Esther
March 08, 2024
00:01:00
The Hamilton Minute is a power packed 60 seconds where we tackle the issues of the day through the lens of God’s Word. You don’t want to miss a moment of it.
“And who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this” Esther 4:14.
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute
Esther, a young girl became Queen of the Persian Empire when Israel was subject to Persian rule. A wicked man named Haman tried to get the King to exterminate all Jews. Esther, a Jew herself, was Queen when this genocidal conspiracy was brought to bear. But her uncle Mordecai put her royal position in perspective.
“Perhaps God made you Queen for this very moment, to intervene on behalf of the Jewish people.”
Like Esther, perhaps God gave you the platform, position and influence you have for this very moment, to stand against darkness. Perhaps you were born for such a time as this.
David, the son of Jesse, was just an ordinary giant slayer.
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
David’s battle with Goliath is an epic drama where the little boy stands in God’s power to conquer the Philistine giant.
David didn’t awaken that morning expecting to slay a giant. He didn’t stroll in with an entourage after a rugged mountain range training camp like Rocky in Rocky IV. He was just a regular kid bringing his brothers’ lunch. But fully confident in God’s immeasurable power, though he saw Goliath, David never acknowledged him as a giant, saying, “Who is this uncircumcised Philistine who dares defy the Lord of hosts?”
When regular people are fully persuaded, fully confident in God’s power, giant’s fall.
“Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is in you.”
Many who oppose Christianity target their hostility on our foundation, the Bible. They say it is unreliable because Genesis one and Genesis two are contradictory accounts of the creation story.
In actuality, the two chapters are complimentary and not contradictory.
When Jesus was asked about marriage, He quoted from both chapters one and two, saying that He made them both to be male and female in the beginning. "And for this cause shall a man leave his mother and father and cleave unto his wife."
Genesis one is an overview of the creation story and Genesis two is an up close examination of day six. If Jesus relies on them both, so can we.
The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.
My name is Abraham Hamilton III, and this is the Hamilton Minute.
What is the proper role of government?
Romans chapter 13 outlines government's function, and it is basically this: to restrain or punish wickedness and to reward righteousness.
Government was never intended to be our savior. Government is our servant.
As we focus on our civil occupations and our civic engagement responsibilities, let us never forget that government is not our God. We don't put our trust in it. We put our trust in our Christ.
As a result, what we want is a government that stays out of our way and leaves room for our church to do our business of fulfilling the great commission.
What is the source of America's greatness? Alexis de Tocqueville, a 19th century French political thinker and philosopher, had this exact same question.
This is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
On the heels of the French Revolution, he came to America in 1831 to investigate America's ascendency. In doing so, he found that America's greatness did not lie in her economic system. It did not lie in her banking system. Nor did it lie in her educational system.
He found that America's pulpits, aflamed with righteousness, was the source of America's greatness. He opined that America is great because she is good, but when America ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.
Let us pray for restoration of the flame of righteousness in our pulpits.
What would it take for you to compromise your principles?
My name is Abraham Hamilton III and this is the Hamilton Minute.
Recently I heard a statement that went like this, “I don’t think principles matter if you can’t get elected.”
Principles form the core of who you are. Principles form the foundation of a civil society.
George Washington in his farewell address identified religion and morality as indispensable supports.
“In vain would that man claim the tribute of patriotism who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness,” George Washington said.
It makes me think of a scripture. “What would it profit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul?”
What would it profit a man to gain an election yet lose his principles?
“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:2-3 (NASB95).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Just before his execution, Apostle Paul exhorted Timothy by the Spirit of God to seek out faithful men, who would be able to teach others, and pour into them all he’d received from the incarcerated Apostle. He then exhorted Timothy to anticipate times of hardship and to press forward with Jesus commission to make disciples nonetheless.
Jesus warned that hard times would come. We must press forward in obedience even while suffering hardship.
“For this reason a man shall leave his Father and Mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” Matthew 19:5 (NASB95).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
It’s often repeated that 50% of marriages end in divorce. However, that statistic is not based on hard data and it doesn’t apply at all to committed Christians who marry.
Over 70% of married, Bible-believing Christians, who are active in their local churches have never divorced.
Though the rate of divorce is still too high, it isn’t nearly as high as the world would have you believe.
Simply put, marriages comprised of a husband and wife who place their faith in Christ Jesus for salvation individually usually remain in tact and thrive.
ng hardship.
“When Jesus went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and He felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.” Mark 6:34 (NASB95).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
The word we live in likes to emphasize emotions. Our government educational system is riddled with social-emotional learning. Our young people are being indoctrinated into the notion that feeling is synonymous with thinking. All of this undergirds an unbiblical understanding of compassion.
The world cultivates the notion of simply feeling our way through life. But biblical compassion is responsive and active. Jesus was moved with compassion. It compelled him to teach many things.
Biblical compassion moves us to action. Compassion teaches.
“Leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.” Matthew 5:24 (NASB95).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Jesus focused authentic Christ-following to heart evaluation in addition to conduct assessment in the Sermon on the Mount. He also highlighted the reality that worshiping God includes our relationships with Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
He described a worshiper en route to make an offering unto the Lord who remembered that he had a frayed relationship with a Brother. Christ commanded him to render a whole offering by first being reconciled to the Brother. Then, continue in worship by making an offering.
