Month: April 2024

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Words Worth Reading!

Keyword: Baptism

Expression:

“Baptism shall be given to all those who have learned repentance and amendment of life, and who believe truly that their sins are taken away by Christ, and to all those who walk in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and wish to be buried with him in death, so that they may be resurrected with him and to all those who with significance request it of us and demand it for themselves. This excludes all infant baptism, the highest and chief abomination of the pope.”

Voice: Anabaptist Swiss Brethren

Circumstance: Statement of belief

Citation: The Schleitheim Confession (1527)

Read More:

Schleitheim Confession

Separation And The Sword In Anabaptist Persuasion: Radical Confessional Rhetoric From Schleitheim To Dordrecht (The C. Henry Smith Series)

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Proverbs

Proverbs

The basic meaning of the Hebrew word for proverb is “comparison”. “Proverb” is often used to refer to an aphorism, or concise statement of a principal or to a discourse. Wisdom is the key word of the book, and offers advice to increase the skill in living, moral discipline for one’s life, and distinguishing between true and false, good and bad, what matters most and what does not matter at all. Most of the book was authored by Solomon. The purpose of the book is clearly to show the reader how to live life wisely and skillfully, and the entire structure of the book is arranged to carry out this purpose to lead us to an abundant and successful life.

Proverbs 1

1:1 Title
1:2-6 Purpose
1:7-19 Warning
1:20-33 Wisdom speaks

Proverbs 2

2:1-22 The reward of heeding wisdom

Proverbs 3

3:1-26 Exhortations to obedience
3:27-35 The treatment of neighbors

Proverbs 4

4:1-9 A father’s wisdom
4:10-19 Avoid wickedness
4:20-27 Wisdom is life and health

Proverbs 5

5:1-14 Warning against immorality
5:15-23 Exhortation on fidelity in marriage

Proverbs 6

6:1-15 Warning against idleness and falsehood
6:16-19 Seven deadly sins
6:20-35 Warning against adultery

Proverbs 7

7:1-27 The wiles of a harlot

Proverbs 8

8:1-36 Wisdom is everlasting

Proverbs 9

9:1-12 Wisdom’s invitation
9:13-18 Avoid foolish women

Proverbs 10

10:1-32 The wise and the foolish contrasted

Proverbs 11

11:1-31 The wise and the foolish contrasted

Proverbs 12

12:1-28 The wise and the foolish contrasted

Proverbs 13

13:1-25 The wise and the foolish contrasted

Proverbs 14

14:1-35 The wise and the foolish contrasted

Proverbs 15

15:1-33 The wise and the foolish contrasted

Proverbs 16

16:1-33 Moral, ethical, and spiritual precepts

Proverbs 17

17:1-28 Moral, ethical, and spiritual precepts

Proverbs 18

18:1-24 Moral, ethical, and spiritual precepts

Proverbs 19

19:1-29 Moral, ethical, and spiritual precepts

Proverbs 20

20:1-30 Moral, ethical, and spiritual precepts

Proverbs 21

21:1-31 Moral, ethical, and spiritual precepts

Proverbs 22

22:1-29 Moral, ethical, and spiritual precepts

Proverbs 23

23:1-35 Moral, ethical, and spiritual precepts

Proverbs 24

24:1-34 Moral, ethical, and spiritual precepts

Proverbs 25

25:1-28 Comparisons, warnings, and instructions

Proverbs 26

26:1-28 Comparisons, warnings, and instructions

Proverbs 27

27:1-27 Comparisons, warnings, and instructions

Proverbs 28

28:1-28 Comparisons, warnings, and instructions

Proverbs 29

29:1-27 Comparisons, warnings, and instructions

Proverbs 30

30:1-33 The words of Agur

Proverbs 31

31:1-9 The words of king Lemuel
31:10-31 Praise of a virtuous woman

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J. Hudson Taylor, Founder of the Interdenominational China Inland Mission

