Archives for February 2026

Chapter Outline for Book of Esther 

Chapter 7 Esther’s banquet request and the death of Haman 

“Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor 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.” (7:3-6) 

“So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.” (7:10) 

Chapter 8 Promotion of Mordecai and new decree to allow the Jews to defend themselves 

“On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.” (8:1-2) 

“Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.” (8:8) 

“And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,” (8:10-11) 

Chapter 9 Jews destroy their enemies and Purim instituted 

“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.” (9:5) 

“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.” (9:20-22) 

“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,” (9:26) 

Chapter 10 Mordecai’s greatness 

“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.” (10:3) 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Chapter Outline for Book of Esther 

Chapter 4 Mordecai informs, Jews fast, Esther prepares to go to the king 

“And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.” (4:7-8) 

“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (4:14) 

“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” (4:16) 

Chapter 5 Courage of Esther and the Pride of Haman 

“And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.” (5:2) 

“And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow am I invited unto her also with the king.” (5:11-12) 

Chapter 6 Mordecai Rewarded and Haman shamed 

“And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.” (6:2-3) 

“Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor.12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and havinghis head covered. (6:10-12) 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

The Book of Esther 

The Festival of Purim 

Key players: 

Ahasuerus: King of Persia. He reigned from 485-465 BC. The book of Esther portrays him as ruling a vast empire, being very wealthy, being sensual, continually giving feasts, and being cruel and acutely lacking in foresight (1:13-22).Ahasuerus banished his queen, Vashti, taking two years to find a replacement. (The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988) 

Vashti: Queen to King Ahasuerus. Refused the King’s command to appear before the King. She is removed as queen. 

Mordecai: The hero of the Book of Esther. He was a resident of Susa (Shushan), the Persian capital during the reign of Ahasuerus, king of Persia. Mordecai took his orphaned cousin, Hadassah (Esther), into his home as her adoptive father (2:7). Later, Mordecai uncovered a plot to murder the king and saved his life (2:21-22). This good deed was recorded in the royal chronicles of Persia (2:23). Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, and as a result, Haman introduced a plan to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire (3:6). Mordecai then exhorted Queen Esther to approach the king and save her people (3:1-4:17). Haman was hanged on the very gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai (7:10), and Mordecai became second in command, succeeding Haman. (The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988) 

Esther: The Jewish queen of the Persian king, Ahasuerus. She save her people, the Jews, from a plot to annihilate them. Esther was a daughter of Abihail (2:15, 9:29) and cousin of Mordecai (2:7-15). After her father and mother died, Mordecai raised her as his own daughter. Her Jewish name was Hadassah, which means “Myrtle” (2:7). The story of Esther’s rise from an unknown Jewish girl to queen of a mighty empire illustrates how God uses events and people to fulfill His promise to His chosen people. Ahasuerus appointed Esther to replace Queen Vashti (2:17) Esther exposed Haman’s sinister plot to slay all the Jews. As a result, Ahasuerus granted the Jews the right to defend themselves and destroy their enemies. (The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988) 

Haman: The king’s vizier (chief adviser). Haman wants everyone in the kingdom to bow down to him, but Mordechai refuses. This leads Haman to decide to kill all the Jews, and he convinces the king to allow the plan. Only the intervention of Esther prevents Haman from carrying out his plan, and Haman is instead hung on the gallows he had erected for Mordechai. 

Haman is one of the most villainous characters in Jewish history. A greedy, vengeful, and vicious advisor to King Ahasuerus, he only seeks to increase his own wealth, power and influence (generally at the expense of everyone else around him). Haman is also said to be a direct descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites. The Amalekites attacked the Israelites as they were leaving Egypt and have become symbolic of all the enemies of the Jewish people, so for Haman to be related to Agag connects him directly to centuries of violence and persecution of the Jews. (ReformJudaism.org) 

Chapter Outline for Book of Esther 

Chapter 1 The Fall of Queen Vashti 

“But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.” (1:12) 

“If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.²⁰And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.²¹And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:” (1:19-21) 

