Such A Time As This

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Wherever two or three are gathered together in My name, Jesus said, there am I in the midst of them. To those of you who love Him in truth: mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied.

This is the story of Mordecai and Esther, his uncle’s daughter, whom Mordecai raised as his own daughter, and of the people of the Jews and how God moved on their behalf when their enemies sought to destroy them. Let’s read Esther 4:14, Mordecai said to Esther, For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Today’s program is called, Such A Time As This. 

Let’s turn to Est 2:5, In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. Kish had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been captured with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. And Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. Verse 15, Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king's eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her. So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. The king loved Esther more than all the other women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so he set the royal crown upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Then the king made a great feast, the Feast of Esther, for all his officials and servants; and he proclaimed a holiday in the provinces and gave gifts according to the generosity of a king. 

Est 3:1, After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes who were with him. 

And all the king's servants who were within the king's gate bowed and paid homage to Haman, for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai would not bow or pay homage. Then the king's servants who were within the king's gate said to Mordecai, Why do you transgress the king's command? Now it happened, when they spoke to him daily and he would not listen to them, that they told it to Haman, to see whether Mordecai's words would stand; for Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew. 

When Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow or pay him homage, Haman was filled with wrath. But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him of the people of Mordecai. Instead, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus—the people of Mordecai. In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, the lot), before Haman to determine the day and the month, until it fell on the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people's, and they do not keep the king's laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain. If it pleases the king, let a decree be written that they be destroyed, and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver into the hands of those who do the work, to bring it into the king's treasuries. So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, The money and the people are given to you, to do with them as seems good to you. Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and a decree was written according to all that Haman commanded—to the king's satraps, to the governors who were over each province, to the officials of all people, to every province according to its script, and to every people in their language. In the name of King Ahasuerus it was written, and sealed with the king's signet ring. And the letters were sent by couriers into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their possessions. A copy of the document was to be issued as law in every province, being published for all people, that they should be ready for that day. The couriers went out, hastened by the king's command; and the decree was proclaimed in Shushan the citadel. So the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Shushan was perplexed. Here we see again Satan’s hatred for the Jewish people manifesting in Haman as he sought to destroy all the Jews. 

Est 4:1, When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. He cried out with a loud and bitter cry. He went as far as the front of the king's gate, for no one might enter the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. And in every province where the king's command and decree arrived, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. Mordecai explained to Esther what was going on, and then he said to her, verse 13, …Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish! So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him. Now it happened on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace, across from the king's house, while the king sat on his royal throne in the royal house, facing the entrance of the house. So it was, when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight, and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter. 

And the king said to her, What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you—up to half the kingdom! So Esther answered, If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him. Then the king said, Bring Haman quickly, that he may do as Esther has said." So the king and Haman went to the banquet that Esther had prepared. At the banquet of wine the king said to Esther, What is your petition? It shall be granted you. What is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done! Then Esther answered and said, My petition and request is this: If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, then let the king and Haman come to the banquet which I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said. So Haman went out that day joyful and with a glad heart; but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, and that he did not stand or tremble before him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai. Nevertheless Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and called for his friends and his wife Zeresh. Then Haman told them of his great riches, the multitude of his children, everything in which the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and servants of the king. Moreover Haman said, Besides, Queen Esther invited no one but me to come in with the king to the banquet that she prepared; and tomorrow I am again invited by her, along with the king. Yet all this avails me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. Then his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, Let a gallows be made, fifty cubits high, and in the morning suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on it; then go merrily with the king to the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; so he had the gallows made. Here we see that God is beginning to move against Haman in response to the cries of His people.

Est 6:1  That night the king could not sleep. So one was commanded to bring the book of the records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king. And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the doorkeepers who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. Then the king said, What honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this? And the king's servants who attended him said, Nothing has been done for him. So the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king's palace to suggest that the king hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. The king's servants said to him, Haman is there, standing in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. So Haman came in, and the king asked him, What shall be done for the man whom the king delights to honor? Now Haman thought in his heart, Whom would the king delight to honor more than me? And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delights to honor, let a royal robe be brought which the king has worn, and a horse on which the king has ridden, which has a royal crest placed on its head. Then let this robe and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that he may array the man whom the king delights to honor. Then parade him on horseback through the city square, and proclaim before him: Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor! Then the king said to Haman, Hurry, take the robe and the horse, as you have suggested, and do so for Mordecai the Jew who sits within the king's gate! Leave nothing undone of all that you have spoken. So Haman took the robe and the horse, arrayed Mordecai and led him on horseback through the city square, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor! Afterward Mordecai went back to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. When Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him, his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish descent, you will not prevail against him but will surely fall before him. Remember, this was God responding to the fasting and prayers and humbling of themselves of His people, and He was beginning to deliver them from their enemy Haman and all his plan to destroy them, and to turn it on Haman’s head. 