By
Kathy L. McFarland

James Hudson Taylor (1832-1905) founded the interdenominational China Inland Mission in 1865.[1] He wrote China’s Spiritual Need and Claims (1865) to recruit workers; his other famous writings include A Retrospect (1894) and Union and Communion (1894).[2] When Taylor arrived in China in 1854, most Protestant missionaries focused their efforts in big cities along the coast of China. Taylor pushed past these places, and went into the vast interior of China, which became a crucial point that stirred Protestant missionaries to places that are less-developed, but hungry for the witness of Gospel.[3] But, he would never have been able to go to the interior if not for Presbyterian missionary William A.P. Martin inserting a clause in the Treaty of Tientsin (Tianjin) (1858) that gave permission for missionaries to go to the interior of China to propagate Christianity.[4]

It was a tough journey for missionaries to just reach China in the 1800’s. Taylor’s first trip to China took a half a year by ship. But, many Protestants focused their effort upon the 400 million unsaved Chinese, making China the largest Protestant mission field in the world between 1830 and 1949.[5] Once Taylor arrived, he began dressing and living like the people and speaking the Chinese language to those he was evangelizing; many severely criticized the assumption of likeness in the midst of heathens though this became one of the reasons for his successful ministry.[6]Eventually, it became popular for missionaries to follow Taylor’s example and live in the midst of those receiving the Gospel message.

The Chinese mission fields led by Taylor provided education for Chinese girls which was unheard of at the time.[7]He supported the idea of single women in the missionary field without the supervision of a male head; this support was also rare.[8] The participation of women in China missions soon spread throughout the mission field; by 1898, evangelical missions were being filled by women, and The Women’s Missionary Movement prospered.[9] His China Inland Mission also differed from most because he refused to solicit funds from donors and instead trusted God alone to supply its needs.[10] Though the China Inland Mission has been renamed to the Overseas Missionary Fellowship [International] in modern-day, the policy to trust God for sole support has not changed.[11]

Statistics of Protestant Missionaries success rates amongst the 400 million Chinese that includes Taylor’s efforts and all other missions conflict Taylor’s fame.In the years of 1865-1898, about 500 Protestant missionaries baptized about 100,000 Chinese of about 400 million population.[12]But, those initial baptized grew in numbers; by 1911, there were 207,747 baptized Protestants; by 1996, there were over 36 million baptized Protestants.[13]This made the total amount of Protestants & Catholic baptized Christians to be about 4.3 percent, or 1 in 23.[14] Though some scholars argue that the actual baptisms did not make significant difference in showing successful missionary conversions in Taylor’s time, the accumulated total seems to represent his effort well.

As a side note, Hudson Taylor suffered a deep and crippling depression that led him close to taking his own life during his ministry times.He battled despair or was lifted to higher and higher euphoric faith expressions.[15]The mania in his mind never cancelled out his determination he had since his youth to become a missionary and go to China.His calling and his faith were strong and sure, and he changed the Christian missionary world through his practice of adapting local dress and language to participate in spreading the Gospel to inland China. And, even with statistics that seem light in actual baptisms, when the final numbers are looked upon, it is apparent that Taylor’s missionary work started a flame that began lighting the path of thousands of Chinese that promises to spread Christ as Savior to others today, that first began with him.

Bibliography

Chao, Samuel. “Hudson Taylor & Missions to China.” Christian History, no. 52. http://www.christianhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/wS8wVsy62N/chm52-IX_tC.pdf.

Cross, F.L. The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. 3rd ed. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.

Latourette, Kenneth Scott. A History of Christian Missions in China; Tony Lambert, Omf (International); Statistics of the People’s Republic of China, 1929.

Rusten, Sharon. The Complete Book of When & Where in the Bible and Throughout History. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2005.

Footnotes:

[1] F.L. Cross, The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd ed. (Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 1591.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Samuel Chao, “Hudson Taylor & Missions to China,” Christian History, no. 52. http://www.christianhistorymagazine.org/wp-content/wS8wVsy62N/chm52-IX_tC.pdf.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Sharon Rusten, The Complete Book of When & Where in the Bible and Throughout History (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2005), 369.

[7] Chao.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Ibid.

[11] Ibid.

[12] Kenneth Scott Latourette, A History of Christian Missions in China; Tony Lambert, Omf (International); Statistics of the People’s Republic of China (1929).

