Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
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The word of God is an encouragement, today is no exception. John says things that at first glance sound bad. In fact, they might terrify you and discourage you. But all is not lost. We sin, we mess up time and time again, and there is still good news. Our hope is in something more powerful than ourselves
1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.
• An advocate with the father. Jesus is leaning over in to God’s ear, whispering things about you. Tipping the scale in our favor. What power Jesus has to be in such a position! • Not just anyone can do that, John tells us that Christ Jesus is the righteous one. Your bible might have this as a proper noun, as a title. This is a title unique to him, which means what church? We are certainly NOT righteous. • We are morally bankrupt; we lack goodness and justification before God. But there is more good news.
2 He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
• Jesus IS the sacrifice for our sins. What we cannot do, Jesus did. • Our sin is gross and messy and there is nothing we can do about it. But again, there is good news here, it is all on Jesus. It is His sacrifice that atones. It is not our lives lived in a manner worthy of anything, not even worth saving. Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. He atones for our sin. • Galatians 3:28 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
3 We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands. 4 Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.
• We have all been saved by Jesus’s atonement for our sins. And the spirit gives us assurance of our faith. If we find ourselves obeying the word of God, we have come to know him. We have certainty of our knowledge of God when we follow his commands. • Our actions, the way our life is lived, is a testimony to the truth that we really do know Him! Those actions are not what saves us, let me refer you to verse 2. But the lack of obedience is incompatible with truly knowing God.
5 But if anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: 6 Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.
• Likewise, when we obey God, it draws us closer to him. We experience first-hand the life he wants for all of us. Our love for him grows as we obey his words and live it out. • It’s hard to live like someone if you don’t know them. As we conclude our text today, let’s look at some examples. How did Jesus live? What characteristics come to mind when you think of the life of Jesus? • Jesus was (and still is) patient with his creation. Jesus loved others, especially the ones the religious leaders neglected. He was obedient to the father.
We have hope in Jesus • What is your hope in? Even though we cannot keep ourselves from sinning, the gospel brings the message of salvation apart from anything we have done to earn it.
Knowing God results in obedience to Him. • Is the way you are orienting your life based on your personal knowledge of who God is and the love that He has for us? • Do you know Jesus? Are you spending time learning about who he is, what he teaches and how it impacts your life today?
Through obedience our love is made complete • Does your love for God feel complete, or empty? Something missing? • When our actions don’t match our words, it betrays how we really feel. • What areas is your love of God hypocritical? Confessing and repenting is step 1 • what are growth areas for you to be more Christlike?
To live in Jesus is to live like Jesus • We have a model of what obedience to God is. • What ways does your life look like Jesus’s? • What has encouraged you in your life to see where he’s making you more like himself?
This last point to take away is an encouragement to us, not a reason for shame or guilt. We should not read this and be burdened at the prospect of being like Jesus, God gave us this as a blessing and a calling for our lives.
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This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Takeaways/Application:
Do you affirm scripture that there is no wrong or darkness in God? Or do you believe that He can’t be all true about what He did and who He is.
What are specific things in your life you may believe God is purposely hiding or keeping from you that alter his being in your mind.
Unconfessed and unrepentant sin enslaves you to fellowship with darkness. Having heard that God is light will you truly repent and walk in the light and have fellowship with Him?
Do you confess and repent of sin daily? Monthly? Yearly? Never? Your awareness of sin may reveal how close your fellowship with God truly is.
What does your fellowship with God ultimately look like after today? Has it changed you in the past or are you still the same?
Fellowship with God should lead to repentance which should cause actual change and genuine sanctification to be seen and felt among others.
Do you believe that you are wiser than God and that he lies about your sin and need for a savior?
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1John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”
He wrote this letter, we have it still and we are reading it today, so that we may know of the eternal life offered to us by our Creator. This letter is primarily to encourage us.
We will study the first 4 verses of chapter 1 (one sentence!) and in this short text this morning we see John start on two important threads: the incarnation and the fellowship it brings. Both of these ideas will be talked about again as we go through the letter. John tells the church how important it is to understand who Jesus is and how that should affect our lives and our relationships with others.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— • John is writing to tell us about something that has existed since the very beginning. there is only one thing: God. • And this God has been seen by his own eyes, touched with his own hands. • He is talking about Jesus, who was and is God himself, and John is writing this letter because of his position as a witness to it all! • He calls him “That which was from the beginning”. Jesus has always existed. He took on a human body the better part of 2 millennium ago, but he has always existed. He is the uncreated God.
