Stand In Love

The second feast was over. The food had been delicious. The company had been delightful. In fact, the whole affair would have seemed splendid and joyful to anyone looking on from the sidelines. However, King Ahasuerus knew better.

First of all, Queen Esther kept giving Haman funny looks. It was a cross of pure anger and fear, crammed into a box of reserved, forced dignity. She was cordial and social, but something was clearly going on there. What was that about? 

Second, it was the way she looked at him. Thankfully, it was different then the way she was looking at Haman, but he wouldn't say this look was better. Her expression looked...wounded. Scared for sure, but hurting. And all he knew for certain was that he was responsible for that look.

Ever since he had held out his scepter to her, things had changed. He knew it, could feel it. He had changed. Esther had become more important to him than anything else. He would do anything to heal her hurt and put a smile on her face.

"What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled." This was the third time he had asked this question. It was his offering of love. His attempt at drawing her into the open. His way of saying, "You can trust me."

Esther's eyes sparked with holy fire against her bronze face. The dark color of her hair combined with the sapphire blue of her robes gave her a truly stunning affect. But her expression said it all: She was going to trust him.

"If I have found favor in your sight, oh king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king."

What in all the world? How could this have happened? "Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?"

"A foe and enemy!" Esther held his gaze and nodded to Haman. "This wicked Haman!" Esther was done being cordial now. She could no longer hide her disdain for Haman.

Haman? How?-The Jewish nation! Haman had convinced him that they were troublesome, treasonous people. Truthfully, the Jewish people had never given them any problems. He never would have approved of Haman's plan if he had know they were Esther's people!

A brutal, furious growl escaped his lips, and Haman looked terrified before him and his queen.

And so he should.

Based on Esther 7:1-6

I've always wondered why Esther had the king and Haman come to those two dinners before she told the king what her deal was. Did God tell her to do that? Was she trying to get the king away from his advisers? Was she trying to butter him up? I've always assumed she was scared, but I think there was more to it then that. I think anguish played into this decision.

I wonder at what point did it pop into Esther's head, "My husband just signed off on the murder of my whole family without batting an eye." While Esther's origins were kept secret, the knowledge that he had agreed to this plan under any circumstance must have been heartbreaking. Maybe even a part of her felt betrayed. It was difficult enough going before a temperamental king, but going before a temperamental king when she was hurting, scared, vulnerable, and perhaps a little bit angry, that would have been difficult. I think the dinners were more then biding her time and trying to figure out what and how to say it; I think Esther was trying to answer this question, "Do I trust this man whose let me down in the past?" And more importantly, "Do I trust God enough to trust this man?"

While Esther was trying to remain standing, the king was still standing with his olive branch extended. King Ahasuerus was standing in love for Esther.

"Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." 1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4:32

King Ahasuerus was trying to build Esther up. He was being kind and compassionate. He was trying to encourage her and her faith in him. He was being devoted. He was honoring her and her wishes first. This scary, fireball of a king was putting Esther first.

Hang onto your hats, but do we act like King Ahasuerus?

Do we, as followers of Christ, stand in love for others? Despite our failures. Despite how we may have wronged them. Our hearts should always be to build others up in God, to love on them, and put them first. Don't let past mistakes weigh you down and affect your loving responses for the present. If King Ahasuerus can switch gears and do it, then so can we!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whoever believers in him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

There is One Who stood in love for all of us. He encourages us. Builds us up nice and strong. He is kind and compassionate. He put our lives before His own. He died for us-despite our many, many failures and all the ways we have betrayed Him. Do we, as His followers, stand in His love for others?

"Overcomers!"

"He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. Revelation 21:7

In Mark chapter 2 there is a story about four men who carried a paralytic to Jesus to be healed. When they couldn't get close because of the obstacle of the crowd, they ..."uncovered the roof where Jesus was and when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the paralytic was lying. When Jesus saw their faith..." You know the story. Jesus did what He always does when He gets a glimpse of faith. He forgives sin, heals and restored a life.

In Exodus 17:11-12 we see a time when Moses needed the help and support of a friends to be able to do what was needed for Joshua and the army of Israel to overcome the Amalekites. ...And so it was, when Moses held up his hand that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

In both these cases there was someone to help do what needed to be done to overcome! Those four friends did what they had to when they went to extreme measures and got him up onto and through the roof. They knew that if they could put him in the presence of Jesus it would be enough! Aaron and Hur physically had to support the arms of Moses all day long till the sun went down in order to overcome the enemy.

