The Lord called Jeremiah when he was a young man (Jeremiah 1:5, 6) and said to him, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I consecrated you and appointed you a prophet to the nations.” God knew Jeremiah even before his body was formed in his mother’s womb. There is a lot of dispute nowadays about whether an embryo is a human being or not. Here is a verse that should clear that doubt forever - because God says He knew Jeremiah before he was formed. When Jeremiah was a microscopic speck in his mother’s womb, God knew him and consecrated him to be a prophet. That is a great encouragement for us - to know that God had His eye on us even when we were just microscopic specks just conceived in our mother’s wombs. He has a plan for our lives just as He had a plan for Jeremiah.
Just imagine, when Jeremiah went through all those difficulties, how this thought must have encouraged him: “I am facing a lot of difficulties right now. But God knew me when I was in my mother’s womb and He planned my life then. And that plan will be fulfilled. I am going to yield to God utterly.” All of us too should think about that whenever we face trials and difficulties. God chose you before you were born and His plan for your life will be fulfilled. So don’t ever get discouraged.
Then Jeremiah said, “Lord, I don’t know how to speak.” It is amazing how God picks up people to be prophets who are not good at public speaking. Moses was like that. He also said, “Lord, I am unable to speak publicly.” I want to encourage all of you. Don’t think that God cannot use you to preach His word just because you don’t have the ability to speak or the boldness to stand before people. The Lord said to Moses, “I made man’s mouth. Can’t I then make you speak?” If you allow God to break you and to fill you with His Holy Spirit, He can make you also His spokesman. It all depends on your walk with God.
I was a shy, self-conscious person as a young Christian. But when God anointed me with His Spirit, He began to speak through me. He can do the same with you. And one more thing: Don’t ever say to God, “Lord, I am so young.” If God calls you and consecrates you, your age won’t make any difference. You don’t have to wait until you are an old man before you start serving the Lord. As soon as you feel a burden in your heart, seek God to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and go forth and proclaim the word of God.
The Lord told Jeremiah, “Don’t say I am a youth, because everywhere I send you, you shall go, and all that I command you, you shall speak” (Jeremiah 1:7). And then the Lord spoke a word to him that He often spoke to His prophets: “Don’t be afraid, because I am with you to deliver you”(Jeremiah 1:8). One big advantage that all the true prophets had was this that the Lord was with them. Therefore they were not afraid of any man. That is the way we need to serve the Lord today as well. The Lord must be with us.
The Lord touched Jeremiah’s mouth and told him, “I have put My words in your mouth.” God did the same for Isaiah too. Notice then the ministry that the Lord gave Jeremiah. Six activities are mentioned here – plucking up, breaking down, destroying, overthrowing, building and planting (Jeremiah 1:10). Four of these were negative and two - building and planting - were positive. Jeremiah had to tear down the old structure first and then put up God’s structure. That is not an easy thing to do. It is much easier to build a building on an empty plot of land. Christendom today is in very similar condition to what Judah was in those days. There are huge religious structures in Christendom today that are contrary to the Word of God. A prophet who comes with God’s word to such a situation will have to first pluck up, break down, destroy and overthrow many things before he can build and plant something of eternal value. It is this initial work with the bulldozer that many preachers are unwilling to do. They seek to “stitch a patch of new cloth on an old garment”. But the Lord says, “No. You have to throw away the old garment. You have to destroy the old structure completely and start afresh with something completely new.” If you don’t do that, you will not be able to build what God wants you to build. The Lord went on to encourage Jeremiah saying, “They will fight against you, but they won’t overcome you, for I am with you” (Jeremiah 1:19).
Zac Poonen
Friday, December 16, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
The Difference between Knowledge and Wisdom
In Psalm 34:11, David says, "Come you children listen to me, and I’ll teach you the fear of the Lord." It’s not an easy task to teach people the fear of God. It’s far easier to teach them how to analyse Romans and Ephesians! If we are to teach others to fear God, we must fear Him ourselves first. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. A man who fears God can teach his flock far more than a man who merely knows the Bible. Those who do not fear God can only communicate knowledge, not wisdom. Knowledge makes a man proud - as we read in 1 Corinthians 8:1. But wisdom makes a man mature and teaches him how to apply his knowledge to the problems of daily life. Only men with wisdom can build the church of Jesus Christ.
The fear of the Lord is the ABC of the Christian life. If you haven’t taught your flock the fear of the Lord first, then however much you may have taught them other subjects, you’ve failed in your primary task. You would then be like a teacher who tries to teach his students geography and history before they can even read! No teacher in the world makes that mistake.
