by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Esther 3-5
Pride personified! That’s Haman. He has conjured his way up the hierarchy so that he is second to the king, but his pride is about to bring him down.
Furious that Mordecai doesn’t bow down to him, Haman talks the king into killing all of the Jews. His lies seem to be working.
Little does he know that Esther, the queen, is a Jew, so he has a big surprise coming.
As the story unfolds, we see the bigger picture which God had all along, and we see that Mordecai knew how to walk it out. Remember, he had counseled Esther as she prepared for her selection as queen. His advice had procured that high position for her so that she now she was in the place of the king’s respect. Then he had advised her not to let her heritage be known. All of that advice will soon be paying off.
Now Mordecai solicits the help of his niece. It’s a risky thing he asks her to do, but he wants Esther to inform the king of her heritage now and ask for mercy on her people. Mordecai’s remark is one of the famous Bible passages. “Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.”(4:14).
With all of the Jews fasting and praying, Esther begins the challenge and obviously has the king’s favor.
In the meantime, Haman’s pride is getting him in deeper and deeper. Furious over Mordecai’s attitude, he erects a gallows so that Mordecai can be hanged.
Tomorrow we will see the wrap up of these events.
Today, let’s remember Mordecai’s famous verse. There are times when the going seems tough as we walk out God’s plan for our lives. Yet this verse can bring great courage to us when we take it to heart. Each of us has a purpose, and the closer we walk with God, the closer we will get to the purpose. There will be times when we will realize that God’s hand on our lives is bringing us to a special moment. And we will be willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish what God has set before us.
Who knows, maybe you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.
Acts 5:21-42
These disciples are unstoppable.
Yesterday as we left, the apostles had been let out of prison by an angel, and told to go and teach in the temple. So when the officers go to the prison to take them before the council, the apostles are not there. They are reported to be teaching in the temple again.
As the men are now brought before the council, they inspire rage in the leaders. Peter begins to preach to the leaders again. And the results are obvious. “When they hear this they are cut to the quick and are intending to slay them.”(V. 33)
Gamaliel saves the day by reminding these leaders that if they kill the apostles, they might be fighting against God.
So we have two unstoppable forces. The disciples are unstoppable in their determination to preach the gospel. The church leaders are unstoppable in their course of evil. No miracle, no word, not even the demonstration of Jesus’ reality by the wisdom in His men. Nothing catches their attention to change course. They are on a mission to stomp out Christianity, and nothing will stop them, if they can help it.
Stubbornness for the right cause shows character; stubbornness for the wrong cause shows foolishness. I pray that you and I will have the first of these two.
We need to be determined and diligent for our cause, but we have to stay teachable. Only the teachable will stay on the right course, and that’s where we want to be.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Esther 1-2
Esther is the first of a few books which will be written during the Jewish captivity in Babylon. Even though these people are in a foreign land, having been judged by God, there are those who remain faithful to Him and they see tremendous miracles.
Ronald Reagan once made a remark which I thought was splendid.During an election season he was encouraged by some to speak more blatantly about some of his views. He refused. He said, “I have no intentions of jumping off a cliff, waving a banner, just because it feels good on the way down.” Now that’s what I call wisdom. His job was to get elected; not to rant and rave. He could openly lead his charge after he was president.
Esther seems to subscribe to the same wisdom. I have heard women describe this passage of Esther as someone who was willing to stand up for her rights (Vashti), versus someone who wouldn’t (Esther).
I see it in a different manner. I see someone who is foolish (Vashti), versus someone who is wise (Esther). Or someone who is prideful, versus someone who is humble.
Either way, I side with Esther. She’s the one who is going to get the job done.
Mordecai is a man of great wisdom, and he raised her as a daughter. She grew up knowing that it was good to accept his advice. She heeds his instruction concerning her preparation for royalty. and she heeds his advice when he wants her to remain silent about her heritage.
As we continue in this book, I hope you will put yourself in Esther’s place. As she humbly accepts the inevitable and works within the system – trusting God, she is in for some tremendous surprises.
I love to see God at work on someone’s behalf. When we are faithful to Him, He tops us every time.
Acts 5:1-20
Our God is a God of miracles. As we continue in our study of the early church. we see the people constantly witnessing God’s hand.
First Ananias and Sapphira fall dead after lying to the Holy Spirit. People are selling their land and bringing the money to the apostles. Ananias and Sapphira sell their land and pretend to be bringing all of the proceeds, but they are keeping some for themselves.(V.1-10). It isn’t that God requires them to give it all, it’s that he wants no hypocrisy. They are doing it for show and pretending to be more generous than they are. A big mistake!
God’s Spirit is Holy, and when He is present in our midst, darkness can’t stay.
Second, we see many signs, wonders, and miracles happening by the hands of the Christians. People are even bringing their sick on cots to the streets, so that when the disciples walk by they may be healed. Even Peter’s shadow heals the sick. (V. 15) What an anointing!
