Is That Your Final Answer?

Welcome & Announcements

Business Meeting (ballots postmarked by this past Friday). Early returns (most of the ballots are returned already) and all motions passed (unanimously, including the board nominations).

Welcome Jen & Matt Brandes into membership. We will do this on a more formal and personal way, when we can meet together indoors.

We are now able to meet and gather in groups of 10 or less. Please continue to maintain safe distances, wash hands regularly, and wear a mask during indoor gatherings, whenever it is possible.

We want to continue to care for one another and our community by responsible and careful to protect other folks around us.

Men’s group was able to meet. For the time being, we will continue to meet via the Drive-In Worship style. Plans are being considered how we can safely and responsibly resume our worship services indoors, as we receive guidance from the state.

I would strongly recommend listening to this past Friday’s episode of The Briefing a podcast by Al Mohler that offers a perspective on current events from a Biblical worldview. (A good part of the episode was spent discussing whether the CDC should offer guidelines to churches as they begin to reopen, following this pandemic. I believe Al Mohler does a wonderful job addressing this topic.

As Jesus said to His disciples as he was sending them out.

Matthew 10:16 ESV

16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

We need to be informed educated and involved in our village, state, country and the world.

Call to Worship-

Psalm 106:1–5 ESV

1 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise? 3 Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! 4 Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them, 5 that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.

Opening Prayer-

Remembering the Fallen, who gave their lives fighting for our freedom.

Remember the families of those who have recently lost family members. We ask that you comfort them, grant them your peace and grace to know you and that you are good, in all circumstances.

Worship in Song-

His Mercy Is More

Christ Our Hope In Life and Death

Kid’s Corner-

Puzzled? Have you had a chance to ask the Lord for wisdom, this week?

Can you see how He answered your questions for wisdom? If not, keep asking Him for wisdom and actively seek it out, in His Word!

Questions are the shovels, that help us find the hidden gems?

Get out those shovels as you read His Word. Talk about it with your parents. I happen to know that God uses the conversations that you have with your parents and grandparents, to help you grow and learn, but God also uses those conversations to help your parents and grandparents and friends and other people to grow as well.

Psalm 19:7–11 ESV

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Worship in Song-

Wonderful Merciful Savior

Sermon- Is That Your Final Answer?

The once popular TV show, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” hosted by Regis Philbin, gave contestants a chance to win a million dollars. Contestants were asked multiple choice questions, for each question they were given 4 possible answers and they also had several “life-lines available to assist them with their answers. Each time a contestant would offer an answer, Regis would ask, “Is That Your Final Answer?” before “locking in their answer”. This was to insure, they had given sufficient thought and effort in making their choice. The needed to be as confident and they could possibly be, which of the 4 possible answers was the correct one. If they got the answer correct, they moved on to the next round. If they got it wrong, the game was over.

Well, if you have your Bibles, I’d like to invite you to turn to Esther 9.

In the Book of Esther, we have seen and will continue to see, there are some serious situations, which lead to serious questions or choices, that are significant and important to the people involved. We’ve seen in the first 8 chapters, that the stakes are pretty high. Peoples lives are at stake. This is high drama stuff. Depending on how one chooses or how one answers, or who one chooses to align themselves with, it may indeed be their “final answer” or their “final decision.”

Please follow along as we continue our study today looking at the middle portion of Esther 9, beginning in verse 11.

Esther 9:11–19 ESV

11 That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king. 12 And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces! Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.” 13 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day’s edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.” 14 So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged. 15 The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder. 16 Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder. 17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness. 18 But the Jews who were in Susa gathered on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness. 19 Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as a holiday, and as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another.

In the section of Scripture, that we just read together, we see that there were some whose lives had been taken.

In the earlier chapters of Esther, Haman, one of the King’s advisors, who was arrogant, selfish and bitter, sought to eliminate all the Jewish people, living in the Persian Kingdom. But by the providence of God, Esther and Mordecai were able to proclaim a new edict, in the King’s name, stating that the Jewish people were able to defend themselves. The section of chapter 9, which we just read is smack dab in the middle of conflict taking place between the Jews and those who hated them and desired to wipe them off the face of the earth.