To learn the fear of the Lord is like learning how to read. But most elders in churches don’t teach their flock the fear of the Lord first. Here is the proof that the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.
Let me ask a question to those of you who have graduated from a seminary. Did you learn the fear of the Lord there, or did you merely get a degree-certificate? Let me ask you a second question: Why did you join that seminary? Was it to get a job, or was it to learn the fear of God? Why did you choose one seminary in preference to another? Was it because it was a more prestigious one? And did you join it even though you knew it was not evangelical in doctrine but liberal? Can you imagine Jesus sending His disciples to such seminaries to prepare them for His service? How many of you can honestly say that you chose a seminary to learn the fear of God? Probably none. Isn’t that tragic? I know that many people join a Bible school here in India only as a first step to go to the United States, to make money. Some apply to Bible schools in America in order to settle down there. How can such people ever serve the Lord? Can you acknowledge today that you joined a Bible school with wrong motives? If you’re willing to be honest, then there’s great hope for you - for God loves honest people. Now, make sure you warn others not to repeat your mistake. Teach them the fear of the Lord first. Our children don’t have to repeat the mistakes we’ve made.
In Proverbs 24:3,4, we’re told that a house is built by wisdom and that by knowledge its rooms are filled with many precious things. Notice the contrast here between wisdom and knowledge. I’m not devaluing Bible knowledge. Not at all. I’ve spent more than 40 years studying the Bible, and I think, I know it as well as anyone else.
But what I seek for most of all is wisdom. Divine love is the greatest thing in the world. But Divine love is always guided by Divine wisdom. Love without wisdom is dangerous.
Love can be likened to the petrol in the tank of a bus, and Wisdom to the driver of the bus. You certainly need love to lead your flock forward. But you need wisdom to decide which way you’re going to lead them.
Wisdom is fundamental. It is possible for you to get 100% in Bible knowledge and zero for wisdom! That would be like a student getting 100% in Physical Training and zero in Mathematics. It would be better if he got 100% in Maths and zero in Physical Training ; because in the long run, Maths is more important than P.T. And in the long run, wisdom is more important than knowledge. We saw that knowledge fills the rooms. Knowledge is like the furniture – chairs, tables and beds - that we put into our rooms. So if you have knowledge without wisdom, you’d be like a man who puts out all his expensive furniture on an empty plot of ground! Many expensive tables and sofas are there. The only thing missing is the house! You can well imagine that such a man will be the laughing stock of everyone around him. But that’s exactly what we see among most leaders and preachers in Christendom today. They have knowledge but no wisdom – because they do not fear God.
We hardly hear any preacher preaching these days about the fear of the Lord. And that’s why most believers are not wise and have so many other fears.
Zac Poonen
The fear of the Lord is the ABC of the Christian life. If you haven’t taught your flock the fear of the Lord first, then however much you may have taught them other subjects, you’ve failed in your primary task. You would then be like a teacher who tries to teach his students geography and history before they can even read! No teacher in the world makes that mistake.
To learn the fear of the Lord is like learning how to read. But most elders in churches don’t teach their flock the fear of the Lord first. Here is the proof that the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light.
Let me ask a question to those of you who have graduated from a seminary. Did you learn the fear of the Lord there, or did you merely get a degree-certificate? Let me ask you a second question: Why did you join that seminary? Was it to get a job, or was it to learn the fear of God? Why did you choose one seminary in preference to another? Was it because it was a more prestigious one? And did you join it even though you knew it was not evangelical in doctrine but liberal? Can you imagine Jesus sending His disciples to such seminaries to prepare them for His service? How many of you can honestly say that you chose a seminary to learn the fear of God? Probably none. Isn’t that tragic? I know that many people join a Bible school here in India only as a first step to go to the United States, to make money. Some apply to Bible schools in America in order to settle down there. How can such people ever serve the Lord? Can you acknowledge today that you joined a Bible school with wrong motives? If you’re willing to be honest, then there’s great hope for you - for God loves honest people. Now, make sure you warn others not to repeat your mistake. Teach them the fear of the Lord first. Our children don’t have to repeat the mistakes we’ve made.
In Proverbs 24:3,4, we’re told that a house is built by wisdom and that by knowledge its rooms are filled with many precious things. Notice the contrast here between wisdom and knowledge. I’m not devaluing Bible knowledge. Not at all. I’ve spent more than 40 years studying the Bible, and I think, I know it as well as anyone else.
But what I seek for most of all is wisdom. Divine love is the greatest thing in the world. But Divine love is always guided by Divine wisdom. Love without wisdom is dangerous.