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— • Jesus came to earth from the spiritual realm. He “was made manifest” means he took up a body, became like you and me with flesh and blood, hair and limitations. • And the purpose of his letter is so we will know that Jesus was not some legend or myth, but that he really was a man, who lived and taught what he did. • We have a letter that a man you and I never met, written two thousand years ago. He is using what he’s got at his disposal to impart the importance and the evidence behind what he saw.
3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. • God became man. We saw it with our eyes! And now, we are telling you about it, so that you can be in fellowship with us. • What did John see? Transfiguration, crucifixion, Jesus asks him to take care of his mother, he leans up against Jesus and asks who will betray him. He knew who Jesus was. • The point of this letter is so that you and I can be in fellowship with other believers, the ones who did see it and experience it first-hand. • The truth of Christ Jesus bonds us together unlike anything else. • Matthew 12:48, Jesus says: “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. • John desires to tell us these things; he knows the truth and he wants to share it with us. He has a responsibility to share, I believe he was compelled because of the spirit in him, and because he knows his spiritual satisfaction will only increase by sharing it further! • This is true for all of us today; a Christian takes joy in sharing the good news, in declaring the truth about God. We call the gospel the good news because we believe that! It is exciting to talk about and we love to see others embrace it!
Takeaways
What is your reaction to the witness accounts of the bible? • As I researched this book I was comforted and amazed at how robust the historical record is surrounding this. The legitimacy of the manuscripts, the amount of referencing and quoting by other early church fathers • Talk to me after if you have questions on this, I am no expert but I spent a lot of time looking in to it and was encouraged and would love to share it with you.
Are we in fellowship with other believers over the things of God? • Fellowship in Jesus is unlike anything else • Find your teammates. Pick each other up. Allow yourself to be held accountable to your brothers and sisters. Be one in Jesus. • “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1
Am I sharing? • It can be tough to share our faith. It is personal, and sometimes private. This is hard for me • John is a great example however, that a Christian should wear it on his sleeve. The truth that we know about the world is draped over us, and we can get the same outcome as John. Our joy is made complete in sharing the work God has done in our lives. • Do I believe that my joy will grow? • Encourage you this morning to complete your joy, don’t keep it to yourself • Knowing who Christ is, believing what he has done and living in fellowship with Him and fellow believers brings us complete joy.
1 John is not a to-do list for Christians. Instead, it is a letter proclaiming what has been done, in sending his son to die for us.
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”
Key Takeaways: – As the Lord taught the Scriptures to the two disciples, their hearts burned. If you are indifferent to the Bible, that’s a warning sign.
– When is the last time the Bible read you?
– He laid down His life. He took it up again. He lives forever in a glorified resurrection body. We celebrate Him today and every day, and when He returns, “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (I John 3:2)
– He said, “Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19) Death is no longer death for those who know and love Him. When our body goes dormant to rest, we’ll be more alive than we’ve ever been.
The focus of our text today is what’s about to happen. Jesus’ disciples don’t really know what is coming next, even though he’s been hinting at it and outright telling them for a while now. We’ll read Him tell them one last time what must happen, that they will face a world without him physically there.
The presence of the Holy Spirit changes our lives in many ways; it transforms us a certain way. We’ll see where Paul gets his teaching of the fruits of the spirit, it’s from Jesus himself. We’ll look at 4 things the Spirit brings: truth, obedience, knowledge, peace.
15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Christ Jesus” Phil 1:6
• This spirit brings truth, it is through Him that we have understanding. The disciples are so uneasy about what Jesus says to them. They want it one way, and it feels incompatible with what God has planned. The spirit of truth reconciles our will with His.
o Truth is agreement with God, the way the world works is the way He says it is.
• True love is marked by willing obedience.
• To obey God is a hard thing to do, but the encouraging thing here is that Jesus understands. He was a man like you and me; he knew the challenge. Look no further than what he was about to go through!
• Jesus knows this will be difficult, to keep his commandments.
• I can’t help but think that in this moment, the human part of Jesus needed to hear this reminder. He has a command from the Father that he needs to follow. And because of his Love for the father, he would obey his command to go to the cross.