In the sermon last week, I pointed out, that from the context we are able to discern, that those who died were on the offense.

They hated, attacked and sought to eliminate the Jewish people, yet the reversed happened. We are not given a great deal of detail, as to exactly how these people lost their lives, but as I stated, we do know that they hated the Jews and now we observe in the passage I just read, a good number of them have died as a result of their hatred toward the people of God.

We are given some additional details, that are somewhat gruesome, and unpleasant to read, but I think they give us insight into what is really happening here, and thereby, how this information is applicable to us today.

I went into considerable length last week, discussing, the facts that we do know, so we do not get lost in the things that we cannot know or don’t need to know.

This morning, I hope to continue that process. We can ask, What are the facts? What can we discern from those facts, in light of the entire context of Scripture? How does it apply to us today.

Fact #1- People died!

Esther 9:11 ESV

11 That very day the number of those killed in Susa the citadel was reported to the king.

Esther 9:16 ESV

16 Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder.

The ESV version of the passage states that 75,000 were killed throughout the Persian Empire, in addition to the 500, who lost their lives within the city of Susa.

Some commentators suggest the number may actually be less, due to the varied uses of the Hebrew word “elef”, translated “thousands” here, in other ancient literature is used to describe a family or a clan of people. Either way, a lot of people were killed during this time.

This fact was on the forefront of my mind, as I was studying this passage and zeroing in on these particular verses. Multiple factors attributed to that. First, this is the next section of verses, which we have yet to discuss specifically. Second, I was studying this some at my daughter and son-in-law’s apartment, on Monday. Some of you may have read or heard about the two fatal accidents, that took place not more than a mile from our home in Bergen. At the very time I was studying this passage, I recieved a page on my phone, through the 911 center, for the first incident, advising me of a pedestrian that was struck by a vehicle on Townline Road, a place where I have personally walked and jogged along the shoulder of the road a number of times. A short time later, I recieved an update that the pedestrian was a young woman, who had died as a result of the accident. Later that evening, I recieved another page, informing me of yet another accident, less than a mile away from the first incident on the same road. This time a vehicle has swerved off the road, hit a utility pole, and the driver was pronounced deceased at the scene, while two passengers had been taken to the hospital. One with serious injuries, and the other with minor injuries.

Furthermore, in America, this weekend in May is a time when we remember the brave men and women who gave their lives, in service to this country. Men and women who fought for our country and our freedom and our rights.

So you can understand why my thoughts were focused on this first fact, that I’ve brought to your attention.

People Died! The circumstances of the incidents all vary significantly. Here in Esther, people were dying as a result of their choice to seek out and destroy the chosen people of God. The two vehicle accidents I spoke of took the lives of two people. One of them was innocently jogging along the road, another it is believed was driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and the men and women who died in a battle fighting for our country gave their lives to defend the freedoms we enjoy.

There are a number of quotes that speak of the certainty of two things

Death and Taxes- Ben Franklin, Daniel DeFoe, Christopher Bullock, have all made similar statements, one maybe building on the other. But they are right, are they not.

DEATH IS INEVITABLE!

There are exceptions, like Enoch, Elijah, or if the rapture happens, which is how I am hoping to go, but the reality is that most all of us, will die. Only the few will escape physical death.

Death is a reality, that has been real, since the fruit was eaten in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:17 ESV

17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

The reality of death is the result of a Just God, judging the sinfulness of man.

We aren’t sinners, because we sin. We sin, because we are sinners. It is our nature. We are sinners by nature. Which means we are rightly and justly deserving of death.

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 ESV

13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Romans 5:12 ESV

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Ephesians 2:3 ESV

3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

“by Nature children of wrath”

Genesis 3:17–19 ESV

17 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; 18 thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. 19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

Hebrews 9:27 ESV

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,

Death is a reality- Fact #1

- Back to our passage in the book of Esther

Fact #2- The Outcome of the conflict was publicized.