Chapter 2 The Rise of Esther 

“Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. (2:15-17) 

Chapter 3 The rise of Haman and his wicked plot to destroy the Jews 

“After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.2 And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.” (3:1-2) 

“And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.” (3:5-6) 

Chapter 4 Mordecai informs, Jews fast, Esther prepares to go to the king 

“And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king’s treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.8 Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.” (4:7-8) 

“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (4:14) 

“Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” (4:16) 

Chapter 5 Courage of Esther and the Pride of Haman 

“And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter.” (5:2) 

“And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.12 Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and tomorrow am I invited unto her also with the king.” (5:11-12) 

Chapter 6 Mordecai Rewarded and Haman shamed 

“And it was found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s chamberlains, the keepers of the door, who sought to lay hand on the king Ahasuerus. And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him.” (6:2-3) 

“Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honor.12 And Mordecai came again to the king’s gate. But Haman hasted to his house mourning, and having his head covered. (6:10-12) 

Chapter 7 Esther’s banquet request and the death of Haman 

“Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favor 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.” (7:3-6) 

“So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified.” (7:10) 

Chapter 8 Promotion of Mordecai and new decree to allow the Jews to defend themselves 

“On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews’ enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.2 And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.” (8:1-2) 

“Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s ring: for the writing which is written in the king’s name, and sealed with the king’s ring, may no man reverse.” (8:8) 

“And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus’ name, and sealed it with the king’s ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:11 Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,” (8:10-11) 

Chapter 9 Jews destroy their enemies and Purim instituted 

“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.” (9:5) 

“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.” (9:20-22) 

“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,” (9:26) 

Chapter 10 Mordecai’s greatness 

“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.” (10:3) 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Chapter Outline for Book of Esther 

Chapter 1 The Fall of Queen Vashti 

“But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.” (1:12) 

“If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.²⁰And when the king’s decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honor, both to great and small.²¹And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:” (1:19-21) 

Chapter 2 The Rise of Esther 

“Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all them that looked upon her.16 So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti. (2:15-17) 

Chapter 3 The rise of Haman and his wicked plot to destroy the Jews 

“After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.2 And all the king’s servants, that were in the king’s gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.” (3:1-2) 

“And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.6 And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.” (3:5-6) 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

The Book of Esther 

The Festival of Purim 

Key players: 

Ahasuerus: King of Persia. He reigned from 485-465 BC. The book of Esther portrays him as ruling a vast empire, being very wealthy, being sensual, continually giving feasts, and being cruel and acutely lacking in foresight (1:13-22).Ahasuerus banished his queen, Vashti, taking two years to find a replacement. (The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988) 

Vashti: Queen to King Ahasuerus. Refused the King’s command to appear before the King. She is removed as queen. 

Mordecai: The hero of the Book of Esther. He was a resident of Susa (Shushan), the Persian capital during the reign of Ahasuerus, king of Persia. Mordecai took his orphaned cousin, Hadassah (Esther), into his home as her adoptive father (2:7). Later, Mordecai uncovered a plot to murder the king and saved his life (2:21-22). This good deed was recorded in the royal chronicles of Persia (2:23). Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, and as a result, Haman introduced a plan to kill all the Jews in the Persian Empire (3:6). Mordecai then exhorted Queen Esther to approach the king and save her people (3:1-4:17). Haman was hanged on the very gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai (7:10), and Mordecai became second in command, succeeding Haman. (The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988) 

Esther: The Jewish queen of the Persian king, Ahasuerus. She save her people, the Jews, from a plot to annihilate them. Esther was a daughter of Abihail (2:15, 9:29) and cousin of Mordecai (2:7-15). After her father and mother died, Mordecai raised her as his own daughter. Her Jewish name was Hadassah, which means “Myrtle” (2:7). The story of Esther’s rise from an unknown Jewish girl to queen of a mighty empire illustrates how God uses events and people to fulfill His promise to His chosen people. Ahasuerus appointed Esther to replace Queen Vashti (2:17) Esther exposed Haman’s sinister plot to slay all the Jews. As a result, Ahasuerus granted the Jews the right to defend themselves and destroy their enemies. (The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, 1988) 

Haman: The king’s vizier (chief adviser). Haman wants everyone in the kingdom to bow down to him, but Mordechai refuses. This leads Haman to decide to kill all the Jews, and he convinces the king to allow the plan. Only the intervention of Esther prevents Haman from carrying out his plan, and Haman is instead hung on the gallows he had erected for Mordechai. 

