Podcasts about Mordecai

Ester The Candidate – This story is crafted from Ester 2:8- 16 where Mordecai was living in the capital city serving the King and he was a Jew. He had adopted a young lady, a niece of his, whose parents were also Jews but had died. She was the most beautiful young lady both in form and face. To find out how you can support this ministry by visiting our website at https://lizardtracks.net. My stories can be found on your favorite podcast, App, or Alexa, search for Lizard Tracks.

Send us a textQueen Esther Series, Episode 21, “The War, The Victory, The Man” Subtitle: "The Wealth of the Wicked"Hello and thank you for joining us for the conclusion of our series on Queen Esther.  We end this series the way we began, expounding on God's favor and grace to Esther and Mordecai and to us. The title of today's episode, is, “The War, The Victory, and The Man." We will see God's display of grace and favor as he blesses Esther and Mordecai with the wealth of the wicked, victory in warfare, and as he bestows honor and regal power on Mordecai. We will see that this same favor and grace are bestowed on us as we continue to trust, obey, and follow Him. My name is Stephanie Wright. Let's get started. If you want to contact us or comment on this podcast, please visit our website and select www.cgmissions.com/podcasts, where all episodes are available by category in series format. You can see some video and audio podcasts at: www.youtube.com/@cgmissionsinc then select from the video or podcast"Playlist." CGM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations may be made on our website:https://www.cgmissions.com/donate-here-general-and-wecare/

Esther 9verses1-19 give details of the destruction brought by the Jews upon their enemies. At the Royal citadel in Shushan, on the 13th day of the month Adar, when the original decree requiring their destruction had come into effect 500 are slain. The fear of Mordecai fell upon all the subjects of Ahasuerus. Those killed were mainly nobles and included the 10 sons of Haman, who were ignominiously hung on Haman's gallows, where Haman's body already hung. But no spoil was taken by the Jews. Ahasuerus granted Esther that the slaying may continue in the remaining provinces. The following day a further 300 were slain in Shushan and 75,000 in the provinces. Still the Jews did not take any spoil from their enemies.After this was completed the Jews feasted and rejoiced on the 14th and 15th days. Gifts and food were given to celebrate the deliverance granted to them by their God. Verses 20-31 record the inaugural feast of Purim (signifying the casting of lots) on Adar 14-15 to be celebrated in all generations of the Jews. To this day this joyous festival is celebrated. Esther 10 concludes as chapter 9 began. Mordecai was great and second only to king Ahasuerus. Typically, we see God the Father reigning over all with Christ His Son as the second in command in the time beyond the Millenniumverses see1 Corinthians 15verses24-28.PROVIDENCE occurs in the life of every believer. Sometimes it will be evident. Often we may suspect God's hand was behind what has happened. Whether, or not, we see God at work in our life, rest assured He is. Recommended reading Robert Roberts, "Ways of Providence".

Esther 9verses1-19 give details of the destruction brought by the Jews upon their enemies. At the Royal citadel in Shushan, on the 13th day of the month Adar, when the original decree requiring their destruction had come into effect 500 are slain. The fear of Mordecai fell upon all the subjects of Ahasuerus. Those killed were mainly nobles and included the 10 sons of Haman, who were ignominiously hung on Haman's gallows, where Haman's body already hung. But no spoil was taken by the Jews. Ahasuerus granted Esther that the slaying may continue in the remaining provinces. The following day a further 300 were slain in Shushan and 75,000 in the provinces. Still the Jews did not take any spoil from their enemies. After this was completed the Jews feasted and rejoiced on the 14th and 15th days. Gifts and food were given to celebrate the deliverance granted to them by their God. Verses 20-31 record the inaugural feast of Purim (signifying the casting of lots) on Adar 14-15 to be celebrated in all generations of the Jews. To this day this joyous festival is celebrated. Esther 10 concludes as chapter 9 began. Mordecai was great and second only to king Ahasuerus. Typically, we see God the Father reigning over all with Christ His Son as the second in command in the time beyond the Millenniumverses see 1 Corinthians 15verses24-28. PROVIDENCE occurs in the life of every believer. Sometimes it will be evident. Often we may suspect God's hand was behind what has happened. Whether, or not, we see God at work in our life, rest assured He is. Recommended reading Robert Roberts, "Ways of Providence".

“Seeking the wealth of his people.” — Esther 10:3 Mordecai was a true patriot, and therefore, being exalted to the highest position under Ahasuerus, he used his eminence to promote the prosperity of Israel. In this he was a type of Jesus, who, upon His throne of glory, seeks not His own, but spends His […]

Esther 3 introduces us to the villains of the book - those who are against Yahweh and His people. But as Isaiah 54verses17 tells us, they are doomed to failure. Haman, the son of Hammedatha (the Agagite), the richest noble of the realm wins king Ahasuerus' favour. Haman should never have existed if Saul had fulfilled God's commission to destroy the Amalekites. Agag is a kindred word to the "Gog" of Ezekiel 38. That latter day enemy will also attempt to exterminate the Jews. Could it be the Russian leader? Whoever it is he will be destroyed and buried in the valley of Jehoshaphat, and on the mountains of Israel. How quickly do the archetypal foes meet each other and the result is instant hatred and loathing. The Jew, Mordecai, is warned by the king's servants that in not bowing down to Haman he is in great danger. In verse 7 we are told that Haman seeks a sign from casting lots ("pur"), which he does from the first to the twelfth month, as to when would be the right time to destroy every Jew. From verses 8-11 Haman asks of king Darius (Ahasuerus) the right to destroy a race, which he describes as pests, whose existence (Haman said) was to the detriment of the king's realm (this is not this dissimilar to Hitler's argument in his book, "My Struggle"). If, says Haman, Darius allows this to be done 10,000 talents will be paid into the king's treasury facilitating this to happen. Permission is given and the postmen are sent to all corners of the realm announcing the date of the destruction of the Jews. Chapter 4 tells how God, through Mordecai, is able to thwart this plan. Firstly, Mordecai shows humility before he invokes help from the Almighty. Esther 4verses4 speaks of Mordecai's remorse and from verse 5 Esther seeks to know the reason for his being clothed in sackcloth. On finding out, and having been told by Mordecai that this perhaps is the reason she has become Queen is providential. Esther agrees to be part of a counter plan to defeat Haman. Esther would do whatever it required, even if it is to cost her life. Amos 8 begins with the vision of the basket of summer fruit, revealing that God's judgments cannot be averted. Great destruction would be seen everywhere, even in the Temple, which they mistakenly believed was their defence. Verses 4-6 explain why their Sovereign is going to discipline them. The entire population is covetous in the extreme and sees religion as an impediment to their greed. Yahweh swears in His righteousness to avenge such evil deeds practiced by the rulers of Israel. Verses 8-10 tell us that what they hypocritically delighted in is to be totally overturned. Verses 11-12 speak of the famine that is to come when those seeking counsel from God would not find it. At that time their idolatry and calf worship will cease. In the final segment of our Bible readings, we are introduced a picture of ourself - Onesimus, a profligate runaway slave, who in Rome is liberated from his wasteful state to become a brother in Christ. Theo key words in this letter are related to BOWELS. Paul is demonstrating his love for God, His Son, His Word, His truth, and for Philemon and his family and the ecclesia, as well as for Onesimus. The Apostle is   demonstrating to Philemon that, we must not only know and live the truth, but we must also love it, and God and His Son and His Word, His truth, His ecclesia, His familyverses we must be emotionally involved and committed. K Paul sends Onesimus back to his master, as a fellow believer in Christ carrying this letter and the epistle to the Colossians. Onesimus is formerly described as being "unprofitable", which is our condition before we believed the gospel and received forgiveness. But now he has learnt to abound in his grateful realisation of his elevated status see Ephesians 2verses1-12. The Apostle Paul had taught Philemon the truth of the gospel. He speaks of Philemon's debt to God in the forgiveness which he has been given. Therefore, Philemon ought to show the same forgiveness to his fellow believer - even though Onesimus was his slave. The Apostle Paul is confident that Philemon will comply with the Apostle's request. Final greetings are conveyed through Epaphras, who carries the letter to Philemon. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow 

After the anger of Ahasuerus has abated, as chapter 2 tells, he consults with his young peers as to the process that is to be pursued in finding a new Queen to replace Vashti. Throughout his entire realm beautiful virgins are sought and the one who pleases the king is to be chosen. Verses 5-11 introduce us to both Mordecai and the maiden Esther, her Hebrew name is Hadassah (Persian word "Esther" = 'star'; Hebrew name "Hadassah" = 'myrtle'), When the newly created state of Israel was formed in 1948 their first ambulance service was called "Hadassah". Mordecai had been taken into captivity in BC 605 when Jeconiah was Judah's king. Esther is Mordecai's uncle's daughter. Esther pleases the head eunuch, Hegai, who is also in charge of the king's harem. Therefore, Esther is advanced by Hegai to be brought before king Ahasuerus as soon as possible. But at this point in time no one knew that Esther was Jewish. Verses 13-24 describe the care and process that is required for those to be brought before the king.Verses 15-18 tell of Esther's turn to enter the king's presence. She immediately finds Darius' favour and he gives a feast honouring her. Verses 19-23 inform us that Mordecai overheard a plot to kill king Ahasuerus. This plot comes from two of his chamberlains - Bigthan and Teresh. The greatest lesson of the book of Esther is of Yahweh's providential preservation of His people. Hence nothing in the entire book happens by accident. It all occurs because God's providential hand is directing everything.Amos 7 tells of successive judgments brought on Israel (called Jacob in this chapter as he was the forefather of the nation) by Yahweh in response to the nation's waywardness. The first disaster is preparing the plague locusts devouring the developing crop. The second catastrophe is the sending of a great fire on the land - the fire is a symbol of judgment and frequently by warfare. The third disaster was the builder's plumb line to measure the nation's straightness and when applied the nation is found to be in need of correction. After each proposed judgment there follows the prophet's intercession for the nation with the refrain, "by whom shall Jacob rise, for he is small". Then we are told of God's response which indicates the decreed judgment cannot be averted. King Jeroboam 2nd's false priest, Amaziah, from Bethel (the house of God - (ironically so-called) tells Amos to stop saying things that the king does not want to hear. Amos' response is that he became a prophet involuntarily because of the Almighty's call to him as a part of the ministry of the prophets. Prior to that Amos earned his living by gathering and selling wild figs (sycamore tree fruit). Amos denounces Amaziah and prophesies a telling and spine- chilling prophecy against the false priest and his family.