[13] Ibid.

[14] Ibid.

[15] Chao.

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Psalms

Psalms

The meaning of the title Psalms from the Septuagint is “Sacred Songs Sung to Musical Accompaniment”; from the Hebrew title comes “praises. Moses is the Author of Psalm 90, Asaph is the author of Psalms 50, 73-83, Solomon is the author of Psalms 72, 127, Heman is the author of Psalm 88, Ethan is the author of Psalm 89, and David is the author of 73 psalms in total. In addition, 12 psalms are assigned to “The Sons of Korah”. The Book of Psalms is a record of petitions, lamentations, thanksgiving and praise to God by His people. It has brought comfort, encouragement and blessing to God’s people throughout the ages. The purpose of the psalms was well expressed by David when he appointed Levites to institute hymns in Israel to record, thank and praise the LORD GOD of Israel.

Psalm 1

1:1-6 Two ways of life contrasted

Psalm 2

2:1-12 Coronation of the Lord’s Anointed

Psalm 3

3:1-8 A prayer of confidence in God

Psalm 4

4:1-8 Evening prayer for deliverance

Psalm 5

5:1-12 A prayer for protection

Psalm 6

6:1-10 A prayer for mercy

Psalm 7

7:1-17 Wickedness justly rewarded

Psalm 8

8:1-9 God’s glory and man’s honor

Psalm 9

9:1-20 Praise for victory over enemies

Psalm 10

10:1-18 A prayer for the overthrow of the wicked

Psalm 11

11:1-7 “In the Lord put I my trust”

Psalm 12

12:1-8 A plea against the wicked

Psalm 13

13:1-6 How long, O Lord, how long?

Psalm 14

14:1-7 The characteristics of the godless

Psalm 15

15:1-5 The characteristics of the Godly

Psalm 16

16:1-11 Eternal life for one who trusts

Psalm 17

17:1-15 “Hide me under the shadow of thy wings”

Psalm 18

18:1-50 Thanksgiving for deliverance by God

Psalm 19

19:1-14 The works and words of God

Psalm 20

20:1-9 “Some trust in chariots”

Psalm 21

21:1-13 Praise for victory

Psalm 22

22:1-31 A psalm of the cross

Psalm 23

23:1-6 “The Lord is my shepherd”

Psalm 24

24:1-10 The King of Glory

Psalm 25

25:1-22 A prayer for guidance and protection

Psalm 26

26:1-12 “Examine me, O Lord, and prove me”

Psalm 27

27:1-14 “The Lord is my light and my salvation”

Psalm 28

28:1-9 Rejoice because of answered prayer

Psalm 29

29:1-11 The voice of the Lord in the storm

Psalm 30

30:1-12 A thanksgiving for deliverance from death

Psalm 31

31:1-24 “In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust”

Psalm 32

32:1-11 The blessedness of forgiveness

Psalm 33

33:1-22 Praise to the Lord for who He is and does

Psalm 34

34:1-22 The Lord hears the righteous

Psalm 35

35:1-28 A petition for God’s intervention

Psalm 36

36:1-12 The steadfast Love of God

Psalm 37

37:1-40 The true state of the wicked

Psalm 38

38:1-22 The petition of a sick man

Psalm 39

39:1-13 A prayer for self-understanding

Psalm 40

40:1-17 Delight to do God’s will

Psalm 41

41:1-13 Comfort for the forsaken

Psalm 42

42:1-11 An intense longing for God

Psalm 43

43:1-5 A prayer for deliverance from the ungodly

Psalm 44

44:1-26 A nation in distress

Psalm 45

45:1-17 A Psalm for the king’s marriage

Psalm 46

46:1-11 “God is our refuge and strength”

Psalm 47

47:1-9 “God is the King of all the earth”

Psalm 48

48:1-14 “God is our God”

Psalm 49

49:1-20 Trust in God, not wealth

Psalm 50

50:1-23 The Lord shall judge all people

Psalm 51

51:1-19 Confession and forgiveness of sin

Psalm 52

52:1-9 Caution to the prideful wicked

Psalm 53

53:1-6 The foolishness of men

Psalm 54

54:1-7 A prayer for protection

Psalm 55

55:1-23 A cry against deceitful friends

Psalm 56

56:1-13 A confident prayer for help

Psalm 57

57:1-11 Prayers in the midst of perils

Psalm 58

58:1-11 Wicked judges will be judged

Psalm 59

59:1-17 A prayer for deliverance

Psalm 60

60:1-12 A prayer for deliverance of a nation

Psalm 61

61:1-8 A prayer when overwhelmed

Psalm 62

62:1-12 God only is my rock and my salvation

Psalm 63

63:1-11 Thirst for God

Psalm 64

64:1-10 A prayer for God’s protection

Psalm 65

65:1-13 God’s provision through nature

Psalm 66

66:1-20 The great works of God

Psalm 67

67:1-7 God shall govern the earth

Psalm 68

68:1-35 Israel’s triumphant God

Psalm 69

69:1-36 A petition in time of distress

Psalm 70

70:1-5 A prayer for speedy deliverance

Psalm 71

71:1-24 A prayer for help in old age

Psalm 72

72:1-20 The reign of the Messiah

Psalm 73

73:1-28 The perspective of eternity

Psalm 74

74:1-23 A complaint born of faith

Psalm 75

75:1-10 A warning to the wicked

Psalm 76

76:1-12 The glorious might of God

Psalm 77

77:1-20 When overwhelmed, remember God’s greatness

Psalm 78

78:1-72 God’s goodness to Israel in spite of unbelief

Psalm 79

79:1-13 A prayer for destruction of heathen enemies

Psalm 80

80:1-19 A prayer for restoration

Psalm 81

81:1-16 God’s plea for Israel’s obedience

Psalm 82

82:1-8 A prayer for righteous Judgment

Psalm 83

83:1-18 A prayer for destruction of Israel’s enemies

Psalm 84

84:1-12 The Joy of dwelling with God

Psalm 85

85:1-13 A prayer for revival

Psalm 86

86:1-17 “Teach me thy way, O Lord”

Psalm 87

87:1-7 The glories of Zion

Psalm 88

88:1-18 A cry for deliverance from death

Psalm 89

89:1-52 Claiming God’s promises to David

Psalm 90

90:1-17 “Teach us to number our days”

Psalm 91

91:1-16 God is a refuge and a fortress

Psalm 92

92:1-15 Praises for the Lord’s goodness

Psalm 93

93:1-5 The majesty of God

Psalm 94

94:1-23 Vengeance belongs only to God

Psalm 95

95:1-11 A psalm of praise to the great God

Psalm 96

96:1-13 A call to praise God

Psalm 97

97:1-12 The Lord is far above all gods

Psalm 98

98:1-9 Praise to God for his salvation

Psalm 99

99:1-9 God has been faithful

Psalm 100

100:1-5 A call to praise the Lord

Psalm 101

101:1-8 A commitment to holy living

Psalm 102

102:1-28 The prayer of an overwhelmed Saint

Psalm 103

103:1-22 Bless the Lord, all you people

Psalm 104

104:1-35 God’s preservation of nature

Psalm 105

105:1-45 God’s wondrous works in behalf of Israel

Psalm 106

106:1-48 Israel sins against God’s love

Psalm 107

107:1-43 God’s wonderful works to the children of men

Psalm 108

108:1-13 Israel looks to God for help

Psalm 109

109:1-31 A prayer for punishment of the wicked

Psalm 110

110:1-7 The coming of the Priest-King-Judge

Psalm 111

111:1-10 Praise for God’s tender care

Psalm 112

112:1-10 The blessings of those that fear God

Psalm 113

113:1-9 God’s mercies are many

Psalm 114

114:1-8 God’s power demonstrated in the Exodus

Psalm 115

115:1-18 Trust in God, not in idols

Psalm 116

116:1-19 Praise for deliverance from death

Psalm 117

117:1-2 The praise of all nations

Psalm 118

118:1-29 Thanksgiving for the Lord’s salvation

Psalm 119

119:1-176 An acrostic in praise of the Scriptures

Psalm 120

120:1-7 Prayer for deliverance from lying lips

Psalm 121

121:1-8 God’s sustaining power

Psalm 122

122:1-9 “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem”

