19 Pentecost

19 Pentecost - Sunday

first posted 10/09/04

Esther 3:1-4:3 Haman’s plot against the Jews
James 1:19-27 True worship
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Practical piety

Esther (Hadassah), a Jewess in the Babylonian exile, was selected to be the Queen of Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), King of Persia. She was an orphan, adopted and raised by her cousin Mordecai, who was a minor officer of the King (perhaps a gatekeeper). The King promoted Haman the Agagite (Amalekite descendant of Agag) to the office of Prime Minister. The minor officers were required to bow to Haman, but Mordecai refused to bow to Haman (because he was a descendant of Agag, the enemy of Saul, who was a Benjamite, as was Mordecai).

His fellow officers told Mordecai day after day that he should bow and show respect for Haman, but when Mordecai continued to refuse, they told Haman. Haman was furious, but he decided to destroy not just Mordecai, but all the Jews throughout the kingdom, since it was known that Mordecai was a Jew. Haman having determined by the casting of Pur (lot; i.e., by chance) the best time to go to the King, went to him in the twelfth month.

Haman told the King that the Jews had different laws from the other people of the Kingdom, and did not keep the king’s laws, so it was not in the King’s interest to tolerate them. Haman offered a large amount of silver in exchange for a royal decree that the Jews be destroyed. The King refused the bribe, but gave Haman permission to draft the decree, and the King’s signet ring to validate it. So Haman drafted the decree in the King’s name and sealed it with the King’s signet, and had copies delivered to all the provinces of the kingdom.

All the Jews, young and old, male and female, were to be destroyed on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, and their property confiscated. Couriers were sent in haste, and the proclamation was delivered. When Mordecai learned of the decree, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes (formal manifestation of grief, making him ritually unclean). He went to the King’s gate, but was not allowed to enter because he was in mourning. Throughout the kingdom there was great mourning and fasting among the Jews.

Christians should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger. Mankind’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness. We should weed out all unrighteousness from ourselves and receive the Gospel, now implanted and growing within us, which is able to save our souls. It’s not sufficient merely to hear the Gospel, without acting upon it. One who hears and doesn’t act deceives himself.

Unless one acts on what he hears he’s like a person who has seen his reflection in a mirror. The experience produces no lasting benefit and he quickly forgets what he has seen. But a hearer of the Gospel who acts upon it and perseveres will be blessed in his doing. Religion is more than outward appearance. True religion is acting in faith on what we believe.

Jesus taught his followers that piety (devoutness of religion) is a matter of inner attitude, rather than outward display. Those who do good deeds to receive praise from other people will receive only that. God does not reward such behavior. God wants us to do what is right because it pleases him. God sees our inner attitude, so we don’t need to draw attention to our good deeds.

Behavior which draws attention to our good deeds reveals that we are seeking human approval. Likewise, ostentatious prayer is not really prayer. If our prayers are designed to impress people, that’s all they will accomplish. If we truly want to pray to God, he knows what we need before we ask. We don’t need to pray loudly in public and use fancy words. When we do those things we reveal that we are more interested in human approval that God’s approval. When we fast we should not try to draw attention to our fasting. Let our fasting be between ourselves and God alone. God knows whether our piety is sincere or not, and he rewards sincerity and truth.

Mordecai, a Benjaminite, of the tribe of King Saul, would not honor Haman, a descendant of Agag, the defeated enemy of Saul. Mordecai would not let the standards of the worldly culture in which he lived influence him to do something contrary to his belief, even at the risk of his job and his life. He refused to act insincerely or to conform to the standards set by society in order to “get along.” Haman sought acclaim and worship from men. The Lord, not Ahasuerus, was Mordecai’s King; Saul, not Haman, was the Lord’s anointed.

It is not sufficient to believe in Jesus if we don’t do what he teaches. Jesus says, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I tell you” (Luke 6:46; compare Matthew 7:21-24). How can we call ourselves Christians if we don’t follow Jesus’ teachings? Christianity is more than just saying a prayer before we eat in public, or going to church on Sunday morning. James describes the Gospel as a growing plant transplanted into the garden of our lives. We need to weed around it and feed and water it, allowing it to grow to maturity so that it can yield the harvest of salvation. We need to read the Bible thoroughly and daily if we expect the Gospel to grow to maturity and produce fruit in us. We need to apply the Gospel in our lives daily. True Christianity is acting on what we profess, not pretending to be something we aren’t.

True Christianity is trusting and obeying Jesus with all our hearts. We can’t follow Jesus and follow the ways of the world. We must be willing to sacrifice worldly success and popularity in order to please and serve the Lord. The Lord rewards sincerity and truth. Worldly rewards are uncertain and temporary; the Lord’s rewards are certain and eternal. Are we worshiping the Lord, or do we worship the defeated enemy of our King?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus Commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

19 Pentecost - Monday

first posted 10/10/04

Esther 4:4-17 Esther promises to intercede
Acts 18:1-11 Founding the church at Corinth
Luke (1:1-4) 3:1-14 The ministry of John the Baptist

Haman, the Prime Minister of the Persian King Ahasuerus, plotted to destroy the Jews living in Persia following the Babylonian deportation, because Mordecai, Queen Esther’s cousin and adoptive father, had refused to bow down to him. The King had issued an order appointing a day when all the Jews in Persia were to be destroyed. When Mordecai learned of the plot, he clothed himself in sackcloth of ritual mourning (Esther 3:1-4:3).

When Esther learned that her foster father was in mourning she sent clothes so that he could remove his sackcloth but he refused. Esther sent one of her eunuchs to Mordecai to learn what had happened. Mordecai relayed to Esther through her eunuch that Haman had offered money to the King for the destruction of the Jews, and he sent her a copy of the written order by the king ordering the destruction. Mordecai asked her to intercede with the king on behalf of the Jews. Esther replied that anyone who entered the King’s chambers without being summoned by the King would be executed, unless the King extended his golden scepter to them and pardoned them. Esther said that she had not been summoned to the King’s chambers for thirty days.

Mordecai told her that although she was in the Palace, she was not any safer than the other Jews. If she kept silent during this crucial moment, God would raise up deliverance from some other source, but in trying to save herself she and her household would be destroyed. Mordecai suggested that perhaps God had caused her to be made Queen so that she could intervene in this situation. Esther asked Mordecai to gather all the Jews in Susa, the capital, and fast for three days and nights. Esther and her maids would also fast. Then Esther promised to risk her life by approaching the King without an invitation. Mordecai went and did as they had agreed.

On Paul’s second missionary trip, he came to Corinth by himself from Athens, having been separated from Silas and Timothy, his fellow missionaries, by persecution arising from the proclamation of the Gospel. Paul met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus (in northern Asia Minor; i.e. modern Turkey), who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Roman Emperor Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul visited, and, since they were tentmakers, Paul stayed with them and worked with them.

Every Sabbath, Paul debated in the synagogue and persuaded Jews and Greeks. Silas and Timothy rejoined Paul in Corinth, where Paul was busy preaching to the Jews. When the Jews rejected his message Paul told them that they would bear the guilt for their rejection of the Gospel, and that he would thereafter take the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul moved to the home of Titius Justice (probably a Gentile who worshiped God), who lived next door to the synagogue.

Crispus, the ruler, of the synagogue believed in Jesus along with his household, and many of the Corinthians also believed and were baptized. The Lord encouraged Paul one night, in a vision, not to be afraid to speak out. The Lord assured Paul that he was with Paul, would protect Paul, and that many people in Corinth belonged to the Lord. So Paul stayed there a year and a half, teaching God’s word.

The Gospel of Luke is believed to have been written by a Gentile physician named Luke, who was a friend of Paul’s. The stated purpose was to record the accounts of those who were eyewitnesses and ministers of the Gospel. In A.D. 26 or 27,* God’s word came to John (“the Baptizer”) in the wilderness and he began “preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Luke 3: 3). Luke quotes Isaiah 40:3-5 to show that John the Baptist is the fulfillment of the prophecy of the coming of a prophet (messenger) who would prepare the people for and announce the coming of the Messiah (Compare Malachi 3:1).

John called the crowds that came to him for baptism vipers (poisonous snakes; evil), and asked who had warned them to flee from the coming wrath (of God). He told them to bear fruit befitting (sincere) repentance and not to suppose that they did not need forgiveness because they were physical descendants of Abraham (and thus having God’s favor). John proclaimed the beginning of judgment, when those who haven’t produced the fruit of righteousness will be destroyed. The crowds asked what they should do, and John replied that those who had more than they needed should share with those who don’t have enough. Tax collectors were told to be honest and fair in their dealings, and soldiers were told not to misuse their authority, and to be content with their pay.

Esther had to choose whether she was willing to risk loosing her status as the Queen of Persia and her life, in order to do God’s will. God’s will would be done, whether she cooperated with God’s will or not, but if she loved her life in this world more than she loved the Lord, she would loose her life.

Paul was persecuted from place to place by his own people because of the Gospel, but that didn’t stop him from visiting synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel. He had been driven out of Thessalonica and Beroea, but when he came to Corinth he entered the synagogue and began proclaiming the Gospel. When they opposed and reviled him, he told them that they would bear the responsibility for their eternal destruction; Paul would not be to blame.

Having been rejected by his own people, he took the Gospel to the Gentiles. The Lord told Paul not to be afraid, but to speak boldly and not be silent. The Lord promised to be with him to protect him. Paul spent a year and a half there in Corinth teaching the word of God.

John the Baptist was the prophet (the “Elijah”) who was to come to prepare the people and announce the coming of Messiah (Matthew 11:7-10; Mark 9:11-13). He wasn’t pursuing worldly success or popularity. His lifestyle, living in the wilderness and eating locusts, is not an image of worldly success. His message, calling those who came to him for baptism “vipers,” was not calculated to make him popular.

John was telling his hearers to consider why they were coming to him. Were they truly turning to the Lord in repentance, intending to trust and obey the Lord, or were they only trying to avoid the just punishment of their sins? If they were truly repentant they should show that repentance by doing the deeds that accompany sincere repentance. John warned them not to suppose that they had God’s favor just because they happened to have been born into the congregation of God’s people. John declared that the coming of Jesus marked the beginning of judgment. Those who do not produce the fruit of righteousness will be destroyed.

