WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.879 Our sermon text this morning comes from the book of Esther, chapter nine. 00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:19.280 We're coming to the end of this sermon series on this Old Testament book written to encourage the people of God through all generations, including this generation today. 00:00:26.640 --> 00:00:28.480 Quite a story, isn't it? 00:00:29.120 --> 00:00:40.159 How God can use a woman who ends up in a harem, her cousin who can't get inside the palace. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:44.799 And God is in control of all things. 00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:51.359 God knows how to get his people into the places where they can have influence. 00:00:51.679 --> 00:00:57.679 And God knows how to grow his people so that they have more gospel influence. 00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:01.679 And that's not just their day, that's this day. 00:01:02.479 --> 00:01:11.359 I trust and pray that you are learning how to have a growing gospel impact in your own life. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:14.239 We've talked about fast horses. 00:01:15.599 --> 00:01:19.599 Are you finding your horse to take the good news? 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:24.719 Because people in this world, people in this city desperately need to hear the good news. 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:27.359 And if we're not going to tell them, who will? 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:34.799 This morning we're looking at decrees, reversals, and feast. 00:01:35.200 --> 00:01:40.239 How appropriate as we come to the Lord's table in just a few minutes to talk about feast. 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:43.120 Hear the word of God. 00:01:44.560 --> 00:02:25.039 And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahashuas, both near and far, obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year, as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness, and from mourning into a holiday, that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor. 00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:31.919 So the Jews accepted what they had started to do, and what Mordecai had written to them. 00:02:32.080 --> 00:02:45.919 For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hamadatha, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast per, that is, lots, to crush and to destroy them. 00:02:46.240 --> 00:03:00.000 But when he came before the king, he gave orders in writing that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews should return on their own head, that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows. 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:05.599 Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term pure. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:45.199 Therefore, because of all that was written in this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them, the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring, and all who joined them, that without fail they would keep these two days according to what was written, and at the time appointed every year, that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:56.000 Then Queen Esther, the daughter of Abahel and Mordecai the Jew, gave full written authority, confirming this second letter about Purim. 00:03:56.479 --> 00:04:20.959 Letters were sent to all the Jews, to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasherus in words of peace and truth, that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring with regard to their fast and their lamenting. 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:28.240 The command of Esther confirmed these practices of Purim, and it was recorded in writing. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:33.120 This is the reading of God's holy, powerful word. 00:04:33.759 --> 00:04:39.600 And so we place ourselves under God's authority even now as we ask Him to work in our hearts. 00:04:39.920 --> 00:04:41.279 Let's pray. 00:04:43.680 --> 00:04:53.600 Sovereign mighty God, although your name does not appear in this book, your fingerprints are all over this book. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:04:59.120 And we acknowledge that there are times in our life where we don't see you at work. 00:05:00.240 --> 00:05:03.759 And you seem far away and distant and removed. 00:05:04.079 --> 00:05:08.480 And we wonder sometimes, are you there? 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:11.439 In what ways are you working? 00:05:12.639 --> 00:05:20.319 Father, I trust that we've been learning through this story that you're always there, that you're always working. 00:05:21.120 --> 00:05:24.160 And by your Spirit, we pray that you would be at work right now. 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:27.680 And the minds and the hearts of every person here. 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:30.639 Do your work to your glory, we pray. 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:32.959 In Jesus' name, amen. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:40.959 This is a story about decrees, reversals, and feast. 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:49.600 We've heard and read about the decrees because kings issued decrees. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:53.519 This is a story about decrees. 00:05:53.839 --> 00:06:09.120 King Xerxes, or otherwise known as Ahasherus, issued a decree of death being motivated, really being mediated by an evil man named Haman. 00:06:09.360 --> 00:06:10.959 We've learned about Haman. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:20.639 And Haman had a sinister evil plot that he brought about with the desire and the goal eventually of exterminating the Jewish people. 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:40.160 And so Haman, using the king's authority, issued a decree that the day would come in about eleven months when all the Jews within all the provinces under the kingdom of the Medes and the Persians would be destroyed. 00:06:40.480 --> 00:06:42.000 That was his decree. 