Haman is one of the most villainous characters in Jewish history. A greedy, vengeful, and vicious advisor to King Ahasuerus, he only seeks to increase his own wealth, power and influence (generally at the expense of everyone else around him). Haman is also said to be a direct descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites. The Amalekites attacked the Israelites as they were leaving Egypt and have become symbolic of all the enemies of the Jewish people, so for Haman to be related to Agag connects him directly to centuries of violence and persecution of the Jews. (ReformJudaism.org) 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Satan is diametrically opposed to the things of God. Everything he does impedes the work of Christ. 

So what is spiritual warfare? In the final analysis who wins, God or Satan? Why?

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Luke 10:17-19, Colossians 2:13-15, Revelation 12:11

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:17-19)

Introduction:

First Adam had dominion over the Garden of Eden. Gen 1-2

First Adam gave up dominion when he sinned. Gen 3

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)

Second Adam bought back sinful man through His blood.

3.  AUTHORITY MUST BE STRATEGICLY EXERCISED

a. Person must be right with the Lord.  No unconfessed sin.  You can not fight spiritual battles if you are not under God’s authority.

b. Right position.  We are praying from earth to heaven instead of Heaven to earth. And hath raised [us] up together, and made [us] sit together in heavenly [places] in Christ Jesus: (Eph 2:6) Our position is seated with God.

c. Right power is in Calvary. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. (Rev 12:11)

 Use your testimony against Satan.  Be willing to serve Jesus even unto death.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Satan is diametrically opposed to the things of God. Everything he does impedes the work of Christ. 

So what is spiritual warfare? In the final analysis who wins, God or Satan? Why?

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Luke 10:17-19, Colossians 2:13-15, Revelation 12:11

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:17-19)

Introduction:

First Adam had dominion over the Garden of Eden. Gen 1-2

First Adam gave up dominion when he sinned. Gen 3

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)

Second Adam bought back sinful man through His blood.

2.  THIS KINGDOM AUTHORITY THAT HAS BEEN SOVEREIGNLY ESTABLISHED MUST BE STRONGLY ENFORCED

Satan does not give up without a fight.  He uses deception to win.

SATAN ONLY HAS POWER ON THOSE WHO ALLOW HIM TO HAVE THAT POWER.

HE DOES NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO HIM.

We must appropriate what God has given us.  Claim His promises.

OUR DOMINION OVER SATAN

Has Satan’s back been broken?  YES

Has his kingdom been ruined?     YES

Do you have authority?     YES

You must appropriate and enforce your authority.

Satan is holding people captive.

17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:17-18)

Jesus said: As my Father has sent me, so send I you.  We are being sent to the rescue/ to set the captives free.

We have the authority to tell Satan to be gone.  Our debt of sin has been forgiven, Jesus defeated Satan at Calvary and stripped him of all power he has over man.

BUT WE MUST EXERCISE THAT AUTHORITY!! WE HAVE AUTHORITY OVER SATAN!!!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Satan is diametrically opposed to the things of God. Everything he does impedes the work of Christ. 

So what is spiritual warfare? In the final analysis who wins, God or Satan? Why?

SPIRITUAL WARFARE

Luke 10:17-19, Colossians 2:13-15, Revelation 12:11

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. 18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (Luke 10:17-19)

Introduction:

First Adam had dominion over the Garden of Eden. Gen 1-2

First Adam gave up dominion when he sinned. Gen 3

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)

Second Adam bought back sinful man through His blood.

1.  HOW KINGDOM AUTHORITY SOVEREIGNLY ESTABLISHED

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; 15 [And] having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:13-15)

V13 Jesus set us free from spiritual death.