How are we doing? The Lord doesn’t call us to be successful or comfortable or popular; he calls us to be faithful! Esther had to be willing to risk the loss of her worldly status, comfort and popularity, as Queen of Persia, in order to do God’s will. God’s will will be done whether we cooperate with it or not, but only God is able to protect us and give us life eternally.

Paul was able to proclaim the Gospel in the face of persecution because he believed and came to know from personal experience that God was able to protect him and was able to raise him even from physical death to eternal life. John the Baptist wasn’t trying to be successful, comfortable or popular. He was honestly and boldly doing what God had called him to do. Are we following the Lord, or are we going along with the worldly system? Are we serving the Lord or are we trying to be successful, comfortable and popular? Are we willing to speak out in times like these, or will we keep silent and try to protect and save ourselves?

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

*The Oxford Annotated Bible, Revised Standard Version, Ed. by Herbert G. May and Bruce M. Metzger, Luke 3:1 n, p. 1244, New York, Oxford University Press, 1962.

19 Pentecost - Tuesday

first posted 10/11/04

Esther 5:1-14 Esther before the King
Acts 18:12-28 Paul at Corinth
Luke 3:15-22 Ministry of John the Baptist

Esther, a Jewess living in Persia as a result of the Babylonian Exile, had been chosen Queen. There had been a decree, instigated by Haman, the King’s Prime Minister, to kill all the Jews living in Persia and Esther had promised her foster father, Mordecai, the King’s gatekeeper, that she would appeal to the King at the risk of her life. She fasted for three days, and on the third day, she appeared before the King in the inner court of the palace.

When the King saw her, he held out his royal scepter to her and allowed her to approach. The King asked her to state her request, and she invited the King and Haman, the Prime Minister, to dinner. The King and Haman came to dinner and again the King asked Esther to make her request, but Esther invited them to return for dinner the next night, and promised that she would reveal her request then.

Haman left the Queen’s dinner happy, but was angered, passing through the King’s gate, that Mordecai did not humble himself before Haman. But Haman restrained himself and went home and assembled his friends and his wife and boasted about his success in the King’s administration, climaxed by his invitations to dine privately with the King and Queen. The one thing that spoiled all this for Haman was Mordecai’s refusal to honor Haman. So Haman’s wife and friends suggested that Haman have a huge gallows built and tell the king to have Mordecai hanged on it, and then Haman could go merrily to dinner. The idea pleased Haman and he did as they had suggested.

Paul stayed in Corinth for eighteen months, and during this time the Jews organized an effort to get rid of him by charging him before Gallio, proconsul of Asia, with teaching men to worship God in violation of Roman law. Paul was about to make a defense, but Gallio told the Jews that he refused to hear the case because it did not involve any actual acts of wrongdoing, but was merely a disagreement about words and names and Jewish law. He told them to settle the matter themselves.

The Jews seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue and beat him in front of Gallio, but he paid them no attention. Paul stayed in Corinth for many days after this incident, but later sailed for Syria with Priscilla and Aquilla, with whom he had stayed when he first came to Corinth (Acts 18:2-3).

Paul had taken a temporary Nazirite vow (which involved avoiding alcohol, haircutting, and contact with dead bodies) in Corinth which had ended when he arrived in Cenchreae, so he cut his hair (which was to be brought to the temple in Jerusalem to complete the vow). At Ephesus, Paul preached at the synagogue, but declined an invitation to stay longer, promising to return if God permitted. Paul left Priscilla and Aquilla there and sailed for Caesarea, greeted the church there and then went to Antioch. After spending some time in Antioch, Paul traveled through Galatia and Phrygia encouraging the disciples there.

Meanwhile at Ephesus, a Jewish disciple of John the Baptist arrived, and was accurately teaching about Jesus from the scriptures although he knew only the baptism of John. When Priscilla and Aquilla heard him speak in the synagogue they took him and “discipled” him (Acts 18:26). When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia (Greece), the Ephesian church encouraged him and sent a letter of recommendation to the church at Achaia. At Achaia, Apollos built up the believers by debating convincingly in public against the Jews, showing from scriptures that the Christ was Jesus.

The Jewish people were looking expectantly for the coming of the Messiah (Christ), and they were seriously considering that John might be the Christ. John proclaimed that he baptized with water (for repentance), but that the Christ, who is mightier and much more worthy of honor than John, was coming, and the Christ would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. The Christ will judge the earth like mankind winnows grain from chaff. The grain (the fruitful part of the harvest) will be gathered into the Lord’s “barn,” but the chaff (the unfruitful portion of the harvest) will be burned with “unquenchable” (eternal) fire. John preached the "good news" (of forgiveness and restoration to fellowship with God).

But Herod, whom John had rebuked for unlawfully marrying Herod’s brother’s wife, Herodias, and for all the other evil things Herod had done, added another evil deed (instead of repenting and receiving forgiveness) by having John arrested and imprisoned.

John was baptizing people in the Jordan River, and Jesus also came to John for baptism (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; John 1:29-34). After being baptized by John, Jesus was praying and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus, physically manifested in the form of a dove, and a voice from heaven declared that Jesus is God’s beloved Son, with whom God is well pleased (fulfilling Psalm 2:7 and Isaiah 42:1).