Fact #2- Esther made sure people knew that fact #1 was indeed a fact.

The enemies of the people of God, made their choice and paid the price and the consequences were not kept in secret.

Esther 9:13 ESV

13 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed tomorrow also to do according to this day’s edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.”

So you may ask, What is so important about vs. 13? Why are you making such a big deal about this? Shouldn’t we just skip over this verse? It’s horrible. Especially when you understand what is happening in verse 13 is happening after what is spoken of in verse 7-10,where it lists the names of Haman’s sons, who had been killed.

I believe, that this public show of the enemies’ fate, was an act of grace, kindness, warning to the rest of the kingdom, to beware of the finality of your decision to attack the people of God.

I want you to know, that this is my opinion about why Esther is requesting the use of the gallows here. You are welcome to take a closer look at this, read it over and dig into it and correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe we’ve seen godly character qualities in Esther, and I don’t believe this was some elaborate way of getting vengeance on her enemies.

I am going to assume here that she was publicizing the danger of opposing a people who are chosen by God, and have His favor.

Though it was not always the case in Scripture, that those who attack God’s people would face death; in this instance, that seems to be what is happening. And their choice, their decision, their answer to the call to take up arms against the Mordecai, Esther and the people of God was going to be “Their Final Answer”, It was their “Final Decision”. There weren’t any life lines, that they could use. They couldn’t phone a friend. They chose to attack and seek to eliminate the people of God, and they lost their lives as a result.

I further believe, that the number of lives lost may have been even greater.

There certainly would have been more lives lost, had God not intervened in bringing Esther to become the Queen and give her the opportunity to make a request to King Ahasuerus, to stop the killing of the Jews.

There quite likely would have been more lives lost, had Esther not requested the public display on the gallows.

I would suggest that we ought to make known to the people around us of the penalty for sin. We ought to warn them

To explain, in a loving gracious and caring way, that God’s Word clearly teaches us, that we are born in our sin. We are spiritually dead, and when our body passes away, we will remain in our sin, unless we have trusted in Jesus Christ as the Sacrificial Lamb, who has redeemed those who trust in him.

2 Peter 3:8–10 ESV

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Psalm 106:40–48 ESV

40 Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people, and he abhorred his heritage; 41 he gave them into the hand of the nations, so that those who hated them ruled over them. 42 Their enemies oppressed them, and they were brought into subjection under their power. 43 Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their purposes and were brought low through their iniquity. 44 Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress, when he heard their cry. 45 For their sake he remembered his covenant, and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 46 He caused them to be pitied by all those who held them captive. 47 Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. 48 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! And let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord!

We all make choices each and every day. We may not know, if the choice we make will be our final choice or not. But we need to be sure that we are prepared for that possibility.

We know that God is a patient loving, faithful judge, but He is a judge, and we may not know, when we have given our “Final Answer” on earth and will then stand before God and give an account to Him.

The only way to stand before God, free of sin, free of guilt is to stand before Him in Christ.

So Fact #1- People Die- Are you prepared to stand before the Almighty God? Are you sins forgiven, because you have confessed with your mouth, the Lord Jesus, and have believed in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead?

Fact 2- The Outcome of the Conflict Needs to Be Publicized-

2 Corinthians 2:14–17 ESV

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Will you love your neighbor, enough to tell them, the reason for the hope that lies within you? Will you lovingly graciously and yet boldly profess, that Jesus is your Lord and Savior? It’s not that difficult to do. If you are a child of God, tell other people your story!

If you are not a child of God, if you are not sure that you are one of His chosen family, if your not sure you are on the right and winning side of the conflict between Heaven and Hell, and you want to know how you can stand before God, with the winning “Final Answer”, the answer is in the Word of God.

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

If you aren’t quite ready to make that choice, or you have questions about anything, I have shared today. please come talk with me, call me, text me, email me or send up a smoke signal. I would love to show you from the Word of God how you can have 100% assurance of Eternal Life in Heaven.

Close In Prayer

Closing Song-

I Love To Tell The Story