Transcript [00:00] Make sure you check out our very own [00:02] King of Kings Ministries platform, The [00:05] Core. Alongside our weekly services, you [00:08] will find there the Hebrew songs we [00:10] sing, our leadership IM trainings, [00:13] disciplehip classes, special teachings [00:16] on Jewish holidays, seminars, and much [00:19] more. Basically, all our videos that we [00:22] produce. Check it out today. The [00:24] core.km.network. [00:28] And don't forget our podcast called [00:30] Israelities. [00:32] You'll find it on your usual podcast [00:34] platforms. The summit releases a worship [00:38] related podcast called Deep Calls to [00:40] Deep. Find both of these also at the [00:43] core. We can also stand with you in [00:46] prayer for your personal needs. Send [00:49] those to us to we pray at kkj.org. [00:55] For any other questions, send us an [00:57] email to kkjk.org. [01:17] Well, shalom, dear friends. Pastor Chad [01:19] here with King of Kings. Welcome to [01:21] Kings Community Live. Uh it's a program [01:24] that we do each Sunday before we kick [01:27] off our worship service at the pavilion [01:30] in Jerusalem. Now obviously today is [01:32] going to be very different. We welcome [01:34] you and uh we say thank you for the [01:36] honor of your time as you come and [01:38] prepare your heart for worship with us [01:40] today. Uh it's been a very eventful uh [01:44] very uh prayerful last 48 hours as uh I [01:48] think everyone is probably aware at this [01:51] moment. Israel is engaged in a high [01:54] level military campaign along with the [01:57] US against Iran and the Ayatollah regime [02:01] there. Um as of right now we have word [02:05] uh that the IDF along with the American [02:08] intelligence has verified that Kaini uh [02:12] is uh has died in the attacks there. [02:16] they have replaced them already with a a [02:18] vice president [02:20] that has vowed to continue to move the [02:22] regime forward even in the face of a [02:25] nationwide protest in Iran. Um so it's [02:29] it's very uh up in the air right now. A [02:32] lot of moving parts here in Israel. [02:34] We've received already hundreds of [02:38] missiles and rockets and drones have [02:39] been fired at us by God's grace and only [02:42] by his protection. Uh we report today [02:45] that we we did have a um uh a a hit a [02:51] missile got through our defense system [02:54] and landed in Tel Aviv, completely [02:57] demolishing one of the buildings in Tel [02:59] Aviv. Um we know that at least one has [03:02] perished and I know they're still [03:04] sorting through the rubble there in Tel [03:05] Aviv. We did get word that potentially [03:08] one fell in the Jerusalem surrounding [03:10] areas, but we did not yet hear [03:13] specifically where that was, if there [03:15] was any casualties, and if anything got [03:18] hit. For those of you that don't uh know [03:20] how the siren system works here in [03:22] Israel, they've upgraded it this year, [03:25] and uh we get two different rounds. So, [03:28] we get a first round, meaning something [03:30] is in the air and it's headed uh into [03:33] Israel, Israeli airspace. Then we will [03:35] get a second siren um a few a few [03:39] minutes later on your phone or in your [03:41] local area outside if that uh uh [03:45] projectile is coming to your zone. So [03:48] it's like the first one is like telling [03:50] you everything uh everybody be careful. [03:53] It says get get within a few feet of [03:55] your shelter and then the second one [03:57] tells you if it's your area or not. Last [04:00] night we spent uh most of the night in [04:02] our bomb shelter all day yesterday in [04:04] the bomb shelters. Um it was a dangerous [04:07] time, man. The the missiles and the in [04:10] the Iron Dome and everything could be [04:12] heard overhead quite aggressively every [04:15] few minutes. There's, you know, battles [04:16] going on in the heavenlies in the air as [04:19] you understand. [04:21] So we thank you for your prayers. Uh we [04:23] thank you for everybody that jumped on [04:25] our prayer call just about two hours [04:27] ago. We say thank you for joining with [04:29] us and uh Amamira did a great job and [04:32] the team at the summit prayer tower in [04:34] Jerusalem here with King of Kings. So [04:36] thank you to the team. Also want to say [04:37] thank you to our our wonderful media [04:39] team uh Dan and Pastor Veo uh Elan and [04:44] Dara Ryan Josh Tyro Mon'nique so many [04:48] others that help serve on our media team [04:51] to let us bring you you know connect [04:53] points. Now where are we at in Israel [04:55] right now? There are uh no gatherings [04:58] allowed there. There are still sirens [05:00] going off all the time. Probably even [05:02] now as we're connecting with you on [05:04] King's Community Live, there may even be [05:06] a siren. So, uh if I run out, then we'll [05:09] just uh figure out how to edit that and [05:11] and put it back into the uh into the [05:13] feed. But um uh there are no gatherings. [05:16] You're not supposed to be on the road [05:18] right now. You stay within a few feet of [05:20] your shelter. [05:22] the buses and trains are not running as [05:24] much as we know today. Especially in [05:26] Jerusalem, they said everything is shut [05:27] down. Um, with the airport being shut [05:31] down as well, now you're going to have [05:33] days or weeks of backup and rescheduling [05:37] that needs to happen at the airport. Um, [05:40] we already had a a a call, a national [05:44] call for 50,000 reservists [05:47] in the IDF that just got called up back [05:49] to active duty. Uh, I was on the phone [05:52] with several of our King of Kings [05:53] leaders and people. As a matter of fact, [05:55] when I was in the middle of a [05:56] conversation with one of them, they got [05:58] a call from their commanding officer [06:01] saying that there was a security [06:02] briefing for their unit in just about 5 [06:05] minutes. So, we had to jump off of that [06:06] call. So, uh, lots of prayer needed here [06:10] for the nation of Israel. Uh, also for [06:12] America, uh, as an Israeli citizen and [06:15] an American citizen, US American [06:18] citizen. I'm a dual citizen with my [06:19] family and we're so grateful for both [06:22] countries working together. We're so [06:24] grateful that um that people that were [06:27] the decision makers were courageous [06:29] enough and bold enough to start to [06:32] tackle the problems at its root source. [06:34] We know that yes, the proxy war with [06:38] Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis has [06:40] been going on for 2 and 1/2 years now, [06:42] but all of those uh terrorist uh [06:45] organizations are getting their funding, [06:49] their weapons and their strategy and [06:51] their instructions from Iran. Also, they [06:54] have a lot of backing from Qatar when it [06:57] comes to worldwide propaganda and media, [07:00] social media, websites, television, uh [07:02] the indoctrination at universities and [07:04] the education system, the paying off of [07:07] protesters in various places around the [07:09] world. So, we we know that it's coming [07:12] from Iran. Uh it was no hidden secret [07:14] over here in our region uh how much Iran [07:18] was calling the shots uh whether it be [07:20] through their own country, the IRGC, [07:23] Iraq or Gaza, Judea, Samaria, Lebanon, [07:28] Yemen and other parts of the Middle [07:30] East. Um but it takes courage uh to to [07:35] make a hard decision because you know [07:37] that there will be a loss of life. And I [07:39] can tell you this, no one in Israel is [07:41] celebrating the loss of life. Not in [07:43] Iran, not in Gaza, not in the West Bank [07:46] area, not in Lebanon. We're not [07:48] celebrating life. Uh if there is any [07:51] celebration, which I have not seen yet, [07:54] the celebration would be that we're [07:55] getting to the root of evil and that [07:57] we're starting to uncover it and pull it [07:59] out. You got to understand that this [08:01] Iranian regime not only has caused so [08:04] much problem in the region but now the [08:06] world but even when their own people [08:08] protest what's going on with the brutal [08:10] conditions and the absolute control of [08:12] the Ayatollah. Uh over 30,000 last heard [08:16] I heard was 32,000 [08:18] Iranian citizens were killed in just the [08:21] last few weeks. Now compare that to a 2 [08:23] and 1/2ear war between Israel and the [08:26] proxies of Iran, these terrorist groups [08:28] like Hamas and Hezbollah. And compare [08:31] those numbers, the brutality of those [08:32] numbers. What we're interested to see is [08:35] if the if if all of these people around [08:39] the world who have been so aggressive [08:41] and loud in protests, will they protest [08:44] us? Will they speak out? And will they [08:47] say, you know, it's so good that we're [08:50] that we're getting rid of a regime [08:52] that's that's so abusive, so [08:54] controlling, and so barbaric. Are we [08:55] going to see that? Or is it singularly [08:58] targeted at Israel be because Israel is [09:01] attacked from multiple sides, and we [09:03] have to defend oursel and by God's [09:05] grace, we have success and that that [09:08] success really ignites anger back toward [09:11] Israel. Now, we're in the middle of the [09:14] PUM week, as you know. So happy PM to [09:17] everybody. Pim here in Israel. It's [09:20] going to kick off a week which would [09:22] normally be celebratory. This week will [09:24] be very different. Lots of adjustments [09:26] will be made and uh and lots of comments [09:29] will be made about the the connection [09:33] between Pim, the book of Esther, the [09:36] Jewish people being conquered in their [09:38] own land, being taken into exile uh into [09:42] the Persian Empire. in that Persian [09:43] Empire of course would be today modern [09:46] Iran. Um we have to look at [09:50] was there any spiritual connection to [09:52] this? What is God saying to the prophets [09:54] and the prophetic people? So here at [09:56] King of Kings, we believe in all the [09:58] giftings of the Holy Spirit being in [09:59] operation. We believe in the power of [10:01] God. Acts 18 says, "And you will receive [10:04] power when the Holy Spirit comes on you [10:06] and then you'll be my witnesses to [10:08] Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, to the ends [10:09] of the earth." We believe in the power [10:11] of God. We believe in the supernatural. [10:13] So, we want to have our spiritual [10:15] antennas up. What is God saying to us as [10:19] pastors, elders, leaders, and as a [10:21] network at King of Kings Ministries, as [10:23] well as to our prophetic people. But [10:26] obviously, you can see the natural [10:27] connection between the Persian Empire [10:30] and the Jewish people and their [10:32] potential annihilation at the at the [10:35] edict uh that Hmon tricked uh Aashos [10:40] in English. [10:41] or Xerxes. Uh he tricked him into that. [10:44] And we'll talk a little bit more about [10:45] that as we get into the sermon in just a [10:48] few minutes. And uh I I hopefully you're [10:50] going to be able to stick around and [10:51] join us as we're going to have a time of [10:53] worship. For those of you that are [10:55] regulars with us, you know, this is the [10:56] first of the month and we do the [10:58] sudaton. We're going to do the Lord's [11:00] supper. So go ahead and get your [11:01] elements ready. Pastor Mike is going to [11:03] lead us in that uh in just a little [11:06] while and then we'll give you a few [11:07] announcements. We're going to dive into [11:09] a study in the book of Esther today in [11:12] honor of what God did uh for the Jewish [11:15] people at this same time uh thousands of [11:18] years ago. So, we want to look at that. [11:19] The book of Esther, if you want to just [11:21] make a make a note, you can get ahead of [11:23] me in your text. So, what do we expect? [11:27] Well, it's hard to say. Uh I think we're [11:30] going to expect another 48 to 72 hours [11:33] of uh protection here in Israel. Stay [11:36] close to the shelters. uh with the [11:38] airports being closed. I know the [11:40] embassies were all closed and and really [11:42] just the country is is is quiet. It's [11:44] shut down. Everybody's bracing. You [11:47] know, we want to pray for our friends [11:48] also in other parts of of our region, [11:52] especially those in Judea, Samaria where [11:55] we have partner congregations and pray [11:57] for them because they are um they're in [12:00] a very sensitive spot. Most of them do [12:03] not have bomb shelters. We are very [12:04] blessed in Israel to have bomb shelters [12:07] built into all of our our buildings or [12:09] at least our public spaces and [12:11] neighborhoods, but many in Judea, [12:13] Samaria, in the West Bank area don't [12:15] have any place to go. There's no safe [12:18] room. So, we want to pray for them uh [12:20] specifically. And we also need to [12:23] identify that Iran has been bombing [12:27] not just Israel, but they've been [12:28] bombing other Arab countries where there [12:31] were US military bases. And now those [12:33] Arab nations are starting to kick back [12:36] at the Iranian regime and and and now [12:40] they're saying, "Hey, quit quit bombing [12:41] our country." You know, you can't just [12:43] indiscriminately start bombing everybody [12:45] hoping you hit someone. I I I'd like the [12:49] I'd like the naysayers against Israel to [12:51] to address that because Israel is so [12:54] surgical just like the United States [12:56] tries to be very targeted u in our [13:00] retaliation or attack or defense [13:04] that we're trying to minimize casualties [13:07] especially civilian casualties but [13:09] clearly Iran does not care. They're [13:11] indiscriminately firing. Same thing with [13:13] Hamas. They just fire at everybody. [13:16] Civilians, military, it doesn't matter. [13:19] It's an indiscriminate [13:21] barrage of rockets and drones and [13:23] missiles coming from Hamas, out of Gaza, [13:26] Hezbollah, out of Lebanon, the Houthis [13:28] out of Yemen. And another order of [13:30] prayer is going to be what do they do [13:32] with the the the Hermes canal that [13:35] that's straight there. as we know that [13:38] 20% of the world's oil and fuel comes [13:41] through that and I I've heard that Iran [13:45] along with Yemen they want to uh [13:48] continue to strategize how to block that [13:50] area. They want to affect the world's [13:53] flow. Of course they do. That that's the [13:55] that's the propaganda of of Islam, [13:59] right? It is to control. I I was doing [14:01] an interview just a few days ago and I [14:03] was asked a question about the impact of [14:06] of Islam and I and I said listen what [14:08] most people won't tell you is that Islam [14:11] has a constructed plan of of world [14:14] domination and takeover and it comes yes [14:17] through military and war and rockets and [14:20] missiles. It comes through that but it [14:22] comes through propaganda of media and [14:24] social media. It comes through the the [14:27] sponsorship of terror. It comes through [14:30] the financial sponsorship of the [14:32] indoctrination at universities around [14:35] the world. At the same time, it comes [14:37] through aggressive immigration where [14:40] they try to move they try to move [14:42] Islamic extremism into uh democ [14:45] democratic countries. And then it also [14:47] comes through outpacing birth rate in [14:50] those immigrated countries. So there's [14:53] lots of levels that are strategic, [14:55] planned out, very vocalized in the [14:57] Islamic world about how they're going to [14:59] take over and dominate the world. And [15:02] Iran is is been at the heart of that. [15:05] It's been the heartbeat. It's been the [15:06] sponsor. It's been the financial backer, [15:08] the weapons backer, the strategic uh [15:11] instruction giver uh leading the way. [15:14] And we are in prayer. Uh we are [15:18] meditating trying to listen to the Lord. [15:20] What is he doing? We want to be on his [15:22] side. We're not against the people of [15:25] Iran, just like we're not against the [15:26] people in Gaza or in uh in Lebanon. But [15:30] but we want to see what God is doing to [15:32] extract evil and to promote good [15:36] biblical values. And thank you all for [15:38] your prayers, for being with us today. [15:42] And thank you for joining us in this [15:43] Porum week. Lots will change. We we [15:45] don't get to have our movie premiere at [15:47] the David film the way we wanted. We we [15:49] may not get to even have our porum [15:51] gathering and our porum play that we [15:53] announced last week with the youth, but [15:55] we'll try to reschedule that and and let [15:57] everybody uh connect as much as [15:59] possible. Uh stay alert in our [16:01] newsletter. Make sure you're on our [16:03] WhatsApp and you're checking all of our [16:04] social media channels for all the [16:06] updates and what changes may be coming. [16:08] Now, listen, let's go and enjoy a time [16:10] of worship. Let's take the Lord's supper [16:12] together. And I'll be back with you in a [16:13] few minutes. We're going to dive into [16:15] the book of Esther together. Happy [16:17] pouring to all of you. [16:28] Hey, welcome King of Kings family. It's [16:29] so good to be with you here again today. [16:32] Thank you for joining us today online. [16:34] We know that the last day or so has been [16:37] very challenging on many levels and [16:38] running to our bomb shelters and and [16:41] trying to continue to be safe. Uh but we [16:45] want to say that you are in our hearts [16:47] and in our minds and we're praying for [16:49] you and we want to continue to pray for [16:52] you. So if you have specific needs and [16:55] prayer requests, you can send those to [16:57] us here at we pray atkj.org [17:01] and uh our elders will gather around [17:03] those. Our prayer teams will gather [17:04] around those and if we can help you in [17:06] any way, we would love to be able to [17:08] help you. Uh here we are. We're just a [17:12] day away from PUM and the the nationwide [17:14] celebration of the deliverance of God's [17:17] people from the evil architect of of [17:20] death, Hammon. And uh how amazing is it [17:25] that here we are thousands of years [17:28] later and we're celebrating our own [17:30] revival of that story, the the [17:33] destruction of God's enemies and all of [17:35] those that have risen up to destroy his [17:38] people, Israel. and we're uh celebrating [17:42] PUM at this very special time. It's [17:45] significant that this is taking place at [17:47] this time. As we come together today, we [17:51] are going to be celebrating the Lord's [17:53] supper together. And so, just a few [17:55] reminders today. First, we want to [17:57] remind ourselves, let's remain in prayer [18:00] uh for what's taking place. It's [18:02] significant and and God is going to [18:05] establish his purposes in this. So, we [18:07] want to align our hearts with that in [18:10] prayer. Would you continue to pray that [18:12] God's purposes would be accomplished for [18:14] his protection over the IDF, over [18:17] Israel, and that God would reveal [18:19] himself in this time of turmoil and [18:22] bring many, many hearts to him, those [18:24] that are seeking and looking for the [18:27] truth and for him, that they would find [18:30] him in this season. And then as uh we [18:34] continue to worship, uh Melissa and her [18:37] teams are going to come and uh this [18:39] would be a great time to prepare your [18:41] own elements for the Lord's supper. A [18:44] little bit of juice or wine and bread [18:47] and prepare that and we'll come back [18:49] together and worship together over the [18:52] Lord's supper. And then Pastor Chad will [18:55] join us a little bit later for the the [18:58] message tonight and an encouragement [19:00] word encouragement from God's word. So, [19:04] as we're worshiping together, let's [19:06] stand. Let's uh prepare our hearts for [19:10] what God has for us tonight. And then [19:13] we'll come back together and we'll take [19:15] of the Lord's supper. [19:17] >> Let's worship the Lord. Put your hands [19:19] together. [19:28] Hey, [19:47] I'm in my [19:57] Mech. [20:18] He's [20:27] got [20:29] Hey, I go. [20:37] Hey, I go. [20:49] It's not [21:00] coming. [21:06] Hey, I go [21:13] with God. [21:14] Hey, I go. [21:23] Hey, I go [21:28] manu. [21:31] Hey, I go. [21:35] Heat. [21:42] Heat. [21:53] I love [22:14] Heat. Heat. [22:24] Heat. Heat. Heat. [22:34] Heat. Heat. [22:59] Praise [23:01] rising [23:03] eyes are turning to you. [23:10] Return to you. [23:16] Hope is stiring. [23:20] Hearts are yearning for you. [23:27] We long for you. [23:31] Cuz when we see you, we find strength to [23:36] face the day. [23:40] In your presence, all our fears are [23:44] washed away. [23:49] Oh, [23:57] you are the God who saves us. Worthy of [24:02] all our praises. [24:06] Amen. [24:10] Oh, [24:14] come have your way among us. We welcome [24:18] you here. Yes. [24:26] Hear the sound of heart [24:33] to you. [24:37] Return to you. [24:43] Your kingom [24:46] bro. [24:54] You make us new. [24:58] And when we see you, we find strength to [25:02] face. [25:04] Only in you. And in your presence, all [25:09] our fears are washed away. They're [25:13] washed away. [25:25] Heat. [25:27] Heat. [25:40] Heat. Heat. [25:50] Heat. Heat. [26:12] Heat up here. [26:29] Cuz [26:35] when we see you, we find strength to [26:39] face the day. [26:43] In your presence, all our fears are [26:48] washed away. [26:50] When we see you, when we see you, we [26:54] find strength to face the day. [27:00] In your presence, all our fears are [27:04] washed away. They're wash away. [27:19] Heat. Heat. Heat. [27:32] Heat. Heat. [27:53] You are the God [27:58] of all. [28:10] Heat. Heat. [28:24] Heat. Heat. [28:34] Heat. [28:48] Heat. [29:25] Yeah. Yes. [29:33] Yes. [29:40] Yes. You [29:44] are. [29:47] Yes. [29:55] Oh [29:57] lu. [30:02] Oh [30:14] sh [30:20] Come. [30:23] Yes. [30:30] Yes. [30:37] Yes. [30:44] Yes. You [30:49] are. [30:52] Yes, you [30:56] are. [30:59] Yes. [31:06] Yes, you [31:10] are. [31:13] Yes, you [31:18] are. [31:40] for [32:05] Lord [32:08] Abraim. Nobody [32:36] Yeshua. Heat. [32:40] Heat. [32:50] Heat. Heat. [33:01] Oh [33:04] yes. [33:09] Oh [33:20] sh [33:29] Yes, [33:37] you [33:40] are. [33:44] Yes, you [33:48] are. [33:51] Yes, you [33:55] are. [33:57] Oh, [34:02] you [34:24] Heat. [34:35] Heat. [34:57] We love you. [35:11] We love you. [35:25] Who love you? [35:40] Love you. [35:54] Heat. [36:00] Heat. [36:10] You are Yes. You are Lord. Yes. [36:21] Yes. [36:29] Yes. You [36:33] are. [36:36] Yes. [36:44] Yes. [36:57] Your name is higher. [37:05] Your name is gater. [37:15] Your name breaks the chains. [37:24] Your name delivers us. Del us and calls [37:29] us out. [37:32] Your name is mercy. [37:35] Your name salvation. [37:46] Your name's eternal, [37:50] never changing, always the same. [37:53] Faithful one. [38:00] Lord, make