Pastor Jeff's Sermon Blog

To the Church of God in Corinth

2012-01-15T05:26:00.001-08:00

1 Corinthians: God's People Must Be United and Growing in Holiness

To the Church of God in Corinth

1 Corinthians 1:1-9^[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, January 8^th, 2012

When Paul walked into Corinth in the year 49 AD he would have seen a very cosmopolitan city that was both young and old. It flourished at least 8 centuries before his arrival as a major Greek city, yet had only been rebuilt less than 100 years when he came. At the height of its glory, from 350-250 BC, Corinth was the most prosperous city of ancient Greece. When you combine the bawdy reputation and flowing wealth of a seaport, and the immoral worship of the Greek goddess Aphrodite, you get a general picture of the kind of city it was. However in 146 BC the Corinthians made the mistake of crossing the Romans, who swiftly destroyed the city. Mummius, the Roman Consul, had it burned, the men killed, and the women and children sold into slavery. For 100 years the city sat desolate, until Julius Caesar rebuilt Corinth in 44 BC. Much of the worship of Greek idols continued with a bit of a Roman flavor thrown in[2].

When Paul visited he would have met Roman soldiers, Greek philosophers, temple prostitutes, slaves from all over the Mediterranean region, and sailors from the entire known world. He would have encountered Jews, Africans, Europeans, Middle Easterners; craftsmen, merchants, artisans, and politicians. Athletes from these same regions would have been there to compete in the Isthmian Games held every two years. It would have been normal to hear Greek, Aramaic, and Latin spoken, and possibly other languages. Several temples were built to Greek gods and Roman leaders.

The hill called Acrocorinth stood guard behind it, and a wall of six miles protected the remaining districts. There were actually two nearby seaports; one six miles east, and another two miles north of town. Large ships would dock in both ports, and slaves would roll smaller ships across the isthmus on logs, while the sailors hit the taverns and shops. And into this busy, thriving city the Apostle, on his second missionary journey, had brought the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let's read about that from Acts 1:1-18.

1 After this Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.

2 And he found a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. And he went to see them,

3 and because he was of the same trade he stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade.

4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and tried to persuade Jews and Greeks.

5 When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus.

6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, "Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

7 And he left there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. His house was next door to the synagogue.

8 Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

9 And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,

10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people."

11 And he stayed a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him before the tribunal,

13 saying, "This man is persuading people to worship God contrary to the law."

14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, "If it were a matter of wrongdoing or vicious crime, O Jews, I would have reason to accept your complaint.

15 But since it is a matter of questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of these things."

16 And he drove them from the tribunal.

17 And they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the tribunal. But Gallio paid no attention to any of this.

18 After this, Paul stayed many days longer and then took leave of the brothers and set sail for Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he had cut his hair, for he was under a vow.

So Paul saw the Lord work through the gospel to establish a church there. God said, "I have many in this city who are my people." Would you think that from my description of Corinth? Easy to misjudge such things, isn't it! And yet God's will is for His people to bring light to darkness, truth where it is needed.

But when Paul wrote this second letter (there is a lost first letter to the Corinthians, 1 Cor 5:9), this church unfortunately had begun to show their roots. Let me just take you through some of the topics and issues Paul addressed when he wrote this letter…

1) An appeal for unity in Christ, 1:10-4:21

2) Against sexual immorality and complacency in the church, 5:1-13

3) Against lawsuits among brothers in the church, 6:1-20

4) Concerning abstinence and marriage, 7:1-40

5) Concerning food, stumbling blocks, and idolatry, 8:1-10:33 (sub-point, 9:1-27 Paul defends his apostleship)

6) About order and authority, 11:1-16

7) Concerning the Lord's Supper, 11:17-34

8) Concerning Spiritual Gifts, 12:1-14:40

9) Concerning the Resurrection of the Dead, 15:1-58

10) Concerning the Collection for the Saints, 16:1-4

11) Various instructions, closing remarks, 16:5-24

When I read that list out loud, that doesn't even sound like you're talking to Christians! Paul had to address divisions, immorality, lawsuits, marriage issues, idolatry, order in worship, the resurrection, and giving to those in need! Does this sound like a church you would love to visit if you moved to Corinth? I'm gonna say, 'no'. But listen now to the introduction to this letter. Listen for what he calls them, how he describes them, and see if you can discern how he feels about them.

1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge--

6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you--

7 so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Note what he calls them:

"The church of God that is in Corinth."

Note how he describes them:

"Those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints… guiltless in the day of… Jesus… called into the fellowship of His Son"

How he feels about them:

"I thank my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you"

What they have received: grace, all speech and all knowledge, all spiritual gifts

So as we open this book and get the setting of this letter and scan the issues Paul addresses in this church, let me ask these questions:

Were they saved? Yes.

Were they fighting nasty, grievous sins? Yes.

Were they loved? By God and by Paul? Yes.

Were they left to their own sinful means and ways? No.

Are you saved? Yes.

Are you fighting nasty, grievous sins? Yes.

Are you loved? By God and your pastors? Yes.

Are you left to your own sinful means and ways? No.

Why not? Because…

God's People Must Be United and Growing in Holiness.

He loves His glory; and He loves His church. Those He has made righteous by faith in Christ must also be unified, and continue growing in holiness by this same faith in Christ.

Are you righteous? If you are born again, saved by grace through faith in Jesus, yes.

Are you holy? Are you holy enough? No! God is still sanctifying those He saves, just as He was still working on this sin-beleaguered bunch of Christians in Corinth!

[1] All Scriptures, unless otherwise noted, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (via E-Sword Software) © 2001 Crossway Publishing. All Rights Reserved. I paste them in red for distinction.

Grace... PJ

On Solid Ground in 2012

2012-01-06T08:05:00.001-08:00

Matt 7:24-27^[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, January 1, 2012

Scriptures

Matt 7:24-27 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."

"Hears my words and obeys them." Built his house on the rock. Foundation. Today I want to take a few minutes to challenge you to build your life on a solid foundation in 2012. If you already have, then be encouraged to stand strong on that foundation! If you have yet to, then I pray that God will convict you of the need to get stabilized in Him. Here are four ways that I want to apply these words of Jesus' today…

Be Faithful to Read the Bible.

ESV Study Bible plan

Various Study Bible Plans

Discipleship Journal Daily Bible Reading Plan

Podcasts Daily Reading Plan (Daily Audio Bible, www.dailyaudiobible.com)

Psalms and Proverbs monthly

Romans 12:1-2 primarily undergirds this thinking, along with Philippians 3. We need to have our thinking transformed from the world's way to God's way, and we need to know Him! He is revealed in His Word.

The thing about Bible reading is you have to SCHEDULE it, COMMIT to it, PRIORITIZE it, and DEVELOP a HABIT of it. You can, by the power of the Holy Spirit, do this. You need to do this; you need to feed your soul, have your mind renewed in order to be transformed into a more and more holy person!

Be Faithful to Pray.

This is a challenge for most believers. When our prayer degenerates, it usually dims down to asking for things and blessings on our meals. This little acronym has greatly helped me to gain and regain balance in my prayer life, and I hope it will help you.

ACTS[2]: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. This is a starter kit; you could also study the Lord's prayer instructions in Matthew 6 and use that model to base your prayers on. I don't encourage rote repeating – but rather a study of what Jesus said and how we could engage the same concepts in our own prayers. Next…

Be Faithful to Fellowship.

We need each other. We need the testimonies we hear as we gather. We need the connection to the strong when we're weak, and vice-versa. We need to live out the 'one another commands', and not dry up sitting alone in our homes. Here are some basics you can do here to both bless and be blessed…

Come to worship as a priority

Come to small group as a priority

Show hospitality

Make friends with other believers

And finally…

Be Faithful to Talk to People about Jesus (Witness)

This isn't the easiest thing to do, but it is MUCH easier than most of us make it. Standing shaking before the door of a home where total strangers live – that's not what I'm talking about. I hate that scene, and most of you do as well. There are easier ways to initiate the conversation about Jesus Christ! You can take first steps by talking about our Lord…

To those in your extended family

To friends

To co-workers

To acquaintances

These four basic Christian disciplines have been taught and modeled by the Navigators[3] for years. In fact, they use a wheel as a basic visual aid to explain the basics of Christian disciplines. Let me show you…

The Navigators Wheel

Listen to Moses and the Prophets

2011-11-01T18:42:00.001-07:00

Luke 16:19-31^[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, October 30^th, 2011

In this continuing conversation that began in Luke 15:1, Jesus continues on the subject of man and his use of wealth; but He threads the more significant thing into this parable we're examining together today – the true riches. He had called money the "very little", and "unrighteous wealth" earlier chapter 16; this was compared to the "much", and "true riches". At the end of His talk here He brings up, in a unique way, the true riches. Let's read the text, from Luke 16:19-31.

19 "There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.

20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,

21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,

23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

24 And he called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'

25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.

26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.'

27 And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house--

28 for I have five brothers--so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.'

29 But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'

30 And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'

31 He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'"

Our wise Lord lets Abraham summarize for his audience and for us what we should learn from this parable (I believe it is such): Listen to Moses and the Prophets; they tell us of the Christ.

Jesus was again, through this story, rebuking these religious, hard-hearted people about their idolatry. Based on context of 16:14-18, it seems that this story was aimed at Pharisees and Scribes. The characters in the parable were the un-named rich man, Lazarus, Abraham, and the five brothers of the man in purple. I believe the rich man represented the wealthy and powerful Scribes and Pharisees; and the poor man represented all those they might have neglected in their self-righteous arrogance. If you think I'm overly hard on these guys, just read through John. They hated Jesus. We've heard the story, now let's consider some things these two main people have in common, and some contrasts in their situations.

Things in common:

Both were born and lived on this earth, and died. Both were Jews. Both lived in the same town. Both went to the eternal destiny their earthly relationship to God and man dictated.

Things in contrast:

One was clothed well; one had insufficient clothing.

One was buried; one was not buried.

One was comfortably bathed regularly; one was licked by dogs.

One was sick and diseased: the other was healthy.

One received good things on earth; the other received bad things on earth.

One believed Moses and the Prophets and went to eternal comfort heaven; the other did not believe and went to eternal torment in hell.

One thought miracles would help save people; the other believed God's Word ('No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent'). When the gospel of Jesus Christ doesn't save a man or woman, the gospel plus a miracle won't save them either. It's useless. Rom 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

One was significant for a time here; the other was significant forever in heaven (we know his name).

So if Jesus aimed this parable at these self-righteous, religious but lost men, what did He want them to hear?

You are poor stewards of unrighteous money; you'll never manage true riches.

You think because you're Jews, and you're religious, that you won't see God's wrath.

You know of God's Word, but you don't believe and follow God's Word.

This is the key here, I believe. Moses and the Prophets refers to the Old Testament. Genesis 12, Deut 18, Ps 22-24, Isaiah 7, 9, - all look ahead to Jesus. When the OT isn't prophesying Christ is it foreshadowing or giving types of Him. Moses, Aaron, David, (Prophet, priest, and king) all painted that picture of Christ. So did all the sacrifices. Faith is key; believe God's Word! I can't help but think of the question the Saducees asked Jesus once, and the answer he gave them. Matt 22:29 But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God."

Church, let us hold this fast; If God doesn't save through His Word by His Spirit's work in man, miracles won't save the day.

I think it is fair, in light of this story, to consider again today…

1. Do our budgets reflect eternal priorities, and not just temporal, earthly priorities? What do you do with your earthly wealth?

What mercy do you have for the needy? Prov 14:21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

2. Let us pray that God humbles our hearts to care for and help, as we can, those in need.

3. Are you soundly confident that God works, by His Holy Sprit through His Word, in the lives of the lost? If he doesn't, the walking, talking dead won't work either! Miracles aren't as powerful as God's Word to save! God's uses us to communicate the truth, but the power is His to work through it.

Justified Before Men

2011-11-01T18:38:00.001-07:00

Luke 16:14-18^[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, Oct 23^rd, 2011.

It does the church good, and keeps us healthy when we listen to Christ preached from the Old Testament and from the New Testament; so I alternate between the two. That way we learn of who God is, what God has warned us of, promised to those who believe, and how He has made provision for the sins of all who believe Him, and turn from their wrongdoing.

I am preaching from Luke 13:22 to Luke 17:10, and that's because it is the second time Jesus mentions "Journeying toward Jerusalem". We've walked with Jesus as He's taught on the narrow door while He traveled, lamented over Jerusalem, healed a man while at dinner with a Pharisee, and beginning in Luke 15:1, He is teaching to those sinners and tax-collectors who are coming to hear Him, and a group of Pharisees and Scribes who are there to accuse and de-rail Him. Luke 16 is composed of two lengthy stories of rich men and this small section between them

The Pharisees have gone from mumbling under their breath (Luke 15) to openly sneering at him; ridicule. I'm convinced that they believed that they were right; if Jesus had been from God He would have CERTAINLY been with and like them. How blinded we can be! Let's read Luke 14:13-18 (gonna start with 13 to context us).

13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.

15 And he said to them, "You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16 "The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.

17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

18 "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

Now at first I see how one would think that this is random, this little section. It is not; nothing Jesus said, nor anything he had Luke record was random. Here is the message I see for us in this text: People might justify themselves before men while their hearts are full of sin, but not before God. The ones who enter the kingdom of heaven when they die are those who believe Jesus, and worship Him alone. Three ways this is taught in this text…

13-14 You're not justified before God when you worship money and not God. How hard-hearted one can be to sneer at Jesus' words about money. This comes from those who are convinced that they DO love God, and they KNOW that they love money. Remember, Jesus had just taught (16:1-13) the parable of the dishonest manager, and warned His followers to be wise with their money; and lastly, not to worship it. The matter of wealth – the use and abuse of wealth – reveals where a man or a woman stands in their relationship to God[2]. This is something Jesus will come back to strongly in the story after this section. It's good for us to hear this again; "what is exalted among men is an abomination before God."

14-18 You're not justified before God when you disdain His Son and despise His law.

Their beef was Jesus was that He was setting aside the law of God. Jesus' beef with them was the same – their external focus on the law before men was in direct contrast to the focus of their hearts when it came to OBEYing the law.

Let me say that God's law isn't what saves us; the covenant with Christ is the prevailing one we relate with God through, and praise Him for that! However, Christianity is not without law, church! The Ten Commandments, with the exception (Colossians 2:16-17) of the Sabbath, are laws God intends for us to know, be humbled by, and seek His power to obey. With David, we can delight in God's law! With so many of the Psalms woven into their temple and synagogue worship, these men still managed to disdain God's law rather than to delight in it! This is a terrible thing that most of us wouldn't dare to do – directly. But when we ignore God's clear truth to do what we have made right in our own eyes, how are we different? These men sneered at Christ, and they made a mockery of God's law, all while judging others on being short of their rules, which they equated with God's law. This would be the equivalent of a pastor today sneering at and judging a man for drinking a beer while he ran around on his wife. This is what Jesus meant when He said men were 'everyone forces his way into it'. These men rejected God while the so-called 'heathen' were pushing to get to the front, to touch Jesus, and letting their sick friend down through the roof to get to Him!

They were on a quest for man's applause rather than God's approval. They were public figures that needed public affirmation. Religious men who rejected the clear, incisive teachings of Jesus yet thought they were right with God. Churches are populated in part by such people; you're religious, but you have your own views, beliefs, and your own control over your own religion; you reject the clear, incisive teachings of Jesus. You write your own religion, donating 1.5 hours weekly to God, does well on your resume. You've never repented of sin, begged God from your knees to save you, stood to be baptized to identify publicly with Jesus, and committed to a local church family by committing to faithful church membership so you could be counted on to link arms and advance the gospel. Unbelieving people aren't saved by being religious and this church isn't here to simply have more numbers; but rather to see lost saved and saved matured into obedient, growing faith in Christ[3].

Divorce was, I'm convinced, used here as an example of the Pharisees' pure disdain for God's law. In the Jewish writings revered by the religious leaders of Jesus' day, a man (Hillel) could put his wife away because she burned his dinner (Akiba). A man who found a prettier lady could divorce his wife. Jesus rejected such folly, and said it was wrong. He calls it adultery, and the man who marries the woman you threw away is also an adulterer. We should allow the weight of this verse to sit on us for a few minutes; divorce has become too common, too easy in the American church. Why is that? In part because the preaching of the law of God is rare in God's church here. Two exceptions and no condemnation: sexual immorality, and an unbelieving spouse who leaves you because of your faith in Christ.

Church family, people might justify themselves before men while their hearts are full of sin, but not before God. We're not justified when we worship money and not God, and we're not justified when we disdain His Son and despise God's law.

[2] A quote from Alistair Begg, Luke 16:13-18; found http://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/law-and-gospel/

[3] ibid.

Be Smart With Your Money

2011-11-01T18:37:00.001-07:00

Luke 16:1-13^[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, Oct 9^th, 2011

Many confusing messages about money have made their way into the church; I want to high-light the two extreme ideas concerning money this morning to get us started…

1) Asceticism. To be right with God, you must be poor. Money is evil, so righteous people couldn't have much of it. Problem here is – if we're all poor, who gives to the poor? The world? And who in the church would James admonish to be generous – there would be no one 'rich in this world's goods'. Mother Theresa once took over a moderately appointed facility donated to her work of helping the poor. She instructed the workers to remove the carpets and disconnect the hot water line to the building. She didn't sell the carpet or in any way benefit the poor from this 'doing without'[2]. Sadly, her doctrine about money wasn't biblical. She could have helped the poor better with hot water. If you work wisely and hard, you can prosper with this world's goods and still glorify God. Admittedly, it is hard to.

2) Materialism. It is God's will to prosper His children. If you aren't wealthy, it's because you don't believe God. This mindset makes God your willing slave to give you stuff, feed your greed, and encourage you to love money. God never encourages idolatry and greed; He hates both! Too many TV preachers have espoused this godless theology, and will answer for it.

Instead of holding to these unbiblical extremes that bring unbelief and condemnation, let's look at what Jesus tells us about money: Be Smart With Your Money. Luke 16:1-13.

1 He also said to the disciples, "There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.

2 And he called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'

3 And the manager said to himself, 'What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.

4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.'

5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'

6 He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'

7 Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'

8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.

9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?

13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money."

Prayer. The parable itself has been confusing to many. It brings up questions like…

Did Jesus commend deception or dishonesty? Or teach us to buy our way into heaven?

