Esther Pt. 3: The Absolute Sovereignty Of God

All Scripture Is God Breathed!

Why is this Book important? Why did the Jewish people consider it ‘Scripture’? Why do we consider it ‘God Breathed’? Since it was written, God’s people have recognized important messages contained in this ‘Short Story’,

IMPORTANT MESSAGES OF ESTHER:

The reality of an on going ‘Cosmic Drama’ the battle between Good & Evil.

The tenacity of God’s people to cry out to him and to trust him through awful times.

The divine providence God has for His people, He is faithful to protect them eternally

SO FAR:

We have seen a capricious king, wallowing in sin and debauchery, depose his queen

We have seen a lovely jewish girl, guided by God, ascend to the throne

WHERE IS ALL OF THIS LEADING? Where is God in this story? STAY TUNED!

Esther 2:19—3:15 NIV

19 When the virgins were assembled a second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 But Esther had kept secret her family background and nationality just as Mordecai had told her to do, for she continued to follow Mordecai’s instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.

  • The story about to be told, took place at a certain time [2nd gathering of virgins]
  • Virgins assembled 2nd time: Did Xerxes want more young girls? Or still 1st time?
  • Mordecai has ascended to a position of stature: Sitting at the gate [Supervisor]
  • Esther is still not known to be a Jew
  • [Later we learn] Esther was queen when this story happens…[V22]
  • Middle Eastern Narrative Form: Important info 1st; then chronology of events
  • This story will play a BIG role in the events later on [God is setting things up]

21 During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 22 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 23 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles. All this was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.

  • Two Guys who were part of the next level of security ‘became angry’
  • Clumsily they plotted to kill the king…Mordecai found out told Esther, QUEEN
  • She reported it to the king! How did she go and talk to the king?
  • The guards were busted and executed [impaled not hanged] Persian Practice

Chapter 3

1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles. 2 All the royal officials at the king’s gate knelt down and paid honor to Haman, for the king had commanded this concerning him. But Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor.

  • After the king found out he had bad palace staff he most likely cleaned house!
  • The guy who gets promoted to the top of the food chain is named Haman
  • Officials ‘The Gate’ are commanded by the king to kneel & pay honor to Haman
  • But Mordecai would not kneel, bow or do like everyone else, why?

3 Then the royal officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why do you disobey the king’s command?” 4 Day after day they spoke to him but he refused to comply. Therefore they told Haman about it to see whether Mordecai’s behavior would be tolerated, for he had told them he was a Jew.

  • Mordecai would not say why he refused to comply
  • What we do know is that at this point Mordecai has identified himself as a jew
  • He probably refused for 2 reasons: Haman was an Amalekite & Exodus. 20

5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor, he was enraged. 6 Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai. Instead Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.

  • Here we begin to see who Haman really is: an egomaniac!
  • He believes he is being so disrespected he decides Mordecai life is not enough
  • The Amalekites were historical enemies of the Jews & enemies of God
  • This moves quickly from revenge for a slight to full out Genocide

7 In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.

  • Why does Haman cast lots to see when his plan should be carried out?
  • God allows Haman to place his faith in the ‘Pur’ and then manipulates the result

8 Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. 9 If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”

  • Haman doesn’t mention the personal slight, or even the guy who did it
  • Haman accuses the Jews of ‘Separatism’ & ‘Non-Assimilation & ‘Law Breaking’
  • Satan goes after God’s people because they are ‘set apart’ [it’s going on now]
  • He persuades the king that it is in HIS best interest to be rid of these people
  • He give the king a ‘final solution’ to this problem: A decree to destroy them!
  • AND Haman offers to pay for the admin cost of this whole plan

10 So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. 11 “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.”

  • The king seems to ask no questions, he seems to trust Haman explicitly
  • He gives Haman free reign to do with ‘the people’ as he pleases
  • AND the king says, no need to pay anything, we will cover it.
  • Haman is here in the text called ‘The enemy of the Jews’

12 Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring.

  • The casting of lots and the decree happen the 13th of the 1st month of the year
  • The order was sent to particular people [Satrap= Gov] throughout the empire
  • Haman was able to use the kings full authority, it looks like the king’s decision

13 Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.

  • Decree: The text was explicit as to what was to be done to ALL Jews
  • Decree: This Genocide is contained to ONE day! Persian Army enforced
  • Decree: Every local government was responsible to carry it out [organized evil]
  • Decree: When you kill them, you get all of their stuff!
  • BUT…It will not happen for a whole year / 12 Months [organized Grace]

14 A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. The king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was bewildered.