After the anger of Ahasuerus has abated, as chapter 2 tells, he consults with his young peers as to the process that is to be pursued in finding a new Queen to replace Vashti. Throughout his entire realm beautiful virgins are sought and the one who pleases the king is to be chosen. Verses 5-11 introduce us to both Mordecai and the maiden Esther, her Hebrew name is Hadassah (Persian word "Esther" = 'star'; Hebrew name "Hadassah" = 'myrtle'), When the newly created state of Israel was formed in 1948 their first ambulance service was called "Hadassah". Mordecai had been taken into captivity in BC 605 when Jeconiah was Judah's king. Esther is Mordecai's uncle's daughter. Esther pleases the head eunuch, Hegai, who is also in charge of the king's harem. Therefore, Esther is advanced by Hegai to be brought before king Ahasuerus as soon as possible. But at this point in time no one knew that Esther was Jewish. Verses 13-24 describe the care and process that is required for those to be brought before the king. Verses 15-18 tell of Esther's turn to enter the king's presence. She immediately finds Darius' favour and he gives a feast honouring her. Verses 19-23 inform us that Mordecai overheard a plot to kill king Ahasuerus. This plot comes from two of his chamberlains - Bigthan and Teresh. The greatest lesson of the book of Esther is of Yahweh's providential preservation of His people. Hence nothing in the entire book happens by accident. It all occurs because God's providential hand is directing everything. Amos 7 tells of successive judgments brought on Israel (called Jacob in this chapter as he was the forefather of the nation) by Yahweh in response to the nation's waywardness. The first disaster is preparing the plague locusts devouring the developing crop. The second catastrophe is the sending of a great fire on the land - the fire is a symbol of judgment and frequently by warfare. The third disaster was the builder's plumb line to measure the nation's straightness and when applied the nation is found to be in need of correction. After each proposed judgment there follows the prophet's intercession for the nation with the refrain, "by whom shall Jacob rise, for he is small". Then we are told of God's response which indicates the decreed judgment cannot be averted. King Jeroboam 2nd's false priest, Amaziah, from Bethel (the house of God - (ironically so-called) tells Amos to stop saying things that the king does not want to hear. Amos' response is that he became a prophet involuntarily because of the Almighty's call to him as a part of the ministry of the prophets. Prior to that Amos earned his living by gathering and selling wild figs (sycamore tree fruit). Amos denounces Amaziah and prophesies a telling and spine- chilling prophecy against the false priest and his family. Titus was a convert of Paul. Paul calls him "my true child in our common faith", as he likewise calls Timothy. Some suggest, with good reason that Titus may have been the brother of Luke the beloved physician. Titus' full name was perhaps Titus Justus. Paul leaves Titus in Crete to establish and solidify the Cretian ecclesias; of which one historian says that there may have been a hundred, or more. The three chapters contain outstanding information about individual lives in the service of Christ. The letter appears to have be written after Paul's release from 2 years house arrest at the end of Acts 28. After this conditions for Christians become far worse, as Nero blamed them for the great fire in Rome. 2 Timothy outlines some of the consequences of this with Paul being arrested at Ephesus and accused of being the ringleader of the Christians and therefore the prime instigator of the fire. The Apostle seems to have undertaken a fifth missionary journey. In the course of this journey, he and Titus have visited Crete to establish ecclesias, perhaps more than a hundred. This journey left the task of organising those ecclesias and the Apostle Paul leaves Titus on the island to do this. So, the book starts with the qualifications required to be an elder of the believers. These elders were to be faithful and experienced brothers. Verse 9 tells us that some of the elders were also overseers - elders refers to the body of men appointed to direct the ecclesia; whereas overseer speaks of a specific function that some of these elders had. Verses 10-11 of chapter 1 tell of the insubordination of many of the Cretians. Their gluttony, idleness and falseness are legendary in the Roman world. Paul ironically speaks of the Cretian paradox spoken by their poet Epiminedes, who claims all Cretians are liars, and yet in this he was a Cretian telling the truth. Paul asks Titus to firmly rebuke those who practise these behaviours. Such are unacceptable among any follower of Christ. The first chapter concludes by telling us that the pure in mind don't have their words   and actions tainted by double standards - likewise those who are double minded corrupt all. Chapter 2 commences with instructions to the young men, such as Titus (v1); older men (v2); older sisters (Vv3-5) - this includes what they are teaching to the younger women both by word and, even more importantly, by example (cp 1 Corinthians 11verses1). In verses 6-8 he tells the young men that they are to be shining examples of followers of Christ. Slaves, who comprised two thirds of the Roman world, are told (V11-12) that by honesty and diligence they prove that they are believers and, by such behaviour, they enhance the reputation of true Christians. There is an emphasis in the letter on "soundness" (literally, not only being healthy, but more so that which promotes and imparts health). How meaningful is this given that the name Titus signifies "nurse". The book reminds us of little things, many of which are important. Don't forget the little things, which demonstrate tender care for fellow saints. We could do no better than to fix our minds and meditate on our sober responsibility to live expectantly of our Master's return as the book of Titus 2verses11-14 urges us. Read aloud, pause and ponder. Chapter 3 tells of the incredible power of the Word of God to purify our lives; and to ultimately save us when our Lord Jesus Christ comes to bring the kingdom of our Sovereign to the earth. All believers are reminded of the need for submission to God appointed order and authority. We show love and tolerance to all in recognising that this is what our God has done for us. The fifth of the faithful sayings occurs in chapter 3verses8, "Those who have believed God must be careful to be forward (Greek word indicates a proud store holder, who proudly stands in front of his/her quality produce) in good works". Pause and ponder.

These chapters mark the turning of the tide in this great tale. The change in power, influence, and safety for Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews could not be more dramatic! They go from victims to victors in only a few short movements of the story. We can clearly see there that God not only thwarts the plans of the Enemy, he puts his people in places of influence to reverse the damage and heal harms. He not only protects us, he places us and uses us to help him change the world and impact our communities and neighborhoods!

