Gestation: Road to Honor

FOR SUCH A TIME  AS THIS

Esther 4:14

The book of Esther is about God and his people yet does not mention God's name. Instead, it is full of God's deeds throughout. It presents God saving his people when they refused to accept the decree of a king as final. The decree would destroy all Jews and make all God's promises to Abraham void. They knew that the final word belongs to the king of kings.  

Queen Vashti refused to parade before the king's guests (1:9-12). Esther an orphan, advised by Modecai, her uncle and mentor, seized the opportunity to be queen. Mordecai uncovered a plot to kill the king (2:19-23). Mordecai’s deed was written in the king’s chronicles. Mordecai refuses to pay reverence (3:2) to Haman. Haman overreacts by wanting to kill all the Jews. The extermination of the Jews is decreed (3:12-15). Haman said he would pay for the operation out of his own pocket. Modecai and Esther kept on having faith despite the hopeless situation.

For such a time as this

When you wait for God look out for divine moments when you need to make a decision or take a step that is a turning point. Such decisions are fearful, hard, risky, costly, and inconvenient but necessary. Esther was faced with such a game-changing moment when Modecai told her about the imminent destruction of the Jews. Approaching the king without him calling you meant being put to death unless he waved his golden scepter at you, even if you were the queen. Esther was therefore hesitant to appeal to the queen on behalf of her people. Modecai reminded her, 'perhaps you have come to that place for such a time as this'. The same applies today. You are in an imperfect church with needs. An imperfect family with needs. An imperfect society with dire needs and problems. Perhaps you are in Johannesburg, Faith Ministries, your business, in your challenging situation for such a time. God has positioned you there because he has equipped you for the situation. Instead of criticizing and complaining do something in trust of God to meet the needs.  If not through your help, help will arise from another place, direction, or unexpected source but you will have missed your opportunity. Don't miss the opportunity. You will be the loser, not God if you fear doing the right thing.

Esther in desperate faith went into the inner court. She said if I perish I perish. And she found favour with the king.  She asked for two banquets with the king and Haman. A lot happens between the banquets. For one, Haman was on cloud nine, because he had a special invitation from the queen. He even built gallows on which to hang Mordecai the next day before the second banquet.

The man God honors

That night the king could not sleep and began to read from the king’s chronicles (6:1). He read about how Mordecai saved his kingship and was reminded that nothing had been done to honor him. While he is wondering what to do for Modecai, Haman arrives. God always arrives on your behalf before your enemy. He advised the king on how to honor the person he wanted to honor. Haman thought the king would honor non-other than Haman. He got the shock of his life when the king said the honor was for Modecai. Modecai was lifted from sitting at the king's gate in sackcloth and ashes to wearing royal robes. He earlier had refused some inferior clothes from Esther. He is set on a horse and paraded in the city and announced the king's honored person. It was like dreaming (Psalm 126:1). The deeper the valley the higher the honor. The thicker the enemy plot the more marvelous the escape. The darker the clouds the better the rains. The longer the night the brighter the day. The harder the battle the sweeter the victory. God will also honor those with a record in His chronicles. Those who have a memorial of giving and prayer before him (Acts 10:4), He will honor. Even when they are the ones being plotted against. The one sitting in humility and sackcloth for the cause of God's people. The one who is a covenant person.

What is your petition?

The king said to Esther, ‘What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request, up to half the kingdom? It shall be done!’. Esther could have asked for half the kingdom. But she was clear about her request for her people. In the process, she gained much more. She was clear about who the enemy was- 'the wicked Haman'. We wrestle not against flesh and blood.  The king went outside in anger. Haman took the opportunity to fall on Esther's couch to plead for mercy. We can imagine him even grabbing her with urgency. That's when the king comes back and wonders 'will he also assault the queen while I am in the house?” One of the king's servants keen on being a player in the unfolding drama reports that Haman had made gallows for Modecai.  Then the king said, ‘Hang him on it!’  Every plotter against God's people anywhere anytime will face the same fate. Haman died on the gallows he made for Mordecai. Mordecai was honored in the way Haman made for himself. Whatever prepares an instrument of death against you will die on it (Prov. 26:27). Whatever the enemy satan prepares against you he will get. For your bondage, he will be bound. For your trouble, he will earn trouble. The time has come for your enemy to be hanged. Don't give him life and protect him. Fear is an enemy let it go to the gallows. So are your pride, hurt, grief, pain, sorrow, sickness, sin, self-righteousness, and arrogance. If you refuse to kill it, it will kill you and yours. Never again should you live in fear and despair. Let the threats to your life, health, finances, marriage, prosperity, relationships, job, business, faith, joy, peace, victory, promotion, fertility, future, breakthrough, bringing forth, etc. go to the gallows. Tell the enemy out loud, 'I reject you. I resist you in Jesus' name go to the gallows right now.' Receive honor, freedom, and authority.

It is not too late

Will God intervene in time? Yes, there is still enough time. With God, it's never too late for a comeback. A great reversal happens at the very 'last minute in Mordecai's story. God moved right in time to pull together a glorious ending. God is working in your life often when you don't see it and don't know. And in ways, you don't expect.  Everything happening in your life is a valuable aspect of what is necessary to reach your destination. God strategically positions you, other people, and circumstances for your turnaround. Be encouraged, the dominos for your breakthrough are lining up. Keep on having faith in God.

When the lord Jesus Christ said 'have faith in God' (Mark 11:22-23), in Greek he meant 'keep on having faith in God'. Keep your faith no matter the odds (2 Timothy 4:7). Feed your faith by taking the word of God into your heart and exercise your faith by obeying the word. 

The counter decree

The king's decree to destroy the Jews was valid even after Haman's death. To save the Jews the king had to make a counter decree that empowered the Jews to overcome attempts to execute the earlier decree (8:9-14). Also, Esther and Mordecai were given the king's signet ring (authority) to pronounce anything that was necessary to make the earlier decree unenforceable (8:8). Those who tried to enforce the first decree met up with the last decree and perished. The law of sin and death remains but Christ issued a superior law of the spirit and life (Romans 8:1-3). The counter decree is more powerful. Our enemy satan still has dominion on earth but we have been empowered to defend ourselves by the word of God, the blood of the lamb, the power of prayer, the name of Jesus, and faith in God.  Christ brought you near God, elevated you, and transformed you. For the decree to kill you a counter decree for your life has been granted.   A counter decree has been granted for your life, prosperity, health, etc. Where the old decree said you will not marry get ready for your marriage. Where it said you will not get a job get ready, Etc 

The counter decree requires your cooperation. Jews ignorant of their rights and resources from the counter-decree perished despite there being a counter-decree in their favor. Rise up and stop the enemy from stealing, enslaving, and tormenting you. Say 'I command you satan in the name of the lord to take up your weapons and flee.' With the counter decree, all wealth of Haman meant to pay for the Jewish massacre was given to Esther. His position as second in command was given to Modecai.  He had been honored now he was promoted.

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa