Flyer: How to Keep First Fruits

What is First Fruits? Why should black people be keeping it? How should we keep it in these last days? We answer these questions and expose some secrets about the Feast of First fruits in this week's lesson. 

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Lesson: What Is Purim Really About?

Every year we celebrate Purim with gifts and hail queen Esther for the work that she did to save the nation of Israel but what is Purim really about? Find out in the lesson below.

What Is Purim Really About?

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Esther & Her Exploits

• The Political Climate at the Time

• Esther 1:1-3, 9-13, 15-20 & 21-22

• Vashti, disrespected the king in front of all his rulers and subjects setting a bad example for all the women in the empire
• Ahasuerus aka Artaxerxes^[1] puts Vashti away

• Esther 2:1-4

• A new queen was being sought for the king

• Who was Esther?

• Mordecai’s cousin

• Esther 2:7

• A humble & obedient woman

• Esther 2:10
• Esther 2:20
• Esther 2:19-22

• A very beautiful sister

• Esther 2:15
• Ester 2:7

• Queen Vashti’s Replacement

• Esther 2:17

• Remember why Vashti was replaced!

• Disobedience, disrespect & setting a bad example

• Esther 1:10-12

• Esther’s Exploits

• She tried to comfort her uncle after he learned that Haman an Edomite made the king decree the extermination of the Jews.

• Esther 4:4

• She disobey’s Mordecai in the interest of saving her life

• Esther 4:11

• She proclaimed a 3 day fast that she may be spared before the king

• Esther 4:15-17

• She set a trap for Haman

• Esther 5:1-4
• Esther 6:14 - 7:2

• She made her petition

• Esther 7:3
• Esther 8:3-6

• She got Haman killed

• Esther 7:6-10

• She killed all Haman's sons

• Esther 9:12-13

• She set Mordecai over the house of Haman

• Esther 8:1-3

• She decreed Purim in the kingdom of Xerxes I

• Esther 9:29-32

Mordecai & His Exploits

• Who was Mordecai?

• A Guardian to Esther

• Esther 2:6-7 & 11

• A Rescuer of Xerxes I

• Esther 2: 21-23
• Esther 6:1-2

• A Benjamite who lived in Shushan

• Esther 2:5 He was also a Benjamite

• A former slave of Nebucadnezzer

• Esther 2:6 

• The one who brought Esther forth to Ahhasuerus

• Esther 2:8-9

• Mordecai’s exploits

• He put on sackcloth and wailed for his people

• Esther 4:1

• He commanded Esther to go humbly beg Xerxes I for the lives of her people

• Esther 4:8

• He convinced Esther by fear and by reason to go though she denied his request the first time

• Esther 4:14

• He wrote the decree to exterminate all that would have exterminated them at the request of Haman

• Esther 8:7-15

• He saved souls

• Esther 8:17

• He struck fear in the hearts of the heathens

• Esther 9:1-3

• He became greater and greater in the King’s house

• Esther 9:4

• He established the 14th & 15th of Adar As Purim

• Esther 9:20-22

Lessons from Esther

• Obey a righteous man though the path may look uncertain

• Esther 2:10

• Sirach 26:14-15 a shamefaced and quiet woman is a double grace
• 1 Cor 11:3 the head of the woman is the man

• Do not be afraid to express your concerns

• Esther 4:11 Esther expresses her concerns

• 1 Sam 1:21-23 Hannah expresses her concerns

• Numbers 30:13 & 16 the power of the father and husband over the daughter and the wife

• Use your power for good

• Esther 7:6-10 Esther gets Haman killed

• Despise the heathen’s favour

• Additions to Esther 14:15-16

Lessons from Mordecai

• Stand up for righteousness even against the kings

• Esther 3:2 Mordecai does no reverence to Haman the Edomite

• Use the fear of Yah & compassion to be convincing

• Esther 4:14

• Jude 1:21-23

• Do not spare your enemies when given power over them

• Esther 8:7-15

• 1 Kings 11:14-18 Israel attempts to annihilate Edom

What Purim is Really About?

The Vengeance of Yahawah

• Esther 9:5 they did what they felt like to their enemies

• Esther 8:17 many became Jews out of fear of Israel.

• Joshua 9:17, 22 & 24 the fear of Yah falls up the nations

• Psalm 137:8-9 happy shall he be that dasheth they little ones against the stones

• Exodus 15:3 Yahawah is a man of war

The Mystery Yahawah

• Mordecai sent Esther to the Harem of a heathen king which seems unlawful but Yah blessed it for the salvation of his people

• 2 Esdras 4:10-11

• Isaiah 55:8

 The Righteousness of Esther

• Esther followed Mordecai’s seemingly sinful plan putting herself in his hands I believe it’s because she knows he would bare her iniquity re Numbers 30:16
• She fasted and prayed for her life
• She hatched and executed a plot to expose Haman
• She exalted Mordecai
• She decreed his instructions making them law

But Most of All Purim is About the Faith of a Benjamite named Mordecai

• He sent Esther to the harem of the king I believe to gain power for his people trusting that Yah would protect her. That’s some serious faith.

