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Jul 16, 2007

Swimming Upstream

Background: Esther 3-4 I have been complacent in my prayer life recently and this lesson from Esther just stirred my heart to continue standing in the gap till my work is done-either I have fully failed or fully succeeded, but not to give up in the middle of trying.

In these 2 chapters from Esther, Haman has been appointed in a place of authority and people must bow down to him as per King Xerxes' command. Mordecai refuses to do so and this brings a death sentence on all the Jews, just for this one man Mordecai. Mordecai then urges Esther to go before the king and plead their case. For Esther it is a time of testing, she hasn't been summoned by the king for a long time and as per Persian law, anyone who seeks audience with the king without the king's summon could be put to death, unless the king would raise their scepter toward them for entry.

Lessons I learnt

  1. When you don't bow down to the enemy, it's highly likely he will attack not only you but all who are connected to you-When we decide not to go the way satan is taking the world, he sure doesn't like it and will make sure that not only you but all connected to you will suffer for your standing.

  2. Though the enemy may seem to have authority to defeat/destroy you, God already has planned your escape route, are you ready to walk it- Though Haman had the king's signet ring to authorise the killing of all Jews, God had already placed the a key person for the Jews on the same turf-Esther, she was already in the king's house even before all this began. God was ready for this decree even when the Jews and even Esther was not.

  3. Do whatever it takes to work out you and your people's freedom-From the current situation, Esther being in the king's palace, she was the only one who had access to talk to the king on behalf of the Jews. Mordecai urges her Esther 4:13-15 "...Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" And Esther's decision to have herself and all the Jews fast for her before she goes before the king, with this determination "I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16)
Conclusion: Whenever I feel complacent about praying or sharing the message from Jesus Christ to someone in my family or someone in my knowing who does not know the Lord I remind myself of this-what would I do if I see a person drowning right before my eyes, when I know swimming and the person doesn't, will I sit and watch them go down or am I going to jump in and desperately and frantically try to bring them out of the water at any cost, even at the cost of my life. For I know where I will go when I die, but what about those that have been brought into my life, am I desperate enough as in a life or death situation to be moved and urged to bring them out?
Ezekiel 33:6 "But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood."
Dear Lord Jesus, remove every bit of complacency in me and fill me up with Your Passion for the people in this world, that You being God did not care about giving up Your life, so that we may be saved and live eternally. If it was so important to You that our lives be saved, teach me to be as passionate as You are about our lives. Fill me with the urgency to pray, to share the Word of God and demonstrate Your love and do whatever it takes to bring them to the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Saviour, that they too may be saved and enjoy Your Love for them. Who else could tell them except we Your body, Your eyes, Your hands and Your feet. Help me Lord and move me with passion for Your children who are lost and for whom only I could speak.
Amen

3 comments :

Sista Cala said...

Thanks for the nudge. We all get complacent at times. That is why we have the Word and the Spirit to stir us to action.

As you talked about bringing freedom to others, I remembered the passage about Paul and Silas singing praises in the jail. If I remember right, everyone's bands were loosed. It is a powerful thing to bring deliverance to others through our obedience and worship.

audrey` said...

Hi Godzheart
This is another good post.
Well done!

God is just a prayer away =)

Diane Viere said...

Here by way of Sista Cala and Beneath the Ivy Wreath. So glad to find another Minnesota Blogger!

I love your post! Too often we find ourselves in such complacency...more often, it is because I am paralyzed with fear and can't muster the energy to do anything! Still, it takes just a prayer....to be refreshed, a prayer plugs us into His Resurrection Power! Thanks for the reminder...I am off to reconnect!

Diane