1. “The Significance Of Obedience” Psalm 78:5-7 Book of Esther 1 Samuel 15:1-11

2. Today’s Message Will Connect Three “Dots” Dot # 1 – Faithfully handling God’s Word to our next generations (obedience) Dot #2 – the crisis Esther faced in Haman (potential to destroy Jews / Messiah) Dot #3 (roll back generations from Esther to times of King Saul – 600 years prior) 1050 B.C. to 478 B.C.

3. Dot #1 - Psalm 78:5-7 “He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our ancestors to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.”

4. Jewish Festival of Purim Celebration of God’s intervention / salvation of His people in Persia Queen Esther, 480’s BC in Persia (Iran) under King Xerxes (Ahasueras) Esther replaces Queen Vashti just in time (4:14) Haman, the king’s most trusted advisor loathes the entire Jewish people (Esther 3:10, 8:1, 9:10 and 24)

5. A Closer Look at Haman in The Book of Esther Foreshadows the “man of sin” Antichrist in your New Testament (2 Thess. 2:3, 8) Esther 7:6 – “Haman the wicked” numerical value of Hebrew letters in that phrase add up to …. 666 – (Revelation 13:16) Haman’s power - authority over all princes; all people required to bow to him - Esther 3:2 Haman’s pride – Esther 5:11

6. A Case Study on Importance of Complete Obedience What God Said to Saul in 1 Samuel 15 Vss. 1 – 3 * punish Amalek * destroy all he has * do not spare him * “blot out memory of Amalek; do not forget” Deut. 25:19 What Saul Did + the Consequences Vss. 7 – 9 *Saul defeats Amalek *Captures King Agag *Spares Agag + “all that was good” Consequences Vss. 10-11 – it cost Saul his leadership

7. Most Important: Haman’s Hatred Of the Jews Esther 3:2 – ALL required to bow to Haman; Mordecai would NOT Esther 3:5 – Haman enraged at Mordecai Esther 3:6 – Haman plots to kill ALL Jews HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE: If all Jews were killed, the Messianic line would no longer exist! (see Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7)

8. WHO IS THIS HAMAN???? Esther 3:1 – study Haman’s ancestry “son of Hammedatha the Agagite…” Remember Agag? (1 Samuel 15:9) “But Saul and the people spared Agag…” Nearly 6 centuries later, King Saul’s disobedience – or lack of 100% complete obedience – threatens the appearance of the Messiah!

9. God’s Call to Complete Obedience, Not Partial Effort The call to give your life to Jesus The call to repent from sin – ALL sin (Luke 13:3) The call to follow Him in baptism (Acts 2:38) The call to serve Him in all things (Col. 3:17) The call to be His witnesses – Matthew 28 The call to financial obedience – Proverbs 3:9-10; Malachi 3:10 The call to passion for the lost – Luke 19:10

10. God Will Either Work Through Us or Around Us Mordecai to Esther: “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14) Q: have you settled for partial obedience to the Lord in ANY area? What might be consequences?