- araratchurch
- Mar 26, 2023
- 3 min read
“The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies.”
Esther 8:11 NLT
God through Jesus Christ has given us—not only the ability to fight—but the responsibility to do so.
For nearly 40 years I was over a women’s ministry. What I always wanted to see for the women who were under my teaching was that they become warriors, warrior princesses if you will, in the Kingdom of God. Some didn’t like it, but most did. In any case, it is what I have to give; it is what the Lord has put in me to say. But, make no mistake, the imperative to fight (in terms of our Christian walk) is for all Christians.
Indeed the apostle Paul talked about the armor of God; and I’m sure we are all aware that armor is meant for battle.
“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.”
Ephesians 6:11-13 NLT
We are even given special spiritual weapons with which we are to fight the battles we will face.
“We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ.”
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NLT
Ultimately, the main objective of our battle strategy in this life is to keep the faith. And, my dear friend, keeping the faith won’t always be easy; you must fight for it!
“Fight the good fight of the faith [in the conflict with evil]; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and [for which] you made the good confession [of faith] in the presence of many witnesses.”
1 Timothy 6:12 AMP
You see, we fight to KEEP our faith and BECAUSE of our faith. Faith is essential in our fighting as it provides a shield against the fiery arrows the enemy tries to thrust into our very souls.
“Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
Ephesians 6:16 AMP
In our opening scripture we see that the new decree sent out to all the Jews says that they have the right to fight when they are attacked. Bear in mind, the Jews who would choose not to fight, would, indeed, still lose their lives.
Just so, our New Covenant with God in Jesus Christ gives us the Good News that we don’t have to be destroyed by our sin. Jesus has paid the price for our freedom! But, if we refuse to fight and resist when the enemy comes against us, then we will fall far short of what God has prepared for us. Tragically, some who will not fight, will lose it all.
Oh, that we all will be able to say what the apostle Paul said just before his death:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:7-8 NLT
Having received the Good News, let us never surrender as we fight the good fight to lay hold of what Christ has made possible for us to obtain!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 25, 2023
- 3 min read
“So on June 25 the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Mordecai dictated. It was sent to the Jews and to the highest officers, the governors, and the nobles of all the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. The decree was written in the scripts and languages of all the peoples of the empire, including that of the Jews. The decree was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s signet ring. Mordecai sent the dispatches by swift messengers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king’s service.”
Esther 8:9-10 NLT
Just before Jesus was taken back up into heaven we know that He gave the disciples what we call the “Great Commission.”
“And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.”
Mark 16:15-16 NLT
Now, what every Christian must realize is that the Great Commission is for all believers, for everyone who has heard the Good News. Having heard, then receiving forgiveness of sins and life everlasting, there is the imperative to now tell those who have not yet been told.
God did a wonderful thing for us through Jesus Christ. Those who were formerly doomed to destruction are now given a way to life everlasting. Not only that, we are adopted as children of God through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; all made possible only through the cross of Christ.
Having been given such Good News ourselves, how can we fail to share the Good News with those who have not yet heard? Indeed, Paul put the urgency of sharing the Gospel, in no uncertain terms.
“For if I [merely] preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am compelled [that is, absolutely obligated to do it]. Woe to me if I do not preach the good news [of salvation]!”
1 Corinthians 9:16 AMP
In another place he clearly spells out the rationale behind the need to share the Good News we have heard.
“But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)? And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!””
Romans 10:14-15 AMP
Now, whereas some people receive a visitation from the Lord, leading them to Him, for the most part, the Gospel is only heard when someone shares it.
In our opening scripture we see that Esther and Mordecai are acting on the authority granted them by the king to tell all the Jews some very good news: they need not die. In fact, the new decree (trumping the former decree), would be of no use to those who had not heard it.
This brings us back to our responsibility to share what God has done through Jesus Christ with those who have not heard. Only eternity will show the ripple effect of bringing just one soul to Christ. So, if you have merited from the Good News of the Gospel, how can you not share what you know?
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
- araratchurch
- Mar 24, 2023
- 3 min read
“Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he stretched out his hand against the Jews. Also, concerning the Jews, write as you see fit, in the king’s name, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for a decree which is written in the king’s name and sealed with the king’s signet ring may not be revoked.””
Esther 8:7-8 AMP
Jesus had been preaching the Kingdom of God and healing the afflicted in a group of thousands. As the day passed, the disciples became concerned about the personal needs of the people.
“Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.” But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?” For there were about 5,000 men there. Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.””
Luke 9:12-14 NLT
Imagine how stymied the disciples must have been when Jesus met their concern with the instruction that they should feed the people. And, as we can see, they saw no way to do what He had instructed. They hadn’t yet learned that if the Lord tells us to do something, He will make sure that it will be done.
“Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people. They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!”
Luke 9:16-17 NLT
One secret to using the authority given us by Jesus Christ is to realize that we are acting on His word, in His authority; we are not trying to assume an authority originating and effectuated by our ability or our circumstances.
At another time, the disciples were asked to deliver a boy tormented by a demon. However, they were unable to do so. When Jesus heard about this He was upset with them.
“Jesus said to them, “You faithless people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.””
Mark 9:19 NLT
After rebuking the disciples, Jesus delivered the boy of the evil spirit. Afterward, the disciples wanted to know why they were not able to cast the demon out.
“When He had gone indoors, His disciples began asking Him privately, “Why were we unable to drive it out?” He replied to them, “This kind [of unclean spirit] cannot come out by anything but prayer [to the Father].””
Mark 9:28-29 AMP
We see that Jesus tells them that they lacked the preparation only prayer (some translations read “prayer and fasting”) can bring. We can only wield the Lord’s authority if we are spiritually prepared to do so.
You see, the power the Lord has delegated to us will do us no good if we are unprepared, unbelieving or unwilling.
For our opening scripture we return to the scripture we considered yesterday.
Yesterday we looked at the fact that something that cannot be revoked must be overpowered. Today we focus on the fact that no amount of granted authority will make a difference if we are unwilling or unprepared to use it.
Esther and Mordecai will use the authority delegated to them by the king. And that will make all the difference. But imagine how differently things might’ve turned out if they had failed to act on the authority given them, rather choosing to continue to beg the king to do something about it.
Our Lord has given us many wonderful promises as well as His Spirit through which we have the authority and ability to receive them. But, we have only ourselves to blame if we fail to receive because of our unwillingness or inability (resulting from lack of preparation) to act on the authority we’ve been given.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!