your name among the nations. [38:04] Raise your voice. Let's ask him. Make [38:06] your name known. Make your name known. [38:10] Make your name known [38:13] in Israel. [38:16] Make your name known, Lord. [38:20] in the lives of our families. [38:23] Make your name known, Lord, over the [38:27] hostages, [38:29] over the families, over the soldiers. [38:34] Make your name known, Lord, over the [38:36] government. [38:39] Make your name known. Make your name [38:42] known. [39:04] Yes, Lord. Hear our cry. [39:08] >> I thank you Melissa and worship team for [39:10] giving us these moments together with [39:12] the Lord to worship him. And uh we want [39:15] to just continue that worship as we take [39:17] of the Lord's supper, the seat had. So [39:20] if you haven't already prepared your [39:21] elements, go ahead and grab those. We'll [39:23] need a little bit of juice or wine and [39:25] some bread. And today's scripture that [39:28] we're going to look at for the for the [39:30] uh Lord's supper, the seed adon is from [39:33] Exodus 29. It's from the parha readings [39:36] of this week. And in Exodus 29, we read [39:39] about the consecration of Aaron and his [39:42] sons into their role as priests over [39:45] Israel. And all throughout chapter 29, [39:48] we see God describing to Moses what that [39:53] ordination should like look like, the [39:55] the sacrifices and what the the priests [39:59] should wear. And as they're consecrating [40:02] the priests, they also consecrate the [40:05] altar. We see this in verse 37. He says, [40:08] "For seven days, God is speaking, make [40:11] atonement for the altar." Now listen to [40:14] this, "The altar and consecrate it. Set [40:16] it aside. Uh and then the altar will be [40:20] most holy. And whatever touches it will [40:24] be holy." Other versions say it this way [40:27] that that it will be completely holy, [40:30] especially holy, absolutely holy. The [40:34] message version says, "It will be soaked [40:36] in holiness." [40:39] What an amazing picture that is that God [40:41] wants us to see and to grab a hold of as [40:44] we're gathering around his table tonight [40:47] that we would understand that that place [40:50] of of the altar is holy. It's so holy [40:55] that whatever touches it becomes holy. [40:58] And then God continues and he says, [41:00] "This is what you're to offer on the [41:02] altar [41:03] regularly each day." So we want to grab [41:06] that idea that that God created the [41:09] altar, that it was a place that was [41:10] soaked in holiness and that the the [41:13] people of Israel were to come together [41:15] before that altar every single day and [41:18] actually two times every day. God goes [41:21] on and he says, "Regularly each day, two [41:23] lambs, a year old, are to be offered in [41:26] the morning and the other at twilight. [41:29] With the first lamb, offer a tenth of an [41:32] epha of the finest flour mixed with a [41:36] quarter of a hen of oil from pressed [41:39] olives and a quarter of a hen of wine as [41:42] a drink offering." So, capture that [41:44] idea. It's a meal. It's bread and wine. [41:48] and the uh the the sacrifice, the lamb, [41:53] and sacrifice the other lamb, God says, [41:55] at twilight with the same grain offering [41:57] and its drink offering as in the [41:59] morning, a pleasing aroma, a a food [42:03] offering presented to the Lord. And then [42:06] God says this. He says, "For the [42:08] generations to come, this burnt offering [42:10] is to be made regularly at the entrance [42:12] to the tent of meeting before the Lord." [42:16] And God says, "And there I will meet [42:19] with you and speak to you. There also I [42:24] will meet with the Israelites, and the [42:26] place will be consecrated [42:29] to my glory." [42:31] Wow. This is the altar at the entrance [42:35] to the tent of meeting. This isn't the [42:37] Holy of Holies. In fact, the the Holy of [42:40] Holies is described as a place that if [42:42] you go in there without being invited [42:45] in, you actually die. But here we see [42:48] something completely different. God [42:49] wants us to see that the the altar at [42:51] the entrance of the tent of meeting [42:53] where the Israelites would come to [42:55] present their daily sacrifices, one in [42:58] the morning and one at night. It was a [43:00] place where God was going to meet with [43:03] his people where he was going to speak [43:05] to them and and consecrate his glory and [43:10] anything that touched it was going to [43:12] become holy. This this is what God wants [43:16] us to see is that there is this physical [43:18] place where his presence is continually [43:22] there with his people. You know, so many [43:25] times the the God of the Old Testament [43:27] is described as uh distant and elusive [43:32] and hard and harsh and removed from his [43:36] people. And and God wants us to see that [43:40] it was exactly the opposite. God's [43:42] presence was there every single day, two [43:45] times every day, and probably more if [43:48] you went back. That God wants us to see [43:50] that his desire is to be with us, to be [43:54] with his people, to draw near to those [43:56] who want to draw near to him. And so [43:59] tonight, as we're gathering around the [44:01] Lord's table, we want to take advantage [44:04] of that. You know, God's presence [44:05] because of the sacrifice of Yeshua. As [44:08] we're gathering around this table, what [44:10] what do we see? The bread and the wine [44:14] and the holy sacrifice, Yeshua, the lamb [44:17] of God, that as we gather around this [44:20] table, God says, "My presence is there. [44:24] And I want to speak to you here in this [44:28] this moment, in this time around this [44:30] table. I've set it aside. I've I've [44:33] consecrated it. I've made it holy. have [44:36] saturated and soaked it in in my [44:38] holiness. And that if you touch it, you [44:41] too will become holy. And God, that's [44:43] our our prayer tonight. That we would [44:45] come into this place and be touched by [44:48] your presence. You're the one that makes [44:50] us holy. You're the one that's holy. [44:53] We're not the ones that are holy. And [44:55] we're coming to you tonight. So, let's [44:57] let's take of the Lord's supper. We're [45:01] reminded by Matthew in Matthew 26 that [45:03] Yeshua and his disciples around that [45:06] seder table. Yeshua takes the the bread [45:10] and he lifts it up before the Lord and [45:12] he says, [45:18] "Blessed are you, Lord our God. You are [45:20] the king of the universe that brings [45:23] forth the bread from the earth and you [45:26] saturate our souls with the food of [45:29] life, the bread of life. Yeshua, thank [45:32] you for being that bread of life. [45:34] Tonight we take of you Yeshua's name. [45:47] God, thank you. Thank you for feeding [45:50] our souls and our spirits tonight. Thank [45:53] you for meeting with us and giving us a [45:55] place where we can daily meet with you [45:58] regularly meet with you. And then Yeshua [46:01] took [46:03] of the wine and he said [46:08] Priyagan, "Blessed are you, Lord. You [46:11] are our our God. You're the king of the [46:13] universe that brings forth the fruit [46:16] from the vine. Yeshua, thank you that [46:19] you have given us a place where we can [46:22] come before you every day, twice every [46:25] day and more. And you dwell here in our [46:28] hearts, the the the the altar of our [46:31] hearts. God, thank you for being near to [46:34] us, for speaking to us, for being uh so [46:39] close that we can touch you and not [46:42] being distant and removed and elusive, [46:45] but very real and very present. Cleanse [46:48] us with your blood again