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:57.360 Until God intervened through secondary means, he used a man named Mordecai who was able to get the king's ear through Esther, his queen. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:06.160 And once the king, Xerxes, found out about this plot, he became angry because he loved his queen, Esther. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:08.800 He wanted to protect his queen. 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:12.319 He also wanted to protect her people, the Jews. 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:31.199 And so through the providence of God, God's providence, he not only creates, but he preserves, he protects, he leads all creatures for his glory, for his purpose. 00:07:31.839 --> 00:07:36.720 He has a plan for this world and he has a plan for your life. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:38.879 Do you know that? 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:41.040 Do you believe that today? 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:49.600 Sometimes it can get rather disturbing if you just get glued to the news. 00:07:50.560 --> 00:07:52.319 Or even in your own life. 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:55.199 How could God be using this for good? 00:07:55.839 --> 00:07:57.120 But He does. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:10.319 He averted the evil through Esther, who was willing, if necessary, to leave behind the palace, who was willing to take the risk at the risk of her own life. 00:08:10.639 --> 00:08:17.040 Because she went in unannounced to the king, uninvited to the king, and she could have easily lost her life. 00:08:17.360 --> 00:08:28.800 And like Esther, gospel people today must be willing to leave their palace, must be willing to leave the comforts of life to take gospel risk. 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:31.040 We can't live for safety. 00:08:31.199 --> 00:08:32.639 We can't live for security. 00:08:32.799 --> 00:08:34.240 We can't live for comfort. 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:39.360 I mean, we can, but we're going to be of little use to the king if we do. 00:08:40.399 --> 00:08:48.240 And this life is about making our lives available to the king to lead us and use us. 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:52.879 Haman's evil plot was exposed, and the Jews were spared, thank God. 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:57.279 And that first decree was overruled by a second decree. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:14.399 Once the king realized the evil plot and the effect that it would have on Esther and her people, he gave Esther and Mordecai that royal power and that signet ring, and he said, You write another decree. 00:09:15.440 --> 00:09:20.480 You write the decree that will be helpful to saving your people. 00:09:21.600 --> 00:09:23.120 And so they did. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:29.440 And that was the decree that went out on those fast horses to the Jews all over the kingdom. 00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:44.399 In 11 months, when this was going to take place, when the people who hate the Jews are going to attack you, this decree said, you have permission to defend yourselves against them. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:46.960 And they did. 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:56.480 And when the day finally came, 75,000 enemies were killed in that holy war that we talked about last week a bit. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:07.279 75,000 enemies were killed because the Jews were permitted by that second decree to defend themselves, to take up arms. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:11.679 And there were others that joined them that were enlisted in their army. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:15.200 Decrees. 00:10:15.519 --> 00:10:16.320 Reversals. 00:10:16.480 --> 00:10:18.159 The reverse occurred. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.440 There's a lot of death in this story. 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:23.919 There's a lot of death in the Old Testament. 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:26.399 There's a lot of death, frankly, in the New Testament. 00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:30.480 There's a lot of death, but there's also life. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:36.960 Xerxes granted Esther and the Jewish people the right to protect themselves, to take revenge on their enemies. 00:10:37.759 --> 00:10:42.080 And where there was certain death, we see life was being preserved. 00:10:42.720 --> 00:10:44.960 And because of that, there were a feast. 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:46.639 The feast of Purim. 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:50.320 We've seen that that Hebrew word pure means lots. 00:10:50.960 --> 00:10:53.200 You know, like casting lots. 00:10:53.679 --> 00:10:55.600 Like rolling dice. 00:10:56.000 --> 00:10:58.240 Seems to be very random, doesn't it? 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:05.039 Did all this really happen because the rolling of the dice? 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:09.440 Well, in a certain sense, yes. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:14.960 But God, who runs and governs his world, is always behind the rolling of the dice as well. 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:18.399 Nothing truly happens randomly. 00:11:19.200 --> 00:11:20.159 Nothing. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:24.240 As much as it seems like it's the case sometimes. 00:11:24.639 --> 00:11:28.799 And so there's this feast of Purim after the Jews were spared. 00:11:29.120 --> 00:11:38.480 Esther and Mordecai, no doubt, governed by God, led by God, dedicate this feast. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:46.559 It's a great celebration, quote, a day of feasting and gladness for the preservation of the Jews. 00:11:47.120 --> 00:11:48.879 And they were to never forget that. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:55.919 And so God said, I want you to run to hold this celebration every year throughout every generation. 