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Today is Sunday June 13, 2010 and we are reading through the Bible in a year. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Esther, chapters 4-7. If you would like to read the chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.readytofollow.com/bible-june-13

Today's Message: A Life Controlled by Pride
People of the world have no idea just how successful Christians become by serving and standing by our faith in God. Yes, God wants all His children to be successful, in fact, our greatest success in life is our salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, but He also allows us to be successful in our daily lives as well. In fact, the more we serve Him the more successful we can become. However, we have to be careful of our success, that nasty little thing called pride can sneak in and if we are not careful can take over our lives. The word pride is defined as having a high opinion of one's own importance, merit, or superiority, which is cherished in the mind and eventually displayed through their conduct. The more proud one becomes the higher the opinion of themselves, the more it is displayed through their actions. Ever get around someone who is too proud of themselves? They are arrogant, demanding, and unbearable to be around. We are to be humble through our success, to be humble means to be meek and modest, sure it is okay to feel good about a job well done, but we can not let our pride take over to the point that it destroys us. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” - Proverbs 16:18,19.

Haman, was the most powerful assistant to the king, he was by no means godly or humble, but is a perfect example of just how destructive pride is. Haman despised the Jews and had issued a decree to execute all in Babylon, one particular Jew that he despised the most was Mordecai. Day and night Mordecai stood in front of the palace gates, determined to get the king to overturn the execution some how. Finally queen Esther got word of what was going on, Mordecai pleaded with Esther to go to the king to save her people. Since no one knew that Esther was a Jew she was fearful and reminded him that Persian law stated that anyone who approached the king uninvited could be put to death. However, she requested that Mordecai get all the Jews together for three days of fasting and prayer while she and her servants did the same. “Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.” - Esther 4:1-3, 13-16. There comes a time in every battle that we just need to stop, take a deep breath and get with God. We can not face every battle alone, we might be able to get help from people, but there are some things that only God can do and when it gets to that point, it's all about fasting and praying.

Three days later, queen Esther stood in the inner court of the king's house and waited to see if she would face life or death. The king welcomed her and offered to grant her request, the only thing she requested was a banquet with him and Haman. “Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre. Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom. And Esther answered, If it seem good unto the king, let the king and Haman come this day unto the banquet that I have prepared for him.” - Esther 5:1-4. The king not only welcomed Esther, he said he would give her anything he asked and also gave her half the kingdom. Amazingly, God is the same way with all of His people. He will bless anyone who humbly goes before Him in prayer.

During the banquet, curious as to why the queen wanted Haman to join them for dinner, asked what she was requesting. Oddly enough all she asked for was a second banquet with the two of them. After Haman left the palace he gloated over being the only one there and on top of that he bragged about killing the Jews, making a special noose just to hang Mordecai with. “And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king. Haman said moreover, Yea, Esther the queen did let no man come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself; and to morrow am I invited unto her also with the king. Yet all this availeth me nothing, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.” - Esther 5:11-14. Haman was so busy bragging on himself that he could not see the dangers lying ahead of him. People who are stuck on themselves are fools, they think they have everyone wrapped around their little finger, but the only people they really have on their side is egomaniac, wannabes trying to be like them. Sooner or later all egos will be crushed.

Now, during the second banquet the king once again asked the queen what she requested. This time she was begging for the king to save her life as well as the rest of the Jews. “And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:..And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king. Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of king's mouth, they covered Haman's face. And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.” - Esther 7:2,3,7-9. Haman was found out, all his wicked plans to execute the Jews was revealed. The king not only saved the queens life, but all the Jews and on top of that he was executed himself on the same noose that was meant for Mordecai. Haman let his pride kill him, he got so big headed about his successes that he became a danger to himself. Everyone gets their ego lifted or hurt from time to time, but we can not let it become controlled by pride. Be humble, trust and keep your eyes on Jesus and you will be and remain successful in all you do.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

P.S. Once again I am sorry for the late post, all will be back to normal posting times starting Monday morning. Thank you for your patience and understanding. God bless you.

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