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THE IMPORTANCE OF WORSHIP

2/23/2012

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(1)
"Let everything that has breath praise the Lord..." Psalm 150:6 NKJV

A woman in Kansas City entered a Häagen-Dazs store for an ice cream cone. After getting it, she turned around and found herself face-to-face with Paul Newman, who was in town filming Mr. & Mrs. Bridge. He said, 'hello.' His radiant blue eyes caused her knees to shake. She managed to pay for her cone, then left the shop, heart pounding. When she regained her composure she realized she didn't have her ice cream cone. She started back into the store and met Newman at the door. 'Are you looking for your ice cream?' he asked. She nodded, unable to speak. 'You put it in your purse with your change,' he said, smiling. When was the last time your knees went weak, your pulse quickened and your heart was overwhelmed with praise to God? If you can't remember, self-interest, busyness, or spiritual complacency may have seduced you into seeking fulfilment in lesser things. The hymn-writer defines worship as 'Lost in wonder, love and praise.' The Psalmist writes about the whole gamut of human emotion, but he focuses on one theme above all others: praise. In his last psalm he writes: 'Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.' (Psalm 150:1-6 NKJV)


(2)
"Oh come, let us worship..." Psalm 95:6 NKJV

In his book Good Morning, Merry Sunshine, Chicago Tribune columnist Bob Greene chronicles his daughter's first year. When little Amanda began crawling, he records: 'This is something I'm having trouble getting used to. I will be in bed reading a book or watching TV, and I will look down at the foot of the bed and there will be Amanda's head staring back at me. Apparently I've become one of the objects that fascinates her... After months of having to go to her, now she is choosing to come to me. I don't quite know how to react. All I can figure is that she likes the idea of coming in and looking at me. She doesn't expect anything in return. I'll return her gaze and in a few minutes she'll decide she wants to go back to the living room and off she'll crawl.' The simple pleasure of looking at the one we love, is what we enjoy each time we worship God and bask in His presence. And that's something we must take time to do, otherwise we won't. There's a danger in any doctrine that focuses only on what we want from God, and neglects the thing we were created and redeemed to do - worship Him. (See Revelation 4:11.) How should we approach God? 'Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise...' (Psalm 100:4 NKJV) How often should we praise God? 'Seven times a day I praise You...' (Psalm 119:164 NKJV) Why should we praise God? '...That you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.' (1 Peter 2:9 NKJV)

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Great Resources: Messages by Joshua Harris

2/14/2012

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FREE Voice of the Martyrs book

2/10/2012

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FREE book from Bible Gateway (click on the picture and enter your information)


...I received mine in the mail already, and overall, there are no strings attached.
However, they do send you complementary information on the persecuted church...

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Books Worth Reading @ www.mikeattwood.com

2/8/2012

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Preaching on the Book Of Esther
Helps for Preachers  by Mike Attwood


The Book of Esther is the most secular of all the writings of the Old Testament. Those who are interested in the great theological subjects of the Scriptures such as Deity, Prophecy, Eschatology or Ecclesiology will search its pages in vain for any help. Esther is never quoted in the New Testament or even alluded to and throughout the book the name of God does not occur. Even prayer is not mentioned when there are times we surely would expect to see it.

The overall theme and therefore value to the Church today, is the covenant faithfulness of God. The covenant in question is the Abrahamic Covenant. God still honors this covenant even to a people who were quite far from Him spiritually at this time. Of course the reason being is that the Abrahamic Covenant is an unconditional covenant. He will bless them that bless thee [Israel] and curse them that curse thee. The events in the book covers a period of approximately 5 years. As Ezra and Nehemiah deal with the captives that returned from exile, Esther deals with those who chose to stay put and remain among the heathen empire of Medo-Persia. The central character is a young woman Esther who marries a divorced unbeliever King Ahasuerus [unequal yoke] and keeps her true identity as a Jew secret upon the advise of her guardian Mordecai. She wins the Kings affection by outward beauty. Hardly a book to teach Christian values! Despite these things God works on behalf of these people and preserves them from a hostile adversary Haman. A type of satan with his vicious hatred of the Jews see Rev. 12 and desires to destroy them.