Psalm 123

123:1-4 Prayer for mercy

Psalm 124

124:1-8 The LORD is on our side

Psalm 125

125:1-5 God surrounds his people

Psalm 126

126:1-6 “Sow in tears…reap in joy”

Psalm 127

127:1-5 Children are God’s heritage

Psalm 128

128:1-6 The rewards of faithfulness

Psalm 129

129:1-8 Plea of the persecuted

Psalm 130

130:1-8 “My soul waiteth for the Lord”

Psalm 131

131:1-3 A psalm of humility

Psalm 132

132:1-18 A prayer for blessing on the sanctuary

Psalm 133

133:1-3 The joy of brotherhood

Psalm 134

134:1-3 An exhortation to praise

Psalm 135

135:1-21 The greatness of the Lord and vanity of idols

Psalm 136

136:1-26 Praise for Lord’s past and present blessings

Psalm 137

137:1-9 The mourning of the exiles in Babylon

Psalm 138

138:1-8 Praising the ways of the Lord

Psalm 139

139:1-24 Living with God

Psalm 140

140:1-13 Prayer for deliverance from evil men

Psalm 141

141:1-10 Deliverance from temptation

Psalm 142

142:1-7 “Thou art my refuge”

Psalm 143

143:1-12 “Teach me to do thy will”

Psalm 144

144:1-15 “I will sing a new song”

Psalm 145

145:1-21 A song of praise

Psalm 146

146:1-10 The blessedness of trusting God

Psalm 147

147:1-20 Praising the God of provision and protection

Psalm 148

148:1-14 All creation to praise the Lord

Psalm 149

149:1-9 A psalm of the Kingdom

Psalm 150

150:1-6 “Praise ye the LORD”

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Becker Professional Theology Academy and Becker Bible Ministries, Inc.

Becker Bible Ministries, Inc. is an American NON-PROFIT 501(c) (3) legally formed, in good standing Institution. Becker Professional Theology Academy is our present school which we use to train up and ordain those qualified students to represent our ministries.

There has been a terrible law change. Though we are in very good standing with all governments that we operate within, our state government for which we are registered has decided to charge us $5000.00 per student to offer them a diploma. We believe it is to give them government control over what we teach, how we teach it, and who we teach it to. Further, we suspect that the State likes to have money coming in for all kinds of licensing’s, and they have found a new way to make money.

This is not acceptable to Becker Bible Ministries. We have taken the following steps:

1. I have moved my business and declared a new state as residency.

2. I have dissolved the Non-Profit part of our organization, which removes most government control off of us.

3. I stay committed to offering Bible Studies to Christian leaders and others that are brought to me by the LORD God.

4. If you are one of the thousands that have enrolled in some of our classes, your transcripts are preserved.

5. My prayers to the Lord have been reassuring. However, I am not certain what form these teachings will take, and maybe not even where they will be. Wherever we go, it will have to be FREE of CONTROL and allow me to teach the Word of God FREE of CHARGE.

6. Though this transition will be difficult, I recommend you follow me here on Facebook. The things I put on here, are some of the things you should learn anyway.

7. And please give me your spiritual support as much as you can. 2023 was a terrible year!

I recommend you participate as fully as you can in discussions on Facebook and stay present in these postings. Let me see you adding significant discussion and supporting the ideas of Becker Bible Ministries.

We all know the things that are indicative of these approaching Last Days. This dissolution of our Non-Profit is just one of many attacks that will be coming towards Christians and trying to disrupt the teaching of the Word of God. While we have Facebook, we will use it, and look to God to help us establish a FREE place that is not in the hands of Government Control.

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Words Worth Reading!

Keyword: Scripture

Expression:

“Unless I am convicted of error … by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God’s Word, I cannot and will not recant of anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us. Here I stand. I can do no other. May God help me! Amen.”

Voice: Martin Luther

Circumstance: Spoken by Martin Luther to defend his stance at the Diet of Worms in 1521 according to unconfirmed traditional account

Citation: James P. Eckman, “Exploring Church History” (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2002), 48-49.

