Redemption/blessing comes through the door opened by obedience
Esther 1-3/John 3-4
How to get the most out of Hungry Bible
OT
2:17 The king loved her more than any of the other young women. He was so delighted with her that he set the royal crown on her head and declared her queen instead of Vashti.
NT
3:36 “And all who believe in God’s Son have eternal life. Those who don’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life, but the wrath of God remains upon them.“
4:23 “But the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way.“
OT Flash Points
Esther (Hadassah) replaces Queen Vashti
Haman manipulates the King into ordering the extermination of the Jews – Duh?
If you have any knowledge of history, you realize this is about the most idiotic move to make
Yes, it is idiotic but scary at the same time because Haman was consumed with revenge and rage
That complicity with the spirit of domination (Satan) blinds us, cuts us off from even the most fundamental wisdom
NT Flash Points
Nicodemus & the woman at Jacob’s well
Two encounters with Jesus from what appears to be opposite directions
Are they opposite? The personal details are the only differences
They are actually a double illustration of the same triple disease
1. separation from God
2. isolation, individuality, separation from everybody else
3. building a defense system to stay that way
That disease by God’s definition is SIN
What is God seeking? Piano players? Singers? Guitar players?
No. Genuine worshipers – the triple cure that reverses the triple disease
Perspective
Master and Lord
Obedience is only possible between equals, not between master and slave
We are one with Him
We abide in Him and recognize His authority because His Life has been born in us