WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.800 --> 00:00:03.680 You're listening to The Bible Guys, a podcast where a 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:06.440 couple of friends talk about the Bible in fun in 3 00:00:06.559 --> 00:00:07.519 practical ways. 4 00:00:11.519 --> 00:00:15.519 Hey, everybody, welcome to The Bible Guys. Today is Friday. Man. 5 00:00:15.640 --> 00:00:18.039 We are in the Book of Esther and the queen 6 00:00:18.160 --> 00:00:20.480 is about to risk it all for the people she loves. 7 00:00:20.960 --> 00:00:21.920 Esther chapter five. 8 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:24.559 This is the moment in the Book of Esther, and 9 00:00:24.640 --> 00:00:27.320 it is intense, and we're all wondering what's going to happen? 10 00:00:27.399 --> 00:00:30.559 Talking about intense, Chris, Oh, yeah, we've been trying to 11 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:32.960 figure out how to amp up the roll in on 12 00:00:33.000 --> 00:00:34.320 our show. Yeah. 13 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:35.880 Sure, we don't have a jingle. 14 00:00:35.679 --> 00:00:37.719 So we're trying to put together a theme song and 15 00:00:37.759 --> 00:00:39.719 this has been kind of fun. We've been going back 16 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:43.560 to old TV shows yeah and the like from our childhood, yes, 17 00:00:43.640 --> 00:00:44.920 and singing theme songs. 18 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:46.719 Yes, well, we haven't been singing them. 19 00:00:46.759 --> 00:00:51.880 I yeah. So I typed in and asked chet Gpt 20 00:00:52.079 --> 00:00:54.119 to help me write a theme song for The Bible Guys, 21 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:57.679 a show about two guys who like to talk about 22 00:00:57.719 --> 00:01:00.399 the Bible and fun of practical ways, and I wanted 23 00:01:00.439 --> 00:01:02.600 to write the theme song to the tune of the 24 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:04.879 Brady Bunch the Brady. But and this is what it 25 00:01:04.920 --> 00:01:07.599 gave us, and I think it's pretty amazing. So if 26 00:01:07.640 --> 00:01:10.480 you'd sing it, because you're the singer on this show, yeah, whatever, 27 00:01:10.799 --> 00:01:14.560 and so let's have it. Oh, Chris, here we go. 28 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:17.599 I hope I can get this right. Yeah, yeah, well 29 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:20.079 I don't know. I'm not word about the two. It's 30 00:01:20.439 --> 00:01:23.319 the fitting of the words. Yeah, look at you. See 31 00:01:23.560 --> 00:01:24.159 you're the singer. 32 00:01:24.200 --> 00:01:26.120 You can do it. It's not me. You can do it. No, no, no, no, 33 00:01:26.280 --> 00:01:28.640 this is your moment. All right, here we go, shine shine, 34 00:01:28.719 --> 00:01:30.000 maybe for such a time as this. 35 00:01:30.159 --> 00:01:30.840 Oh, here it is. 36 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:31.480 Okay, here we go. 37 00:01:31.879 --> 00:01:36.079 Here's a story of two Bible buddies who were reading 38 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:39.599 through the Word most every day. One was funny, one 39 00:01:39.640 --> 00:01:42.840 was thoughtful and steady, and they had a lot to 40 00:01:43.079 --> 00:01:49.519 say that. It's the story of a deeper mission to 41 00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:52.840 explore the truth and laugh along the way. And the 42 00:01:52.920 --> 00:01:58.359 spirit brought them both into a podcast and they were listening. 43 00:01:57.879 --> 00:01:59.519 Today that we're listening to. 44 00:01:59.680 --> 00:02:01.480 Yeah, I messed it up. See that's what I was 45 00:02:01.480 --> 00:02:01.879 worried about. 46 00:02:01.920 --> 00:02:04.159 Okay, there we go, And the spirit brought them both 47 00:02:04.200 --> 00:02:10.000 into what podcast that we're listening to day down here 48 00:02:10.000 --> 00:02:13.520 goes ready, from the lions to the walls of Old Jericho, 49 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:19.199 from the prophets to the crossing empty grave. They break 50 00:02:19.240 --> 00:02:23.080 it down with wisdom, wit and laughter, learning how the 51 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:28.319 Word still saves the Bible guys down, the Bible guys down. 52 00:02:29.240 --> 00:02:30.759 That's the way we. 53 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:38.800 Became the Bible guys. That's it. That's awesome. Chris, there 54 00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:42.599 it is. You are so awesome. No, I think that 55 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:47.159 should be a GPT. Oh that that feels like the one. 56 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:49.360 That Bible guys. 57 00:02:49.520 --> 00:02:52.560 The Bible guys literally from the from the seventies. It 58 00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:55.000 might have been from the sixties. I think it's seventies, 59 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:57.199 early seventies. My guess is seventy one. 60 00:02:57.639 --> 00:02:58.560 Oh, that's so funny. 