by Paul Apple | Apr 6, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE ELEVATION OF MORDECAI TO GREATNESS IN THE PERSIAN KINGDOM PROTECTED THE JEWISH COMMUNITY BY THE PROVIDENCE OF GODINTRODUCTION:Here our short story concludes with this Epilogue extolling the greatness of Mordecai. Here was a little known Jew who was...
by Paul Apple | Apr 4, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PROVIDENCE LEADS US TO VICTORY OVER OUR ENEMIES AND GIVES US CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION AS WE MEMORIALIZE GOD’S FAITHFULNESSINTRODUCTION:All power and authority comes ultimately from God. When He providentially raises up His servants and grants victory over the...
by Paul Apple | Apr 1, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD TRANSFORMS DESPERATION INTO DELIGHT IN SURPRISING WAYSINTRODUCTION:The personal deliverance of Esther and Mordecai was certainly significant. But the larger issue remains = the fate of the Jewish people as a whole. God’s promises about...
by Paul Apple | Mar 31, 2021 | Uncategorized
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD LEVERAGES DIVINE APPOINTMENTS, PROTECTS GOD’S PEOPLE AND DESTROYS GOD’S FOESINTRODUCTION:The pattern of reversals continues in this next banquet narrative. Once again the dynamic interaction of the sovereignty of God and human...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: GOD DEMONSTRATES HIS SOVEREIGN CONTROL EVEN WHEN THE WICKED IMAGINE THAT THEY ARE IN CONTROLINTRODUCTION:What a reversal of fortunes! Haman starts out this chapter rejoicing in his recent promotion and looking forward to the extermination of the hated Jews....
by Paul Apple | Mar 26, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD PREPARES THE WAY FOR A REVERSAL OF FORTUNESINTRODUCTION:It is one thing to know the right thing that God wants you to do. It’s quite another thing to boldly step out in faith and do it. Here we see Esther breaking out of her passive...
by Paul Apple | Mar 25, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: PROVIDENCE POSITIONS YOU TO LEVERAGE YOUR GOD-GIVEN CALLING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR GOD’S PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:There are watershed moments in every person’s life where you are faced with critical decisions regarding fulfilling your God-given calling. Esther...
by Paul Apple | Mar 10, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: SATAN’S GOAL IS NOTHING LESS THAN THE EXTERMINATION OF GOD’S PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:The age-old conflict between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman is manifested here in the anti-Semitism of the Agagite Haman. Satan is acting behind the scenes in...
by Paul Apple | Mar 8, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: THE PROVIDENCE OF GOD SOVEREIGNLY WORKS BEHIND THE SCENES DESPITE THE OSTENTATIOUS EXCESSES OF PAGAN DESPOTS AND THE CULTURAL ASSIMILATION OF GOD’S PEOPLEINTRODUCTION:When it seems like God is absent; when it seems like God is silent; when it seems like God...
by Paul Apple | Mar 2, 2021 | Bible-OT
BIG IDEA: IMPRESSIVE DISPLAYS OF SECULAR OPULENCE AND DOMINION EXPOSED AS IMPOTENT AND FUTILE AS GOD’S PROVIDENCE WORKS OUT HIS OWN KINGDOM AGENDAINTRODUCTION:Who really is in control on the world stage and in our own lives and destiny? This satirical treatment of the...