  • The decree was translated & sent [same system as the Queen being deposed]
  • Hundreds of riders thunder away to deliver the order of the king [control freak?]
  • And as they post the decree in Susa, word spreads and with it confusion
  • The king & his boy are going to have a feast…a banquet
  • The king needs no reason to drink, Haman is celebrating HIS victory

Don’t forget who Haman is really working for: Satan! At this point, Satan thought he had won, he would destroy the people of God! Just like Satan thought He had Jesus defeated when they crucified Him…

THE COSMIC DRAMA IS NOW IN FULL FORCE! But God has HIS PEOPLE exactly where He needs them. He placed Mordecai at the gate to the palace. He placed Esther in the palace as Queen. But what if they find out she is related to Mordecai? Stay Tuned!

Principals 4 Your Life:

Do the right thing whether it benefits you or not. [God is keeping track]

Seek to honor God regardless of short term consequences. [Eternal Focus]

Live as though all superstitions [Like the Pur] are all controlled by GOD!

Live based on the reality that people exist who are owned by & work for Satan.

Live like God is in charge of everything, because you believe HE IS!

/by

Esther Pt. 2: “This Week on The Bachelor”

Esther 2:1-18 (ESV)

The key themes we’ll read about today:
– God is in control, we are not. 
– 450 BC was a long time ago, times are different, culture and the world around us changes. But some things stay the same. God does not change. Our sinful nature does not change.
– Speaking of our sinful nature, we’ll see that the world’s culture is vain and self-serving.

2 After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her. 2 Then the king’s young men who attended him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king. 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa the citadel, under custody of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women. Let their cosmetics be given them. 4 And let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This pleased the king, and he did so.
•       Ancient days version of “The Bachelor”

5 Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away. 7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. 

•       By every account we have these people are faithful to their God even in their situation. She has lost her parents. They are living far away from their historic homeland. 
•       Yet we know who these people were: their lineage. We know that Mordecai was responsible and a caretaker for his family member, to a certain extent he was a follower of the mosaic law. The Jewish people had a duty to take care of those who could not take care of themselves and here we see Mordecai is obedient, even in the face of exile.

8 So when the king’s order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king’s palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. 9 And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king’s palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem. 10 Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known. 11 And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.

o       Esther’s attitude and posture is evident right away. She is easy going, agreeable, certainly kind and pleasant to be around.

•       vs11 Mordecai has not forgotten her. His responsibility to her and his family does not end because of the circumstances they fall in to. It did not end with the exile, did not end with her forced inclusion into this pagan beauty contest and potentially pagan marriage.

12 Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women— 13 when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. 14 In the evening she would go in, and in the morning she would return to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.
•       The stakes are laid out. There are two groups, a group of virgins and a group of concubines. Both belong to the king, and each virgin is initiated in to the “second harem”. Each lady gets one opportunity to make an impression, otherwise she will remain in his harem forever. 

15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king’s eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16 And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign, 17 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther’s feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.
•       Esther is made queen! 
•       I hope you see what a miracle this is. We have no idea how many women there are for the king to pick from, she was a nobody and yet she finds herself queen.
•       We see resilience in her. She did not choose this situation, didn’t sign up for this contest, she was taken away from her family. We don’t see her complaining or grumbling. Every detail we have implies an attitude of thankfulness, gratitude, obedience.

Takeaways:

God’s people should be faithful even when things aren’t going right for us.

•       Mordecai didn’t look for excuses. He still upheld his end of what it looked like to be righteous.

God’s providence is real. It is woven throughout this book
•       God uses this wretched, messed up situation to show his power, that he is in control.
o       To the uninitiated this looks like God is nowhere to be found. Sometimes it feels the same way in our lives. We look around and think God where are you?  But…
•       As this book shows us, even at his most hidden, God is still there. The Jews are living in a foreign land, the temple has been destroyed. The prophets are few, there is no king. 
•       This is the exile, and if you are expecting the exodus you’ll miss it. God is not displaying wonderous signs or miracles to free his people. There is no Moses telling King Ahasuerus to “let his people go”. It is subtle. He is still working things together for the good of those who love him. 

Divine control does not negate our responsibility to action. 
•       We Christians still have a role to play and a standard to live up to.
•       We want to play our part

This is an important story for us today that details the miraculous ways in which God worked to save his people, the Jewish people, but also how he preserved the line of David to raise a messiah and save all of the earth and mankind through his promise. 

Esther’s life took a drastic turn from her wildest expectations, in part because she was obedient to God’s direction.

Will you be obedient? Are you chasing the life you want, or are you open to the life God has for you?

God has big plans for you, but if you are too locked in to how you want your life to look you may miss it. 

A woman who put aside what she wanted in her life, was obedient to God’s calling and ends up playing a crucial part in the salvation story for the entire human race. Praise God! 

/by

The Book of Esther Pt. 1

For such a time as this…

Major Themes:

Dependency on God like we have no idea of! Exiles!

The illusion of control. The greatest of human Might, Technology and wealth is powerless against God’s will.

