21 to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar 22 as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. Esther 9
We saw yesterday that the Feast of Purim began with the reading of the scroll of Esther and that it’s read a second time the following morning, today.
This great plot against the whole Jewish people began with the anger of one man, Haman, when Mordecai the Jew refused to bow to him. Haman opened himself to become a tool of the devil.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious; … 20 idolatry and WITCHCRAFT; HATRED, discord, jealousy, FITS OF RAGE, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5 (Three highlighted in which Haman involved himself)
The following verses in Galatians 5, listing the nine fruit of the Spirit may be better known, but the Bible first details fifteen acts of the flesh/sinful nature.
A couple of further scriptures which demonstrate God’s assessment of man’s anger;
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, SLOW TO SPEAK AND SLOW TO BECOME ANGRY, 20 BECAUSE HUMAN ANGER does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1
32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city. Proverbs 16
I recently read a book by the late Peter Wagner, entitled Humility. He related how in his personal life he prayed for three things every day, deliverance from pride, deliverance from a sharp tongue and a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit (who convicts of pride and sin). We often need the help of God’s Spirit to shed habits which have become ingrained in our lives; we may not be able to shift them on our own. Prayer is a good place to begin.
23 Above all else, guard your heart,
for everything you do/in life flows from it. Proverbs 4
God rescued His people in the days of Esther and Mordecai and raised them up to the highest positions in the Babylonian empire. He is well able to do the same for us at the present time if we will walk humbly before Him.
God bless and keep you today.