61 00:02:58.840 --> 00:03:01.840 When was the first episode to The Bretty Bunch aired? 62 00:03:06.479 --> 00:03:09.439 Oh? Really, it didn't come up and do it? You're 63 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:09.879 gonna do that. 64 00:03:10.120 --> 00:03:12.400 I'm working thing well, talking about. 65 00:03:12.520 --> 00:03:15.599 Trouble with the connection. Let's try again later. Yeah, Okay, 66 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:17.759 what is your what does she call you? Have we 67 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:18.639 talked about that lately? 68 00:03:19.000 --> 00:03:23.479 No, not really, let's try it. Hey, sirih what's my name? 69 00:03:24.919 --> 00:03:25.840 It's Chris Sarba. 70 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:29.280 Oh I didn't I didn't do it. 71 00:03:29.319 --> 00:03:32.240 Oh, she's getting rebellious. See that's what happened. 72 00:03:32.319 --> 00:03:34.599 Vash Hey, Siri, what have I asked you to call me? 73 00:03:36.280 --> 00:03:42.599 Calling kings arba mobile? Okay, he knows to call you 74 00:03:42.680 --> 00:03:45.879 kings Arba. Remember Vashti lost her job over. 75 00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:54.120 This disrespect me. I'm ready to decree I'm banishing. 76 00:03:54.319 --> 00:03:56.639 Okay, well, talking about being in trouble with the king. 77 00:03:56.960 --> 00:04:01.360 Oh there it is, yeah, yes, is where we're at. 78 00:04:01.439 --> 00:04:04.919 And we're in chapter five, and here's what it says. 79 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:09.280 On the third day of the fast, Remember Mordecai and 80 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:13.159 all the other Jews in Susa, and then Esther and 81 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:16.040 her handmaids are all fasting and praying for three days, 82 00:04:16.399 --> 00:04:18.879 three nights. On the third day of the fast, Esther 83 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:21.279 put on her royal robes and entered the inner court 84 00:04:21.279 --> 00:04:24.199 of the palace, just across from the King's hall. The 85 00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:26.800 King was sitting on his royal throne facing the entrance 86 00:04:27.079 --> 00:04:29.439 when he saw Queen Esther standing there in the inner court. 87 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:32.120 He welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her. 88 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:34.720 So Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter. 89 00:04:35.199 --> 00:04:37.079 Then the king asked her, what do you want, Queen Esther, 90 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:38.839 what is your request? I will give it to you, 91 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:40.839 even if it is half the kingdom. 92 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:44.279 Okay, wow, yeah, then he ben She caught him in 93 00:04:44.319 --> 00:04:46.120 a really good mood. The favor of God. 94 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:48.639 Right there, sixty three provinces or something like that. 95 00:04:48.920 --> 00:04:50.759 And by the way, the first episode of the Brady 96 00:04:50.759 --> 00:04:51.879 Bench was nineteen sixty nine. 97 00:04:51.879 --> 00:04:52.560 I couldn't stand it. 98 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:54.160 I had to look it up. Okay, there you go, 99 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:57.160 all right, So now you know what do you want, 100 00:04:57.319 --> 00:04:59.360 Queen Esther, what is your request? I will give it 101 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:01.160 to you, even if it is half the kingdom. And 102 00:05:01.240 --> 00:05:03.720 Esther replied, if it pleased the King, let the King 103 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:08.240 and Haman or Haymen Hamon come today to a banquet 104 00:05:08.279 --> 00:05:10.720 I have prepared for the king. The King turned to 105 00:05:10.759 --> 00:05:13.000 his attendants and said, tell Hayman to come quickly to 106 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:15.040 a banquet as Esther has requested. So