Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Saturday June 13, 2009 and we are continuing our studies on the book of Esther. Please read chapters 4-7 in your Bible or Click Here to read them online. http://www.allonlinebible.com/Esther/4,1-7,last/4.html

Today's Message: Decisions

As Christians we constantly face choices whether to take a stand for Christ or hide our beliefs out of fear or temptation. It is a decision that can either bless us abundantly or make us suffer tremendously.

As Christians, we will face many obstacles regarding our faith and whether or not we will hold true to our faith or compromise with the world out of fear or temptation. We will look at how Queen Esther defeated death through her faith in God as she took a stand for her people, the Jews.

Haman, was the most powerful assistant to the king and he issued a decree to execute all Jews. Mordecai, told Esther of the decree. “And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not. Then called Esther for Hatach, one of the king's chamberlains, whom he had appointed to attend upon her, and gave him a commandment to Mordecai, to know what it was, and why it was. So Hatach went forth to Mordecai unto the street of the city, which was before the king's gate. And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.” - