Calvary Chapel Sydney

In the book of Esther, we see the faithfulness of God behind the scenes. It's been 65 years since the Babylonian captivity had ended. Most Israelites had not returned to Jerusalem but they were living elsewhere in the Persian Empire. One remarkable woman took a stop of faith and impacted the lives of many. That could be you today. Scriptures in order of appearance Start Esther Chapter 1 Chapter 1:3 Chapter 1:11-12 Chapter 1:19 Move to Esther Chapter 2 Chapter 2:5-7 Chapter 2:10 Matthew 10:30-32 Move to Esther Chapter 3 Chapter 3:8-9 Move to Esther Chapter 4 Chapter 4:1-3 Chapter 4:4-6 Chapter 4:7-8 Chapter 4:9-11 Chapter 4:12-14 Chapter 4:15-17 Chapter 5:1-8

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and saw it was good. He also created man from the dust of the ground and saw it was not good for man to be alone. So God created woman from man and joined them together in marriage as one flesh, a foreshadowing of His intention to join the church with Himself in one Body. Verses in order of appearance: Genesis 2:7 Genesis 2:18 Genesis 32:24 Deuteronomy 32:29 John 14:25-26 Genesis 2:19-20 Romans 8:26-27 Genesis 2:21-23 Proverbs 30:18-19 Genesis 2:24-25 Hebrews 13:4 Matthew 19:3-6 Proverbs 18:22 Ephesians 5:20-21 Ephesians 5:22-33 Ephesians 5:30-32 1 Peter 1:20-21

After God created the heavens, earth, seas, plants and animals, He created man in His own image and breathed into Adam a living soul. God blessed the Sabbath day because He accomplished all He purposed to do, and this 7th day foreshadowed the Saviour Jesus He would send. Through faith in Christ believers are His workmanship, lives marked by obedience to labour to do His will. Verses in order of appearance: Genesis 1:27-28 Genesis 1:29-31 Genesis 2:1-3 John 9:1-5 John 6:29 Colossians 2:16-17 Matthew 11:28-29 Hebrews 4:9-11 Genesis 2:4-7 Genesis 2:8-14 Genesis 2:15-17 Titus 3:1-2 Hebrews 13:20-21

Genesis is the first book of the Bible and reveals God to be the glorious Creator of all there is. Penned by Moses, this book lays the foundation for the 65 following books that comprise the holy scriptures. Through God's word we discover our purpose for existence: to know and glorify God as new creations by faith in Jesus Christ. Verses in order of appearance: Psalm 19:1-3 Luke 24:27 Genesis 1:1 Revelation 4:11 Isaiah 43:7 Genesis 1:2-5 Psalm 33:6 John 1:1-3 Exodus 20:11 Genesis 1:6-8 Deuteronomy 29:29 Genesis 1:9-13 Genesis 1:14-19 Genesis 1:20-23 Genesis 1:24-25 Genesis 1:26-27 Colossians 1:16-17 2 Corinthians 5:17

The book of Job concludes with the repentance and restoration of Job and his friends when he prayed for them. The almighty God allowed Job to suffer to accomplish His redemptive purposes by opening his eyes to see God like never before. God blesses those who trust and fear Him with riches that outshine health, wealth and family when we know He is very compassionate and merciful. Verses in order of appearance: Job 42:1-3 Proverbs 18:13 Job 42:4-6 1 Kings 10:4-7 2 Corinthians 7:9 Job 42:7-9 Ephesians 2:8-9 Ephesians 1:5-7 (sentence fragment, start and end quote with "...") Job 42:10-11 James 5:16 Job 19:13 Daniel 4:34-37 Job 42:12-17 James 5:11 Psalm 34:8-9

God's greatness is seen in creation, and God concluded His revelation to Job with two creatures: behemoth and Leviathan. God has revealed He is able to do what man cannot do: humble the proud, destroy the wicked and save souls. He is the only One who can overcome and free us from the snare of our own self-confidence and pride. Verses in order of appearance: Job 40:6-10 Job 40:11-14 Job 40:15-19 Psalm 64:2-4 Job 40:20-24 Job 41:1-7 Psalm 104:25-26 Psalm 74:12-14 Isaiah 27:1 Job 41:8-11 Job 41:12-25 Job 41:26-34 1 Peter 5:8-9 Psalm 124:6-8

After God challenged Job to measure up to all God has done, seen and knows, He used examples of animals who have skills and abilities superior to humans to further illustrate His supremacy and wisdom over all things. Job thinking he had grounds to rebuke God was soundly destroyed by the revelation of the Almighty God. Rather than taming us, God desires to transform us according to His understanding by faith and humility before Him. Verses in order of appearance: Job 38:39-41 Job 39:1-4 Job 39:5-8 Genesis 16:11-12 Job 39:9-12 Job 39:13-18 Romans 9:20-21 2 Peter 1:1-4 Job 39:19-25 Job 39:26-30 Job 40:1-5 Job 13:22 Psalm 73:20-26

Out of the whirlwind God broke into the conversation with Job and his friends with a series of questions which demonstrate His divine ability, infinite power and glorious wisdom. What God did in creating the earth, what He does to give and sustain life and His marvellous understanding shows He is to be feared. Let us rejoice in the almighty God who gives abundant, eternal life! Verses in order of appearance: Job 31:35 Job 38:1-3 Job 37:19 Job 38:4-7 Job 38:8-11 Psalm 104:9 Luke 20:3-4 Job 38:12-18 Job 38:19-24 Isaiah 45:5-7 Haggai 2:17 Jeremiah 30:7 Revelation 16:21 Job 38:25-30 Job 38:31-35 job 9:8-10 Genesis 1:14-15 Job 38:36-38 Ecclesiastes 3:10-14

Elihu finished his address to Job and his friends with a flourish, asserting God was at work in Job's situation whether he perceived it or not. The thoughts and ways of the Almighty are completely beyond us, and it is good for us to remember God's works and faithfulness and marvel. The clouds reveal the glorious works of God who is wise and just beyond our sight. Verses in order of appearance: Job 36:22-25 Job 36:26-33 Job 37:1-7 Job 37:8-13 Revelation 16:7-9 Job 37:14-18 Exodus 14:13 Psalm 8:3-5 Job 37:19-24 1 John 4:20-21

Elihu continued his address to Job and his friends as he exalted the sovereignty of God his Maker. Even those with righteous standing before God by grace have much to learn and sin to confess and repent of. Painful circumstances some blame on the devil can actually be God's doing to lead us to Himself because He is gracious and good. Verses in order of appearance: Job 35:1-8 Job 21:15 Job 35:9-16 Judges 10:13-16 Isaiah 1:15 Psalm 66:17-20 Job 36:1-4 Job 36:5-9 Daniel 4:37 Job 36:10-15 1 Kings 2:38 1 Kings 2:42-45 Job 36:16-21 John 12:25-28 Luke 22:19-20

Elihu continued his discourse to Job and urged him to view his troubles in light of God's good, eternal purposes. Job and his friends listened in silence as Elihu exalted the righteousness, justice and sovereignty of God who rules over all. Though God allows evil, mankind can rely on His ability and plan to redeem it for good in due time. Verses in order of appearance: Job 33:23-28 Job 33:29-33 John 8:12 Job 34:1-9 Genesis 18:19 2 Samuel 15:4 Job 34:10-15 Job 34:16-20 Job 34:21-30 Job 34:31-37

Synopsis: During a lull in conversation, Elihu began his rebuke and instruction of Job and His three friends who were unable to agree with one another. Our best efforts are fruitless to change the minds of others, yet our great God is able to do this and more by His grace. God reveals through His word He allows pains and even sleepless nights to keep us from foolish deeds, sinful pride and ruin. Verses in order of appearance: Job 32:1-5 Romans 1:18-19 Proverbs 27:3 James 1:19-20 Job 32:6-9 Proverbs 4:7 Job 32:10-14 Proverbs 26:4-5 Job 32:15-22 1 Timothy 4:12 Matthew 12:36-37 Job 33:1-7 Job 33:8-13 Job 33:14-18 Job 33:19-22 Proverbs 27:5-6 James 4:7-10

Synopsis: In this letter, we see Paul requests Timothy to stay in Ephesus to provide stability to the church. Timothy seems to be timid as he is exhorted to stay in Ephesus to deal with people who were teaching incorrect ideas. He is to set order in the church and personally focus on the correct things. Paul's instructions were appropriate then, just as they are today and not just to a leader but to everyone. Scriptures in order of appearance Start in 1 Timothy Chapter 1 1 Timothy Chapter 1:3-4 Move to 1 Timothy Chapter 3 1 Timothy Chapter 3:16 Move to 1 Timothy Chapter 4 1-3 4-5 Acts 10:12-15 6 7-8 9-10 11-12 13-16

Luke wrote his account of the life of Jesus Christ so that Theophilus would have ‘certainty of those things in which you were instructed’ (Luk 1:4). In describing what Jesus did and taught, Luke shows both His divine nature and humanity. Learning about His character should cause us as His followers to consider how our lives reflect upon and glorify Jesus in this fallen world. In this passage from Luke chapter 9, Luke describes a number of events where Jesus is interacting with His disciples and with those in need. The pre-eminence of Jesus Christ to change people’s lives is evident through He alone having the authority and power to cast out a stubborn demon. Jesus also explains what living in the Kingdom of God involves which is in stark contrast to many human rules for earthly living. Keeping our eyes on Jesus and having our minds renewed according to His ways (Rom 12:1-2) requires submission to the true eternal King and enables us to truly honour and serve Him as citizens in His kingdom. Verses in order

After defending himself from the false accusations of his friends, Job rested his case. He had a clear conscience that affirmed his righteous standing before God, yet his confidence in justifying himself would be proved wrong. Sinners are wise to humble ourselves before God and to seek Him in repentance, for only God can justify us by grace through faith.

Synopsis: Faced with the loss of respect of society, his health and fellowship with God, Job longed to return to better days, to a time months prior when he was in his prime. Though Job did not realise why God allowed him to suffer, it was according to the wise purposes of God who is merciful and compassionate. By faith in God we cast aside selfish fears and wait on He who brings divine renewal, strength and hope now and forever. Verses in order of appearance: Job 29:1-6 Job 29:7-17 Job 29:18-25 Job 30:1-8 Job 30:9-15 Deuteronomy 13:11 James 5:10-11 Job 30:16-23 Job 3:23-26 1 John 4:18 Romans 8:26 Isaiah 40:27-31

Christmas Day message

Job continued his impassioned response to his friends, confident he was correct where they had erred. After affirming God surely judges the wicked, Job turned his attention to the fear of the LORD who is the source of all wisdom and everlasting life. Job's wake up call was coming, and all who follow Jesus ought to wake to wisdom.

Job responded to Eliphaz and then to Bildad, having weathered their false accusations and, contrary to their assumptions, demonstrated great knowledge of the almighty God. The miraculous and marvelous works we witness are merely the edges of God's ways and when believers view ourselves in light of God's glory we are humbled and rejoice securely in His salvation.

Eliphaz prescribed repentance and returning to the LORD for Job, but Job never departed from the God he lost sight of. Job's confidence in his uprightness was overwhelmed by his fear of the almighty God who stands alone in power and glory. By faith in God Job endured the trials God prescribed for him, and faith in Jesus Christ is our prescription for eternal life through the Gospel.