Introduction: Get a Grip! (1 Corinthians 3:18–23) You are not as wise as YOU THINK YOU ARE. (1 Cor 3:18–20) You are not lacking IN ANYTHING. (1 Cor 3:21–23) John 17:3 - And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. Sermon Notes (PDF): BLANKHint: Highlight blanks above for answers! Small Group DiscussionRead 1 Corinthians 3:18-23What was your big take-away from this passage / message?In what way do you need to “get a grip” on reality in this season of life? What lies about God, yourself, and others are you tempted to believe?What does it look like to be wise according to worldly standards? How do you see yourself falling into worldly wisdom right now?What does Paul mean by “all things are yours”? How should this truth change your thinking and living? BreakoutPray for one another. AUDIO TRANSCRIPT 1 Corinthians chapter 3 verses 18 through 23.As Pastor Jeff admitted in a sermon a few weeks ago, we try to stay up to date on thelatest lingo since we worked with the youth group.Emphasis on try because new and nonsensical words and phrases seem to be invented on adaily basis.New slang always sounds ridiculous to older generations, even though your slang wasn'tthat much better back in the day either.Do you ever wish a certain slang word or phrase stuck around a bit longer than it had thatcaught on a bit more?I know I miss saying things like big whoop or cool beans or I'm disgusted by something.Gag me with a spoon or when someone says something really obvious I say no duh or how about wheneversomeone's annoying me I lift up my hand and say talk to the hand because the face ain'tlistening.Another one of my favorites someone asked you to do something that you really don't wantto do.Yeah let's not and say we did.But you know which phrase I miss the most?It's somewhat said today but not nearly as much as it used to be.Get a grip.Who's ever said that or heard that at some point?Get a grip.You say get a grip when someone is being unreasonable and is in desperate need of a reality check.This person believes something that is not true and this bad belief leads to a bad action.It leads to an overreaction.This person needs to let go of the lies that he or she is believing.This person needs to get a grip on reality.In 1 Corinthians chapter 3 verses 18 through 23 Paul gives the Corinthians a much neededreality check.He tells them to get a grip because they are believing some things that are not true andthese bad beliefs are leading to bad decisions, erratic actions and massive overreactions.They are tearing the church apart with their selfish pride, with their worldly thinkingand their destructive division.The unity and purity of the Corinthian church cannot be promoted and maintained until theyget a grip on some essential truths from God's Word.Yeah we've been studying 1 Corinthians for almost two months now.Now let's be honest.As you read this book, as you listen to these sermons, it's really easy to look down onthe Corinthians, isn't it?It's easy to think, "Oh man, these people are insane.They're just wackos.Go get them Paul.They really need to talk into."What if you are more like the Corinthians than you think?What if you are believing some things that are not true?What if you are making some bad decisions right now?What if you are negatively affecting your family, your coworkers and this church?What if you need to get a grip?All of us, myself included, need to be grabbed by the shoulders and shaken back into realitybecause we all tend to live in a fantasy world of our own making.A fantasy world of lies, excuses and self-justification.You and I need the same exact reminders that Paul gives the Corinthians in this passagethat we're about to read because you know what?We're far more like them than we care to admit.You and I need to get a grip and remember some essential facts from God's Word.So before we get a grip, let's go to the Lord and ask that He would get a grip on us.Please pray for me that I will faithfully proclaim God's Word and I will pray for youthat you will faithfully receive it.Father, it's so easy to come into this room every Sunday and just pretend.Just to go through the motions, to put on a show where I pray against all of those things.I pray against pretending.I pray against stuffing down what we're really dealing with.I pray against hiding our sin.This morning we asked that you would reveal what we struggle with.You would reveal the sins that we need to deal with by your grace.I pray you'd help us to deal with these things in a biblical way.We ask all these things in Jesus' name.Amen.Get a grip.You are not as wise as you think you are.That's the first blank on your outline.Get a grip.You are not as wise as you think you are.Let's read chapter 3 verses 18 through 20.The apostle Paul writes, "Let no one deceive himself.If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that hemay become wise.For the wisdom of this world is folly with God.For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their craftiness.'And again, the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that they are futile."Have you ever noticed that people who are the most confident tend to be the least competent?The most confident tend to be the least competent.That guy who praises his own handiness and fixes everything at home tends to make a lotof obvious mistakes.He does stuff around his house that no one would hire him to do around their house.That woman who praises her driving tends to be a really bad driver herself.She's looking down at her phone while she's driving.She's applying makeup.She's running red lights.She's not using turn signals when she's going through lanes.That guy who talks a big game in the golf cart tends to have zero game when he's drivingor putting.Or how about that person who says, "Yeah, I'm really calm under pressure."And then when something bad actually happens, they're just totally manic and panicked.And all of these examples overconfidence causes someone to overestimate his or her ability.And that is what Paul is talking about in these verses.A human sense of confidence in yourself makes you incompetent when it comes to spiritualmatters.Those who think they are wise by worldly standards are foolish by heavenly standards.They may appear to be brilliant in the eyes of the world, but what are they in the eyesof God?Stupid, dumb, foolish.When you're impressed with your own wisdom, you become a fool.And that rule is without exception in Scripture.Paul is crystal clear on this.He quotes the book of Job in Psalm 94 when he says, "God catches the wise in their craftinessand again the Lord knows the thoughts of the wise that they are futile."And earlier he says, "The wisdom of this world is folly with God."You cannot outsmart God.You cannot trick Him.If you try, He will beat you at your own game.And again, we see this all throughout Scripture.Here are just two examples that spring to the top of my mind.In the book of Esther, Haman hatches a scheme to kill God's people and to hang his enemyMordecai on gallows that he had specially made.How did that turn out for Haman?Anyone remember?He ends up hung on the gallows that he had made for Mordecai.Yeah, not great as Pastor Jeff said.What about King Absalom?Well, he tried to be king.Didn't really work out for him.He rebelled against his father.He had this long, beautiful hair like Fabio that he really prided himself in.He tried to steal his father's throne.How did that go for him?He ended up caught in a tree branch by his own prided hair with three spears throughhis heart.He ended up as a human pincushion.Both men thought they were smart, but God caught them in their craftiness.They were both competent.Actually, they were confident in their own competence, but they ended up being incompetent.They had their own thoughts and plans that were proven to be useless by God.They were not as wise as they thought they were.Are you confident in your own competence right now?Are you trying to outsmart God?Are you trusting in your own human wisdom?Your own faulty understanding.You know exactly what God thinks about that sin you're indulging in, but you think thatyou can escape the consequences.And without even realizing it, you are bearing the consequences of your repeated and unrepentantdisobedience.You are dulling your conscience.You are pushing down the conviction of the Holy Spirit.You are pushing away faithful friends because you don't want to be found out.You know exactly what God thinks about giving of your time and treasure to the church andthose who are in need.But again, you think those rules don't really apply to you because your schedule is waytoo busy.Your bills are way too high.Your stress is off the chart, so you can't do those things.You know exactly what God thinks about your need to humble yourself and submit to others.But once again, that doesn't really apply to you because you're always right and thoseother people are always wrong.I mean, yeah, sure.Unity and all that jazz is really important, but you're the only one who really knows whatyou're doing.So if you don't get your way, everything's just going to fall apart, right?You know exactly what God thinks about how you should treat fellow believers and handleconflict in the church.But surprise, surprise, once again, you're a special case.You have been too mistreated to talk it out.You have been too hurt to forgive.Please stop elevating your importance because you will be humbled if you don't.Stop thinking that you can outsmart God because you will get caught in a trap of your ownmaking.Stop highlighting your wisdom because you are simply shining a spotlight onto your foolishness.You become a fool by thinking that you're wise.You may be wondering, okay, so how do I actually become wise?Well, Paul gives us a very simple answer in verse 18.Look at that again.He says, "If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a foolthat he may become wise."You become wise by submitting yourself to what the culture around you thinks is foolish.You willingly swallow the pill that most people willfully spit out in God's face.You passionately believe that God not only knows better than you, he knows what is bestin any and every circumstance.You sit under the authority of God's word rather than standing in authority above it.You care way more about the never-changing commands of God than your ever-changing opinions.You are far more concerned with meeting the needs of others than satisfying your own personalpreferences.Do you know what the greatest threat to harvest Bible Chapel is?It's not ungodly politicians.It's not ungodly public policies.It's not other religions.It's not persecution of Christianity.It's not even social media or secular entertainment.The greatest threat to this church is you.The greatest threat to this church is me.The greatest threat is you and I thinking that we know best.You and I insisting it's my way or the highway.That leads to stiff-arming one another.That leads to division.That leads to disunity.Do you know what the greatest unifier in the church is?A mutual agreement that God knows best and we don't.A mutual submission to the Word of God.A mutual agreement that we will do whatever the Bible says in regards to every subject,every issue, every problem.When a financial issue arises in this church, we deal with it in a biblical way.When gossip is being shared, we deal with it in a biblical way.When disagreement breaks out in a small group, we deal with it in a biblical way.When problems arise with the building project, we deal with it in a biblical way.How does that biblical plan sound to you?Are you on board with that?Are you willing to go down that path and do whatever this book says?Let me warn you, it's not going to be easy.If you are committed to that, you have to lay aside your temptation to show off, to proveyourself.You have to be unwaveringly committed to obeying the Word of God, even when it hurts, evenwhen it's hard, even when it smashes your ego to pieces and it will.You need to stop saying, "I think, I think, I think," it starts declaring the Bible says,the Bible says, the Bible says.As Pastor Jeff said a few weeks ago, what you think doesn't really matter.What God commands is of supreme importance.You need to stop deceiving yourself.You need to get a grip.Get a grip because you're not as wise as you think you are.Please do not resist this reality check because it is so freeing to admit that you don't haveall the answers.What God does.Get a grip.You are not as wise as you think you are.Get a grip.You are not lacking in anything.You are not lacking in anything.We've already seen that this unity and Corinth cannot be solved until all the members ofthe church put aside their pride and stop deceiving themselves.Each person must have an accurate understanding of himself or herself.But that's not enough.Each person must have an accurate understanding of others, especially those who were leaders.Paul talks about this at the beginning of verse 21, "So let no one boast in men."For the third time in this letter, Paul is talking about the favoritism controversy inCorinth.Some think that Paul is the best pastor around.Others believe that Peter is the goat of the apostles.Most believe that Apollos is the MVP of preaching and teaching.At this point in the series, you may be thinking, "Why do we keep talking about this over andover again?I get that this favoritism thing is bad, but why is it such a big deal to Paul?"Well, imagine it with me this way.Imagine that all the seating sections in this church are dedicated to one of the pastorson staff and his specific groupies.On the left side is Pastor Jeff's section.You all sit there.Are you guys the best section?I guess you can prove my point for me.On this section, you sit here because you love Pastor Jeff's conversational preachingstyle.You love his sense of humor.And to show your support, you eat funyons.You wear bright neon shoes.You hold up "I hate Mayo" signs.The middle section is Pastor Rich's section.He's not here right now, so we won't give him a big head today.I guess he has the most people.You sit there because you're enthralled by Pastor Rich's intelligence and his in-depthknowledge of God's word.And to show your support, you tell puns.You drink kombucha and you garden in your spare time.And the right side is my section.For the life of me, I can't figure out why you're all sitting over there.Over lunch, you can decide why you're sitting there and what you would do to celebrate mebecause I have literally no idea.Let me ask you, what's the problem with that seating chart?The church is literally and metaphorically divided.One section is boasting in Pastor Jeff, another is boasting in Pastor Rich, and a third isboasting in me.In that scenario, who is not being boasted in?God, the only one who is worthy of our boasting.God deserves the praise, not the leaders he put into place.Leaders are a window and God is the view that you see through the window.When you are watching a beautiful sunset from inside your house, you don't praise how cleanand efficient the window is that you're glimpsing through.You praise what you're getting a glimpse of.Godly leaders are a blessing, but God is the source of that blessing.Only leaders are a gift, but God is the ultimate giver.You need to have an accurate understanding of yourself.You need to have an accurate understanding of others.You also need to have an accurate understanding of all God has given you in Christ.Paul talks about this at the end of verse 21 and in verse 22.He writes, "For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world orlife or death or the present or the future, all are yours and you are Christ and Christis God."That statement is absolutely staggering.I could preach a series for an entire year just on that one statement.There is so much to unpack here, so let's just slow it down and take a small bite ata time so we can savor all the flavor in this passage.For all things are yours.Maybe you don't feel like you have very much.When you pull up your bank accounts, your retirement accounts, you're not really happywith the numbers that you see.Your house is way smaller than you would prefer.Your car has way more miles and way more issues than you would like.When you compare yourself to others on social media, it really seems like very little isactually yours.But that couldn't be any further from the truth according to the apostle Paul.The poorest Christian is wealthier than the richest non-Christian.Jeff Bezos may be one of the most successful businessmen in the entire world.As of this morning when I checked, he is worth $235 billion, far more than all of us if wecombined our net worths.Let me ask you, does Jeff Bezos own all things?No.Elon Musk, he owns X, Tesla, and he's even taking on space now, I guess.As of this morning, he has a net worth of $460 billion.Because even Elon Musk owns all things.He's not even close to owning all things.If you have trusted in Christ, you are far better off than either of these men who seemto be so far beyond you.All things are not theirs, but all things are yours.You may be wondering, "Okay, Taylor, I believe you because the Bible says so, but I justdon't get it."Well, let me show you because Paul gives us a detailed list of everything that belongsto you and belongs to me.First up, Paul or Apollos or Cethus.As they already said, all three of these men are gifts to be appreciated by the Corinthians.Each man serves, each man gives something that is unique to the church.And the same can be said for the pastors and elders here.We are here to glorify God by serving you.We are here to obey God by equipping you for the work of the ministry.The pastors and elders at harvest belong to you.We are here for you.And the same is true for every godly leader who pours himself or herself into your lifeand other avenues of life.Why play favorites when all of us are here to bless you and increase your spiritual health?It's like being gifted a house, only utilizing one of the rooms and blocking off the rest.Instead of doing that, enjoy the entire house.The kitchen can do things that your basement cannot.The closet provide a function that your dining room doesn't.Each room has a place and function in the house.In a much greater way, each leader, pastor, and elder in the church has a place or a function.Next up, the world.One day Jesus Christ will return to rule and reign over this earth.And do you know according to Scripture, you will rule and reign along with Him?How's that going to look?How's that going to work?I have no idea, but it sounds awesome.This may be a shock for you to hear, but there are a lot of ungodly people in authorityand power right now.When you notice, a lot of ungodly people are in charge of communities, cities, and countriesacross the face of this planet.And it may seem like they have more power than you do.But again, does the world belong to those ungodly leaders?Does the world belong to you?Yes.But once again, you have far more.All our apostles are seephis the world, life or death.When you trust in Christ's perfect life, His finished work on the cross, and His victoriousresurrection, you are given eternal life.And as Pastor Jeff often says, eternal life isn't just something you'll experience.Someday eternal life is something you experience right now.Jesus makes this clear in John 17.3.And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whomyou have sent.You have God as your Father.You have Jesus Christ as your personal friend, both now and forever.You no longer need to fear death because Jesus took the hell that you deserve upon Himself.Death can no longer lead you away from God.It can only lead you closer to God.For a believer, death is a homecoming.The present or the future.Once again, maybe your present doesn't seem very good right now.Maybe your present is a place you don't really want to be.But recognize every gift that you have is from the hand of God.Your friends, your spouse, your kids, your church, the clothes on your back, the foodin your stomach, even the difficult circumstances in your life are used by God to mold you intothe image of Jesus Christ.Every difficulty, every pain, every sickness is used to make you more like Him.God loves you like His own Son.But the Bible tells us that God not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all.We also will have to go through hard times.We will also struggle.One day the pain of this world will give way to the glories of heaven.Please know your God is so good to you right now.Because your appreciation of His goodness will exponentially increase in the futurewhen you stand in His presence.Finally, Paul provides a summary statement of what has been given to every Christian.All are yours, and you are Christ, and Christ is God's.Doesn't this statement kind of sound like one of those complex word problems on a mathtest or on the SATs?So break it down, understand it, let's reverse the logic of this text.Because this is an awesome math equation that adds up to an infinite sum.What does God own?I'm going to try that again.What does God own?Who is God's Son?If you were a believer, who do you belong to?Jesus.Therefore, if you belong to Christ, what belongs to you?Everything.I usually hate math, that's math even I can get behind.You own all that God has.You own literally everything.Your net worth cannot be calculated.You and I so often get sidetracked for our desire for more and more and more of whatthis culture has to offer.We get obsessed with accumulating more stuff that we cannot even take with us when we die.You and I lose touch with the spiritual realities of this text.You can lose track of all that has been given to you in Christ.You can grumble.You can complain.You can act ungrateful.There are some Saturdays where Kate and I pull out all the stops for the kids.We have a great breakfast.We go to the park.We go see a movie so they can stuff their face with popcorn, icees, and candy.We come back with them ride bikes.We round out the day with a delicious dinner.But then one of my kids is sulking, walking around upset.And I'll ask Sam or Amy, "What's wrong?"And one of them will respond by saying, "Oh, I'm just having a hard day."And I'm just blown away by that response."How in the world are you having a hard day?"Well, you and mom are being mean to me and you didn't let me have the second pack ofpirate's booty that I wanted.Are you serious?We gave you everything today and you're belly aching about one small thing that you don'teven need.In those moments, I want to give my kids a reality check.I want to give them a loud and clear message.Get a grip.You are so blessed.You are not lacking in anything.And Paul is giving you the same exact reality check.He is shaking you by the shoulders and saying, "You are so blessed.You are not lacking in anything.What do you want that you really need?"The answer is nothing, nothing.You may be struggling with your job or your roles as a stay-at-home mom, but you mustremember that you have been given the greatest calling of all, telling others about whatyou have received in Christ and what they can receive in Christ.You may feel lonely right now.You may feel isolated like no one cares about you.But you must remember that Jesus has gifted you with the Holy Spirit who lives insideof you and he will never leave you or forsake you.You may have a very broken and dysfunctional family or come from a very broken and dysfunctionalfamily, but you must remember that the Lord himself has taken you in and he has givenyou brothers and sisters in Christ who love you.You may not like your house very much.You may think it's the worst house on the block, but you must remember that Jesus himselfis preparing a place for you in heaven.You may not receive the biggest inheritance from your family, but as you read earlierin Romans, you are an heir of God and a fellow heir of Jesus Christ.You may feel cursed right now when life is hard and it's just one thing after another,but you must remember that you have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlyplaces.Get a grip.You are not lacking in anything.If you choose to get a grip and remember these essential reminders, you will experiencea sense of joy like you've never known before.You will stop trying to build up more and more stuff and accumulate a kingdom for yourself.You will no longer be envious of what other people have because you are content with whatyou have.You will enjoy true unity in the life of the church because you're no longer in competitionwith other believers.Yes, all things are yours in Christ, but all things are also theirs in Christ.You own what they own and they own what you own.God doesn't play favorites with His children.We're all on the same equal footing.In the body of Christ, we all own all things.For most of this message I've been speaking to Christians, those who are Christ.I know there are people in this room who are not Christians, who are not Christ.I want to talk to you for a minute.First of all, I want to let you know that I'm so glad that you're here.It's my greatest desire that God would get a grip on you so that you can get a grip onthe reality of your situation.No matter how much you think you have, you have nothing that lasts.All things are not yours.But I have great news for you.Jesus offers you all of Himself.He offers you all that belongs to Him.And to receive it, you must let go of the garbage of this culture that you're holdingonto so you can grab ahold of His infinite riches.Come to Him empty-handed.Come to Him asking for forgiveness.Come to Him admitting your need for His grace.Why settle for nothing, both now and forever, if you can have all things for the rest ofeternity?The worship team can now make their way forward.You ever since childhood have had to deal with night terrors.I have very vivid dreams where I think things are not true and see things are not there.And this crazy thinking leads to some crazy behavior.I'll yell things out.I'll walk around the room.I'll even jump on the bed.Then all of a sudden, I'm snapped back to reality.I come to my senses.And every single time I feel so foolish.I think to myself, "How could I have thought those things?How could I have done those things?Why did I act that way?How can I stop this from happening in the future?"Maybe the Holy Spirit has done something similar for you this morning.I hope He has snapped you back to reality so you can stop living in that fantasy world.I pray that He has caused you to come to your senses so you will stop believing the liesof the enemy.Brothers and sisters, let me just say this one final time with all the love and care Ihave in my heart for every single one of you.Get a grip.Get a grip.You are not as wise as you think you are.You are not lacking in anything.Until you get a grip, your relationship with God will not be as strong as it could be.Until you get a grip, harvest Bible chapel will not be as strong in unity and purityas it could be.Let's pray.Father, we come to You, and we all admit that we all struggle with believing things arenot true.We all struggle with an inflated opinion of ourselves.Even when we think very little of ourselves, we are still focused on self.We all admit that we so often complain and grumble about what we don't have, and we failto remember all that you have given us in Christ, which is everything.For those who are discouraged this morning, help them to walk out of here encouraged bythe truth of your word.By those who came in here hard-hearted, may they walk out soft-hearted, Lord.For those who came in with their arms crossed not wanting to listen, may they come out worshipingYou and glorifying You for all that You have done for them and all that You continue todo for them.Lord, we thank You for who You are.We thank You for what You've done, what You are doing, and what You will do.We ask all these things in Jesus' name.Amen.