Verse 14, While they were still talking with him, the king's eunuchs came, and hastened to bring Haman to the banquet which Esther had prepared. Est 7:1, So the king and Haman went to dine with Queen Esther. And on the second day, at the banquet of wine, the king again said to Esther, What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done! Then Queen Esther answered and said, If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request. For we have been sold, my people and I, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. Had we been sold as male and female slaves, I would have held my tongue, although the enemy could never compensate for the king's loss. So King Ahasuerus answered and said to Queen Esther, Who is he, and where is he, who would dare presume in his heart to do such a thing? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman! So Haman was terrified before the king and queen. Then the king arose in his wrath from the banquet of wine and went into the palace garden; but Haman stood before Queen Esther, pleading for his life, for he saw that evil was determined against him by the king. 

When the king returned from the palace garden to the place of the banquet of wine, Haman had fallen across the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, Will he also force the queen while I am in the house? As the word left the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. Now Harbonah, one of the eunuchs, said to the king, Look! The gallows, fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai, who spoke good on the king's behalf, is standing at the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him on it! 

So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath subsided. 

We see in Chapter eight how God continued to give Mordecai and Esther favor with the king Ahasuerus and they were able to reverse the destruction which Haman had ordered against the Jews to destroy them in every province and turn it upon all those who hated them and sought their destruction. Est 8:7, Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he laid his hand upon the Jews.  It cannot be overstressed how Mordecai and Esther and all the Jews humbled themselves before their God with fasting in sack cloth and ashes, seeking His help against the destruction being worked against them. They all , with one heart, cried out to their God and He was entreated of them and He moved in a marvelous way to turn the destruction upon it’s perpetrators, namely Haman, the Jews’ enemy, and all his house, and all those throughout the kingdom that sought to destroy the Jews. Est 8:17, And in every province and city, wherever the king's command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land became Jews, because fear of the Jews fell upon them.  

Consider what happened to Haman, the Jews’ enemy, who sought to destroy them. God told Abraham that He would bless those who bless him, and He would curse those who curse him. As Haman’s wife and counselors told him, If Mordecai is of the seed of the Jews, before whom you have begun to fall, you shall not prevail against him, but you shall surely fall before him.

Thank you for reading this message from 15 Minutes With Jesus at roberthaymes.com . May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you who love Him in truth, Amen.

  ישראל, בטח בה'

שלום בשמו של ישוע! זה רוב היימס. זה 15 דקות עם ישו. בכל מקום שבו שניים או שלושה מתאספים יחד בשמי, אמר ישוע, הנה אני בתוכם. לאלו מכם שאוהבים אותו באמת: רחמים עליכם ורבו שלום ואהבה. 

תודה לך אלוהים. תודה לך אלוהים. אנו מודים לך אבי. אנו מודים לך אלוהים. תודה לך אלוהים על כוחך הגדול והאדיר. גָּדוֹל יְהוָה וְהִתְהַלֵּל מְאֹד, בְּעִיר אֱלֹהֵינוּ; בהר קדושתו. יפה למצב, שמחת כל הארץ, הוא הר ציון, בצידי הצפון, עירו של המלך הגדול. התוכנית של היום נקראת, ישראל, בטח בה'. תהילים 115:9-11, ישראל, בטח בה'; הוא העזר שלהם והמגן שלהם. בית אהרן, בטח בה'; הוא העזר שלהם והמגן שלהם. יראי ה', בטח בה'; הוא העזר שלהם והמגן שלהם. אף אחד לא יכול לעצור את ידו או לומר לו, מה אתה עושה?