18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
• He then leaves them with a statement that they could not possibly understand until later
• “Because I live, you also will live.” We get the luxury of hearing those words knowing what happens on Easter Sunday. But imagine those words ringing around in the disciple’s minds as he hangs on a cross. I would guess that their fear finds a real foothold in those words, they know their lives depend on him.
21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
• Those who love God will have the spirit of obedience, and He will “make our home within him”. He is promising to dwell inside our very beings.
• The word “home” here also means “dwelling place”. God himself will be at home in us. This is pretty hard to grasp because there is nothing like it in our human world today.
• The Jews knew a little bit about this, I want us to turn to Exodus for just a minute. If you know the story, the Jews were called out of Slavery in Egypt by their God. He performed miracle after miracle, orchestrating the exit of his people for one reason. The climax of this whole story is in Chapter 40
• “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” Exodus 40:34-35
• The whole point of the exodus, the entire reason he brought them out of slavery, was so that he could dwell amongst his people. Jesus describes that is what is going to happen in us.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
• Our last fruit of the spirit is the one that I need to hear the most often. The Holy Spirit is a spirit of Peace. His spirit brings peace in a way unlike anything found anywhere else. It does not JUST talk about the absence of conflict. This word meant “all is well”.
• The peace of the Spirit drives out worry and doubt, peace eradicates fear. It is distinct.
• There are knock offs everywhere. The world tells you that you’ll find peace once you make enough money. You’ll have peace once you get married, pay off your house or retire. Once we get through this crazy month.
• But this peace that Jesus leaves with us, a peace between God and man, is unlike anything the world has ever known before. End to the strife between us and God.
28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.
• Jesus begins to wrap up by reiterating; I don’t want you to be surprised when these things come about. They have been told, but they still did not have the ears to hear.
30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
• The ruler of this world is Satan; this is his domain. But be very certain about what is coming next week. Jesus was not outsmarted; the Christ was not overtaken. All of this was according to plan.
• Jesus is our model, and he obeys the father.
• From here he does go. Jesus would go out of the upper room, to the garden where he would be betrayed. He would keep going until he was on the cross, to lay down his life out of love for the father and of love for us.
Summary
Be in the word together.
Mark 11, John 13, Matthew 26, John 18, and Luke 23
How can people be encouraged to come in to greater agreement with the Spirit?
Application
Truth
• “I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not ONLY because I see it, but because by it I see everything else”. -C.S.L “Is Theology Poetry”
• Are there things you’d rather not think about, rather not ask God about? Areas where you are more content to live as you are? Not align your will with God’s?
• It can be uncomfortable to think about how destructive sin is in our lives, and how much God hates it. About loved ones who aren’t believers. Do you trust Him rather than seeking comfort of your own understanding and desires? God can handle these difficult matters, come to Him.
Obedience – Fall in love with Jesus
• It’s easy to read that and get really discouraged. I don’t keep his commandments; what does that say about me?
• What do we do if we aren’t obeying Jesus? Does it mean we don’t love him? How do we love him? Hard to love someone you don’t know.
• What ways are you learning more about Jesus? Who are you talking to about Jesus?
• Get to know him, read his word. Spend time talking to his people. Pray for an ignition of love
• Obedience will follow
Knowledge
• Do you understand scripture? Do you read it as the living word of God?
o “A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding” Proverbs 14:6
• Desire the spirit of truth to reveal things to you.
• When you read scripture are you approaching it with your own mental capacity? What you can comprehend on your own. We’ve got a lot of smart people in this room. Or do you ask the spirit to increase your understanding, to give you knowledge.
Peace
• Luke 12:24 “Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!”
• We know God because he dwells with us and in us. What a promise! Through it we have peace.
• Do you have peace with God? Is there animosity between you and your creator?