Tonight we are highlighting Haman and his plight to swap with Mordecai and destroy the Jews… Esther 3Let's Talk, BIBLE! If you ever want to see the lengths and extents some are willing to go to destroy you, be submitted to GOD, be obedient to GOD, and be successful. There are several instances within the WORD of GOD that those doing the will of GOD were targeted by individuals and committees because they would not conform to their ways. They were GOD-centered and focused. Their opposers envied the favor of GOD on their lives and went to great extremes to destroy them. Not because they were wrong because their opposers were jealous. They wanted what they had and they wanted the chosen gone. Some were seemingly successful (Destiny Swap) (Jacob, Cain, Joseph's brothers in the beginning) though they were ultimately judged by GOD. That's what the wicked miss. You might succeed with people but you cannot trick GOD. Others were conquered and led to deal with the very consequences they tried to afflict on others.(Destiny Swap Failed) (Haman, Joseph's brothers in the end, and Judas Iscariot) Tonight we will talk on the JESUSgirlENT podcast from the topic: The Hit That Missed! #GODBLOCKEDIT Streaming everywhere tonight on the JESUSgirlENT podcast available on ALL podcast streaming platforms! #KeepGoing #GoForth #JESUSgirlENT

A quiet banquet turns into a reckoning. We open Esther 7 and follow the swift arc from hidden identity to bold petition, from a trusted official's exposure to a chilling moment of justice on the very gallows he built. Along the way, we unpack how courage pairs with timing, how clear language can disarm deceit, and why faith often moves through ordinary rooms and imperfect people.We start with the stakes inside the Persian court: a coerced “pageant” that placed Esther in power without freedom, a lethal decree engineered by pride, and a king unaware of the trap set in his name. Esther moves with patience - two banquets, careful words, and a decision to risk herself in the danger.When the moment arrives, she names the harm plainly and points to Haman without rhetoric. The mask slips; panic accelerates his downfall and the king sees betrayal and impropriety in one single dramatic scene. The reversal is sharp, but the text's deeper current is steadier - justice has a long memory, and humility outlasts vanity.We draw out practical wisdom for everyday courage. Preparation matters; prayer steadies the hand and truth told simply can carry its own weight. Esther models how to confront harm without spectacle, to honor authority without surrendering conscience, and to act for the common good with the cost in view.For anyone facing a hard conversation at work, at home, or in their own community, this story offers a framework. Wait well, speak clearly, and anchor your goals & plans with faith & prayer.Listen for insights on spiritual discernment, power & responsibility, and the faith that God is already at work.If this reflection strengthens your faith or equips your voice, subscribe, share the episode with a friend, and leave a review so others can find it. Your thoughts and stories help us grow.What truth do you feel called to say today?===Esther 7:1 - 101 So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.2 And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.3 Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:4 For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.5 Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?6 And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.7 And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.8 Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.9 And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he haSend us a textSupport the show