• 2 Macc 15:36

Halal Yahawah! Ba Ha Sham Ha Mashiach Yahawashi

(Praise Yahawah! In the name of the Messiah, Yahawashi!)

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahasuerus - sourced Feb 23rd 2024
Numerous scholars have proposed theories as to who Ahasuerus represents. Most scholars today identify him with Xerxes I, as did 19th-century Bible commentaries.[9] Three factors, among others, contribute to this identification:

1. It is believed the Hebrew 'Ahasuerus' descended from the Persian names for Xerxes I.
2. Historian Herodotus describes Xerxes I as being susceptible to women and in the habit of making extravagant offers to them, just as he did to Esther ("up to half my kingdom"). Herodotus mentions that the Persian empire stretched from India to Ethiopia and also refers to the magnificent royal palace in Shushan (Susa), corroboration of what is stated in the Book of Esther. In addition Herodotus mentions an assembly of Persian nobles called by Xerxes to advise him on the proposed war against Greece. Although Herodotus does not give the location of this assembly, the date – "after Egypt was subdued" – corresponds to Xerxes' third year when Esther records an assembly of Persian nobility at a feast. (Histories VII.8) Herodotus also mentions that following his defeat at Salamis Xerxes I became involved in harem intrigues involving his wife Amestris and his daughter-in-law, with whom he became enamoured. (Histories IX.108) Herodotus relates this occurred in the tenth month of his seventh year as king – the same time Ahasuerus was choosing beautiful women for his harem (Esther 2:16).
3. Annals from the reign of Xerxes I mention an otherwise unattested official by the name of "Marduka", which some have proposed refers to Mordecai, as both are mentioned serving in the king's court.[citation needed]

Identification of "Ahasuerus" as Artaxerxes I[edit]

While today the king of Esther is usually identified as Xerxes I, the ancient traditions identify him with his son, Artaxerxes I. The Septuagint, the Vulgate, the Midrash of Esther Rabbah, I, 3 and the Josippon identify him as Artaxerxes. Many historians and exegetes from ancient times and the middle ages also identified Ahasuerus with Artaxerxes I, including, most notably, Josephus,[10] who relates that "Artaxerxes" was the name by which he was known to the Greeks.[11] The Ethiopic text calls him Arťeksis, usually the Ethiopic equivalent of Artaxerxes.

Lesson: Destruction of Nicanor

 

This week we begin reviewing the feasts that are coming up in the 12th month called Adar. We are now in the 11th month called Shabat. We’re beginning with the Destruction of Nicanor a great feast celebrating the destruction of a man arrogant enough to stretch forth his hand and make threats against God’s temple. You can download the lesson precepts here, investigate the full lesson below or watch the video.

Destruction of Nicanor

INTRODUCTION

Nahum 1:15 Judah keep thy solemn feast

• Sirach 14:14-16 No seeking of dainties in the grave

Rehearse The Righteous Acts Of Yahawah

Judges 5:11-12 Far from the noise of the archers^[1] they shall rehearse the righteousness of Yah

• Noise of archers

• Psalm 64:1-3 the wicked are the archers

• Psalm 11:2

• 2 Esdras 16:13-16 & 22 They are the weapon of Yahawah

• Who are the wicked?

• Job 9:24 the ones with the whole world in their hand

• Daniel 9:26 the people of the prince of darkness
• 1 Macc 5:3 the children of Esau

• In the places of drawing water

• Q. What does that mean?
• A. It means the places of your captivity

• Joshua 9:21-23 drawers of water as bondmen
• Deut 29:10-11 drawers of water lowest in Israel

• Far from your captivity (see interlinear Judges 5:11)

• This is carnally what just happened with Yaal killing Sisera but also spiritually what will happen after Israel suffers.  

Destruction of Nicanor

1 Macc 7*

2 Macc 14 & 15

Conclusion

Psalms 139:19-20, -24 (for great context and powerful ending) God will slay the wicked

Isaiah 63:1-4 Yahawashi coming from Edom on judgement day

• Let us remember what Yahawah has done for us already and what he will do for us in the future as we gear up for the Destruction of Nicanor.

• HalleluYah ba ha sham ha mashiach Yahawashi!!!

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[1] See interlinear for better understanding https://biblehub.com/interlinear/judges/5-11.htm