Love can be likened to the petrol in the tank of a bus, and Wisdom to the driver of the bus. You certainly need love to lead your flock forward. But you need wisdom to decide which way you’re going to lead them.
Wisdom is fundamental. It is possible for you to get 100% in Bible knowledge and zero for wisdom! That would be like a student getting 100% in Physical Training and zero in Mathematics. It would be better if he got 100% in Maths and zero in Physical Training ; because in the long run, Maths is more important than P.T. And in the long run, wisdom is more important than knowledge. We saw that knowledge fills the rooms. Knowledge is like the furniture – chairs, tables and beds - that we put into our rooms. So if you have knowledge without wisdom, you’d be like a man who puts out all his expensive furniture on an empty plot of ground! Many expensive tables and sofas are there. The only thing missing is the house! You can well imagine that such a man will be the laughing stock of everyone around him. But that’s exactly what we see among most leaders and preachers in Christendom today. They have knowledge but no wisdom – because they do not fear God.
We hardly hear any preacher preaching these days about the fear of the Lord. And that’s why most believers are not wise and have so many other fears.
Zac Poonen
Friday, November 25, 2011
Satan Has Power Over Those Who Do Not Forgive Others
We read in Revelation 9:1-11: And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star from heaven which had fallen to the earth; and the key of the bottomless pit was given to him. And he opened the bottomless pit; and smoke went up out of the pit, like the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by the smoke of the pit. And out of the smoke came forth locusts upon the earth; and power was given to them, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And they were told that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, nor any green thing, nor any tree, but only the men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. And they were not permitted to kill anyone, but to torment them for five months; and their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it stings a man. And in those days men will seek death and will not find it; and they will long to die and death flees from them. And the appearance of the locusts was like horses prepared for battle; and on their heads, as it were, crowns like gold, and their faces were like the faces of men. And they had hair like the hair of women, and their teeth were like the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates like breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was like the sound of chariots, of many horses rushing to battle. And they had tails like scorpions, and stings; and in their tails is their power to hurt men for five months. They have as king over them, an angel of the abyss; his name in Hebrew is Abaddon, and in the Greek he has the name Apollyon.
This star is clearly a fallen angel, most probably Satan. This fallen angel was given the key of the bottomless pit where some demons are locked up by God (as we read in 1 Pet.3:19). All demons are not there. Most demons have freedom to roam around on the earth. Remember the man with a legion of demons whom Jesus met? The demons within that man pleaded with Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. Jesus granted their request and sent them into the 2000 pigs that ran into the sea. But one day the bottomless pit is going to be opened; and the demons that are locked up there are going to be released on to the face of the earth.
That is part of the judgment that God is going to allow upon the face of this earth, as though the Lord says to the people, “You wanted to follow the advice of the devil. You wanted to obey the devil’s words rather than Mine. All right. Here are all your friends who are going to visit you now, the whole lot of them from the bottomless pit.” That is what we see here.
The smoke from the pit is the filth and muck of the unclean spirits. The locusts are the evil spirits who are granted power to poison men’s minds and torment them even as the scorpions of the earth have power to poison men’s bodies. The torment of these demons will be so bad that many people will want to die, but they will not be able to commit suicide!!
The description of the demons is terrifying - terrifying faces, flying hair like that of mad women and the teeth of lions - all pictures to show us how horrible it is going to be for those who will be tormented by these demons. But they are given permission to hurt men only for five months. Why only for five months? Because God is merciful.
Jesus told a story in Matt.18:23-35. of a man who was forgiven forty million rupees by a king, who would not then forgive his fellow servant a paltry sum of forty rupees. This unmerciful man caught his fellow servant by the throat and said, “Pay up.” And when the king heard it he was angry and handed the unmerciful servant over to the torturers. Those torturers symbolise demons who are permitted to torment unmerciful believers today. For Jesus said, “So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” (v.35)
This is something serious, and I don’t want anyone’s blood on my hands. If you who are reading this, (whether you call yourself a believer or Spirit-baptised or whatever) have not forgiven even one person anywhere in the world, I want to warn you (no matter how long you may have considered yourself to be a “believer”) that you will certainly not enter the kingdom of God. You will certainly not be taken up when Jesus comes. You will instead be handed over to these demons who have the sting of a scorpion. That is as clear as black and white to me, because I believe the words of the Lord Jesus. That man who was handed over to the torturers was a man who was once forgiven. But his master withdrew that forgiveness, because he would not forgive someone else. God will not hesitate to hand over such a man to the demons. That is why I would plead with you earnestly, “Get rid of your bitterness (your Wormwood). Forgive everyone freely. Your heavenly Father will not forgive you if you do not forgive even one human being on the face of the earth.”