Manifesting First Fruits (1) (audio) David Eells 11/19/25 Jesus Is Coming in His First-Fruits Teddy Lishan Desta - 06/22/2005 You shall rise up in My Name, you shall stand in My very Glory. In the majesty of the Name of your God, you shall shepherd My flock (Micah 5:4-5). For the sake of My Name, which I have bestowed on you, and for the Divine strength I have put in you, the obedience of the nations shall be yours, and all the nations of the earth shall bring their homage to you. All the nations shall be blessed through you (Genesis 49:10; Psalm 72:11). For your God has anointed and glorified you, you shall be made princes and leaders to the nations; and a people who knew not you, shall follow you (Isaiah 55:4; 32:1). You have eaten from the hidden manna; you have received the white stone. You have passed through the deep waters of afflictions, and you have overcome your trials. Therefore, I have given you access to My presence; I have made you My cherished heritage. You have been made a royal vessel, a chosen seed to carry My Name. Arise now and display the white stone and manifest the Name written on it (Revelation 2:17). Arise and proclaim the hidden manna, I have fed you all these years. What you have heard in secret, now you should proclaim in the public; what you have been told in the ears, now you have to shout it from the rooftops (Matthew 10:27). I have made you the express image of My Son, and the manifestation of His invisible power (Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 3:12). You shall soon leave My hiding place, and you will carry His Name before the nations. And those who do not bow down to this Name, they shall fall and never rise again (Psalm 45: 5-7). This is the day your Lord has chosen to magnify His Holy Name above all names. I have shaped you all these years in the furnace of affliction. You have languished under a heavy burden and endured the rod of My chastisement. I have intended you to be a caring leader, so I have chosen you by fire (Isaiah 49:11). But look, I shall come to you to open your grave and to release you from your dungeon. I shall come to you to shake off your dust and to change your humble state. When I exert My resurrection power on your behalf and raise you from the dead and sit you on a throne in the highest place of this world, then you shall be like one who dreams. I shall place you above all dominion, principalities and powers, and all those who will see this will acknowledge that I have exerted the exceeding power of My strength on your behalf. I have anointed you for My grand purpose. You are the chosen instrument to bring to an end the groaning and sighing of creation (Romans 8:19). You shall gather the little ones in your nurturing arms, and they will thrive under your protective care. The poor and the needy shall get solace under your guidance, and you shall destroy their destroyer and make their Earth to rest in peace. You shall be the spring shower on the dry land. The lives that have been blighted by sin shall be healed and restored. The weak and the oppressed shall have their lives revived under your sight. You shall raise the dead and restore the deceased. You will be made the dew of light, which shall make the earth to sprout her dead back to life. The rubbles of generations you shall rebuild. But you shall burn also like a fire (Malachi 3:1-2). Your blaze shall sweep the world; it shall devour all that causes offense. You shall serve Me as the gatekeepers of My Kingdom lest the uncircumcised of heart enter My Kingdom and defile My Sanctuary. Your all-seeing eyes shall keep out the wicked, the arrogant, and the pervert from My holy city. To understand all these, look what I did in the life of Moses when I took him from the vocation of a shepherd to make him a leader of My people; study what I did for Joseph when I led him out of the recesses of the dark dungeon to sit him next to the king, and discern My mighty deeds how I glorified Mordecai lifting him up from his humble state to make him a viceroy of the Persian Empire. My people, all these are types of your end-time destiny; it shall be so with you in these last days. I have promised that the overcomer shall inherit My Name and sit with Me on My Divine Throne. He shall be My son and I shall be his Father; and He shall rule the nations with the rod of iron (Revelation 2:26-27, 3:21-22). Get ready, your day of visitation hastens to its fulfillment.   Jesus Will Soon Bring Us to the Father  Amos Scaggs vision - 03/01/2006 I was on the side of a mountain with another person who I knew to be one of the sons of the prophets. I was tending a solid white lamb that had an ever-smooth, slick coat of wool. I was holding a white rope that was attached to the lamb's neck while it was grazing. All of a sudden, the lamb started to move around the side of the mountain and then went straight up towards the top. The son of the prophets did not go with me. As I gave the lamb more rope, it started running full speed higher and higher. I was so amazed that I could keep up with the lamb running like that. I never let go of the white rope that was around the lamb's neck. When the lamb broke into a full gallop, it sensed its owner and master. At the top of the mountain was an old white-haired man with a white beard who was slowly descending the mountain to meet the lamb. But it seemed that the old man had not moved more than 5ft from the top of the mountain until the lamb had reached him. The old man caressed the lamb, and I was still holding on to the white rope that was around the lamb's neck. Jesus, the Lamb, through the Holy Spirit, the rope, will very quickly cause us to ascend the mountain of the Kingdom to our Father. I believe this will soon happen. The sons of the prophets failed to receive the anointing that I did. In 2 Kings 2:15-18 the sons of the prophets didn't believe that Elijah had been taken into the presence of God but thought he was still on earth and so were not included in the gathering. They represented those who were trained by the school of the prophets and, as such the Church System.   First-Fruits Rise as World Falls The Trumpet Bill Burns -- 12/26/2005 You shall be astonished as you walk forward from this day. I tell you that I am going to build My house. It is a house that no man can build, and I will build on the mountain tops, and I will build in the places that people will flow into. I will build a house of power, for indeed this is the season of the horse (of power) when the sons of My right hand shall arise to their positions. I shall dispel the lies that I no longer move in power. I shall break through the darkness, for I Am the Light of this Day. I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life. Truth is going to be revealed in an unprecedented way as I come forth in power and build My house. It will be a house that I can dwell in, a place of healing and resurrection life, a place of revelation knowledge. You, My people, will see that house. Arise and rejoice, for I come, says the Lord!   Small Straws in a Soft Wind Marsha Burns - 12/26/2005 There is a rumbling; it is My power in the earth. It is resurrection power. I have been touched with the feeling of your infirmities. I have been touched by your grief and sorrow. Come forth. Rise up and come forth. You have been bound in grave clothes, but I call to you to come forth! I will bring you up and loose you from your bondages. I will cause you to overcome and to be victorious even over the death in the things you have experienced, says the Lord.   Glorified in His Saints Aaron Lim - 10/02/2006 I received this vision as I was listening to a talk by David Eells. In the vision, the whole land was dark, and nothing could be seen in the background. I saw the Lord Jesus Christ with a light around Him on the cross on top of a hill in the middle of the land. All around, at the bottom of the hill, I saw people who looked exactly like Jesus, like they were clones of Him. They were all wearing the exact same garments as each other and had the same light around them as Christ did, and they were all looking up towards Him on the cross. Praise His name! 2 Cor.3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. 2 Cor.4:11 For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. Gal.2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that [life] which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, [the faith] which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. 2 Thes.1:10 when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marvelled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day. 11 To which end we also pray always for you, that our God may count you worthy of your calling, and fulfil every desire of goodness and [every] work of faith, with power; 12 that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. After the vision, I knelt down to pray and closed my eyes, and I pictured Jesus Christ on top of the hill, as if through the eyes of one of the saints, and I said to Him a prayer from King David: “With all my heart have I sought you, don't let me wander from your commandments.” He looked at me and said, “Ask the Father, because anything you ask of Him will be done by the Father”. So I looked up to the sky and asked our Father, and tears started flowing from my eyes. To Him be the kingdom and the glory forever and ever. My brothers and sisters, seek diligently and keep your eyes on the Son because everything else is darkness, and in Him there's hope. Ask the Father to lead you by the hand to our Lord because we can't find Him on our own. I have faith in His power to perfect all of us in Jesus Christ.   Greater Works Coming  Rex Veron - 10/04/2006 Last night, around 1:30 or 2:00 AM, I dreamed; actually, it was like I was translated to this place. I was among many people of all walks of life and backgrounds. All of them were between 16 - 20 years old, except me. We were working as a team, casting out demons, praying, and exalting Jesus. We would speak and it would come to pass; healings, prophesying, deliverances, growing and replacing of limbs, it was awesome. It replayed several times, and I remember thinking I'm actually here with these people doing this. The feeling of presence was overwhelming. The people were non-descript, nothing distinguished one from another, and all had in common the love, reverence, and fear of the Lord. I have a strong sense this morning that this has something to do with the birth of the man-child and how the corporate body will function.   A Bird of Prey Teddy Lishan Desta (David's notes in red) What I have purposed from eternity that I will perform in its appointed time. My eternal counsel shall stand, and what I have purposed will be done. I am not a man to lie, not a son of man to change My mind. I will do what I counsel to do; I cannot deny Myself. Many have written about My plan for the last days. But did they truly learn from Me, or did they hear from My eternal counsels? Did they partake of the secrets of their God; did they visit the inner recesses of My word? Were the mysteries of the Holy One of Israel disclosed to them? Had they known My counsel, they would have declared My mind. Had they truly heard from Me, there would have been no error among My people. But what they spoke was of man; what they wrote was out of the learning of man. Neither the wise of this world could know about My doing, as it is discerned by My Spirit. None of their learned men could predict about My plan, as this was My much-kept secret. Jer.23:16 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they teach you vanity; they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of Jehovah. 17 They say continually unto them that despise me, Jehovah hath said, Ye shall have peace; and unto every one that walketh in the stubbornness of his own heart they say, No evil shall come upon you. 18 For who hath stood in the council of Jehovah, that he should perceive and hear his word? Who hath marked my word, and heard it? 19 Behold, the tempest of Jehovah, [even his] wrath, is gone forth, yea, a whirling tempest: it shall burst upon the head of the wicked. 20 The anger of Jehovah shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall understand it perfectly. 21 I sent not these prophets, yet they ran: I spake not unto them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my council, then had they caused my people to hear my words, and had turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. My people, listen to Me as I speak My heart to you; and carefully weigh My words which are from My heart. My secrets I disclose to you, and that which has not been known to past generations I reveal to you. You have not heard it before; only now I lift the shroud and reveal that which has been hid from the ages. You are My chosen generation, so I reveal My truths to you. This I do so that you shall build My Kingdom on earth and bring Me the glory (Isa 48; Eph.1:17-20; Rom.16:26-27). This is My will, My eternal counsel. Your God will stir a bird of prey, His instrument of judgment from its abode. God has readied His bird for these days. God shall use it to bring His eternal plan to pass on earth, and God's hand shall guide it into action. God will call it from the valleys of the Jordan, and make it to emerge from the lowest parts of the earth. As the phoenix rises from its ashes, so shall My bird rise from the furnaces. It will come forth from the smoldering fires, so it will gleam like burnished steel. It will ascend to the heights and strike across the skies like lightning. The world will be taken by surprise; its appearing shall strike fear among many. I have fully equipped the bird to fulfill all that I have called it to do. (This phoenix is the first fruits sons of God, in whom Jesus is resurrected from the death of the Jordan to do His works of old when He was the first fruits. They will bring truths hidden from the foundation of the world and authority to bring judgment on the beast and harlot.) Its eyes are like those of the eagle, penetrating and discerning from afar. Its wings are large and strong; it will not weary or tire. Its talons and beak are sharp and strong; none of its prey can escape its grips. My bird shall strike fear in the hearts of the kings of the earth, and the girdles of their loins will untie. Those who eat My people as one who eats bread, they shall be judged by My hand. Those who say they reside in their strong towers, them it shall attack and humble for their pride. Many will cry out to God for His mercy and forgiveness; many may find the door of repentance closed. But to you, My sons and daughters of the Faith, the bird shall come to you as a comforter, carrying healing in its wings. To you, it shall bring good tidings, the news of eternal joy and rest. You shall get protection under its wings and deliverance from your mortal enemies. With your eyes, you shall see the destruction of the wicked, and none of the pestilences coming to your gates. Mal.4:2 But unto you that fear my name shall the sun of righteousness arise with healing in its wings; and ye shall go forth, and gambol as calves of the stall. 3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I make, saith Jehovah of hosts. You shall see My salvation coming to the earth; you shall see as the captives go free. You shall see your corporate prayers answered and your righteous petitions granted. I will wipe away your tears from your faces, and your mouth shall be filled with mirth. You will see the righteousness of God filling the world, as the Word of God is honored by all. Hos.6:2 After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. 3 And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. Mal.5:2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she who travaileth hath brought forth: then the residue of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. 4 And he shall stand, and shall feed [his flock] in the strength of Jehovah, in the majesty of the name of Jehovah his God: and they shall abide; for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. Therefore, My people, wait upon your God expectantly as I AM to begin to fulfill My eternal plans. But many others will attempt to fight My will, but they shall fail. Many will try to shoot down My bird of prey, but no weapon fashioned against it can prosper. I AM your God Who does His eternal counsels faithfully in its appointed time. I do that which is truth, and I owe no one an apology, says the Lord. Word From the east, I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill My purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do (Isa.46:11). I am calling a man to come from the east; he will swoop down like a hawk and accomplish what I have planned. I have spoken, and it will be done (Isa.46:11). For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Mat.24:27, NIV).   Man-child and Tribulation Approach He Shall Come to Be Glorified in His Saints Word given to Debra Klein - 02/08/2004 You cry out to me, My love, in heavy labor, groping for the touch of My hand ... the comfort of My Words in thy ears! You are drunk and delirious with the birth pangs to deliver my Son from thy womb! The tears of your pain have clouded thy sight and discernment as to where you are! You are here ... in the labor room ... in the holding pattern, laboring to bring forth My Son! I am with you, though you cannot see Me through your suffering and labor. Do you not hear the tender words of comfort I whisper in thy ears? Am I not so close that you do not feel my heart beating with yours as the labor increases? For in just a little while, He shall come forth from thy womb and we will rejoice in Him! My Child in you is stirring and restless, and also labors to come forth from you. The two of you labor together through the writhing pain, and I labor with you also. The Child is still now as He comes through the birth canal ... still and waiting for the last powerful thrust and push to come forth from thy womb to be delivered onto the earth and manifest My Glory! Fear not My Beloved. I am with you! Lean on me heavily as the labor grows hard! For I hold you completely in My Arms and wipe the sweat of your brow through these last excruciating pains before the final thrust! Listen, My love ... do you hear His heart beat within you? His heartbeat is increasing as He rises up within you! Any moment now My Beloved, He will come forth! Let Me wipe the tears from your eyes so that you can focus on Me as the labor grows. Focus on My Face and do not turn your eye from Me during these last pains. Hold tight to Mine Arm and the work of Mine Hand will deliver thee! Just a little while, My Beloved! Hold tight to Me! And the world will know that I, the Father, have brought forth My Son through you! Fear not My Love, the dragon lies cunning in anticipation of His birth, but I am here and will protect Him and you from the evil one who desires in his heart to devour Him. He has no victory over My Hand that delivers My Son onto the earth! Rest My Love, between the pangs of labor, for you will need to be strengthened to endure the final moments of the labor. Lay back in My Arms and rest heavy upon Me, for soon, very soon My Son will come forth and I will deliver you into My Glory!   Tribulation Translations to Safety Javier Keefe - 03/01/2012 (David's notes in red) In the dream I had this morning, there was a nuclear missile that was heading to Earth. There were three types of people whom I saw when it was known that this missile would be crashing to Earth. The first group just gave up and started partying and drinking, reasoning, Well, we're all going to die, so we'd might as well enjoy our last moments. The second type of people thought, everyone for themselves, and a hoarding spirit prevailed in them. (Even though this missile could be a natural sign of what will come to many places on Earth, this missile is a symbol of coming catastrophe. Many people know that the end is near and lean upon whatever they trust in or gives some comfort to them.) The third type of people knew that when this missile hit the Earth, the yoke of this world system will be broken off of them supernaturally and that an anointing of protection with every need provided by the hand of their Father would be speedily met. They knew that the Lord's power and great grace, like could only be imagined by the heart, would become reality. (These saints knew that the end of hope in the world system brings the freedom of a new beginning. People can stop worrying about going to college and getting ahead and seek to know God and be in the “Secret place of the Most High”, Jesus Christ. The renewed imagination of faith in the promises of God's Word will supply every need, including protection.) This third group of people found they were able to fly and be translated to help the first two types of people. (See my dream below of translations to come.) The third group of people had so much faith in the good news of the latter rain anointing that they were a great help to many, and they were able to bring some to a safe house. (Those who believe the Gospel of Jesus bearing the curse for us can be delivered from it -- Galatians 3:13.) Even though some people were told about the safe house, some non-believers complained, “Nothing can help us from this coming tragedy”, and they refused to enter the safe house. (The safe house represents abiding in the Word, the Ark of Jesus Christ, and also physical places protected by the angels for people who are in the Ark of Jesus.) The missile was seen in the air like a large, bright star falling to Earth, but everyone knew it was a nuclear missile that would change the world forever once it hit. (America has been seen as a falling star. In the natural, one nuclear missile could bring America down to third-world nation status if exploded miles in the air to “hit Earth” with an EMP to destroy all electronics. Iran has tested their missiles for a high air burst. Javier never saw the missile hit Earth. Many have seen in dreams electronics come to a standstill in America.) The third group of people were at times, like Peter walking on the water; although they could fly at times, the awe of this phenomenon troubled them and kept them from continuing to fly. (Like Peter, when we pay attention to the wind and the waves, it drags our mind down into the natural and causes us to lose faith and sink.) As these people battled with their flying trouble, they got their eyes more on themselves. They thought they were failing to lift off the ground because they were not taking off fast enough, so they started to run and tried catching speed to lift off. Then, when that wouldn't work, they thought they had to be up off the ground and jump off something to catch air. (Salvation in all forms is by faith and not by self-works.) They finally realized they just had to stop confessing they “couldn't fly” and when they simply professed “they could fly,” they could fly again. (We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Once this confusion of works versus grace through faith is past, there will be consistency to walk in the steps of Jesus under the latter rain anointing. Although in the spiritual we fly, or overcome the world, by faith, real translations were common in the New Testament, early rain and will be more so in the latter rain.) Overall, there was a great peace within the third type of people and it was spreading to some others and the scriptures of God's promises were being quoted non-stop, and the Word was the most important thing in the world that was held onto. Mar.11:23 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. 24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. According to this verse, if you were caught in a place of apparent danger, since you are not under the curse, you could believe God to translate you somewhere else.)   David Eells - 08/18/2010 I was translated from Louisiana many years ago to preach in tongues in some Eastern European church. It was clear they were expecting me to appear in the pulpit, but were very excited when it happened. More recently, I asked the Lord for this gift and have expected it after the Man-child latter rain ministry begins, since it was also common in the early rain. Jesus “disappeared” in the numeric -- John 5:13; Luke 4:28-30; Acts 8:39; John 10:39? In type -- Ezekiel 3:14; 1 Kings 18:12. The boat translated in John 6:16-21. I believe in answer to this prayer, I received a dream in which I saw large, beautiful, tasty strawberries. (Which I believe represent the first fruits Man-child ministry, since strawberries are a spring fruit.) As I examined them, they were inside a dead fish with all kinds of nasty mud and trash around it. (I believe this represents the Man-child being born out of an apostate religious system represented by the fish and the mud and trash represent all the garbage doctrine and living associated with this system.) Also, I saw a war in which the enemy had large plastic tanks with metal straps around them (the kind used in the chemical industry where poisons and corrosives would destroy metal tanks.) We sought to destroy these tanks. (This poison represents strong demonic delusions sent in lying words and doctrines to destroy God's people. We are seeing some of this now.) Then I saw that I had been given a gift to translate from place to place and also to move people out of harm's way by this method. A group would stand beside me and be translated with me to a safe place. (The Man-child took the Woman into the wilderness refuge. Rev.12:5 And she was delivered of a son, a man-child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that there they may nourish her a thousand two hundred and threescore days ...) When we translated, I said to the translated ones, “And we didn't even have [natural] wings”. (In Javier's dream, flying was translation. 14 And there were given to the woman the two wings of the great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness unto her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. These next two verses could refer to the poison in the plastic tanks of strong delusions, which we sought to destroy. 15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. 16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon cast out of his mouth.)