tonight. Renew [46:50] our minds, renew our spirits in this [46:53] place. We pray in Yeshua's name. Amen. [46:58] Amen. God, thank you. Wow. God's so good [47:02] to us to give us that place here on [47:04] earth right here on the the altar of our [47:07] hearts to worship him to come near to [47:10] him and that's such a great invite [47:12] invitation from him today to come to [47:14] that place and to dwell with him we want [47:18] to continue to worship Pastor Chad's [47:20] going to join us now with a great [47:22] message let's uh tune our eyes and our [47:24] hearts into that and uh Pastor Chad [47:27] let's hear from you [47:29] >> welcome back friends Let's dive into the [47:31] word of God together today. Um, as we [47:34] are looking at the feast of Pulim and [47:37] we're going to look at the book of [47:38] Esther. So, thank you, Pastor Mike, for [47:41] leading us in the Lord's Supper and our [47:43] wonderful worship team as always. And [47:46] thank you again to our special media [47:48] team for helping us put all this [47:49] together in such short notice and and a [47:52] difficult time. Now before we dive into [47:54] the scriptures and start uh looking at [47:57] them in verse, let's do a quick recap. [48:01] The book of Esther, the story of Esther, [48:03] the deliverance of the Jewish people. [48:05] Well, because of our sin, [48:07] prolonged sin, you know, I would say [48:10] that God uh after many warnings of the [48:12] prophets, invading armies come in. [48:15] They're allowed to come in. They take [48:17] the Jewish people in exile. And we find [48:20] the story picks up in Shushan in the [48:23] Persian Empire. Um the king at the time [48:27] is Aashvar Roashueras [48:30] or Xerxes in in in other languages. In [48:33] Hebrew we we call him Aash Varos. That's [48:36] how it reads in the Hebrew text. We have [48:38] a family of Mori and his younger [48:42] relative who is an orphan. She lost her [48:45] parents somewhere along the way, whether [48:47] in the invasion in Israel or in the in [48:49] the travels or in exile. We don't know [48:52] exactly, but Morai [48:54] has taken responsibility for Hadasa. [48:56] Hadassa is the Hebrew given name of [49:00] Queen Esther. Now, at the time the story [49:02] begins, she's not the queen yet. We do [49:04] know that Aashvos is married to Vashi, [49:08] and Vashi um disobys the king's orders. [49:12] He's got this huge banquet in honor of [49:14] his kingdom and he wants her to come and [49:16] and she won't come. And there's a lot of [49:19] stories about what he wanted from her. [49:22] Uh was it was it lewd acts? Was it uh [49:26] you know something inappropriate in [49:27] front of the guest? In in any case, she [49:30] refuses and that that sends his advisors [49:33] into a session where they say, "We can't [49:35] put up with someone disobeying the [49:36] king." So they kick Vashi out as as the [49:40] queen. [49:42] And then it sets up this uh long period [49:45] actually over a year where the king [49:48] starts to try to find another queen. And [49:51] through all of this he finds with God's [49:53] favor. Uh he finds Hadassa or Esther. [49:56] She becomes the queen. Another banquet [49:58] is thrown. We know that uh that Mori [50:02] um uh uncovers a plot against the king. [50:08] you know, the the king is then saved [50:11] because of this vital information. Um, [50:15] that is written down in the annals of [50:17] the history of the Persians, which comes [50:18] up later in the story. And a new [50:22] influencer, that's a good word for [50:24] today. A new council rises to power. His [50:28] name is Hmon. Buu, for everybody that [50:30] knows what to do on Puing, when you hear [50:32] the name Hmon, we cover it with a boo. [50:36] And Hmon rises to power. He wants [50:38] everybody to bow down. Mordei, the [50:41] faithful Jew, will not bow down because [50:43] that would be a violation of the [50:44] commandments of God. This this gets [50:47] under the skin of Hmon. Uh he plots to [50:49] kill not only Mori but all the Jewish [50:51] people. And that starts a domino effect [50:54] where Mori tells Esther. Esther tries to [50:57] strategize in prayer and fasting. She [50:59] needs to go tell the king. It sets up a [51:02] couple of meetings with uh the king and [51:04] with Hmon. And eventually the truth [51:06] comes out that it's Hmon that is plotted [51:10] to kill the Jewish people all over the [51:12] kingdom and the king uh cannot reverse [51:16] his own orders because he was tricked. [51:18] He was deceived to some extent. So he [51:21] rewrites a new order allowing the Jewish [51:24] people to protect themselves. And now we [51:26] have a battle. We have a war just like [51:28] we're in today. We have a war against [51:31] the Persian Empire. But the Jewish [51:32] people can now defend themselves and [51:35] anyone who wants to align themselves [51:36] with Persia would be on one side and [51:39] anyone who wants to align themsel with [51:41] the Jewish people would be on the other [51:43] side and they will fight in the war. [51:46] Through the story we know that God [51:48] intervenes on behalf of the Jewish [51:50] people and the faithfulness of his [51:51] covenanteping nature and the Jewish [51:54] people win and they kill over 75,000 of [51:59] their enemies that day. Thus we give God [52:02] glory on this holiday that's upcoming. [52:05] Uh and then Mori and Esther enshrined [52:08] that that that uh that deliverance of [52:11] God in this holiday. And then they [52:13] command as much as they have the power [52:16] to command. They command the Jewish [52:18] people to honor this day throughout [52:20] history which is why we have the holiday [52:22] now. So that's a quick run through. I [52:24] know that was very uh highlevel run [52:27] through but I want to now that we have [52:29] that that baseline to start from. I want [52:30] to dig into the text a little bit [52:32] because what I noticed this year in [52:34] studying in the word of God and [52:36] meditating on this holiday and the story [52:39] is there's a lot of twists and turns. [52:41] Things could have gone very differently [52:43] on multiple occasions in the story. And [52:46] I want to walk you through a couple of [52:48] those just so you can see how God [52:50] directs our path if we can be sensitive [52:52] and listen to him and trust his leading. [52:55] lot of different uh twists and turns [52:58] could have happened. But let's begin [52:59] with the text here. And the first thing [53:01] I wanted to point out is and I've got to [53:04] look down to to read my notes every once [53:06] I don't have my normal pullpit in front [53:07] of me, but um Esther chapter 2. So [53:10] Esther could have acted strangely in [53:14] front of the king when she was [53:16] approached to be one of the candidates [53:19] for the new queen. You know, here here's [53:22] what it says in Esther 21:17. Now the [53:24] king was attracted to Esther more than [53:26] to any of the other women and she won [53:29] his favor and approval more than any of [53:31] the other virgins. So he set a royal [53:33] crown on her head and made her queen [53:34] instead of Vashi. And what struck me [53:37] there was that [53:40] she gave her best uh her best [53:43] impression. She could have acted very [53:45] strangely. She could have been very [53:47] unattractive. She could have not gone [53:49] through the beauty treatments. She could [53:50] have talked harshly. She could have [53:52] acted unintelligently. Anything to keep [53:55] her from being chosen by the king, she [53:58] could have done. That would have changed [53:59] the story greatly, but she gave her [54:02] best. God's favor was upon her and and [54:05] she was chosen. And I found that very [54:07] interesting uh about how that that could [54:09] have turned out differently because I [54:11] was reminded of the story of King David [54:13] in 1st Samuel chapter 21 when David is [54:16] in front of the Philistines [54:19] and they start to remember what a great [54:21] warrior he was and how many thousands he [54:23] has killed and David does not act like [54:26] himself. He starts acting crazy on [54:28] purpose and I thought well I wonder if [54:30] Esther ever was tempted to do that in [54:33] front of King Aash Ro. This is what it [54:35] says about King David in 1st Samuel 21. [54:38] It says, "So he pretended to be insane [54:40] in their presence. And while he was in [54:42] their hands, he acted like a mad man, [54:45] making marks on the door of the gate and [54:47] letting saliva run down his beard." [54:49] Akish the Philistine king said to his [54:52] servants, "Look at the man. He's insane. [54:55] Why did you bring him to me?" that could [54:57] have very easily been the the card [55:00] Esther could have played to not be [55:02] chosen, but she didn't. So, that kept us [55:06] on the track of what we now know of as [55:08] the story of Esther, but it could have [55:10] gone very differently had she chosen uh [55:12] to go a different route. You know, [55:14] what's another thing that uh could have [55:17] been very different uh and that is [55:19] Morai. You know, Mori did not have to [55:22] uncover the plot of the assassination of [55:26] the king. Put yourself in Morai's shoes. [55:29] Your kingdom has been taken over. Your [55:31] country's been invaded. You've been [55:32] taken as an exile. Many of your friends [55:34] have died. And now you're in a foreign [55:36] land. [55:38] You hear that there's an assassination [55:40] plot against the king that you don't [55:43] particularly like and you don't like the [55:46] results of what has happened in the [55:48] sense of you've been exiled with your [55:50] people. There was nothing in Morai that [55:54] had to do this. He he probably even [55:57] internally had these discussions about [56:00] should I tell the king or should I not [56:02] tell the king and just let him have what [56:05] is coming to him. You know what goes [56:07] around comes around to the king. But [56:09] Mori doesn't choose to do that. He [56:11] chooses a righteous path. This is what [56:13] it says in Esther chapter 2 verse 21. [56:16] During the time Morai was sitting at the [56:18] king's gate, Big Thana and Terish, two [56:21] of the king's officers who guarded the [56:23] doorway became angry and conspired to [56:25] assassinate King Aashvos. But Morortei [56:28] found out about the plot and told Queen [56:30] Esther who in turn reported it uh [56:33] reported it to the king giving credit to [56:35] Mori. And when the report was [56:37] investigated and found to be true, the [56:40] two officials were impaled on polls. All [56:42] of this was recorded in the books of the [56:44] annals in the presence of the king. He [56:48] could have kept it to himself, but he [56:49] didn't. That would have greatly changed [56:51] the story as well. So you have Queen [56:54] Esther could have done something [56:55] different to not be attractive. Morai [56:57] did not have to uncover the [56:59] assassination plot of the king. But [57:01] other things happened in the story as [57:03] well. Uh Morortei could have just bowed [57:05] down to Hmon like everyone else. We pick [57:08] up this reading in Esther 3:1. Listen to [57:11] what happens. [57:13] After these events, King Aashvarosh [57:16] honored Hmon, son of Hamadatha, the [57:18] Agagite, elevating him and giving him a [57:21] seat of honor higher than that of all [57:23] the other nobles. All the royal [57:26] officials at the king's gate knelt down [57:28] and paid honor to Hmon, for the king had [57:30] commanded this concerning him. But [57:34] Morortei would not kneel down or pay him [57:36] honor. Then the royal officials at the [57:38] king's gate asked Morortei, "Why do you [57:40] disobey the king's command?" Day after [57:43] day they spoke to him but he refused to [57:44] comply and therefore they told Hmon [57:47] about it to see whether Mordei's [57:48] behavior would be tolerated for he told [57:51] him that he was a Jew. So this is the [57:54] first time that uh element comes out in [57:56] the story. When Hmon saw that Mori would [58:00] not kneel down or pay him honor he was [58:01] enraged. Yet having learned who Morai's [58:04] people were he scorned the idea of [58:07] killing only Mordei. Instead, Hmon [58:10] looked for a way to destroy all [58:11] Mororteai's people, the Jews, throughout [58:13] the whole kingdom of a hash bar. So, [58:16] what's interesting here is you have so [58:19] many things in the story. Hmon did not [58:22] have to make everybody bow down. Morai [58:25] could have just bowed down and gone [58:26] along with the crowd. Uh Hmon did not [58:29] have to allow uh bitterness, envy, [58:32] hatred, rage to rise up in him. He could [58:35] have left Mordei alone. He could have [58:37] also just gone after Mori by himself and [58:40] not after all the Jewish people. So you [58:43] can see how many forks in the road this [58:46] story could have taken had it had there [58:48] been a different choice by Esther or [58:50] Mori or Hmon or the king. There's so [58:53] many different ways it could have gone. [58:55] But you can see that God is mapping this [58:58] out and having things happen on a on a [59:01] plan on a pace where he knows what he's [59:05] doing in the long run. God is playing [59:07] the long game here, not just the short [59:10] game. [59:11] So once the king is tricked by Hmon to [59:15] make a law uh and they roll the poor or [59:18] the dice, that's where the name purim [59:20] comes from. They pick the date of when [59:23] the Jewish people can be attacked. This [59:26] is what Hmon asked for. Now, it became [59:28] clear to Mori [59:30] uh why God had put Esther in the role of [59:35] the queen. [59:37] This way um the Jewish people could at [59:40] least have a voice or have an appeal [59:42] process to the king during this edict. [59:46] Uh, we pick it up here because Morai [59:48] then has to encourage Queen Esther so [59:51] that she understands the importance of [59:53] her role. I think Morortei got it pretty [59:55] quickly, but he needs to help explain it [59:57] to her. Now, remember, he raised her. [59:59] So, he's he's her, let's say, the [60:01] discipler and and Esther is the disciple [60:04] and he she's still humble enough to [60:06] learn from Mori even though she's the [60:08] queen. And that's a great trait to have. [60:10] Pick this up in Esther 4:12. [60:14] When Esther's words were reported to [60:16] Mori, he sent back this answer. Do not [60:20] think that because you were in the [60:21] king's house that you of all uh of all [60:25] the Jews will escape. For if you remain [60:28] silent at this time, relief and [60:30] deliverance for the Jews will arise from [60:32] another place, but you and your father's [60:34] family will perish. [60:36] And who knows but that you have come to [60:38] your royal position for such a time as [60:41] this?" Then Esther sent this reply to [60:45] Morortei. She said, "Go gather together [60:48] all the Jews who are in Susa and fast [60:50] for me. Do not eat or drink for three [60:52] days, night or day. I and my attendants [60:55] will fast as you do. When this is done, [60:57] I will go to the king even though it is [61:00] against the law. If I perish, I perish." [61:04] So Esther gets it. She bathes the [61:08] meeting in prayer and fasting. So we [61:11] know that both Mori and Esther