|
Arise Esther! Celebrating Purim*
The Jewish celebration of Purim “feast” is known as the most joyful one, and is for all people to remember how God used Esther to save the Jews in her day. In our Christian walk, we should recognize that we are indeed alive, called, and placed by God “for such a time as this.” This word is what the Holy Spirit spoke to me, in a sense retelling this Bible story, and explaining how it applies to us today:
“Hear O Church! Arise and walk in the spirit of Esther! Beloved, you are to look at Queen Esther's example in her dealing with Haman to know how to deal with this treachery brewing in Iran. This wicked plot to destroy Israel has come up to your Father's nostrils as a stench! How foolish is this? This leader's pride is like Haman's in the book of Esther. He is of the spirit Haman. Does he not know that the God of Israel's chosen people are hidden everywhere - even within Iran's own top ranks? Your intercessions will bring this man's plotting to ruin! PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM!
“Go to this book, Church. Esther was a type and a shadow for you to follow. You are My lovely and chosen bride. You are the one who can turn My head with your beauty and your grace. Come and ask of Me now. Purify yourselves and come into My chambers. I will make known to you how to pray. This is a love story that I gave you for instruction!
“Haman thought he was so high and so great that all should bow down to him. When My servant Mordecai refused to bow to him, it made him furious. Haman learned Mordecai was Jewish. He sought to kill all Jews because of his hatred for Mordecai. He wanted to purge the world of My people because one man refused to bow to him. So he went to the king of Persia, King Ahasuerus and received the king's permission to write letters to the entire empire stating the Jewish people were to be utterly annihilated. His empire had 127 provinces and stretched from India to Ethiopia.
“When Mordecai learned of the plot to destroy the Jews, he tore his clothes and cried out in sackcloth and ashes. He got word to Esther that even she would not be able to escape this evil. Then he relayed the famous words, ‘Who knows whether you have come to the kingdom [attained royalty] for such a time as this.’ The Jews all fasted and prayed for Esther to be accepted into the king's inner court so that he would intervene on their behalf. After the third day Esther put on her royal robes and in her beautiful and gracious way came to present herself to the king. The king's response to her was one of delight. Hear MY CHURCH! The king was delighted in her! He loved her and was so taken by her beauty he not only offered her his golden scepter, but also up to half his kingdom!
“Esther, in My wisdom, didn't yet speak what was in her broken-heart. She only asked the king and Haman to a banquet that she had prepared. As they enjoyed themselves, the king inquired of her petition. Her only request was for him and Haman to return the second night and she would set another banquet before them. Haman had no clue what was awaiting him. He left that feast on top of the world.
“Then he saw Mordecai who refused to bow, and Haman's blood boiled within him. Haman was so filled with hatred that night he commissioned gallows 75 feet high to be built on which to hang Mordecai. However, the king's heart was stirred that very night and he was reminded of Mordecai's loyalty to inform the king of a plot against his life. The king sought to honor Mordecai and brought Haman in the next day to inquire what tribute should be paid to a loyal man who pleased the king. Haman smugly thought of himself - that it was he who would be honored - so he counseled the king that in every manner this man should be honored. He suggested a royal robe, a royal horse and a royal crown, all which had been used by the king, and the clincher was that one of the king's noble men was to escort him through the streets and shout before him saying, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’ All this Haman said fully expecting he was to be the recipient.
“Then the king announced that Haman was to do ALL he had recommended, but to bestow the honor to Mordecai the Jew! Haman obeyed and did as the king commanded, but afterward he hung his head in utter humiliation and rushed to return home to hide his shame. Just that quickly he was summoned for the second dinner with Queen Esther where the king asked for her petition. She beseeched King Ahasuerus to spare her people from utter slaughter and annihilation. When he demanded to know who was so reprehensible to do such a thing, the Queen told him it was Haman.
“Haman was hung and died that night on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai and his 10 sons later followed him to that end. Read what is recorded in the book of Esther and pay close attention to what has been emphasized:
8:2 So the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai; and Esther appointed Mordecai over the house of Haman.
8:8 You yourselves write a decree concerning the Jews, as you please, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's signet ring; forwhatever is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's signet ring no one can revoke.
HEAR O CHURCH!!! The Lord your God is showing you something in this that needs to be applied to this Haman of Persia. Look at this carefully:
8:7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, "Indeed, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows because he tried to lay his hand on the Jews.
“Israel needs your prayers. Those who cry out for freedom in Persia, modern day Iran, also need your prayers. They are under the rule of this vile spirit. Make no mistake that the leadership of Iran’s intention is to destroy all of Israel. That appetite for murder will not be satisfied by just destroying the one country. Haman's spirit is after all the Jewish people wherever they may be.”
8:13 "Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish.
“Make haste. Pray for the triumph of Esther and Mordecai to sweep through the Middle East. Write and declare My word over Israel. Pray for the peace of My city, Jerusalem! Write it and seal it with the signet ring, the authority, which I give you through Christ Jesus. My third day has come and you may come boldly to the inner court to My Throne of Grace! The golden scepter is extended. So COME! You say to Me, ‘Lord, Come quickly!’ But I say to you, ‘Esther, My Bride, My Church, My Beloved, COME QUICKLY!’"
Your KING of kings
Reflections: I recommend you read (or reread) the book of Esther. It will bless you. It is fascinating to me that Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to the US Congress just yesterday to intercede on Israel’s behalf! Hallelujah! Even if the US government doesn't do right by her, we the Church can. Amen?
On a personal note, this was the first prophetic word the Holy Spirit gave me to release publically to the Church in 2006, and it was a terrifying thing for me. I was so startled to receive such a word (He also had me write and send a decree), that I drove 2 states away to my elders’ home for counsel!
Scriptures to consider:
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Matthew 5:43-45 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ
2 Chronicles 20:14 "Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem . Thus says the Lord to you: 'Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's.
|
