even got on him for speaking before thinking, (Mark 8:33).

"All scripture is given by the inspiration of God....." 2 Timothy 3:16.

That means God is the one who said "Then Peter opened his mouth.."

If you know Peter, that's makes it funny

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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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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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I Wish I Hadn't Done That

Adam was 130 years old when his son Seth was born, the very image of his father in every way. After Seth was born, Adam lived another 800 years, producing sons and daughters, and died at the age of 930. Genesis 5; 3, 4, 5 The Living Bible

All of us at one time must have said, “I wish I hadn’t done that.”

I heard a sermon on the radio how Genesis lists a genealogy with the striking conclusion: and he died,--and he died, -- and he died. The minister was talking about the fact of the curse, with our desperate need of someone to save us.

It occurred to me that Adam must have seen many people die before he did, maybe even thousands. That idea made me wonder if Adam grieved heavily as he watched people die. How hurt was he when Eve died? He had given her the name Eve, calling her the Mother of all Living. Was he there when she died? What were his thoughts now she was dead?

All this death was because of his choice in the Garden of Eden. As his descendants were born and died, even as repentant before God, Adam must have felt extreme guilt. I wonder if he walked closer to God after he left the garden. Did he ask for forgiveness each time someone died? To see a corpse for the first time and realize you were the leading cause! How horrible for both Adam and Eve!

Before his banishment from Eden, the smell of death and decay weren’t even a possibility. What must have it been like to experience the smell of death for the very first time? We have it with us all the time. In and around our homes, a common odor we never think about; our garbage cans, disposal units, dead leaves, overripe fruit, old food, rust, mold, bathtub rings, dirty clothes. We live with it and hardly ever think about it.

We watch movies and TV shows where death is the opening and closing scenes. There are many procedural shows where death is the attraction. The news tells us the horror of murders, crashes, suicides, accidents, and wars and we take it all as natural. We read obituaries and attend funerals because we know what they are. It must have been a shock to Adam the first time he saw death, even of an animal that first dead animal skin now covered his sinful, dying body. How awful it must have been to find his son Cain the instrument of the first hands-on life taking of his lineage!

It must have been so wonderful for Eve to give birth to Seth. She gave God glory recognizing this new child as Granted, or Given of God. She knew this child would be the line from which the promise of Salvation would come. Adam and Eve knew that at some point, God would do something about the curse of their sin and their posterity would be again live in perfect harmony with God. This must have been such a treasured promise when the true understanding of death was suddenly surrounding them.

Wow! What an ending to think about when you’re the first person on earth!

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Originally this was a page from my journal, which became the basis for

Chapter 7 of my EBook Squished! Why God Seemingly Destroys Our Fruit.

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Motivating Peter

God wants to show us His great grace and mercy apart from what we already know.

We often talk of Paul's missionary journeys, but Peter did some remarkable things also while out in the field.

"Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda" Acts 9:32

&

"So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner" Acts 9:43

Peter was someplace he'd never been before, yet God knew exactly what He was going to show Peter about His awesome power to save anyone, anywhere.

God told the early Christians that in the power of the Holy Spirit, the church is to go everywhere preaching the salvation of Jesus.

"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.

But the first century church stayed in Jerusalem until after Stephen was killed and the persecution began in earnest. Then they scattered but they took their faith with them everywhere.

Whether Peter was moving around a bit because of the persecution the Bible doesn't say, but we do know that while Peter was not in Jerusalem, God showed him the great expansion of the church.

God does record in Acts that Peter, in his new faith and boldness in Jesus, speaks to a sick person whom God healed, prays for a dead person and sees God bring them to life, and stays with a tanner, (Acts 9:33, 40, & 43).

We're not told if Peter had traveling companions. And the fact it says he was staying at Simon the tanner's house, we can assume no one from Jerusalem was with him. It seems Peter was stepping out of his comfort zone by traveling alone.

Peter's expressions of faith while apart from his fellow Christians is culminated in the salvation of Cornelius, the Centurion. Peter hadn't personally thought about going to the Gentiles before that time. But now, with God's prompting, Peter's submission to do things in faith as he had ever done before revealed to him God 's love for all peoples, everywhere.

Maybe Peter was reluctant at first,

but the more he saw God work,

the easier his obedience became.

Which thing is true in our witness. Even when it is out of our comfort zone, the Holy Spirit may wait until we're in a place where He can do something amazing. This new thing God uses us for will glorify God and grow us in our faith and knowledge of God, (2 Peter 3:18).

Our small steps of obedience can be the very thing God uses to bless all those with which we come in contact. We step out in faith that God is with us and our obedience to that is God's door to His grace.

"(Jesus) answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mystery of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him" Matthew 13:11,12

& repeated in the parable of the talents (money)

"For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken from him" Matthew 25:29.

Peter didn't have to do anything. Yet, if he hadn't trusted God at His word, Peter would have missed out on seeing God's miracles.

Sometimes God waits to use us after we leave our familiar territory.

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25 Life Applications from the Book of Ruth

Here are 25 Life Application to be found in the book of Ruth.

There were so many places in this story where disobedience, selfish ambitions, and pride of any number of those involved could have created disaster. But three people, Boaz, Ruth and Naomi were determined to obedience to the law given to Moses so that God would be glorified.

#1 Have quiet patience with people who insult us.
      Ruth holds her peace even as Naomi ignores her. (1:21)

#2 Seek God, even when we don’t know what’s going on.
      Ruth leaves all she knows, trusting in God, whom she's newly put her faith in to take care of her. (1:16,17)

#3 Trust God when we are taking a new direction.
      Ruth travels to Bethlehem not knowing what awaits her, only she knows that the God of Israel will take care of her. (1:22)

#4 When repenting, don’t just stop doing something, but leave it far behind.
      Ruth left Moab and a life of idolatry. (Ruth 1)

#5 Our everyday, ordinary conduct is an integral part of our witness.
      Ruth stays pure and holy in her new life.

