Esther: Release from destruction (part 3 of 4)

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

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WEDNESDAY’S WORD

November 20, 2013

Esther: Release from destruction (part 3 of 4)

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Esther 4

When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. ² But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it.³ In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.

⁴ When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. ⁵ Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.

⁶ So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. ⁷ Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. ⁸ He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.

⁹ Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. ¹⁰ Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, ¹¹ “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”

¹² When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, ¹³ he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. ¹⁴ For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

¹⁵ Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ¹⁶ “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” ¹⁷ So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

Enter God's Rest: By setting others loose (part 3 of 4)

SUNDAY MESSAGE

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

Enter God’s rest: By setting others loose (part 3 of 4)

“The odor remover”

November 17, 2013

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But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,⁶  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)

John 11:39-44

"Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴²I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.  Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

Esther: Release from destruction (part 1 of 4)

WEDNESDAY’S WORD

November 6, 2013

Esther: Release from destruction (part 1 of 4)

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Esther 1:8-17

⁸ When the king’s order and edict had been proclaimed, many young women were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king’s palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. ⁹ She pleased him and won his favor. Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem. ¹⁰ Esther had not revealed her nationality and family background, because Mordecai had forbidden her to do so.¹¹ Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her. ¹² Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. ¹³ And this is how she would go to the king: Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace. ¹⁴ In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name. ¹⁵ When the turn came for Esther (the young woman Mordecai had adopted, the daughter of his uncle Abihail) to go to the king, she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested. And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. ¹⁶ She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.

¹⁷ Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. ¹⁸ And the king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.

Enter God's Rest: By setting others loose - Removing the barriers

SUNDAY MESSAGE

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

Enter God’s rest: By setting others loose (part 1 of 4)

“Removing the barriers”

November 3, 2013

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But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,⁶  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV) 

John 11:39-44 ~ "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴²I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.  Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

Enter God's Rest: Time for "R & R"

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

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WEDNESDAY’S WORD

October 30, 2013 

Jeremiah: Release from the pit (part 5 of 5) 

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

¹⁰ Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” ¹¹ So Ebed-Melek took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. ¹² Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, ¹³ and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard. (Jeremiah 38:10-13)

Enter God's Rest: By speaking up and speaking out (part 4 of 4)

SUNDAY MESSAGE

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

Enter God’s rest: By speaking up and speaking out (part 4 of 4)

October 27, 2013

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But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,⁶  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)

Matthew 11:12  And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it.

Jeremiah: Release from the pit (part 4 of 5)

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

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WEDNESDAY’S WORD

October 23, 2013

Jeremiah: Release from the pit (part 4 of 5)

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare

¹⁰ Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.” ¹¹ So Ebed-Melek took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. ¹² Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, ¹³ and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard. (Jeremiah 38:10-13)

Enter God's rest: By speaking up and speaking out (part 3 of 4)

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

Enter God’s rest: By speaking up and speaking out (part 3 of 4)

October 20, 2013

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But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,⁶  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)

I left off last week stating, Before you can move to speaking up and speaking out, you have to know what God has called you to do. We talked about that, now we turn to what John was called to do.

Matthew: 3:7-11(NLT) ⁷ But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to watch him baptize,^[c] he denounced them. “You brood of snakes!” he exclaimed. “Who warned you to flee God’s coming wrath? ⁸ Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. ⁹ Don’t just say to each other, ‘We’re safe, for we are descendants of Abraham.’ That means nothing, for I tell you, God can create children of Abraham from these very stones. ¹⁰ Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹ “I baptize with^[d] water those who repent of their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is greater than I am—so much greater that I’m not worthy even to be his slave and carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.^[e]

Jeremiah: Release from the Pit (part 3 of 5)

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

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WEDNESDAY’S WORD

October 16, 2013

Jeremiah: Release from the pit (part 3 of 5)

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

⁶ So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud. ⁷ But Ebed-Melek, a Cushite,^[c] an official^[d] in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, ⁸ Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and said to him, ⁹ “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city.” (Jeremiah 38:6-9)