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. • Paul is directing his fellow believers to do one thing: present our lives as a sacrifice. • To the first audience, this of course evokes thoughts and images of the sacrifices that the Jews made for thousands of years. The killing of an animal, shedding its blood to atone for their sins, was required by God according to His law. • How do we set ourselves apart? Our model is always Jesus; we look to him as our example of how to live. o There was no living sacrifice quite like Jesus and how he lived and died. o He gave his life to do the will of the father here on earth. o Matt 22:37 “You must love the Lord your God with your whole heart, your whole soul, and your whole mind.” He needs our whole self, every part of us. o The sacrifices of the Pharisees weren’t enough, for their hearts were far from him
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. • Scripture confirms, to be set apart is to not conform to the world, we are to be separate from the things of this world. Hard to do, since we have no choice but to live here, in the world. To conform would be to have similar values and interests. • “be transformed”. Two important notes. o Transformed means it was one way and now it needs to be another. All need this We ourselves never had a godly mind; we were born in sin and never knew anything different prior to the spirit entering us. o “be” transformed, it is not us doing the work! Who else could it be? In his great mercy he transforms us. We are not the ones powering the engine. We are the ones being transformed; it is a command but it is also passive. A tough line to walk. o But we are told another outcome of this transformation is that we Christians “may discern what is the will of God”. We are given a compass or a barometer, a way for us to tell what is good and perfect. o cool check; how to know if you’re being transformed? Do you know more about what is good and acceptable to God today than you were yesterday? There is always more; “be transformed” is ongoing. Becoming more Christlike
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. • Self-assessment is good. Sober judgement means being clear eyed. Luke 6:41 o “Why do you see the spec that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?” o Jesus tells us to examine ourselves, desire to see our faults. It can be difficult to see our own sin which is why it is so critical to have fellow Christians around us. Paul will make that connection in the very next verse. • Be humble in your self-assessment. Judge with the right scale. Understand that it is not of our own goodness and ability that we can do anything. In (v3), Paul, who is undoubtably one of the most renown Christians in the history of the faith, says about himself that it is through grace that he can even teach this.
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. • You have many parts that compose one overarching object. In a courtroom, a confession, video recordings, sworn testimonies: they each serve a different function but they all contribute to the strength of the case, building the body of evidence. • Each component is distinct; it is recognizable on its own. However, that distinct component is out of place when it is alone. One piece of evidence is weaker and less effective by itself. It might not win the case. • The results are less drastic for a body that is missing a part, but still very impactful. A person without a part, like a hand, might not die, the body certainly feels the absence. It can do less. That person is disabled because of a missing part. • According to verse 5, it is in Christ that we are one body. We are not united because we like each other, because we get along. We are not united because we live in Atlanta. Nor because we have kids that are the same age or similar interests. We are one in CHRIST JESUS. That is the primary and ONLY relevant piece of information that binds us together. • When we unite over other things, it can and does cause partiality. Inevitably when we don’t have the same personal connection with other members, we think of them as less important to the body. When we see people for anything other than the image of God with Jesus living inside them, we love them with human, earthly love, and not the love of the spirit. o Earthly love will always fail, will never go the distance, and is not how we love
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. • As different parts of the body, we love one another the way we love Jesus and we sacrificially serve the body with our different gifts. • Two points to make: o We all have distinct gifts that God gave uniquely to YOU o Use our gifts, don’t sit on them • This is the point of having distinct members. We are not cult members, all interchangeable. We the body can feel when there is a lack of a particular spiritual gift. • This is a relevant command this morning; please today examine your gifting. How has the Lord gifted you? • There is a phenomenon in animals and humans alike: when a man loses his sense of sight, his hearing increases. The body compensates. o Fact is, our body has less people who are able to teach the word of God to others than we did 2 weeks ago. So, what gifts do you have, are you using them? • This is not a complete list of what gifts exist; it is meant to exhort us to use what God has given us for his unique purposes. • Are you using your gifts as a member of the body of Jesus Christ? • The cool thing about the body metaphor is that it ceases to be a metaphor. Jesus left his disciples with his spirit and said “you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8. • We Christians have the spirit in us and we are given the incredible responsibility to be Jesus’ hands and feet, his physical body. • Is Jesus Christ acting in the world today through the unique gifts that he has given you?
2 Corinthians 1:5-6 “For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort.”
We are not here at this church to merely absorb. We are to pour in to others, it is supposed to cost us something. But the promise of the scriptures is that we will be better for it, better Christ followers. We are to be a living sacrifice to those around us and to Christ who lives in us all.
We are called to use our lives to worship God with our actions and our lives.
Application Being the body is to be the hands and feet of Jesus. How are you serving?
What have you sacrificed, specifically for other Christians and for Jesus?
Are you self-assessing with God’s scale? Do you have others that can speak in to your life to help you see the plank?
In what way is your life distinct and set apart for God, or are you living just like everyone else?
Have you accepted the grace God has shown you?
Heidelberg Catechism (1563) #1 Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong— body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him. Q. What must you know to live and die in the joy of this comfort? A. Three things: first, how great my sin and misery are; second, how I am set free from all my sins and misery; third, how I am to thank God for such deliverance.
