The Gospel is the ties that bind. Matt 16: 13-20 gives the absolute bottom line for our target in life. Jesus said, “Upon this Rock I will build my Church” That “Rock” is the confession that Jesus is the Son of God and Salvation to the world. As followers of Jesus, in all the textures, forms and colors we represent, we are bound by Jesus: branded for His work and band together as ALLIES. TIME is looking for Allies who want to build “Upon this Rock” with the support of the business you own, the church you attend or by your family and friends.
Over the next weeks we will be defining what it means to be Allies from examples in the ancient and historical writing of the Bible. Joins us! Read the passage supplied below and think about what we share and consider being an Ally for the Gospel through TIME’s ministry to the local Church.
Triple Decker Ally Sandwich
Esther 8 1. On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he was to her. 2 And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3 Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews. 4 When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king. 5 And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6 For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews. 8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.”
9 The king’s scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia, 127 provinces, to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language. 10 And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed it with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on swift horses that were used in the king’s service, bred from the royal stud, 11 saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives, to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, and to plunder their goods, 12 on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 13 A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies. 14 So the couriers, mounted on their swift horses that were used in the king’s service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king’s command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.
15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen and purple, and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. 16 The Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor. 17 And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and pa holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
Here we have a great story. Mordecai being an ally to Esther and the Jewish people. Esther being an ally to Mordecai and the Jewish people. And the King being an ally to Esther and Mordecai and the Jewish people. A double Decker trifecta story of an ally, upon an ally, upon an ally. This story from the history books of Esther in the Old Testament, is where we see a domino effect of being an ally. When we choose to Be An Ally to one person and we do that in the order of God's will. The lives of others can be changed both catastrophically and wonderfully. In this story we see the effects that go from the Jewish people being in dire straits of being annihilated, to praise, celebration and joy on every street in every nation that was within the reach of King Ahassuerus.
The story goes, as Esther saw Mordecai in Ashes and sackcloth at the gates of the King it had a tremendous effect on her. She saw the need for her to get Mordecai clothed and find out what's happening with him and why he was at the gates of the King. On the other hand, the King hated Mordecai being at the gate in sackcloth and ashes and wanted to know why. This sets up the story of the evil Haman who was out to destroy the Jews.
This slimy Haman wanted to kill every Jew and get rid of them forever. He had sent out an edict to destroy them all. But, Ally #1 Mordecai of course being for the Jewish people saw this and closed in on the King putting himself in sackcloth and Ashes and began his strike, petition against the King right at his gate. Then you have Esther Ally #2 who hears of Mordiecai’s fight and wants to know why. Mordecai hears Esther’s questions and turns the charge on her and says: “if you do nothing you will lose everything, we need someone to do something” This is where Queen Esther steps up and says I'll go and if I die so be it. What an awesome charge for us today.
So, she takes on the task to go talk to the King Ally #3 and the domino's fall. Mordicai is saved from a hanging. The Jews are saved from destruction. Queen Esther is saved from a certain death. All because an enemy has started some chatter and did something that the King was not aware of, in order to destroy all the Jews.
The correlation here for TIME is easy for us all to see. TIME needs Ally’s we are asking you to be an ally for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Step up and be a friend to TIME in our quest to help everyone to “Know God-Advance Missions”. Would you consider being an ally. Now to BE AN ALLY comes in different forms TIME Ministries: going to the field being an evangelist in the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti, Mexico from your home church. It also means supporting missionaries and the Home Office in its endeavor to support the ministries of TIME
Be inspired, you have the spirit of God within you. What is best for God. To Know Him and to Advance His Kingdom, this is the call of TIME and for all of us. By giving, you to support the great prayer command in John 17 (go read it its awesome). Here is a link to where you can go and support TIME at the home office on a monthly basis or with a one-time gift to the Home Office. https://www.timeministries.org/
The Home Office needs your support. $0.88 of every dollar that goes to the Home Office goes to do ministry. Would you pray and consider supporting TIME. Be An Ally. Thank you
