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Monday, 20 February 2012
Mordecai learns of the kings new edict brought about by Haman, and responds by crying out in grief and mourning. Not allowed to do such things outside the king's palace, he heads into the middle of the city. Esther, understandably distressed, sends clothes to him.
Now, though, the camera swings from despair to planning and action.
A conversation begins between Mordecai and Esther, but th... read more
Scripture: Esther 4
Tags: Belief, Discipleship, Faith, Humility, Obedience, Prayer, Providence, Redemption, Sovereignty of God
Series: Esther: More than coincidence...
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Sunday, 19 February 2012
Was Mordecai right to refuse to bow before Haman? Certainly there are many other places in the Old Testament where other men who worship the true God bow before other men (Abraham before the Hittites, Genesis 23; David before Jonathan, 1 Samuel 20 are two examples), however when the person has set themself up as God, the command from God to Moses is very clear:
Exodus 20:3-5 (NIV-UK)
3 You sh... read more
Scripture: Esther 3, Exodus 20:3-5, Daniel 3, 1 Samuel 20
Tags: Discipleship, Mercy, Providence, Sin
Series: Esther: More than coincidence...
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Sunday, 19 February 2012
God becomes man.
We look at the implications of something which in one sense is so easily said, and yet which proves to be the most wonderful and staggering thing. That God became man. Humbled himself to take on human form.
... read more
Scripture: John 1:1, John 1:14, Galatians 4:4-7, John 4:24, Luke 1:35, Matthew 1:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Romans 5:14-17, 1 Corinthians 15:22, 1 Corinthians 15:45, Hebrews 10:4, Romans 8:3, Acts 20:28, 1 Timothy 3:16, Hebrews 2:16-18, Hebrews 2:11, Hebrews 2:14, Romans 8:32, Isaiah 9:6
Tags: Love, Nature of God, Redemption, Revelation of God, Theology
Series: Doctrine: Who God is and what he does
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Sunday, 19 February 2012
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Friday, 17 February 2012
Regrets
When the King begins to calm down, he realises that he's banished his wife, and seems to regret it. However, what the king has decreed cannot be overturned (c.f. 8:8), so he has to find another solution to his loneliness.
Human solutions
The solution is a profoundly human one. He consults with his advisors, and rather than repent, and seek forgiveness from his wife, and admit b... read more
Scripture: Esther 2, Esther 8:8
Tags: Providence, Repentance, Sin
Series: Esther: More than coincidence...
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Thursday, 16 February 2012
As the book of Esther starts, we find two banquets prepared, and guests invited for the King and Queen of Persia, Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), and Vashti.
As the banquets proceed, Ahasuerus calls for his wife to parade her before his guests. It may well be that she was expected to be just in her crown! (1:11)
Vashti refuses, and in doing so causes something of a crisis. You see, although the ... read more
Scripture: Esther 1
Tags: Obedience, Relationships
Series: Esther: More than coincidence...
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Wednesday, 15 February 2012
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Tuesday, 14 February 2012
When we first look at Esther, we find a wonderful narrative. An account of a beautiful woman conquering all the odds with the help of her adopted father to prevent the annihilation of her people. She's intelligent, courageous, and as we look deeper, always in the right place at the right time. And yet, this is a book of the Bible. So although God is never mentioned explicitly in this book, w... read more
Scripture: Esther
Tags: Assurance, Belief, Faith, Nature of God, Providence, Sovereignty of God
Series: Esther: More than coincidence...
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Sunday, 12 February 2012
Titus 3:12-15 (ESV)
[12] When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. [13] Do your best to speed Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way; see that they lack nothing. [14] And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be ... read more
Scripture: Titus 3:12-15
Tags: Church, Discipleship, Faith, Faithfulness, Grace, Holiness, Mission
Series: Titus: Faith and Practice
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Sunday, 12 February 2012
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