Unique for many reasons, the book of Esther is a story of God's providential hand even in the shadows of life.As the narrative ends, we are given a glimpse into the "where are they now" of this epic story. But curiously, Esther is missing. The focus seems to be on Mordecai.

November 18, 2025 Daily Devotional: “For Such a Time as This” ​Esther 4:14 ​"For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise 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?" ​The story leading up to this verse is one of existential crisis. Haman, a high official, has manipulated King Ahasuerus into issuing a decree to annihilate all the Jewish people across the Persian Empire. Esther, a Jewish orphan raised by her cousin Mordecai, is now the Queen. She is the only one in a position to intervene, but doing so means approaching the King without being summoned—a crime punishable by death. ​Mordecai's words to Esther are a powerful challenge to her comfort and privilege. He first reminds her that if she does nothing, God's plan of deliverance will continue, just through another means. Her silence will only cost her everything. This is a profound truth: God's purpose is not dependent on our obedience, but our fulfillment is. ​Then comes the unforgettable question: "And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" ​This question is not just for a queen in an ancient palace; it is for you, right now. You are where you are—in your job, your family, your neighborhood, your church—not by accident. Every skill you possess, every relationship you hold, and every challenge you face has placed you exactly where you need to be to fulfill a divine purpose. ​God has orchestrated your life—your education, your struggles, your triumphs—to prepare you for the opportunities and responsibilities of this very day. Don'thide behind fear, comfort, or the belief that you are "too small" or "not ready." The "kingdom" you have been brought to is your sphere of influence. ​What is the "time" God has placed you in? Look around. What is the need that only your unique gifts can meet? What is the injustice you are uniquely positioned to address? This is your moment to step out in courage, trusting that the same hand that elevated Esther has placed you where you are, for sucha time as this. ​​Identify Your "Kingdom"! Where is your primary sphere of influence today? What is a difficult situation, a person who needs help, or an opportunity for good that you are uniquely positioned to address? Take a courageous act, and step into your moment of Esther: What is one courageous step—a conversation, an act of service, a prayer, or a moment of advocacy—you can take today to act on the purpose God has given you? ​ ​

Esther 5-6 In these chapters we see the drama start to escalate as Esther sets her plans in motion while the danger to the Jewish people continues to grow. Mordecai's life is in even greater danger, and Haman's plot to harm him is accelerating even faster than his plans for the other Jews. But God loves to show his genius and sovereignty by turning the tables on the Enemy. As things start to go wrong for Haman, the absurdity of evil begins to show and God's greater plans for justice are revealed as petit, inexorable, and decisive.

Join your host, Owen Colwell, who is joined by Rowan University Football Head Coach Pat Ruley, as well as senior tight end Joe Riina, and freshman running back/skill player Mordecai Ford. On this episode of the Coaches Show, the four discuss Rowan's 55-point victory over Vermont State Castleton, what this season has been like for Riina and Ford, Rowan's final regular season game against Kean, and more. Tune in!

Friday Bible Study (10/31/25) // Ezra 2:1-40- (ESV) // The Exiles Return Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town. 2 They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah.The number of the men of the people of Israel: 3 the sons of Parosh, 2,172. 4 The sons of Shephatiah, 372. 5 The sons of Arah, 775. 6 The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812. 7 The sons of Elam, 1,254. 8 The sons of Zattu, 945. 9 The sons of Zaccai, 760. 10 The sons of Bani, 642. 11 The sons of Bebai, 623. 12 The sons of Azgad, 1,222. 13 The sons of Adonikam, 666. 14 The sons of Bigvai, 2,056. 15 The sons of Adin, 454. 16 The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. 17 The sons of Bezai, 323. 18 The sons of Jorah, 112. 19 The sons of Hashum, 223. 20 The sons of Gibbar, 95. 21 The sons of Bethlehem, 123. 22 The men of Netophah, 56. 23 The men of Anathoth, 128. 24 The sons of Azmaveth, 42. 25 The sons of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. 26 The sons of Ramah and Geba, 621. 27 The men of Michmas, 122. 28 The men of Bethel and Ai, 223. 29 The sons of Nebo, 52. 30 The sons of Magbish, 156. 31 The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. 32 The sons of Harim, 320. 33 The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 725. 34 The sons of Jericho, 345. 35 The sons of Senaah, 3,630.36 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, 973. 37 The sons of Immer, 1,052. 38 The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. 39 The sons of Harim, 1,017.40 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodaviah, 74.Website: https://mbchicago.org FOLLOW US Facebook:   / mbc.chicago   Instagram:   / mbc.chicago   TikTok:   / mbc.chicago   Podcasts: Listen on Apple, Spotify & others TO SUPPORT US Zelle to: info@mbchicago.org Website: https://mbchicago.org/give Venmo: https://venmo.com/mbchurch DAF Donations: https://every.org/mbc.chicago PayPal: https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_but... #Ezra #DanielBatarseh #BibleStudy #mbchicago #mbcchicago #Bible #versebyverse #church #chicago #livechurch #churchlive #chicagochurch #chicagochurches #sermon #bibleexplained #bibleproject #bibleverse #bookbybook #oldtestament #explained