the King and 107 00:05:15.240 --> 00:05:18.199 Haman went to Esther's banquet, and while they were drinking wine, 108 00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:19.839 the King said to Esther, now tell me what you 109 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:21.839 really want. What is request. I'll give it to you, 110 00:05:21.879 --> 00:05:25.040 even if it's half the kingdom. Esther replied, this is 111 00:05:25.040 --> 00:05:28.000 my request and deepest wish. If I have found favor 112 00:05:28.000 --> 00:05:29.639 with the King, and if it pleases the King to 113 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:32.160 grant my request and do what I ask. Please come 114 00:05:32.199 --> 00:05:34.360 with Hayman tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for you, 115 00:05:34.399 --> 00:05:37.279 and then I'll explain what this is all about. Haman 116 00:05:37.360 --> 00:05:39.000 was a happy man as he left a banquet, But 117 00:05:39.040 --> 00:05:41.959 when he saw Mordecai sitting at the palace gate, not 118 00:05:42.120 --> 00:05:46.160 standing up or trembling nervously before him, Hayman became furious. However, 119 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:48.720 he restained himself and went home. Then Hayman gathered together 120 00:05:48.800 --> 00:05:51.600 his friends and Zeresh, his wife, and boasted them about 121 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:53.920 his great wealth and his many children. He bragged about 122 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:56.000 the honors the king had given him and how he 123 00:05:56.040 --> 00:05:58.480 had been promoted over all the other nobles and officials. 124 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.879 Then Hayman added, and that's not all. Queen Esther invited 125 00:06:01.959 --> 00:06:04.600 only me and the King himself to the banquet she 126 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:07.079 had prepared for us, and she has invited me to 127 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:09.839 dine with her and the King again tomorrow. Then he added, 128 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:12.120 but this is all worth nothing as long as they 129 00:06:12.120 --> 00:06:14.600 see Mordecai, the Jew, just sitting there at the palace gate. 130 00:06:15.079 --> 00:06:17.920 So Hayman's wife, Zeresh, and all his friends suggested set 131 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:20.920 up a sharpened pole that stands seventy feet tall seventy 132 00:06:20.959 --> 00:06:22.879 five feet tall in the morning, asked the king to 133 00:06:22.879 --> 00:06:25.519 impale Mordechai on it. When this is done, you can 134 00:06:25.560 --> 00:06:28.560 go on your merry way to the banquet with the King. 135 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:31.000 This pleased Hayman, and he ordered the pole set up. 136 00:06:31.720 --> 00:06:33.839 That night, the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered 137 00:06:33.879 --> 00:06:35.560 then a tenant to bring the book of the history 138 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:38.160 of his reign so it could be read to him. 139 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:40.839 In those records he discovered an account of how Mordechai 140 00:06:40.879 --> 00:06:44.199 had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Terrish, two of 141 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:46.680 the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king's private quarters, 142 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:50.600 and they had plotted assassinate King Xerxes re ward or recognition. 143 00:06:50.639 --> 00:06:53.199 Do we ever give Mordecai for this, the king asked. 144 00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:57.199 His attendants replied, nothing has been done for him. Who 145 00:06:57.279 --> 00:06:59.319 is that in the outer court? The king inquired, As 146 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:01.160 it happened to Hemi had just arrived in the outer 147 00:07:01.240 --> 00:07:03.279 court of the palace to ask King to impale Mordecai 148 00:07:03.360 --> 00:07:06.279 on the polly prepared. So the attendants replied to the King, 149 00:07:06.319 --> 00:07:08.800 Haman is out in the court. Bring him in. The 150 00:07:08.879 --> 00:07:11.079 king ordered, so Hamen came in and the King said, 151 00:07:11.279 --> 00:07:13.240 what should I do to honor a man who truly 152 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:16.839 pleases me? Haman thought to himself, home, would the king 153 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:19.560 wish to honor more than me? So replied, if the 154 