הבה נפנה לסם א' יב:6-25, אז פנה שמואל לעם ישראל בסוף שירותו, אז אמר שמואל לעם, ה' הוא שהקים את משה ואהרן והביא את אבותיכם. למעלה מארץ מצרים. וְעַתָּה עַתָּה עָמְדוּ לִדְבֹּק אֶתְכֶם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה עַל כָּל צַדִּיקֵי יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֶתְכֶם וְאֶת אֲבֹתֵיכֶם: בְּלֹא יַעֲקֹב אֶל מִצְרַיִם וַיִּצְעֲקוּ אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם אֶל ה'. שלח ה' את משה ואת אהרן אשר הוציאו את אבותיכם ממצרים וישבו במקום הזה. וַיִּשְׁכַּח אֶת יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם, וַיִּמְכָר אֹתָם בְּיַד סיסרא, מפקד צבא חצור, ביד פלשתים, וביד מלך מואב; והם נלחמו בהם. וַיִּזְעוּ אֶל ה' וַיֹּאמְרוּ חָטָאנוּ כִּי עָזַבְנוּ אֶת ה' וְעָבַדְנוּ אֶת הַבַּעַל וְאֶת הַעִשְׁתּוֹר. אֲבָל עַתָּה הוֹצִילֵנוּ מִיד אויבינו, ונעבדך. וַיִּשְׁלַח יְהוָה אֶת-יְרוּבַעַל, בְּדָן, אֶת-יֶפֶת, וְאֶת-שְׁמוּאֵל, וַיַּצִּיצֵם מִיד אֹיְבֵיכֶם, מִכָּל-פְּנֵי; ושכנת בבטחה. וכאשר ראית כי בא נחש מלך בני עמון עליך, אמרת לי לא כי מלך עלינו ימלך, כאשר ה' אלוהיך היה מלךך. ועתה, הנה המלך אשר בחרת ובו חפצת. ושימו לב, ה' העמיד עליכם מלך. אם תירא את ה' ועבדת אותו ותשמע בקולו, ולא תמרד במצוות ה', אז אתה וגם המלך המלך עליך תמשיך ללכת בעקבות ה' אלוקיך. אולם אם לא תשמע בקול ה', אלא תמרד במצוות ה', אז תהיה יד ה' עליך, כמו נגד אבותיך. וְעַתָּה עָמְדוּ וְרָאוּ אֶת הַדָּבָר הַגָּדוֹל הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר יַעֲשֶׂה יְהוָה לִפְנֵיכֶם: הֲלֹא הַיּוֹם קְצִיר הַחִטָּה? אקרא לה', והוא ישלח רעם ומטר, למען תבינו ותראו כי גדולה רשעותכם אשר עשיתם בעיני ה' בשאלת מלך לעצמכם. וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל יְהוָה וַיִּשְׁלַח ה' בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא רֹעֶם וְגֶשֶׁם; וירא כל העם מאד את ה' ואת שמואל. וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָּל-הָעָם, אֶל-שְׁמוּאֵל, הִתְפַּלֵּל עַל-עֲבָדֶיךָ, אֶל-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, וְלֹא נִמָּת; כי הוספנו על כל חטאינו את הרע של בקשת מלך לעצמנו. וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל אֶל הָעָם, אַל תִּירָאוּ. עשית את כל הרשע הזה; ובכל זאת אל תסתרו מהלך אחרי ה', אלא עבדו את ה' בכל לבבכם. ואל תפנה; כי אז היית הולך אחרי דברים ריקים שאינם יכולים להועיל או להושיע, כי הם כלום. כי לא יעזוב ה' את עמו, למען שמו הגדול, כי מצא חן בעיני ה' לעשות אותך לעמו. ועוד, אשר לי, רחוק ממני שאחטא לה' בהפסקת התפילה עבורך; אבל אני אלמד אותך את הדרך הטובה והנכונה. רק יראו את ה' ועבדו אותו באמת בכל לבבכם; כי תחשוב אילו דברים גדולים הוא עשה עבורך. אבל אם בכל זאת תעשה רשע, תיסחף, גם אתה וגם מלכך. 

כעת נעבור ל-ב' 17. יהושפט היה בנו של המלך אסא. פסוקים א-יב, אז מלך יהושפט בנו במקומו, והתחזק על ישראל. וַיִּתְנַחֵל גָּדוֹל בְּכָל עָרֵי יְהוּדָה הַבְּצָרוֹת, וַיָּשֶׂם מִצְבָּרִים בְּאֶרֶץ יְהוּדָה וּבְעָרֵי אֶפְרַיִם אֲשֶׁר לָכַח אסא אביו. וְהָיָה יְהוָה עִם יְהוֹשָׁפָט, כִּי הָלַךְ בְּדרכיו הקודמים של דוד אביו; לא חיפש את הבעלים אלא ביקש את אלוהי אביו והלך במצוותיו ולא לפי מעשי ישראל. עַל כֵּן יָסִיד יְהוָה אֶת הַמִּלְכוּת בְּיָדוֹ; וְכָל יְהוּדָה נָתַן מִתָּנוֹת לְיְהוֹשָׁפָט, וְהָיָה לוֹ עוֹשֵׁר וְכָבוֹד רַב. 