Esther was successful from the worldly point of view; she was Queen of the Persian Empire. She was comfortable, pampered, wealthy and powerful. But she was willing to risk all that to do God’s will and protect God’s people by making an appeal on their behalf to the King. Haman’s only interest was his own career. He boasted to his family and friends of his wealth, power, and prestige. Haman was quite impressed that he had private personal fellowship with the King and Queen. Haman’s only problem was that Mordecai did not show the respect that Haman thought he deserved.

Haman was obsessed with his own importance. He convinced the King to allow him to decree that all the Jews be killed because one Jew, Mordecai, refused to humble himself before Haman (Esther 3:6). Haman thought he was rich enough to buy the King’s permission (Esther 3:9). His family and friends fed his ego by suggesting that he build, not an ordinary gallows, but a huge one (as a demonstration of his power and greatness).

The Jews thought they could manipulate their Roman governors to accomplish their worldly ambitions. Paul was challenging their authority and their position in society. When they couldn’t manipulate Gallio through the Roman legal system, they tried using the threat of civil disobedience, but Gallio wasn’t worried. The persecution of Paul by the Jews didn’t stop Paul from preaching the Gospel and didn’t keep the Gospel from being successful; persecution of Christians didn’t prevent people from believing the Gospel and becoming disciples of Jesus Christ.

Apollos was a disciple of John the Baptist. He had received water baptism by John for repentance. He knew the scriptures and he knew of Jesus and knew that Jesus was the Christ, but he apparently had not yet been “baptized” (anointed; filled) with the Holy Spirit (had not yet been “born-again;” John 3:3-8; compare Acts 19:1-6). Priscilla and Aquilla took him aside and presumably “discipled” him, leading him to the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Priscilla and Aquilla were fulfilling the Great Commission which was given by Jesus to his disciples, to make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (the Trinity), and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:19-20).

John the Baptist was not the Christ; he was the prophet (the “Elijah”) whom scripture prophesied would come before, to announce the coming of the Messiah (Matthew 11:7-10; Mark 9:11-13). John testified that Jesus was the Christ; John testified that he had seen the Holy Spirit descend bodily on Jesus at Jesus’ baptism, and that Jesus was the one who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire (John 1:31-34). This was first fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:3-4). Jesus had told his disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they had received the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5; Luke 24:49). John was not pursuing his own success and building up his own ministry; he was pointing people to Jesus.

The infilling with the presence of the Holy Spirit is a discernable (and ongoing, rather than one-time) event (Acts 19:2). It is essential to the work of ministry. It is not sufficient to know the Bible, to believe that Jesus is the Christ, and to be an eloquent and persuasive preacher. Only “born-again,” Spirit-filled disciples can “make disciples.” Unless one is “born-again,” one cannot see the kingdom of God, now or eternally (John 3:3). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that we are in Christ and that we have eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Are we seeking the infilling and empowerment of the Holy Spirit or are we pursuing worldly success? Are we more interested in friendship with worldly leaders than fellowship with the Lord? Are we missing the opportunity to have personal intimate fellowship with the Lord, the King of the Universe and his Bride (the true body of Christ) which is only possible through the indwelling Holy Spirit? Are we attempting to be successful in ministry in our own strength, using worldly methods, or are we truly obedient to and guided and empowered by the Holy Spirit?

19 Pentecost - Wednesday

first posted 10/12/04

Esther 6:1-14, Mordecai honored by the king
Acts 19:1-10, Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Luke 4:1-13 Jesus’ temptation

Haman had attended a private banquet with the king and queen, and had been invited to return for another banquet the next night. But on his way home Haman had been not accorded the honor he thought due him by Mordecai, so Haman had erected a huge gallows intending to have Mordecai hanged on it. That night the king couldn’t sleep so he had the book of chronicles of memorable deeds read to him.

The incident of Mordecai reporting the plot by two of the king’s eunuchs against the king was read (Esther 2:21-23), and the king asked what had been done to honor Mordecai for this act of loyalty. The king’s servants reported that nothing had been done. Haman happened to be outside the king’s chambers waiting to tell the king to hang Mordecai from Haman’s gallows.

The king invited Haman in and asked him “what should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor” (Esther 6:6a)? Haman thought the king was referring to Haman, so he told the king what would most please himself. He suggested that the king have the man dressed in the king’s own robes and set him on the king’s horse by one of the king’s most noble princes, and led through the square of the city, proclaiming that this is what shall be done “to the man whom the king delights to honor” (Esther 6:9). So the king ordered Haman to do for Mordecai as Haman had said.

After carrying out the command, Haman returned home disgraced and mourning. He gathered his wife and his friends and told them all that had happened. His wise men told him that he had begun to fall because of Mordecai, and that if Mordecai was Jewish, there was no way that Haman could prevail, or avoid complete failure. While they were still discussing this, the king’s eunuchs came to bring Haman in haste to the banquet Esther, the queen, had prepared.

Paul encountered some disciples at Ephesus, and asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit. They said that they had never heard of (the indwelling of) the Holy Spirit. Paul asked them about their baptism and they told him that they had been baptized by John the Baptist. Paul told them that John had baptized for repentance, telling the people to believe in the Messiah, Jesus, who was coming after John. When they heard this they were baptized in the name of Jesus, and when Paul laid his hands on them they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues and prophesied.

