1 00:00:00,510 --> 00:00:03,240 Steve Webb: Do you believe that God orders the events in the 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:05,910 lives of people to accomplish his plans? 3 00:00:06,990 --> 00:00:09,570 It's the Lifespring! One Year Bible coming to you from 4 00:00:09,570 --> 00:00:13,560 Riverside, California and podcasting since 2004. My name 5 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:17,730 is Steve Webb. and I'm your OG Godcaster. It's history Tuesday. 6 00:00:17,730 --> 00:00:20,370 and we'll bring that category of the Bible to a close by 7 00:00:20,370 --> 00:00:23,250 completing the Book of Esther with chapters six through 10. 8 00:00:23,640 --> 00:00:25,980 The website is Lifespringmedia.com. org, you'll 9 00:00:25,980 --> 00:00:29,010 find over 3000 episodes that I've produced over the years, 10 00:00:29,100 --> 00:00:31,830 and I'll have contact information for you at the end 11 00:00:31,830 --> 00:00:36,090 of the show. Before we read, let's pray. Our heavenly Father, 12 00:00:36,090 --> 00:00:38,910 Lord, we thank You for Your Word. and we thank you so much 13 00:00:38,910 --> 00:00:42,060 for our time together. I pray, Lord, that as we read today, you 14 00:00:42,060 --> 00:00:45,870 would touch our minds touch our hearts and teach us we pray this 15 00:00:45,870 --> 00:00:47,640 in Jesus name, amen. 16 00:00:49,910 --> 00:00:54,560 Esther chapter six. On that night, the king could not sleep, 17 00:00:54,710 --> 00:00:57,650 and he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the 18 00:00:57,650 --> 00:01:01,160 Chronicles and they were read before the king. and it was 19 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,370 found written how Mordecai had told about big dinner in tea 20 00:01:04,370 --> 00:01:08,090 rush two of the kings Unix who guarded the threshold, and who 21 00:01:08,090 --> 00:01:11,660 had sought to lay hands on King Ahaz, you heiress. and the king 22 00:01:11,660 --> 00:01:15,290 said, What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai 23 00:01:15,290 --> 00:01:19,160 for this. The King's young men who attended him said, nothing 24 00:01:19,160 --> 00:01:22,760 has been done for him. and the king said, Who is in the court? 25 00:01:23,420 --> 00:01:26,450 Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace 26 00:01:26,450 --> 00:01:29,180 to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the 27 00:01:29,180 --> 00:01:32,750 gallows that he had prepared for him. and the king's young men 28 00:01:32,750 --> 00:01:36,230 told him, Haman is there standing in the court? and the 29 00:01:36,230 --> 00:01:40,370 king said, let him come in. So Haman came in and the king said 30 00:01:40,370 --> 00:01:43,430 to him, what should be done to the man whom the king delights 31 00:01:43,430 --> 00:01:46,970 to honor? and Haman said to himself, who would the king 32 00:01:46,970 --> 00:01:51,320 delight to honor more than me? and Haman said to the king, for 33 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,560 the man whom the king delights to honor, let royal robes be 34 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:57,440 brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the 35 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:01,460 king has written, and on whose head a royal crown is set, and 36 00:02:01,460 --> 00:02:04,430 let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's 37 00:02:04,430 --> 00:02:07,970 most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king 38 00:02:07,970 --> 00:02:11,300 delights to honor and let them lead him on the horse through 39 00:02:11,300 --> 00:02:14,450 the square of the city proclaiming before him. Thus 40 00:02:14,450 --> 00:02:18,230 shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor. Then 41 00:02:18,230 --> 00:02:21,830 the king said to Haman, Hurry, take the robes in the horse, as 42 00:02:21,830 --> 00:02:25,640 you have said, and do so to Mordecai, the Jew who sits at 43 00:02:25,640 --> 00:02:29,030 the king's gate, leave out nothing that you have mentioned. 44 00:02:29,810 --> 00:02:33,530 So Haman took the robes in the horse, and he dressed Mordecai 45 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,320 and led him through the square of the city proclaiming before 46 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:39,890 him. Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights 47 00:02:39,890 --> 00:02:44,840 to honor. Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate, but Haman 48 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:48,800 hurried to his house morning and with his head covered, and Haman 49 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,740 told his wife Zeresh, and all his friends everything that had 50 00:02:51,740 --> 00:02:55,730 happened to him, then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to 51 00:02:55,730 --> 00:02:59,750 him, If Mordecai before whom you had begun to fall is of the 52 00:02:59,750 --> 00:03:03,380 Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely 53 00:03:03,380 --> 00:03:07,250 fall before him. While they were yet talking with him, the Kings 54 00:03:07,250 --> 00:03:10,940 Unix arrived in hurry to bring Haman to the feast that Esther 55 00:03:10,940 --> 00:03:11,750 had prepared. 