Come As You Are Series - EsterEsther 4:14  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?”  I think the story of Esther is a good one for this series. Esther was a young Jewish woman who found favor with the king and became the queen.  Her uncle Mordecai adopted her as his own when she was young, as both parents had died.  Mordecai had instructed Esther before she met with the king not to reveal that she was Jewish, and she followed his advice.  This story tells about how a powerful vizier to the king, named Haman, wanted to kill all the Jews living in the Persian Empire on one day.  You see, he was angry because Mordecai refused to bow down to him.  Mordecai explained he only bows down to God, and this angered Haman, who told the king that there were people living throughout his kingdom that did not obey the same laws of the king and that he should not tolerate them.  He convinced the king to issue a decree that would destroy the Jews, and upon doing so, Haman agreed to put ten thousand silver talents into the royal treasury.  When the Jewish people heard, they went into mourning with prayer and fasting.  Mordecai got word to Esther and explained the situation.  He asked Esther to talk to her husband, the king, and beg for the lives of her people to be spared.  Esther explained that if anyone goes in front of the king while he is in the inner courtroom without being summoned, they will suffer immediate death unless he offers them the end of the scepter.   Mordecai wrote back the following in  Esther 4:14 “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?”.  Esther risked her life to go in front of the king, and because of her bravery, she saved her people, God's people.  We do not usually know why we end up where we end up or why we go through the things that we go through.  God is a mystery, and only he knows what he is doing.  He can see the whole picture, past, present, and future.   We can only see the past and present.  I once heard a quote that I really liked and found comforting during some difficult times.  The quote said, “You were assigned this mountain to show others it can be moved.”  I found it comforting to think that by making it through the situation, I would show others that they could make it through, too.  I also used the quote in reverse and thought, “Ok, then I just need to look for someone who has made it through this type of situation to show me that I could make it through as well.”  There is a song by Christina Perri called "I Believe."  In that song, she says, “I believe that you fell so that you would land next to me.”  Have you ever been in a situation where you could just tell that God arranged it?  Sometimes, we can tell what God is doing.  Sometimes, we can feel it in our bones that we are exactly where we were meant to be at that precise moment.  The reason I think Esther's story goes well in this series is that she had to go to the Lord and ask Him to save her people. She needed God on her side if she was going to be able to walk into the inner room where her husband was and not suffer immediate death. She was living as a queen and pretending that she wasn't Jewish. I can imagine it might have been hard to go to the Lord and ask for something, when she was pretending she wasn't Jewish. I can imagine she might have wondered if God would answer her prayers. Would he be mad at her for not being honest with those around her? Would he want to punish her for not practicing her religion? I can see how she might not have felt worthy to go to the Lord and ask for help.Esther knew the Jewish people needed her, and so she rose above her insecurities. She rose above her fear of dying, and she stepped out in faith that God would not let her and her people perish. She stepped out in faith, and she saved her people. Can you relate to Ester? Have you stepped away from God? Have you pretended that He is not there, or that you weren't His child? It's ok. Come back to Him, just as you are, and He will welcome you with open arms. I know this is hard to believe, as that is not how those we know in this world behave. This world is broken, and so are the people living in it. We often struggle to forgive and forget. We hold onto things and resent people for the things that they do.God is not like us. He is for us, not against us. He loves us unconditionally and is just waiting for us to come to him so he can pick us up in His arms and give a giant hug.  If you ever wonder what it will be like when you turn back to the Lord. If you ever wonder what God's response will be, you can look in the Bible at Luke 15:20. “ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him.” You don't even have to walk all the way back to the Father. As soon as God sees you headed in His direction, He will run towards you, put his arms around you, and kiss you. That is how much He loves you and wants you to come to Him, just as you are!! Trust that God is for you. Trust that He wants you to come to Him. Trust that no matter what you have done, you can still come to Him.Dear Heavenly Father, I ask that you bless all those listening to this podcast today. Lord, we thank you for making us who we are meant to be. We thank you for placing us in this time of need.  We ask that you be with everyone who is struggling right now.  Lord, we ask that you give us the strength and perseverance to keep going. We ask that you show us those who have come before us, who have overcome similar circumstances, and give us the knowledge that we, too, can overcome the circumstances. Lord, help us believe that despite all we have said and done, we can still come to you and you will still be waiting for us with open arms. Lord, you are amazing, and we're so very thankful for all you do for us.  We love you, Lord, and we ask all of this in accordance with your will and in Jesus ' holy name, Amen.Thank you so much for joining me on this journey to walk boldly with Jesus! I look forward to meeting you here again tomorrow. Especially because I get to bring you my Witness Wednesday from my trip to Ecuador, and I can't wait to share all the miracles with you. It was a truly blessed time, and I am so grateful that God let me share in these miracles. I hope you will listen in tomorrow and continue to pray for Anibal. Remember, Jesus loves you just as you are, and so do I! Have a blessed day!Today's Word from the Lord was received in June 2025 by a member of my Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group. If you have any questions about the prayer group, these words, or how to join us for a meeting, please email CatholicCharismaticPrayerGroup@gmail.com. Today's Word from the Lord is, “My children, I keep telling you, do not fear. I keep telling you, I am right next to you and I am all-powerful. You may be weak, but I am strong. Move forward in trust. Move forward in my will. Move forward. ” www.findingtruenorthcoaching.comCLICK HERE TO DONATECLICK HERE to sign up for Mentoring CLICK HERE to sign up for Daily "Word from the Lord" emailsCLICK HERE to sign up for my newsletter & receive a free audio training about inviting Jesus into your daily lifeCLICK HERE to buy my book Total Trust in God's Safe Embrace

The story of Esther and Mordecai.

All Because of Mordecai 11-2-25 by Praise Community Church

What if courage doesn't come from standing alone—but from standing together?In this message from Esther 4:13–17, our Discipleship Director, Matt Fucarino, teaches that courage shows up in community. When Esther faced an impossible choice—to risk her life before the king or remain silent—she didn't do it alone. God surrounded her with Mordecai and an entire community fasting and praying for her.Even though God's name isn't mentioned once in Esther's story, His presence is everywhere. The same is true for us—His grace meets us right where we are, and His people help us stand when life feels overwhelming.In this sermon, you'll learn:How courage grows when we walk with othersWhy vulnerability and community go hand in handHow God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary thingsWhy Jesus is the true and better Esther—who risked it all for our rescueWhat it means to find hope, healing, and strength togetherKey Scriptures:- Esther 4:13–17 — “For such a time as this.”- Philippians 3:20 — “We are citizens of heaven.”- 2 Corinthians 5:20 — “We are Christ's ambassadors.”- Luke 9:23 — “Take up your cross daily and follow Me.”Search Keywords:Esther sermon, courage and community, for such a time as this, Pastor Matt Huff, TNLC sermons, forgotten promises series, finding courage in hard times, God's purpose in pain, faith and friendship, biblical communityYou might feel far from home—but God has placed you exactly where you can make the biggest difference.Like, Subscribe, and share this message with someone who needs the courage to trust God and lean on community.

What if courage doesn't come from standing alone—but from standing together?In this message from Esther 4:13–17, our Discipleship Director, Matt Fucarino, teaches that courage shows up in community. When Esther faced an impossible choice—to risk her life before the king or remain silent—she didn't do it alone. God surrounded her with Mordecai and an entire community fasting and praying for her.Even though God's name isn't mentioned once in Esther's story, His presence is everywhere. The same is true for us—His grace meets us right where we are, and His people help us stand when life feels overwhelming.In this sermon, you'll learn:How courage grows when we walk with othersWhy vulnerability and community go hand in handHow God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary thingsWhy Jesus is the true and better Esther—who risked it all for our rescueWhat it means to find hope, healing, and strength togetherKey Scriptures:- Esther 4:13–17 — “For such a time as this.”- Philippians 3:20 — “We are citizens of heaven.”- 2 Corinthians 5:20 — “We are Christ's ambassadors.”- Luke 9:23 — “Take up your cross daily and follow Me.”Search Keywords:Esther sermon, courage and community, for such a time as this, Pastor Matt Huff, TNLC sermons, forgotten promises series, finding courage in hard times, God's purpose in pain, faith and friendship, biblical communityYou might feel far from home—but God has placed you exactly where you can make the biggest difference.Like, Subscribe, and share this message with someone who needs the courage to trust God and lean on community.

Mordecai and Esther give us a sketch for Christian courage.

Approaching the Throne (5:1-8) Mordecai's Reward (6:1-13) Mordecai's Obedience is Esther's Hope (5:2)

Send us a textHow to humiliate a tyrant could be the subtitle to today's presentation. Haman is forced to honor his enemy, Mordecai, on the king's orders. If Haman had ceased from hating Mordecai, he could have changed his tomorrow, today. In this presentation, we will learn how to change our tomorrow through humility, how honoring others leads to blessings, how to deflect our enemy's attempts to curse us, and how God's timing in blessing us is perfect. My name is Stephanie Wright. Thank you for joining us in Episode 6, "Change Your Tomorrow, Today." My name is Stephanie Wright. Thank you for joining us today.Let's get started.  If you want to contact us or comment on this podcast, please visit our website and select www.cgmissions.com/podcasts, where all episodes are available by category in series format. You can see the most recent video and audio podcasts at: www.youtube.com/@cgmissionsinc then select from the video or podcast"Playlist." CGM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations may be made on our website:https://www.cgmissions.com/donate-here-general-and-wecare/

Summary: “What Do You See? Fulfilling Purpose—No Excuses” Pastor Bryan Hudson, D.Min.  Primary Texts: Jeremiah 1:1–12; Esther 4:13–14; John 18:36; 2 Cor. 10:3–5 DOWNLOAD THIS SUMMARY Jeremiah 1:3 It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. 4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified[a] you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. 9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. 10 See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant.” 11 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” 12 Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.”   Thesis: How you see—with Spirit-given vision, not just physical sight—determines how God can use you. Vision silences excuses and activates purpose right where you already are. 1) Vision vs. Sight Opens with Dr. Myles Munroe's line: sight is with the eyes; vision is with the heart. We act out of what we see internally; no one acts beyond their beliefs and understanding. Best motivator of action: God's purpose and love of neighbor. Worst motivator: self-interest. Greatest enemy to purpose: accepting limitations and making excuses. 2) Jeremiah's Context and Call Jeremiah ministers in a divided kingdom (Israel & Judah). Israel already fell; Judah still “with God” yet drifting into idolatry and injustice. God's word to Jeremiah (Jer 1:4–10): Before birth—God knew, formed, sanctified, appointed him. Jeremiah's excuse (“I'm too young / can't speak”) is dismissed by God. God gives a threefold redirection: Command: “You shall go…and speak.” Prohibition: “Do not fear their faces.” Promise: “I am with you to deliver you.” Provision: God touches Jeremiah's mouth, putting His words there—empowerment. Assignment: “Root out, pull down, destroy, throw down”—then “build and plant.” 3) Inside the System, Yet Unconformed God often uses people already inside systems if they refuse to be conformed. Jeremiah: born into priestly establishment, yet called to confront corruption. Esther: positioned in power and tempted to silence; Mordecai reminds her she's there “for such a time as this.”She risks comfort to challenge an evil decree. 4) Two “Kingdoms”: Counterfeit vs. Christ's Dr. Hudson contrasts “Christianity without Christ” with the Christianity of Christ: Manifest Destiny and the Doctrine of Discovery (historical justifications for conquest and displacement) and chattel slavery are cited as religiously-coated systems that harmed people—ends never justify means. Frederick Douglass is quoted distinguishing the pure Christianity of Christ from the hypocritical religion of his time. “I love the pure, peaceable, and impartial Christianity of Christ; I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial, and hypocritical Christianity of this land. Indeed, I can see no reason, but the most deceitful one, for calling the religion of this land Christianity. I look upon it as the climax of all misnomers, the boldest of all frauds, and the grossest of all libels.” (Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave) Contemporary Christian nationalism seeks to wield state power to impose religion. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36); the Gospel changes hearts, not by coercive law. Christians hold dual citizenship: we preach the Gospel, love neighbors, pursue justice, and elect competent public servants, but we do not try to “Christianize” worldly power. 5) Excuses vs. God's Plan God ignores excuses—they only “work” for the one making them. Inadequacy is real, but not a hiding place; the God who formed you increases capacity. Expect trouble for obedience; God already factored it in and promises presence and deliverance. 6) Weapons and Work of the Kingdom Our warfare is not carnal (2 Cor. 10:3–5). We pray, speak truth to power, show up, help people, and support leaders who serve the common good rather than self-interest. “Rooting out” includes exposing deception; “building/planting” means constructive actions that bless people and communities. 7) “What Do You See?”—The Almond Branch God asks Jeremiah what he sees (1:11–12). Almond branch—earliest to bloom—pictures God's watchfulness and swift action. Key: Jeremiah didn't need full interpretation to obey; he only needed to see what God showed. When Jeremiah saw God's adequacy more than his own inadequacy, God declared, “You have seen well… I am ready to perform My word.” 8) Applications & Practices Confession: Renounce excuses; receive assignment where you are; refuse fear; trust God's presence. Act where placed: Identify your sphere (home, work, school, civic board, ministry team). Two moves each week: One “tear down” act (truth-telling, intercession, challenging injustice). One “build/plant” act (mentoring, proposing just processes, starting prayer/helps initiatives). Discernment: Judge by fruit, not labels; avoid fruitless arguments; invest in people with ears to hear. 9) Closing Appeal & Prayer Place hope in Christ, not systems. Worldly empires fail; God's kingdom endures. Ask for grace to discern counterfeit religion, to shine light without anger, and to participate in God's change by changed hearts leading to changed conditions. Call to salvation, consecration, and immediate obedience—letting the “light turn on” and walking out purpose with no excuses. Bottom line: Seeing with kingdom vision—not merely with natural sight—positions you to confront lies, build what blesses people, and walk confidently in the assignment God prepared before you were born.