No. Two reasons I say this:

The audience. This was taught to disciples includes the curious, hungry sinners and tax collectors. People who were misusing money in ways that only built temporary alliances and pleasures. Money is an amoral tool that simplifies trade. These folks needed to learn to think differently about its use.

The main message of the parable. Details of a parable aren't always to be made much over, especially when our Lord clearly tells us what He was teaching!

Here is what Jesus said to His disciples: Be Smart With Your Money. According to this parable, there are three ways to do this:

16:8-9 Invest money eternally: give to the poor, needy, and the church. This is how you "make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings." Here we have the command to give generously to meet needs we're aware of. How do you make friends with money who will receive us into eternal dwellings? I think we bless those we will see in heaven – Jesus, and the body of Christ. Only those who live eternally can welcome us to eternal dwellings.

Matt 25:40 And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'

Matt 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

Luke 12:33-34 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. What is more fun than giving? Not receiving! So when you give to the body of Christ and to the poor and needy, you are laying up treasures in heaven. No chance of idolatry, greed, or false holiness when it's in that bank. Spiritual pride is always a danger, but you come back to 'where did I get the money' to fight that. Consider this admonition from our Lord; if you can't give, sell your stuff, then give.

16:10-12 Faithfully manage God's money. "One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own?" What do you have that you didn't receive? This is implied throughout the gospels with parables about those who manage another's money, and will be called to give an account, clearly here. When we consider that we will stand before Holy God who provided us with all that we need for life and godliness (2 Pet 1:3), He is right to exact an accounting for our stewardship. Using interest for and not against Him, living within our means, fostering generosity, gratitude, and contentment in our souls by our use of money. Investing instead of only spending and wasting.

16:13 Make it serve God and yourself; never serve it. "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money." A wise man once told me love people and use money and things; never get that backwards. Christ teaches us to use money; never serve money. Why not serve it? That is to be greedy, and to be greedy is a form of idolatry, and it will make you hate God. Can money make one hate God? He just said it – you serve money and you will become devoted to it (worship) and you will despise God. He also taught the disciples that it is harder (camel, eye of a needle) to believe God when you are rich! Look around you – wealth doesn't always equate to happiness! Most men who are wired to become very, very rich are the kind of men who are not wired to enjoy it! It is right to work hard to provide for your family, give to the church to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ, to help those believers in need, and give to the poor and needy.

Be smart with your money.

Invest it eternally by giving to the poor, needy, and to the church. Sell stuff if you have to.

Faithfully manage God's money. All we have is from Him.

Make money serve God and others; never serve it.

As we pray, consider with me these questions:

Am I joyfully generous with my money?

Do I consider God's wishes and pleasures with my money?

Do I serve God and not serve money?

Am I open to instruction, wisdom, and change about how I manage my money?

I end with the prayer of the wise man from Proverbs 30:8-9 …give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

Why Sinners Make Heaven Happy

2011-11-01T17:44:00.001-07:00

Luke 15:1-10[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, September 18^th, 2011

Let's read the text for today's message, shall we?

1 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.

2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them."

3 So he told them this parable:

4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.'

7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

8 "Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?

9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.'

10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

The point of these three parables is the same; Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost, and their repentance brings joy to heaven. Let's pray.

Jesus uses stories these people can easily relate to. Large portions of the church have attacked some of the greatest preachers in the history of the church for being too plain, too direct, or too 'down to earth'. Among these scorned by religious leaders are Charles Spurgeon and Dwight L. Moody – men who were seeing thousands of sinners saved through preaching the gospel. Here our Lord spoke of sheep and coins, things an agrarian society knows all too well. The sheep were the livelihood of many families, and these coins each represented a day's wages. These simple parables throw the joy of God at one being saved into sharp contrast with the uncaring attitude of the religious people of Jesus' day. It makes it plain for all to understand, to see what our Lord means; mainly though, for those who have ears to hear. Speaking of which…

Tax collectors and sinners are all drawing near to hear Him. That is significant! Let's turn back to chapter 14 where Jesus had just thinned the crowd out by calling them to count the cost before following Him. He goes on, speaking of the uselessness of salt that had lost it's taste. He closes with His often-used invitation: "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." Interesting that the religious people with knowledge of the Scriptures have deaf ears to Jesus and His words, while the greedy and the lustful sinners are coming to hear the good news. The first sentence in chapter 15: "Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him." In our day who are the miserable, immoral, ungodly people we don't want our children to be around – the plundering thieves of Wall Street like Madoff?, the openly gay, the hardened agnostics who care only for today, and shout it out every way they can in piercings and tattoos? The Americans who are Muslims? The women trying hard to be men? Who could we care less if they perish forever in hell? That's who Jesus was seen with. Often Pharisees accused Him of eating with "prostitutes and tax collectors".

How fitting for Jesus to say, in Matt 21:31, that "Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you."

Pharisees and Scribes are watching and grumbling. These religious people who supposedly know the truth are very closely observing what Jesus does, and grumbling. Grumbling that the wicked in society are open to hear the good news that they themselves are not willing to tell them. Notice how people grumble about and judge others who are doing what they should be doing? Is this justifying their disobedience, their lack of love, or what?

When Jesus said, "who need no repentance", I believe He was using sarcasm toward these chin-up men. I think that because in Luke 3:3 repentance had already been established as necessary, just as the sinfulness of man had in 11:13.

What grace that He only told them parables. God hates grumbling. In Exodus 15 and 16 they grumbled, and God rebuked them, but graciously fed them bread and meat. In Numbers 14 they grumbled again, and the Lord had enough of it. He told the Israelites that everyone 20 years old and up that had grumbled against Him (apparently most had) would die in the desert, and never see the Promised Land. Here's the problem with grumbling: it's so often associated with unbelief. Let us fear God, lest we grumble against God for working through lesser men, or for saving people we disdain; this is dangerous! He doesn't always graciously respond with a parable or two…

What joy in heaven over the repentant sinner! This is the huge contrast we have to see here; grumbling over sinners hearing truth versus rejoicing over sinners believing truth! From stories like this comes the description of 'lost' for the unbelievers. We have to see through this how great God's love is toward those who are far from Him and will be called to Him through the preaching of the gospel. This is the main point of these parables – the joy of heaven over the sinner who repents. So… Who do you resemble more today?

The Lord, who walked among the ungodly with the message of the gospel?

The religious, self-righteous people who rejected those ungodly sinners?

The sinners? We should have something in common with these folks, after all… What do we do in response to these parables?

We recognize God's love for sinners. Sometimes this gets away from us as we do church, fellowship, and enjoy each other. God loves lost sinners, and many among them are open to the gospel! Our mission is to magnify God, mature in our faith, and multiply believers, cell groups, and churches in our state, nation, and world. Worship, watchcare, and witness. To focus on one of these at the expense of the other is to become an unbalanced, disobedient church, for we're told to do all three.

We sharpen our personal witness to the lost. No matter what we do together, it most often comes down to you, the gospel, and the lost. There are two wings to the Christian airplane[2] of our witness; our lives and our lips; our conduct and our conversation. neither are complete alone. To say, "I told her about Christ" is good, but not enough. To say, "I live a good life and let my actions be my witness" isn't good enough either; to remain silent and let lost people interpret our actions themselves is wrong; they need to know who saved us, who changed our direction and appetites in life. An effective witness is to live a life worthy of our calling (Eph 4:1-3), and to be ready to give an account for the hope that is within us (1 Pet 3:15-16) – both are done with humility and gentleness. Jesus came to seek and to save those who are lost, and their repentance brings joy to heaven.

The Prodigal Son

2011-11-01T08:57:00.001-07:00

Luke 15:11-32^[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, October 2^nd, 2011

Last week we heard some of the most incredible mission testimonies ever. These Wano were sharing about the straight talk, the true talk, and they spoke the gospel more clearly through an interpreter than many pastors do in their people's heart language!

Wasn't that amazing, to witness the power of God through the Word given by the Wilds and the Ingles? I thank God for Mike and Libby and those four wonderful sons of theirs!

We are in the middle of our Lord's Journey Toward Jerusalem, following Him from Luke 13:22 – 17:10. We last examined the first two parables our Lord told in Luke 15 – the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin; today we'll absorb together the story of the Prodigal Son. It is critical to remember the audience our Lord is addressing: "Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, "This man receives sinners and eats with them" (Luke 15:1-2). Two very distinct groups; the first are those who are outside of the realm of the religious but who are very interested in Jesus, and open to hear His words. The second group is comprised of those who scorn His words, and who hope to trap or discredit him in front of his followers. Oddly enough the first group has no history with God, and the second group can trace their history with God back for centuries! You wouldn't think so, the way they disdain the Savior God had promised to send (Ps 2, 22-24, 51, Isa 6, 7, 9, 53, etc.) This is a beautiful piece of literature, and it was very widely known in the church. Let's read this story – the majority of the chapter – together. Luke 15:11-32…

And he said, "There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."' And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate. "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

With this story, I often feel that reading it and praying would be sufficient. With that in mind, I will make my comments brief today.

In the lost sheep story we see the focus on the word lost. In the lost coin story we see a focus on the search. In this parable today we notice a focus on the word restoration[2]. What rich fullness of the character of God, and of His glorious gospel we see in these three stories! God sees the lost; God does the searching, and God, this perfect Being who hates sin, lovingly restores the sinner. All to show the sinners God cares for their souls, and to show the religious people that God makes salvation available only by faith in Jesus, and not by religious traditions, morality, and accomplishments. Let's unpack this parable.

The Father. Who would he represent in this story? God. He Loves. He Gives. He Runs. He Rejoices. He Restores. He Pleads.

The Younger Son. Rebellious sinner. Who does he represent in this story? Tax collectors and sinners.

Disdains. Deserves. Leaves. Falls. Shatters, humbles himself before his father.

The Older Son. Religious sinner. Who does he represent in this story? Pharisees and scribes.

Works. Stays. Deserves. Hardens, sets himself against his father.

Both sons reject the Father. Both want His stuff. Both are shown compassionate mercy.

Younger son – wow, what grace. He repents, and receives it.

Older son – wow, what loving patience! – and he rejects it.

Both sons are shown grace.

Both sons must come back to the table, to love, to be restored.

Both sons need to believe and love their father, not just his stuff. Can't take his stuff and disdain Him, and can't earn his stuff and disdain Him.

Both must humble themselves before God. For whom is it harder?

[2] Emphasis noted by Alfred Edersheim in his excellent work, The Life and Times of Jesus The Messiah: New Updated Edition, Complete and Unabridged in One Volume, Copyright © 1993 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.

Jesus is Worth It

2011-11-01T07:30:00.001-07:00

Luke 14:25-34[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, September 11^th, 2011

So far in chapters 13-14 of Luke, as we follow Jesus toward Jerusalem, we've been with Jesus as He warned Jews about the narrow door, disdained Herod's threats, lamented over the hard-hearted Jerusalem, healed a sick man, and rebuked a Pharisee who invited him over for dinner. He has taught true hospitality and humility. A common theme is rising to the top in these two chapters; neither the works of religion nor the faith of your relatives can save you from the wrath of God. Only by faith in Jesus Christ, who shed His blood on that cross, can one hope to be made righteous to stand before God and live. Today we're going to move on into a teaching about counting the cost before following Jesus as a learner, disciple, or student. The sermon title is simply Jesus is Worth It.

Luke 14:25-34

25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,

26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?

29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,

30 saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.

34 "Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?

35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Here is the message in this passage: There is a high cost to follow Jesus; so you need to decide – is Jesus is worth it? The best commitment comes from love, not duty. Three questions…

Is this anti-church growth? How quickly our Lord moves from "Highways and hedges compelling them to come in" to "You cannot be my disciple if…"! have to wonder about is Jesus' addressing of such a large crowd – it's a warning, a challenge! You would think, based on current western philosophies of ministry, that Jesus would LOVE to draw a crowd – by serving, healing, preaching, helping, or however He could – so He could then preach the gospel to them! That's us, right? Two things to consider about that;

1. Jesus wasn't seeking worldly, temporary success; He was seeking the lost.

2. Jesus would rather have a few devoted followers than many demanding followers.

So for those who say, "I want to see more, I gotta be around for this", our Lord isn't so excited to entertain you; He demands fidelity, and warns those temporarily excited crowd to count the cost before taking off. Second question…

Is this hate? Hate, in the Semitic meaning for this context, means to love less than the other. Let me show you why I say this: Gen 29:30-31 So Jacob went in to Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and served Laban for another seven years. When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. 'Hate' here isn't literal, as we understand hate; that would contradict the command to honor your parents, love your wife, provide for, protect, and train your children. I am convinced that Jesus won't contradict Himself in different books of the Bible, or different passages in any book. He simply means that you must love Him more. Listen to His words in… Matt 10:37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Is this anti-church growth, hate, and third…

Is this different from conversion? I have stood fast against such distinctions my entire Christian life; but I must confess in this context, I have my first seeds of doubt. He had just sent servants to invite all to come to the heavenly banquet. Now when He leaves and many want to follow, He throws the hard lines out!

For today, I'm going to let you wrestle with that. You have the Holy Spirit; I don't have to answer all questions. Two out of three isn't bad. Here is what we see clearly in this text…

Jesus' challenge to all who would follow Him is to love Him more.

More than those you love. Either to serve Christ away from their presence, or to cling to Christ; even if it means rejection by your family – the disciple must follow Christ. To follow Him as a learner means you can't stay home enjoying life all the time. This call can't void out the command to 'leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife' (Gen 2:24). But it very clearly means that, regardless of what love you have for family, you must love Jesus more.

More than your own life. This must be about His will, His purpose, His mission, His glory, and His ministry on this earth. When we commit to follow Christ, life cannot be about our lives, our dreams, our wealth collection, or our comfort as a priority – it must be about Christ and His glory. That was it for Abraham, who looked at the eternal city instead of his hometown. It was true for Moses, who left Pharaoh's court to walk in the desert. Peter said,

Amazingly, this is the best life a Christian can live! You would think opposite, right? Not at all. To have nothing one is clinging to desperately is actually freedom, not bondage. To lay out a list of things to God that you must be, have, or do in this life is by far the more nasty bondage.

More than your possessions. "See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?" What was Jesus response? "You] will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life" (Matt 19:27-29). We're not condemned in Scripture for having wealth; we are condemned for living for wealth above Christ (Mark 7, Rich Young Ruler).

Church, the best commitment comes from love, not duty. One does much for duty; one does much more for love. Therefore…

You must count the cost. If you start, will you finish? If you follow, will you continue when it gets hot, dry, unpopular, self-denying, and lonely? Jesus started toward Jerusalem for you, and He will. He was warning this crowd – this won't be easy, folks. Don't take this commitment to follow me lightly.

It's better not to start than to start and quit. The tower, the battle, and the salt tell us this. It would be better to honestly go home than to falsely commit then turn away. So…

There is a high cost to follow Jesus; so you need to decide – is Jesus is worth it? The best commitment comes from love, not duty. Let's consider a few things as we close…

1. What is it worth to know, love, believe, and follow Jesus? To be with Him forever? Can you honestly say He is worth more than your family standing, community standing, your things, and your present comfort? He is, but that isn't visible without faith.

2. What is it worth to know that your life will never end, and you will see His full glory?

3. Jesus asked it this way; For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? (Matt 16:26)

On Hospitality and Heaven

2011-11-01T07:26:00.001-07:00

Luke 14:12-24[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, September 4^th, 2011

What courage does it take to reprove one who has invited you to dinner! Jesus, our Lord, has that courage, of course. He had been shown less than average respect at the meal in the Pharisee's house where we join Him. They had sat a sick man opposite of our Lord as bait used to trap Him! After dealing with that harsh, unloving attempt to trip Him up, Jesus turned to teach the host something about hospitality, and about heaven. Let's join Him in Luke 14:12-24.

12 He said also to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.

13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just."

15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"

16 But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet and invited many.

17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'

18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.'

19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.'

20 And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.'

22 And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.'

23 And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.

24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'"

So here is the message I see from this text as we worship Christ today: Hospitality and Heaven. Our hospitality needs a motive makeover, and our hope of heaven need be in response to God's invitation to 'come' through Christ.

On Hospitality… Verses 12-14 are a rebuke to the host that his hospitality needs a motive makeover. This is a very specific, direct reproof to the host who had in fact invited Jesus – was this rude? I believe speaking good wisdom isn't rude; but especially in light of the reason Jesus was invited, and the failed trap they'd set for Him.

Hospitality isn't just for business building or political positioning. Not wrong to host business meals; it's just wrong to be false or double in your motives. If it is a business meal, say so, and do it well. Warren Wiersbe says that the general trend in the time of Jesus was to invite influential people so they would owe you favors, at least a return invitation. Thus the culture of 'your turn' was in place.

Hospitality is to be shown to those who are in need, and who can't pay it back. Clear enough, isn't it?

Hospitality isn't just for present, temporal blessing; it is for future, eternal blessing. This is a strong principle all through the kingdom of God; we are faithful now and rewarded later.

On Heaven… Verses 15-24 are a rebuke to the Jews who reject God's invitation to come through Christ.

The exclamation: "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" This man's statement was widely accepted and used in the time of Jesus, we're told. Maybe it made in joy over Christ's good teaching. Maybe it was said to turn the conversation away from the uncomfortably specific to the comfortably general.

The implied question: Who will eat bread in the kingdom of God?

Answer: a parable of a great feast. The characters in this parable are...

God – He gives a kingdom feast.

Messengers – they personally take the invitations out.

Jews - they have been invited and have replied that they intend to attend.

Needy and Gentiles. These are the poor, crippled, blind, and lame – just people.

When it comes time to actually eat and the servant is sent out to bring them in, the Jews make excuses! And they are nice excuses: I bought a field, I've bought oxen, or I have a wife… huh. These sound like ordinary things! However, they are missing an extraordinary gathering! Truth is, these people have put the business of everyday life ahead of the claims of the kingdom of God, thus showing that they're not worthy to enter[2]. So God's wrath boils over, and the invited are rejected. Church, it is paramount to sound doctrine to hold on to the fact that it is GOD who will judge us; it is GOD who finds our sin offensive and refuses to let sinners into His glorious presence! It is GOD that we must fear, not the devil and his fallen angel minions. The 'master of the house' here represents God, and when His wrath boils over, it is a scary thing! Israel had managed to evoke that wrath from the desert outside of Egypt (1445 B.C.) to the city of Jerusalem with Nebuchadnezzar laying siege outside (586 B.C.). Let us not take such an invitation for granted. God's wrath boils over. Yet then we see this: God's grace flows over, being determined to share this good meal. The poor, the lame, the blind, and all of those who have no hope of repaying the master of the house for his hospitality, are welcomed to this joyful, sumptuous feast! And the message is clear: the Gentiles come to Christ through the rejection of the Jews. Yes, the kingdom of God will be filled, but many of those originally invited will be excluded[3].

