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MIDWEEK STUDY
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FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS
Esther 4:13-15 Amplified Bible (AMP)
Esther
4:16
New International
Version (NIV)
A NEW CHRISTIAN MOVIE HAS JUST PREMIERED CALLED “ONE NIGHT WITH THE KING”. It is the story of Queen Esther based on the Book of Esther. By all accounts, it is the most anointed and scriptural Christian movie ever to be released. And we, as Christians, should support it. Many Christians complain that there just isn’t any Christian entertainment-- well, here it is. If we support it and go out to see it (if you can go out) then they will continue to make more of these movies.
This movie is relevant to every age group, every ethnic culture, every race and every Geographical location. It is the story of how one person—in this case, and orphaned Jewish girl who lived in Persia (Iran) thousands of years ago changed the destiny of her whole race and the whole kingdom of Persia. If you want to find out more about the movie, go to http://www.8x.com/onenight/main.html .
The story is about a little Jewish orphan girl named Hadassah (Esther’s real name), whose family had been murdered by what we can only call terrorists who wanted to wipe out her people. She was raised by her cousin Mordecai, taught the principles of living a Godly life—and taught how to be in the presence of God. She was kind, intelligent and extremely beautiful. And, when she was still a very young women, she was captured by the kings soldiers and taken to the king’s palace to be put in a harem and prepared for 12 months in order to go and basically “audition” for the part of his wife and queen. Hundreds of other girls from many different backgrounds were captured at the same time.
Hadassah could have given way to despair—but she didn’t. She decided to make the very best of the situation. And she didn’t know that God was setting her up to be a deliverer and a life giver.
Long story short---she had incredible faith and won the favor of everyone who saw her. She was obedient to those in authority and didn’t think she knew it all. She took counsel from those with wisdom and maturity. And when it was her turn to go to the king, she won his favor. He fell in love with her and made her his queen.
But then, an evil man who was part of the group of people that wanted to wipe out Esther’s people became the king’s chief advisor. He used his position to further his agenda and he convinced the king that the Jews were a threat to his kingdom. He conceived a plot to kill every single Jew in the dominion of the King of Persia. He got the king to sign off and make it a law that could not be rescinded.
As queen in the palace, Esther did not even hear about this until her cousin Mordecai sent word to her. He begged her to go to the king and intercede for the lives of her people. But, Esther had not been called into he king’s presence for quite a while and the law was that if anyone went before the king without being specifically invited by him, they were instantly put to death by the guards that surrounded the king---unless the king decided to make an exception and hold out the golden scepter. This had never before happened and there was real cause to believe he would be angry and would not do this. He often acted in anger. That’s how he had deposed his last queen.
The two pivotal parts of this story are when Mordecai tells Esther “Who knows if you have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this” and when Esther decides to risk her life to go before the king and plead for the lives of her people. She said Get everyone to fast for me for three days. I will do the same and then I will go in to see the king (which is not according to the law) and “If I perish, I perish”. And she meant it.
Whoever you are, whatever your condition, you were born for such a time as this. You have come to the kingdom (of God) for such a time as this. There are no accidents of birth. One person can change the course of history. You can change the course of history.
But, to effect such a change, we have to have the attitude of Esther. “I will fast and pray and then do what is necessary to save God’s people—no matter what it costs. And, if I die trying—so be it.”
Right now, I can just about hear some groans. Tell you the truth, I’m groaning inside. I think of the pain and the nausea and the exhaustion and I think “How could I ever promise to do more? How would I have the strength?” And yet, I know that God will only ask me to do what is necessary—what is meant for me—and would always give me the ability and strength to do whatever He was asking me to do—no matter what that would be.
And if I fail to attempt to do something I was born for—something that would mean deliverance for my people, could I and my family expect to be kept safe? I don’t think so. First of all, we always reap what we sow.
What does that mean for us today? You and I have a calling on our lives. “But, I’m sick!” you might exclaim. Or, “I’m in prison” or “I’m in a wheelchair” or “I’m homeless”. Or “I can’t even walk out my front door. I’m confined to my house.”
None of that makes any difference. You are only called to do what God tells you to do and, whatever God tells you to do will be something you are capable of doing ONLY IF GOD ANOINTS YOU AND GIVES YOU FAVOR. And, that is true for everyone. A person who is in great health and is influential does not have any more advantage than we do. We are called for a purpose and only God can give us the strength, wisdom, creativity, and favor to do the job.
In essence, what I’m saying is that God calls EVERYONE to do what they are not capable of doing unless GOD GIVES THEM A MIRACLE. And, on the other hand, no one can say “I can’t do what God is telling me to do” because God will anoint and empower them. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.
How many of you know the story of Joni Erikson Tada? She was paralyzed in a diving accident when she was a teenager. She is a quadriplegic—and her life and ministry has touched millions. More than she would have touched if she was well. God anointed and empowered her. If you want to know more about her, you can go to... http://www.joniandfriends.org/ and read her story.
I’m not going to belabor the point. I’m just going to challenge you today to ask God what it is that you have been born to do? Why have you come to the Kingdom for such a time as this. God will tell you and He will enable you to do it. And if you ask Him, He will even make you willing to do it. You just have to be willing to be made willing.
Esther and her people fasted and prayed for deliverance. There is a fast that comes from the throne of God. It is a fast that brings healing, restoration, deliverance, and life. I am reading this today and I want to share it with you so that you can read it too.
"Is not this
the kind of fasting I have chosen:
7
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
8
Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
9
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
10
and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
11
The LORD will guide you always;
12
Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
13
"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
14
then you will find your joy in the LORD,
REMEMBER, PRAYER IS NOT THE LEAST YOU CAN DO---ITS' THE MOST IMPORTANT THING AND THE MOST POWERFUL. and it's something we all can do! |
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