00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:21.800 King wishes to honor someone, he should bring out one 155 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:24.439 of the king's own royal robes, as well as a 156 00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:26.879 horse that the king himself has ridden, one with a 157 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:29.040 royal emblem on his head. And let the robes and 158 00:07:29.079 --> 00:07:31.439 the horse be handed over to one of the king's 159 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:33.720 most noble officials. And let him see that the man 160 00:07:33.759 --> 00:07:35.639 whom the king wishes to honor is dressed in the 161 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:38.199 king's robes and led through the city square on the 162 00:07:38.240 --> 00:07:41.120 king's horse. Have the official shout as they go, this 163 00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:43.279 is what the king does for someone who he wishes 164 00:07:43.319 --> 00:07:47.319 to honor. Excellent, the king said to Haman, quick, take 165 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:49.000 the robes and my horse, and do just as you 166 00:07:49.000 --> 00:07:51.399 have said for Mordecai, the jew who sits at the 167 00:07:51.439 --> 00:07:54.839 gate of the palace. Leave out nothing you've suggested. So 168 00:07:54.920 --> 00:07:57.279 Haman took the robes and put them on Mordecai, placed 169 00:07:57.360 --> 00:07:59.000 him on the king's own horse, and let him through 170 00:07:59.000 --> 00:08:01.560 the city square. Shouted this is what the king does 171 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:03.000 for someone. He was just to honor. 172 00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:03.920 Unbelievable. 173 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:07.639 Afterward, Mordecai returned to the palace gate, but Haman hurried home, 174 00:08:07.879 --> 00:08:12.240 dejected and completely humiliated. When Haman told his wife Zeresh 175 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:14.600 and all his friends what had happened, his wise advisers 176 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:16.959 and his wife said, since Mordecai, this man who has 177 00:08:17.040 --> 00:08:19.720 humiliated you, is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed 178 00:08:19.759 --> 00:08:21.600 in your plans against him. It will be fatal to 179 00:08:21.639 --> 00:08:24.800 continue opposing him. While they were still talking, the king's 180 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:27.480 eunuchs arrived and quickly took Haman to the bank. 181 00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:32.559 What Esther had prepared, Oh man, so chapters five and six, 182 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:37.279 and guess what they are building and building and building. 183 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:39.000 It is an unbelievable thing. 184 00:08:39.240 --> 00:08:41.559 And I love how chapter six begins and says that 185 00:08:41.639 --> 00:08:44.000 night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered a 186 00:08:44.039 --> 00:08:47.679 lieutenant to bring him every book of history of his 187 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:49.519 reign so can be read to him. And those recordings 188 00:08:49.559 --> 00:08:54.360 he discovered an account how Mordechai exposed the plot of assassination. So, 189 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:58.960 in other words, get what I'm saying, is this is 190 00:08:59.000 --> 00:09:02.039 that God somehow? 191 00:09:03.000 --> 00:09:03.320 Uh? 192 00:09:03.399 --> 00:09:06.039 And it doesn't say so, It does not say so. 193 00:09:06.480 --> 00:09:08.720 But I have to believe that this is a reflection 194 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:11.440 of everything that we've ever read in the Old Testament. 195 00:09:11.679 --> 00:09:16.120 Remember how like God hardened Pharaoh's heart with Moses. Remember, 196 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:18.159 and then you know, and then and and all of 197 00:09:18.200 --> 00:09:22.120 a sudden, you know, the mood can be changed by 198 00:09:22.120 --> 00:09:26.960 the influence of God, the God of Egypt. When Joseph 199 00:09:27.399 --> 00:09:30.879 was stood before him, uh, you know, he was troubled 200 00:09:30.919 --> 00:09:34.879 because of a dream. Right, I'm sorry, what did I say, 201 00:09:35.120 --> 00:09:39.200 the God, the God of Egypt? Right, exactly, So, the 202 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:41.360 Pharaoh of Egypt was troubled because of a dream. 