Today is about being a friend that is willing to overcome obstacles! Today is about being the support that is sometimes needed to win the victory! Caleb quieted the people before Moses and spoke these words "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." Numbers 13:30 Today, these are my words to you! It is time to overcome! If you have a friend that has been paralyzed by whatever? Lift them up! Jesus saw 'their' faith as the paralytic was dropped through the roof. If you have someone you care about that needs some extra help or support, do what needs doing. Lift them up. Get them before him. Lay hold of their healing for them. Support them in whatever way they need. Today is about overcoming the obstacles that have prevented them from being in His presence. The crowd was an obstacle; they went through the roof. Moses' heavy arms were an obstacle to overcoming; they plopped him on a rock and supported his arms. 

Jesus said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." John 16:33  Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit overcame death, hell and the grave. Jesus and that same wonder working power can overcome whatever you got going! Whatever has you paralyzed at the end of this day  people around you will be declaring the same things that the crowd declared as that paralytic and his friends left... "We have never seen anything like this!"

Lord, we are here today to take ground for the kingdom on behalf of those we love. Lord, right now we are breaking through roofs, finding rocks to support and lifting up heavy arms. Right now we are putting them before you in faith, Lord. Even now, in this moment we would stand in the gap for them just as you did for us as you suffered on the cross. Lord,  at this very moment I can see the time when you healed ten lepers in a single moment. Lord, I know that you are well able to touch every person; every need that is being lifted up to you. Lord, touch blood pressure, blood sugar, and kidney issues. Lord, we speak health, wholeness and restoration! Lord strengthen hearts! Renew vision!  Lord, touch and raise up those that are paralyzed both physically and spiritually! We speak, loudly and clearly, and with the utmost confidence and faith to any and all fear that; We have overcome!

Your an Overcomer! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z29olPjFbqg

Who Can Stand Against Us?

Queen Esther kept giving him funny looks.

Her Majesty had unlawfully come into the King's court today. Haman had thought she would be killed on the spot, but King Ahasuerus had extended his scepter-and life-to her. Haman might have pushed the issue with the King, but turns out Queen Esther was inviting the King and himself to a banquet. Haman was certain there was more to this story, and time would tell all the succulent details. He would certainly be among the first to know. For now he would drink wine and be merry.

No one else had been invited to the banquet the lovely Queen Esther had prepared! Haman figured that said something about his rank, his status in this kingdom. Indeed, it said something about Haman in general. He was above them all.

But a short time later, Haman did not feel so jubilant. He saw Mordecai at the king's gate. It did not surprise him that Mordecai did not rise or tremble with awe before him, but it still filled him with rage. Why, he had just been dinning with the King and Queen! To come out here, and see such insolence was outrageous. He wanted to run Mordecai through, right then and there! He could not wait any longer.

Inhaling sharply, Haman restrained himself and went home. He would send for his friends and his wife, Zeresh. He would recount his glory and success. His favor and honor. His riches, splendor, and advancements. Even the magnificent number of sons he had.

Haman did just that. They fawned all over him, acting as if he were king himself. "Even Queen Esther let not one but me come with the King to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the King." Mordecai's face flashed before him. Haman scrunched his eyes closed in agony and frustration, for it was all meaningless. "Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

"What if Mordecai wasn't at the king's gate? What if he was dead?"

His eyes popped open. "What do you mean?"

"What if a gallows was built?" His friend said.

"Fifty cubits high!" His wife added.

"And in the morning, petition the King to have Mordecai hanged upon it! Then you can go joyfully to your feast," said another.

This was perfect. This way Haman would be rid of Mordecai immediately. Once and for all.

Haman was feeling better already.

Based on Esther 5:4-14

It was choices that led Haman to this point, this point on the opposite lines of God. We always need to remember that the stands and choices we make can raise us up, or separate us from God. In Esther 3 we see that Haman choose to avenge his pride. From there, it morphed into a stand against God's people, and God Himself.