56 00:03:12,500 --> 00:03:16,760 Esther chapter seven. So the king and Haman went into feast 57 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:19,580 with Queen Esther. and on the second day, as they were 58 00:03:19,580 --> 00:03:23,390 drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, 59 00:03:23,750 --> 00:03:27,290 what is your wish? Queen Esther, it shall be granted to you, and 60 00:03:27,290 --> 00:03:30,890 what is your request, even to the half of my kingdom it shall 61 00:03:30,890 --> 00:03:35,660 be fulfilled. Then Queen Esther answered, If I have found favor 62 00:03:35,660 --> 00:03:39,530 in your side, oh king, and if it please the king, let my life be 63 00:03:39,530 --> 00:03:43,310 granted me for my wish, and my people for my request, for we 64 00:03:43,310 --> 00:03:47,030 have been sold I and my people to be destroyed, to be killed 65 00:03:47,060 --> 00:03:51,230 and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men 66 00:03:51,230 --> 00:03:54,590 and women, I would have been silent for our affliction is not 67 00:03:54,590 --> 00:03:58,730 to be compared with the loss to the king. Then King has you were 68 00:03:58,730 --> 00:04:02,660 said to Queen Esther, who is he? and where is he who has dared to 69 00:04:02,660 --> 00:04:07,640 do this? and Esther said, a fool and enemy this wicked Haman. 70 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,320 Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen. and the 71 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,560 king arose in his wrath from the wind drinking in went into the 72 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:19,130 palace garden. But Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen 73 00:04:19,130 --> 00:04:22,370 Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the 74 00:04:22,370 --> 00:04:25,970 king. and the king returned from the palace garden to the place 75 00:04:25,970 --> 00:04:28,790 where they were drinking wine. As Haman was falling on the 76 00:04:28,790 --> 00:04:33,080 couch where Esther was, and the king said, will he even assault 77 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:37,130 the queen in my presence in my own house, as the word left the 78 00:04:37,130 --> 00:04:41,450 mouth of the king they covered Heymans face. Then her Bono, one 79 00:04:41,450 --> 00:04:44,720 of the units and attendants on the king said, moreover, the 80 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:48,080 gallows that Haman is prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved 81 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:52,610 the king is standing at Hammonds house 50 cubits high. and the 82 00:04:52,610 --> 00:04:56,960 king said, Hang him on that. So they hanged Haman on the gallows 83 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:00,200 that he had prepared for Mordecai, then the wrap Have the 84 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:01,250 king abated. 85 00:05:02,210 --> 00:05:07,400 Esther chapter eight. On that same day King Xerxes gave the 86 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:11,510 property of Haman, the enemy of the Jews to Queen Esther. Then 87 00:05:11,510 --> 00:05:14,330 Mordecai was brought before the king for Esther had told the 88 00:05:14,330 --> 00:05:17,900 king how they were related. The king took off his signet ring, 89 00:05:17,930 --> 00:05:21,200 which he had taken back from Haman and gave it to Mordecai. 90 00:05:21,590 --> 00:05:24,320 and Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Heymans 91 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:28,520 property. Then Esther went again before the king falling down at 92 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:32,300 his feet and begging him with tears to stop the evil plot 93 00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:36,680 devised by him in the aggregate against the Jews. Again, the 94 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:40,370 king held out the gold sector to Esther. So she rose and stood 95 00:05:40,370 --> 00:05:44,840 before him. Esther said, If it pleases the king, if I have 96 00:05:44,840 --> 00:05:48,680 found favor with him, and if he thinks it is right, and if I am 97 00:05:48,680 --> 00:05:52,430 pleasing to Him, let there be a decree that reverses the orders 98 00:05:52,430 --> 00:05:55,940 of Haman, son of him a date of the aggregate, who ordered the 99 00:05:55,940 --> 00:05:59,270 Jews throughout all the kings provinces should be destroyed, 100 00:05:59,690 --> 00:06:03,350 for how can I endure to see my people and my family slaughtered 101 00:06:03,350 --> 00:06:07,070 and destroyed. Then King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and 102 00:06:07,070 --> 00:06:10,790 Mordecai the Jew, I have given Esther the property of Haman. 103 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:14,300 and he has been impaled on a pole because he tried to destroy 104 00:06:14,300 --> 00:06:18,020 the Jews. Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the 105 00:06:18,020 --> 00:06:21,530 king's name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it 106 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:25,130 with the king's signet ring. But remember that whatever has 107 00:06:25,130 --> 00:06:27,950 already been written in the king's name, and sealed with his 108 00:06:27,950 --> 00:06:33,170 signet ring can never be revoked. So on June 25, the king 109 00:06:33,170 --> 00:06:36,740 secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as 110 00:06:36,740 --> 00:06:40,610 Mordecai dictated, it was sent to the Jews into the highest 111 00:06:40,610 --> 00:06:45,200 officers, the governors and the nobles of all the 127 provinces 112 00:06:45,230 --> 00:06:49,040 stretching from India to Ethiopia. The decree was written 113 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,160 in the scripts and languages of all the peoples of the empire, 114 00:06:52,280 --> 00:06:56,510 including that of the Jews. The decree was written in the name 115 00:06:56,510 --> 00:07:00,860 of King Xerxes and sealed with a king signet ring. Mordecai sent 116 00:07:00,860 --> 00:07:04,130 the dispatches by swift messengers, who rode fast 117 00:07:04,130 --> 00:07:08,480 horses, especially bread for the Kings service. The King's decree 118 00:07:08,480 --> 00:07:11,570 gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend 119 00:07:11,570 --> 00:07:14,660 their lives. They were allowed to Kill, slaughter and 120 00:07:14,660 --> 00:07:18,050 annihilate anyone of any nationality or province, who 121 00:07:18,050 --> 00:07:21,410 might attack them or their children and wives, and to take 122 00:07:21,410 --> 00:07:24,740 the property of their enemies. The day chosen for this event 123 00:07:24,770 --> 00:07:28,220 throughout all the provinces of Kings Xerxes was March 7 of the 124 00:07:28,220 --> 00:07:32,540 next year. A copy of this decree was to be issued as law in every 125 00:07:32,540 --> 00:07:36,200 province and proclaimed to all peoples so that the Jews would 126 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:38,960 be ready to take revenge on their enemies on the appointed 127 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:43,670 day. So urged on by the kings command, the messengers rolled 128 00:07:43,670 --> 00:07:47,870 out swiftly and fast horses bred for the king's service. The same 129 00:07:47,870 --> 00:07:52,100 decree was also proclaimed in the fortress of Susa. Then 130 00:07:52,100 --> 00:07:55,280 Mordecai left the king's presence, wearing the royal robe 131 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,610 of blue and white, the great crown of gold, and an outer 132 00:07:58,610 --> 00:08:01,730 cloak of fine linen and purple, and the people of Susa 133 00:08:01,730 --> 00:08:05,540 celebrated the new decree. The Jews were filled with joy and 134 00:08:05,540 --> 00:08:09,050 gladness and were honored everywhere. In every province 135 00:08:09,050 --> 00:08:12,380 and city. Wherever the king's decree arrived, the Jews 136 00:08:12,380 --> 00:08:15,350 rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a 137 00:08:15,350 --> 00:08:19,130 public festival and holiday. and many of the people of the land 138 00:08:19,130 --> 00:08:22,850 became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to 139 00:08:22,850 --> 00:08:23,210 them. 140 00:08:23,510 --> 00:08:28,430 Esther chapter nine. On the 13th day of the 12th month, the month 141 00:08:28,430 --> 00:08:32,240 of a dar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. 142 00:08:32,870 --> 00:08:35,690 On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower 143 00:08:35,690 --> 00:08:39,140 them. But now the tables were turned in the Jews got the upper 144 00:08:39,140 --> 00:08:42,560 hand over those who hated them. The Jews assembled in their 145 00:08:42,560 --> 00:08:45,980 cities and all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those 146 00:08:45,980 --> 00:08:49,790 determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, 147 00:08:49,790 --> 00:08:52,910 because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid 148 00:08:52,910 --> 00:08:56,720 of them. and all the nobles of the provinces the satraps, the 149 00:08:56,720 --> 00:08:59,390 governors and the kings administrators helped the Jews 150 00:08:59,390 --> 00:09:03,260 because fear of Mordecai had seized them. Mordecai was 151 00:09:03,260 --> 00:09:06,830 prominent in the palace. His reputation spread throughout the 152 00:09:06,830 --> 00:09:11,180 provinces and he became more and more powerful. The Jews struck 153 00:09:11,180 --> 00:09:14,240 down all their enemies with a sword, killing and destroying 154 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:17,600 them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. 155 00:09:18,260 --> 00:09:21,860 In the citadel of Judah, the Jews killed and destroyed 500 156 00:09:21,860 --> 00:09:27,800 men. They also killed par Chanda delfont as paisa for raitha. A 157 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:34,880 Daliah era data for Masta era SCI era die and via the 10 Sons 158 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:38,810 of Haman son of hammer data, the enemy of the Jews, but they did 159 00:09:38,810 --> 00:09:41,900 not lay their hands on the plunder. The number of those 160 00:09:41,900 --> 00:09:44,810 killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that 161 00:09:44,810 --> 00:09:48,920 same day, the king said to Queen Esther, the Jews have killed and 162 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:52,520 destroyed 500 Men and The 10 Sons of Haman in the citadel of 163 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:56,540 Susa. What have they done in the rest of the kings provinces? Now 164 00:09:56,540 --> 00:09:59,480 what is your petition? It will be given