Hospitality and Heaven. Our hospitality needs a motive makeover, and our hope of heaven need be in response to God's invitation to 'come' through Christ.

A few questions might be in order…

Are you hospitable? Do you invite those who can't repay you now?

Hope of Heaven: what is your response to God's call to come to Him? What is your response to Jesus? What is your response TODAY, actually?

[3] Ibid.

Where is Our Compassion and Humility?

2011-11-01T07:05:00.001-07:00

Luke 14:1-11[1] As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, August 28^th, 2011

Two weeks ago we learned of the narrow door, and of Jesus' command to strive to enter through it to life. Last week we learned of the hardness of hearts that resist the love and grace of God – O, Jerusalem! Today we're going to a nice feast with our Lord, and we're going to consider two words – compassion and humility. The message is a question: Where is Our Compassion and Humility? We'll begin in Luke 14:1-6.

1 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.

2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.

3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?"

4 But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.

5 And he said to them, "Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?"

6 And they could not reply to these things.

This is a Word about Compassion: to the host.

See? Now you can eat with sinners – non religious and religious!

Hospitality is good; using the sick is bad. Good: Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:2, 1 Peter 4:9. We can at least commend the man for showing hospitality; after all we are commanded in the New Testament to do so, and it is a qualification for elders to be hospitable. Let's not use a sick person to bait a trap over lunch, though. Jesus knew it, and He took the bait.

Man's laws can lose their purpose and miss their mark. Sabbath rules had lost theirs. Jesus was using sarcasm to show that human life is of much more value than animal life! Humans have eternal souls and an eternal destiny; animals do not have an eternal soul.

Two questions: "Is it lawful?" No reply. "Will you help an ox or your son on the Sabbath?" No reply.

They could count on Jesus to show compassion. It was the third time in this book He'd been confronted on the Sabbath, seventh time overall. How much more evidence did they need? Jesus healed people on the Sabbath – guilty. He had compassion – guilty. Now the compassion of Jesus is to be understood not simply as a personal emotional reaction but as a public criticism in which he dares to act upon his concern against the entire numbness of his social context.[2] By His engagement with the sick and needy, Jesus condemned those who ignored and used the sick and weak.

Compassion comes and grows through connection.

Who donates to and staffs Ronald McDonald houses? Those who have stayed there and experienced the warm, generous provision while their child fights cancer. Who raises awareness and funds for autism? Breast cancer? Drunk driving deaths? Those touched by them; those with connections.

Jesus walked among the lowly, the normal, and the average people. He was among humanity; that was the point of His incarnation! This is where we benefit our hearts by keeping them tender, church family; we get some up-close and personal connection with suffering, need, loss, and death. We come to view those we don't agree with or think highly of (and thus we ignore their sufferings) as humans, and we have compassion.

The sick man was a trap; he was being used to catch Jesus. Otherwise it's pretty doubtful he would have been invited. Why did they invite him and sit him next to Jesus? They could count on Jesus' compassion. This tells us something, church; we can't have compassion for sinners if we don't have connection with them. If we can keep away from suffering we can harden our heart toward suffering people. Hard hearts care more for rules than for people. What's the best story of compassion in the Bible? The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). What was the point? Who is my neighbor? Story, and command: go and do likewise. Love your neighbor; he's the one in need that you have connection with.

Can folks count on the church for compassion, the way they did Jesus? Christ is in us, and He has compassion for the sick, the weak, and the lost. Does that come out through us? Through you? Through me? That is a word about compassion to the host. Now…

A Word about Humility: to the guests. Luke 14:7-11

7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,

8 "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him,

9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.

10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.

11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Parables make a point. This one is; don't exalt yourself; let God and others do that. Proverbs 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

Humility starts with right thinking about God; how huge, holy, wise, powerful, and good!

Humility grows with right thinking about ourselves. How dark, sinful, selfish, frail, and ungodly! Those who think this way know they should take the lowly seat – they're just glad they were invited! "He must increase, but I must decrease"(John 3:30).

Here's the truth; we don't deserve the place of honor. But here's how we often think; I deserve the place of honor. It's based on who we are, who we know, or what we've done. "I'm his friend, doctor, pastor, brother, boss, co-worker, etc."

"I've done this, that, and the other for him, so this is my seat."

We exist in a culture of self-advertising, self-marketing, and self-promotion. It is so unusual to be humble instead of exalting yourself that it is simply weird. Folks, are we weird? Are we humble? If we are weird, it is because we trust God to take care of us?

A man named Selden wrote that, "Humility is a virtue all preach, none practice, and yet everybody is content to hear. The master thinks it good doctrine for the servant, the church for the pastor, and the pastor for the church." I would submit to you that God thinks it to be good for us all[3]. I would also ask your prayers; it is indeed good for your pastor, and he needs more of it.

Humility isn't being a doormat. Jesus was humble: he said so! He wasn't a doormat. Jesus commends compassion. When Jesus obeyed God, He stood firm on the gospel; He confronted lies and errors. That wasn't arrogant, that was humble; He was exalting God, not Himself. Humility courageously stands for the gospel.

So…

A word about compassion: compassion comes and grows through connection with the needy. Is your compassion evident and growing? Is it active? Is it stifled by a hard, lawful heart? If so, look around; connect with the hurting. This is required Christian character, church family.

A word about humility: it begins with right thinking about God and about ourselves. We humble ourselves, and we let God and others exalt us. When we trust God, there's no need to self-promote. Are you growing in humility? If not, this is a serious warning from our Lord; humble yourself; consider others more important than yourselves.

Where is our compassion and humility, church? Let's pray.

A word to those who do not believe Jesus as Lord and Savior; He has had compassion on you through His humility; He humbled Himself to become a man out of compassion for the lost. He humbled Himself to death, even death on a cross. Have you repented of your sin and received the gift of life He purchased for you there? Today would be a good day to turn from sin, believe in Jesus, and follow Him.

[2] Quote by Brueggemann found at http://www.toddlittleton.net/brueggemann-on-compassion-as-cultural-critique

[3] From 6000 Sermon Illustrations, by Elon Foster, published by Baker Book House, 1992

O Jerusalem!

2011-10-20T06:17:00.001-07:00

Luke 13:31-35[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, August 21^st, 2011

31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you."

32 And he said to them, "Go and tell that fox, 'Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.

33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.'

34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

I see two truths in this passage that we need to consider here today. The first is this:

No wicked man can frighten our Lord off of His course; neither Pharisees nor foxes.

Herod had already killed John the Baptist, and that didn't cause our Lord to change course. Now he evidently intends to kill Jesus, or at least these leaders want Jesus to think that.
The Pharisees were well-educated, zealous, religious, self-confident, self-righteous people. They knew the Scriptures and they knew they knew the Scriptures; scorn for anyone who didn't agree with them reeks from the gospels. I think this interaction between a man born blind, whom Jesus had healed, and the Scribes and Pharisees in John 9:26-34 gives a great snapshot of these people. Here's the scene… They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" And they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." The man answered, "Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." They answered him, "You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?" And they cast him out.

Not the friendliest men; not the most gracious of shepherds of Israel, and not at all considerate of Jesus; so their motives for the warning is questionable at best. But Jesus replied as if it were true. No changing of plans, no altering course; He was facing His death and going to it resolutely, for the church. No Herod wasn't going to frighten Him off course. It was God's plan and, regardless of how He suffered, He was going to obey it. As we see our Lord walking so resolutely, let us consider two things closely…

1. No government is able to stop the church. Study history; read Foxe's book of Martyrs; read Voice of the Martyrs online. Persecution of the church has been here, it is here, and it will continue until the return of Christ. With terrorist attacks in our nation coming directly from radical Islamists, still our congress supports Islamic religious freedom and squelches the mention of Christ continually. President Obama recognized Ramadan this year but not Easter. This is unavoidable. Christ in us will give us grace; here He gives us an example. What God has called us to do, we must do. He didn't willingly stir Herod up, but He didn't let Herod's threats move Him off course. His life was laid down already in His mind. Church – is ours? Can we lay down smaller idols, much less our lives?

2. What love Jesus has for His church! What great suffering He was resolved to steadfastly endure so He could bring to Heaven all who would repent of sin and believe in Him as the way to Heaven! He greatly desired for us to see His glory!

Now to the second truth that is in this text…

Jerusalem was a rebellious child and an adulterous bride: to their own detriment they resisted and rejected the love of God. In Ezekiel 23 a very harsh and adult (rated R, I would say) description of Israel's unfaithfulness to God is given in the story of two daughters, Oholah and Oholibah. Oholah represents the northern tribes of Israel, Oholibah the southern nation of Judah. Then in Ezekiel 24 the siege of Jerusalem is begun and the terrible end is predicted.

Jerusalem was first mentioned with Abraham's meeting of Melchizidek. It was destroyed by Babylon in 586 and 597 B.C., then again in A.D. 70 by Rome. Why would God allow, much less orchestrate the destruction of the city that bore His name – the "City of the Great King" (Ps 48:1)? The wrath of God is greater against those who hear the gospel and reject the gospel. When Prophets came, Jerusalem ignored them, or killed them. And they were the ones with the covenants!

Church, God certainly elects; He regenerates, calls, convicts of sin, and saves all who call upon Him. Salvation is not a joint effort between God and man; it is all of God. And yet – we are completely responsible for our sinfulness before Holy God. If we want to wrestle with this, we can stop at the Garden of Eden – there, we were all found guilty. We are all 'in Adam'. So of course Christ grieves when sinners reject Him, especially those to whom the Law and the Covenants have been given! Which brings me to this thought…

What about us?

What about when nominal Christians (name only) go to church enough to know the gospel, have a Bible or several of them, and still reject God. We who have full knowledge would experience full wrath.

Should that not cause us to fear? Should that alarm us?

Hear the love of God so poignantly from our Lord – He wept when he saw this beloved city in its hardness of heart!

Church, we have grace, and we have truth. Do not harden your hearts, and experience the wrath of God who loves so richly, so fully! Let us hold fast the good grace of God in Christ.

The Narrow Door

2011-08-17T07:34:00.001-07:00

Luke 13:22-30[1] As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, August 14^th, 2011

Today I am beginning a series of messages from the book of Luke entitled Journeying Toward Jerusalem. plan to preach from Luke 3:22 to Luke 17:10. Odd numbers because I am going from the second to the third announcement that Jesus going to Jerusalem. He set his face toward Jerusalem in Luke 9:51: When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. We will begin where Jesus mentioned for the second time that he was aiming at the worship center of Israel. Luke 13:22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. He knew where he was going, and he knew what he was walking into; in fact He told His disciples very plainly in Mark 10:33-34 saying, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise."

It enriches my soul year after year to read the direct words of our Lord in the gospels; how it must have been to walk with Him physically! We will follow our Lord on part of this journey, learning directly from Him about Himself, His kingdom, His call to believe, and His love for the lost. Now, let me tell you a story…

On October 28, 1998, a disastrous arson fire occurred during a Halloween party at a nightclub in Gothenburg, Sweden. There were an estimated 400 young people in attendance.

Normally [in Sweden], when an event to which tickets are sold is held, the fire brigade is notified to determine how many people will be allowed inside the occupancy. In this case, the fire brigade was never contacted, even though tickets had been sold. Survivors reported that the hall was so crowded that it was impossible to dance because people were standing shoulder-to-shoulder.

When it was over, 63 young people had died in the blaze; another 213 were injured, and 60 of those were taken to intensive care units, 13 to special burn units in Norway and Sweden. You see, the fire wasn't announced immediately when it was discovered. And the exit doors were far from sufficient for exiting a crowd of that size quickly, so by the time people realized the fire was real and dangerous, it was too late to get everyone out of the building safely[2]. We will come back to that in a little while: let's read our text for today

Luke: 13:22-30

22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23 And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them,

24 "Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' then he will answer you, 'I do not know where you come from.'

26 Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'

27 But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!'

28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.

30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

Here is the message I see from this Scripture: You better find the narrow door, and get through while it is open; it won't always be, and you don't man the door. Let's pray.

The thoughtful question: Will those who are saved be few? An unknown person asking a thoughtful question began this conversation. We don't know who asked it nor why they asked it, whether a follower or a scorner of Jesus. Perhaps the question was simple curiosity; perhaps it came from grave concern. Our Savior did not give a direct answer to this enquiry, states Matthew Henry, for "he came to guide men's consciences, not to gratify their curiosity".[3] Many think studying Revelation is fun, instead of challenging and terrifying. But regardless of who asked or why they asked, here is what they received instead of a direct answer…

The serious response: a series of warnings. Let's consider them together…

Don't wait until it's too late to seek to enter this door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. This failed idea of "I'll be my own god until I need the real God", or "I'll repent when I'm older and done with the fun" is a crock; you have no control of the future, or life, or death. You don't man the door. To think, "I'll believe next week" is an assumption, isn't it? It really is. To think, "I'll deal with this closet sin and unbelief soon" is an assumption, a foolish one. We have no guarantees of our present, much less our future. If you are here and don't know Christ, don't wait until it's too late to seek to enter this door. Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Strive to enter heaven by faith.

Don't assume you will get in because you're near. Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.' Proximity to Christ isn't faith in Christ. Being in and around church, around people of faith, being around true Christians will not make you right with God. With eternal life close isn't close enough; you must be IN the door, which means you personally must repent of your sin and believe in and follow Jesus.

Don't assume you will get in because you're related to those who got in. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. Family heritage or religious history isn't faith in Christ. In this case He spoke to Jews who were descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; they were people to whom God had made great covenant promises, and through whom God had brought the Messiah. Awesome history, awesome faith of some of their relatives; but they didn't believe Jesus, who was there before them. If we are Baptists, Methodists, or Catholics from a long line of the same, that doesn't save us. Even being AMERICAN won't save us; we have a high view of ourselves in this world, but that holds no credibility with a Holy God who hates sin; he doesn't care what nationality or language we ignore Him in.

Don't think your sins won't find you out. 27 But he will say, 'I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!' All who work evil will hear, "Depart from me!" He sees, He knows, and He is just. This should cause us to fear, to fall on our faces before Him in true repentance, humbling confessing sin and trusting His good grace for pardon! That death Christ died on the cross is our only hope for forgiveness, for being made right with God. Most men who justify their sin grow hardened to is through rationalization, and often think that their evil deeds aren't really evil. God sees it differently, and He has the final say so about eternal life. There will be no escaping His just wrath except through faith in Christ, and that before it's too late.

Don't think hell is a game, a party, or a light sentence. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is just punishment for all who ignore Holy God, who do not worship Him in truth and in Spirit; it is eternal separation for all who reject Jesus Christ as Lord of their life and live by their own rules and codes. Don't assume God will do this or that because you heard it, learned it from someone, or developed it yourself – find out what God says about God, and about life and death.

In this series of warnings from our Lord, we learn to ask not, "How many shall be saved?" but rather, "Shall I be one of them?".

Don't think of yourself as first even if you get in. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

Here is a clear warning against pride as well as assuming your salvation is safe. Assuming about eternal life is just dangerous.

This word translated as strive in verse 24 gives us the root of the word agonize. It is elsewhere in the NT translated into fight, struggle, labor, and exercise. We are to fight and labor – not to be saved by works – but to believe that Jesus' death on the cross was sufficient to save, sanctify, justify, and glorify wicked sinners like me.

It's a thoughtful question; it's a serious response from our Lord, these warnings.

Listen; there was no warning sounded at that disco in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1998 when the fire was first noticed; the kids didn't begin desperately seeking the exits until the fire was already burning strong; for many, it was TOO late. For you, the warning has been sounded today.

You better find the narrow door, and get through while it is open; it won't always be, and you don't man the door.

If you are a Christian this is a strong reminder to live humbly, strengthen your faith in this God. He saves all who believe in Him.

If you are not a Christian, regardless of how close, how religious, or how good you think you are; if you are not saved, know that Jesus never turns away those who diligently seek Him. Today is the day of salvation; today is the day to strive for that narrow door, to fight to believe in Christ, to repent of your sin. In this same chapter Jesus told those who were following Him that they too would perish if they didn't repent (Luke 13:3, 5). To be saved you need to bow your head before God, turn from your sin, ask God to forgive you through death of Jesus; believe He is Lord, risen from the dead, then you leave here only to follow Jesus. You can do that right now.

[2] Information found at http://www.iklimnet.com/hotelfires/clubfirecase1.html

[3] Matthew Henry Bible Commentary, accessed as free shareware via http://live.e-sword.net/app/

Making Much of Christ

2011-06-30T09:14:00.001-07:00

Luke 10:38-42[1]

Today the title of my sermon is making much of Christ. I'm going to read this passage and help us meditate a little on our Lord.

Luke 10:38-42

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."

41 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

There are a lot of things we can do to express that we love Jesus Christ. But I want to extract an example from this well-known text and apply it to our lives here at Rolling Hills Church. This is the story of Mary magnifying Christ above all else; by loving Him and listening to Him. Simply as Mary, we can love Christ and listen to Christ. I am convinced that, if and when we are careful to do so, He will be magnified in our lives. I want to encourage us to make much of Christ and then show some apparent contrasts that come in making much of Christ.

So why would we sit and listen to Jesus? Why would we magnify Him this way?

Because He is God. John 1:1, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Yes, to many He is only a teacher, leader, or religious figure. He is relegated to one in the line of many. But we know different; He is LORD OF ALL, He is CREATOR GOD, He is the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE and the GRACIOUS, FORGIVING GOD. He is He is God. We should sit and listen.

