The Rescue of God's Chosen Esther 9: 1-3

click to Read the passage: Esther 9  (a new browser window will open)

v.11.The enemy thinks he can rule over God's people.

(in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them,)

2.God intervenes to rescue His people from the enemy's plot.

(the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution,)

3.The rule of God is always over evil.

(though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them,)

v.24.There is great strength when God's people gather in the power of His Name, against
 the enemy.

(the Jews gathered themselves together ...)

5.To stand against those God is for is to stand against God.

(and no man could withstand them)

If God be for us, who can be against us. Romans 8 31

v.26.The presence of God is that which strikes fear in the enemy.

(for the fear of them fell upon all people.)

God's people of themselves don't strike fear; but God's presence amongst His people does.  
When in need pray for God's presence.

v.37.When God asserts His authority, there can only be submission to Him.

Today God is allowing many things to go on.  When God says it is over, it is over.

Some Observations on Samson's Life Judges 13-16

click to Read the passage: Judges 14  (a new browser window will open) 

Many times a believer sets himself up for failures. Ch. 16 

He denies his spiritual identity. (Samson and his Nazarite vow. 14: 9) 

He follows his own natural desires rather than God's. Ch. 16 

He fails to acknowledge his abilities come from God. (Samson's strength- 14: 6; 15: 14) 

He ignores his opportunities for repentance. 

He becomes convinced he is invincible. 

He misconstrues the emplacement of God's blessings on his life. 

He fails to realize he doesn't control the Holy Spirit. 

His personal sins cause him to lose track of his spiritual mission. 16: 1, 2 

He forgets God must bring his successes or he will fail. 

The enemy has no advantage, why give him one? Ch. 15, 16 

The enemy is not a friend, why try to make him one? Ch. 14 

The lost cannot meet any spiritual needs of God's people, why go to them for 

        provision? ch. 14-16 

Engagement of the enemy for frivolous purposes is not wise. 14: 12 

The issues are not about the power and intellect of any man, but of the power and

wisdom of God. 15: 14- 

Though God is indeed faithful, why should a servant challenge God's desire to bless.

        15: 14-16: 2 God is not obligated to bless when His people are in an opposing

position. 

God's willingness to forgive is not in question, but God's servant's willingness to repent is 16:1,2 

Why would a servant repeat his errors, when God's ways teaches him to be separated from the world. The flesh is a strong influence. 

There is always a source of temptation that will compete with following after God. 

It is not to be pursued. 

The wages of sin cannot be paid for by man; a believer shouldn't encumber his liberty. 

Love's Doing 1 John 3: 18

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(My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Requires:

1.Involvement in a life.

2.Discovery/discernment of need.

3.Prayer for a life.

4.Initiating an expression.

5.Commitment with tenure.

6.Acceptance of hidden circumstance.

7.Godly understanding.

Patience, teaching with patience, mercy, etc.

The Disloyalty of a Divided Heart Judges 14: 16, 17

click to Read the passage: Judges 14  (a new browser window will open)

v.16 1. May be manipulated.

(And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and

lovest me not: )

v.16 2. Uses the appeal of emotion or reason to a man’s natural side of life, not a

spiritual influence.

(And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and

lovest me not: )

v.16 3. Accuses of disloyalty to the one appealing.

(thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told

it me.)

v.16 4. Has divided loyalty, really is loyal to the closest ally.

(the children of my people,)

In this case the unrighteous.

v.16 5. Has no regard for privileged relationships, nor values their honor.

( And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother,

and shall I tell it thee?)

v.17 6. Uses pressure to obtain the desired outcome.

(And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it

came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore 

upon him:)

v.17 7. Quickly betrays the one supposedly loyal to.

( and she told the riddle to the children of her people.)

Actions to Avoid Proverbs 17: 2-26

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V 2 1) A son that is unruly to parents

          ( A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame. )

v 3 2) Acts that are unequal with God's justice or which have impurity.

         ( The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord testeth hearts. )

v 5 3) Making fun of the poor.

         ( Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his maker; )

v 5 4) Taking delight in man's failings and difficulties.

          ( and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. )

            No mercy shown

V8 5) An attempt to take unfair advantage of another.

         ( a bribe ... whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth. )

v18 6) Guaranteeing another man's actions.

          ( A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of 

           his neighbor. )

v19 7) Exaltation of the violent.

          ( and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction)

v21 8) Aiding the foolish, contributing to foolishness .

          ( He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; )

V26 9) Unjust assessment.

          ( Also to punish the just is not good, )

v26 10) Tearing down of justice. 

            ( nor to strike princes for their equity. )

Entrapped Judges 14: 15-18

click to Read the passage: Judges 14  (a new browser window will open)

v.15 1. Enticed by his own plan.

(And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson’s wife,

Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we burn thee 

                and thy father’s house with fire: have ye called us to take that we have? Is it 

                not so?)

v.15 2. Used by one of his own choosing.

v.15, 3. Entered into a divided house.

  16

v.16 4. Vulnerable to a trap himself.

(And Samson’s wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and 

lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and

hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father 

                nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?)

v.16 5. Weak in argument.

v.17 6. Deceived.

(And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and it came to

pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him: and 

she told the riddle to the children of her people.)

v.17 7. Compromised.

v.17 8. Encumbered.

v.18 9. Outdone, undone.

(And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun went

down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he

said unto them, if ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my

riddle.)

v.18 10. Plowed up, rather that tilled.

Mary's Availability Luke 1: 38

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                           (And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according

                           to thy word.)

           

            1.            She was available for God to declare Himself to.

            2.            She was accepting of all God declared to her heart.

                           v.30-37

            3.            She willingly offered her heart and life to God for Him to use.

            4.            She imposed no boundaries before God.

            5.            She had full trust in God’s wisdom and choice and power.

            6.            She sought God with no fear nor doubt.

            7.            She gave evidence to God of her willingness.

Could we simply declare to/before God our willingness and desire to be used for His purpose and glory.

Lord, please so use me! Could we say to the Lord. Lord use me …

Mary concluded what God said was right. She was God’s vessel to use.

She trusted fully in God’s will.

When Temptation Leaps Out at You Judges 14: 6-9

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v.6 1. Rely upon God’s spirit.

(and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him, …)

Samson didn’t.

v.6 2. Overcome the temptation immediately.

(and he tore him as he would have torn a kid.)

v.7 3. Remove yourself from any desires of the flesh.

(and he went down, and talked with the woman;)

v.8 4. Be alert to temptation’s reappearance in subtle form.

(And after a time…behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass

of the lion.)

v.8 5. Remember temptation is deceptive, no matter the appearance.

(bees and honey)

v.9 6. Temptation is to be resisted wherever and whenever it appears.

(and he took thereof in his hands, …)

7. To fail to resist temptation is to be caught in its snare.

Know that temptation’s sting is dreadful.

Application:

The enemy does not always leap out at us. We would be more alerted.

The way of the enemy is subtle erosion of commitment. i.e.:

worldliness in the church

moral compromise

appealing to fleshly desires

Little by little there is an erosion until the bank caves in and a mudslide results.

Temptation in whatever form is to be resisted.

It is the power of God unto salvation.  It is the power of God that is required to live

        Godly.

We as believers are so dependent upon the Lord.

He is life itself. We cannot live spiritually without Christ.

Being Harnessed by God Exodus 13: 17-22

click to Read the passage: Exodus 13 (a new browser window will open)

                   (v.18 and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.)

v.17,           1. Willingly being under His control.

  18                  (God led them …)

v.17            2. Not having a desire outside God’s bounds for your life.

                       (…they return to Egypt)

v.21            3.Not going except God lead.

                      (cloud and fire)

v.21            4.Not going beyond God’s leading.

                      (cloud  and fire)

v.21            5. Not missing God’s leading.

                       (cloud and fire)

v.21            6. Not presuming leadership is of God when it isn’t.

                       (cloud and fire)

v.22            7. Living a life reflecting God’s leading.

                       (He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night)