March 25, 2005

• FRIDAY BIBLE STUDY – Yeah!!!!! I missed Bible study on Tuesday, so was so blessed to have Bible study today. The topic was Esther

  
  

  The question to ask ourselves is what role are we acting in this story, and at times it can change. We can be an Esther, a Haman, Mordecai or a Vashti. Pastor Don pointed out that there are many parallels between Jesus and Esther, including the King being Christ (a symbol of Christ) and the marriage.

  
  

  Esther is the only book in the Bible that does not mention God.

  
  

  Esther Chapter 1:

  
  

  King  Ahasuerus’ word was the law, while he was not Christ his role was similar to Christ. Remember the parable that Jesus spoke about the wedding where people were invited, but made excuses, so the king sent out to all to come to the feast. Esther 1:5 the king made a feast lasting seven days (seven is big in Revelation), for all both great and small.

  
  

  v. 7 the generosity of the king, each vessel is different, and they were to drink or not drink according to their own pleasure. God provided

  
  

  v 9-11 – The King wants to show off the glory of Vashti, similar to the way Jesus shows off our glory to the kingdom. He is proud of us and pleased when we do his will and he can then shine through us.

  
  

  V. 12 – the queen refused to come to the king’s command. This is a major mistake that we often make when we refuse to do God’s will for us, or refuse to obey our husbands, or follow the commands of those over us. Now that does not mean to follow ungodly commands, but there is a divine order and if we get out of the divine order then we lose the favor of the king.

  
  

  V15- the king consults the seven princes of Persia and Media (Isaiah mentions the seven spirits of God)

  
  

  v. 19 Vashti shall come no more before the King, and her royal position is given to another. (That another is the Gentiles – when Israel did not follow God’s commands and accept the Messiah, the message was spread to the Gentiles, but God remembered Vashti just like God will remember the Jews and one day they will regain their position in God’s kingdom)

  
  

  Esther 2:1-4  The king did not behead Vashti, Pastor Don talked about revival, and how revivals start pure, then they get bigger and get away from the pure form, then there is a correction and it is brought back to the pure form again.

  
  

  According to the king’s decree all the virgins were brought and underwent a year’s purification. And, while he did not go into the specific details, he mentioned that each of these purifications detail spiritual issues. For example, myrrh had to do with death, and for six months she bathed in myrrh oil. six is the number of man. Then six months of perfumes (perfume is the prayers of the saints).

  
  

  Then Esther, being very wise, does not consult other women, or people around her, but the person who has the presence of the King, to find out what is pleasing to the king, and chooses to bring that.

  
  

  The king knows her by name v. 12-14 = and we are so blessed because God calls us by name.

  
  

  v 16: the 7th year of the king’s reign (does that strike a bell??) a feast is given for his Bride Esther.

  
  

  Then Mordecai overhears a plot to kill the king, he informs Esther, and the king’s life is saved. This is noted in the chronicles of the King. All that we say or do, both good and bad is recorded in Heaven. There are no secret sins in Heaven. We can confess and be forgiven, but may still reap the results of these sins. And in Heaven, while our sins are covered by the blood of Christ, we will still face them one time and weep.

  
  

  Esther Chapter 3:

  
  

  Then Haman was promoted, and he had a secret agenda, to destroy the Jews. This is satan’s plan all the time, to find ways to destroy the Jews for it will prevent Christ from returning. Now Haman is an Agagite, and if you recall past history, Saul was to kill all the Agagites, but he preserves the life of the king of the Agagites. For this Saul lost the Holy Spirit/ Pastor Don pointed out that if we do not deal with our sins, our children will deal with the sins later in life. We have to kill the roots of the sins within us.

  
  

  v, 8 – Haman’s plans involved the spirit of greed, for he offered that the Jews would be killed and their possessions plundered. This is the spirit of Greed that Jesus called Mammon.

  
  

  This is a good warning to our country, as we begin to give up and agree more with the liberals, we will weaken our government

  
  

  Chapter 4

  
  

  Esther offers to give Mordecai a garment so that the sackcloth can be replaced. We, as a church are often guilty of providing a bandaid in situations when we need to throw our faith at.

  
  

  so Esther decided to pray and fast, and has the Jews do the same. She linked her faith to Mordecai’s who told her that if she did not act, God would provide a way to save. Her words are if I perish, I perish, for she would die if she went unbidden into the throneroom and the King did not extend his septer to her. These are the same words that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (sorry if I misspelled them), said before walking into the fiery furnace.

  
  

  In Isaiah 54:7 no weapon formed against us  – but at the same time it is our responsibility to speak up when people are saying hurtful things against God, the church, our pastor, our elders,

  
  

  V.16 she sought divine help. And asked for others to pray and fast as well. Pastor Don pointed out that we have to be very careful whom we ask to be our prayer support, for they can pray at cross purposes to us, we need agreement, and not everyone who is praying for us always has our best interests at heart.

  
  

  She fasts for three days and nights, no food no water. Christ was in the tomb three days and nights before the resurrection.

  
  

  Pastor Don also pointed out that one thing that keeps us from being the best that God wants for us is the assumption that no one but me can do this. If God puts a plan into our heads we must attempt it, God will provide the grace and strength to do it if it is a God plan, and if we don’t act on it, God will find another to do the work.

  
  

  He also said, “Sometimes we don’t ask God what is in our hearts because we are afraid He will say no, but what if he says yes.”

  
  

  Now that one is a challenge for me because I am afraid to ask God for many things for fear of a “No” answer, but somehow I pray for the strength to get through that.

  
  

  We had to stop because it was getting late, am hoping Esther Part Two is next Friday.

  
  

  Hope you enjoyed this summary. Please know if there is a problem theologically it is most probably poor note taking on my part, not Pastor Don’s error.

  
  

  Heather

  • 3:46 pm
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