וַיַּעַן לִבּוֹ בְּדַרְכֵי יְהוָה; ועוד הסיר את הבמות ואת פסלי העץ מיהודה. וכן, בשנה השלישית למלכותו, שלח את מנהיגיו, בן-חיל, עובדיה, זכריה, נתנאל ומיכיה, ללמד בערי יהודה. ועמם שלח לוויים: שמעיה, נתניה, זבדיה, עשהאל, שמירות, יהונתן, אדוניה, טוביה, וטובדוניה, הלויים; ועמם אלישע ויהורם הכהנים. וַיִּלמדו ביהודה, וספר תורת ה' היה עמם; הלכו בכל ערי יהודה ולמדו את העם. ויראת ה' נפלה על כל ממלכות הארצות אשר סביב יהודה, למען לא עשו מלחמה על יהושפט. וכן חלק מהפלשתים הביאו ליהושפט מתנות וכסף כמס; והערבים הביאו לו צאן, שבעת אלפים ושבע מאות איילים, ושבעת אלפים ושבע מאות עזים. אז יהושפט התחזק יותר ויותר, והוא בנה מבצרים וערי אחסון ביהודה. דברי הימים ב 20:1-30, אחרי זה קרה שאנשי מואב עם בני עמון ואחרים אתם חוץ מהעמונים באו לקרב על יהושפט. וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶת-יְהוֹשָׂפָת, לֵאמֹר: רַב גָּדוֹל בָּא עָלֶיךָ מֵעֵבֶר הַיָּם, מִמּוֹרֶם; והם בחזון תמר (שהוא עין גדי). וירא יהושפט, ויעמד לבקש את ה', ויקרא צום בכל יהודה. וַיִּקָּסֶף יְהוּדָה לִבְקַשׁ אֶת יְהוָה אֶת-עזרה; ומכל ערי יהודה באו לבקש את ה'. ויעמוד יהושפט בקהילת יהודה וירושלים, בבית ה', לפני החצר החדשה, ואמר: ה' אלוקי אבותינו, אינך אלהים בשמים, ואתה אינך מושל בכל ממלכות אבותינו. הגויים, ובידך אין כח וגבורה, כדי שאיש לא יוכל לעמוד בפניך? הֲלֹא אַתָּה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, אֲשֶׁר הוֹרִישׁ אֶת יוֹשְׁבֵי הָאָרֶץ הַזֹּאת, לִפְנֵי עַמֶּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְנָתַתָּהּ לְזַרְעֵי אַבְרָהָם חֲבֵרֶךָ לְעוֹלָם? וישבו בה, ובנו לך בה מקדש לשמך לאמר, אם תבוא עלינו אסון חרב, משפט, מגיפה או רעב, נעמוד לפני המקדש הזה ולפניך (כי שמך הוא). במקדש הזה), ותצעק אליך בצרתנו, ותשמע ותושיע. ועתה, הנה אנשי עמון, מואב והר שעיר - אשר לא תיתן להם לפלוש לישראל בצאתם מארץ מצרים, אבל הם פנו מהם ולא השמידו אותם - הנה הם גומלים לנו. בבואנו לזרוק אותנו מנחלתך אשר נתת לנו לרשת. ה' אלוהינו, לא תשפוט אותם? כי אין לנו כוח נגד ההמון הגדול הזה הבא עלינו; אנחנו גם לא יודעים מה לעשות, אבל עינינו נשואות אליך. וְעַתָּה כָּל יְהוּדָה וּבְנֵיהֶם קַטְנֵיהֶם וּנְשֵׁיהֶם וּבְנֵיהֶם עָמְדוּ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה. אז באה רוח ה' על יחזיאל בן זכריה בן בניהו בן יעיאל בן מתניה לוי מבני אסף בתוך הקהל. וַיֹּאמֶר הִשְׁמְעוּ כָּל אֶת-יְהוּדָה וְאֶת-יוֹשְׁבֵי יְרוּשָׁלִָם וְאַתָּה, הַמֶּלֶךְ יְהוֹשָׁפָט. כֹּה אָמַר ה' אליך: אל תירא ואל תירא מפני ההמון הגדול הזה, כי המלחמה אינה שלך, אלא של אלוהים. מחר תרד נגדם. הם ודאי יעלו במעלה זיז, ותמצא אותם בקצה הנחל לפני מדבר יראל. לא תצטרך להילחם בקרב הזה. תמקמו את עצמכם, עמד וראה את ישועת ה' אשר עמך יהודה וירושלים! אל תפחד ואל תתייאש; מחר צאו נגדם, כי ה' עמכם. וירכין יהושפט את ראשו עם פניו ארצה, וישתחוו כל יהודה ויושבי ירושלים לפני ה', משתחוים לה'. אז קמו הלויים מבני קהת ומבני קורא להלל את ה' אלוקי ישראל בקולות רם וגבוהים. אז קמו השכם בבוקר ויצאו למדבר תקוע; וביצאו, עמד יהושפט ואמר, שמע אותי, יהודה ויושבי ירושלים, האמינו בה' אלוקיכם, ותתבססו; האמן לנביאיו, ותצליח. וכאשר התייעץ עם העם, מינה את אלו שישמרו לה', ואשר ישבחו את יפי הקדושה, בצאתם לפני הצבא ואמרו: הלל את ה' כי לעולם חסדו. ועתה כאשר התחילו לשיר ולהלל, ה' מארבים לאנשי עמון, מואב והר שעיר, אשר באו על יהודה; והם הובסו. כי עמדו בני עמון ומואב על יושבי הר שעיר להרוג ולהשמידם. וכאשר גמרו את יושבי שעיר, עזרו להרוס זה את זה. וַיָּבֹא יְהוּדָה אֶל-מָקוֹם הַמִּשְׁפָּח אֶת-הַמִּדְבָּר, וַיִּסְפוּ אֶל-הַהֹּפֶל; והיו גופותיהם, נפלו על הארץ. איש לא נמלט. הם הביטו אל ההמון; והיו גופותיהם, נפלו על הארץ. איש לא נמלט. הם הביטו אל ההמון; והיו גופותיהם, נפלו על הארץ. איש לא נמלט. 