At Ephesus Paul preached the Gospel in the synagogue for three months. But some of the Jews were stubborn and disbelieving, and they spoke against the Gospel to the Jewish congregation, so Paul withdrew from the synagogue, taking the Christian converts with him, and began meeting daily in the hall of Tyrannus, for a period of two years, so that all the people of the Roman province of Asia (modern Turkey) heard the Gospel.

Jesus, having been baptized by John and filled by the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:21-22), came from the Jordan River into the wilderness where he was led by the Spirit for forty days. He fasted during this period, and at the end of forty days he was hungry. The devil tempted Jesus to use his power to change stones into bread, but Jesus refused the temptation, citing Deuteronomy 8:3b to show that obedience to God is more beneficial in sustaining and prolonging life than physical bread.

The devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms of the world, and offered to give all their authority and glory to Jesus if Jesus would worship the devil. Again Jesus refused, citing Deuteronomy 6:13, that mankind is commanded to worship and serve only God. Again Satan tempted Jesus to prove that he was the Son of God by throwing himself off the roof of the Temple. Satan cited Psalm 91:11-12, suggesting that if Jesus were indeed the Son of God, angels would catch Jesus and save him from injury. Jesus answered with Deuteronomy 6:16: “You shall not tempt the Lord your God.” Satan had exhausted every temptation, so he departed from Jesus to await an “opportune time” (Luke 4:13 RSV).

Haman was only interested in promoting himself. His interest was not in serving his king but in seeking his own success. In fact, he wanted to be king; he wanted to wear the king’s clothes, ride the king’s horse, and be honored and glorified like the king. He thought he was succeeding, but his fall was sudden and disastrous. The reason his wise men told Haman that his fall could not be prevented was because they knew that if Mordecai was a Jew that God’s will must be for Mordecai and against Haman.

Mordecai’s heroism in serving the king’s interests by warning him of the plot against him serves as contrast to Haman’s self-centeredness. Haman rushed off to what he expected to be a banquet, but turned out to be his day of judgment. We have been invited to a banquet with the King, Jesus (Luke 14:16-24; Matthew 26:26-29; Revelation 3:20).

In one sense, the water baptism of the Church is like the baptism of John. That baptism signifies our repentance and prepares us to look for the coming of Jesus personally to us through the Holy Spirit as we begin to follow Jesus’ teachings in trust and obedience. [I regard Baptism as a covenant, between God and the candidate, containing the *promise* of the gift of the Holy Spirit. It is up to the candidate to seek the fulfillment of that promise by fulfilling his covenant obligation. My personal experience testifies to this truth.]

Without the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit we can’t truly serve the Lord. We may teach scriptures and preach eloquently, like Apollos (Acts 18:24-28), we may be building Churches and making Church members, but we cannot make "born-again" (John 3:3,, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ unless we are Spirit-filled, Spirit-led disciples of Jesus Christ.

It should be obvious that someone like the two disciples of John at Ephesus, who had never heard that they could be indwelt by the Holy Spirit could only spread to others the baptism with which they were baptized. Paul had experienced the infilling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:17), so he was able to lead them to experience the fullness of the baptism with the Holy Spirit.

Jesus is the only one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they had received the promised gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5). They waited in obedience; they received the fulfillment of the promise on the Day of Pentecost (Acts chapter 2). Believers are to wait in the “Jerusalem” of the discipling Church until they have received the indwelling Holy Spirit. The discipling Church is a church of ‘born-again” disciples who disciple new believers. This is the fulfillment of the Great Commission: Jesus commanded his *disciples* to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20).

Please notice that the Jews who were stubborn and disbelieved Paul’s preaching of the Gospel (Acts 19:9) rejected the opportunity to accept Christ and receive the Holy Spirit. They continued to practice their “religion,” but they only accomplished worldly goals. They continued to build synagogues and make converts but weren’t pointing their members to the Messiah.

Satan knows and quotes scripture (Luke 4:9-11)! Believers need to know scripture at least as well as Satan does. Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and led by the Holy Spirit through the wilderness. We need to be filled with and led by the Holy Spirit if we are to make it through the wilderness of this life.

Jesus experienced all the temptations in the wilderness that we will ever face. He faced the same temptations that caused Adam to fall (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and lust of human pride; Luke 4:3, 5-6, 9 compare Genesis 3:6) and he defeated them by quoting scripture combined with the power of the Holy Spirit. Notice that Adam was tempted to be “like God” (Genesis 3:5 RSV); Jesus was not tempted to be “like God;” he is God (Luke 4:12; Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). (Satan quoted scripture too but he doesn’t have the Holy Spirit.)

19 Pentecost - Thursday

first posted 10/13/04

Esther 7:1-10, Haman hanged
Acts 19:11-20, Paul’s ministry at Ephesus
Luke 4:14-30 Jesus’ teaching at Nazareth

Haman, the Prime Minister, returned to dine with the King of Persia and Queen Esther a second night having planned to have Mordecai, Esther’s foster father, executed on the gallows Haman had prepared. At dinner the king again inquired about Esther’s request, promising to grant whatever she asked. Then Esther asked the king to spare her life and the lives of her people, explaining that the decree had been made that the Jews in Persia be destroyed.