The name of the angel of the bottomless pit, Abaddon or Apollyon, means “Destroyer”. That describes, in one word, Satan’s purpose for man - to destroy him with lust or an unforgiving attitude.
Jesus spoke of scorpions in Lk.10:19 to symbolise the powers of darkness. He said to His disciples, “I have given you authority over serpents and scorpions to tread upon them.” The demons can only harm those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Spiritually speaking, you can’t have that seal on your forehead if you haven’t forgiven others.
Zac Poonen
This star is clearly a fallen angel, most probably Satan. This fallen angel was given the key of the bottomless pit where some demons are locked up by God (as we read in 1 Pet.3:19). All demons are not there. Most demons have freedom to roam around on the earth. Remember the man with a legion of demons whom Jesus met? The demons within that man pleaded with Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. Jesus granted their request and sent them into the 2000 pigs that ran into the sea. But one day the bottomless pit is going to be opened; and the demons that are locked up there are going to be released on to the face of the earth.
That is part of the judgment that God is going to allow upon the face of this earth, as though the Lord says to the people, “You wanted to follow the advice of the devil. You wanted to obey the devil’s words rather than Mine. All right. Here are all your friends who are going to visit you now, the whole lot of them from the bottomless pit.” That is what we see here.
The smoke from the pit is the filth and muck of the unclean spirits. The locusts are the evil spirits who are granted power to poison men’s minds and torment them even as the scorpions of the earth have power to poison men’s bodies. The torment of these demons will be so bad that many people will want to die, but they will not be able to commit suicide!!
The description of the demons is terrifying - terrifying faces, flying hair like that of mad women and the teeth of lions - all pictures to show us how horrible it is going to be for those who will be tormented by these demons. But they are given permission to hurt men only for five months. Why only for five months? Because God is merciful.
Jesus told a story in Matt.18:23-35. of a man who was forgiven forty million rupees by a king, who would not then forgive his fellow servant a paltry sum of forty rupees. This unmerciful man caught his fellow servant by the throat and said, “Pay up.” And when the king heard it he was angry and handed the unmerciful servant over to the torturers. Those torturers symbolise demons who are permitted to torment unmerciful believers today. For Jesus said, “So shall My heavenly Father also do to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.” (v.35)
This is something serious, and I don’t want anyone’s blood on my hands. If you who are reading this, (whether you call yourself a believer or Spirit-baptised or whatever) have not forgiven even one person anywhere in the world, I want to warn you (no matter how long you may have considered yourself to be a “believer”) that you will certainly not enter the kingdom of God. You will certainly not be taken up when Jesus comes. You will instead be handed over to these demons who have the sting of a scorpion. That is as clear as black and white to me, because I believe the words of the Lord Jesus. That man who was handed over to the torturers was a man who was once forgiven. But his master withdrew that forgiveness, because he would not forgive someone else. God will not hesitate to hand over such a man to the demons. That is why I would plead with you earnestly, “Get rid of your bitterness (your Wormwood). Forgive everyone freely. Your heavenly Father will not forgive you if you do not forgive even one human being on the face of the earth.”
The name of the angel of the bottomless pit, Abaddon or Apollyon, means “Destroyer”. That describes, in one word, Satan’s purpose for man - to destroy him with lust or an unforgiving attitude.
Jesus spoke of scorpions in Lk.10:19 to symbolise the powers of darkness. He said to His disciples, “I have given you authority over serpents and scorpions to tread upon them.” The demons can only harm those who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads. Spiritually speaking, you can’t have that seal on your forehead if you haven’t forgiven others.
Zac Poonen
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Who is Rochunga Pudaite?
Rochunga Pudaite (born 1927) translated the Bible into the Hmar language and in 1971 founded Bibles for the World. He studied at Allahabad University in his native India and at Wheaton College in the United States.
At the close of the 19th century, the British branded the Hmar people of northeast India as "the worst headhunters." In 1871 they beheaded over 500 British Soldiers. Then, in 1908, a missionary from Wales named Watkins Roberts, armed with a copy of the New Testament, arrived in the area where the tribal group lived. He lived under the same roof and taught the Hmar people about God, specifically, the Gospel of John. Through that lone missionary, Chawnga, the father of Rochunga Pudaite, was introduced to the teachings of Jesus.