203 00:09:41.840 --> 00:09:44.360 So so Esther walks in front. 204 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:47.840 Of the king in chapter five, and not only is 205 00:09:47.840 --> 00:09:51.120 she worried about losing her life, but then the opposite 206 00:09:51.120 --> 00:09:51.879 extreme happens. 207 00:09:51.919 --> 00:09:54.240 I have to believe that's the favor of God. 208 00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:57.159 It doesn't say it doesn't say so, right, but I 209 00:09:57.159 --> 00:09:59.360 have to believe that'sying. 210 00:09:59.480 --> 00:10:01.919 Yes God, yesdays and three nights, and it is at 211 00:10:01.960 --> 00:10:04.559 the end of that time. Yes, these things begin to unfold. 212 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:06.200 And then all of a sudden, we have the seventy 213 00:10:06.200 --> 00:10:08.320 five foot poll that's going to be set up that 214 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:11.960 Hayman's wanted to impale Mordecai on, and all of a sudden, coincidentally, 215 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:15.759 quote unquote, the king has trouble sleeping, right, and then 216 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:18.759 in somehow some way he orders history records to be read, 217 00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:22.440 and then coincidentally they read about Mordecai, and he goes, 218 00:10:23.200 --> 00:10:24.240 we need to honor this man. 219 00:10:24.279 --> 00:10:27.200 I forgot, Yeah that happened. I need to honor this man. 220 00:10:27.360 --> 00:10:30.559 So all of this is orchestrated by God right behind 221 00:10:30.559 --> 00:10:33.440 the scenes. And who would have ever thought that it 222 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:34.399 would play out this way? 223 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:38.399 Right, Yeah, And Hayman's like, he goes home, Hey, I 224 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:41.120 have the most kids, and I've got the most money 225 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:44.360 and so much influence. I'm so powerful. He's dumping his 226 00:10:44.399 --> 00:10:46.000 chest and from his family, he said, but I'm never 227 00:10:46.039 --> 00:10:47.919 going to be happy as long as that one guy 228 00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:50.799 right right never bows down me. 229 00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:53.080 Well, he says, all of this is nothing. 230 00:10:52.840 --> 00:10:55.879 It's nothing, right, Yeah, He's the most powerful, second most 231 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:59.080 powerful man in the world, in the world, and he's 232 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:01.480 like pouting over the fact that this one guy doesn't 233 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:04.960 show him respect and it means nothing to me. All 234 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:07.759 the rest is just horrible. I might as well just 235 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:10.600 not even go outside anymore. Right, He's just pitching a 236 00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:13.720 fit about this, And so they ask, he asks us, 237 00:11:13.720 --> 00:11:15.159 so what should I do, what should I do about it? 238 00:11:15.159 --> 00:11:18.159 And they're like, set up a pole right and have 239 00:11:18.320 --> 00:11:20.799 him executed. Man, that's going to be so awesome. Seventy 240 00:11:20.799 --> 00:11:23.679 five feet high. That must have been on a wall somewhere, 241 00:11:24.240 --> 00:11:28.360 or on a top of a building, very prominent, very high. 242 00:11:29.360 --> 00:11:31.799 He wanted everybody to see Mordecai suffer. 243 00:11:31.879 --> 00:11:35.080 Oh yeah, what a horrible way. Seven a half stories. 244 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:36.480 Yeah, isn't that crazy? 245 00:11:36.559 --> 00:11:39.399 Yeah, it had to have been. Yeah. 246 00:11:39.799 --> 00:11:42.320 And by the way, because he's the second most powerful 247 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:44.360 man in the world, he could do whatever he wants. 248 00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:47.279 So let me read this note. This may be the 249 00:11:47.320 --> 00:11:49.799 most powerful note we've read in the Lectification Bible for 250 00:11:50.159 --> 00:11:53.120 a while. Oh yeah, it was at first. For verse nine, 251 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:56.799 hatred and bitterness are like weeds with long roots that 252 00:11:56.840 --> 00:11:59.679 grow in the heart and corrupt all of life. Haman 253 00:11:59.799 --> 00:12:02.440 was so consumed with hatred toward Mordecai that he could 254 00:12:02.440 --> 00:12:05.480 not even enjoy the honor of being invited the Ester's party. 