are [61:14] following the commandments of the Lord. [61:15] They're walking in the kingdom of God. [61:18] They are not bowing down to, you know, [61:22] uh, Hmon and other false uh, gods who [61:26] are nothing but mere humans. So they're [61:29] not going to break the laws of God. She [61:31] fasts, she prays, she calls her [61:32] attendants to do it. She calls all the [61:34] Jews. So they're not only fasting and [61:36] praying for their own survival, but the [61:38] unification of the Jewish people. even [61:40] though we are in exile at the time. And [61:44] really, this is a very important lesson [61:46] for all of us because it's like meeting [61:48] God halfway. [61:50] God is going to do his part. But there's [61:53] nothing in the kingdom of God that says [61:55] sit back, do nothing, and and God will [61:58] do everything. That's not really how the [62:01] kingdom of God works. That's not the [62:02] patterns in the Bible, and it's not the [62:04] pattern here in the book of Esther. [62:06] Esther and Mori move to action [62:10] and then God also moves to action. It's [62:13] like meeting God uh in a partnership of [62:16] action. This is the key phrase I wanted [62:18] to give you. It says, "Our faith in [62:21] action meets God's faithfulness in [62:25] action and that's how his will is [62:27] accomplished." I'll repeat that. our [62:29] faith in action meets God's faithfulness [62:32] in action and that's how his will is [62:36] accomplished. [62:37] So I'm very glad that that this is the [62:39] route they took. Again, they didn't have [62:41] to choose this. They could have chosen [62:42] to go a different way. Esther could have [62:44] said, "No, it's too dangerous. I'm not [62:46] going before the king." They didn't have [62:48] to call the people to pray. Again, these [62:50] forks in the road, these choices, but [62:52] all of them, if you'll notice, are being [62:54] led by a righteous baseline that they [62:57] know of from the Torah. [63:00] Now, Esther then develops a plan, I [63:03] believe, through fasting and prayer. The [63:05] Lord gave her this plan. We pick it up [63:07] in Esther 5:4. [63:11] She's going to invite the king and Hmon [63:13] to a banquet. If it pleases the king, [63:16] replied Esther, let the king together [63:18] with Hmon come today to a banquet that I [63:20] have prepared for him. [63:23] Bring um Hmon at once, the king said, so [63:28] that we may do what Esther asks. So the [63:31] king and Hmon went to the banquet Esther [63:33] had prepared. As they were drinking [63:35] wine, the king asked again to Esther, [63:39] "Now what is your uh petition? [63:42] it will be given to you and what is your [63:45] request even up to half the kingdom it [63:47] will be granted and Esther replied my [63:49] petition and my request is this if the [63:51] king regards me with favor and if it [63:53] pleases the king to grant my petition [63:55] and fulfill my request let the king and [63:57] Hmon come tomorrow to the banquet I will [64:00] prepare for them and then I will answer [64:02] the king's question so another major [64:06] development here in the story why didn't [64:08] Esther just tell the king the problem at [64:10] the first banquet [64:12] It was right there. The king was there. [64:15] Hmon was there. She could have exposed [64:17] him right in front of the king. Why all [64:19] of a sudden did she change her mind and [64:21] say, "Come again to a second banquet." [64:25] Again, we're going through this series [64:27] of decisions and changes in the story, [64:29] directional changes in the story. This [64:32] is a unique one. I believe she got that [64:34] from the Lord in prayer. A prophetic [64:37] word, uh, a word of wisdom, a word of [64:40] knowledge. The Lord gave her [64:42] miraculously what to do. And look what [64:45] happens because she obeyed that word and [64:47] she did not reveal everything at the [64:49] first banquet. [64:52] It gives a a uh it gives God more time [64:56] to do something miraculous in the story. [64:58] She could have just told the king the [65:00] plot right there. But then the king [65:02] would not have had a sleepless night the [65:06] next night. And because of that [65:08] sleepless night, he would have not [65:11] gotten up, asked his attendants to go [65:13] read the history books to him. And had [65:15] he not been sleepless, asked the [65:17] attendant, and had the books read, he [65:19] would have never heard the story again [65:22] of Mori saving his life, which is a huge [65:26] swing in the story. All of that wouldn't [65:29] have never happened had Esther not [65:32] called for fasting and prayer, sat [65:34] before the Lord, heard from the Lord, [65:37] heard a strategy from the Lord, been [65:39] courageous to enact that strategy from [65:41] the Lord, and had that second banquet. [65:43] She needed the time between banquet one [65:45] and banquet two for the Lord to move in [65:47] the king's life. [65:50] You know, it's very similar to how the [65:51] Lord moved on Pharaoh in order for him [65:54] to go and get Joseph out of the dungeon [65:57] uh in in Egypt and to watch the giftings [66:00] of God flow through Joseph. Very similar [66:02] here. God works through the king. So, we [66:04] pick it up here where there's going to [66:06] be a second banquet, but now the king [66:08] has not slept. He's read the history [66:10] books. He wants to honor Mori. Hmon is [66:14] even madder than before because he's the [66:15] one that has to parade Morai around. And [66:18] then we finally get to uh uh the second [66:22] banquet. [66:24] Now uh we want to pick up the end of [66:26] this story just so we understand how [66:28] it's going to conclude. But Esther 8:1, [66:31] the king's edict granted the Jews in [66:34] every city the right to assemble and [66:36] protect themselves, to destroy, kill, [66:39] and annihilate the armed men of any [66:41] nationality or province who might attack [66:43] them and their women and children, and [66:45] to plunder the property of their [66:47] enemies. So what happens here is after [66:50] the sleepless night they honor Morortei. [66:52] They go ahead and have the second [66:54] banquet. At the second banquet Esther [66:56] reveals the plot of Hmon. [66:59] The king says I cannot change my decree [67:05] um when I said that it was okay for the [67:07] Jews to be destroyed. But what I can do [67:09] is I can write a second overriding [67:13] decree and the two will be in conflict [67:15] with one another. One gives the Persians [67:17] the right to kill the Jews. The other [67:19] gives the Jews the right to defend [67:20] themselves. So, they're going to be in [67:22] conflict, but at least there can be a [67:23] second edict, and the Jewish people can [67:26] defend themselves. So, this is the edict [67:28] that we're reading about in chapter 8. [67:32] Um, the Jewish people have a choice here [67:34] as well. They did not have to act in [67:37] their own self-defense. Let's say they [67:39] they tried to play the pacifist card at [67:41] this instance. They could have just sat [67:43] back and said, "Let God do it." it, you [67:46] know, he it's up to him. He just has to [67:48] do it. We're we're not called to do [67:49] anything. If they had played that card, [67:52] they would have been destroyed. That's [67:54] not the how the kingdom is patterned. [67:56] God tells us what to do. Our [67:58] faithfulness in action is moved and his [68:02] faithfulness in action is moved to [68:05] accomplish his will. So, this is what [68:07] happens. The Jewish people don't play [68:09] the pacifist card. They stand up for [68:12] themselves. And it says that they killed [68:14] over 75,000 [68:16] of their