Archives for March 2019

Good morning,

Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection are all rooted in one concept, forgiveness. We are sinners who owe a debt we cannot pay. Jesus, perfect, sinless, blameless, paid our sin debt with His blood on the cross.

This week we will look at that forgiveness.

God’s example of forgiveness

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” (Ephesians 1:7)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13:38-39)

What is sin? It is the failure to obey God. It began in the garden of Eden when Adam refused to obey God. He and his wife Eve were cast out of the garden of Eden. The judgment God gave to them and all who would follow was death, physical and spiritual. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12) “For the wages of sin is death;” (Romans 6:23)

Jesus came and paid our sin debt. He redeemed, justified, and forgave all our sin.

We need to step back and ask ourselves, “Have we accepted God’s forgiveness?” If not, that is the starting point.

Contact me and let’s talk.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Passover and Resurrection Sunday are less than a month away. This week I would like to explore the gospel in one verse, John 3:16. This one verse has five elements of the gospel, the good news. First, who is God? Second, what is love? Third, why and for what purpose did God give His Son? Fourth, what benefit does a person receive by believing? Fifth, what is everlasting life?

Whosoever believeth in him

Believe and receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior (John 11:25-26, John 1:12-13, Revelation 3:20)

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Have everlasting life

Eternal life (John 3:36, 1 John 5:11-13)

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.¹² He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.¹³ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

It was always God’s intent to redeem sinful men and women through the blood sacrifice of His Son Jesus. It had to be a blood sacrifice from a spotless lamb, Jesus.

Be very thankful for God’s provision!

Decision time.

You may choose to receive Christ as personal Lord and Savior and have everlasting life OR choose to reject Jesus offer and spend eternity in the lake of fire. “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.¹⁵ And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14-5) “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

Your choice. Choose wisely!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Passover and Resurrection Sunday are less than a month away. This week I would like to explore the gospel in one verse, John 3:16. This one verse has five elements of the gospel, the good news. First, who is God? Second, what is love? Third, why and for what purpose did God give His Son? Fourth, what benefit does a person receive by believing? Fifth, what is everlasting life?

He gave his only begotten Son

Paid my sin debt (Hebrews 10:11-14, 1 John 2:1-2)

“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:¹² But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;¹³ From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.¹⁴ For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:² And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

The Bible tells us we have sinned. It tells us the wages of our sin is death. “For the wages of sin is death;” (Romans 3:23a)

How did God deal with the “sin” problem? He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to become sin for us. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) No animal was worthy to take away our sin.

Jesus was perfect. He never sinned. When He became sin for us, He took on Himself the sin of all mankind, past, present, and future.

How do we partake in what Jesus did for us?

Come back tomorrow and find out.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

THE GOSPEL IN ONE VERSE

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Introduction D. L. Moody

God

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God,…”

Omniscience

GOD is omniscient, All knowing (Psalm 139:1-4)

“O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.” 

Omnipresent

God is omnipresent, He is everywhere (Psalm 139:7-10)

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

Omnipotent

God is omnipotent, He is all powerful (Jeremiah 32:27)

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?”

Genesis 1 references God 31 times. God is mentioned in the Bible 4,379 times, which is .5%.

So loved the world

Demonstrates His love (Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:7-10)

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.⁹ In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

He gave his only begotten Son

Paid my sin debt (Hebrews 10:11-14, 1 John 2:1-2)

“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:¹² But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;¹³ From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.¹⁴ For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.”

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:² And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Whosoever believeth in him

Believe and receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior (John 11:25-26, John 1:12-13, Revelation 3:20)

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:²⁶ And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:¹³ Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

Have everlasting life

Eternal life (John 3:36, 1 John 5:11-13)

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.¹² He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.¹³ These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

It was always God’s intent to redeem sinful men and women through the blood sacrifice of His Son Jesus. It had to be a blood sacrifice from a spotless lamb, Jesus.

Be very thankful for God’s provision!

Good morning,

Passover and Resurrection Sunday are less than a month away. This week I would like to explore the gospel in one verse, John 3:16. This one verse has five elements of the gospel, the good news. First, who is God? Second, what is love? Third, why and for what purpose did God give His Son? Fourth, what benefit does a person receive by believing? Fifth, what is everlasting life?

God

Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God,…”

Omniscience

GOD is omniscient, All knowing (Psalm 139:1-4)

“O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.² Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.³ Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.⁴ For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether.” 

Omnipresent

God is omnipresent, He is everywhere (Psalm 139:7-10)

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?⁸ If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;¹⁰ Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.”

Omnipotent

God is omnipotent, He is all powerful (Jeremiah 32:27)

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?”

Genesis 1 references God 31 times. God is mentioned in the Bible 4,379 times, which is .5%.

So loved the world

Demonstrates His love (Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:7-10)

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.⁹ In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

The all knowing, ever present, all powerful God, loves the whole world. This truth in itself is a lot to wrap our mind around.

What is the problem? Sin. The Bible is very clear that, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23) “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:¹¹ There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” (Romans 3:10-11)

The solution?

Come back Thursday or Friday to find out. You could also join us live in the meeting room at 1000 AM on Wednesday to hear the whole message.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We have come to the end of our study of Esther.

This week we will see how God triumphed over wickedness.

The Jews are safe. Mordecai has been achieved greatness is the eyes of the King and of the Jews. A holiday is commemorated to remember the occasion.

The presence of God is seen through each and every chapter. We serve an awesome God!

CHAPTER 10

Mordecai Promoted

And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.² And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?³ For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

Things to think about

Mordecai was a Jew. The Bible says he became great among the Jews, advanced by the King, declared great by the King, next unto the King. How does this happen apart from God’s intervention?