The author is unknown, but certainly had access to the archives of the public records in Persia. See 2:23, 6:1, 9:32 & 10:2 It has been suggested that perhaps one of the Kings chamberlains was responsible.


Outline: Each section divided up by the prominent characters.

The King and His wives.......................................................................Chp 1-2

The Exaltation of Haman & His decree to destroy the Jews....................Chp 3-5

Mordecai honoured.............................................................................Chp 6

Esther delivers her people...................................................................Chp 7-8

The Jews Victory and Subsequent Celebrations....................................Chp 9-10



Although the name of God is not mentioned His unseen hand is at work in the book.

1. In placing Esther in a position of influence. [Election for service]

2. In delaying the destruction of the Jews for almost a year. [giving time]

3. In keeping the King awake, so to reward Mordecai. [Common them in Scripture]

4. In promoting a despised Jew to Prime Minister.



The Book also contains some amazing ups and downs, people rising to great heights and then falling to great lows. It is a roller coaster ride.

Ahasuerus -exalted and humiliated at the banquet by the refusal of Vashti to obey his commands.

Vashti, from a private banquet of her own, to divorce and shame.

Mordecai, elated at the promotion of Esther to be queen and then humiliated and crying in the street at Haman’s decree.

Haman exalted to lofty heights by the King and then made to escort the man he detested most, and to announce to all that this was the man who the King delighted to honor.

Haman making a lofty scaffold to hang his enemy and hanging on it himself.

The enemies of the Jews who expected to get both the lives and the spoil of their enemies, being humiliated and losing 75,000 of their number in the battles with the Jews.

For Mordecai, Esther and the Jews it ends on a high note. In a coming day, Israel currently despised by the nations will ultimately end on a high note in the coming Kingdom of Messiah.

Like the book of Exodus, the enemies plans to wipe out the people of God failed miserably. Pharaoh tried to drown the Israelites and ended up being drowned n the Red Sea, Haman, tried to hang Mordecai and ended up hanging on the gallows himself. Both enemies reaped what they sowed. In each case deliverance was celebrated with a Feast, kept to this very day Passover and Purim.



The Book also has one other contrast.

Feasting and Fasting. We see several banquets and great extravagance and then we see a time of serious concerted fasting.


Esther is a valuable book for the Church today, God is Sovereignly working out His purposes and will in this world. Sometimes as men we are not fully conscious of this but He still is on the throne and in control.



Helpful Commentaries

The Book Of Esther by William Kelly, Bible Truth Publishers  A brief and helpful overview of the themes of the book.

Esther, Triumph of God’s Sovereignty, John C Whitcomb, Moody Press. Helpful in background information and historical data.

Esther by Albert McShane, John Ritchie, short and very suggestive material.

Esther in the Bible Exposition Commentary by Warren W. Wiersbe, Cook publishing. Usually high standard of work from Wiersbe.

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Great Lyrics :)

2/2/2012

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1st Corinthians

2/1/2012

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1.   ...the will of God... (vs.1)
 2.   ...the church of God... (vs.2)
 3.   ...the grace of God... (vs.4)
 4.   ...the power of God... (vs.18)
 5.   ...the wisdom of God... (vs.21)
 6.   ...the foolishness of God... (vs.25)
 7.   ...the weakness of God... (vs.25)
 8.   ...the testimony of God... (ch.2 vs.1)
 9.   ...the deep things of God... (ch.2 vs.10)
10.   ...the things of God... (ch.2 vs.11)
11.   ...the Spirit of God... (ch.2 vs.11)
12.   ...the temple of God... (ch.3 vs.16)
13.   ...the mysteries of God... (ch.4 vs.1)
14.   ...the kingdom of God... (ch.4 vs.20)
15.   ...the commandments of God... (ch.7 vs.19)
16.   ...the glory of God... (ch.10 vs.31)
17.   ...the churches of God... (ch.11 vs.16)
18.   ...the word of God... (ch.14 vs.36)
19.   ...false witnesses of God... (ch.15 vs.15)
20.   ...testified of God... (ch.15 vs.15)
21.   ...the knowledge of God... (ch.15 vs.34)
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