enemies. Now, what's [68:19] interesting is Morai becomes famous. [68:21] Esther is famous. The fact that they're [68:23] both Jewish is becoming famous. And the [68:26] fact that God's amazing favor is on the [68:29] Jewish people in this battle, that [68:31] becomes a huge story all over the [68:33] kingdom. And it starts to attract other [68:35] people who see the power of God in [68:38] action. Esther 8:1 17 says this, "In [68:43] every province and in every city to [68:45] which the edict of the king came, there [68:48] was joy and gladness among the Jews with [68:50] feasting and celebrating and many people [68:52] of other nationalities became Jews [68:55] because fear of the Jews had seized [68:58] them." [69:00] So the fame of what God did starts to [69:04] make its way through the country. people [69:05] are attracted to the Jewish people [69:08] because of God's presence. And it says [69:10] that many of them became Jews. Now, I [69:12] just want to pause for a second and [69:14] explain that because some translations [69:16] in English will say they became Jews or [69:20] they declared themselves as Jews or some [69:24] even say they pretended to be Jews. But [69:27] a a better understanding is that they [69:30] joined themselves to the Jews. And that [69:33] really speaks highly of the vision we [69:36] have at King of Kings, where we want to [69:38] encourage all of our Jewish members to [69:42] embrace their Jewish heritage, embrace [69:45] the foundation of Torah, the prophets, [69:47] and the New Testament to live authentic [69:48] Jewish lives in the New Covenant order [69:51] under the power of the Holy Spirit. But [69:53] we also see the pattern in the Bible of [69:56] faithful Gentiles being uniquely called [69:58] to connect with the Jews and to live [70:01] with them and like them. In essence, [70:04] joining the Jews because we have seen [70:07] what God has done. We don't call oursel [70:09] Jewish. There's no need for conversion. [70:11] But we can still join oursel with the [70:13] Jewish people. We can be the mixed [70:15] multitude coming out of Egypt. We can be [70:17] the engrafted vine in Romans 11. We can [70:19] be the second sheep pin that Yeshua [70:22] talks about. All of these things. We can [70:24] be the second adopted son as Israel is [70:27] the first adopted. We are both called a [70:29] royal priesthood and a holy nation. We [70:31] are partners in the one new man. All of [70:33] that is very consistent with what this [70:35] text says. And they joined themselves to [70:38] the Jews. If I were to read it in [70:40] Hebrew, [70:49] The fear of the Jews, the [70:53] fear of the Jewish people was on them, [70:57] which is why they they wanted to connect [70:59] and join and become like the Jewish [71:01] people. [71:03] It's an amazing story. God did some [71:05] incredible things here. [71:08] But, you know, we would have to contrast [71:10] it to today, at least for a moment. [71:14] Today's media would have treated this [71:16] very differently. They would have said, [71:18] well, the Jewish people were attacked in [71:21] their homeland. They were defeated. They [71:23] were taken exile. They were imprisoned [71:25] and enslaved in in Shushen and in the [71:29] Persian Empire. Um, and then they, the [71:33] people of Persia were given permission [71:35] to attack the Jews and annihilate them. [71:37] And when the Jews stood up for [71:38] themselves and God worked miracles [71:40] through them and they defeated their [71:41] enemies, Israel must be the bad guy. [71:45] That's how today's media would have [71:47] reported it. Israel uh destroys 75,000 [71:52] uh innocent people. That's how it would [71:54] have been twisted and the propaganda [71:56] machine would have been on full display [71:59] if the story of Esther would have been [72:01] in today's uh fake news. [72:05] what we know of. Not only did God show [72:08] amazing miraculous favor and blessing [72:11] and protection for the Jewish people [72:13] during this story, but notice at the end [72:17] there are even new believers, new [72:19] faithful followers of the Lord that are [72:23] attracted to what God is doing through [72:25] Israel, even when they're in foreign [72:27] lands. There's so much here in the story [72:30] uh that could have gone a different way. [72:32] You know, Esther could have acted [72:34] strange. Mori didn't have to tell the [72:37] king about the assassination plot. Um, [72:39] he didn't have to stand up for [72:41] righteousness, uh, refusing to bow down [72:43] to Hmon. Um, the Lord allowed that [72:46] hatred in Hmon to fuel until it spilled [72:49] and he overplayed his hand. Uh, the call [72:52] of fasting and prayer by Esther and [72:54] Morai. The courage of Esther to go [72:56] before the king. the king making a [72:58] decision to to uh write a a second [73:02] edict, the uh activity of the Jewish [73:06] community and their supporters to stand [73:08] up in the face of attack and to let [73:11] their faith be in action. All of these [73:14] are are so interesting in the story [73:16] because it could have gone so [73:17] differently. It could have headed down a [73:19] different fork in the road. But we do [73:21] see God's miraculous hand here, the [73:24] hidden hand of God, which is often what [73:26] is pointed out by Jewish historians of [73:29] why in the book of Esther, the name of [73:31] God is not mentioned, but only fasting [73:33] and prayer and obedience uh is [73:36] mentioned. That the hidden hand of God [73:38] is what is propelling all of these [73:40] decisions and moving the story forward. [73:42] That he may save his people. He may be a [73:45] covenant-keeping God and he may put his [73:48] power on display. You know, I entitled [73:52] this particular message the meal of [73:54] justice because as we're part of the [73:56] covenant table series and we went [73:59] through both banquetss, the first one [74:02] was a setup for the second one, but the [74:04] second one became a meal of justice [74:07] where God used it to uncover everything [74:09] that had been hidden in the plot from [74:11] Hmon, hatred of Mori, the destruction of [74:15] the Jewish the Jewish people. So much is [74:18] now being uncovered. And then the irony [74:20] of of that Hmon and his family are then [74:24] hung on the gallows that he had already [74:27] erected for Morai and the Jewish people. [74:30] We thank God for what he's done. We [74:33] thank God for what he's doing. We thank [74:35] God for what he will do in this porum [74:38] holiday season. We bless all of you. [74:41] Hopefully this word of God has been [74:42] encouraging to you even as we have been [74:45] in and out of bomb shelters and having [74:47] these sirens in the middle of of [74:50] presenting you this word today. So thank [74:51] you for your patience. Have a great poor [74:53] holiday. Make sure you check out our [74:56] very own King of Kings Ministries [74:58] platform [75:00] alongside our weekly services. You will [75:02] find there the Hebrew songs we sing, our [75:05] leadership I am trainings, disciplehip [75:08] classes, special teachings on Jewish [75:11] holidays, seminars, and much more. [75:14] Basically, all our videos that we [75:16] produce. Check it out today. The [75:19] core.km.network. [75:22] And don't forget our podcast called [75:24] Israelities. [75:26] You'll find it on your usual podcast [75:29] platforms. The summit releases a worship [75:32] related podcast called deep calls to [75:34] deep. Find both of these also at the [75:38] core. We can also stand with you in [75:40] prayer for your personal needs. Send [75:43] those to us to we pray.org. [75:49] For any other questions, send us an [75:51] email to kkjk.org.