Will we submit to God’s intervention in our lives? He wants to do miraculous things in and through you!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We have come to the end of our study of Esther.

This week we will see how God triumphed over wickedness.

The Jews are safe. Mordecai has been achieved greatness is the eyes of the King and of the Jews. A holiday is commemorated to remember the occasion.

The presence of God is seen through each and every chapter. We serve an awesome God!

Chapter 9

Jews Defend Themselves for a Second Day (9:15-19)

¹⁵ For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.¹⁶ But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,¹⁷ On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.¹⁸ But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.¹⁹ Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

Feast of Purim Begun (9:20-32)

²⁰ And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,²¹ To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,²² As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.²³ And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;²⁴ Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;²⁵ But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.²⁶ Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,²⁷ The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;²⁸ And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.²⁹ Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.³⁰ And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,³¹ To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.³² And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

Things to think about

The enemies of the Jews were hard hearted, wicked, and stupid individuals. Instead of seeing that God was on the side of the Jews, they continued their fight at Shushan. It cost them 300 more lives.

In the provinces of King Ahasuerus, 75,000 were killed. God protected the Jews and gave them the victory.

He does that with us today, if we are willing to trust Him completely.

The holiday of Purim is a remembrance or memorial. It reminds Jews all over the world, in all generations, of how God preserved His chosen people. The Feast Of Purim is a celebration over wickedness. It is a time of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

God will never break covenant with the nation of Israel!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We have come to the end of our study of Esther.

This week we will see how God triumphed over wickedness.

The Jews are safe. Mordecai has been achieved greatness is the eyes of the King and of the Jews. A holiday is commemorated to remember the occasion.

The presence of God is seen through each and every chapter. We serve an awesome God!

Chapter 9

Jews Defend Themselves Successfully (9:1-10)

Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;² The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.³ And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.⁴ For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.⁵ Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.⁶ And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.⁷ And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,⁸ And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,⁹ And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,¹⁰ The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

Number Slain Brought to the King (9:11-12)

¹¹ On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. ¹² And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

Esther’s Request (9:13)

 ¹³ Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

King’s Command (9:14)

¹⁴ And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.

Jews Defend Themselves for a Second Day (9:15-19)

¹⁵ For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.¹⁶ But the other Jews that were in the king’s provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,¹⁷ On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.¹⁸ But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.¹⁹ Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

Feast of Purim Begun (9:20-32)

²⁰ And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,²¹ To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,²² As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.²³ And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;²⁴ Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;²⁵ But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.²⁶ Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,²⁷ The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;²⁸ And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.²⁹ Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.³⁰ And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,³¹ To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.³² And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

CHAPTER 10

Mordecai Promoted

And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.² And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?³ For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

Things to think about

The leadership of the King helped the Jews. Why was there still opposition? The sin nature of man. Unregenerate men and women hate Jews. Haman tried to destroy them and failed.  So, others pick up the torch thinking they would be able to defeat them. They also failed.

When Haman’s ten sons were executed, why didn’t the Jews take the spoil? Earlier, the King gave the house of Haman to Queen Esther. She already owned the spoil.

The Feast Of Purim is a celebration over wickedness. It is a time of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

Mordecai was a Jew. The Bible says he became great among the Jews, advanced by the King, declared great by the King, next unto the King. How does this happen apart from God’s intervention?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We have come to the end of our study of Esther.

This week we will see how God triumphed over wickedness.

The Jews are safe. Mordecai has been achieved greatness is the eyes of the King and of the Jews. A holiday is commemorated to remember the occasion.

The presence of God is seen through each and every chapter. We serve an awesome God!

Chapter 9

Esther’s Second Request (9:11-14)

Number Slain Brought to the King (9:11-12)

¹¹ On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king. ¹² And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

Esther’s Request (9:13)

 ¹³ Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do tomorrow also according unto this day’s decree, and let Haman’s ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.

King’s Command (9:14)

¹⁴ And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman’s ten sons.

Things to think about

The Jews are victorious. They are able to defend themselves. Five hundred are killed in Shushan.

Why did Esther request the ten sons of Haman to be hung? Vengeance? No!

Remember when Saul was supposed to completely destroy the Amalekites? He did not obey God. This resulted in Haman and his hostility to the Jews.

Esther knew that ALL the sons of Haman must be destroyed to ensure this wickedness would not happen again. Esther was a wise queen.

What is the wickedness in our lives that is holding us back from serving God? Have we completely put it to death? Do we want to?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

We have come to the end of our study of Esther.

This week we will see how God triumphed over wickedness.

The Jews are safe. Mordecai has been achieved greatness is the eyes of the King and of the Jews. A holiday is commemorated to remember the occasion.

The presence of God is seen through each and every chapter. We serve an awesome God!

Chapter 9

Jews Defend Themselves Successfully (9:1-10)

Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king’s commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;² The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.³ And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.⁴ For Mordecai was great in the king’s house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.⁵ Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.⁶ And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.⁷ And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,⁸ And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,⁹ And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,¹⁰ The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT

The leadership of the King helped the Jews. Why was there still opposition? The sin nature of man. Unregenerate men and women hate Jews. Haman tried to destroy them and failed.  So, others pick up the torch thinking they would be able to defeat them. They also failed.

When Haman’s ten sons were executed, why didn’t the Jews take the spoil? Earlier, the King gave the house of Haman to Queen Esther. She already owned the spoil.

Genesis 12:3 states,” And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

God made this covenant with Abraham and continues to fulfill it unto this very day. We must be very careful how we treat the Jewish people. God is very clear that He has not abandoned Israel. During the tribulation, 144,000 Jewish evangelists will preach about Yeshua (Jesus) as the Messiah, and many will repent and be saved.

The question then begs itself, do you support Israel (blessing), or are you opposed to Israel (cursing)?

You choose.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001