Chawnga and a few tribesmen believed in what they learned and became dedicated Christians. Chawnga believed that his son, Rochunga, was God's chosen instrument to bring the Bible to the Hmar tribe in their own language. Rochunga did indeed accomplish this task not only for his native language, but also assisted a number of other tribes to do likewise, as noted in entry regarding him.
He has since become founder of Bibles for the World, an international ministry working with India and with a location in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The ministry focuses on Bible distribution, child sponsorship, and the India Children's Choir.
An Article by a TUCC Kid.
At the close of the 19th century, the British branded the Hmar people of northeast India as "the worst headhunters." In 1871 they beheaded over 500 British Soldiers. Then, in 1908, a missionary from Wales named Watkins Roberts, armed with a copy of the New Testament, arrived in the area where the tribal group lived. He lived under the same roof and taught the Hmar people about God, specifically, the Gospel of John. Through that lone missionary, Chawnga, the father of Rochunga Pudaite, was introduced to the teachings of Jesus.
Chawnga and a few tribesmen believed in what they learned and became dedicated Christians. Chawnga believed that his son, Rochunga, was God's chosen instrument to bring the Bible to the Hmar tribe in their own language. Rochunga did indeed accomplish this task not only for his native language, but also assisted a number of other tribes to do likewise, as noted in entry regarding him.
He has since become founder of Bibles for the World, an international ministry working with India and with a location in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The ministry focuses on Bible distribution, child sponsorship, and the India Children's Choir.
An Article by a TUCC Kid.
Questions from Esther chapter 7
1. How many times did Queen Esther host banquets?-Two
2. How many time did the king ask “, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”?-Three
3. What did Queen Esther ask? What term did she use? – Life and to spare her people
4. How did Queen Esther express the plot?- For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king
5. What did Esther reply when the king asked who did this?-An adversary and enemy, vile Haman
6. What was Haman’s reaction for this?- Haman was terrified before the king and queen
7. What did the king do?- 7The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”
8. What did Haman do knowing his fate?- stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life
9. What happened when the words came out of the kings mouth?-Haman’s face was covered
10. Who told the king about the pole?- Harbone one of the eunuchs attending the king
11. What did Harbone tell the king?- A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits[b] stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.
12. How did the king react to Harbone’s words?- He told to hang Haman in his own plot
2. How many time did the king ask “, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”?-Three
3. What did Queen Esther ask? What term did she use? – Life and to spare her people
4. How did Queen Esther express the plot?- For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king
5. What did Esther reply when the king asked who did this?-An adversary and enemy, vile Haman
6. What was Haman’s reaction for this?- Haman was terrified before the king and queen
7. What did the king do?- 7The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”
8. What did Haman do knowing his fate?- stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life
9. What happened when the words came out of the kings mouth?-Haman’s face was covered
10. Who told the king about the pole?- Harbone one of the eunuchs attending the king
11. What did Harbone tell the king?- A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits[b] stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.
12. How did the king react to Harbone’s words?- He told to hang Haman in his own plot
Questions from Esther chapter 6
1. What book did the king order?- Book of the chronicles, the record of his reign
2. Why did the king order for the book of Chronicles?- Because he could not sleep
3. What did the king find from the book?- It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
4. What was Haman about to talk to the king?- About impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
5. What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?- For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him
6. Who did Haman think that the king was going to honor?-Haman
7. Who was the king talking about and why?- Mordecai since he saved the king’s life
8. What did the king say to Haman?- To go at once & Get the robe and the horse and to do just as he have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. He also asked him not to neglect anything that he have recommended
9. Who was robed by the kings robe?-Mordecai
10. Who robed Mordecai?-Haman
11. What did Haman proclaim through the streets with Mordecai on the king’s horse?- This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”
12. How did Haman return home after this?- His head covered in grief
13. Who all did Haman tell about the honor that Mordecai got?- Zeresh his wife and all his friends
14. What did Haman’s advisors & wife tell him about this incident?- “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him you will surely come to ruin”
15. Who came and intruped their talking & why? King’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared
2. Why did the king order for the book of Chronicles?- Because he could not sleep
3. What did the king find from the book?- It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
4. What was Haman about to talk to the king?- About impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
5. What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?- For the man the king delights to honor, 8 have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. 9 Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him
6. Who did Haman think that the king was going to honor?-Haman
7. Who was the king talking about and why?- Mordecai since he saved the king’s life
8. What did the king say to Haman?- To go at once & Get the robe and the horse and to do just as he have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. He also asked him not to neglect anything that he have recommended
9. Who was robed by the kings robe?-Mordecai
10. Who robed Mordecai?-Haman
11. What did Haman proclaim through the streets with Mordecai on the king’s horse?- This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”
12. How did Haman return home after this?- His head covered in grief
13. Who all did Haman tell about the honor that Mordecai got?- Zeresh his wife and all his friends
14. What did Haman’s advisors & wife tell him about this incident?- “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him you will surely come to ruin”