כשבאו יהושפט ואנשיו לקחת שלל, מצאו בקרבם שפע של חפצי ערך על גופות המתים, ותכשיטים יקרים, שהפשיטו לעצמם, יותר ממה שיכלו לשאת; והם היו שלושה ימים אוספים את השלל כי היה כל כך הרבה. וביום הרביעי נאספו בעמק ברחה, כי שם ברכו את ה'; לפיכך נקרא שם המקום ההוא עמק ברחה עד היום הזה. ואז חזרו, כל איש יהודה וירושלים, ויהושפט לפניהם, לשוב לירושלים בשמחה, כי ה' שימח אותם על אויביהם. וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל-יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, בְּכָל-מִתָּר, בְּנִבְלִים וּבְחוֹפָרוֹת, אֶל-בֵּית יְהוָה. ויראת אלהים הייתה על כל ממלכות הארצות ההן בשמעו כי נלחם ה' באויבי ישראל. אז שקטה ממלכת יהושפט, כי אלוהיו נתן לו מנוחה מסביב. פסוק ג, וירא יהושפט, ויעמד לבקש את ה', ויקרא צום בכל יהודה. אז התכנס יהודה לבקש עזרה מה'...

כוחם של ישראל הוא בה' אלוהיהם, לא באמריקה ולא בשום זרוע אחרת של אדם.

