Thursday, March 14, 2024
Shalom and Joy to All,
Here we are in the month of Adar II, and we will celebrate Purim on March 23-24, 2024. In years when we have two months of Adar, we celebrate Purim during Adar II on the 14th of that month. Because we know we are in the days that will usher in the Messiah to the earth, we need to be aware that every Biblical holiday has great meaning for us. Purim is about a miracle, it is about an evil man, who wants to destroy Israel and it is about our great G-d who is hidden throughout the entire account, but who is moving His plan through the ones who would trust Him.
The story of the miracle of Purim begins with a grand party – a party that would continue for six months. But during the party, the King’s wife, Vashti, refused the King’s orders to display her beauty, and the King was furious. Vashti was banished and the search for a new queen ensued.
King Ahasuerus, the guy who ruled the greatest empire the world, then chose a beautiful, orphaned Jewish girl who had been raised by her uncle Mordacai, to be his new queen. Her name is Esther, and Esther had no idea how the Lord would use her in the days ahead.
Now the plat of a wicked man, Haman, who is an ancestor of the Amalekites who really represent anti-Semitism in the world, begins to unveil his evil intentions. What were Haman’s intentions? His intentions were to bring glory to himself and to annihilate the Jewish people. The same spirit is operating in the earth today, and we need to have our eyes wide open to the battle that we have entered.
And the Bible tells us how Haman’s plan unfolded:
*Esther 3:9-11 'If it please the king, let it be written that they (the Jewish people) may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries. And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.' Haman now had power.
We must remember that the enemy is deceptive and he has a plan to destroy. More than ever, we must be wise and know how to use the weapons of warfare that the Lord has given us.
And the battle began. Now Esther goes into battle mode and plans to bring to light to Haman’s evil scheme. She literally takes her life into her hands, going to the king without being summoned and invites him and later he and Haman to a banquet.
At the second banquet, and to his shock, Esther exposes Haman’s wicked scheme, and she lets it be known that she is Jewish! In addition to all of this, Haman had already built gallows for Mordecai to be hanged on. Haman was so sure that he was about to be honored, but he was totally deceived; as he and his 10 sons would be hung on those very gallows.
More than ever before, Believers are going to have to take a stand against evil and proclaim their faith in Yeshua the Messiah. If any believer has hidden his/her identity, it is time for the mask to come off and boldly do the work of the Kingdom.
Esther then calls all the Jewish people to fast and pray – and the weapons of our warfare are still the same. The King now knows the terrible plot and says to Esther: *Esther 8:8 'You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews as you please, thee king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring; for whatever is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring no one can revoke.' This is a promise from the king; he gave Esther authority much like the way our King has given us authority to represent Him in the world and to overcome the schemes of the enemy. Like Esther we must take the authority He has given and use it for His Kingdom’s purposes.
Esther called her people to fast and pray for 3 days, and though we never see the LORD’S name mentioned, we see His mighty hand moving on behalf of the people who call on Him. And we see victory for the Jewish people...
*Esther 9:1 'Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month of Adar, on the thirteenth day, the time came for the king's command and his decree to be executed. On the day that the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, the opposite occurred, in that the Jews themselves overpowered those who hated them.'
The Jewish people were saved because one woman put her life on the line and rose up to work with G-d. Now it is our turn. Are we willing?
UPCOMING EVENTS:
March 16th: Rabbi Itzach Shapira will be teaching at Alpha and Omega Ministries at 10:30am – Be There for this very Special Event!
March 23rd: After our Shabbat Service and Oneg, we will celebrate Purim. There will be a costume contest for the children with prizes and then we will show the movie 'A Night With The King.' We’ll have Hamantashen, popcorn and all the goodies! Come Celebrate with us!!
April 22, Monday evening at 6:30 we will have our Passover Seder. Please invite friends and family and join us for this very special time.
*Deuteronomy 31:6 'Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.'
Shalom and Blessings!