Planet Turbo Takeover: Juuno, Yenn, Mordecai, Hyejin, Azael 10.26.25 | VISLA FM by VISLA

Unique for many reasons, the book of Esther is a story of God's providential hand even in the shadows of life.Mordecai has awakened to his Jewish faith and it has created a dire situation for all Jews in the Persian Empire and now Esther must find her rooted faith, too. But before she acts, she calls for a fast - a means of purifying herself and the people from the Empire so that they might walk in the Kingdom ethic.

Pastor Matt began a new sermon series on Esther today, starting with chapters 1 and 2. This initial message explored how God actively works behind the scenes, using ordinary people like Esther and Mordecai to fulfill His purposes, even when His presence seems hidden.

Send us a textWe are celebrating five years of podcasting in 2025 by revisiting our archives and rebroadcasting select episodes since June 20, 2020. This is Stephanie Wright. Thank you for joining us for Episode 18, “One Thing” from the Queen Esther series. Let's get started.One thing, one thing. Today, we are asking a very important question. What is that one thing that is holding you back from your blessings? Haman, who had blessings beyond what he deserved could not see the blessings because he was so consumed with hatred for Mordecai. Today, we look at the one thing that led to Haman's demise. Let's go to our presentation, Queen Esther, "One Thing." If you want to contact us or comment on this podcast, please visit our website and select www.cgmissions.com/podcasts, where all episodes are available by category in series format. You can see the most recent video and audio podcasts at: www.youtube.com/@cgmissionsinc then select from the video or podcast"Playlist." CGM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations may be made on our website:https://www.cgmissions.com/donate-here-general-and-wecare/

We trace Ezra 2's genealogy to show how God keeps promises in detail, how exile shapes identity, and why building God's house still begins with His presence. We challenge counterfeit labels from culture, address disappointment in service, and invite a fresh return to worship in spirit and truth.• God's calendar through Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles as a frame for presence• Babylon as culture naming us and competing identities to resist• Mordecai's name as a sign of false labels carried into the rebuild• The Levites' low return and why satisfaction must not govern contribution• Samaria's mixed story, missing Prophets, and Jesus' way to minister hope• True worship moved from mountains to hearts—Spirit and truth• Practical call to bring what's missing and build, not spectate

Unique for many reasons, the book of Esther is a story of God's providential hand even in the shadows of life.To get a sense of the power of the story of Esther, we look at the end - but not just the end of the story. After a lot of set up, we finally get to the plot of the book of Esther. An assassination plan has been foiled by Mordecai and his subsequent refusal to bow to an historic enemy of the Jews has the Jewish population of Persia in trouble.

⏳ Feeling stuck? Wondering why things aren't happening fast enough — the promotion, the healing, the change you've been praying for? You're not alone.In this message from Pastor Mark Carter, we learn that God's timing is never late, even when it feels like everything is standing still. Drawing from Psalm 37 and the story of Mordecai and Esther, Pastor Carter shows how God sometimes calls us to trust, do good, dwell, and cultivate faithfulness — even when we're waiting for the next season to begin.

In this powerful message, Ps. Melissa shares with us three truths from the story of Esther and Mordecai that will show us how to live a life that leaves a lasting legacy. 

Have you ever been in a situation where you knew you needed to take a stand? You may want to influence your friends at school or share your faith with someone at work. Many people want to stand up for their beliefs, but they wonder if they have what it takes or struggle with the fear of rejection. This week, Pastor Jay Mann shares a lesson in courage from someone who made history: Esther. She thought she was a nobody, but she did something brave and made a difference on behalf of her people. Together, we’ll learn the steps needed to find success and seize the moment — just like Esther.

A good film rewards repeated viewings with deeper insight, appreciation, and meaning. We begin to appreciate minor details in the lighting, production design, and movement of the actors. Every subtle piece of dialogue or placement of the camera enriches our experience of the narrative and internalizes the major themes in a powerful way. The book of Esther, at first glance, tells a simple story about a queen who ascends to the heights of power in order to save her people. A closer examination however, reveals a multi-layered narrative of remarkable depth that subverts expectations and traces out the surprising way in which God works through fallen people in a broken world. The drama of Esther serves not only to get us into the story, but more importantly, to get the story into us. Esther 1-2 sets the stage by introducing the three main characters King Ahasuerus, Esther, and Mordecai whose lives intertwine to bring about the dramatic deliverance of God's people. This is Understanding Esther. Check out the rest of our Understanding Series: https://www.fouroaksmidtown.com/teachings

Fr. Mike offers a brief recap of today's chapter from Nehemiah, identifying the difference between those who were able to live in Jerusalem and those who were not. He explains the ancestral gifts that each tribe of Israel received and applies this concept to the vices and virtues of our families, as well as our freedom to adopt or reject them. Today we read from Nehemiah 11, Esther 8, 16, and Proverbs 21:17-20. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

In this powerful message from our Seen & Heard series, Pastor Jeff unpacks the story of Esther — a woman divinely positioned to change history. Through the lives of Esther, King Ahasuerus, Mordecai, and Haman, we discover how God strategically places His people for purpose and influence. This sermon, You Are Called for a Time Like This, explores four key truths: God positions you with purpose (Esther 2:17). Alignment with your assignment brings courage — danger is real, but fear is optional (Esther 4:13–14). Where God positions you, His favor follows (Esther 5:1–5). God's favor is your reward when you walk in obedience (Esther 8:1–2). You're not where you are by accident — you're right where God needs you, for such a time as this. Tune in and be reminded that divine timing and purpose always intersect for those who walk in faith.

Esther 5:13 NLTThen he added, "But this is all worth nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew just sitting there at the palace gate."

Unique for many reasons, the book of Esther is a story of God's providential hand even in the shadows of life.To get a sense of the power of the story of Esther, we look at the end - but not just the end of the story. As the characters are developed in the story we meet Mordecai and Esther, two Jews living in the citadel of Susa in the Persian Empire. But, they don't look or act like Jews. Instead, they look a lot like the Empire rather than the Kingdom.

Pastor Willard talks to us about how God is restoring the pattern of raising up the next generation. We have to be ready to carry the baton to raise up this next generation greater. God is not a respecter of persons. God doesn't put us in position to fail. The baton we carry as believers is His Word! We have to be under somebody because when we can't hear God, they can. God can still make leaders out of us when we make mistakes. Do you want to be the one who carries the baton? When you carry the baton everything is different. We might be serving God and still not know Him. God doesn't begin to reveal His process until we show faithfulness. Humility and willingness to learn opened the door to revelation in Samuel's life. Sometimes we can be in God's will and it can be boring and repetitive, that's just God showing us how to be faithful. Patience is part of preparation! If we want the power of God to change people, we have to be in the shadows. There's a promise that when you are a witness, you bear fruit. Because Esther was in Mordecai's shadow, she was in a position to save her people!

Fr. Mike walks us through the signing of the covenant in Nehemiah 10 and relates Israel's collective decision to belong to God to our personal encounters with God that inspire us to follow him simply because he has called us. He also offers insight on how God used the physical weakness of Esther to move the king's heart to gentleness. Today's readings are Nehemiah 10, Esther 15, 6-7, and Proverbs 21:13-16. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Today's readings remind us that all good things come from God, and he calls us to specific places and times for a reason. In the book of Esther, Fr. Mike points out that Esther was perfectly positioned to fulfill God's will. We too, can examine our lives and realize that there are places God has brought us, "for such a time as this". The readings are Nehemiah 9, Esther 4 and 14, and Proverbs 21:9-12. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

As Fr. Mike reads from Nehemiah today, we hear about how the hearts of the people of Israel were moved as Ezra reads the book of the law of Moses to them. In our reading of Esther, we have the beginning of the crisis that will unfold throughout the book as Haman, backed by the king, seeks to destroy the Jews. Today's readings are Nehemiah 8, Esther 3 and 13, and Proverbs 21:5-8. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Mike continues reading from the book of Nehemiah as we read of the many attempts to prevent Nehemiah from doing the great work of God. We also see the events that lead to Esther being chosen as queen and the goodness she will bring even in the midst of a broken system. Today's readings are Nehemiah 6-7, Esther 1-2, and Proverbs 21:1-4. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Some do many great things, but talk very little about them. Some do few great things, but talk a lot about them. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, Pastor Greg Laurie presents a contrast between Mordecai and another man named Haaman. They both appear in the story of Esther. One is a good man and gets little recognition – the other, an evil man who’s angling for great recognition. But today, as the story continues, the winds of change blow, and these men get their “just desserts.” Listen on harvest.org --- Learn more and subscribe to Harvest updates at harvest.org A New Beginning is the daily half-hour program hosted by Greg Laurie, pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Southern California. For over 30 years, Pastor Greg and Harvest Ministries have endeavored to know God and make Him known through media and large-scale evangelism. This podcast is supported by the generosity of our Harvest Partners.Support the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.