Third, we see the high priest and his crew trying to stop the activity, so they put some of the apostles in jail. But an angel comes and opens the gates so that they escape from the prison, and go to the temple to preach again.
These early Christians know what it’s all about. They throw themselves into their walk with God, and they hold back nothing from Him. These are exciting times in the kingdom. After all of the years of God’s dealings with the Jews, it’s becoming clearer what God has been up to all along. He has meticulously been bringing forth His plan for man to have His Spirit in them.
That’s still His plan. Over the years, people have tried to water down the faith. They have even tried to say that miracles no longer exist, but these nay-sayers are wrong.
I have witnessed many miracles, and expect to see more. Some you have to look for, but some are very obvious. I have seen sudden healings and restorative miracles. I have also seen people set free from drugs and alcohol. Any of these are miracles.
As we seek a greater closeness to God, we will see more and more of His handiwork. There’s nothing greater than being in His presence, hearing His voice, and watching Him do His work.
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Nehemiah 1-2
Ezra had brought two groups of people back to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Now it’s Nehemiah’s turn. He will come and rebuild the walls.
Just as with Ezra, when it’s time for Nehemiah to return, God gives him favor with the king. This time it’s Artaxerxes, who is the stepson of Esther. (She probably had opportunities to speak to him concerning her people, giving him a soft place in his heart for them).
And, as Nehemiah says, the “good hand of my God was on me.”(2:8)
So Nehemiah takes the letter from the king, and makes the trip to Jerusalem. The local officials are angered, but they have to obey the king.
Notice some of Nehemiah’s wisdom. He waits for the right moment to tell others about what he is doing. (Most of us would have immediately told everyone who would listen). He goes out by night, alone, and rides around the walls, examining the damage and making his plans.
Just as with Ezra, the local officials mock them, but Nehemiah isn’t moved by it.
He declares, “The God of heaven will give us success; therefore we His servants will arise and build.”
Nehemiah has a confidence in his God – and he will succeed.
Acts 2:1-21
This is the game-changer. This is what it’s all about!
All that we have been reading, and will continue to read, about the descendants of Abraham and God’s dealings with them, have led us to this moment. It took a long time, didn’t it? Centuries of Egypt, the wilderness, up and down kings, Babylonian captivity, the return of a remnant to rebuild, then Jesus.
So since God’s perfect Lamb has been slain, taking our sin, a way has been made by the Lord for us to walk in a whole new life. A whole new realm, even.
On the day of Pentecost, God’s Holy Spirit came from Heaven like a mighty wind, filling them with Himself. No longer would men be cut off from God, if they didn’t choose to be. He would actually come to live inside of them. He would make His abode in them.
This is more significant than anyone can imagine.
So the disciples were obedient to Jesus. They stayed in the upper room, praying, with one mind, and He showed up. Nothing like they had expected. Who ever said anything about tongues?
But that’s what happened to them. They began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.
After this experience, Peter gets up and with boldness declares to the spectators what had just happened. Going into the scripture, he reminds them that Joel had prophesied about this very thing happening.
Wait a minute, that’s Peter! He’s the one who was too afraid to admit that he knew Jesus. How could he stand up there and speak with boldness? He could do that because the Holy Spirit had empowered him to be a witness – just like Jesus said he would.
What a change in personality and confidence!
Throughout the book of Acts we will see dramatic demonstrations of the Holy Spirit, and His power. We will see healings, miracles, more people coming to receive Jesus.
We will see the birth of God’s church. It’s a new day!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Ezra 9-10
Ezra was not one to compromise, and that’s for sure. After the nation of Judah had gone into exile for 70 years, and after they had been allowed to return to their own land and rebuild – by the hand of God, he was determined that the people were not going into the same sinful pattern again.
Today some people get confused about the “foreign wives” bit. They think that God is saying today it is a sin to marry a foreign wife. Of course, that’s not so.
In the days of Ezra, just as in the prior days, the foreign wives had a different god. Just as Solomon had turned from God by marrying the foreign wives, so others had done the same. When they brought other gods into their households, it diluted their allegiance – and the allegiance of their children – to the one true God.
So Ezra was determined that the people were not going through the same pattern which had caused their downfall.
Today, this would be comparable to Christians not marrying Christians. Obviously, we see this happening frequently, but when both partners are not devoted to God, there are issues which arise in the marriage. One of the greatest issues is that there is not a solid foundation for the children.
It’s something to think about.
Acts 1
Okay, you’d better get ready. The rest of the New Testament is written to the Christians – those who have received Jesus as their Savior.
The rules are about to change. On the cross, Jesus had said, “It is finished,” meaning that the Old Covenant had been fulfilled. He had paid the price for our sins, and He was soon giving us a New Covenant. Now we see it unfolding.