Read More:

“Exploring Church History”

“Here I Stand – A Life Of Martin Luther”

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Job

Job

The Book of Job is named from its central character. The author is uncertain. The date of composition is widely disputed. The purpose of the Book of Job shows the inadequacy of human reason to account for the suffering of the innocent. There is a mystery of divine freedom which does not contradict God’s goodness or sovereignty but remains elusive to man, and resigns to an attitude of trust and dependence on a good God whose working man cannot fathom.

Job 1

1:1-5 The riches and piety of Job
1:6-12 Satan obtains permission to tempt Job
1:13-22 Job is afflicted

Job 2

2:1-8 Satan obtains permission to tempt Job
2:9-10 Job and his wife
2:11-13 Job and his friends

Job 3

3:1-26 Job bewails his birth

Job 4

4:1-21 Eliphaz rebukes Job

Job 5

5:1-27 Eliphaz rebukes Job (continued)

Job 6

6:1-13 Job justifies his complaints
6:14-30 Job reproaches his friends

Job 7

7:1-21 Job remonstrates with God

Job 8

8:1-22 Bildad affirms God’s justice

Job 9

9:1-35 Job acknowledges God’s justice

Job 10

10:1-22 Job bewails his condition

Job 11

11:1-20 Zophar reproves Job

Job 12

12:1-6 Job answers his friends
12:7-25 Job acknowledges God’s omnipotence

Job 13

13:1-28 Job defends his integrity

Job 14

14:1-22 Job speaks of life’s woes

Job 15

15:1-35 Eliphaz reproves Job

Job 16

16:1-22 Job complains of God’s dealings

Job 17

17:1-16 Job appeals to God

Job 18

18:1-21 Bildad speaks of the plight of the wicked

Job 19

19:1-20 Job speaks of his friends’ cruelty
19:21-24 Job seeks pity
19:25-29 Job states his faith

Job 20

20:1-29 Zophar speaks of the wicked

Job 21

21:1-34 Job bemoans the prosperity of the wicked
Job 22

22:1-20 Eliphaz accuses Job of sin
22:21-30 Job implored to repent

Job 23

23:1-7 Job desires to plead before God
23:8-17 God knows men’s ways

Job 24

24:1-16 Job complains of God’s indifference to wicked
24:17-25 Secret judgment for the wicked

Job 25

25:1-6 How can man be justified with God?

Job 26

26:1-14 Job reproves Bildad, praises God

Job 27

27:1-7 Job’s truthfulness
27:8-23 The hypocrite’s hopelessness

Job 28

28:1-28 Wisdom is God’s gift

Job 29

29:1-25 Job speaks of past wealth

Job 30

30:1-31 Job is diseased and abhorred

Job 31

31:1-40 Job speaks of his integrity

Job 32

32:1-5 Elihu appears
32:6-10 Wisdom comes not from age
32:11-22 Elihu reproves the “comforters”

Job 33

33:1-13 Elihu reasons with Job
33:14-33 God calls men to repent

Job 34

34:1-9 Elihu speaks of Job’s logic
34:10-30 God cannot be unjust
34:31-37 Man must give up pride

Job 35

35:1-16 Man is not God

Job 36

36:1-15 God is just
36:16-33 Results of Job’s sins

Job 37

37:1-24 God’s works and wisdom

Job 38

38:1-3 God challenges Job
38:4-41 God shows Job’s ignorance

Job 39

39:1-30 God continues his challenge

Job 40

40:1-5 Job is humbled
40:6-24 God’s power and wisdom

Job 41

41:1-34 God’s power shown in the leviathan

Job 42

42:1-6 Job submits to God
42:7-17 God blesses Job

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Stay in your lane if God is in it!

Recently, I’ve been trying to get various Christian leaders on Facebook to realize how invaluable their ministry is going! Many of them are starting to get known on Facebook and are being asked to expand their ministry on Facebook and move to preaching and teaching in a virtual or real brick and mortar.