Because, as God, He has something to say. In Matt 17:1-6 Peter, James, and John had the incredible privilege of seeing His glory revealed. Moses and Elijah also showed up, and it was an overwhelming thing for the three disciples. Peter couldn't keep his mouth from babbling in the excitement. I often feel his pain. But God spoke from heaven and said, "This is my beloved Son, with Whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!" Many times in our prayer we're so excited to say to God what we've come to say, what we feel or think is important or significant. We should! He cares for us, we should tell Him how we feel and what we think, need, and want! But there's an element of prayer that brings stability and peace – that is listening to Him. Think of this: Jesus, being God, has all knowledge, all wisdom[2]. Surely it would help if we valued His words, and listened to Him through the Scriptures. His words created the world, His words gave us life – surely we need to hear what He has to say. Besides – the FATHER makes much of the Son, so should we. Often we are starving for wisdom, direction, or comfort. We're running to our friends, Christian radio, or to the world! We seek Oprah, Dr. Phil, or insight from magazines, co-workers, or unchurched neighbors. We don't have to starve! We can stop starving and start listening.

Because He has a compelling kindness. Matt 11:28-30. "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." It says in Mark 10:21 that He looked on the rich young ruler and loved Him. In Luke 7:12-16 He said to the weeping widow who had lost her son, "Don't weep." Then he raised her only son from the dead. There is that about Jesus that draws us when we take a minute to be with Him. What is that? There is a compelling kindness to Him that we don't experience often in this hard old world. We need His kindness. According to Rom 2:4 it's His kindness that leads us to repentance. Yes we fear God; but yes we must know that God loves us and is kind toward us!

Because He is and He gives life. Jn 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." You see, He is life. He has life in Him, and that life is the light of the world. Our faith is like a rechargeable battery; yes it works and yes it has light, but the world's darkness drains our faith. We must plug in and be recharged. He is life, dear church. Christ is life. Christ gives life. He is the resurrection! Ask the son of the widow! Ask Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead after four days! Ask your believing family and friends who have gone on ahead when you come to see them. He is life, and graciously, He GIVES life to us. He also sustains and brightens and strengthens that life in us. He recharges our life in Him. He renews our minds with His words.

So we make much of Christ because He is God, He has something to say, He has a compelling kindness, and because He is and He gives life. He is worthy of our praise, of our devotion, our sitting at His feet, and of that being the one thing for us. We, by God's gracious work in us, will thrive when making much of Christ.

But let me share some apparent contrasts in making much of Christ Jesus, our Lord…

Making much of Christ is personal, but not private. You cannot have someone love Christ for you or through you. This is a personal relationship, a genuine love for a real person, the God who created You in His image! Its not a love the pastor gives you, it's not a decision the parent makes; it is You who must receive Christ, and yield to love, enjoy, and treasure Christ. The Holy Spirit, if you are born of Him, is wooing, drawing, convicting, and working to help you see and savor Jesus; but it's personal. Yet it's not private; you can't hide this faith, this love for Jesus under a bushel basket. You also can't hide it under pride, job security, or good works! In John 12:42 he writes, "Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue." It will be that love for Jesus exudes from you. Love for Jesus is life-changing; life change isn't private.

Making much of Christ settles and brings conflict. It settles conflict in our hearts to yield and love Jesus. It settles our souls to fully love and trust Jesus, to let go of excuses, bitterness, old hurts, and sin. The inner conflicts are gone when we yield to Christ and treasure Him above all. Sometimes when one comes to faith in Christ it may settle the family and bring unity there as well as in his or her own heart. Yet the outer conflicts may just be beginning! It may divide our families when we truly treasure Jesus Christ. There are those family members who are threatened or confused when we love Jesus supremely. Not always, but sometimes when we begin living by God's Word instead of paying lip service to it only, it brings conflict into our family. It may divide a worldly church when someone just loves Jesus so much they'll listen to Him and love Him. Sometimes those in church get upset when we're too biblical or Christ-centered. They call us goody-goody, self-righteous, or too spiritual. They try to make us worldlier to soothe their nagging conscience. Loving Christ causes problems in a worldly church. And yet, when we persist in loving, listening to, and following Jesus Christ – sometimes the very ones who are attacking us can become our brothers and sisters. Sometimes our genuine, life-altering faith is what they needed to see in order to be open to hear the gospel.

Making much of Christ is church-strengthening and world-reaching. I want us to be clear on this, that loving Jesus and listening to His word above the clatter of the world and even the pseudo-Christian noise of the church deepens our faith immensely. Time alone at the feet of Jesus makes us different people. It makes a Christian family a loving, kind family. It makes a singing church a worshipping church. It makes a working church a worshipping church. It makes a church a powerful witness instead of a good option in the deck of church cards. When those far from Christ come in here and we're truly caught up in Jesus, and His truth has us captivated, changed, and freed up, it's a powerful witness. We're strengthened in our inner man, in our church, and we're deepened. At the same time, we're broadened by this love to reach the world. We're compelled to go because we love Him.

A.W. Tozer wrote, "I cannot speak for you, but I want to be among those who worship. I do not want just to be a part of some great ecclesiastical machine where the pastor turns the crank and the machine runs. You know – the pastor loves everybody and everybody loves him. He has to do it. He is paid to do it. I wish that we might get back to worship again. Then when people come into the church they will instantly sense that they come among holy people. They can testify, "Of a truth God is in this place."[3]

Do we not need the same as Tozer – to worship Christ? Don't we desire, need, and seek TRUE WORSHIP? God is seeking true worshippers, church; those who worship Jesus in spirit and in truth.

So I say to you this morning, church; let's make much of Jesus.

Love Jesus.

Listen to Jesus.

Sit at His feet.

Enjoy the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Pray, praise, sit, listen, feed and be nourished at the table Christ offers us. It is the first and foremost part of our mission to this world.

[3] From Whatever Happened to Worship? pg 20, By A.W. Tozer , © Christian Publications, 1985

The New Testament on Creation

2011-06-29T12:32:00.001-07:00

John 1:1-3[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, June 26^th.

The New Testament teaches that God made all things through Jesus Christ.

When I say, 'Creation', what Scripture passage comes to mind? Genesis 1. In fact, let me read Genesis 1:1, and if you know it quote it with me. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." What a majestic beginning to the Bible! And church family, friends, and guests, those ten words are absolutely true.

Of course many believe, in light of scientific discoveries in the past two centuries, that this passage must be interpreted metaphorically, not literally. While it is vastly helpful to make a scientific case to support the biblical creation, today I would like to simply show the case for creation from the New Testament. Before I do I would like to define a few different theories of our beginnings.

Evolutionary origin of life. This is the belief system based on atheism; no God. Let me give you the Wikipedia definition of evolution's origin of life theory: "Highly energetic chemistry is believed to have produced a self-replicating molecule around 4 billion years ago and half a billion years later the last common ancestor of all life existed. The current scientific consensus is that the complex biochemistry that makes up life came from simpler chemical reactions.The beginning of life may have included self-replicating molecules such as RNAand the assembly of simple cells." This is essentially a big-bang theory. Things went from very small to very large, and from disorder to order.

Deistic evolution. This is the belief that there is a God or Deity, and He initiated the evolution process and let it go. He is watching His work develop on it's own. Proponents of this theory do not necessarily believe in the God of the Bible or His Son Jesus Christ.

Theistic evolution. This view, held by some Christians, holds that Genesis chapters 1-2 are false, but God initiated and guided the evolutionary process.

Day Age Theories. There are several of these, but the summary is that these people believe that the word 'day' in Genesis 1 is not literal, but represents a much longer time frame. Some believe they happened in sequence, some believe the sequence in Genesis one isn't to be trusted but God still did it, etc. One view is the Gap Theory; this is the belief that, based on Isaiah 14:12-14, Ezekiel 28:11-17, and Jeremiah 4:23-26, that God created everything in Genesis 1:1, there was this long thriving age, then Satan brought it to ruin, God destroyed everything and started over in verse 2. This is how they explain the old earth belief as well as support the view that God would never make anything formless and void.

There are at least seven day-age theories, and they support somehow re-interpreting the Scriptures to support the general evolutionary belief that the earth is very, very old.

Fiat Creation Theory. This is the belief that Genesis 1-2 are literally true, and that yom (the Hebrew word for day) means a literal 24-hour day, as it would have to when referred to in Exodus 20:11. "For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."

This is consistent throughout the Scriptures. Most fiat creationists, and that's the school of thought I fit into, believe that God made a mature earth (mature Adam and Eve) and that the flood explains many things we would otherwise struggle to grasp. In light of such views and beliefs, let's survey what the New Testament has to say about Creation.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John's language sounds a lot like Genesis 1:1, doesn't it? John is making the case that Jesus is the Messiah. John 20:31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. His starting point is that Jesus is eternally pre-existent (He was before anything), eternally with God (Trinity of Father, Son, Holy Ghost), eternally God ('Word' referring to the Christ), and that He is eternally Creator[2] (all things were created through Him). Jesus is God; and yet God created everything through Jesus. Contrary to what some say, God didn't create Jesus in the beginning; Jesus is God, and all things were created through Him. Let's move on…

1 Cor 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

Here the apostle Paul, while teaching about offering food to idols, weighs in with his belief that there is One God, and Jesus is One with God, and all things are 'through' him. He teaches this more directly in the next passage we'll go to…

Col 1:15-17 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

So here are two of the apostles teaching us that all things were created by Jesus Christ. Through Him and for Him; and in Him all things hold together. Think of the vastness of creation, church family; and think of the miniaturization of the parts of a molecule. This same Jesus Christ, who created all things, still sustains all things. How wonderful our God is! How powerful, how awesome our Lord is! All of creation came from his thoughts!

Henry Ford is known as the creator of the car; but he depended greatly on his friend Charles Steinmetz, who was a mechanical genius. It was said of Charles that he could build a motor in his mind, and if it broke down, he could fix it in his mind! One day the assembly line at the Ford plant broke down; none of the Ford men could fix it, so they called Mr. Steinmetz. He tinkered for a few minutes, threw the switch, and it started running again. A few days later Ford received a bill from Steinmetz for $10,000. Ford wrote back, "Charlie, don't you think your bill is a little high for just a little tinkering!" His friend sent back a revised bill: "Tinkering, $10. Knowing where to tinker, $9,990." The Lord Jesus Christ knows all things; He created and sustains all things; that knowledge lies with Him alone.

Heb 1:1-3a Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.

This writer of Hebrews confirms the same truth; that all things were made through Jesus Christ, and this same Christ sustains all things. God spoke the world into existence through Christ, and by His word all things are upheld. Let's move on to

Hebrews 11:1-6 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Let's focus on verses three and six. I bring this out because verse six is so strong on believing God exists! To believe this God exists is to, according to verse three, believe that this God created the universe! So this writer of Hebrews believes Genesis 1 literally, holding fast to God's work of creating all things out of nothing, 'ex nihilo'. This is an issue of faith to believe this God; without faith it is literally impossible to please God.

The 24 elders in Revelation 4:11 sing this song before Him who sits on the throne: "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created." this song before the throne gives God praise for His creation: he made all things, and He sustains all things.

Church, all of creation gives God praise, and brings Him glory. How could it bring Him glory if he didn't create it? Back to Paul's writings…

Romans 1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

The pre-conception of Paul here is that God created everything – 'they have been made'. God reveals Himself to us generally in nature, and specifically in the Holy Bible. Not only does the Old Testament strongly teach that God created the heavens and the earth, and all that there is through Christ, but the New Testament re-affirms and teaches the same truth!

The New Testament teaches that God made all things through Jesus Christ.

Now church, let me pose a few questions for us to consider before we go…

If this Christ created all things, and sustained all things, can He not work in our hearts?
Can He not convict and cleanse us of sin? Answer our prayers?

Can He not change our beliefs, thoughts, worldviews, and our habits?

Can He not easily empower us to worship Him in truth and in spirit?

Can He not, who made all things and who sustains all things, fill us with His Holy Spirit to love and serve one another as the body of Christ?

Can He not, who made all things and who sustains all things, fill us with His Holy Spirit to share His gospel to a godless world?

This power to create life was demonstrated at the tomb when God resurrected Jesus. This power to create life is demonstrated when He regenerates a lost and dying man, woman, or child and brings them to Himself in faith for eternal life.

Consider the greatness of Jesus Christ our Savior: the Creator, and Sustainer of all things.

Something to Celebrate

2011-06-17T14:03:00.001-07:00

Esther 9-10[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, June 12^th.

Today we come to the exciting end to this wonderful story, and it is one of the best! The setting is an exotic ancient capital; the story flows swiftly downstream with drama, intrigue, romance, danger, fighting, a nasty villain, ordinary people who become heroes, and a happy ending. This is a fantastic story; better yet is that it's a true story!

Esther 9

1 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

20 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,

21 obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year,

22 as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

23 So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them.

24 For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them.

25 But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

26 Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them,

27 the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year,

28 that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.

29 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim.

30 Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth,

31 that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to their fasts and their lamenting.

32 The command of Queen Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing.

Esther 10

1 King Ahasuerus imposed tax on the land and on the coastlands of the sea.

2 And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?

3 For Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.

What a beautiful, masterfully written story; and we don't even know who wrote it. We do know who inspired it, and we can be grateful to Him – and I am! Now in finishing up this story, it generally tells itself. Esther and Mordecai grow in favor and influence with the king, and the story of the feast of Purim is brought to the table, showing us what was coming all along – why the Jews celebrate this feast. But that's not all. So in this wrap-up sermon, there are so many themes in this book that we should be careful to acknowledge…

God providentially preserves His people. Even in this book where God's hand is unseen and His words are unspoken, it is painfully clear that He works on behalf of His people. And throughout all of history, we can look back and see God's plan unfolding; in His way, in His time, and to His glory alone. We usually can't see God's work too clearly in our present; sometimes we have to live, to get past today and look back. But having seen God work in YESTERDAY, we can trust Him to work again TODAY. He is faithful to His Word! If God makes a promise you can rest assured – He will keep it. He promised to bring a Savior to this world through Abraham, and He made sure this would happen time and time again! He did so here by saving the Jews from Haman's plot. As I said the week I opened this series:

No appeal from Queen Esther, no Jews.

No Jews, no Jesus.

No Jesus, no cross.

No cross, then no atonement for sin.

No atonement, no pardon.

No pardon, no eternal life with God forever.

So let the color of this story soak deep into the fabric of our souls, forever reminding us of God's faithfulness to His Word; God providentially preserves His people.

The law of the harvest; or the rolling stone. In this story Haman was an evil, unforgiving man who was full of pride. He loved to exalt himself, and as for others, he apparently loved to see others suffer and die; at best he used people (wife and advisors) to rub down his bruised ego. He prospered at first, but it didn't last. His sins were brought to the light, and he was burned in his own fire, or literally hanged on his own gallows. Mordecai, on the other hand, was a humble, honest man. He lived to see others (Esther) honored, and didn't concern himself with his agenda. He saved the king's life and wasn't disturbed at all when no reward came his way. But God, in His time, lifted Mordecai up, and here at the end, we see that he was more powerful, more respected than Haman ever was. This point is exaggerated here, but it is real; you reap what you sow. When you roll a stone with intention to crush others, it will roll back and crush you; if not before then certainly at the final judgment of God. Wickedness is absurd; God laughs at such foolish, vile men (Ps 2). Wickedness will never pay off; and the wicked will never escape God. The attacks on God's people will never stop the plan of God from advancing; and evil men can never take the lives of God's people, for we are hidden with Christ in God (Col 3:3). Someone wrote this modern-day proverb of this law…

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust   

If you plant goodness, you will reap friends  

If you plant humility, you will reap greatness  

If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment  

If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective  

If you plant hard work, you will reap success  

If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation[2]

We do reap what we sow; and if we sow obedience in faith, we will reap a grand harvest to God's glory. It doesn't always work out like a storybook, but we can trust God; it works out eternally. So God providentially preserves His people, and the law of the harvest. Third…

God works through ordinary means to accomplish extraordinary things. One ordinary thing God used in this story was courageous obedience. Esther obeyed Mordecai, and God worked through that. Folks, God works in mysterious ways, but He often uses ordinary means to accomplish His works. Consider it this way; God gave the Jews a reprieve here in this story; but they had to fight. God put Esther in the position to appeal to the king; but she had to make the appeal. God used the story of Mordecai's saving the king to undermine Haman's plan; but only because Mordecai reported the plot.

Folks, the implications for this principle in our lives are huge. We trust God; we believe God; we pray to God. And – we obey God. We pray for healing, and we take medicine. Jesus once spit in the dirt and made mud to rub on a blind man's eyes; then he told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. He did as he was told, and he was healed. You pray for provision, and you work hard to earn money. You pray for children, and you have sex often. You ask God to save people, and you share the gospel. You pray to mature in faith and obedience, and you read God's Bible. You pray for obedient children, and you train them to obey. God uses ordinary means to do extraordinary things. God works (sometimes invisibly) on our behalf, church; and courageous obedience is used as well. Obedience displays our faith in God's Word. Obedience displays our love for God! Don't apply this principle to salvation; God alone saves us through grace, and not of our works. But doesn't God use the ordinary man or woman to share the gospel from the Scriptures? Yes, He does; we are commanded to go and preach the gospel.

It is good to celebrate God's merciful works! Folks, when God works on our behalf, it's good to remember it. This Purim is the most secular of Jewish holidays, and yet those who believe in God recall His faithfulness to preserve a people for Himself. And today when they celebrate Purim, they remember all the horrible attempts to destroy Jews as a people group. That didn't stopped with Haman; Anti-Semitism is still a danger today. Jews are still consistently accused of being secretively in control of Hollywood, Wall St, global finances, etc.[3] In a survey conducted late in 2008 and early in 2009 in seven European countries, 40 percent of those surveyed indicated that Jews have "too much power in the business world" and 41 percent indicated that Jews have "too much power in international financial markets." Perhaps most troubling, in the same survey, taken during the height of the global economic crisis, 31 percent of the Europeans surveyed said Jews were to blame at least in part for the crisis[4]. Even the church has persecuted the Jews at times, to our great shame! You can understand why Purim is so vigorously celebrated by the Jewish people.

God has worked on their behalf. Church, God has also worked to bring a church to Himself through the Gentiles! He has worked to save you, to bring you here, to make you a part of this church, or just to have you here today to hear about His grace through Christ His Son. Let us remember; let us celebrate! Don't stop celebrating Christmas and Resurrection Sunday! Don't stop celebrating the Lord's Supper, remembering the cross. Let us commemorate God's good work as well, until He returns.

