- araratchurch
- Mar 20, 2023
- 3 min read
"Then Esther went again before the king, falling down at his feet and begging him with tears to stop the evil plot devised by Haman the Agagite against the Jews. Again the king held out the gold scepter to Esther. So she rose and stood before him.”
Esther 8:3-4 NLT
There’s a story in the Bible concerning an incident that happened when the king of Israel went to see the dying prophet, Elisha. While he was there, Elisha had him shoot an arrow out the window and told him that that arrow was an arrow of victory; Israel would have victory over the enemy. Then Elisha instructed him to beat the arrows on the ground:
“Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground,” and he struck it three times and stopped. So the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Aram until you had destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times.””
2 Kings 13:18-19 AMP
In some of Elisha‘s last words he expressed to the king of Israel the importance of persisting.
Now, we might ask why Elisha didn’t say to take the arrows and beat them as many times as he could. Well, it seems as though the Lord was seeing what was in the king of Israel; would he just do the bare minimum? Or would he keep on until the prophet said to stop?
It’s not that the Lord was trying to trick the king; it was a visual example of why the king would not have total victory over the enemy.
In the book of James we are told that prayer is powerful when it is fervent and persistent.
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].”
James 5:16 AMP
Jesus expressed the importance of not stopping until you get what the Lord has promised.
“Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.”
Matthew 7:7-8 AMP
We have used the Amplified version here because it expresses what the original hearer of these words would have heard. It’s not a matter of just going through the motions of asking, or seeking, or knocking; it’s a matter of being committed to ask, seek, and knock, until you receive, find, and gain entrance.
In our opening scripture we see that Esther is again putting everything on the line and beseeching the king for the lives of her people. Now, she knows that she is safe, as well as Mordecai. In fact, they are not only safe, they are now in the ruling class. But, the answer she seeks is for all of the Jews to be saved; and she’s not about to stop until she sees that happen. Yes, she’s all in. If her people are not saved, it won’t be because she failed to be persistent.
Friend, if there are promises from the Lord that you’re still waiting on, rather than just waiting, become persistent in your prayer, persistent in your expectation, and persistent in your obedience. Believe me, the promise will be well worth the effort.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 18, 2023
- 2 min read
“The king took off his signet ring—which he had taken back from Haman—and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Haman’s property.”
Esther 8:2 NLT
Have you ever heard of a signet ring? These days, generally it is a ring bearing one or more initials. However, in its rich history, the signet ring was once used by rulers of all sorts to verify and authorize documents. The signet ring was generally worn on the smallest finger and bore some official image. It would be used to make an impression on the wax placed over the seal of a document.
The word “signet,” comes from the Latin word “signum,” meaning “sign.” Interestingly, when we put our name on a document we call that “signing.” Additionally, that name on the document is called a “signature.”
Ultimately, whether in the form of a signet ring or an official signature, it’s about giving legitimacy and power to that on which it is found.
In the book of Haggai we see an interesting use of a reference to a signet ring:
““Tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth. I will overthrow royal thrones and destroy the power of foreign kingdoms. I will overturn their chariots and riders. The horses will fall, and their riders will kill each other. “But when this happens, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, I will honor you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant. I will make you like a signet ring on my finger, says the Lord, for I have chosen you. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!””
Haggai 2:21-23 NLT
This prophecy most certainly references Zerubbabel per se, but as well, it is a forward looking word concerning the ultimate King Who was to come: Jesus Christ.
Indeed, the Lord received the seal of approval from His father when the dove, not only descended upon Him, but remained on Him at the occasion of His baptism.
“Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’”
John 1:32-33 NLT
As followers of Christ, we too receive the seal of God by way of His Holy Spirit.
“In Him, you also, when you heard the word of truth, the good news of your salvation, and [as a result] believed in Him, were stamped with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit [the One promised by Christ] as owned and protected [by God].”
Ephesians 1:13 AMP
Even though we had relinquished our authority to the enemy of our souls, God through Jesus Christ, has reinstated us to sonship and has given us His seal of authority.
In our opening scripture we see that the king takes the signet ring he had entrusted to Haman and transfers it—with its authority—to Mordecai. No better picture of what God has done for us through Jesus Christ could be presented. Haman’s authority, won by deceit, is stripped from him and given to the one he sought so diligently to destroy.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 17, 2023
- 2 min read
“On that same day King Xerxes gave the property of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther. Then Mordecai was brought before the king, for Esther had told the king how they were related.”
Esther 8:1 NLT
I remember something my father would say: “Be careful how you treat people on your way up the ladder because you might have to face them again on your way back down.” In other words, the people over whom we might have the occasion to flaunt our power, may one day be in a position to exact retribution!
Think of the power shift that happened between Joseph and his brothers. When last he had seen them he was looking up from a pit, begging for his life. But the day came—as had been prophesied—when he had great power over them. Now they feared for their lives.
“Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, "Make everyone go out from me." So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.”
Genesis 45:1-3 ESV
The Lord can and does suddenly shift the power dynamic in the here and now.
““I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’ I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists! It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall. For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked, but I will increase the power of the godly.””
Psalms 75:4, 7, 10 NLT
But make no mistake, the mother of all power shifts will come when the Lord Himself rules and reigns on earth. And, we will reign with Him!
“Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.”
Daniel 7:27 NLT
In our opening scripture we see that on the same day Haman is executed on the gallows meant for Mordecai, Esther is given all of Haman’s possessions. After all, it doesn’t take long for the Lord to tip the scales in the direction of His people.
If there are people in your life using their power over you in an abusive way, just remember, God sees and knows all; and ultimately, He holds the balance of power in His hands.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!