Phil 2:1-3 2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus
https://midtownchurchatl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/logo-full-Black-340x100-v2.png00Admin Midtownhttps://midtownchurchatl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/logo-full-Black-340x100-v2.pngAdmin Midtown2025-04-02 14:49:522025-04-02 14:50:17What Do We Do Next?
The King of Persia has recently issued a decree allowing the Jews to protect themselves from their enemies. They have been given authority to defend themselves from danger.
Today we will read how God turns around this terrible situation and God’s plan come to completion. This whole book, Esther and Mordecai have been great examples of leadership; we will see more of their courage today. And lastly, we will see the larger picture of God’s people unite and triumph over their enemies through a miracle of his protection.
Let’s dive in and see how God works an incredible miracle on behalf of his people like he has done so many times before.
9 Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s command and edict were about to be carried out, on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.
• The new decree gave them the power to defend themselves, but it didn’t guarantee their success. The decree was to give them a fighting chance of survival. Even still we aren’t sure how all of this is going to shake out. • Realize from last week to this week, 9 months go by. This new decree happens in the 3rd month, and here we are 9 months later. Put yourself in their shoes; imagine being a Jew during this period. There is a one-day war coming and you don’t know… • Or maybe not, maybe they were confident, that they had faith in the LORD that they knew he would follow through and protect them. We can only speculate, and think how you would feel in that situation. o Scripture speaks nothing of these 9 months, instead the story picks up right with the action. The enemies of the Jews suffered a huge defeat. • The enemies of God’s people hoped to conquer them, to extinguish them. But instead, “the reverse occurred”. It doesn’t go the way their enemies expected. That is a core theme of the gospel, it is all about reversals. o Instead of Esau, Jacob. Instead of a handsome tall king, a little shepherd boy. Instead of an eternity separated from God, his son died in our place. o God is the same today as he was in Esther’s day. o We do not get what we deserve, in fact we get the exact opposite. Just when they were supposed to be destroyed, that very day, their fortunes reverse. • God gave them their success. o “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.” psalm 127:1 o They conquered their enemies, even when they were unsure what would happen and how God would make a way, through it all, His will prevailed.
2 The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples. 3 All the officials of the provinces and the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them. 4 For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew more and more powerful. • Beginning of v2 says they came together. There is Unity in God’s people. The Jews gathered in their cities; they united. It was not every man for himself. The text implies they worked together to defeat their enemy, to execute God’s vision and plan. • Draw your attention to the second part of v2; it is so declarative! “No one could stand against them”! This is a description of the Lord’s power; this story doesn’t make sense as a tale about how lucky and clever a small people group was. o They were unstoppable, fear had fallen on their enemies. Again, God is present here, their enemies knew that He was their God. o 31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 ESV
5 The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them. 6 In Susa the citadel itself the Jews killed and destroyed 500 men, 7 and also killed… [Parshandatha and Dalphon and Aspatha 8 and Poratha and Adalia and Aridatha 9 and Parmashta and Arisai and Aridai and Vaizatha,] 10 the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, but they laid no hand on the plunder. • It tells us about 100 times in this book who Haman was and what people group he was from. The reason this is important is because the Agagites were historical enemies of Israel. Joshua had been given a command to wipe them out, all of them. But the people of Israel disobeyed. They neglected their job and these people ever since have been a thorn in their side. o “Now it was God’s intent that a last conflict should take place between Israel and Amalek: the conflict which began with Joshua in the desert was to be finished by Mordecai in the king’s palace.” (Spurgeon)
11 That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.” 13 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day’s edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.” 14 So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged. 15 The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder. • We still see courage in her. Even though the King is on team Esther at this point. God’s leaders are courageous. That is difficult, being brave and courageous is not the normal. • She wants to make their death public. Meant to deter additional rebellions or uprisings against God’s people. • We read last week that the Jews were entitled to the plunder, according to the king’s decree. And now for the second time, the text says they did not take any of the plunder. They did not enrich themselves through the material goods they were offered. They were strictly about self-defense; survival was enough of a gift.