The king asked Esther who would do such a thing and Esther replied “A foe and an enemy” (Esther 7:6), and named Haman. Haman was terrified in front of the king and queen. The king got up from the banquet and went out into the garden in anger. Haman stayed and pleaded with Esther for his life. He was kneeling at Esther’s couch when the king returned, and the king thought he was assaulting the Queen.

At the king’s accusation, his servants grabbed Haman and covered his face (a customary practice with one who was doomed). One of the eunuchs suggested that the gallows which Haman had prepared for Mordecai, who had saved the king (by exposing a plot against the king; Esther 2:21-23), was “available,” so the king commanded them to hang Haman on Haman’s gallows.

God did great miracles through Paul. Handkerchiefs and articles of clothing which had been in contact with Paul were taken to the sick and they were healed. Some Jewish exorcists tried invoking Jesus’ name in their exorcisms. Seven sons of the Jewish high priest, Sceva, did this, saying “I adjure you by the Jesus that Paul preaches” (Acts 19:13). But the demon answered them, “Jesus I know and Paul I know; but who are you” (Acts 19:15)?

Then the demon-possessed man leaped on them and overpowered them all, forcing them to flee naked and injured from the house. Everyone in Ephesus heard about this, and they were awed, and the name of Jesus was glorified. Many new converts confessed that they had practiced magic arts, and brought their books on the occult to be burned. The value of the books thus burned was calculated at fifty thousand pieces of silver.

After Jesus’ baptism by John and his testing in the wilderness, Jesus returned to Galilee empowered by the Spirit, and news about him began to spread throughout the region. Jesus taught in the synagogues throughout the area and was praised by all.

He came to his hometown, Nazareth, and on the Sabbath he went to the synagogue and stood up to read. He was given the scroll of Isaiah, and he read from Isaiah 61:1-2: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, …to proclaim release to the captives, …recovering of sight to the blind, …to set at liberty the oppressed, …to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Then he sat down and began to speak, saying that they had just witnessed the fulfilling of that scripture. The people were impressed with him and the graciousness of his words, and said, “Is this not Joseph’s son” (Luke 4:22)? Jesus told them that they would expect him to do the miracles in Nazareth that he had done in Capernaum, but Jesus warned them that a prophet is not respected in his own neighborhood.

Jesus pointed out that there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, but Elijah was sent only to Zarephath, and there were many lepers in the time of Elisha, but only Naaman was cleansed. When the people heard this they were enraged, and they dragged Jesus out of the synagogue and out of the city. They were going to throw Jesus off the cliff on which the city sat, but Jesus walked through their midst and went his way.

Haman was self-centered. He pursued only his own self-interest. Haman didn’t care about the king’s interests and he didn’t care what God wanted (Esther 6:13). He thought he could manipulate the king to do whatever Haman wanted. Haman thought that the banquet with the king and queen would serve Haman’s purpose and exalt Haman. His spiritual “blindness” brought him to sudden disaster. Esther and Mordecai reverenced God and cooperated with God’s plan, even risking their lives. They were also loyal to the king, and the king cooperated with God’s will.

God was able to do great things through Paul because Paul was obedient to God’s will. Paul wasn’t pursuing his own agenda; he wasn’t trying to build his own “empire.” Paul was led by and obedient to the Holy Spirit. In contrast, the Jewish exorcists were trying to establish themselves in the exorcism business. They thought they could appropriate the name and power of Jesus Christ to accomplish their own agendas. They found out that the power of God cannot be manipulated for personal benefit.

The appeal of the occult is that people hope that it will give them power over their circumstances. People hope they can manipulate demonic forces, but they wind up being enslaved by them. The real power belongs to the Lord. The Lord has power over demonic forces. Ephesus was a world center of occult practices. When the Ephesians were converted to Christianity, they no longer needed or wanted their occult arts, and they were no longer enslaved by sin and evil, because they had come to know the Lord who alone has the real power to heal and free them.

The Nazarenes liked Jesus’ message as long as it was gracious and pleasant to hear. They thought he was doing fine, for a local boy, although they were somewhat condescending. They just wanted Jesus to tell them what they wanted to hear. When he started pointing out things about themselves that needed to change they got angry. They’d show him who was in charge. They missed the point of Jesus’ comments about the prophets.

God’s blessings through his prophets are available to all who welcome and heed the prophets. Jesus’ message is only good news to those who recognize that they are spiritually needy. Only Jesus can heal the spiritually “blind,” and free those who are enslaved and oppressed by sin and evil. The Nazarenes could have had the blessings that others in Capernaum and the surrounding areas received if they had welcomed Jesus as the Son of God instead of as the son of Joseph, and if they had taken to heart what he told them, instead of trying to manipulate him to say only what they wanted to hear.