Esther is a story of providence, courage, and commemoration. What about you; do you trust God? Do you see Him at work? Does your obedience reflect genuine, gritty faith in Christ? Does your obedience display a warm love for Christ? Do you celebrate God's good work in your life, your family, and in your church?

[2] Author unknown.

[3] http://www.adl.org

[4] http://www.adl.org/ADL_Opinions/Anti_Semitism_Domestic/20101210-Oped+.htm

Self-Defense and Joy

2011-06-17T13:56:00.001-07:00

Esther 8:1-17[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, June 5^th.

Let me give you a brief review of the story of Esther up to this point. It is a story of Providence, Courage, and Commemoration. Here today we come to the action of the book; it's actually a small war in Persia, sanctioned by the king – can you even imagine?

Esther 8:1-17

1 On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her.

2 And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.

3 Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews.

4 When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther,

5 Esther rose and stood before the king. And she said, "If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king.

6 For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?"

7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, "Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews.

8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked."

9 The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.

10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud,

11 saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods,

12 on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

13 A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies.

14 So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.

15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.

16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor.

17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.

Now I see this text outlined most effectively in three sets of two's. We begin with….

Kings and Influence. Let's observe how the court has changed in just a couple of days. Two days before this Haman was the grand guy, the prime minister, the second in command and influence in the kingdom. He was unquestionably the BMOC, the Grand Poopah of Persia; yup, ol' Hamasn was all that and a bag or Chitos. Even the queen feared to openly tout her heritage for fear of his evil influence. His sway on the king was extremely selfish and vindictive. This was a man who would seek to annihilate a people because one man refused to honor him. When he had the king's signet ring that was a very unsettled day for Persia. "Signet rings [were] rings worn by individuals bearing an initial, monogram, or other image to denote the identity and, long ago, the… noble status of the wearer. [Picture 1] Signet rings… figure prominently in a great deal of well-known artwork and literature. The earliest types of gold signet rings were found in the tombs of the ancient Egyptians, the same society that was first to fully incorporate wedding and engagement rings into their religious ceremonies. [Picture 2] The signet ring's original purposes [were] of indicating rank and imprinting seals on important letters[2]." So because the king had full and final authority over the nation (and each life), whoever wore this ring had great influence in Persia. All the more beautiful that the King took this ring off of Haman's vile hand and put it on Mordecai, the man who had already saved his life once. So quickly does the position of First Seat under the king (like a Prime Minister) change!

And for the second time, Esther boldly approached the throne un-invited! Why this was necessary it's not clear, but she did, and again, the king held out the golden scepter to her. This golden scepter represented life, favor, and acceptance by the king. The king's love and favor for Esther are growing, it seems, and he listens intently to her pleas! And as before, Esther's plea concerns the good and the safety of her people, the Jews. There's a marked distinction between Haman's influence and the influence of Mordecai and Esther.

As in that court the King was approached with humility and fear, so we approach God our Father. You see God has made a decree, all the way from the garden; sin earns death. We are law-breakers, and this Holy God throws all who break His law into judgment! We have no right to even come before Him on our own, having vast amounts of vile thoughts and actions in our hearts and lives; we would perish swiftly were we to enter God's presence as we are! But God has made a way for us to come before Him and not be judged for our sins. Listen…

Hebrews 10:19-23 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.

Christ, brothers and sisters, is our golden scepter! He is our way into God's presence without being shattered for our iniquity! We can come because Christ has paved the way in His own blood; the price for sin has indeed been paid, and all who call upon His name in repentance and faith will be shown mercy, and allowed to come to God in that name, receiving favor through Christ!

The first edict by the king was irreversible; but he allowed another edict to be written that would give the Jews the right of self-defense. This was mercy, and a good way to save the people because once written, His edicts stood irreversible. Neither will God's law of sin and death change; it stands eternally true - law-breakers earn judgment. But as sure as sin brings death, then Christ, through the shedding of His own blood, turns God's wrath away from all who believe in Him. "For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17) He took our punishment in His own body, and gave us a new and living way to God! This is good news, and it must be told. The second edict, Mordecai's writ of self-defense, had to go out as well. Let's move on.

Scribes and Couriers. How critical was it that the scribes got this edict correct? Their work was background, but like many works, only as long as they did it right. Lives depended on their accuracy, and they apparently did well. This is the second time they've been called in (3:12), and again they go to work, but they are receiving dictation from a new man wearing the ring. When this proclamation goes out from the palace to all 127 provinces, it will be carrying the message that Jews can fight to defend themselves against their enemies! It will go out because God is faithful, and providentially, quietly worked to preserve His people yet again. He meant it when He told the serpent that the seed of the woman would crush His head, and though He brought a flood against man's multiplying evil, He preserved a handful of people and kept that Word. He meant it when He told Abram that He would bless Him, and bless all nations through Him. God is faithful, and saves all who believe in Him. This word needs to be clear, just as the edict of Persia needed to be clear. It was written, and given to the couriers to take to the provinces.

Couriers. These messengers were also summoned for the second time, to do their work of getting the message out to the nation. They didn't write it; they were simply given all they needed (fast horses and food) to get the message out. Sound familiar at all? God has given us His gospel, preserved it fully for us, and allowed us to be His couriers! We don't make the policy; we don't write truth! God has given us His gospel, and we are told to take it to the nations – just as it was written. We are couriers, and we too have been given all that we need to live and preach this gospel. The provinces need the message, church; from Platteville to Dodgeville, to Dubuque, to Lancaster, to Montfort, to Belmont and to Big Patch, God's gospel messengers must proclaim this gospel message. Church, that's not just pastors/preachers; that's all of us. Scribes and couriers don't receive the glory; that's for the King. But when they do their work right, the King's message get where it needs to be saying what it needs to say. So we've considered Kings and Influence, Scribes and Couriers, now let's give a minute's thought to…

Self-Defense and Joy. Who would have thought that a decree of war would be so wildly exciting to people! "…king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included,". Allow me to tell you exactly who rejoices at the rights of self-defense; those who have been given over to death. War is not pretty, and let's not mistake it as such. It's never as clean and kind as we like to make it. But in a sinful world, war is better than being annihilated as a nation. It's not realistic or wise to look at war in the OT from the context of the Geneva Convention, or even from the humanistic philosophy that prevails in western society today. War was terrible then, and to be avoided; but if you couldn't avoid it, you sought to win, and win in such a way as to let the enemy know it's not wise to attack again. They were given self-defense privileges, and that included the right to attack their enemies. Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. If you know they're coming for you, why keep talking? There is a time for war, and the Jews were given the right to defend themselves. It's sad that it came to this from Haman's machinations, but God used it for His glory and to preserve His people in a foreign land! After this decree, even some Persians wanted to be labeled as Jews, because of the influence of Mordecai. There was joy.

Proverbs 11:10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

So the battle is engaged, and God's people are preserved.

Kings and Influence. Good to be right with our King through Christ our Savior.

Scribes and Couriers. Good that God has given His word for us to take to the nations.

Self-Defense and Joy. Good that God is faithful to His Word; He was very intent on bringing a Savior, Redeemer, the Messiah through the offspring of Abraham, and that He did!

Church, it is good for us to be reminded of God's covenant faithfulness and love. It is good to see that, even when they're in a foreign land, He doesn't forget His own. We're in a foreign land, awaiting our homecoming. God sees us and exerts His authority to protect us.

[2] Information found at http://www.debebians.com/signetrings.html

That Wicked Haman!

2011-06-17T13:36:00.001-07:00

Esther 7:1-14[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, May 22^nd, 2011

That Wicked Haman!

The Jews were in a bind: Haman had gained approval from the king to kill, to destroy, and to annihilate (3:13) them all. Of course, he had left out a few details, one being who these 'certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces' were. But young queen Esther had, at the urging of her good cousin Mordecai, stepped up to intercede for her nation. She did so by inviting the king and Haman to a feast; then another feast the following day. But between the feasts, the king couldn't sleep, Haman couldn't tolerate Mordecai any longer, and the tables were turned on who was to be honored! Then wicked Haman went home to his heathen wife and friends, who prophesied rightly that he would fall before Mordecai. So we come to the last verse of chapter six of the book of Esther. I'm going to read and talk our way through this chapter a bit at the time, drawing our attention to each portion as we read it.

Esther 6:14-7:2 While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared. So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, "What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled."

1) It is a good thing to have the favor and the ear of the king. What a gathering this was! A king in good humor, a prime minister in dreadful humor, and a determined, humble queen who was a marked foreigner if her king denied her. I'm guessing conversation was a bit stiff before the king implored her to make her request. Now this is the third time the king has stated this incredible offering to his beloved wife Esther; a threefold promise. Surely he is serious about granting her petition. When you're down to the wire and have very few option left, it must be such a relief when an authoritative figure hears your case. After all, the decree of death to the Jews had come from the king's throne – no one else could deal with this situation except the king himself. Even he couldn't reverse an edict once issued; but he could issue other edicts, and he could make something happen, surely. There would have been no one else to help her; when you are out of options, it is a good thing to have the favor and the ear of the king.

Esther 7:3-4 Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king."

2) It is a good thing to appeal wisely and humbly to the king. When I say wisely it is because of her direct approach, the brevity, and the wise wording. Esther appealed straight forwardly for her life and for the life of her people. It wasn't a long diatribe against the decree (which the king signed off on), or a political positioning appeal, etc. It was for her life, and for her nation. By now she knew that the king cared about her, having told her three times to ask fearlessly of and expect generosity from him. It was wisely handled. Notice the wording in her request: "For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. " That should sound familiar. Esther 3:13 "Letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children," She used Haman's wording against him, with him sitting there! And cleverly, she didn't accuse the king, though he was complicit and ultimately responsible. Also it was humble of her to simply ask for her life. Even a criminal had a right to appeal for his life from the courts, how much more the queen? And she appealed for the life of her innocent people. It is a good thing to appeal wisely and humbly to the king.

Esther 7:5-7 When King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, "Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?" And Esther said, "A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!" Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen. And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king.

3) It is a good thing when your enemies become the enemies of your king. With wise humility, she simply asks for her life, and her appalled king certainly grants that (implied) and wants to know who dares to threaten his queen with death! With that question it is obvious that Esther's enemy has become the enemy of Ahasuerus. This is good, to put it mildly! When you were sold to be slaughtered wholesale simply because of your ancestry, your bloodline, it has to be a huge relief to know that the most powerful person in the realm has personally taken on your case, and has committed to your protection.

Now I wonder if this king is walking in the garden to consider how he could have been so completely duped into signing the death warrant for his own queen, and for the man who saved his life – not to mention many other law-abiding, productive citizens in his kingdom. When wise people caution you to read the fine print or get a second opinion before committing to something or someone, remember Ahasuerus' failure to do so; it was almost very costly to his household. Let this man's example spur you to that wisdom. But he was the king; he didn't come ask anyone's forgiveness. He did take action, though. There was no more need to convince him of the justness or the severity of your cause; it has now become his cause. What could be better for Esther!? It is a good thing when your enemies become the enemies of your king. Let's read on…

Esther 7:8-10 And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, "Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?" As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face. Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, "Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high." And the king said, "Hang him on that." So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.

3) It is a terrible thing when your sin is exposed and your judgment suddenly arrives. For Esther there is relief; for Haman there is sudden terror! Here the wicked Haman had been secure in his position, secure enough to seek kingly honor for 'the man whom the king wants to honor'. Purple robes, a crown, the king's horse – he had aspirations! Haman never would have gotten out of bed if he had known how this day would go. It began with him confidently approaching to have Mordecai hanged on a gallows; it ended with him swinging lifelessly from that very gallows.

Wow, what a story! What a climax to the story! How awesome to see the invisible hand of God at work on behalf of His people, fulfilling His covenant promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3, "I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." All this wicked scheming and conniving had been done without thought to the penalty for such crime. His sin was carried out as if there were no higher authority, as if there was no righteous judgment to fear. How wrong Haman was, and how quickly his fortunes changed. It is a terrible thing when your sin is exposed and your judgment suddenly arrives.

Now let's think on this story a little bit, and connect it to our story, shall we?

We all face a judgment for our sins. It's natural for us 'to cherish a feeling of contempt and disgust' toward such wicked actions, but have you considered that such vile things are in your heart as well? We all have this same seed of rebellion, selfishness, and death in our souls. Jesus said, "But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." (Matt 15:18-19) So we are guilty as Haman before God who is holy beyond compare, and our judgment day is ahead. It wasn't May 21^st, but it can come suddenly: are you prepared? Let's think this through…

You must appeal to God Almighty. Just as Esther made her appeal to her king, you must make your appeal to the One with authority over your life – and death! Pray for your life; pray for your salvation! Repent of your sin! Just as Esther had no hope if the king rejected her, you too have no hope if God rejects you in your sin. Folks, if you aren't certain of your eternal destiny you should seek God, and ask for His mercy, His pardon. He tells you to seek Him this way: "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;" (Isaiah 55:6). He is our only hope for salvation.

It is a wonderful thing to have the King's favor, and for your enemies to become His enemies.

When God sent His Son to earth, it was to provide a way of escape from His wrath. Though we have all gone astray, He has caused the punishment for our sins to fall upon Jesus. On that cross He absorbed our penalty of death. All who repent of sin and believe in Jesus will indeed find the King's favor and mercy. And church, when your enemies become His enemies, you have no more to fear. (Pg 448-449, Ps 3, 4, 5). He hears our prayers, and he grants our requests as they are lined up with His will. It was God's plan to preserve the Jews, and it is God's plan to love and care for His church until He comes for us. Approach the throne, church, and make your requests. There is no better place to seek help and mercy. One day we will see once and for all the salvation of our King.

That Wicked Haman!

That Merciful, Loving God!

Let's pray.

The Rolling Stone

2011-06-17T13:32:00.001-07:00

Esther 6:1-13[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, May 15^th, 2011

I hope you're enjoying this wonderful book of Esther as much as I am. I pray that you're learning, despite no overt mention of our Creator, about God's work in history, and about God's faithfulness to His people. I pray that seeing God's faithfulness to the Jews in the great Persian Empire centuries ago will strengthen your faith that God is faithful to His people in the United States of America today. Let's review our series focus…

The story of Esther: Providence, Courage, and Commemoration.

The Providence of God.

The Courage of man.

The Commemoration of God's work by God's people.

Let's read Esther 6:1-13

1 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.

2 And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

3 And the king said, "What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?" The king's young men who attended him said, "Nothing has been done for him."

4 And the king said, "Who is in the court?" Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him.

5 And the king's young men told him, "Haman is there, standing in the court." And the king said, "Let him come in."

6 So Haman came in, and the king said to him, "What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?" And Haman said to himself, "Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?"

7 And Haman said to the king, "For the man whom the king delights to honor,

8 let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set.

9 And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: 'Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.'"

10 Then the king said to Haman, "Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned."

11 So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, "Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor."

12 Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered.

13 And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, "If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him."

God's hand is almost visible here!

Last week we saw how God controls the heart of a king (Prov 21:1): he also controls the sleep of the king! Throughout this book I've focused on God's providence, which is God's preserving and governing of all things by means of second causes. God's invisible hand is readily visible to those who believe that He exists, and that He rewards all those who diligently seek Him. This is incredible: God's hand is almost visible here…

In the insomnia of King Ahasuerus.

In the reading choice of this king.

In the timing of Haman's arrival.

In the question of the King.

In the life of Mordecai, the faithful Jew.

I believe, reading this good story, that it's good to remember these three things:

How unstable our position with man is. Fickle is an understatement, but

Joseph from favored son to prisoner; from prison to prince.

Moses from prince of Egypt to fugitive; from palaces to shepherding sheep in the desert.

Bernie Madoff from respected, wealthy investor to hated prisoner.

J.K. Rowling from single-parent welfare recipient to 12^th richest woman in Britain.

Brett Favre from greatest QB in Green and Gold to tiresome narcissist in Purple.

One can rise and fall quickly in the hands of men; but God is faithful, and thinks eternally. When Haman walked into that court that morning his day was planned out! He was whistling on his way to get a quick writ to hang Mordecai, smile at his swinging corpse, and then go enjoy a sumptuous feast with the King and Queen of Persia! Not exactly how the day turned out, was it?

When Mordecai woke that morning and went to work in the palace, I'm certain that he had no idea how his day would turn out any more than Haman did! From very burdened person facing a death sentence to 'most honored by the king' being touted by his great enemy around the city square! Our station with man is very unstable. On the other hand…

How stable our position with God is. By 'our' I mean all who have believed God's gospel enough to repent of sin and throw their lives on Him in complete faith. He is faithful to His covenant, to His people, to His children, to His church. While one can't always see the hand of God at work, we must believe that He IS at work on behalf of His great Name, His glory, and His people. God was at work while the king read and Haman plotted: He was busy keeping His covenant with Abraham, Moses, David, and with Jesus His Son – to save all who believe in the Messiah of God, the 2^nd Adam, the Son who fulfilled all of God's law that Adam could not! God will not turn His face from His children; He will never forsake His inheritance! He poured out His wrath on His Son so He could pour out His love, mercy, protection, and good grace on His people! We are safe with God. You must hold to this!

How unwise personal vengeance is. God is not mocked; He brings justice. His laws of nature are in action, and His justice never rests. People are prone to say, "What goes around comes around." It's a good observation; but that leaves the work to fate, chance, or some other nebulous force. I prefer to credit God with bringing punishment to the wicked, the abusive strong, and mercy to the weak, the needy. It's the principle of The Rolling Stone.

Proverbs 26:27. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling.

I wonder if Mordecai was singing this song while he rode around town on the king's horse…

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts-- the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! (Psalm 57)

Folks, we are wise to let God handle revenge for us; He will repay our enemies.

I'm not saying we should never defend ourselves; I'm not saying we shouldn't be grateful for the fall of our enemy.

I am saying we should seek God's justice and protection, and not let hatred and revenge grow in our heart.

Don't trust in man; your position with man is unstable.

Trust in God; your position with Him is stable.

Make room for God: personal vengeance is unwise.

Let's rejoice that God is at work in this story for His people, and let's it take heart that God is still at work on behalf of His people, whether we see it or not!

Feasting and Boasting

2011-05-10T09:47:00.001-07:00

Esther 5:1-14[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, May 8^th, 2011

Today in chapter five of the book of Esther we'll read about feasting and boasting. So this week I want to approach this chapter a little differently; I'll read a portion of it, make a few comments, and then repeat. This way we'll walk through this portion of the book of Esther digesting each scene we approach. It is fascinating, and it is a set-up! Let's dig in…

Feasting, v 1-8

Esther finds favor, 1-3. On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. And the king said to her, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom."