Love for God is displayed in our relationships in His Body.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Proverbs 1:5 (NASB95).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
The LORD has given us a prescription to fortify Believers against the sin of worry in Philippians 4. He then commands us to set our minds to think on whatever is true, honorable, just, excellent, lovely, or praiseworthy.
The connector between dispelling anxiety and directing our minds is thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving dispatches God’s heavenly garrison around our hearts and minds.
Thanksgiving is the key to having the mind of Christ uninterruptedly.
Thanksgiving causes us to refocus ourselves to view the whole life from the vantage point of God’s active role in it.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 (NASB95).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
According to newly released CDC data, there were 2.5 million cases of sexually transmitted diseases in 2022, including a rise in chlamydia and potentially deadly syphilis.
Syphilis attacks the heart and the brain and has increased 80% in the U.S. over the last five years. On the verge of eradication in 2000, syphilis cases have now exploded.
Many experts have opined that the increasing popularity of dating apps has facilitated the current “hook-up” culture where people meet for casual fornication.
We suffer when we reject God’s word.
“I will make mere lads their princes, and capricious children will rule over them.” Isaiah 3:4 (NASB95).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Special Counsel Robert Hur documented that Mr. Biden "willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice-presidency when he was a private citizen.” In some instances, the illegally possessed classified documents date back to the 70s and 80s.
Nevertheless, Hur added,
no criminal charges are warranted in this matter… at trial, Mr. Biden would likely present… as a well-meaning elderly man with poor memory.
In other words, the Special said Mr. Biden is not mentally competent enough to stand trial for his clear violations of the law. Soooo, how is he mentally competent enough to occupy the oval office?
“A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight.” Proverbs 11:1 (NASB95).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
In over two hours of arguments, SCOTUS Justices questioned the attorneys for the state of Colorado and former President Trump as to whether Colorado could lawfully exclude Mr. Trump from the November ballot.
All of the Justices seemed to indicate through their questions that they were not inclined to agree with State of Colorado. Even Justices who usually lean regressive balked at the notion that one state could determine whether a presidential candidate could be removed from the ballot.
The decision should be unanimous in upholding the constitution, which would also be in Mr. Trump’s favor.
“So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” Matthew 19:6 (ESV).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Jesus affirmed the creation of mankind in two sexes and the definition of marriage as the exclusive lifelong union of one man and one woman in Matthew 19. His affirmation solidified identity and marriage’s definition to the exclusion of any counterfeits.
In Ephesians 5, the Spirit of God conveys through Apostle Paul that the marital union is the only human institution that is a living, breathing illustration of Christ’s relationship to his bride, the church. That is why it is unsurprising that marriage is continuously attacked in this dark world.
“For the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10 (NASB95)
My name is Abraham Hamilton III, and this is the Hamilton Minute.
Jesus gets us, but do we get Him? Jesus is God. He left Heaven, came to Earth, lived among us—fully God and fully Man; to show us the way, to tell the truth, to give His life for us on the cross, and to conquer death by His resurrection. Tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He didn’t sin. And He loves us enough to pay the penalty for our sin. Don’t be fooled by those who say love means tolerance. No! Love means truth. Yes, Jesus gets us. Through repentance and faith, we can get Him…eternally!
"A wise man will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.” Proverbs 1:5 (NASB95).
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
As Solomon pronounced the entire purposed for the book of Proverbs in its first chapter he also noted that a wise man sets himself to hear, to learn, and to increase his knowledge as a result. That wise man, a man of understanding, also affirmatively seeks out wise counsel.
In short, the wise man knows that he doesn’t know it all. As a result, his course is set for continued accrual of wisdom. If you want to be wise, pursue sources of wisdom and learn from them. The greatest available wisdom source is God’s holy word.
“I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.” John 17:15 (NASB95)
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
In Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer recorded in John 17, He makes the observation that the world would hate His disciples. Yet, He follows that by praying not that His disciples would be removed from the world, but that we would be kept from the evil one.
As difficult as times have become, we Christ-followers must recognize that our God and King saved us and planted us in the world at this time intentionally. It would be an abdication of our assignment to adopt an escapist disposition. We’ve been ordained for this moment.
"Longing to see you, even as I recall your tears, so that I may be filled with joy.” 2 Timothy 1:4 (NASB95)
My name is Abraham Hamilton, III and this is The Hamilton Minute.
Paul’s second epistle to Timothy was written near the very end of Paul’s life, while he was incarcerated awaiting an imminent, albeit uncertain execution under Nero.
He begins chapter one of this epistle describing how he prayed for Timothy night and day and how he longed to see him. This reveals a fiber and texture that undergirded their relationship. Paul and Timothy loved each other deeply.
This deep and abiding reciprocal love is necessary to effective disciple making. Knowledge isn’t enough to make a disciple. The love of Christ must abound.
“And he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill for doing any work in bronze.”
My name is Abraham Hamilton III, and this is The Hamilton Minute.
This is a description recorded in scripture about a man named Hiram. His father was a Sidonian. His mother was an Israelite, of the tribe of Naphtali.
Because God filled Hiram with wisdom, understanding and skill for all manner of metalwork, Solomon summoned him from Tyre to work on the Lord’s temple.
We must understand, embrace and celebrate that God’s granting of wisdom includes our metalworkers, stone masons, carpenters, plumbers, truck drivers and more.
He gives wisdom for daily duty, and we need laborers filled with God’s wisdom.