15. Who came and intruped their talking & why? King’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared
Questions from Esther chapter 5
1. What did Esther do on the 3rd day?- put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall.
2. What was the king doing & where was he facing?- The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.
3. What did the king do seeing the queen & how did she react?-the king was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
4. Who all did the queen call for the banquet?- The king & Haman
5. When did the king ask what Esther needed in the banquet?-when he was drinking wine
6. What was the king drinking?-Wine
7. What was the Queen’s petition?-To come for a banquet the very next day with Haman
8. How did Haman go home(Emotionally)?- Happy and in high spirits
9. Who was Haman’s wife?-Zeresh
10. What didHaman do going home?-
• He called together his friends & his wife and boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials.
• He also added that he was the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited him along with the king the next day too.
11. Did this all give satisfaction to Haman? Why? –All this gave him no satisfaction as long as he saw the Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate
12. Who gave an idea to kill Mordeicai? Zeresh & Haman’s friends
13. What was the idea to kill Mordecai?- Hang Mordecai in a fifty cubits pole
14. What was the height of the pole?-50 cubits
15. Did the idea please Haman?- Yes it did delight him
16. Did Haman set the pole?- Yes
2. What was the king doing & where was he facing?- The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance.
3. What did the king do seeing the queen & how did she react?-the king was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
4. Who all did the queen call for the banquet?- The king & Haman
5. When did the king ask what Esther needed in the banquet?-when he was drinking wine
6. What was the king drinking?-Wine
7. What was the Queen’s petition?-To come for a banquet the very next day with Haman
8. How did Haman go home(Emotionally)?- Happy and in high spirits
9. Who was Haman’s wife?-Zeresh
10. What didHaman do going home?-
• He called together his friends & his wife and boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials.
• He also added that he was the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited him along with the king the next day too.
11. Did this all give satisfaction to Haman? Why? –All this gave him no satisfaction as long as he saw the Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate
12. Who gave an idea to kill Mordeicai? Zeresh & Haman’s friends
13. What was the idea to kill Mordecai?- Hang Mordecai in a fifty cubits pole
14. What was the height of the pole?-50 cubits
15. Did the idea please Haman?- Yes it did delight him
16. Did Haman set the pole?- Yes
Questions from Esther chapter 4
1. How did Mordecai react for the decree?- he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly
2. How far did Mordecai go with sack cloth & why?- as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it
3. How did the Jews react to the decree?- there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4. Who told Queen Esther about Mordecai?- Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants
5. What was Esther’s reaction about Mordecai?- she was in great distress
6. Who did Esther summon to find whats wrong with Mordecai?- Hathak, king’s eunchs
7. How did Esther react to Mordecai’s action(sackcloth)?- She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth but he would not accept them. Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
8. Did Mordecai accept the clothes that Esther sent?-No
9. Where did Hathak go to meet Mordecai?- in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate
10. What did Mordecai tell Hathak?-
• Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews.
• He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her,
• He told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
11. What would happen to any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king?- they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives.
12. How many days have passed since Esther was called by the King?-30 days
13. What did Mordecai tell for Esther remaining silient?- 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.
14. What was Mordecai answer when Esther told she was not summoned for the passed 30 days?- Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
15. How many days did Esther fast? - three days, night or day
16. What was the instruction given to Mordecai by Esther?- Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.
17. When was the Queen thinking to meet the king?- After fasting for 3 days & 3 nights
18. Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions-True
19. Who all fasted with Queen Esther?- all the Jews in Susa, And her attendants
20. How did they all fast?- Without eating & drinking for 3 days & nights
2. How far did Mordecai go with sack cloth & why?- as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it
3. How did the Jews react to the decree?- there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.
4. Who told Queen Esther about Mordecai?- Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants
5. What was Esther’s reaction about Mordecai?- she was in great distress
6. Who did Esther summon to find whats wrong with Mordecai?- Hathak, king’s eunchs
7. How did Esther react to Mordecai’s action(sackcloth)?- She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth but he would not accept them. Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.
8. Did Mordecai accept the clothes that Esther sent?-No
9. Where did Hathak go to meet Mordecai?- in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate
10. What did Mordecai tell Hathak?-
• Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews.
• He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her,
• He told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.