255 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:07.799 Hebrews twelve fifteen warns us to watch out that no 256 00:12:07.879 --> 00:12:11.320 poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many. 257 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:14.720 Don't let hatred and its resulting bitterness build up in 258 00:12:14.759 --> 00:12:17.600 your heart. Like Cayman, you will find it backfiring against 259 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:20.639 you if the mere mention of someone's name provokes you 260 00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:26.720 to anger, confess your bitterness is sin. Ignoring bitterness, hiding 261 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:29.399 it from others, or making superficial changes in behavior is 262 00:12:29.440 --> 00:12:33.360 not enough. If bitterness isn't completely removed, it will grow back, 263 00:12:33.480 --> 00:12:36.639 making matters worse. Yeah, that's what that Hebrews Versus talk about, 264 00:12:36.639 --> 00:12:37.559 that root of bitterness. 265 00:12:37.759 --> 00:12:42.279 Yes, and by the way, that is a uh, that's 266 00:12:42.320 --> 00:12:47.120 a practical tell. If you mention somebody's name and then 267 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:50.639 immediately feel anger or hatred, that's a problem. 268 00:12:50.720 --> 00:12:52.519 Yeah, you still have bitterness and it's going to catch up. 269 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:54.600 It's going to kill you. Yeah. So Hebrews says it's 270 00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:56.919 like a root and it's a poisonous route, and it 271 00:12:57.000 --> 00:13:00.879 grows down and then the vine grows up and kills 272 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:05.759 the tree. And we were in Costa Rica a number 273 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:09.639 of years ago, and they took us to this place 274 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:13.279 where these vines were everywhere through the trees. But then 275 00:13:13.320 --> 00:13:16.360 they showed us how the vines will interact and totally 276 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:19.240 wrap around a tree, and then they begin to grow together. 277 00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:21.759 And what happens is the vines push all their leaves 278 00:13:21.799 --> 00:13:24.000 up above to the top of the canopy and then 279 00:13:24.080 --> 00:13:26.200 spread their leaves over top of the trees and kill 280 00:13:26.240 --> 00:13:30.320 all the trees. And then the vines aren't strong enough 281 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:32.320 to make it to the top of the canopy by themselves, 282 00:13:32.360 --> 00:13:34.639 they have to climb the tree. Then they completely surround 283 00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:37.080 the tree. And so there were trees that five of 284 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:39.080 me and you could not hold hands and reach all 285 00:13:39.120 --> 00:13:41.879 the way around. That weren't the actual trees. They were 286 00:13:41.919 --> 00:13:44.879 the vines that had grown together and killed the dead tree. 287 00:13:44.960 --> 00:13:47.039 And we walked inside of a tree that was as 288 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:50.039 big as this room multiple times where the tree was 289 00:13:50.080 --> 00:13:52.480 completely dead and it was this vine. 290 00:13:52.759 --> 00:13:53.720 It was like a hollow tree. 291 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:57.000 Yeah. Yeah, the tree was gone. It was just those 292 00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:00.200 giant vines that had grown together and had ripped place 293 00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:03.320 the tree once was. Yeah, but one of the guides 294 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:04.840 that we were with, he took me over and he 295 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:07.200 showed me. He said, this is the beginning of that, 296 00:14:07.279 --> 00:14:09.240 and he just pulled one of those little vines out 297 00:14:09.240 --> 00:14:12.639 of the ground. He said that one won't kill this tree. Right. 