#6 Pray despite your pain.
     Naomi prays for her two daughters in law. (1:8,9)

#7 Our loyalty shouldn’t hinge on the character of the person we love (unconditional love).
       Ruth ignores Naomi's urging to stay in Moab, and insists on going to Bethlehem. (1:15)

#8 Stick to your promises.

     Ruth stays with Naomi through all the troubles.

#9 Respect is earned, never granted.
      Boaz and Ruth have both earned the respect of the harvesters. (2:4-7)

#10 Humility is knowing your limits and your needs.

      Ruth humbles herself to ask for the charity of gleaning in Boaz' fields. (1:7)

#11 Once we’re saved, God has forever forgiven us of our past.
       Boaz never derides Ruth because of her ancestry.

#12 As ambassadors of Christ, we need to guard our reputations.
       Ruth, Naomi and Boaz stay true to God among an immoral society. (Judges 21:25)

#13 Some sacrifices will hurt severely, but the rewards for pleasing God are worth it.
       Boaz and Ruth sacrifice their desire to marry to keep the Kinsman/Redeemer Law. (3:13)

#14 Many times our sacrifices to God will make no sense to anyone else but us.
       To fulfill the law, Boaz sticks to the rules and offers Ruth, whom he loves, to the closer relative. (4:1-5)

#15 God moves in our ordinary lives to bless us in extraordinary ways.
       God moves behind the scenes through the entire book of Ruth.

#16 No one is beyond the amazing salvation of God.
       Even though a Moabite, Ruth is saved through her faith in God.

#17 Obedience is rewarded.
      Boaz, Ruth and Naomi enjoy the birth of Obed. (4:13-16)

#18 Our need is to continue to pray about everything.

#19 God is always with His children through everything.

#20 God wants us to rely on Him for everything.

#21 If your prayer isn’t answered right away, keep praying.

#22 What we choose to do good or bad is going to affect the reputations of our fellow Christians.

#23 We should do nothing that would cause unbelievers to blaspheme the name of our Lord

#24 God can make us wait before He fulfills all He’s going to give us.

#25 God sees the end from the beginning. He sees us in heaven right now enjoying our rewards. He is seeing our worship perfected.

Ruth Boaz and Naomi show how to live our lives

in obedience, purity, holiness and faith.

Christians are not under the law today, but we are to live holy lives, set apart for God's glory.

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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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God Gets 'Er Done

Genesis 24: Seeking God's Help In The Workplace

You may be the boss or you may be the least recognized person in your workplace, yet by your faith in God, you can be the most effective in getting things done. Genesis 24 is a great chapter of faith in action and of answered prayer.

"I will make you swear by the LORD, 

and the God of heaven and earth...

Genesis 24:3

An Impossible Task:

    Genesis 24 tells us, with the exception of Isaac, all the people in Abraham's entourage are slaves, servants, or hired help.  From this group of people he commands, Abraham sends a servant on a specific mission---find a wife for my son. (you shall go...and take a wife for my son..." Genesis 24:4) Even as he starts on his way, this man starts praying for success. There was no way he was going to trust his own judgment to get this job done. There is nothing impossible for God, even in your workplace.

"But you shall go to my country 

and to my family, and take a wife 

for my son Isaac" Genesis 24:4

Sincere Prayer:

    Trust God to help you get your work done. This slave prays a very sincere, simple, direct, specific prayer in faith, wanting to successfully complete his mission, and God answered with a miracle. Take the lesson from him that in anything we do, we need the power of God to complete it. God wants us to have faith in Him no matter what.
God's Glory in Our Work:
    After he sees the answer, he is humbled and gives God all the glory for a job well done. We see his faith and acknowledgement of God when he prostrates himself in thanksgiving, oblivious to who noticed. There at the well in front of Rebekah, (vs 26), (and probably all the other women come to get water) And in the presence of Rebekah's family (vs 52). Maybe you shouldn't prostrate yourself in your office, but at your work station, or office space, you can certainly prostrate your heart, unseen to anyone but God.
Spiritual Insight:
    This slave shows God-given discernment of the pagan-ness and greed of Rebekah's family in wanting to get away quickly. (vs 54) One aspect of his work had to interact with these ungodly people, yet he did what he had to do and he does it graciously, politely, but with his integrity intact. Now he wants to get the rest of the job done, which means moving on to the next phase. He had to return to his boss with the complete report and the woman. 

    The lesson here is to recognize and take charge where the job is yours alone and complete it to the very best of your ability to the glory of God. This Spiritual insight will help you stay out of trouble. You will have more knowledge of inter-office dealings, good and bad. And your humble recognition of God's power in your position may help you get a head start on jobs before you are asked.

"For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come 

knowledge and understanding" Proverbs 2:6.

Co-worker's Recognize Your Faith:

    And Rebekah seemed willing to get out her family's house without any customary long goodbyes. Maybe she saw something in this servant that interested her about her future husband. But the main thing is she saw something different in the manner of this man and she got on board with his plan. Seeing his trustworthiness, took her on to success as well.

Get 'Er Done!
    While you may not see the same successes as this man, still you're connection to Almighty God gives you Spiritual insight into God doing something in your workplace. When you do see answered prayer or the awesome power of God where you work make sure you acknowledge that God Got 'Er Done!

"Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 

not with eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, 

doing the will of God from the heart" 

Ephesians 6:5,6.

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