דברי הימים ב ז, 14, אם עמי הנקרא בשמי ישפילו ויתפללו ויבקשו את פני וישובו מדרכיהם הרעות, אז אשמע מהשמים, וסלח על חטאתם וארפא את ארצם. על ישראל לפנות אל ה' אלוהיהם ולהשפיל את עצמם לפניו, להתוודות על חטאיהם, ולפנות אליו בכל לבבם בשעה זו, אם יהיה להם ניצחון כלשהו על אויביהם. כשהיה המלך יהושפט וכל בני יהודה במצוקה גדולה, כשבני עמון, מואב והר שעיר באים עליהם למלחמה, המון גדול מאוד, התאספו בירושלים לבקש עזרת ה' החוצה. מכל ערי יהודה. הם באו לחפש את ה', בצום ובתפילה, אל בית ה'. כל יהודה עמדה לפני ה' עם קטניהם, נשותיהם ובניהם, ויזעקו אל ה' ואמרו אלוהינו! לא תשפוט אותם? הנה איך גומלים לנו: לבוא לגרשנו מנחלתך אשר נתת לנו לרשת. אין לנו כוח נגד החברה הגדולה הזו שבאה עלינו, גם אנחנו לא יודעים מה לעשות, אבל עינינו נשואות אליכם. ישראל, פנה עתה אל ה' אלוקיך, בכל לבבך, והוא יעזור לך. תן עיניך אליו!, לא על אמריקה; לא על שום זרוע בשר, או על כוח האדם! ב-2 כז 32:7&8, כאשר בא סנחריב מלך אשור על ירושלים, אמר המלך חזקיהו לעמו, חזק ואמץ; אל תירא ואל תירא לפני מלך אשור ולפני כל ההמון אשר עמו; כי יש אתנו יותר מאשר אתו. עמו זרוע בשר; אֲבָל עִמָּנוּ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ, לַעֲזֹרֵנוּ וּלְהִלָּחֵם אֶת-מִלְחָמָה. ויתחזקו העם בדברי חזקיהו מלך יהודה. 

תהילים 124:8, עזרתנו בשם ה' אשר ברא שמים וארץ. 

תהילים 125, הבוטחים בה' הם כמו הר ציון, שאינו יכול להזיז, אבל נשאר לנצח. כשם שההרים מקיפים את ירושלים, כך מקיף ה' את עמו מעתה ועד עולם. כי שרביט הרשע לא ינוח על הארץ המוקצה לצדיקים, פן ישאו צדיקים ידיהם לעוונות. עשה טוב ה' לטובים ולישרים בלבם. 

אֲשֶׁר יֵשׁוּבִים לְדַרְכֵיהֶם הָעֲקוּלִים, יְהוָה יְהוָה, עִם עֲבָלֵי הָעוֹן. שלום על ישראל! 

תהילים 115:9-11, ישראל, בטח בה'; הוא העזר שלהם והמגן שלהם. בית אהרן, בטח בה'; הוא העזר שלהם והמגן שלהם. יראי ה', בטח בה'; הוא העזר שלהם והמגן שלהם. 

תודה שקראת את ההודעה הזו מ-15 דקות עם ישו באתר roberthaymes.com. יהי רצון שחסדו של אדוננו ישוע המשיח ואהבת אלוהים וחבורת רוח הקודש תהיה עם כולכם האוהבים אותו באמת, אמן.

 O Israel, Trust In The Lord

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Wherever two or three are gathered together in My name, Jesus said, there am I in the midst of them. To those of you who love Him in truth: mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied. 

Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. We thank you Father. We thank you Lord. Thank you Lord for your great and mighty power. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our God; in the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole Earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the Great King. Today’s program is called, O Israel, Trust In The Lord. Psalm 115:9-11, O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. No one can stay His hand or say to Him, What are you doing?

Let’s turn to 1 Sam 12:6-25, This is when Samuel addressed the people of Israel at the end of his ministry, Then Samuel said to the people, It is the Lord who raised up Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt. Now therefore, stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord concerning all the righteous acts of the Lord which He did to you and your fathers: When Jacob had gone into Egypt, and your fathers cried out to the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron, who brought your fathers out of Egypt and made them dwell in this place. And when they forgot the Lord their God, He sold them into the hand of Sisera, commander of the army of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; and they fought against them. Then they cried out to the Lord, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord and served the Baals and Ashtoreths; but now deliver us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve You. And the Lord sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety. And when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, No, but a king shall reign over us, when the Lord your God was your King. Now therefore, here is the king whom you have chosen and whom you have desired. And take note, the Lord has set a king over you. If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God. However, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then the hand of the Lord will be against you, as it was against your fathers. Now therefore, stand and see this great thing which the Lord will do before your eyes: Is today not the wheat harvest? I will call to the Lord, and He will send thunder and rain, that you may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking a king for yourselves. So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel. And all the people said to Samuel, Pray for your servants to the Lord your God, that we may not die; for we have added to all our sins the evil of asking a king for ourselves. Then Samuel said to the people, Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing. For the Lord will not forsake His people, for His great name's sake, because it has pleased the Lord to make you His people. Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you. But if you still do wickedly, you shall be swept away, both you and your king. 

Now let’s turn to 2 Chron 17. Jehoshaphat was King Asa’s son. Verses 1-12, Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel. And he placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken. Now the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel. Therefore the Lord established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. 