"I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." Genesis 12:3

"The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you.They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways." Deuteronomy 28:7

"But the multitude of your foreign foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff." Isaiah 29:5a

"At evening time, behold, terror! Before morning, they are no more! This is the portion of those who loot us, and the lot of those who plunder us." Isaiah 17:14

Haman choose to stand against Mordecai. It was the wrong stand. He choose to stand against one of God's people, and as we can see from the above verses, that doesn't end to well for the challengers. The Bible is filled with examples of men and women who stood against God and His people. And we always see God rise up, and avenge His people, defend His people, and deliver His people. We see Haman come to such a realization in Esther 6. We talked about how Haman had to take Mordecai through the city, proclaiming how the king delighted in Mordecai. Oh, how God arranges things! That must have annoyed him so much! Then in Esther 6:12-13 we see the people in Haman's life say, "Dude, Mordecai is of the Jewish people. You are already starting to fall before him. You will not overcome him. You're going down." It's so awesome knowing that our Father, our God, our King will take care of us like that!

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31

Indeed, who can stand against us? As long as we walk with Jesus, nothing, no one, not even the prince of darkness can stand against us.

"Reserved For God"

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:1-2

Today I would like to put a thought out there before you to consider. I was watching Jason Castro on I am Second and he was talking about what it meant to him to be able to sing Hallelujah before millions of people. At one point he said these words, "Even the word Hallelujah is a special word, and its a word reserved for God." I really liked the whole interview but these words have just been hanging around my spirit ever since. This thought that this special word is reserved for God; it made me stop and to think about what else is reserved for God? I alluded to it about our trust being due God at the end of Thursdays message.

So what is it about this word that makes it special? Why is it a word that is reserved for God?The word Hallelujah simply means; praise ye Jah; and it is an adoring exclamation! It is reserved for God because it is about Him and it is for Him alone! I looked it up and I only found it listed in the Word four times in the New Testament in Revelations 19:1,3,4,6 where it was being sung by the elders and the saints in Heaven. Interesting?

The words "Reserved for God." are still hanging around so lets consider what else in our lives besides this special word, that represents our adoration, is reserved for God? What else can we do or say that will give Him the praise and adoration that is due Him? As I was pondering this thought all the usual things came to mind, you know, praise, worship, prayer, the Word, trust, obedience, etc. and then the Holy Spirit brought this verse in Romans to mind ...that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, (you know your life) holy, acceptable, to God which is your reasonable service..." According to this verse it is a reasonable expectation that we bring our whole life before Him. He then goes on to say that out of that bringing, out of that reasonable service is this thought; that we need to be transformed! Too often this verse is quoted without verse two and you can't. You can't stop this thought at the word service, you have to keep going because the word 'And' means there is more to this thought about our reasonable service.

The more is this ... its not just our bodies its also our thoughts. It tells us to 'not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind' It tells us to do that for a purpose. ..."to prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." We need to not think or act like the world but to be a living, walking, talking. breathing, servant of the Lord. That happens as we are renewed in our mind. Our thoughts are important and they should be thoughts of Him. If we will renew our thoughts then we will with our whole life be reserved for Him! ... a chosen generation, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim His praises...1 Peter 2:9

His thoughts will be our thoughts and we will know His good, acceptable, perfect will. As we surrender our bodies, our thoughts, our words, our actions etc, we are transformed and we become a people reserved for Him.  A people who know that it is His good and perfect will in their lives that is reserved only for Jah!


Link if you would like to see the I am Second interview.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaKoE2lm7XY&list=LLI-IGlZtrVMGzeC5wbvs8OA&index=3

Choose to Stand

King Ahasuerus was annoyed. Annoyed with this court. Annoyed with his advisers. Annoyed with the people. They were all one blunder away from really unleashing his anger. He flipped his hand towards a servant, motioning that his cup be refilled, and continued barking out orders and instructions. They were all moving in petrified obedience, not even daring to raise their face to his.

King Ahasuerus heard the doors open, and those towards the back of the court looked to see who dared enter, for he had not called anyone to the court. He heard a collective gasp, but could not see who they were staring at from his throne. Then the herald announced his visitor, "Queen Esther, your majesty."

Time seemed to slow down. The people parted from around her as water flows around a rock in the middle of a river. She looked beautiful! Her robes cascaded around her eloquently, and her head and throat sparkled from all the jewels, giving her the appearance of almost glowing.