Active Waiting [PRAYER & FASTING]

God’s Sovereignty over all events, big and small.

God’s Preservation of HIS People. When God makes YOU one of His People that is not changed by anything YOU do. God has a History of preserving HIS people, who would birth HIS Messiah / SON

God Calls People to Act. God designs each of us for specific tasks [Ester had great beauty, it was her way in]. When God’s children allow God to lead their life HE may call us to action. Mordecai was placed as much as Ester was. God’s Children must recognize that God has them somewhere for a reason.

God wants us to depend on Him

God desires His People to connect with Him in Extremely Intentional ways!

God can completely ‘flip’ a situation…the first become last and the last become first

God’s People must commemorate His great acts of deliverance [Jewish Festivals]. Ebeneezers to what God has done are important [REMEMBER THE LORD]

Pt. 1 Chapter 1 HCSB

1 These events took place during the days of Ahasuerus, who ruled 127 provinces from India to Cush. 2 In those days King Ahasuerus reigned from his royal throne in the fortress at Susa. 3 He held a feast in the third year of his reign for all his officials and staff, the army of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the officials from the provinces. 4 He displayed the glorious wealth of his kingdom and the magnificent splendor of his greatness for a total of 180 days.

  • Written as a form of historical record [it will reference other such records]
  • 486 Darius, the King who lost the Battle of Marathon in 490 BC dies
  • Xerxes ascends to the throne
  • Xerxes was the oldest son of Darius 2nd wife [daughter of Cyrus]
  • Xerxes was a handsome man who had no equal among the Persians in beauty or bodily strength. However, neither as military leader nor as monarch was he a worthy successor of Cyrus or Darius. His character was unstable and vacillating but not basically bad. He put down major revolts in Egypt and Babylon early in his reign but suffered grave defeats from 480 BC until his assassination in 465 BC.
  • 480 BC He attempts to conquer Greece, he is unsuccessful [movie 300]
  • 3 years earlier He holds a 180 day feast / banquet for all his officials & officers
  • An apex of human control…Empire, Ruling Class and Security Forces…

5 At the end of this time, the king held a week-long banquet in the garden courtyard of the royal palace for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were present in the fortress of Susa. 6 White and violet linen hangings were fastened with fine white and purple linen cords to silver rods on marble columns. Gold and silver couches were arranged on a mosaic pavement of red feldspar, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.

  • AND a week long party for the ‘Common Folk’ who made the fortress run
  • The rank and file got to live like the ‘Other Half’
  • Wealth beyond comprehension…remind you of anything???
  • The idea of ‘A Show of Wealth’ is an old idea… What a waste!

7 Beverages were served in an array of gold goblets, each with a different design. Royal wine flowed freely, according to the king’s bounty 8 and no restraint was placed on the drinking. The king had ordered every wine steward in his household to serve as much as each person wanted. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women of King Ahasuerus’s palace.

  • AND to top it all off the King let the wine flow! OPEN BAR!
  • AND the women got to be included in this one of a kind opportunity [separately]
  • This was not a time and a culture of equality for women [we will see more]

10 On the seventh day, when the king was feeling good from the wine, Ahasuerus commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who personally served him, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before him with her royal crown. He wanted to show off her beauty to the people and the officials, because she was very beautiful. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command that was delivered by his eunuchs. The king became furious and his anger burned within him.

  • ‘The King was feeling good from the wine’…I bet! He drank for 187 days!
  • Big ceremony with HIS personal seven eunuchs [quite a few eunuchs around]
  • He waited until the last day of the whole thing to acknowledge the Queen
  • He wanted to show her off, perhaps she had expected this earlier???
  • One historian writes Vashti was a Great Grand Daughter of Nebuchadnezzar
  • Was It was beneath her to attend the male only drunk fest? [females served]
  • Was Xerxes trying to show Queen Vashti she had value only for her beauty?
  • If she goes she is made to be a commoner, if she refuses, a disobedient wife

13 The king consulted the wise men who understood the times, for it was his normal procedure to confer with experts in law and justice. 14 The most trusted ones were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan. They were the seven officials of Persia and Media who had personal access to the king and occupied the highest positions in the kingdom. 15 The king asked, “According to the law, what should be done with Queen Vashti, since she refused to obey King Ahasuerus’s command that was delivered by the eunuchs?”

  • The king is looking for some help / or these guys are part of a intentional plot
  • Bring in the consultants!
  • King calls in His wise men, learned men, science, math, law experts
  • Cabinet Secretaries / Ministers / Senior Staff
  • He wants to know what he ‘could’ do within the confines of the law
  • He did everything by the book, as though it would be scrutinized late…

16 Memucan said in the presence of the king and his officials, “Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king, but all the officials and the peoples who are in every one of King Ahasuerus’s provinces. [Map of Persian Empire] 17 For the queen’s action will become public knowledge to all the women and cause them to despise their husbands and say, ‘King Ahasuerus ordered Queen Vashti brought before him, but she did not come.’ 18 Before this day is over, the noble women of Persia and Media who hear about the queen’s act will say the same thing to all the king’s officials, resulting in more contempt and fury.

  • One particular guy speaks up very quickly [spokesman or driven by something]
  • He articulates the case against the Queen, she has wronged EVERYONE!
  • He contends this one action will destroy the order of their culture [alarmist??]
  • He contends the wealthy women in the country will follow the Queen’s example

19 “If it meets the king’s approval, he should personally issue a royal decree. Let it be recorded in the laws of Persia and Media, so that it cannot be revoked: Vashti is not to enter King Ahasuerus’s presence, and her royal position is to be given to another woman who is more worthy than she. 20 The decree the king issues will be heard throughout his vast kingdom, so all women will honor their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”

  • We cannot let this stand!! Time to issue a royal decree…a permanent solution
  • And Memucan has a decree all locked & loaded [maybe his wife was acting up]
  • Vashti is canceled…she is labeled ‘unworthy’, she is to be replaced [banished?]

21 The king and his counselors approved the proposal, and he followed Memucan’s advice. 22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to each province in its own script and to each ethnic group in its own language, that every man should be master of his own house and speak in the language of his own people.

  • It seems like Memucan leads out in the execution of the decree [immediately]
  • Persians were known for writing laws in the middle of the night after drinking
  • Mass Communication of a legal / cultural standard: Men are in charge!
  • The language thing at the end…[Map of Persian Empire]

‘In Persia every man will be master of his own home and speak in the language of his own people, regardless of the language his wife speaks. If he had foreign wives, let them learn his language.’

What have we learned?

Lust of mankind for conquest and power was at it’s peak in this world [pretty ugly]

When ruled by desires for ourselves we manipulate and scheme

God will direct kings and janitors lives to accomplish His will, despite our sin

People are people, we all want control of our lives, and we really don’t have any!

Without eternal security ‘In Christ’ we are all vulnerable to what sin can do

To the powers of this world we are as expendable as Queen Vashti.

But God has made a way for us to overcome the power of this world, the power of sin and eternal death! Christ Jesus!

/by

FIVE PEOPLE

Christianity / Body of Christ = Transformed People

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ~ 2 Cor 5:17 NASB 1995

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. ~ Roman 12:2 NLT

What People Do When They Live Based On Biblical Vision & Values

Intentional Discipleship / Familial Shepherding / Healthy Relationships

Rich Body Life / Empowered Prayer / Humble Servanthood / Authentic Worship

Active Witnessing / Sacrificial Giving / Cooperative Ministry / Abundant Living

Intimate Connection / Kingdom Purpose / Biblical Salvation / God Honoring

Christ desires to transform / sanctify HIS BODY into His image! In doing that He accomplishes HIS kingdom purposes! Our Vision & Values summarize this Christ initiated, Spirit enabled transformation.

Values and Vision are lived out by people; making choices, believing things, acting in particular ways, trusting in specific things, investing in particular things, renouncing particular things. For MIDTOWN CHURCH these things are guided by the Holy Bible the Old & New Testaments.

Bottom Line: Christ bought YOU with His life so He could make You like HIM!

There are FIVE people He want to transform all of us into: Lifelong Trainee / Trusted Sibling / Considerate Servant / Intentional Witness / Ardent Worshiper

Scripture will guide us on how to begin, the basics of attitude and action, and how to keep going

Lifelong Trainee:

#1 Priority… if we do this well , everything else flow from it!

Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them,because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” ~ Matthew 9 36-38

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” ~ Matthew 28:18-20

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” ~ John 8:31-32

Trusted Sibling:

Relationships with other disciples are crucial…and Jesus’ standards are high!

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” ~ John 13:34-35

And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. ~ Hebrews 10: 24-25

Let love of the brethren continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body. ~ Hebrews 13:1-3

Considerate Servant:

My experience in The Philippines

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.” ~ Matthew 20:25-28

No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” ~ Luke 16:13

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him. ~ John 12:24-26

Intentional Witness:

This is our biggest growth opportunity as a body!

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” ~ Acts 1:8

To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me. ~ Colossians 1:27-29

So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” ~ Romans 1:15-17

Ardent Worshiper:

‘Ardent‘ = Whole Hearted / Dedicated / Sincere / Committed

‘Worship’ = Exalt / Revere / Glorify / Honor / Adore / Praise / Respect

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

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” ~ Matthew 4:8-10

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” ~ John 4:23-24 NLT

Application:

What is important to these five people?

What do they experience in their walk with Christ?

What do they do on a regular basis?

What do the people they spend a lot of time with?

Communion:

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23-26

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