Facebook ministries that I am seeing in these Last Days are reaching more people with the Word of God, Encouragement, Testimony, Warnings, Praise, Guidance, and Love, with much more hidden contact than we will ever know. Though it seems safer to move on up to the brick and mortar churches, and certainly more profitable and popular reputation builder, it seems counterintuitive to the things God is moving in these times.

Staying in our lane that God has placed us in our ministry using Facebook seems like the wisest and easiest choice to reach everyone God chooses us to reach. In-country missionaries of the past should be applauded and upheld for their tremendous works done for the Lord in scary and destitute places. But now, God’s ministry is speeding up to reach everyone that can be reached by His choice.

I believe that Facebook, at this moment, is developing into becoming one of the furthest reaching vehicles we have. Christian Leaders! Stay in your lane, and don’t leave us alone. Every ministry that is based on the Word of God fully is needed in these tough times!

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Esther

Esther

The Book of Esther is about the marriage of its Jewish heroine with a Gentile King. The account is set in Shushan, the winter capital of Persia, not Israel. The book never mentions the word God or His Name, however, His sovereignty and providence are evident throughout. The origins of the Feast of Purim (2 Maccabees 15:36) when Jews celebrate the deliverance from Haman are revealed in this account. Many ancient commentators attribute the author of the book as Mordecai. Some have even suggested that Ezra or Nehemiah wrote the account, however there is no evidence to support this. Most scholars generally agree that the author is anonymous.

Esther 1

1:1-9 Ahasuerus makes a royal feast
1:10-12 Vashti refuses to obey the king
1:13-22 Queen Vashti’s punishment

Esther 2

2:1-18 Esther made queen
2:19-23 Mordecai saves the king’s life

Esther 3

3:1-15 Haman’s plot to destroy the Jews

Esther 4

4:1-14 Fasting among the Jews
4:15-17 Esther promises to intercede for her people

Esther 5

5:1-8 The courage of Esther
5:9-14 Haman boasts of his advancement

Esther 6

6:1-3 The king reminded of Mordecai’s service
6:4-14 Haman forced to honor Mordecai

Esther 7

7:1-6 Esther’s banquet and plea
7:7-10 The king orders Haman to be hanged

Esther 8

8:1-2 Mordecai advanced and honored
8:3-8 Esther’s plea to reverse Haman’s letters
8:9-17 The Jews authorized to resist

Esther 9

9:1-19 The Jews destroy their enemies
9:20-32 The feast of Purim instituted

Esther 10

10:1-3 Mordecai’s greatness

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Words Worth Reading! (Studying the Word of God)

Expression:

“And why this strange contradiction? It is because of the difficulties which studying the Bible presents. We must agree that on beginning it, there are many difficulties and obscurities; and, as much labour is required to clear them up, and the mind of man is naturally idle and lazy, we lose courage little by little and limit ourselves to reading the same scriptures over and over again. This unvaried sort of study hardly penetrates beneath the surface, nor does it learn new things; but always going over the same things repeatedly, inspires in us a kind of weariness, as if the Word of God was not interesting-as if it was not as inexhaustible as God Himself! Beware of thinking, however, that these difficulties are insuperable. No, my friends; but we must be prepared to take trouble; and there, as in prayer and in all parts of the Christian life, God wants man to be co-worker with Him. Knowledge of the Bible, taste for the Bible is the fruit and reward of this humble, sincere and persevering labour…If anyone, using by faith the resources which God puts at his disposal, and relying on God to guide him, follows out these thoughts of mine, which I can at this moment do little more than sketch, he will discover in the Word of God treasures which he never even suspected were there. Then it will become for him as firm a support as it was for Jesus, when He was tempted in the wilderness. And it will become for him what it was for the saints, in both the New Testament and in the Old Testament; what it was for David, and for Daniel, for Paul and all the saints of God.”

Voice: Adolphe Monod

Circumstance: Teaching

Citation: Monod, Adolphe. “A Dying Man’s Regrets 2”. The Study of the Word of God. 20 January 1856, 67.

Read More:
Living in the Hope of Glory: A New Translation of a Spiritual Classic

Adolphe Monod’s Farewell To His Friends And To The Church

Life And Letters Of Adolphe Monod, By One Of His Daughters (s.m.).

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