Jesus tells His disciples to gather in Jerusalem for the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.”(V. 5) He tells them that they are not to know the times and seasons, which God has ordained, but they will receive “power” when the Holy Spirit comes upon them. Power to be His witnesses. (V.8)
Don’t you know they were filled with anticipation as they waited. A few weeks before this, they had been in doubt about Jesus, as they saw Him go to the cross. But He had proven Himself to be true to His Word, as He arose from the dead and appeared to them. Now He is telling them that something great is about to happen. They can hardly wait.
During His days upon earth, Jesus had ministered to many thousands, as people came to be healed, and as they came to observe the miracles. Now He has gone to Heaven, and only 120 people total are there for the next phase of things.
You can never go by the numbers. Very often at the beginning of a surge of God’s plan, the first numbers are very few. Many people have to see something with their natural eyes before they believe it. If you are a forerunner for God, there’s not anything to see with your natural eyes, because it hasn’t happened yet.
But forerunners are indeed blessed, as His disciples are about to experience. So they gather and they pray. They are with one mind, in unity, gathered together with great expectation.
Something big is about to happen!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Ezra 6-8
Our God is a God of restoration. As we read Ezra, we see His mighty hand, and we also see His methods.
Yesterday we left the temple work at a standstill. The local adversaries had finally sent a letter to the king of Babylon charging the Jews with evil motives, so the work had been halted. Then we saw the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah (we will get to their prophecies when we get to those books), encouraging the builders. They reminded the Jews that they were building by order of Cyrus the King.
So a letter was sent to the new king, Darius, asking him to search the records and find the letter from Cyrus in the archives. Darius did just that, and he sent another letter to the local officials, basically saying, “You will not hinder the work, and you will even pay for the rebuilding!”
Our God can do it, can’t He? So the temple work resumed, and the building was finished.
Then Ezra, the scribe who wrote down this book, was sent back to Jerusalem to help the Jews reclaim the laws and the practices which had been given them by God.
Remember yesterday how we talked about the plots of the enemy to stop God’s work – and how that applied to our lives also? Well today we get to see God’s answer to those attempts.
The original letter written by king Cyrus, when he issued a decree for the Jews to return and to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem, could not be nullified. Once the decree had been made by the king, the generations after that had to obey. Of course, the Jews didn’t think about that until the prophets came and encouraged them.
Now when we come to the Lord, or for that matter, if we have been with Him for awhile, there are areas of our lives which haven’t been totally restored. When we look at these chapters on restoration, let’s bring it down to our own lives.
You might know that there are areas of your life which need to be restored. You may have tried, but you find yourself going through all of the resistance from the devil that you saw in Ezra 4. Fear, discouragement, compromise, etc.
Your answer is to look at the official word of the King. And what is that for us? The answer: the Bible, of course. When you hold up the official Word of God to the bombardments of the devil, it becomes our “sword of the spirit” and you are able to put him on the run.
When Jesus was in the wilderness, being tempted by the devil, this is the weapon He used. Instead of just saying, “Get out of here,” Jesus would answer every taunt with “It is written…” and He would quote the scripture.
When our minds are bombarded with thoughts of fear or anxiety, we have scriptures with which to fight our fight. We say, “It is written ‘I shall not fear, for the Lord is with me.'”Or, “I cast every care upon Him, for he cares for me.”
To effectively ward off the devil during your period of restoration (which is the rest of your life, as you restore one facet after another), you collect the appropriate words for your issues. Words that relate to your health, your children, your finances, your marriage, or your ability to live a holy life before God.
These words from God are edicts from the King of Kings. The devil has no choice but to obey them. We are blessed to be able draw out just the right the sword of the spirit we need in the time of battle.
If God is for us, then who can be against us?
John 21
John shares the final episode of Jesus’ appearing before He ascends to Heaven. The disciples are happy to see Him, of course, but they only recognize Him after He demonstrates a miracle: the nets full of fish.
The Lord and Peter have an interesting exchange. Remember, Peter had denied Jesus three times on the night that He was arrested. So Jesus gives Peter a chance to affirm his love three times. But one thing might be missed in the translation. Jesus says “Do you love Me?” And Peter answers, “Yes, Lord, I Love You.” That’s the English translation, but they weren’t speaking in English.
The Greek words which were used in this episode were different. There are three words for “love” in Greek. Eros, which means erotic love, phileo which means brotherly love, and argapeo, which means God’s unconditional love.
In this exchange between Peter and Jesus, Jesus says “argapeo,” meaning, “Do you love me unconditionally?” Peter answers, “Lord you know that I love you.” But he uses “phileo,” the word that means brotherly love. Finally, Jesus says, “Do you phileo Me?” Peter knew that his love didn’t match the Godly love which Jesus showed. His love was human and not divine. Jesus’ love was the love of God – that unconditional, merciful love.
One final note, John refers to himself as “the disciple Jesus loved.” He has the right idea. Jesus loves each of us so completely that when we receive that love the way He wants us to, we feel like we are His favorite.
That’s the nature of our Father’s love. When we fully receive the love of God, our emotions and memories get healed, we gain confidence, we rise to the challenges confronting us.
We are empowered to live our lives for Him.