This is, as one writer understated it[2], a tense moment! Esther's life is in the balance. Can you imagine being on either end of this room? On Esther's end, you stand waiting, and knowing that you are facing possible death at the whim of the complete sovereign ruler of the nation. While facing that you have to be completely prepared for the possible acceptance – request, actions, explanation, etc.

On the other end of the room, if you were Ahasuerus, some servant told you that someone has approached the throne un-invited. You look up and see your favorite wife, and you pause; she rests completely in your hand; you can give life, or you can give death. Humans don't typically do too well with such power; our sin nature propels us toward abuse of it.

So on one end Esther has no power at all; on the other end the King has all power. It's like a quieter version of the scene in Gladiator where the warrior stands poised over his fallen foe awaiting the sign from the Emperor of Rome - a thumbs up for life or thumb down for death. This scene is deceiving, though; Ahasuerus could only affect physical life. You see, only God has complete authority over eternal life and death and, as Jesus tells his disciples, those who trust in Christ should fear God alone. Luke 12:4-5 "I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!" While Esther's immediate fate appeared to be in the hands of the King, her immediate and eternal fate was actually in the hands of God, the Almighty King – as is all of ours. Prov 21:1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he will. And as is consistent in this story, Esther found favor; her husband extended the golden scepter! Just as Esther found favor with Ahasuerus her husband through the raising of the golden scepter, we can only find favor (grace, acceptance) with God by being found in Christ. As for Esther, it was a loving, kind acceptance she found in this king. "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom." It might remind you, if you've read the gospels of Matthew and Mark, of the words of King Herod after his step-daughter danced a lewd dance for him. Mark 6:23 And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." Totally different scenarios, with incomparable kings; Herod was horrible. What they have in common is that neither king meant the words literally; it was a way to express a sincere desire to grant the request. And Esther's request was a curve ball to me the first time I read this book; she risked her life to come before her husband and invite him to lunch!

A Strange Request, 4-8.

And Esther said, "If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king." Then the king said, "Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked." So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, "What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled." Then Esther answered, "My wish and my request is: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said."

Of all the things Esther could have requested, she asked for her king and husband to attend a feast. Feasts were significant in this book; I count at least ten of them. One special guest was invited; the king's right hand man Haman. She has a plan, but it doesn't come across too clearly at first. We need to recall something here, though; the Jews has fasted and prayed (strongly implied) for three days before she entered the court. God had heard, and the sovereign, mighty, invisible hand of God was at work on her behalf. Why? Because He takes care of His people! He keeps His promises. Abraham's seed must come to bless all nations (Gen 12). God must raise up another prophet like Moses (Deut 18). And David must have a son on the throne always (1 Chron 17). Providence is at work, for Esther's story is one of providence, courage, and commemoration. God's providence is clear here, as is Esther's courage. So she invites them to a feast, and then – she invites them to another feast! How secure Haman was in his position and power! How honored the great Haman was that he alone was invited with the King to Esther's two banquets! And tomorrow when he goes, he will get to hear her request of the King. Was he secure standing on falsehoods? He thought so… We read on.

Boasting, 9-14

And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. Then Haman said, "Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate." Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, "Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast." This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.

Wow! How deeply and how quickly circumstances affect this man. I think I'm safe to say that this man wasn't emotionally or mentally healthy – I mean, aside from his self-initiated, self-funded genocide, of course. He is like a tired three year old screaming and rolling in the floor because Mom said no to ice cream! His joy turned to wrath so quickly. The one thing that eluded him consumed him. Two things for us to consider here;

1) His accomplishments and possessions weren't enough. In stating all of this, he proved that all of his accomplishments were in vain if Mordecai wasn't humbled and destroyed. All that he had meant nothing if the one more thing wasn't given. Had he been a worshipper of Jehovah I would brand him extremely ungrateful. Ingratitude can lead to some ugly consequences. When King David took Uriah's wife Bathsheba while the man was off at war, the LORD said to David, "I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more." (2 Sam 12:7b-8). What does it take to make you happy? Is it always one more thing? One more dollar? One more round of applause of men? One more raise or promotion? Haman should have offered gratitude to somebody or something – the stars themselves if he had been right in his head! But unfortunately, we can relate, can't we? We have been given so, so much – but the one thing that eludes us consumes us. We would be wise to be grateful to God for all that we have received, church. We should pause; and when we make such a list it should be to tell God how grateful you really are.

2) Boasting isn't a good thing to do. Haman was likely a very impressive figure to most of the kingdom; but to himself for sure! But the one man who wasn't impressed drove him absolutely nuts. After reading this speech, a couple of Proverbs come to mind… Prov 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Also: Prov 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. Matthew Henry quipped[3], "Self-admirers and self-flatterers are really self-deceivers".

And looking at the big picture of the Bible itself and the story of redemption, it's good to remember that the enemy of God's people doesn't rest until we are destroyed – or he is. It's not that he cares enough to hate us; it is that he hates his Creator! He attacks Jesus Christ, the Word of God, Who was with God in the beginning, through Whom all things were created, including Satan himself. And when you believe in and follow Christ, His enemy becomes your enemy.

Don't fear him, though; fear God, who has chosen to pour out His love on His people instead of His wrath! Fear God enough to believe Him and to obey Him, and to run to His Son for shelter and forgiveness, and for life eternal. Then whatever your enemy throws at you in this life will never bring him victory – for your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Favor with God. Feasting. Do you fear and worship God? Do you trust Him enough to risk?

Ingratitude toward God. Boasting. Are you grateful to God for all that you are and have and do?

Providence. Courage. Commemoration. Let us not forget how God worked for His people through Esther there in Persia; and let us not forget how God has worked for us through Jesus Christ here today.

Feasting is usually good. Boasting is usually bad – unless one is boasting in the cross of Christ Jesus, through which the Christ-follower has been justified! Let's pray…

[3] Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Bible, accessed via E-Sword Software, public access via the world-wide-web.

For Such a Time as This

2011-05-05T12:48:00.001-07:00

Esther 4:1-17[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, May 1^st, 2011

Let's get caught up on the story of Esther, a story of providence, courage, and commemoration. (Verbal review). Let me read the last verse of chapter three to refresh us on the situation in the King's palace. "The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion." Ahasuerus just signed a decree that will, in a matter of months, plunge his country into a minor civil war with the goal of destroying an entire people group; then he has a nice lunch! Does the word 'oblivious' come to anyone's mind? Now let's move on to the response of the Jews. Esther 4:1-17

1 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry.

2 He went up to the entrance of the king's gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth.

3 And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes.

4 When Esther's young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.

5 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was.

6 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate,

7 and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.

8 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people.

9 And Hathach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said.

10 Then Esther spoke to Hathach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say,

11 "All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law--to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days."

12 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said.

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, "Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.

14 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai,

16 "Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish."

17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

This is the crux of the story of Esther. The central issue in this book is about Haman's attempt to kill the Jews, and Esther's appeal to save the Jews. This is the plot; Haman tries to bring death, Esther tries to save lives. Now the contrast between what is going on in the palace and what is going on outside in the city is dramatic, isn't it? As I read this story,

I asked the text these questions...

1. Why did Mordecai mourn so deeply, so publicly? Death was decreed. He was under the sentence of death! And not only were he, but his entire people group! He believed the message; he knew this was serious life and death. Folks, mourning and grieving and forgetting what people think about you is normal and right when you are under the sentence of death!

2. Why did Esther want to stop this public display? To save Mordecai from getting into trouble with the king and Haman, we surmise; but this was beyond the time to be concerned about what people think! Death was already decreed.

3. What can be done to save the Jews? The only thing humanly possible was to change the king's edict, and this had never happened.

4. Why did Mordecai command Esther to go to the King? Because the death of their people was immanent – they would both die anyway! What was risk? It's the difference between a soldier dying to save a sister nation and a soldier dying to save his own nation and family; this risk must be taken. While this good man was mourning, he was by no means giving up!

5. What tells us Mordecai has faith in God? There was a) His confidence that relief would come. b) His observation of providential placement.

6. What tells us that Esther has faith in God? a) Her call to fast. Fasting is often associated with prayer in the Bible, either in mourning or in desperately seeking God's help. b) Her submission to God's will. We will pray, but we will submit to the will of God, who reigns over all.

So let's summarize...

Mordecai mourns the death sentence, but seeks help. THIS is the mindset sinners MUST come to before seeking any relief from God. Truly, all who are outside of Christ are under this same sentence of death, and it is surer than Ahasuerus could ever make it. If you don't know Christ, you are facing certain death; it's not a time for games. In July of 1348 the black plague hit Paris, France, and ran through 1349. By the time it was played out half of the population of 100,000 citizens were dead. Oddly, the city chose to step up the revelry instead of stopping it! It is said that the carnivals went on, but the death-carts followed the celebration to gather the bodies.[2] Listen; God will NOT be mocked or avoided! He will destroy all who have sinned against Him, and HE defines sin, we do not. Today is a day mourning and brokenness if you have not repented of your sins and sought mercy and forgiveness in Christ! People repent of your sin before God destroys you – act! Seek God, while He may be found!

Esther goes to save her people, knowing it is at great risk of her own life.

Esther pleads for her people to pray with her.

Esther makes her desires known, but submits to God's desires.

Does this sound familiar? One who takes up great sacrifice in order to save His people?

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Phil 2:5-8)

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." (Jn 10:11)

"For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father." (John 10:-18)

And Esther, facing her very possible death, pleads for her people in town to join her in prayer – does that remind you of any other such situation?

"Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, 'Sit here, while I go over there and pray.' And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.'" (Matt 26:36-38)

Lastly, she submits her life to the hand of Providence, entrusting her life to the will of God.

"39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."

42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.'" (Matt 26:39, 42)

Esther's approach to the salvation of her people reminds of us Jesus Christ, who laid His own life down to save His people, all whom God had given Him.

"My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one." (John 10:29-30)

Ladies, let it bless you that this courageous young queen gives us a picture, a foreshadowing of Christ here in this book.

Sinners, let the brokenness of Mordecai instruct you toward repentance. Church, let us all be grieved at our sin, and continue pursing God's eradication of it in our lives!

Sinners and saints alike let us marvel that Christ, the only Righteous One, would lay down His life for us to have a way out of the Decree of Death from God! Praise be to His Grace!

[2] Details of the plague were found here: http://www.thecaveonline.com/APEH/Plaguedescription.html, while the attitude of the Parisians was described by Dr. H. A. Ironside in his commentary on Esther, published in 1905 by the Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.

The God of the Living

2011-04-28T14:11:00.001-07:00

Matthew 22:23-33[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Resurrection Sunday, April 23^rd, 2011

He is Risen!

Do you ever start conversations with God by trying to trap Him with His own Words? Do you wrangle with Him from a position of unbelief and yet expect answers to belief-requiring prayers?

Let's go to a conversation between Jesus and some men known as the Sadducees. It was the Tuesday before Jesus was crucified on Friday. He had gone to the temple to teach, and the chief priests and the elders challenged his authority. He quieted them with a question about John's authority, and then told them several parables showing them to be unfaithful to God in rejecting the Son of God. The Pharisees, a weaker political/spiritual rival group to the Sadducees, took their shot at the Lord, trying to trap him about not paying taxes to Caesar. He took the coin, asked them who's inscription was on it, and quelled that foolish assault. Then these Sadducees took their turn at trying to expose a flaw or weakness in the doctrine of our Lord Jesus. The conversation was interesting, because they proposed a 'what if' scenario that was rigged to trap Jesus. Let's see how this went. Matt 22:23-33

23 The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question,

24 saying, "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up children for his brother.'

25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no children left his wife to his brother.

26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh.

27 After them all, the woman died.

28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her."

29 But Jesus answered them, "You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.

30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven.

31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God:

32 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not God of the dead, but of the living."

33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.

Here is the message from this text today, church family: God, Jehovah (Yahweh), Creator of the Universe – He is The God of the Living.

Now these men weren't the first to try to lure God into some divulging some contradiction in the Scriptures, and they certainly weren't the last. They were not the only people who have taken a teaching/tradition of the Bible and used it as a wedge against faith in God. Let me tell you just a bit about these Sadducees…

The Sadducees, including the high priest Caiaphas (A.D. 18–36), were primarily of wealthy, priestly families in Jerusalem. They were [said to be] unfriendly—even to one another—and unpopular (Jewish War 2.166; Jewish Antiquities 13.298). They could be cruel judges (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 20.199; Mishnah, Sanhedrin 7:2; Makkot 1:6). When Jesus disrupted their financial interests in the temple, he was arrested and condemned (Mark 11:15–19; 14:53–65). James, the brother of the Lord, was later killed by a Sadducean high priest (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 20.200).

The Sadducees rejected the extra-biblical traditions of the Pharisees, and probably only believed Genesis-Deuteronomy to be Scripture (Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 13.297; 18.16). This narrow canon may explain why they did not believe in the general resurrection of the dead (Mark 12:18; Acts 4:1–2; 23:6–8), since it is not explicitly mentioned in the Pentateuch. Jesus, when arguing for the resurrection (Mark 12:18–27), meets the Sadducees on their own ground by showing the implications of Exodus 3:6 instead of appealing to a more straightforward passage (e.g., Dan. 12:2).[2]

These men were nasty; their last encounter with Christ before this was in Matthew 16 when they came demanding a sign from heaven. Because they were negative, arrogant, and often attacking the doctrine of the resurrection, people used to say, "They don't believe God raises people from the dead: so they're sad, you see" (it was funny the first time I heard it). But let's consider first what they attempted to do.

They tried to disprove Jesus' beliefs about resurrection from the Scriptures. Using the deadly tool of ridicule was their weapon – not serious argument[3]. Here is the verse they referred to… Deut 25:5 "If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her. This law was given because the inheritance of land and home were given through the son; a widowed woman with no children was staring destitution in the face. Personally, I thank God this one isn't New Covenant. They took a law Moses taught and attempted to show how foolish it would be if a resurrection occurred. To their credit, there is no overt, explicit teaching about resurrection of the dead in the Pentateuch; but it seems there was something they missed.

Their attempt at public disdain of Christ would remind you of political radio commentators of our day; their rationalist, materialist views would remind you of those who openly began to disdain the Bible in the late 1700s. It seems easy to gather consensus against miracles today, and they thought it would be then. But they were, Jesus said, mistaken.

The word used here for mistaken (Planao) is translated elsewhere in the NT as led astray, deceived, wrong, wayward, wanders from the truth.[4] Depending on the context it could mean led astray or leading astray; here it seems these leaders were guilty of both. Here is why they were mistaken, wrong, led astray, according to our Lord…

Because they didn't know the Scriptures. Wouldn't this be sad to hear, when you studied them for a living? You prepared your arguments against the school of the Pharisees diligently and relentlessly; you had to know the Scriptures! But looking they never did SEE, and listening they never did HEAR, and reading, they failed to BELIEVE. Could that happen today, church? In churches that proclaim deep devotion to the Scriptures, could people be languishing in unbelief? Could we be guilty of explaining away the miraculous in the Bible? Could we look, listen, and read, but not see, hear, or believe? How many times had these men read Exodus 3:6 and yet had completely missed the obviously inferred resurrection teaching? "And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." God didn't say I was, but I am; present tense; the patriarchs still live! When I read Jesus quoting this, didn't you think, 'of course!' But might that require meditation? Yes; seeing this might require prayer, listening, asking questions, and reading again. It might require a believing, humble approach to God's Word that seeks to know God, not just to develop arguments and sustain positions. When religious people don't know the Scriptures, where will the world hear them?

Because they didn't know the power of God. Resurrection after death requires life-giving, life-making power. Creation power! This renewing life is perfect work for the One who spoke life into existence! These Sadducees had grown cold toward any miraculous works of God; they didn't know of God's power and they obviously didn't fear God's power. How else could one speak so disdainfully of the God Who spoke the universe into existence and named the stars? How could a person doubt the One who makes a star (like our sun) that continually burns with un-measurable heat, - but doesn't burn up!? And these men apparently didn't read the papers a few weeks before this when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead – before many witnesses. They spoke disdainfully of resurrection to the One Who IS the resurrection and the life!

Because they didn't understand heaven. To their credit, not many others did either at this time; it was revelation to us all! There will be no marriage in heaven; love will be different, more complete somehow. Those who love their spouses can't fathom this, but we take the words of Jesus in faith, and we look to a sinless existence where pro-creation isn't necessary; only the chosen, the redeemed, only those who believed in Christ will be there and have this life that lasts forever, this love that blasts beyond the boundaries of our thinking. It will be incredible; we will be with God, face to face. While these men didn't understand the afterlife with God – it didn't stop them from making silly conjectures about it.

Sadducees. They didn't know the Scriptures. They didn't know the power of God. They didn't understand heaven. Could we be in that condition? Is that you today? Do you celebrate the resurrection of Christ out of tradition, family, or habit – or out of cheerful faith in the living God, who is The God of the Living?

Folks, let us bow before God; let us worship in Spirit and in Truth. Let us throw arrogance and ridicule of God's Word away from us like an open vial of anthrax – it will kill us!

Church, God raised Jesus from the dead on the third day. Slaughtered for our sin on Friday, raised from the dead on Sunday morning. We celebrate the anniversary of the resurrection of our Messiah!

Let us repent of unbelief! God help us to look and SEE the Christ in Scriptures, to listen and HEAR the gospel, to read and BELIEVE God saves all who call out to Him in repentance and belief in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

[4] Greek Lexicon tools available through www.blueletterbible.org

The Hatred of Haman

2011-04-11T20:47:00.001-07:00

Esther 3:1-15[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, April 10^th, 2011

Around 2100 B.C. twins were born to Rebekah, the wife of Isaac, son of Abraham; they were named Jacob and Esau. Jacob was the younger, but God declared before their birth that the older would serve the younger, which he did. There was enmity, and the Covenant descendants of Abraham were traced through Jacob, not Esau.

Esau's son Timnah had a son through a concubine, and the son was named Amalek. As was the practice of that day, his descendants became known as the tribe of Amalek, or the Amalekites. The king of the Amalekites was later given the title/name of Agag (Num 24:7).