to you what is your 165 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:03,770 request? If it will also be granted if it pleases the king 166 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:07,460 Esther answered, give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out 167 00:10:07,460 --> 00:10:11,540 this day's edict tomorrow also, and let Heymans 10 sons be 168 00:10:11,540 --> 00:10:16,280 impaled on poles. So the king commanded that this be done. and 169 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:19,520 edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled the 10 Sons of 170 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:23,300 Haman, the Jews in Susa came together on the 14th day of the 171 00:10:23,300 --> 00:10:27,470 month of a dar, and they put to death in Susa 300 men but they 172 00:10:27,470 --> 00:10:30,710 did not lay their hands on the plunder. Meanwhile, the 173 00:10:30,710 --> 00:10:33,710 remainder of the Jews who are in the Kings provinces also 174 00:10:33,710 --> 00:10:36,260 assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their 175 00:10:36,260 --> 00:10:40,670 enemies. They killed 75,000 of them but did not lay their hands 176 00:10:40,670 --> 00:10:44,360 on the plunder. This happened on the 13th day of the month of a 177 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:48,590 dar and on the 14th they rested in made it a day of feasting and 178 00:10:48,590 --> 00:10:53,450 joy. The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the 13th and 179 00:10:53,450 --> 00:10:57,590 14th. and then on the 15th day they rested and made it a day of 180 00:10:57,590 --> 00:11:01,850 feasting and joy. That is why rural Jews those living in 181 00:11:01,850 --> 00:11:05,540 villages, observed the 14th of the month of a dar is a day of 182 00:11:05,540 --> 00:11:08,840 joy and feasting a day for giving presents to each other. 183 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,980 Mordecai recorded these events and he sent letters to all the 184 00:11:12,980 --> 00:11:17,240 Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes near and far to have 185 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:20,570 them celebrate annually. The 14th and 15th day of the month 186 00:11:20,570 --> 00:11:23,360 of Vadar is the time when the Jews got relief from their 187 00:11:23,360 --> 00:11:27,230 enemies. and as the month when their sorrow was turned to joy, 188 00:11:27,500 --> 00:11:30,980 and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to 189 00:11:30,980 --> 00:11:34,490 observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving of 190 00:11:34,490 --> 00:11:38,150 presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. So the 191 00:11:38,150 --> 00:11:41,450 Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun doing 192 00:11:41,450 --> 00:11:44,540 what Mordecai had written to them. For Haman, son of ama 193 00:11:44,540 --> 00:11:48,380 data, the aggregate, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted 194 00:11:48,380 --> 00:11:51,650 against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast the pier that 195 00:11:51,650 --> 00:11:55,610 is the lot for their ruin and destruction. But when the plot 196 00:11:55,610 --> 00:11:58,910 came to the kings attention, he issued written orders that the 197 00:11:58,910 --> 00:12:02,060 evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come 198 00:12:02,060 --> 00:12:05,720 back onto his own head, and that he and his sons should be 199 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,740 impaled on poles. Therefore these days were called Pure him 200 00:12:09,890 --> 00:12:13,610 from the word pure, because of everything written in this 201 00:12:13,610 --> 00:12:16,610 letter, and because of what they had seen, and what had happened 202 00:12:16,610 --> 00:12:19,760 to them, the Jews took it upon themselves to establish the 203 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:22,670 custom that they and their descendants, and all who joined 204 00:12:22,670 --> 00:12:25,670 them should without fail, observe these two days every 205 00:12:25,670 --> 00:12:29,690 year in the way prescribed, and at the time appointed. These 206 00:12:29,690 --> 00:12:32,750 days should be remembered and observed in every generation, by 207 00:12:32,750 --> 00:12:37,070 every family, and in every province and in every city. and 208 00:12:37,070 --> 00:12:40,040 these days of pure him should never fail to be celebrated by 209 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:43,730 the Jews. Nor should the memory of these days die out among 210 00:12:43,730 --> 00:12:47,840 their descendants. So Queen Esther, daughter of Abba Hale 211 00:12:47,840 --> 00:12:51,170 along with Mordecai, the Jew, wrote with full authority to 212 00:12:51,170 --> 00:12:54,980 confirm this second letter concerning purine. and Mordecai 213 00:12:54,980 --> 00:12:59,090 sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes 214 00:12:59,090 --> 00:13:03,050 kingdom, words of goodwill and assurance to establish these 215 00:13:03,050 --> 00:13:06,410 days of pure I'm at their designated times as Mordecai, 216 00:13:06,410 --> 00:13:09,830 the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them and as they had 217 00:13:09,830 --> 00:13:12,890 established for themselves and their descendants in regard to 218 00:13:12,890 --> 