11. What would happen to any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king?- they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives.
12. How many days have passed since Esther was called by the King?-30 days
13. What did Mordecai tell for Esther remaining silient?- 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.
14. What was Mordecai answer when Esther told she was not summoned for the passed 30 days?- Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
15. How many days did Esther fast? - three days, night or day
16. What was the instruction given to Mordecai by Esther?- Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.
17. When was the Queen thinking to meet the king?- After fasting for 3 days & 3 nights
18. Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions-True
19. Who all fasted with Queen Esther?- all the Jews in Susa, And her attendants
20. How did they all fast?- Without eating & drinking for 3 days & nights
Questions from Esther chapter 3
4. What did Mordecai tell to the royal officials for his disobedience?- he was a Jew
5. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai.-True
6. What idea did Haman think about after seeing Mordecai’s behavior?- Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
7. When was the lot casted?- twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan
8. What is lot in Persian?-Pur
9. What day did the lot fall on?- twelfth month, the month of Adar
10. What did Haman tell to the king about the Jews?-
• There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate.
• Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws
• If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.
11. How much did Haman offer for the decree to destroy the Jews?- ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury
12. Did the king fall for Haman’s trick & if so then how?- yes he fell, king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman
13. Did the king accept the money from Haman?-No
14. Who is Haman?- Son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
15. Who was summoned to write the royal decree?- Royal secretaries
16. When were the royal secretaries summoned?- Thirteenth day of the first month
17. For who all were the decree written?- They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples
18. Whose name was this decree written on?- King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring
19. How were the dispatches sent?-Couriers
20. Who all was these decree sent?- the king’s provinces
21. What was the decree?- order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.
22. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day-True
23. The king and Haman sat down to drink after the couriers went, but the city of Susa was bewildered.-True
5. Yet having learned who Mordecai’s people were, he scorned the idea of killing only Mordecai.-True
6. What idea did Haman think about after seeing Mordecai’s behavior?- Haman looked for a way to destroy all Mordecai’s people, the Jews, throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes.
7. When was the lot casted?- twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan
8. What is lot in Persian?-Pur
9. What day did the lot fall on?- twelfth month, the month of Adar
10. What did Haman tell to the king about the Jews?-
• There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate.
• Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws
• If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.
11. How much did Haman offer for the decree to destroy the Jews?- ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury
12. Did the king fall for Haman’s trick & if so then how?- yes he fell, king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman
13. Did the king accept the money from Haman?-No
14. Who is Haman?- Son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews.
15. Who was summoned to write the royal decree?- Royal secretaries
16. When were the royal secretaries summoned?- Thirteenth day of the first month
17. For who all were the decree written?- They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples
18. Whose name was this decree written on?- King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring
19. How were the dispatches sent?-Couriers
20. Who all was these decree sent?- the king’s provinces
21. What was the decree?- order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.
22. A copy of the text of the edict was to be issued as law in every province and made known to the people of every nationality so they would be ready for that day-True
23. The king and Haman sat down to drink after the couriers went, but the city of Susa was bewildered.-True
Questions From Esther Chapter 3
1. Who was honoured after these events?- King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him and giving him a seat of honor higher than that of all the other nobles.
2. What command did the king give regarding Haman?- 2All the royal officials at the king’s gate should kneel down and pay honor to Haman
3. Who disolbeyed the king’s command?-Mordecai
2. What command did the king give regarding Haman?- 2All the royal officials at the king’s gate should kneel down and pay honor to Haman
3. Who disolbeyed the king’s command?-Mordecai
Questions from Esther Chapter 2
1. Did the king remember Queen Vashti after the decree?- yes, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her
2. What did the king’s personal attendant propose?-
• Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.
• Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa.
• Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them.
• let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.”
3. Which of the king’s eunuch is in charge for woman?- Hegai
4. Who was Mordecai?- Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin[a] king of Judah
5. Who is Nebuchadnezzar?- king of Babylon
6. What was Mordecai’s cousin? -Esther
7. What’s Esthers Hebrew name?- Hadassah
8. How did Mordecai consider Esther?- Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.
9. What does the Bible say about Esther?- young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful
10. Esther won the favor of Hegai who had charge of the harem
11. What did Heigai do for Esther?- Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.
12. How many attendants were assigned for Esther?-7 attendants
13. What did Mordecai tell Esther not to do?- revealed her nationality and family background
14. Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.-True
15. How many months of beauty treatment did a young woman had to go through and why?-
• she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.
• Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace.
• In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines
• She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.