Situation dire: DEATH  We deserve DEATH. Quickened=made alive  Forgiving ALL our trespasses

V14 Jesus set us free from our staggering debt for our sin. 

Heaven has sued us for damages.  We are GUILTY before God.

In olden times criminals accused of a crime were given a handwriting of ordinances which stated the charges against him.  This was taken to the judge, a trial held and if the person was found guilty, the crime and sentence would be written on the handwriting of ordinances.  This would be then posted to the door of his jail cell for all to see.  When the sentence was completed and all time served and all debt paid, the handwriting of ordinances would be taken back to the judge.  The judge would ask, Has all the sentence been carried out?  The jailer would say YES.  The judge then writes one word on the handwriting of ordinances:

TETILESTI=It is paid or paid in full.  This was same word Jesus used on the cross.  

Imagine God writing out handwriting of ordinances on each of us detailing all our sins.  The trial is held and the verdict is read GUILTY.  Then HE nailed each handwriting of ordinances to the cross.  Jesus paid the debt for our sin on the cross.  When Satan comes to God to accuse the believer, our attorney the Lord Jesus Christ will show the judge, God, the handwriting of ordinances which has written upon it PAID IN FULL!

V15 Jesus set us free from Satanic dominion.

Principalities and powers are Satan’s dark kingdom.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. (Ephesians 6:12)

Spoiled=stripped When Jesus Christ died on the cross, shedding His blood for our sins, He stripped Satan of his dominion of this world and shamed Satan openly and made Satan a laughing stock.  A king with no clothes, no kingdom. 

Triumphing=subdued  Satan was subdued by mighty Calvary.  The blood of the Lamb Jesus Christ.

SATAN IS A DEFEATED FOE!!!!  He does not want you to know this!!!

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Happy New Year!

Our theme for the year is “What Will You Risk in 2026? The next four weeks we will study 4 Whys.

Why read the Bible? Why pray? Why obey God? And why witness for Christ?

What things will you risk to make these happen? Time, fear, or lack of commitment?

What Will You Risk in 2026?

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Why Witness for Christ?

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

10 Reasons to Witness

People always ask, “why should Christians witness to others?” Every minute there are many people who will die without Christ. These people will spend eternity in Hell. Even though you might be afraid of evangelizing to that unbeliever, Catholic, Muslim, or Jehovah Witness you always talk to, imagine how much worse it will be if they die without putting their faith in Christ alone.

You had a chance to tell them. Would a good doctor ever not tell someone they’re dying of cancer because they’re afraid of giving them bad news? Most unbelievers think they’re going to Heaven. Don’t be like most Christians and close your mouth. Preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(Scripture verses changed from NIV to KJV. Emphasis added.)

1. Jesus commanded us.

Matthew 28:18-19 “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

2. A love for God and others.

2 Corinthians 5:14 “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”

Philippians 2:3-4 “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.”

3. Jesus Christ is the only way and most people don’t know that.

John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

John 3:36 “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.”

John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

4. How will people know if they don’t hear?

Romans 10:11-15 “For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com

Good morning,

Happy New Year!

Our theme for the year is “What Will You Risk in 2026? The next four weeks we will study 4 Whys.

Why read the Bible? Why pray? Why obey God? And why witness for Christ?

What things will you risk to make these happen? Time, fear, or lack of commitment?

What Will You Risk in 2026?

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Why Witness for Christ?

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)

10 Reasons to Witness

People always ask, “why should Christians witness to others?” Every minute there are many people who will die without Christ. These people will spend eternity in Hell. Even though you might be afraid of evangelizing to that unbeliever, Catholic, Muslim, or Jehovah Witness you always talk to, imagine how much worse it will be if they die without putting their faith in Christ alone.

You had a chance to tell them. Would a good doctor ever not tell someone they’re dying of cancer because they’re afraid of giving them bad news? Most unbelievers think they’re going to Heaven. Don’t be like most Christians and close your mouth. Preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.

(Scripture verses changed from NIV to KJV. Emphasis added.)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com