Are we earnestly trying to know and serve the Lord’s will, or do we expect the Lord to serve us? Are we willing to hear and apply the Lord’s word in our lives, even if it is critical of us? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the Holy Spirit since you first believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

19 Pentecost - Friday

first posted 10/14/04

Esther 8:1-8, 15-17, Revocation of the edict
Acts 19:21-41, Riot at Ephesus
Luke 4:31-37 Healing at Capernaum

At the second dinner given by Queen Esther, Haman was condemned and executed on the gallows he had created for Mordecai (see entry for yesterday, 19 Pentecost, Friday, even year). The king gave the house of Haman to Esther. The king took the signet ring he had given to Haman and gave it to Mordecai. Esther made Mordecai overseer of the house of Haman, and Esther pleaded with the king to rescind the edict which Haman had made for the destruction of all the Jews in Persia.

The King replied that Haman had been executed and that Mordecai, as Haman’s successor, overseeing his house and possessing the king’s signet ring and the king’s authority, could write a new order rescinding the first. Mordecai appeared in official state uniform and the city of Susa celebrated. Throughout the Empire the Jews celebrated with a feast and a holiday, and many of the people of the country declared their support of the Jews because they feared them.

Paul had decided by the guidance of the Spirit to go through Macedonia (Eastern Europe) and Achaia (Greece) and then go to Jerusalem, after which Paul planned to see Rome. Paul sent Timothy and Erastus, two of his helpers, on to Macedonia while he stayed in the Province of Asia (Modern Turkey).

In Ephesus controversy arose over the Christian movement. A silversmith named Demetrius stirred up the other silversmiths because their main business came from making silver shrines of Artemis, the chief goddess of the Ephesians, and Paul had been persuading the people throughout Asia to turn away from the worship of idols. Demetrius suggested that not only would they loose their business, but that Ephesus would loose its prominence as the holy city of the worship of Artemis.

The silversmiths were enraged and shouted “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians” (Acts 19:28). The commotion stirred up the city, and the people rushed into the outdoor theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonian Christians who were accompanying Paul. Paul wanted to go to the assembly, but the other disciples would not let him. Leaders of the Roman provincial government who were friends of Paul also warned him not to go to the assembly.

There was great confusion and disorder in the assembly because many did not know why they had assembled. Some in the crowd urged Alexander, a Jew, to be their spokesman, but when the crowd recognized that he was a Jew, they began to shout over and over, with one voice, for about two hours, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”

The town clerk finally quieted the crowd. He said that the fact that the City of Ephesus was the temple keeper of Artemis was not in dispute. He pointed out that Gaius and Aristarchus had done nothing sacrilegious and had not blasphemed Artemis. He suggested that if Demetrius and the silversmiths had any legal complaints against anyone they should pursue them in the courts. Any other matters should be settled through the regular meeting of the Roman provincial assembly (which met in Ephesus, the provincial capital). Thus he dismissed the assembly, warning that otherwise they could be charged with rioting.

After being rejected by the people of Nazareth, Jesus went to Capernaum (which became his base of operation thereafter; Matthew 4:13; Mark 2:1). Jesus taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath, and the people were astonished at his message, for he taught with authority.

In the synagogue, there was a man who had a demon. The demon recognized Jesus, knew his name and origin, and acknowledged that Jesus was the Holy One of God (the Messiah; Christ). Jesus told the demon to be silent and come out of the man. The demon convulsed the man and came out of him, without harming the man. The people were impressed at the authority and power of Jesus, who was able to command evil spirits and they obeyed him. Reports about Jesus spread throughout the region.

Haman had been the Prime Minister, the second in authority in the Persian Empire under King Ahasuerus. His opposition to God’s will and God’s people cost him his authority, his career and his life. Esther, who God had made Queen so that she could save her people (Esther 4:14b) used her position to accomplish God’s will and save God’s people, even at the risk of her position and her life.

Mordecai had used his influence with Esther to urge her to act on behalf of God’s people, and he had risked his job and his life by resisting Haman (Esther 3:2). As a result those who cooperated with God’s will were saved and prospered, while those who opposed God’s will were destroyed. Mordecai received the authority, status and success which Haman lost. The people now respected the Jews because Mordecai was Prime Minister. Esther is an illustration of the Savior whom God raises up, who risks his life to save God’s people.

The silversmiths’ self-interest was threatened by Paul’s preaching. They wanted to control religion for their own economic and social benefit. They succeeded in stirring up a commotion and inciting the citizens of Ephesus to the verge of riot. The city was divided over religion; the crowd rejected Alexander as a spokesman because he was a Jew. The crowd had arrested and held Gaius and Aristarchus accountable because they were Christians and associates of Paul. They were acting outside of any authority but their own. Finally the town official re-asserted civil authority.

The people of Capernaum recognized that Jesus taught with authority and that his message was authoritative (trustworthy). The demon knew that Jesus was the Messiah, the one authorized by God to be King of the Universe; the demon knew that Jesus had the power to destroy Satan and all demons (Luke 4:34). When the people saw Jesus cast the demon out of the man they realized that Jesus did have authority even over supernatural demonic forces.