Fast-forward to 1440 B.C. when the Israelites, having been delivered from Egypt by the great hand of God, were wandering in the desert. Amalek attacks Israel at Rephidim, and God uses Joshua and Moses to defeat them; Joshua fighting, Moses on the hill holding his arms up, with help from Aaron and Hur. God declared something there that was actually astonishing…

Ex 17:14-16. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD Is My Banner, saying, "A hand upon the throne of the LORD! The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."

Forty years later Moses was giving instructions to the Israelites before they crossed the Jordan to take the Promised Land. One note was about Amalek…

Deut 25:17-19. "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God. [Note; those lagging behind were young children and the older, weaker adults, perhaps with no family to keep them together; like orphans and widows.] Therefore when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.

Now we jump to 1050 B.C. in 1 Samuel 15 when Saul, first king of Israel, is sent to war against the Amalekites with the mandate to utterly destroy every person, animal, and thing. He did not; he left the king and the best of the animals alive. The prophet Samuel came, tried Saul and found him guilty. He declared (at God's command, of course) that Saul would lose his kingdom to one more worthy, and violently killed the king of Amalek. Saul's father was named Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin. The name of the king of the Amalekites was, of course – Agag.

Now we are up to about 474 B.C. and the remnants of the nation of Israel are scattered all around the nation of Persia, of which Ahasuerus is king and Esther is queen. Esther's cousin, if you'll recall from chapter two of Esther, is Mordecai, "Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite" (Esther 2:5). Now we are ready to pick up with the story of Esther, since you have a little background to today's portion of the narrative, in Esther 3:1-15. Follow along as I read the entire chapter.

1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.

2 And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.

3 Then the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mordecai, "Why do you transgress the king's command?"

4 And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai's words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew.

5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury.

6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.

8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, "There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them.

9 If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries."

10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews.

11 And the king said to Haman, "The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you."

12 Then the king's scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king's satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king's signet ring.

13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king's provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.

14 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day.

15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

Providence, courage, and commemoration, the themes of the book of Esther.

Chapter one takes place in 3rd year of Ahasuerus; chapter two takes place in 6-7th year of Ahasuerus, and chapter three takes place in 11-12th year of the king.

This is the crux of the story. We have the introduction of the bad guy and his plot all in one chapter – just like that, the hammer drops! But wicked people never surprise God; He had already set the stage. Esther is queen, Mordecai is at the gates, and the Invisible Hand of God (Providence) had seen to other details. Things will move quickly now.

So it seems that in the Old Testament times, bad blood runs deep! For the record, I think 1626 years is a long time to be mad at your brother, then your cousin. But such is the story of Israel and Amalek; it is more than a grudge. Here we have the descendants of Jacob and Esau still striving, as in the womb of their mother. Here we have two men, hundreds of miles and hundreds of years from their home countries in the court of a foreign nation, re-drawing the battle lines of old. This history has much bearing on this story, and I believe it gives a little help understanding some very difficult unanswered questions in this chapter…

Why did Ahasuerus promote Haman? This we do not know. There is one possibility through this history of Amalek that I've read. Just as Israel was taken captive by Babylon and the princes were treated with some dignity in that kingdom and the subsequent nations of the Medes and Persians, perhaps the prince of Amalek was also treated with a measure of respect as well. Maybe that gave his descendant, Haman, access to the king through that venue. We can simply deduce that it wasn't from character. Matthew Henry uttered this line: "Princes' darlings are not always worthies." He was a vain, evil person, this we have seen already. And Ahasuerus was a whimsical king, who seems to pay little attention to Haman. Maybe he was broke after the Greek wars; more likely, his leadership reflected a king who fancied himself above the law.

Why such stubborn resistance from Mordecai? Why did Mordecai not bow? It seems that history was not easily erased in either of these households. All we can surmise is that Mordecai knew that Haman was an Amalekite (Agagite) and he simply would not bow. Perhaps he was aware, somehow, that Haman already hated the Jews, and would do them harm once he was in power. We don't know; but perhaps Haman's ancestry caused Mordecai to answer the way he did - did you notice that? "I am a Jew" was the only reason he gave for his defiance. Also, note that he did what he had forbidden Esther to do, and openly acknowledged his ancestry.

Why such venomous hatred from Haman? The answer lies in the history of his people, like Mordecai's history. Perhaps the Amalekites had issued their own "Never forget!" memo to the children through stories around the fireplace through the centuries. Remembering a terrible defeat can be motivating to a people; as the barely-formed Army of Texas fought Santa Anna's Mexican forces in 1836 they rallied with the cry of "Remember the Alamo!" Why? Because from Feb 23^rd-March 6^th 1836 one hundred and eighty-two men had elected to make their stand in the Alamo against Santa Anna's massive army, knowing they would die. But their sacrifice would give the fledgling state (March 2^nd) time to muster an army and fight back[2]. "Remember Saul's slaughter at Havilah!" might have been a slogan through the centuries for Amalekites. Israelites knew their tribe – and still do; it wouldn't be unrealistic to think that Haman's people had held on to their heritage in Persia as well. What if his father told him the story of the few escapees who had fled from Saul's deadly attack, and the 'hacking up' of King Agag by Samuel? Then finding out that Mordecai was a Jew might have been the motivating factor behind such hatred. After all, he had "disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone" because "Haman sought to destroy all the Jews".

This man was serious, and he was crafty. Silver as of Thursday April 7^th was $39.50 per ounce. In today's currency, with a talent being about 75 lbs., Haman's gift given for the privilege of killing the Jews would have been $474 million. That's serious. And he was crafty; "It would be to the king's advantage to get rid of them." Folks, our enemy is crafty as well, and he is well funded in this world.

Why did God hate Amalek? Not knowing God's motives behind every move leaves us wondering, but the rest of Scriptures give us some insight that we need to hold fast to. Two things we need to take away from this chapter about God's character, even though He isn't mentioned out right:

1) God is holy, and hates sin. Never did God forget the sin of Amalek, and never will He forget the sin of any person who sins against Him and disdains fear of God's wrath. This is unthinkable to us, but completely consistent to God; He hates sin, and judges it all with death. This is unchanged through time, just as God remains the same. If God remembers our sins against Him, what hope is there of mercy, life, pardon, forgiveness? Only the shed blood of Jesus Christ. This is the only hope for any of us; our sins have us guilty before God, and require death; but Christ died on that cross outside of Jerusalem to provide atonement for the sins of all who DO fear God and turn from their sin, crying out for mercy through Christ.

2) God loves His children, and will bring about justice. The great message of Esther is the salvation of God's people, yet again targeted for annihilation. He was faithful to the descendants of Abraham, and He still is faithful to protect and to provide for the descendants of Abraham. According to Romans and Galatians, that includes all who believe in the Savior God promised to bring through Abraham, all who believe God as that man did. It may tarry, but you wait; justice will come. The wicked will fall, and the righteous will be saved. Trust in God, church family; repent, believe, and hold to God's goodness. Justice, mercy will come from His throne.

So the crux of the story is here in chapter three; the death warrant for all Jews. Haman and the king sit down to eat, and the city of Susa – and likely many other cities in Persia – was in confusion over this edict. But the hand of God wasn't tied; He stays ahead of His enemies.

Let's pray.

[2] Details about the battle of the Alamo from http://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/tnghist3.htm

Esther, Queen of Persia

2011-04-01T08:54:00.001-07:00

Esther 2:1-23[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, March 27^th, 2011

When under-privileged people find career or financial success in life, they are often grateful and have a desire to give back. And these stories of humble beginnings to great success strike a chord with most people. Paul Harvey used to mesmerize us by telling us a tale about some crippled boy who fought rejection at school and from his family only to become the man who invented macaroni and cheese, or something great like that. At the end of the story he would say, "You know him as ________. Now you know the rest of the story." He was so excellent at setting the stage for the climax of the tale, wasn't he? Many people can relate to such stories; but no one should be able to relate to it more than those who know Christ.

Chapter two of Esther is a great 'outside to inside' story that has few rivals in Scripture. Let's read and talk our way through this part of the story of Esther.

Esther 2:1-4

1 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 capital, 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.

Sulking King. This part of the story begins with a sulking king listening to young men (who would, of course, come up with such an idea) about finding a queen; gather the most beautiful young virgins in the empire and choose your favorite. If indeed this Ahasuerus is the Xerxes history speaks of, then he was sulking because he had been to Greece and suffered military defeats in the intervening four years.[2] History records that Xerxes was first slowed by Leonidas and the 300 Spartans in the pass of Thermopylae, and later defeated by a Greek fleet of ships[3]. Thus, a sulking king who recalls the removal of Vashti now longs for a new queen. The stage is set for Providence to bring Esther to the stage. Beauty Pageant. Ladies, you can thankfully not identify with such a plan in our culture, and praise God for that. But the king was all in all, and to be anywhere near him was considered an honor, and to refuse such an honor was to risk your life; it rarely happened. This was a nation-wide "Miss Persia" contest, where the winner became queen and the losers lived out their days in a harem of lonely concubines awaiting a possible whim of the King. Here we meet the other central characters in this chronicle, Mordecai and Esther.

Esther 2:5-10

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.

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.

Mordecai was the descendant of Kish, his great-grandfather who was taken captive with king Jeconiah of Judah 100 years before. He was of the tribe of Benjamin, as was Saul, the first king of Israel. Both Mordecai and Esther had been born and raised in Babylon cum Persia, never having seen the Promised Land but never forgetting who they were. Mordecai was kind, and well respected, for as we will see, he had a job in the palace. He had taken in his younger cousin as his own daughter and cared well for her.

Esther was chosen in this queen lottery for obvious reasons: she "had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at". So she was brought into the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch. For those who wonder, a eunuch is a castrated male; thus he would be trusted with the care of the women. Not the sought-after office of the day, I would imagine. But as with Joseph over 1500 years prior to this time, Esther found favor in her reluctant location.

Esther 2:11-18

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.

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.

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, Queen of Persia. Here is our 'nobody' to 'success' portion of the story. Esther was the descendant of slaves, captives of war, and was raised involuntarily in a foreign nation. From that status she further descended to that of being an orphan, not a good thing for a female Jew in Persia, I would imagine. And yet Mordecai was faithful to care for her as a younger cousin, and he remained faithful to care for her while she was being prepared for the night with the king. Furthermore, God, working behind the scenes, was looking over her. Esther has ascended from lowly position of Jewish orphan in Persia to the exalted place as Queen of Persia.

Question: did Esther compromise her faith in God? She did not mention her heritage, as commanded by Mordecai. She also did not refuse potential marriage to a non-Jewish, non-God-fearing Persian. Some accuse her of such compromise; I see it as a matter she had no choice in. Who rejects the call of the King of Persia? Certainly not some Jewish virgin! God, despite how things looked, had a plan, and it involved many more people than Esther and Mordecai. God used them for His plan, and for His glory.

God works in unique ways. This is just the opposite of how God worked through Moses' life in Exodus. Moses was raised as royalty in the palace of Pharaoh, fully educated, possibly to even follow as Pharaoh one day. And yet Moses laid it all down to be identified with His people, the Jews, and to obey His God[4]. Esther was a Jew who remained quiet about her nationality and was brought into the palace to the glory and favor that Moses had known his entire life. Folks, we should refrain from promoting God's pattern of work in the Old Testament: He did so many things so many ways, and never desired for us to seek such ways! We are rather to seek God, and to obey His Word to us!

So the stage is almost set; Esther is in the palace, Mordecai is in the gate; but this other brief side note must be added to finish this particular chapter of the story. It is a critical note, as we'll see further into this intriguing drama.

19 Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate.

20 Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him.

21 In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

22 And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai.

23 When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.

Good Eunuchs, bad eunuchs. Mordecai was loyal to the king, regardless how he may or may not have felt about him. Jeremiah had taught the Jews to seek the welfare of the nation to which they would be taken captive, and so Mordecai did. Ahasuerus was saved from this plot. This was recorded. So: Providence, Courage, and Commemoration.

Esther has moved from Jewish orphan to Queen of Persia. When under-privileged people find career or financial success in life, they very often are grateful and have a desire to give back. Who has been more 'nowhere' than wicked sinners like us? Who has more to be grateful for than we who have been spared at the expense of the righteous one? That cross was raised to kill the innocent One whose blood would justify the guilty ones! That's 'outside to inside,' church! Outside the camp to inside the kingdom! Will we give the gracious gospel to others as we have been given this good grace ourselves?

[2] Dr. H. A. Ironside in his Notes on the Books of Ezra, Nehemiah, & Esther, Published by Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.

[3] General information at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerxes_I_of_Persia

[4] Hebrews 11:24-26

The Removal of Queen Vashti

2011-03-23T13:04:00.001-07:00

Esther 1:10-22[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, March 20^th, 2011

Last week in going through an overview of this book, I laid out this logic trail for us to consider. Haman had secured a death warrant against all Jews in Persia, which covered most if not all of the lands Jews would live in at that time. I said…

No appeal from Queen Esther, no Jews.

No Jews, no Jesus.

No Jesus, no cross.

No cross, then no atonement.

No atonement, then no hope of avoiding the wrath of God against us.

Now I said that in context of showing how God uses the courage of man to act; for surely Haman meant to utterly annihilate this people. But I didn't want to leave the impression that God's providential working is limited to or by man's courageous acts. Let me be quick to say that this logic trail was to emphasize how God did work through Esther, as well as what was at stake. Of course, being God, He would have worked another way to fulfill His plan – for no man thwarts God! So, that being hopefully corrected, let's move on through chapter one of Esther today.

Marital spats, they happen, right? Apparently even in the Palace. We're going to read about one today and make some simple observations together from this part of the story. We're still in Act 1 of this play called Esther, so let's go there and read together from Chapter 1.

Esther 1:10-22

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,

11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at.

12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment,

14 the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom):

15 "According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?"

16 Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, "Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.

17 For the queen's behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, since they will say, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.'

18 This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's behavior will say the same to all the king's officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty.

19 If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.

20 So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike."

21 This advice pleased the king and the princes, and the king did as Memucan proposed.

22 He sent letters to all the royal provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.

Again, let us come before God to seek His blessings. Our Father, we acknowledge here together, as your children, that there is none like You. We have no being at all to compare to You: how could the created ever compare to the Creator!? You alone have all power, You alone hold the keys to life and to death in Your hand. You alone can reveal truth about Yourself to Your creation, Father – and I thank You that you did, in this extraordinary Bible I hold. As we open it together, allow us to learn, even in the absence of direct teaching about You, of Your faithfulness to watch over Your own, Your good mercies, and Your amazing ability to work with, against, and even through believers as well as unbelievers to accomplish Your plan for Your glory. Let us receive strength for our faith, comfort for our souls, and wisdom for our walk. We certainly want to be a part of Your working, and of bringing You glory. I pray this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

We have no well-informed platform from which to judge this unfortunate divorce other than our own western cultural perspectives. And these Persians weren't westernized and they certainly weren't Christians – they were pagans. There were similarities to Christian doctrines shown in this situation, such as "wives, submit to your own husbands, as unto the Lord"[2], and "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God"[3]. Ahasuerus was both husband and king and, by our thinking, she should have come when he called for her. She did not. So let's ask a couple of questions here…

Why did Ahasuerus call her? He was merry with wine and wanted to show his guests the beauty of his wife. Some have said that he called for to come wearing only the crown; I don't think the Scriptures imply that at all. Others have said that he was drunk and wanted to allow his drunk-fest of men to boorishly leer over his lovely queen in public; that implies too much, I believe. We are at a loss to assign motive to him here, as many have; we only know he called her. I believe there is were enough useful words to distinguish between being 'merry' and 'drunk' that the writer in these days could have said drunk; he did not.

History tells us that Xerxes, if this Ahasuerus was the same man, was giving this feast to motivate his princes to approve an attack on Greece; what showing his wife to them has to do with that we don't know. Really, Here is what we do know; he was merry with wine and he called her to come – and she refused.

Why did Vashti refuse to come? We simply don't know. Many have assigned motive to the queen as well, both good and bad. Some have said she was appalled that her drunken King commanded her to come and be exposed to this gang of drunken partiers who wanted to see her beauty, like she was some cheap dancing girl! She was too dignified, too virtuous to do such a thing, and righteously refused! Others have said she was rebellious and evil, refusing to obey her husband that way. She has been assigned with motives of personal gain or political machinations, which drove her decision. We don't have enough information to accurately assess her motives at all. All we can say for sure is that the King called for the Queen to come, and she did not; this, enraged the King. In his rage he still showed some wise restraint, though. Ahasuerus called for his counselors.

Notice the irony and satire here, folks? This king of the greatest nation can, in a simple letter, summon provincial leaders from thousands of miles; he speaks, they come. He is the undisputed, unquestioned solitary sovereign king of this vast, powerful, Empire of Persia. And he can't make his wife come into the room; he gets angry and calls for the counselors.

The King hears the advice of his counselors. Instead of a rash decision out of wrath or embarrassment, he called for those who helped him make wise decisions, who are assigned to know the laws and to think things through as to their possible affect on this great nation; you see, everything a leader does affects those under him to some extent.

After these wise men considered the situation, Memucan spoke for the seven, and he gave this advice: remove and replace the Queen. You'll need to divorce her (for all practical purposes, if not in our terms) in order to maintain order and stability in your kingdom.

The wives in all the land, his counselors believed, will be emboldened by Vashti's example to disdain their husbands. You'll have chaos in your kingdom. There is power in the example of leadership; both for good and for ill. I believe we can attest to the truth of the power of both moral and immoral leadership in our White House; both for good and for ill. I believe Memucan was certainly on to something.

The husbands in all the land will be undermined in their homes. So in order to prevent this, you must remove this rebellious queen and find another who is better than she.

Sound advice? Again, from Western Christian worldview, divorce is a terrible thing. In Persia, who knows why he even married Vashti, if she was his only wife or just the queen (we know he had concubines). We are left grasping for details in this big-picture rendering of this removal of Queen Vashti. Why do you think that is?

Because what is important in this story isn't the why; it is only that she was removed, and room was made for her replacement.

Now we could make all kinds of observations about authority, marriage, leadership, the power of example in leadership, and the wisdom of consulting counselors. There is godly wisdom from Proverbs to support almost all of these principles on display in this godless nation. But that isn't what this part of the story is about.