16. Who was Esther’s Dad?- Abihail
17. When was Esther taken to the king?- She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
18. What did the king do announcing Esther as the queen?- king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
19. Who were angry about the king & what did they do?- Bigthana[b] and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
20. Who found about the plot & what was the reaction?- Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles.
21. Where were these events recorded?- book of the annals
22. This was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.-True
2. What did the king’s personal attendant propose?-
• Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.
• Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa.
• Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them.
• let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.”
3. Which of the king’s eunuch is in charge for woman?- Hegai
4. Who was Mordecai?- Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, who had been carried into exile from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, among those taken captive with Jehoiachin[a] king of Judah
5. Who is Nebuchadnezzar?- king of Babylon
6. What was Mordecai’s cousin? -Esther
7. What’s Esthers Hebrew name?- Hadassah
8. How did Mordecai consider Esther?- Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.
9. What does the Bible say about Esther?- young woman, who was also known as Esther, had a lovely figure and was beautiful
10. Esther won the favor of Hegai who had charge of the harem
11. What did Heigai do for Esther?- Immediately he provided her with her beauty treatments and special food. He assigned to her seven female attendants selected from the king’s palace and moved her and her attendants into the best place in the harem.
12. How many attendants were assigned for Esther?-7 attendants
13. What did Mordecai tell Esther not to do?- revealed her nationality and family background
14. Every day he walked back and forth near the courtyard of the harem to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.-True
15. How many months of beauty treatment did a young woman had to go through and why?-
• she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.
• Anything she wanted was given her to take with her from the harem to the king’s palace.
• In the evening she would go there and in the morning return to another part of the harem to the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines
• She would not return to the king unless he was pleased with her and summoned her by name.
16. Who was Esther’s Dad?- Abihail
17. When was Esther taken to the king?- She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal residence in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
18. What did the king do announcing Esther as the queen?- king gave a great banquet, Esther’s banquet, for all his nobles and officials. He proclaimed a holiday throughout the provinces and distributed gifts with royal liberality.
19. Who were angry about the king & what did they do?- Bigthana[b] and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, became angry and conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
20. Who found about the plot & what was the reaction?- Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. And when the report was investigated and found to be true, the two officials were impaled on poles.
21. Where were these events recorded?- book of the annals
22. This was recorded in the book of the annals in the presence of the king.-True
Questions from Esther Chapter 1
1. What is the King’s name?- Xerxes
2. What is his name in other languages?- Persian- Khshayarsha,Greek-Xerxes, Hebrew- Ahasuerus
3. How many provinces did he rule?- 127, stretching from India to Cush
4. Where was the royal throne?- citadel of susa
5. When did the king give a banquet & who did he invite?- 3rd year of his reign, invited nobles, officials, military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes & nobles of the provinces
6. How many days was the excibition on?- 180 days
7. What did he do for 180 days?- he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom & the splendor & glory of his majesty
8. What happened after those 180 days?- king gave a banquet lasting 7 days
9. Where was the banquet? In the enclosed garden of the king’s palace
10. Who were invited for this banquet?- the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa
11. How was the garden have- garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones.
12. How was the wine served?- Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality.By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.
13. Who was the queen during this banquet? – Queen Vashti
14. Did queen Vashti also give a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.- True
15. What did the king ask on the 7th day?- to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at.
16. Who did he ask? - seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas
17. How did the queen respond to te kings command?- Queen Vashti refused to come
18. How did the king react to the queens disobedience?- the king became furious and burned with anger
19. Who were close to the king?- Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media
20. What was the Persian custom of the king?- the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom
21. According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?-
· She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.
· Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes.For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come. This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.
· if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes.
· let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she.
· Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.
22. Who adviced the king?- Memukan
23. How did the king & nobles react to Memukan’s advice?- were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed.He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language
24. What was the decree about?- every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.
Monday, January 31, 2011
A depiction of Christ’s Affection
I have no words to express
The Comfort you give me in times of distress
Your Mighty arms hold me close,
Whenever I fall apart and wander off course
Your Amazing love lifts me from the ground
Everytime I’m entangled in worldly things around
I have realized Your promises are still alive and true
To all mankind, Most of them with no clue
I have learnt to cast my burdens and follow the light
The will, to never let go and hold on tight
Every night before I sleep, I remember the cross
The misery of all the suffering, pain and loss
The ultimate sacrifice You made above all
To reveal the assurance of Your eternal love
For You gave Your only son at such a cost
To rescue all the sinful, hopeless and lost
And as I close my eyes to pray
With a deep and sincere heart I say
Lead me on and show me the way
To live, love and forgive like You each day
Tina James.
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