00:13:16,640 their times of fasting and lamentation. estrous decree 219 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:20,000 confirmed these regulations about PRM and it was written 220 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:21,380 down in the records 221 00:13:22,100 --> 00:13:27,470 Esther chapter 10. In Kenya has us imposed tribute on the land 222 00:13:27,470 --> 00:13:31,160 and on the islands of the sea. Now all the acts of His power 223 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:34,190 and His might, in the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to 224 00:13:34,190 --> 00:13:37,490 which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of 225 00:13:37,490 --> 00:13:41,300 the chronicles of the kings of media in Persia? For Mordecai, 226 00:13:41,300 --> 00:13:45,110 the Jew was second to King a has you eres, and was great among 227 00:13:45,110 --> 00:13:48,320 the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, 228 00:13:48,470 --> 00:13:52,160 seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his 229 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:52,820 countrymen. 230 00:13:55,070 --> 00:13:58,370 Beloved, I have a question for you. Do you believe that God 231 00:13:58,370 --> 00:14:01,640 orders the events in the lives of people to accomplish his 232 00:14:01,640 --> 00:14:05,210 plans? There are some people who believe that once God finished 233 00:14:05,210 --> 00:14:09,320 His work of creation, he stepped away, took his hands off, and 234 00:14:09,320 --> 00:14:13,010 let events on earth happen on their own. To me, that seems 235 00:14:13,010 --> 00:14:16,820 sort of foolish, but that's what some people think. Well, here in 236 00:14:16,820 --> 00:14:20,450 estar, we have an example of how God does orchestrate the events 237 00:14:20,450 --> 00:14:24,650 of man for his purposes. The king was unable to sleep on the 238 00:14:24,650 --> 00:14:28,700 very night that Haman was plotting to kill Mordecai. So 239 00:14:28,730 --> 00:14:32,630 the king does what many of us do, he decided to read a book 240 00:14:32,660 --> 00:14:36,500 hoping that that'll make him sleepy. Think of it has 241 00:14:36,500 --> 00:14:40,010 awareness is the king of the most powerful kingdom on earth. 242 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:43,850 So he could have done almost anything for a diversion. But he 243 00:14:43,850 --> 00:14:48,530 chose to read a book. He orders that a book of remembrance is be 244 00:14:48,530 --> 00:14:54,020 brought to him. Now he had a kingdom of 127 provinces so I 245 00:14:54,020 --> 00:14:57,470 can imagine that this book of remembrance is probably had 246 00:14:57,470 --> 00:15:01,430 several volumes, can't you? But the person who was tasked with 247 00:15:01,430 --> 00:15:04,700 bringing the book brought the volume that included the account 248 00:15:04,700 --> 00:15:08,990 of how Mordecai saved the king from assassination. and the 249 00:15:08,990 --> 00:15:13,250 servant opened the book to the very page with that record. What 250 00:15:13,250 --> 00:15:18,710 are the odds? Well with God, the odds are 100%. Without God, who 251 00:15:18,710 --> 00:15:22,070 knows? There had to have been many remembrances in that book. 252 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:26,990 But on this specific night, this specific page was opened. 253 00:15:27,890 --> 00:15:32,360 Coincidence? I think not. Do you believe that God orders events 254 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:35,660 in the lives of people to accomplish his plans? Of course 255 00:15:35,660 --> 00:15:40,250 he does. Has God ever intervened in your life like this? Can you 256 00:15:40,250 --> 00:15:44,150 remember a time where the course of your life was changed by a 257 00:15:44,150 --> 00:15:47,960 seemingly random event? Let me tell you about a time this 258 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:51,440 happened to me. and some of you know this story. But it happened 259 00:15:51,440 --> 00:15:56,030 in 2004. It was a Saturday in September, I think it was. and I 260 00:15:56,030 --> 00:15:59,600 turned on the radio to listen to a talk show about technology. 261 00:15:59,930 --> 00:16:03,140 This was normally a callin type show where people would ask the 262 00:16:03,140 --> 00:16:06,740 host for help with their tech devices. But when I turned on 263 00:16:06,740 --> 00:16:09,860 the radio, the host was interviewing a guy. and the guy 264 00:16:09,860 --> 00:16:12,560 was telling the host about this new thing he had vented where 265 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,740 radio type shows would be automatically downloaded to 266 00:16:15,740 --> 00:16:19,490 people's computers. and better still, every time a new show was 267 00:16:19,490 --> 00:16:22,880 created. The new episodes would just show up on their computers, 268 00:16:22,910 --> 00:16:26,300 and then they could transfer the new shows onto their portable 269 00:16:26,300 --> 00:16:29,450 mp3 player, and they could listen to them whenever they 270 00:16:29,450 --> 00:16:32,900 want it. Well, this idea sounded pretty interesting to me having 271 00:16:32,900 --> 00:16:37,700 been in radio in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Of course, this 272 00:16:37,700 --> 00:16:42,260 new invention was podcasting. The interviewer was Leo Laporte, 273 00:16:42,470 --> 00:16:46,160 