16 Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness. 18 But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another. • We get an explanation as to why different Jews might claim a different date for the celebration. • Do you understand how many people that is? From a world population standpoint that has to be a big percentage. That’s more people than the US causalities in Viet Nam. • This isn’t just ordinary people dying, these are people who hated them. The enemies of God are destroyed. • The last point we’ll look at it the word rest in v17. His people celebrate the occasion and the intentional use of the word “rest” evokes the sabbath. It is to sit back and say “it is good”. It certainly is good; God’s plan has been executed and the enemies of his people have been devoted to destruction.
What can we takeaway from this passage?
God has a way of turning the story upside down • Don’t sell God short. Everything is in the realm of possible, there is truly nothing he cannot do. In unexpected ways, God flips the script. • How many times do we have to see it to expect it? Whether it was when Joseph was sold as a slave, or when God’s people were caught between the red sea and a furious Pharoah, wandering marching around the city of Jerico, or using the murder of his perfect son to restore his creation and gift us salvation. • God can turn the story around and use it for his good • God is the same yesterday today and forever. • Same is true for your life, do not put God in a box, do not diminish what God is able to do
God is faithful to his promise • The Jews deserved to be punished and deserved to be destroyed but God would never let that happen. He is faithful to his promise to keep a remnant of his people He is looking out for them and protecting a remnant • not because of what they’ve done. Because of who he is.
This story is a miracle • The Jews did not succeed in this story because of their own strategy, or their own might and prowess. • God is at work, all over the place. There are areas of my life where I often feel all alone, but God continues to move. Where is God working in your life, and how can you find ways to be more tuned in, the miracles he is working right in front of you?
God’s work is to be celebrated. • Do you take time to celebrate the things that God has done? • What does that look like? Do you take a sabbath, do you rest in the Lord? • Take time to be with others, feasting, giving and resting in our salvation
There is unity in God’s people • The Jews fought off their enemies as one united front. They came together for a common purpose to enact the will of God. How often do you come together with God’s people? Physically gathering, spending time with other believers. Also important that we are on the same page about spiritual matters with one another, that we are united spiritually. • Is this just a social club to you? Do you look around and think, how fun it is to have friends outside of your workplace or your home? Or do you see people that you can point you closer to Jesus, can correct you when you stray and come along side you when you fight spiritual enemies? • The rich community we are called to is built on accountability, trust, openness and love. It is made up of people who know each other deeply enough to ask, what did the Lord teach you this week? What scripture stood out to you in your quiet time with the Lord?
The text used the phrase “no one could stand against them”. God is unstoppable and what he wants will happen. We cannot control that; we can only acknowledge it. For every man who has ever lived, there are two reactions. We see in the text two distinct types of people. There are the people who see what God is doing, fear him and even join. Last week we read about those who saw their fortune turning and wanted to become Jews. This week we saw the leaders helping the Jews fight their enemies; they knew they had a powerful God on their side and they wanted to be a part of it.
And yet we still read about a fight. There were still people who attacked the Jews on the 13th of Adar. There are those people who double down and continue to hate him, and attack his people and receive judgement and destruction because of it.
Where do you stand? Don’t be the second man. Grab hold of the God of victory and restoration, unite with his people and celebrate the good work he has done.
Why is Esther part of the group of writings the Jewish people believe to be ‘God Breathed’ also know as ‘Scripture’ / Holy Writing? This story could be a Hollywood movie and yet…Woven through the drama, the life and death intrigue, are principles found in other parts of Scripture, Old Testament and New. If we read this with the illumination of God’s Spirit we will find things that direct us in our walk with the Lord. God uses a great story to teach us some great things, about HIM & US, TODAY He wants to teach us about Himself and ourselves.
God exposed Haman’s plot to commit genocide against all the Jewish people in Persia. Literally wiping out the entire race. Esther and Mordecai trusted God, sought God and and were led by God to be important parts of HIS Story. The agent of the evil is gone, but the tentacles of that evil still need to be severed.
Esther Ch. 8 NIV
1 That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. 2 The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.
King Xerxes finally acts with conviction and speed, actually doing something
All of Haman’s relatives, advisors & wife are cut out! Esther gets all his stuff
Mordecai recognized by Xerxes as his new ‘Prime Minister’ [What Haman was]
Esther needs nothing so she gives everything of Haman’s to Mordecai
3 Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.
Esther is emotional, but not entitled…Not demanding
She is humble before God’s duly authorized authority
The King, for all his shortcomings, is there because God wants him there
Esther and Mordecai are safe, but The Job is not finished
She understands she is there to act on behalf of all God’s People!