Enter God's Rest: By Speaking up and Speaking out (part 2 of 4)

SUNDAY MESSAGE

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

Enter God’s rest: By speaking up and speaking out (part 2 of 4)

October 13, 2013

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,⁶  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)

Matthew: 3:1-6(NLT) In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, ² “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.^[a]” ³ The prophet Isaiah was speaking about John when he said, “He is a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord’s coming! Clear the road for him!’” ⁴ John’s clothes were woven from coarse camel hair, and he wore a leather belt around his waist. For food he ate locusts and wild honey. ⁵ People from Jerusalem and from all of Judea and all over the Jordan Valley went out to see and hear John. ⁶ And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

Jeremiah: Release from the pit (part 2 of 5)

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

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WEDNESDAY’S WORD

October 9, 2013 

Jeremiah: Release from the pit (part 2 of 5)

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

⁶ So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah (Mal-ki-jah), the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud. ⁷ But Ebed-Melek, a Cushite,^[c] an official^[d] in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, ⁸ Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and said to him, ⁹ “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city.” (Jeremiah 38:6-9)

Enter God's Rest: Time for R & R (part 5 of 5)

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Release and Renewal/Restoration

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September 29, 2013

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,⁶  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)

⁹ But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.¹⁰ Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. ¹¹ You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned. ¹² As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. ¹³ Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. ¹⁴ Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives. ¹⁵ Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. (Titus 3:9-15)

Daniel: Release from the lion den (part 4 of 4)

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

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WEDNESDAY’S WORD

Daniel: Release from the Lion den (part 4 of 4) 

September 25, 2013

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

¹⁹ At the first light of dawn, the king got up and hurried to the lions’ den.²⁰ When he came near the den, he called to Daniel in an anguished voice, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?” ²¹ Daniel answered, “May the king live forever! ²² My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, because I was found innocent in his sight. Nor have I ever done any wrong before you, Your Majesty.” ²³ The king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God. ²⁴ At the king’s command, the men who had falsely accused Daniel were brought in and thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. And before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overpowered them and crushed all their bones. ²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to all the nations and peoples of every language in all the earth: “May you prosper greatly!

²⁶ “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. ²⁷ He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.” ²⁸ So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus^[b] the Persian (Daniel 6:19-28)

Enter God's Rest: Time for R & R (part 4 of 5)

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

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September 22, 2013

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, ⁵ he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,⁶  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior (Titus 3:4-6 NIV)

⁹ But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels about the law, because these are unprofitable and useless.¹⁰ Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. ¹¹ You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.  ¹² As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there. ¹³ Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way and see that they have everything they need. ¹⁴ Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.  ¹⁵ Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.  Grace be with you all. (Titus 3:9-15)

Daniel: Release from the lions den (part 3 of 4)

Theme: Enter God’s Rest: Time for “R & R”

Release and Renewal/Restoration

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WEDNESDAY’S WORD

Daniel: Release from the Lion den (part 3 of 4) 

September 18, 2013

Psalm 25:15 NIV ~ My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.

¹¹ Then these men went as a group and found Daniel praying and asking God for help. ¹² So they went to the king and spoke to him about his royal decree: “Did you not publish a decree that during the next thirty days anyone who prays to any god or human being except to you, Your Majesty, would be thrown into the lions’ den?” The king answered, “The decree stands—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.” ¹³ Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day.” ¹⁴ When the king heard this, he was greatly distressed; he was determined to rescue Daniel and made every effort until sundown to save him. ¹⁵ Then the men went as a group to King Darius and said to him, “Remember, Your Majesty, that according to the law of the Medes and Persians no decree or edict that the king issues can be changed.” ¹⁶ So the king gave the order, and they brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” ¹⁷ A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the rings of his nobles, so that Daniel’s situation might not be changed. ¹⁸ Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night without eating and without any entertainment being brought to him. And he could not sleep. (Daniel 6:11-18)