And she looked right at him! Eyes staring deep into his soul. They spoke a message of determination, mixed with fear. She knew exactly what she was doing. She was here for a reason. Something great enough that it drove her to risk death itself, just for the chance to speak to him.

Should he be angry? In the past he would have been angry, had her executed. For a fleeting second, he struggled about what to do. Idiot. He chided himself. He loved her! He slowly started to smile, and let the emotion spread through him. Raising his scepter, he held it out towards her, as a beacon of love and life.

He watched in amusement and anguish as his queen stood there shell-shocked for a moment. She walked towards him, dignified and resplendent. She touched the tip of his scepter, looking at him in earnest, her eyes asking him, "What happens next?"

Boldly he declared, "What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom."

Based on Esther 5:2-3

In the book of Esther, King Ahasuerus makes very few decisions by himself. He had been letting his own rage, the pressure of how his wise men thought the kingdom should be run, and the evil motives of Haman dictate the show. You see this mighty king easily given to anger and peer pressure.  You don't see him make decisions all his own, from his heart, until Esther comes into the picture, and he chooses her.

King Ahasuerus makes a real stand when he spies Queen Esther standing in the court. He holds out his scepter to her, offering her life. He choose not to be offended at her blunt approach and obvious disregard for the law. If there were any advisers in the court who were offended, he chose not to listen to them. He chose love. He chose life. He chose to choose for himself.

"So that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." Ephesians 4:14-15

Are our decisions based on anger? Are they based on what other people think? Are they based on selfish motives? Who is really making the decisions in our lives? As the body of Christ, shouldn't our decisions be based on love, life, and becoming more like our Lord Jesus? If we really want to grow into Christ in every way, we can't let the devil's ploys manipulate and influence us.

For those reading this who want to choose, who don't want to hide, who want to live for God, this message is for you. Choose to stand. Choose to stand for real. Choose Christ. Don't let them manipulate you any longer. Today, you choose to stand for yourself, for Jesus, for life. Amen!

"Abundance Of His Heart"

You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel I anointed you king... And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the lord, to do evil in His sight?..."  2 Samuel 12:7-9

These words were spoken to David by Nathan the prophet after David had killed Uriah the Hittite in order to cover his sin with Bathsheba and I don't know what you see, what you feel as you read these words, but what I see and feel at this very moment is the heart of the Father. I see a heart that feels pain, a heart that grieves when we don't trust Him, when we don't look to Him! ... "And if that had been too little, I also would have given you so much more..."

Even though Uriah was a Hittite he must have known and worshiped God. According to the Strong's his name meant; flame of God. David killed Uriah because as James 1:14-15 puts it; he was tempted and drawn away by his own desire and enticed. Desire was conceived and gave birth to sin; sin when it was full-grown brought death. Believe it or not but today's message isn't about David's sin its about God's heart.

Jesus said, and I know I keep coming back to this, but Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks"...And the thought that I had was this. Doesn't that apply to our Heavenly Father as well? Out of the abundance of His heart, doesn't he speak? I heard someone say this week that He used the words, "Fear not!" 365 times throughout the Bible. The opposite of fear is trust. Every time you see someone using the words, "Don't be afraid." in a movie, the words, "Trust Me" aren't far behind. Every time you see the words, "Fear not" in the word, look closely and you'll see the heart of the Father saying,"Trust Me, I'll do what I say I will!" in the words that follow.

David killed Uriah to cover the fact that he had despised the word of the Lord when he took His eyes off God and His direction for his life. He started turning them elsewhere and before He knew it he was standing before the prophet, Nathan hearing these words, "You are that man! ....And if it had been too little, I also would have given you so much more!"

"But truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord---
because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not headed My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it." Numbers 14:21-24

If you read this whole account in numbers you see clearly that the heart of the Father is once again grieved because of a lack of trust in Him. They had taken their eyes off of His word and His ability to bring it to pass. This account, like the one with David, shows us that His heart was grieved. They had seen Him on ten different occasions show His glory through signs and wonders, and still they didn't wholly trust Him. He said that Caleb was different and if you think back, Caleb had his eyes, not on the giants in the land, but the provision and the promise of God to give it to them.

How often do we like Peter take our eyes off of what He says and look at the storm? Jesus spoke one word. "Come." Peter was out of the boat. He was doing the impossible at one word from Jesus. He was walking on water! It was only after the miracle took place that he looked away and focused on the storm. It was then that he became afraid and began to sink. Jesus responds with words that we can all quote, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Is their a touch of sadness with those words?