and the interviewee was Adam curry, whom I am now happy to 274 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:49,550 not only call my friend, but ecstatic to call my brother in 275 00:16:49,550 --> 00:16:53,300 the Lord. But that's a different story. Well, just a week before 276 00:16:53,300 --> 00:16:56,540 I heard this interview, I had asked God, what more I could do 277 00:16:56,540 --> 00:17:00,080 to serve him. I was already the tech guy at my church and 278 00:17:00,080 --> 00:17:03,530 putting in a lot of time in that. But I wanted to do more 279 00:17:03,530 --> 00:17:07,100 for God's since he had been so very good to me and had blessed 280 00:17:07,100 --> 00:17:10,220 me with a wonderful wife, great kids, a business that paid the 281 00:17:10,220 --> 00:17:14,210 bills, and a home. I just wanted to be available to do whatever 282 00:17:14,210 --> 00:17:18,920 God had for me. I prayed and I asked God, what more I could do. 283 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:23,300 and his answer was a very clear almost audible proclaim My name. 284 00:17:24,440 --> 00:17:27,920 So was it just a random event when I heard Adam curry telling 285 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:32,450 Leo Laporte about podcasting? I don't think so. God prompted me 286 00:17:32,450 --> 00:17:36,860 to turn on that radio at just the right time. and on November 287 00:17:36,860 --> 00:17:42,260 13 2004, I uploaded the world's first Christian podcast to my 288 00:17:42,260 --> 00:17:45,950 church's website. and within days, I received emails from 289 00:17:45,950 --> 00:17:49,400 around the world telling me stories of how God was using my 290 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:54,770 podcast to bring them to Jesus. God was using my little podcast 291 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:58,820 in miraculous ways. But the story doesn't end there. From 292 00:17:58,820 --> 00:18:02,960 that first podcast that I called Lifespring. I created several 293 00:18:02,960 --> 00:18:06,140 other podcasts, one of which was the Lifespring family Audio 294 00:18:06,140 --> 00:18:10,550 Bible. and because of that show, a person asked me to record the 295 00:18:10,550 --> 00:18:15,050 entire Douay-Rheims Bible. and because of that project, I wrote 296 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:17,660 Webb ZZ Bible names Pronunciation Guide, which was 297 00:18:17,660 --> 00:18:21,350 published in 2012. and it's helped many, many people as they 298 00:18:21,350 --> 00:18:25,010 study and teach and preach God's word. and also because of 299 00:18:25,010 --> 00:18:28,550 podcasting, I've got a career doing voiceovers for radio and 300 00:18:28,550 --> 00:18:31,880 TV commercials and videos for companies around the world and 301 00:18:32,120 --> 00:18:35,780 church videos and so much more. Something I never would have 302 00:18:35,780 --> 00:18:39,950 dreamed would happen. My life was changed when God 303 00:18:39,950 --> 00:18:44,660 orchestrated events on that September Saturday in 2004. Do 304 00:18:44,660 --> 00:18:47,210 you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to 305 00:18:47,210 --> 00:18:54,770 accomplish his plans? I sure do. Have you seen God's hand in the 306 00:18:54,770 --> 00:18:58,010 events of your life? Let me know about it. Tell me how do you do 307 00:18:58,010 --> 00:19:00,920 that? Well send a Boostagram or call the Lifespring family 308 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:04,220 hotline or go to the comments page or write an email. How do 309 00:19:04,220 --> 00:19:06,710 you do any of those things? I'll tell you in a few minutes. 310 00:19:07,100 --> 00:19:09,950 Tomorrow will be Psalms Wednesday, we'll close this the 311 00:19:09,950 --> 00:19:14,390 longest book of the Bible with chapters 149 and 150. and we'll 312 00:19:14,390 --> 00:19:17,390 have our last prayer time together. Be sure to have your 313 00:19:17,390 --> 00:19:20,810 praise report or prayer request in by five o'clock Pacific time 314 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:22,520 today to be included. 315 00:19:26,590 --> 00:19:30,460 James Garner came in today with $40 With this note, he said, 316 00:19:30,490 --> 00:19:33,250 "Hello. I was going to wait until later to do this but my 317 00:19:33,250 --> 00:19:36,670 life with four kids and multiple renovations that are ongoing by 318 00:19:36,670 --> 00:19:41,080 a team of one me tells me that I will not get this done unless I 319 00:19:41,080 --> 00:19:44,830 sit down and write this on a break right now. Your podcast is 320 00:19:44,830 --> 00:19:47,230 going to get me to complete the one of many new year's 321 00:19:47,230 --> 00:19:50,380 resolutions that I actually stuck with. I wanted to get 322 00:19:50,380 --> 00:19:54,070 through the Bible by January 1 and as of next week, I will have 323 00:19:54,070 --> 00:19:57,400 done it been to church on and off my whole life but never 324 00:19:57,400 --> 00:20:00,760 actually dove into it. So it turns out I pretty much knew all 325 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:03,790 of the information. So I have read more than I thought I had 326 00:20:04,150 --> 00:20:08,140 only a few surprises came up. So for getting me to my goal, I'm 327 00:20:08,140 --> 00:20:11,770 throwing in a few shekels your way. I found value in that. 328 00:20:11,890 --> 00:20:15,280 