“With great power, there must also come great responsibility.”
When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. ~ Jesus The Christ @ Luke 12:48b
5 “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”
Esther is super humble and respectful before the King [knowing his flaws]
Throughout this book we see the principal of respect for God given authority
She begs Xerxes that he must overrule the previous edict…for Her!
She makes it personal, her people, her family [care for brothers & sisters]
7 King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up.8 Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”
In reply to Esther’s plea the king recounts what has already been done
Xerxes had taken ‘The Signet Ring’ from Haman and gave it to Mordecai
Xerxes puts it in Mordecai’s hands to complete justice & protect God’s people
God moves the rulers of all nation to do HIS will [Ps. 72:11 / Rom. 13:4]
The previous edict / decree could not be revoked, they need to issue a new one
She asked to change the rules…she could not see the big picture
BUT God does see the big picture
HE made a way within the current authority structure
God’s people trust God to enact His will, even using flawed leaders & systems
9 At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language.
Everything is like the previous orders [Deposing Vashti, Eliminating The Jews]
Everyone would get the new order
10 Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king.
Mordecai now speaks for the king!
The sense of urgency is more intense: fastest means possible at that time
11 The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves; to destroy, kill and annihilate the armed men of any nationality or province who might attack them and their women and children, and to plunder the property of their enemies.
Since they couldn’t revoke the other edict, they counter acted it
The new decree could give the Jews a chance…authorize their use of force
They would only kill ‘Armed Men’ who might attack them [self defense]
The plunder aspect was to make would be attackers have something to lose
Mordecai is used to craft an edict that will give God maximum glory
12 The day appointed for the Jews to do this in all the provinces of King Xerxes was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar. 13 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 that the Jews would be ready on that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
Same day as the order allowing people to kill all jews and take their stuff
Everyone would be ready, but no one could attack early… no ‘sneak attack’
Who were their enemies? Haman was an exiled Almaikite / Agagite
Perhaps others resented the Jews because they prospered in exile [Jer. 29:7]
14 The couriers, riding the royal horses, went out, spurred on by the king’s command, and the edict was issued in the citadel of Susa. 15 When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration.
Soon the rest of the Jews in Persia would be given ‘A Fighting Chance’
The king has set Mordecai up to be the ‘Prime Minister’ / head of government
He is a ‘Type’ similar to Joseph and Daniel [honored by GOD for their faith]
The core of this story is how Mordecai would not bow down to anyone but God
Some Hebrew translators render Esther 2:5 ‘A unique Jew, Mordecai…’
Similar to how Shadrach, Meshach, & Abednego. are described in Daniel 3:12
16 For the Jews it was a time of happiness and joy, gladness and honor. 17 In every province and in every city to which the edict of the king came, there was joy and gladness among the Jews, with feasting and celebrating. And many people of other nationalities became Jews because fear of the Jews had seized them.
Party in Susa that day, celebrations would break out as the edict spreads
This would make a great holiday to remember what God did to save them
And others converted, seeing the God of the Jews rescue HIS people
God given maximum glory. God clearly displayed His power for His People
Like the parting of the Red Sea…
He allowed for impending doom, and then Boom! Something only God could do
They didn’t fear the Jews, they feared their God…THE GOD of The Universe!
Biblical Principles & Personal Application:
God can make a way when no way seems possible!
Build a positive outlook / HOPE by counting your blessings & ‘Ebeneezers’
Be humble about what you know & what will happen [don’t second guess God]
God gives His people responsibility for others & places them where needed
Recognize where God has placed you & use your position to help others
Our example is Christ…be a little Christ / Christian today
God’s people are called to work within the God given authority they are under
Recognize your rebellion against authority is actually rebellion against HIM
God always achieves HIS goals, enacts HIS will. Learn to trust HIS way to do it
No matter the situation, do not bow down to anything but Jesus Christ
You must view every choice you make as a spiritual matter…Because IT IS!
True integrity is not situational, let your yes be yes & your no be no
Keeping your commitments no matter the situation = Godly Integrity
When God’s people live trusting in God’s power…other people change sides
Ask God to grow your faith and dependence on Christ
Make public life choices that display your allegiance to the Biblical Christ
God’s people celebrate His amazing grace, incredible mercy and unending love
Spend time repenting, thanking God and receiving HIS presence
Strengthen your foundational beliefs & anchor your celebration in THE TRUTH
https://midtownchurchatl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/logo-full-Black-340x100-v2.png00Todd Briggshttps://midtownchurchatl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/logo-full-Black-340x100-v2.pngTodd Briggs2025-03-09 11:00:342025-03-09 15:26:15Esther Pt. 8: God's Power for His People
Pride leads to sin & evil, but it does not stop God from fulfilling His purposes.