Esther 1:10-22 is about this; Queen Vashti is removed. Through this unfortunate circumstance there is a need for a replacement, one who is, as Memucan said, 'better'. This new queen is to be sought for through all the land. So while this may not be a good situation in the palace, it is made to work for the good of those who are the called.

Now church family, we have no need to accuse God of wrecking a marriage to set up Esther; not any more than we can accuse God of killing some poor believing soul in a terrible accident so that his nephew would hear the gospel at his funeral and finally repent and turn to Christ. Looking back we can see how God uses terrible situations to His glory. Being sovereign, God is completely in charge of His world. But God doesn't commit sin to work His plan out; He is, however, sovereign over sinners to the extent that He can easily use their sin for the good of all who are the called according to His purpose. We simply observe the setting of the stage, and how God is providentially working. So we see the first truth:

Providence: the invisible hand of God working on behalf of His people and His plan.

There is also courage and commemoration in this story, but that is yet to come. Chapter two is next week. Let's pray.

[2] Ephesians 5:22

[3] Romans 13:1

The Glory of King Ahasuerus

2011-03-23T12:56:00.001-07:00

Esther 1:1-9[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, March 13^th, 2011

Today we begin our study of the book of Esther. It is one of the six books written about the time after the Jews' great exile to Babylon in 586 B.C.; Ezra, Nehemiah, Zachariah, Haggai, and Malachi being the rest of the post-exilic books. Now I'm going to spend a good bit of time giving you the setting, then we'll focus on the first nine verses of chapter one.

Esther is the only book in the Bible where God is not mentioned by name; yet the Jews and then the church have seen fit to acknowledge the inspiration of God in the writing and the preserving of this incredible story.

I could say, as some have, that this is a Cinderella story; an orphaned girl who rises to become queen of the great nation of Persia. Others have said it is simply written to give us the roots of the Feast of Purim. Through my reading the past few weeks, I see three themes that stand out over all others in this book…

Esther is a story of Providence, Courage, and Commemoration.

It is the story of the Providence of God. God's invisible hand is clearly visible to those who believe that God exists, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. When people of faith read this book, though God's name is not mentioned – we cannot help but praise God for the great mercy He extends to His covenant people.

Providence literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes. God's providence extends to the natural world, all of creation, the affairs of nations, families, and of individuals. It extends also over all actions of men: their sinful as well as their good actions. God is invisibly, irrevocably in charge of all.

It is the story of the courage of Esther and of Mordecai. While God is sovereign over all, and does as He pleases, that in no way negates the necessity of humans to act, to risk, to work, and to be used by God. God's providence and man's courage work together; providence stands alone, but no human strength does; we all need the help of Almighty God to carry out sacrificial deeds of bravery. In this story God uses the bravery of a kind man and a frightened young lady to preserve the Jews, for they were at risk of annihilation in this terrible situation.

It is lastly a story of commemoration. This book was written, as it plainly tells us in Esther 9:19-22, to explain the deliverance that resulted in the Feast of Purim, which is kept by Jews to this day. Don't forget the great deliverance God brought about in Susa that year when we were all given over to death! The story is told to this day, and Jews remember the hatred of Haman, the courage of Esther and Mordecai, and the good work of God to preserve His people. As many times before, God stepped in and saved His people. Providence, courage, and commemoration. It is a very entertaining, humorous, tense well-written story that comes through like a play, with main characters, acts, and scenes

The Setting: Susa, capital of Persia, Greatest Empire on Earth.

586 B.C. Jews are taken into captivity in Babylon

536 B.C. Babylonians are conquered

458 B.C. Ezra comes to Jerusalem from Babylon

445 B.C. Nehemiah completes the wall, sent by Darius

486-464 B.C. Ahasuerus (Xerxes) reigned; these things probably took place 485-478 B.C.

The main characters: King Ahasuerus, Queen Vashti, Esther, Mordecai, and Haman.

We'll get through it pretty quick, because it's a page-turner! Let's read the first nine verses and look briefly at The Glory of King Ahasuerus, Esther 1:1-9.

1 Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces,

2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the capital,

3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him,

4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days.

5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa, the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace.

6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones.

7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.

8 And drinking was according to this edict: "There is no compulsion." For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired.

9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

Wealth and honor were on display; but was wisdom? I would have to say no, because the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord; that wasn't on display at this court. Fabulous wealth, great power, and indescribable abundance were there, but – not wisdom. However, it does give us a glimpse into the setting for this story, and it is incredible.

This was a powerful king. Greatest nation on earth during this time; 127 provinces; this man ruled the land from (in our day) northern Sudan to Pakistan – a great nation, greater than all who had come before him.

This was a wealthy city. As the headquarters of Persia, Susa was an up-and-coming city, just north of the Red Sea, in what is now southwest Iran.

God's people were there. Jews had not all gone back to Jerusalem; many were still integrated into the land that took over Babylon 100 years after the captivity began. They were in many cities throughout this Empire, and they had a strong presence in Susa. They were far from Israel, and from Jerusalem, the holy city. But as we will see, God was watching, even in the great halls of the King of Persia! Our Lord was there.

What is the relevance of this story to us? God keeps His promises to His covenant people.

He promised Adam and Eve that a Savior, a Hero would come.

He promised to make Abram a great nation, and to bless all the peoples of the earth through Him.

He promised David that he would always have a son on the throne. How could God keep those promises if the Jews were snuffed out as a people before the Messiah came through them? It gets as simple as this…

No appeal from Queen Esther, no Jews.

No Jews, no Jesus, no cross.

No cross, then no atonement.

No atonement, then no hope of avoiding the wrath of God against us.

The enemy of our souls fought the coming of the Messiah very diligently (male children in Egypt, babies in Bethlehem, etc.). Let me be quick to say this is to emphasize how God did work; of course, being God, He would have worked another way to fulfill His plan – for no man thwarts God! But it is God's faithfulness to keep His promises is what we rest our hope on, church. Our hope of forgiveness, life after death, heaven, resurrection, and life on a new earth with Jesus reigning forever – with no sin or effects of sin – all those hopes are purely placed in the faithfulness of God who promised such blessings.

So for that reason, we are grateful for God's work in Persia in 480 B.C. You see…

When God was working behind the scenes to save the Jews in Persia, God was providing salvation to the people of German, Swedish, Welsh, Palestinian, African, Danish, Hispanic, and Norwegian descent in Platteville, WI in 2011. All people groups in the entire world from creation are dependent upon God's faithfulness to save through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Are you dependent, fully and only, on God to save you through the blood His Son shed on that cross?

Let Our People Learn

2011-03-01T07:44:00.001-08:00

Titus 3:12-15[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, February 27^th, 2011

By way of introducing and contexting the message today, I am going to read these three chapters of Titus.

Now for the last few verses that we will focus on as we finish this rich little book today, Titus 3:12-15.

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 unfruitful.

15 All who are with me send greetings to you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

Prayer: Father, let Your Word quicken the hearts of believers to learn today. Open our ears, and open our minds, and open our hearts to be teachable, submissive to You. And Lord, there are likely those among us who are close to faith in Your Son or curious about Your Son, but not followers of Your Son; please draw them to believe in and follow Your Good Son this day; I pray this for Your glory and for our good, through Jesus: amen.

The message of this book is that sound doctrine brings good works. As I just read, Titus was left on Crete to 'put what remains into order' there among those churches. What I want to focus on today is "Let our people learn." When the gospel is working in you, church family… You listen differently. You look at people differently. You love more.

Listen to 1:1 again… "Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,". Now listen to verse 14 again. "And let our people learn to devote themselves to good works, so as to help cases of urgent need, and not be unfruitful." He writes and serves for the sake of the elect, and their knowledge of the truth. Then he closes with a command to let our people learn to devote themselves to good works. When we receive a good sound knowledge of the truth, and instruction in godliness, we learn to devote ourselves to good works. This is how things look in an orderly church.

An orderly church has godly men leading it. These men have godly lives, godly homes, and can teach and defend the truth. As stated when we covered this, it is important to note that God consistently calls for male leadership in the home (1 Cor 11:1-3, Eph 5:22-31) and in the church (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4). This isn't to disdain the gifts or abilities of women, it is God's wise plan to protect you and to provide for you, ladies.

An orderly church has godly men, women, and children growing in it. Paul gave instruction for how all of us should be living in 2:1-10. There was also instruction for the pastor and for slaves. Our witness of godly living must support the message of God's saving grace.

An orderly church is a gospel-centered, grace-soaked church. This is the primary way you defeat false teachers – you consistently teach the gospel rightly. You keep the gospel out there so it will do what only God, working through His good gospel, can do!

· Save lost, sinning people

· Justify guilty people

· Regenerate 'dead-in-their-sins' people

· Wash dirty people (make them holy, closer to God and further from the world)

· Instruct these believers in godly living and good works

These people Paul calls 'the elect' in Titus 1:1 are called to Christ through 'the knowledge of the truth', and made holy and mature in their faith through this same truth. At the same time it informs and educates your people in the truth of Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. It explains our hope of eternal life through this gospel, and our hope in His return and our resurrection, church family!

An orderly church is a submissive church. Submission is consistently taught to the church in this letter, and insubordination is a mark of the ungodly false teachers. Submitted people can learn, grow, change, and be molded. Titus has to be a submitted man to take all these direct commands from the Apostle Paul – they weren't explained with the caveat, "That is, Titus, if you feel like coming to me here." He had to stay when he was left there and, here in this last section, be ready to leave when replacements get there.

An orderly church is a fruitful, working church. This is the meat of the message yet again; the knowledge of the truth, the sound doctrine, the right instruction in the grace of God leads to good works. In fact, we are to be…

· Zealous for good works

· Ready for good works

· Devoted to good works

· Learning to devote ourselves to good works

People who learn are teachable.

People who learn don't already know it all.

I noticed something in Proverbs 26:1-11 yesterday in my devotions; ten of those verses describe the fool and some of the folly that comes from him. He is painted as a hopelessly useless person! There is humor, sadness, and exasperation in these verses. Then comes verse 12 Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him. Isn't this shocking when you think about it? The sad, exasperating stupidity of the fool, and yet – more hope for him than for a know-it-all.

You can't teach someone who doesn't know that they need to learn.

That describes how Titus was to 'put what remains into order'. An orderly church glorifies God and is used by God to bring people to saving faith in Christ, and to grow in godly character. So let's ask ourselves today, in light of these observations and this call to 'learn to be devoted to good works',…

Are you submissive and teachable? Can't learn anything if you aren't. Do you know Christ? Do you know the gospel? Can you communicate it with people? I don't intend to be harsh, but – how long will it take of sitting under the gospel before you know it well enough to explain it to a lost person?

Does your life leave a wake of good works and godly, growing character? I looked over the side of the cruise ship Spirit many times last week, marveling at the size and power of such a vessel. I looked over the side and saw the wake it left lingering for miles. The ship was making 3-5 foot swells as it drove through the Caribbean. What kind of wake are you leaving as you go through this life? Is it a wake of God-honoring obedience and good works? If not, your life looks like and will look more like false teachers – unfruitful, unfit for any good work, and full of works that deny Jesus Christ – sinful stuff.

Is your joy and hope in Christ's death, life, and coming return? Other joy sources will dry up.

As the gospel is rooted in our lives, then are we, church family, learning good works?

Paul would ask, "Jeff, are you teaching them?" And I must; we are to be an orderly church. Let me say that pastors must teach folks to be giving people – and we are. We budget for sending God's missionaries on their way with the gospel, and many of you give above your tithes to other mission work. Give in faith and love, folks. And we must learn to listen, look, and love. Don't wait on me – just bless people. They are hurting all around you. When you walk in the Spirit and see or hear need, Christ leaks out through your life to meet that need This learning is instruction, but it is a growing sensitivity to need in your life. When the gospel is working in you, church family… You listen differently. You look at people differently. You love more.

Christ does, and He is in you, making you godly, fruitful, and useful.

When Paul says let our people learn, let us do so! Don't wait on my planning or instruction – just listen, look, and love!

May God help me instruct you well, and may God help us all learn to be devoted to good works. Because we believe Christ; for it is true that sound doctrine brings good works. I encourage you all to read Titus through one more time this week before we move on, most likely to the book of Esther. Let's pray.

Ready for and Devoted to Good Works

2011-02-09T07:53:00.001-08:00

Titus 3:1-11[1]

As preached at Rolling Hills Church on Sunday, February 6^th, 2011

After studying Titus for these weeks, and reading it through eight or ten times a week, outlining, organizing, and preaching through it, I feel like I am getting close to understanding this little letter from Paul to pastor Titus on Crete. And I must say, it is a convicting, exposing little book for me. I have said often that the outline or summary of the book is 'Sound Doctrine Brings Good Works', and I believe that is right. At the same time I think those churchy words can fly right over your heads while you think about the big game, the power bill, or the taxes you have to get done this week. Maybe if I said it differently, but I'm not even sure that would help. Friends, we must hear it; grace is God's gift, but He wants us to get out blessing folks after receiving it – not just hear about it. So I pray that God, through His mercy, would drive home to us today that the gospel, when truly believed and imbibed (Christ received by faith and repentance), will change us to be God-ward and other-people-ward. Is this your prayer too? Now listen to these three stories…

Two men in their 50s go up to their local high school and hold the doors for, greet, and welcome students to school at the local high school in their town. One of them told me they know most of the kids' names, and they greet with them by name with a smile every morning. The principal at this school will not let one youth pastor go on this campus; he welcomes these two guys. They gather weekly with a group of 25 men to pray for these students; they have the latest yearbook and they pray for all 1600+ kids by name each week. These are grown, mature men who gain nothing financially from this move; one of them is a life-long single man who has no children. Their desire is that no high-school student in their county is not prayed for by name - weekly. One of these guys also goes weekly to a very broken home and reads good books to children.

A few college students (and one graduate) in a good-sized city use their Saturdays to plan, purchase, prepare, transport, and share a good, healthy, home-cooked meal with the homeless people in their city. It costs them money, work, and their only free day each week. But at 3:00pm every Saturday you'll find them at a street corner where poor people have learned they will be, sharing this meal with all who come. You would be surprised to hear how much these young Americans know about homelessness in their city.

A couple of empty nesters I know have for years looked after their elderly neighbor. Lately his needs have increased drastically, but they still serve him diligently – as if he was their father! I mean moving his stuff, taking care of his house, making decisions about his healthcare, spending hours weekly to care for dogs he doesn't really need – and this old man is not a relative, just a neighbor. They literally do more for him than most people I know do for their own aging parents, and with no complaints at all; it's just part of their lives, it is to them – normal.

Who profits when people do such things? Why do these people do such things?

How can one devote so much to people who can never pay them back? Who made these people want to do such work?

Why are they happier than most Christians who live largely for themselves?

Now let's bring this up to look at this thought process from God's perspective:

Why does God want you to do good works? How does God expect you to be and do good?

Who did this converting, this changing in these folks' lives to make them care so much?

Let's finally read our text for today, Titus 3:1-11

1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,

2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,

5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,

11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Did you hear this? We are to be ready for and devoted to good works. Let us be careful with this little letter to Titus; it is dangerous. If we read it too much, or hear it read too often, we might start hearing it, believing it, and obeying it. Let me attempt to summarize this portion I've just read…

1. 3:1-3 Be a good respectful slave with a positive attitude. You know, the kind people love to call, use, and to be around. Slaves think everybody is their boss; they're humble, submissive, and respectful; but a willing slave is also positive.

2. 3:9-11 Get yourself away from arguments, boastings, and controversy. Stay far from people who debate every single point of every little rule. One pastor's wife said to me once, after her husband took a new church full of old people, that they had their daily devotions with the church constitution and by-laws; they could quote it section and paragraph; but they didn't know their Bibles. Get away from such foolish, divisive people; they can only bring harm, and God's wrath is aimed at such as those.

3. 3:4-10 Here's why: because God brought you to life by His Holy Spirit. You, my dear church-going, Christ-following people, had nothing to do with your conversion to faith in Christ. It was God our Savior (a title often used of Jesus, pointing out the unity of the Son and the Father) by His Holy Spirit who regenerated you. We were dead, lifeless, useless, numb to God (Eph 2:1-4) when God, by His own free choice, made us alive! He did spiritually to us what He did physically to Lazarus at the tomb in John 11:43 – brought us from death to life. Praise be to God, who alone gives us new birth! This faith in Christ – and we are saved by grace, through faith – is a gift from God given to those whom He has made alive.

So, since you've been saved, made new, and given eternal life with God in heaven, go do good works, church family. Paul would tell us, 'When you get your rear-ends out of these church chairs, go serve and bless others. Do GOOD TO OTHERS. First to the body, but then to the lost and dying world; your neighbors! Jesus would too. In fact, He DOES tell one man that. Let's read it, in Luke 10:25-37.

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

26 He said to him, "What is written in the Law? How do you read it?"

27 And he answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

28 And he said to him, "You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live."

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.

32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.'

36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?"

37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."

The Priest? Well, the pastor walked around him; too much to do, too much at stake to get dirty wasting some heathen in a ditch; he probably brought it on himself.

The Levite? Yeah, the music guy walked around him too.

The Samaritan? He made time, money, and effort to help the man. Only the most despised low-life short of tax-collectors to a Jew in that day, and considered worse by some. Jesus chose a very extreme example for the lawyer! So Jesus DOES say, "Go serve and bless others. Do GOOD TO OTHERS. "

Church family, I confess to you that I too easily speak evil of others; I too easily take too much effort to bless me and not others. Verse two is very convicting to me; too easy to do! This passage has ripped me up, and God has to change the man in front of you. I'm sure some of you are in this broken boat with me; together, let's consider this passage this way…

1. In the beginning: be ready for every good work; stop the foolishness that you once were enslaved to!

2. In the end: be devoted to every good work; get away from false teachers and self-absorbed, greedy fools that God will judge.

3. In the middle: because God has saved and changed you.

The men at the school doors are Alan Levi and his brother down in Hamilton, Georgia.

The college students and one grad are Andrew Najdowski and his roommates.

The husband and wife caring for the old man are Craig and Julie McCaw.

What are you doing for others? Who are you doing good works for? What has God done for you, church member, church attender? Does that life in you ever escape out into good works? Titus was taught to teach his church, Be Ready for and Devoted to Good Works.

Now consider…Who will you bless? What good work is God giving you opportunity to do?