While God is not mentioned by name in the book of Esther, we see God’s providence at work. Elder Chris explains that there are two extreme views of God’s role in this world. One view, Absolutism, is that God orchestrates everything that happens. The other, Deism, is that God set the world in motion and simply watches. Neither is a biblical description of the God we serve. God is a God of providence, stepping in when needed. Elder Chris proclaims that just as God delivered His people time and time again throughout Scripture, He does the same for us today.

Elder Chris recaps that although we have the Spirit dwelling within us, we still contend with the old man in our physical bodies, not yet redeemed. We are waiting for the Lord’s second coming, when He will raise our physical bodies. Elder Chris explains that Christ paid the price for our body, soul, and spirit. If our bodies are not raised on the last day, then Christ’s resurrection would not be true, and our efforts in vain. The Apostle Paul reminds us that we patiently wait in hope for what we cannot yet see. Meanwhile, the Spirit helps us in our infirmities and doubts, interceding with the Father in ways that we cannot fully understand.

The Apostle Paul describes the experiences we have because we are in Christ. Although we will face suffering in this world, it is not worthy to be compared with the glory that will one day be revealed in us. Elder Chris explains that our lives on earth are brief when compared to eternity with our Lord in Heaven. Because we are in the Lord Jesus Christ, the new man within us, though still bound to this earthly body, will one day be delivered from the bondage of corruption into complete liberty. Until then, there is a groaning within us as we eagerly await the redemption of our bodies.

This video contains the baptisms of Brother Gabriel Connor and Brother Wyatt Kuder.