Sacrificial, communal prayer by God’s people allows them to join HIS will & work
God’s people trust in God AND His timing
God alone knows how & when HE will enact HIS Judgement & Justice [unknowable]
Be ready to act when God calls upon you
Where we are in the story:
Esther and the entire jewish population of Suza fast & pray for three days after Haman [Hating on Mordecai] tricks the king into ordering all jews in Persia destroyed. After the fast, Esther gets the kings ear, gets him & Haman to a banquet only to say: ‘wait a day, let’s do this again tomorrow’…
What a difference a day can make… Haman was riding high [on his pride] bragging to his sycophants, he builds a 75 ft pole and goes to the king at dawn. King up all night, learns Mordecai needs to be honored, so instead of killing Mordecai, Haman is forced by the king to honor him! No sooner does Haman finish parading Mordecai through the whole city when he is summoned to the 2nd banquet…
Easter Ch. 7 NIV
1 So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, 2 and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
Yesterday Esther had demurred…Was she afraid? Trying to get him drunk?
I believe God told her, wait one more day
Before long Xerxes repeats his offer from yesterday [It was not a fluke offer]
3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request.
She has waited for God to move, now it is time for her to act
She uses the language he used: petition & request
She starts with her life and then asks for her people
I imagine the king is confused [poor memory / attention deficit]
4 For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”
She explains because the king is perhaps not tracking
Already in exile they don’t have much of an expectation of freedom
She wouldn’t t bother the king if it was loss of rights [very respectful of authority]
BUT THIS.. is not loss of rights…it loss of LIFE!
5 King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”
He quickly gets that there is an person who has sold the queen & her people
Another example of Xerxes not remembering events [drinking problem???]
You can sense his anger building
6 Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen.
Esther identifies Haman as adversary & enemy of who?
Esther is fierce and direct… and the king is totally on her side
Haman is astute enough to realize he is in serious trouble
7 The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden.
He is so mad he doesn’t know what to do! [He is wise to take a beat]
But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life. 8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”
Haman realizes Esther has the kings ear & favor so he begs her [soft target]
Haman is probably having some major anxiety and is out of control
He trips or slips or loses his balance in his panic…ends up on the couch
Brutal timing! What a coincidence!! [God is sovereign over massive & minute]
Xerxes was already so mad he didn’t know what to do…and then THIS!
The king speaks a question, and it is directed at his guards & attendants
As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”
Immediately the guards took custody of Haman: bound him & hooded him
Then the quick thinking and well informed Harbona says: ‘I have an idea…’
Perhaps Haman bragged to him on the way in that morning about his plans
The king said, “Impale him on it!” 10 So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.
No hesitation by the king
They seem to have done it immediately
Once it was done the king finally calmed down
So Haman is no more, Justice, God’s Justice, not man’s justice, has been enacted. But what is going to happen next… Tune in next week…
Principles and Application
When you give God time & obedience, He will use you to enact His will
Practice waiting on God and listening when you pray [Holy Spirit Connection]
In all of your requests of God, gladly submit to HIS way and time to answer
Evil will be exposed. What is planned in the dark, God will ultimately bring to light.
Expose what evil you can and trust God will use others to do the same
God will enact justice as HE wills, HIS people trust HIM to define justice
The end of your pride is the destruction of your pride, one way or another.
In a Spirit Indwelled Christian it is Your Pride vs God’s Spirit. What side r u on?
As God destroys your pride you can either cling to it or surrender it
The enemies of God ultimately find out God is GOD [All Everything]
Underestimating God [blasphemy of The Holy Spirit] puts U on the wrong team
One day everyone will know God’s absolute sovereignty. You can today!
Whatever protection you think you have [status, connections, money] they can’t protect you from God’s Justice.
What do you trust to protect your eternal soul?
How you live displays what you put your trust in. Place yourself in God’s hands
Living based on your pride results in you building the means of your death.
Become aware of your pride and don’t build your life on it
We are all building something eternal, are you building your things or God’s?