And his heart took delight in the ways of the Lord; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah. Also in the third year of his reign he sent his leaders, Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tobadonijah—the Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, the priests. So they taught in Judah, and had the Book of the Law of the Lord with them; they went throughout all the cities of Judah and taught the people. And the fear of the Lord fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they did not make war against Jehoshaphat. Also some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents and silver as tribute; and the Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand seven hundred rams and seven thousand seven hundred male goats. So Jehoshaphat became increasingly powerful, and he built fortresses and storage cities in Judah.  2 Chron 20:1-30, It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, and said: O Lord God of our fathers, are You not God in Heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save. And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them—here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You. Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the Lord. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem! Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high. So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the Lord your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper. And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever. Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped. 

When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the Lord; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around. Verse 3, And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord…

Israel’s strength is in the Lord their God, not in America, or any other arm of man.

2 Chron 7:14, If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Israel must turn to the Lord their God and humble themselves before Him, confessing their sins, and turn to Him with all their heart in this hour, if they are going to have any victory over their enemies. When King Jehoshaphat and all the Children of Judah were in a great strait, with the Children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir coming against them to battle, a very great multitude, they gathered together in Jerusalem to ask help of the Lord, out of all the cities of Judah. They came to seek the Lord, with fasting and prayer, to the House of the Lord. All Judah stood before the Lord with their little ones, their wives, and their children, and they cried unto the Lord and said, O our God! Will you not judge them? Behold how they reward us: to come to cast us out of your possession which you have given us to inherit. We have no might against this great company that is coming against us, neither know we what to do, but our eyes are upon you.  O Israel, turn to the Lord your God now, with all your heart, and He will help you. Let your eyes be upon Him!, not on America; not on any arm of the flesh, or the strength of man! In 2 Chron 32:7&8, when Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came against Jerusalem, King Hezekiah said to his people, Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles. And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 

Psalm 124:8, Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth. 

Psalm 125, Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people from this time forth and forever. For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity. Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts. 

As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, the Lord shall lead them away with the workers of iniquity. Peace be upon Israel! 

Psalm 115:9-11, O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. 

Thank you for reading this message from 15 Minutes With Jesus at roberthaymes.com . May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you who love Him in truth, Amen.

 Abraham’s Seed 

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Wherever two or three are gathered together in My name, Jesus said, there am I in the midst of them. To those of you who love Him in truth: mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied. 

Praise God! Thank you Father, praise God, Amen. 

Interpretation of a message in tongues:

I am God Almighty. My people, I want you to listen this day to My servant Rob. Listen carefully to the words that I have given him. He did not speak these words on his own accord. I have given him these words. Therefore, hearken diligently to what I am saying to you by My Spirit through My servant Rob this day. 

Father, I thank you. Of a truth, this is your program, Father. You gave it to me; I am your servant, and as you said, Jesus, without you we can do nothing. I do not have anything that I have not received from you. Amen. So Lord, we thank you for this program; I pray, bless every person listening; grant us all grace to hear what you are saying by your Spirit; to understand; give us understanding, and minister to every heart, I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Today we’re going to speak about Abraham’s Seed. First let’s look at the promise that God made to Abraham in Gen 17:1-8, When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly. Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your seed after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your seed after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.

Ok, let’s turn to Gen 22:15-18, And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, says the Lord, for because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son: that in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because you have obeyed my voice. All the nations of the Earth are blessed in Abraham’s seed. 

Gal 3:6-14,  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In you shall all nations be blessed. So then they who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Gal 3:16-29, Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, “And to your seed”, who is Christ. And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Gal 3:9, So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Gal 4:4-7, But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 

Now they are not all children of Abraham that are of Abraham: Rom 9:1-9, the Apostle Paul writes, I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever, Amen. But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, do you see that?, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.” That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son." 

God brought forth His Son, born of a woman, born a Jew- the seed of Abraham, through whom He blessed all the nations of the world by the sacrifice of Himself upon the Cross of Calvary for all our sins, declared to be the Son of God, with power, by His resurrection from the dead. God sent His beloved Son into the world to bless all of us by turning us from our iniquities. Jesus was made a curse for us upon the tree, that we might be blessed in Him. God promised He would make Abraham a father of many nations: it was through his seed, the Son of David, the Son of God, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Hallelujah! God separated the Children of Abraham unto Himself to be His people through the covenant He made with Abraham, and with his seed.  It was by promise. 