Well, thank you, James. He said, Now since you're giving up the 329 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:18,610 reins, I would request a recommendation. I want to go 330 00:20:18,610 --> 00:20:21,460 through it again. But I would not mind going through whole 331 00:20:21,460 --> 00:20:25,420 books straight and not jumping around. I would also like a more 332 00:20:25,420 --> 00:20:29,530 in depth analysis and or insight to the readings. If you know of 333 00:20:29,530 --> 00:20:33,550 such a thing. I would gladly like to give it a try." Okay, 334 00:20:33,550 --> 00:20:36,100 I'll stop reading James' note for just a moment right here to 335 00:20:36,100 --> 00:20:39,460 respond. Now, James, you probably won't be surprised by 336 00:20:39,460 --> 00:20:42,730 this. But with producing this show for so many years, I really 337 00:20:42,730 --> 00:20:46,150 haven't had a chance to listen to other Bible reading podcasts. 338 00:20:46,690 --> 00:20:49,510 I know there are many, but I can't personally recommend any 339 00:20:49,510 --> 00:20:52,720 specific ones. Since I've not listened to them. I can't 340 00:20:52,720 --> 00:20:56,140 personally vouch for their doctrinal accuracy. I'm sure 341 00:20:56,140 --> 00:20:59,200 there's probably some great ones. I just don't have personal 342 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:03,190 experience with them. But on Saturdays closing show I will 343 00:21:03,190 --> 00:21:06,820 have a Christian podcast recommendation. It isn't a Bible 344 00:21:06,820 --> 00:21:10,840 reading podcast, but one that I do listen to twice a week. and 345 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:14,620 as soon as I see a new episode in my podcast app, I hit play. 346 00:21:15,010 --> 00:21:18,760 I'll tell you more about it this Saturday. Okay, getting back now 347 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:22,720 to James's note. He said, "Also, the big thing I'm still hung up 348 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:26,170 on is basically the Trinity part. We have one group of 349 00:21:26,170 --> 00:21:30,190 people Jewish, worshiping God and still go that route, not 350 00:21:30,190 --> 00:21:33,430 using the New Testament, and then all the rest using the New 351 00:21:33,430 --> 00:21:36,730 Testament." Alright, so we need to stop there for a moment. Just 352 00:21:36,730 --> 00:21:40,630 to be clear. Our Jewish friends are very different in that they 353 00:21:40,630 --> 00:21:44,710 reject Jesus as the Messiah, I'm sure you know that. That's why 354 00:21:44,710 --> 00:21:48,880 they reject the New Testament. They do have much to teach us in 355 00:21:48,880 --> 00:21:52,690 terms of the Old Testament, but because they reject Jesus, we 356 00:21:52,690 --> 00:21:56,080 need to very carefully consider their thoughts even about the 357 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,620 Old Testament. As an example, one of my favorite people is 358 00:21:59,620 --> 00:22:03,310 Dennis Prager, who happens to be a Jew. I've been a fan of Dennis 359 00:22:03,310 --> 00:22:06,820 for more than 40 years. and in case you don't know, Dennis has 360 00:22:06,820 --> 00:22:10,300 a radio show he's had for decades. That's when I first 361 00:22:10,540 --> 00:22:14,380 became aware of him. I used to listen to him on KABC here in 362 00:22:14,380 --> 00:22:18,880 the Los Angeles area, back when I was on the radio at the end of 363 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:22,750 the 70s and early 80s. In addition to his radio show, he's 364 00:22:22,750 --> 00:22:27,730 written books, he has a podcast. He writes columns in syndicated 365 00:22:27,730 --> 00:22:30,820 newspapers around the country, maybe the world, I'm not sure 366 00:22:30,850 --> 00:22:35,470 how far is newspaper column is syndicated. But he's a really 367 00:22:35,470 --> 00:22:39,280 prolific guy, I love him. He's in the process right now of 368 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:42,160 writing a set of commentaries on the first five books of the 369 00:22:42,160 --> 00:22:47,200 Bible. He is a learned wise man. But when it comes to biblical 370 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:51,340 doctrine, I have heard him say many things that I as a believer 371 00:22:51,340 --> 00:22:55,270 in Christ cannot agree with. I love him. and I pray that he 372 00:22:55,270 --> 00:22:58,900 will one day come to realize that Jesus is the Messiah, that 373 00:22:58,930 --> 00:23:01,960 the Jewish people had been looking for. Okay, James 374 00:23:01,960 --> 00:23:06,670 continues, "It is said, God, Jesus in the spirit are one in 375 00:23:06,670 --> 00:23:10,390 the same, but I don't feel God and Jesus are at all the same. 376 00:23:10,840 --> 00:23:13,600 I'm speaking in the way that they communicate to people, et 377 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:16,060 cetera. I don't know if it's coming across the way I'm 378 00:23:16,060 --> 00:23:18,970 intending but hopefully you get what I'm saying." Okay, I'll 379 00:23:18,970 --> 00:23:22,750 stop there. James, if I'm understanding you correctly, I 380 00:23:22,750 --> 00:23:25,300 think that you're misunderstanding the doctrine of 381 00:23:25,300 --> 00:23:29,410 the Trinity. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, are 382 00:23:29,410 --> 00:23:33,850 not one in the same. Each person of the Trinity, the Father, the 383 00:23:33,850 --> 00:23:37,690 Son, and the Holy Spirit. Each person is distinct from the 384 00:23:37,690 --> 00:23:41,950 others with different roles and different functions, while at 385 00:23:41,950 --> 00:23:47,140 the same time being one. It is a difficult concept to fully grasp 386 00:23:47,140 --> 00:23:50,800 as a human, but I hope that helps a little. They're not the 387 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:54,430 same. They are different. They're distinct. and James, did 388 00:23:54,430 --> 00:23:57,820 you hear the essential series that we did this season? On? 389 00:23:58,210 --> 00:24:03,400 Episode s 13, e 136. I talked at some length about the Trinity. 390 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,850 I'll put a link in the show notes to that episode. and maybe 391 00:24:06,850 --> 00:24:09,940 that'll help you. Also, please feel free to email me with your 392 00:24:09,940 --> 00:24:13,630 questions even after the show's done. I'm not going anywhere. As 393 00:24:13,630 --> 00:24:16,870 far as I know. Of course, I don't know what God has planned 394 00:24:16,870 --> 00:24:20,230 for me. But I'm planning on being around for a while. And 395 00:24:20,230 --> 00:24:23,770 James closes his note with this. "Anyway, I enjoyed your show 396 00:24:23,770 --> 00:24:27,010 this year. Thanks for doing it. and thanks to no agenda for 397 00:24:27,010 --> 00:24:29,620 hitting me in the mouth when I was open to taking on this 398 00:24:29,620 --> 00:24:33,460 challenge. I see some things happening that make me more open 399 00:24:33,460 --> 00:24:36,640 to this information than I have been in the past." And he 400 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:41,350 signed, "James Garner, not the actor." Well, thank you, James. 401 00:24:41,350 --> 00:24:45,280 God bless you. You have me a little curious about your last 402 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,190 sentence, but I'm so happy that you have been part of the 403 00:24:48,190 --> 00:24:52,150 Lifespring family. Thank you. I tell you I am so grateful for 404 00:24:52,180 --> 00:24:55,360 each donation of time, talent or treasure that the Lifespring 405 00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:58,390 families contributed this year. If you've been listening but 406 00:24:58,390 --> 00:25:01,360 have not yet made a donation, now's the time there are just 407 00:25:01,360 --> 00:25:04,900 four episodes left. Whether you're new to the show or you've 408 00:25:04,900 --> 00:25:08,170 been here since the beginning. If you have received any value 409 00:25:08,170 --> 00:25:11,410 from the daily reading of God's word, I would truly appreciate 410 00:25:11,410 --> 00:25:15,610 your value for value. Thank you for the show donation. Your 411 00:25:15,610 --> 00:25:19,090 donation now will help me keep the more than 3000 episodes 412 00:25:19,090 --> 00:25:23,050 online at Lifespringmedia.com into the future so that you and 413 00:25:23,050 --> 00:25:25,720 others will be able to enjoy him. My plan is to keep the 414 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:28,900 website alive for as long as possible. But just like 415 00:25:28,900 --> 00:25:32,860 everything else in life that costs money, your donation no 416 00:25:32,860 --> 00:25:36,670 matter what the size will help me to do that. Pray about it, 417 00:25:36,790 --> 00:25:37,870 and then go here. 418 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:40,210 Jingle: Lifespringmedia.com/support 419 00:25:41,890 --> 00:25:44,290 Steve Webb: I'll thank you. Those who hear these episodes in 420 00:25:44,290 --> 00:25:47,170 the future will thank you. And I believe that God will bless you. 421 00:25:49,150 --> 00:25:52,180 I invite your comments and your questions send to Boostagram 422 00:25:52,210 --> 00:25:56,230 using a monitor podcast app from podcastapps.com are call the 423 00:25:56,230 --> 00:26:02,080 Lifespring family hotline and plus 1-951-732-8511 Or if you 424 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:04,360 have a prayer request or a praise report, go to 425 00:26:04,420 --> 00:26:08,680 prayer.lifespringmedia.com by five o'clock today and send it 426 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,980 to me so that it can be on the show tomorrow. and if you've got 427 00:26:11,980 --> 00:26:15,910 a comment or a question, go to comment dot Lifespringmedia.com 428 00:26:15,970 --> 00:26:18,490 or send an email to me at steve@lifespringmedia.com. 429 00:26:27,370 --> 00:26:30,970 There are some people that have been just completely invaluable 430 00:26:30,970 --> 00:26:35,230 to me this year. That team is Sister Denise Michael Haner 431 00:26:35,230 --> 00:26:39,160 Scott Snider, Jason Paschall and sister Brittaney. Jason Paschall 432 00:26:39,190 --> 00:26:42,460 did today's show, thanks to James Garner for helping to make 433 00:26:42,460 --> 00:26:46,300 this episode possible. Thanks for your time, beloved, shall we 434 00:26:46,300 --> 00:26:50,110 meet again tomorrow. Great. Until then, may God bless you 435 00:26:50,110 --> 00:26:52,900 richly. I'm Steve Webb. Bye. 436 00:26:56,740 --> 00:26:59,680 Announcer: The Lifespring media family of programs are made 437 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:03,430 possible by the generous support of listeners like you. Thank 438 00:27:03,430 --> 00:27:03,670 you.