David killed or extinguished the life of Uriah (Flame of God) by not continuing to trust God. The people didn't get to enter into the Promised Land because they didn't trust God despite all He had done. Peter sank in fear because he stopped trusting in the word that Jesus had just spoken to him to come.

I don't know about you but I don't want to kill the fire of God in my life because I get caught up looking at the lusts of the flesh, cares of the world, or the deceitfulness of riches. I don't want to miss out on the abundance of all that He has promised and prepared for me because I take for granted all that He has already done. I don't want to miss out on something as amazing as walking on water, signs, wonders, and miracles because I'm afraid and looking at the storms. Most of all, I don't want His heart to grieve because my trust is not in Him!

"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." He speaks! He spoke! He sent His word; His walking, talking, living, breathing word in the flesh! That we might believe! That we might put our trust in Him! ...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14  Every time we look at a word or a deed that Jesus said or did we should see the heart of the Father speaking, "I love you! Trust Me!" After all, He sent the walking, talking, living, breathing Word in the flesh... that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly! John 10:10

Jesus said, "Render unto God what is due God and to Caesar what is due Caesar."  A lack of trust on our part brings grief to His heart because trust is something that we ought to render unto Him!

He has proved Himself faithful!

The Stand of Your Life

Esther was out of time.

Three days had passed so quickly. Today was the day. The day Esther would go to the king. Possibly the last day of her life.

She stood on the balcony of her personal chambers, just trying to gather her barrings. Humidity settled on her like a blanket. Warm air filled her lungs, and consoled her heart, as if to say, "There, there, Esther."

"If I perish, I perish." Her words had haunted her every thought for three days. Hoping and praying for some other form of deliverance. An easier way that didn't involve her. Was it too late to get out of this? Probably so, but that wouldn't stop her from begging Yahweh for a way out of this mess one last time.

It was time.

Making her way back inside her chambers, the young maidens helped her dress. They hardly said a word. They had been praying and fasting with Esther for three days now, and they knew the weight of this decision. So instead of chattering, they brought her finest royal robes, and intricately wove her hair into an elaborate vision of curls and jewels. However, all too soon they were done.

Her palms were sweating, and her heart was beating so fast, she almost thought it would quit out of sheer exhaustion. She made her way towards the king's court, each step proclaiming her impending doom. The massive doors loomed before her, and the luxurious fabrics of her robes swirled to a stop around her legs. This was it. The herald looked at her expectantly, but she shook her head, signaling for him to wait.

There's still time to run and pretend like you never came. Oh, how Esther wanted to do just that! But there was no chance she would run. Mordecai was right; she had been brought here for such a time as this. She would do her part. She had given the outcome, and her life, into Yahweh's hands.

Esther nodded to the herald, and as he announced her unauthorized visit, she stepped into the king's court.

It was time to see what Yahweh had in store.

Based on Esther 4:16-5:1

This is Esther's big stand. As soon as those doors flung open and Esther went into the king's court that is when she made her big stand of faith. That is when Esther put some action behind her bold words. It's one thing to say, "I'll go to the king, and if I perish, I perish." It's another to actually put your life in the hands of an unpredictable king and his potential rage.

"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." Luke 16:10

 This verse is normally used for it's obvious context, and I know we looked at that earlier, but this statement was never just meant to pacify, console, and admonish. It was also meant as an inheritance. If you are faithful in the little things, then you will get big things.

Esther had been faithful in the little things God had put before her. God was giving her a big thing, a call, a destiny. Would she be faithful to follow it?

There comes a day, a time, a place, when God calls upon each of us to make a stand for Him. It is not a little stand. It is not a training stand. It's not a stand for someone else. It is a stand God has given uniquely to you. Your "for such a time as this." If you have been faithful, that day will come.

What matters next is your action. Will you stand-even if it costs your life? We say we would be willing to die for our Lord, but what if that moment actually came?

Esther's stand said, "I am willing to die for this, for my God, for His will." All the fluff disappeared in that court room. She had given it all to God.

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'" Luke 9:23-24

My friends, will you stand for God, even if it means losing your life, and thus finding it in God? It is the stand of your life, given wholly to God.