298 00:14:12.799 --> 00:14:14.360 It was just it was just as easy as pulling 299 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:16.000 it out of the ground. But if you let it go, 300 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:19.840 it eventually completely replaced who you really are, right, that's it. 301 00:14:20.080 --> 00:14:23.080 Right Now, I've got some wild grape vines. I have 302 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:26.080 some woods on the back of my yard, and I 303 00:14:26.120 --> 00:14:28.000 have some wild grape vines that are growing up, and 304 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:29.519 that they're doing the same thing. They're growing up to 305 00:14:29.519 --> 00:14:31.559 the top and starting to build camping. So I had 306 00:14:31.559 --> 00:14:32.720 to go out and cut them all. I got my 307 00:14:32.799 --> 00:14:34.799 chainsaw out and cut them all out. We've been hauling 308 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:38.320 them out of the trees. And because that little root, 309 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:40.320 it's easy when it's little to get rid of it, 310 00:14:41.120 --> 00:14:42.720 and yet it seems so important to us. It's the 311 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:45.360 only thing you think of. He had all the advantage 312 00:14:45.399 --> 00:14:48.240 of the most powerful man in the kingdom, who wasn't 313 00:14:48.240 --> 00:14:52.039 the king right, he had everything, but that little root 314 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:54.039 winds up costing him everything. 315 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:58.360 So before I go on about the hilarity of Hayman 316 00:14:58.480 --> 00:15:00.440 having to do this for Mordecai, we got to get 317 00:15:00.440 --> 00:15:01.399 to that. 318 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:03.559 Yeah, God has a great sense of humor. 319 00:15:03.679 --> 00:15:08.440 Yes, So let's go back to the idea of of 320 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:11.519 the bitterness you were talking about. Don't want to brush 321 00:15:11.559 --> 00:15:16.440 that off. You know, God says that bitterness and forgiveness, right, 322 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:20.320 letting go of bitterness, which is forgiveness is not for the. 323 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:21.279 Other person's for us. 324 00:15:21.840 --> 00:15:25.000 Right, So all all Hayman would have had to have 325 00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:30.200 done is, you know, decide to not hang out a 326 00:15:30.200 --> 00:15:33.600 bitterness to Mordecai. And guess what that would have affected? 327 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:36.799 Who more than anybody else? What affected Hayman? Right, Hayman 328 00:15:36.919 --> 00:15:40.240 is so plagued by bitterness that he can't enjoy anything 329 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:42.879 in life. Even even as he's bragging, and even as 330 00:15:42.879 --> 00:15:46.039 he's listing everything that he's listing, he's saying, I can't. 331 00:15:45.960 --> 00:15:46.919 Enjoy because a bitterness. 332 00:15:47.360 --> 00:15:49.159 And if you had to let go, to let go of. 333 00:15:49.080 --> 00:15:53.840 Bitterness, then then he could have, you know, obviously enjoyed 334 00:15:53.879 --> 00:15:57.240 everything he just talked about. And and so all that 335 00:15:57.320 --> 00:16:00.039 to say, bitterness is the thing that we need to 336 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:02.000 get rid of because it hurts us. We think it's 337 00:16:02.039 --> 00:16:04.240 hurting the other person, but it's actually us who suffers. 338 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:07.279 So that's why Jesus says it's a command to forgive, 339 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:10.360 because it's not for the other person, it's for you. 340 00:16:10.799 --> 00:16:13.440 Right when you forgive, you're the only one that benefits. 341 00:16:13.600 --> 00:16:15.840 Yeah, right, I mean obviously the other person benefits of 342 00:16:16.320 --> 00:16:19.240 you know, I'll be on the receiving end of forgiveness. 343 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:22.200 But the person that's affected the most is you, right, 344 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:24.320 because you're letting go of your bitterness and hatred. 345 00:16:24.440 --> 00:16:27.120 You're right, yep, right, that's really powerful. Yep. 346 00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:28.960 So let's get back to this. 347 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:32.200 I'll say one more thing. Yeah, for me, you know, 348 00:16:32.600 --> 00:16:34.399 and I've told my store before, so a lot of 349 00:16:34.440 --> 00:16:39.240 abuse and difficulty in my early childhood. God rescued my 350 00:16:39.320 --> 00:16:42.639 mom and I from that, but I dealt with abandonment 351 00:16:42.799 --> 00:16:45.279 and a lot of those memories for many, many years. 