When the fulness of time was come, God sent forth His Son, the Seed of Abraham, by whom He blessed all the nations of the world, and all those who are of faith, who believe in Him: the children of the promise, are blessed with faithful Abraham. If you be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Rom 11, Has God cast away His people? God forbid.  God has not cast away His people which He foreknew. Vs 5, Even so, then at this present time, also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. Vs 25, …blindness in part is happened unto Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. Vs 26, And so all Israel shall be saved… Vs 28, …but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes. Vs 29, For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 

I want to speak now about Satan’s hatred for Israel: Let’s go to Rev 12:1-5, Now a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a garland of twelve stars. Then being with child, she cried out in labor and in pain to give birth. And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. vs 4, …And the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. Vs 13, And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the Earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. Vs 17, And the dragon was angry with the woman and went to make war with the remnant of her seed (the seed of Abraham), which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Without question, the dragon is Satan, and the woman is Israel. The man child is Jesus, who is going to rule the nations with a rod of iron. Without question, as you can see in these scriptures, Satan hates the woman because of her child Jesus. Satan sought to destroy Jesus when He came the first time, but Jesus triumphed over him through the Cross. Hallelujah! He seeks to destroy Israel as well, but he cannot, for they are God’s chosen people. Jesus brought victory over Satan and immortality, eternal life to us through the Gospel. And we overcome Satan by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony: what Jesus has done for us through the Cross. Satan hates all of us who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. God has not cast away His people whom He foreknew. He has a remnant in Israel that He is bringing through the fire, and they are His people, and they will some day be united with their King, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the King of Israel, and they will see His face, and they will serve Him forever in His Kingdom. Those that be of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Thank you for reading this message from 15 Minutes With Jesus at roberthaymes.com . May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you who love Him in truth, Amen. 

 The Circumcision

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Wherever two or three are gathered together in My name, Jesus said, there am I in the midst of them. To those of you who love Him in truth: mercy unto you and peace and love be multiplied.

Thank you Father for this program! Thank you Lord. Praise God. We thank you Lord. Today we are going to talk about The Circumcision. Ok, let’s turn to Gen 17:1-14, When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly. Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying: As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you. Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said to Abraham: As for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised; and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you. He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from any foreigner who is not your descendant. He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. Verse 24, Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. 

Ok, let’s turn to Rom 4:1-25, What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:   Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. By the way, I recommend reading the rest of Psalm 32: David also said, in verse 5, I acknowledged my sin unto you, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord, and you forgave the iniquity of my sin.  Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression. Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, I have made you a father of many nations, in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, so shall your descendants be. And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead, since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us to whom it shall be imputed who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up for our offenses, and was raised for our justification. Gal 3:6-14,  just as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, In you all the nations shall be blessed. So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, Cursed is every one who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident: For the just shall live by faith. Yet the law is not of faith, but:  The man who does them shall live in them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree, that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 

Gal 5:1-6, Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. Verses 16-25, I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

Gal 6:14-16, But God forbid that I should boast except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. 

Php 3:1-11, Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so:  circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Praise God, hallelujah! Rom 2:28&29,  For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. 

Abraham had a heart after God. He loved God, and everywhere he went he built altars and worshiped Him. He obeyed Him, even unto offering his only son Isaac. Therefore God made a covenant with him, and with Isaac his son, to be a God unto them, and to their seed after them, and He promised him that in his seed all the nations of the world would be blessed. Abraham believed God; he believed His promise, and he was fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able also to perform, and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. And he kept His covenant: the covenant of circumcision.  Do you love God like Abraham did? Do you believe the love that God has for you?: that He gave His beloved Son Jesus to die for your sins upon the Cross, to deliver you from the power of sin and of the devil; to deliver you from this present evil world, and to make you one of His people, His own special people, justified by faith in His sacrifice for you; cleansed by His precious Blood, to walk in obedience to His Holy Spirit, serving Jesus every day as He leads you to do the will of His Father? Only those who do the will of His Father are going into the Kingdom of Heaven. Or are you stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ear, always resisting the Holy Spirit? You won’t yield to Him; you won’t listen to Him; your heart is hard, and you want to do your own will; your own pleasure. You trust in strong men that walk in the flesh; that don’t follow the Holy Spirit. They promise you liberty, but they themselves are the servants of corruption. So your confidence is in the flesh, and you walk in the flesh, and if you will not repent and turn back to God, you will perish. For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Thank you for reading this message from 15 Minutes with Jesus at roberthaymes.com . May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you who love Him in truth, Amen.