00:11:56.240 --> 00:12:00.960 I don't want you to forget how I delivered my people once again. 00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:05.679 And oh, by the way, I want gifts to the poor. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:07.360 Every year. 00:12:07.679 --> 00:12:12.240 Every year when you celebrate the Feast of Purim, I want you to be generous. 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:13.440 Why? 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:21.120 God says, just as I've been so generous to you, I want you to live a life of generosity. 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:28.799 And I want you to express that generosity not only to God Almighty, first and foremost, but to your neighbor. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:34.000 And I want you to extend that generosity to those who are less fortunate than you. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:40.240 And so we come really to the end of the story. 00:12:41.200 --> 00:12:50.240 But I'd like to close and transition us to the Lord's table by thinking of some of the great lessons for us today. 00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:54.159 The two great decrees. 00:12:56.159 --> 00:12:57.679 What were those decrees? 00:12:58.960 --> 00:13:01.840 God created this world, a perfect world. 00:13:02.080 --> 00:13:03.440 There was no sin. 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:06.320 There was no sin. 00:13:07.039 --> 00:13:09.840 He created a perfect world in creation. 00:13:10.000 --> 00:13:12.799 And so the story of the Bible starts with creation. 00:13:13.919 --> 00:13:19.120 But if you read your Bible in the book of Genesis, it wasn't long until sin came into the world. 00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:21.120 We call that the fall. 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:25.759 And boy, did the world fall, and did sinners fall because of sin. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:38.159 Sin that we sinned in our Father Adam, but sin that we all know personally as well because we've all committed innumerable acts of treason against our own God. 00:13:38.480 --> 00:13:41.519 We have sinned against God and we have sinned against man. 00:13:42.080 --> 00:13:43.759 I trust you know that. 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:51.120 And so there's creation, and then there's the fall, and because of the fall, God issued that decree. 00:13:51.840 --> 00:14:01.440 As the book of Hebrews says, it was appointed to all men, once to die, and then one day to face judgment. 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:06.320 It was appointed, that's a word of decree. 00:14:06.559 --> 00:14:11.519 It was appointed once to all men, all women. 00:14:11.840 --> 00:14:17.840 There is a day with death destined for you and for me. 00:14:18.639 --> 00:14:20.799 That was the God's decree. 00:14:21.200 --> 00:14:24.000 That decree didn't come from Persia. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:27.679 That decree didn't come from King Xerxes. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:31.679 That decree came from the King of Kings. 00:14:33.120 --> 00:14:35.759 But thank God that wasn't the only decree. 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:39.679 Just like in the book of Esther, there was a second decree. 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:45.120 We read about that second decree, do we not, throughout the scriptures? 00:14:47.039 --> 00:15:09.759 One of my favorite places of that second decree, Ephesians chapter 1, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. 00:15:11.200 --> 00:15:15.120 In love, he predestined us. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:18.480 You. 00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:22.559 Put your name in there, Christian. 00:15:23.039 --> 00:15:40.559 In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the beloved. 00:15:42.399 --> 00:15:47.120 You have no bless, no blessing, you have no grace outside of the beloved. 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:51.279 This is the table of the beloved Jesus Christ. 00:15:52.480 --> 00:16:04.720 In him, Christ, we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us. 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:08.080 I love that word, lavish. 00:16:08.799 --> 00:16:11.120 There's nothing stingy with our God. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:16.559 Our God is not a stingy God, he's a gracious God, he's a lavish God. 00:16:17.200 --> 00:16:20.879 The love within him flows and pours outward. 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:28.240 It pours in a way that Niagara Falls can't begin to compare with. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:33.039 That's the heart of the Father toward his people. 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:39.120 And so he issued a second decree as we read about in Ephesians chapter 1. 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:45.039 Before the foundation of the world, God wrote his own legislation, God wrote his own decree. 00:16:46.799 --> 00:16:49.279 Before the foundation of the world. 00:16:50.559 --> 00:16:52.879 And your name was on that list. 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:54.639 Christian. 00:16:57.120 --> 00:16:58.879 Don't ever forget that. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:01.679 Are we living today? 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:03.919 Believing that? 00:17:05.759 --> 00:17:20.960 He decreed life to people like us, to people who would one day take refuge in Jesus Christ, because even as all die in Adam, all live in Christ, who come to Christ. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:23.200 It was the great reversal. 00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:29.680 I love the way the Apostle Paul put it in 2 Corinthians, but God made him who knew no sin, who never sinned. 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.880 That was Jesus. 00:17:31.119 --> 00:17:41.279 But God made him who never sinned to become sin for us, so that in Christ we might become the righteousness of God. 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:44.880 And that's why we're coming to the table this morning. 00:17:46.559 --> 00:17:48.240 The great reversal. 00:17:48.480 --> 00:17:56.319 The great reversal was not King Xerxes writing a second decree. 00:17:57.039 --> 00:18:02.160 The great reversal was God Almighty writing that second decree. 00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:06.160 That my people will live because of my son. 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:11.519 That's why we're here this morning. 00:18:11.920 --> 00:18:14.960 Because we forget this all too often, don't we? 00:18:15.599 --> 00:18:19.359 And we we can easily live as though this wasn't true. 00:18:20.799 --> 00:18:22.559 We can lose hope. 00:18:22.880 --> 00:18:24.559 We can lose sight. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:27.359 We can lose purpose. 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:39.519 We can begin to live our life as though these are all just random acts, and somehow we just got caught in the crosshairs of some world spinning out of control, no one in control. 00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:43.680 And that's what the enemy wants you to believe. 00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:57.200 The enemy wants you to believe that your life is purposeless, directionless, and the best you can do is just hang on and endure it. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:06.960 When we think that way, we have lost the sight of God's greater purpose. 00:19:07.440 --> 00:19:11.839 Today, as we come to the Lord's Supper, we come to the table. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:20.400 That's the ultimate, it's the ultimate type fulfilled today in Jesus Christ. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:24.640 It's not the feast of Purim, it's what the Feast of Purim pointed to. 00:19:25.359 --> 00:19:26.799 Do you understand that? 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:33.759 It's this table points to the greatest victim ever in the Holy War. 00:19:33.920 --> 00:19:37.839 We looked at the holy war last Lord's day. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:41.440 Do you know who was the true victim of the holy war? 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:44.559 It wasn't the Amalekites. 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:46.720 It wasn't the Jewish people. 00:19:46.880 --> 00:19:49.359 It was the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. 00:19:50.319 --> 00:19:53.839 He is the one that took the wrath of God. 00:19:54.400 --> 00:19:56.720 He's the one that took the sword upon himself. 00:19:57.039 --> 00:19:59.920 He's the one that went to the gallows that were prepared. 00:20:01.680 --> 00:20:05.119 The gallows that were prepared for Haman. 00:20:05.759 --> 00:20:08.559 First for Mordecai, but then Haman. 00:20:10.319 --> 00:20:16.160 The only reason we can come to this table is because Jesus climbed the gallows. 00:20:19.519 --> 00:20:21.200 Because we're all guilty. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:25.680 We all have sinned against God. 00:20:28.079 --> 00:20:30.799 There is no one who does good, no, not one. 00:20:30.960 --> 00:20:34.319 There is no one who has not gone his own way. 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:37.359 Until Jesus came. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.839 We had no hope. 00:20:40.559 --> 00:20:44.079 And so we come to this table, to the Lord's table today. 00:20:44.400 --> 00:20:47.680 So one day we will sit at the great wedding feast. 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:51.359 Do you remember what the feast of Purim said? 00:20:51.680 --> 00:20:53.440 Keep commemorating this. 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:57.519 Do not cease commemorating the feast of Purim. 00:20:58.960 --> 00:21:00.559 What does this table say? 00:21:00.880 --> 00:21:03.119 What do we read in the book of Corinthians? 00:21:03.279 --> 00:21:03.839 Do this. 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:06.960 The words of Paul, the words of Jesus recorded by Paul. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:09.039 Do this until I return. 00:21:09.200 --> 00:21:11.119 Don't stop doing this. 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:16.160 Don't stop coming to the Lord's table. 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:22.640 Because we commemorate the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:30.960 It reminds us of the great decrees that God issued with your name and my name on it. 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:33.839 Do this until he returns. 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:36.720 First the sorrow, then the feasting. 00:21:36.880 --> 00:21:40.720 First the crown, excuse me, first the cross and then the crown. 00:21:41.119 --> 00:21:44.319 Yes, Jesus was the focus of the Holy War. 00:21:48.319 --> 00:21:59.759 If you read the full text that was printed in the email announcements on Friday, you'll notice that three times it's mentioned that though they were given permission. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:11.519 Permission by the king, the Jews who killed their enemies in defense, though they were given permission to take the plunder from the enemies, they didn't. 00:22:12.559 --> 00:22:14.480 They didn't take the plunder. 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:15.279 Why? 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:17.119 Because this was a holy war. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:28.480 And just as we see back in the Old Testament, when God told King Saul in fighting the Amalekites, don't take the plunder. 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:30.400 Do you remember he got in trouble? 00:22:30.480 --> 00:22:31.920 Because he took the plunder. 00:22:32.319 --> 00:22:34.640 He saved the best for himself. 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:37.279 He didn't obey God. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:46.400 He said, Well, I'll devote most of it to destruction, but I'm going to keep the best for myself. 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:53.519 As we've said throughout this series, there is no such thing as halfway obedience. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:58.000 There is partial obedience is an oxymoron. 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:14.079 When God comes to you and God directs you and God commands you, and you know in your heart what God's calling you to do, and you say, I'm going to rewrite the orders, Lord. 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.960 You disobey the Lord. 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:19.359 The Lord when I do that. 00:23:19.839 --> 00:23:23.200 There is no such thing as partial obedience. 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:27.680 We owe King Jesus full obedience. 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:31.599 Because he gave us all of himself. 00:23:38.720 --> 00:23:40.799 Jesus devoted all of himself. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:45.200 All of his body was beaten. 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:49.200 All of his life, all of his blood was spilt. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:56.559 So that we would have the true plunder one day. 00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:01.680 That's the wedding feast that Amy read about this morning. 00:24:03.119 --> 00:24:08.240 It might be good for you to keep your bulletin this week for a few days, maybe today. 00:24:09.359 --> 00:24:15.759 And just go back and read over the great wedding feast recorded in Revelation 19. 00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:19.680 We're coming up to the holidays. 00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:22.960 Thanksgiving's around the corner and then Christmas. 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:28.559 These are days that are supposed to be a feast of celebration. 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:33.920 What is it going to take to spoil your Thanksgiving? 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:36.559 What is it going to take to spoil your Christmas? 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:51.039 What can turn you into a grumbling, complaining, murmuring person over the holidays? 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:58.000 How little does it take if everything doesn't go just right? 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:02.559 I have to ask myself that. 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:04.799 And I'm going to ask you that. 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:07.359 What does it take? 00:25:08.079 --> 00:25:09.359 Do you understand? 00:25:09.519 --> 00:25:13.359 Do you see what he's going is going on here with this table? 00:25:16.720 --> 00:25:19.279 This is a season of feasting. 00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:21.680 This is a season of celebration. 00:25:21.839 --> 00:25:24.480 And let the celebration not cease. 00:25:25.359 --> 00:25:28.799 Because we look around and we see things that are not to our liking. 00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:32.799 We look around and we see things that we don't make sense of. 00:25:33.519 --> 00:25:35.759 The victory has been won. 00:25:37.119 --> 00:25:39.359 The victor is alive. 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:41.920 And you are with him. 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:46.319 And he has a seat for you at his table at the Married Supper. 00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:49.279 Don't lose sight of that. 00:25:50.799 --> 00:25:53.920 And he will turn your mourning into gladness. 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:57.039 And he will turn your sorrow into feasting. 00:25:59.119 --> 00:26:00.640 No matter what it is. 00:26:03.359 --> 00:26:05.599 Are we living lives of thanksgiving? 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:09.200 Are we still commemorating God's decree of life? 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:12.960 Because we have Jesus. 00:26:13.599 --> 00:26:17.359 Because the victor rose from the dead. 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:25.359 The victor, though crucified, was raised from the dead and is reigning today at the right hand of the Father. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:26.799 This is his table. 00:26:27.039 --> 00:26:28.319 We are his people. 00:26:29.599 --> 00:26:34.720 And we have been called to celebrate the new life that we have in him. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:38.720 That's why we're here. 00:26:40.559 --> 00:26:46.000 And that's why we ask him to give us that gospel perspective today. 00:26:46.960 --> 00:26:48.880 Would you please pray with me? 00:26:52.880 --> 00:27:08.720 Oh Father, I pray that your Spirit will touch our hearts, that your Spirit will renew our minds with your word, that your Spirit will open up our lives to see, to see what's in our hearts. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:15.759 Father, where we grumble, where we complain, where we're hopeless, where we think that you've lost control, forgive us. 00:27:17.920 --> 00:27:18.799 Forgive us. 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:23.279 Lord, give us eyes to see. 00:27:23.920 --> 00:27:35.200 That you are just as much in control of our world today, and you are just as much in control of our lives personally now as you were in the days of Esther. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:39.279 Give us eyes to see. 00:27:39.680 --> 00:27:42.799 Give us hearts of faith to believe. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:44.559 Keep us prayerful. 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:46.160 Keep us hopeful. 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:48.079 Keep us thankful. 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:59.200 May we see every day of our lives the great victory that the great victor won on our behalf. 00:27:59.680 --> 00:28:12.960 We're here this morning to say thank you, Father, for sending your Son to say thank you, Jesus, for giving your life and for giving your spirit that we might have life. 00:28:14.480 --> 00:28:23.359 We offer this in humility and thanksgiving to you now, as an offering to you right now, Father, in Jesus' name. 00:28:23.599 --> 00:28:24.079 Amen.