Jesus is Lord, whether we acknowledge him or not. Jesus is the king God has raised up to save his people from sin and evil, and restore them to life and fellowship with God (compare Esther 4:14b). Jesus is God’s only plan for our salvation (Acts 4:12; John 14:6; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). Jesus is God’s authorized agent; God’s “Prime Minister.” He speaks in God’s name and has the power of God to act in God’s authority (Matthew 28:18). We can either acknowledge his authority, or we will be working for chaos and evil. Jesus has the power to judge and destroy evil (John 5: 28-29; Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

19 Pentecost - Saturday

first posted 10/15/04

Esther 9:1-32, The Jews destroy their enemies
Acts 20:1-16, Paul’s third missionary trip ends
Luke 4:38-44 Jesus heals and teaches at Capernaum

On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Adar (February-March), the same day originally chosen by Haman by casting lots (Pur) and set by edict for the destruction of the Jews in Persia (Esther 3:7, 13), the Jews rose up and killed their enemies. All the local officials helped the Jews because they were afraid of Mordecai, the new Jewish Prime Minister of Persia. In Susa, the Jews killed five hundred of their enemies, in addition to the ten sons of Haman. The account emphasizes that the Jews did not plunder their enemies.

The fourteenth day was the day of feasting among the country Jews, but the fifteenth day was the day of feasting for the Jews of Susa (accounted for by the hanging of Haman’s sons on Haman’s gallows on the fourteenth day). Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews of Persia ordering them to keep the fourteenth and fifteenth day of Adar as a day of feasting commemorating relief from their enemies and the occasion when their sorrow and mourning was turned to gladness and joy. The celebration included feasting and exchanging gifts of food with each other and the poor. Esther also sent a letter to all the Jews of Persia commanding them to keep the days of the festival of Purim along with the other Jewish feasts and fasts.

After the near-riot at Ephesus, Paul said farewell to the church at Ephesus and went through Macedonia, encouraging the churches, on his way to Greece. Paul spent three months in Greece, and was about to return to Syria when another plot against him by the Jews developed. Paul and some of his fellow workers returned to Philippi in Macedonia (in Eastern Europe), while others traveling with him went on to Troas (in Modern Turkey.

After Passover, Paul and his group sailed from Macedonia to Troas and rejoined the others. They stayed in Troas for a week, and on Sunday they gathered to celebrate the "Lord’s Supper." Paul was intending to leave the next day, and he stayed up late talking with the brethren. A young man, Eutychus, was sitting in the window of the room in which they were gathered on the third story. He dozed off around midnight as Paul talked, and fell out of the window and apparently died. But Paul went down and bent over, embraced him, and declared that he was alive.

They went back upstairs and after eating they continued talking until dawn. The young man was alive and the disciples were (greatly) comforted (Acts 20:12). Paul's companions sailed from Troas, while Paul traveled overland and rejoined them at Assos. They all continued on by ship to Miletus, where Paul arranged to meet with the elders of the church at Ephesus, rather than make a separate trip, since he was anxious to get to Jerusalem by Pentecost.

Having been rejected in Nazareth, Jesus moved his headquarters to Capernaum. After casting out a demon in the synagogue there, he went to Simon's house. Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they asked Jesus to heal her. Jesus stood over her and commanded the fever and it left her. She immediately got up and served them.

At sunset a crowd gathered, bringing all the sick to Jesus for healing, and he laid his hands on each one and healed them. Jesus also cast out many demons, and the demons recognized and declared Jesus to be the Son of God, but Jesus forbade the demons to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.

At dawn he went off to be alone, but the people searched and found him. They wanted to keep Jesus from leaving them, but Jesus told them his mission was to preach the "good news" of God’s kingdom to other cities also. So Jesus traveled throughout Judea (or Galilee) preaching in synagogues.

Esther is an illustration of a savior raised up by God, who was willing to sacrifice her life to save God’s people (see Esther 4:14). Mordecai also is an illustration of the Christ, God’s “Prime Minister” who has the authority to reverse the death sentence we are all under through the plot to destroy us by our enemy, Satan. Jesus is the one who gives us victory over our enemies, sin and death, and turns our sorrow and mourning into joy and gladness.

Eutychus is an illustration of the healing and the hope of resurrection and eternal life that we have in Jesus. He’s an illustration of how the Lord turns sorrow and mourning into joy and gladness (Acts 20:12). Only Jesus can heal us and give us hope of life beyond physical death. Only Jesus can save us from eternal death.

Jesus heals the sick, and frees us and saves us from Satan and the forces of evil. The demons know that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ) and that he is the Son of God. When Jesus commanded, they obeyed because they had to, but they refused to serve him willingly. When Jesus had healed Simon’s mother-in-law she got up immediately and served him. Jesus healed everyone in Capernaum who came to him. They sought to keep Jesus near them, but they weren’t willing to share Jesus with others, and they weren’t thinking about joining in Jesus’ ministry.

How are we doing? Do we seek the healing and blessings that Jesus provides, without trying to share Jesus with others? Do we want Jesus to be close to us without being willing to join Jesus’ ministry to others? Do we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, even call him Lord, but refuse to serve him and obey his commands (Matthew 7:21-24; Luke 6:46)? Jesus is Lord, whether we serve and obey him or not!

Right now we have a choice of whether to serve and obey Jesus or not; the Day of Judgment is coming when Jesus will command those who have refused to trust and obey Jesus to depart from him into eternal death and punishment in Hell and they will have no choice but to obey (John 5:28-29, Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10)!