352 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:48.840 And I think that the forgiveness for me, the discovery 353 00:16:48.919 --> 00:16:51.200 of what real forgiveness was, because always felt like forgiveness 354 00:16:51.200 --> 00:16:54.759 meant you're kind of saying, Okay, it doesn't matter, and 355 00:16:54.840 --> 00:16:57.240 it does matter. It breaks God's heart, right when people 356 00:16:57.240 --> 00:17:01.639 abuse people or whatever, that's not it. It's when you 357 00:17:01.639 --> 00:17:04.680 finally come to the point where you know, Romans chapter 358 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:08.680 twelve says, don't pay back evil for evil, pay back 359 00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:13.000 evil with good because God says Vengeance's mind says the Lord, 360 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:16.759 I will repay, right. And that was the day when 361 00:17:16.880 --> 00:17:19.319 when I had to confront you know, my father this way. 362 00:17:19.880 --> 00:17:22.079 I realized on that day I did not need to 363 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:27.680 be the judge and executioner and so all I did 364 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:32.119 was say, okay, God, you repay him, not me, right. 365 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:34.400 And on that day, it wasn't that I said it 366 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:37.319 was okay. It was that I was okay with God 367 00:17:37.400 --> 00:17:40.480 being the judge, not me right. And Buddy, I'm telling you, 368 00:17:40.559 --> 00:17:44.079 I felt completely free from that point on, where when 369 00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:48.039 you just release your right to prosecute and you go okay, 370 00:17:48.079 --> 00:17:51.799 you do it, and you know, God did his. 371 00:17:51.799 --> 00:17:55.160 Thing because because that's what God asks of us. Yeah, 372 00:17:55.240 --> 00:17:56.119 for him to be the. 373 00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:57.559 Judge, right, let me be the judge. 374 00:17:57.640 --> 00:17:58.000 Yeah. 375 00:17:58.039 --> 00:18:01.559 And when you that's the I think that God requires 376 00:18:01.559 --> 00:18:03.359 forgiveness from us. It's not that I have to say 377 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:06.039 it's okay. It's not that I have to decide we're 378 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:08.920 going to have this extensive friendship or relationship or give 379 00:18:08.960 --> 00:18:11.480 access none of those things. It's just God, I'm not 380 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:15.160 in control. You are. You bring the judgment necessary, and 381 00:18:15.200 --> 00:18:16.839 I'm going to go on with my life. I'm not 382 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:18.599 gonna think about it anymore. I'm going to you know, 383 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:20.440 so those things come up. I think about those things, 384 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:22.440 but I'm not trying to figure out how to maneuver 385 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:24.799 and manipulate, Whereas in my mind I'd always thought, you know, 386 00:18:24.839 --> 00:18:27.039 he broke my mom's nose three times, he broke her 387 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:29.880 jaw twice, he broke her ribs, He ran us over 388 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:31.680 the car. He did so many horrible things. And I 389 00:18:31.720 --> 00:18:33.720 always thought, if I ever meet him, I'm going to 390 00:18:33.759 --> 00:18:36.160 beat him up. And then the day because I went 391 00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:38.960 from eight years old to forty something years old before 392 00:18:38.960 --> 00:18:41.319 I met him again, and the day I opened up 393 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:43.279 the door, I was thinking I'm going to beat him up. 394 00:18:43.400 --> 00:18:45.839 I opened up the door and it was an old man. Yeah, 395 00:18:45.880 --> 00:18:47.559 and God just washed over me and go, you're not 396 00:18:47.599 --> 00:18:49.759 the judge, and this isn't any of your business, right, 397 00:18:49.880 --> 00:18:51.960 So I just kind of let it go over those 398 00:18:51.960 --> 00:18:53.920 next couple of days. It was a big one. So 399 00:18:54.160 --> 00:18:57.240 that's a big thing anyways. Yeah, So that might be 400 00:18:57.279 --> 00:19:00.839 the message for you today is bitterness is a root 401 00:19:00.960 --> 00:19:04.160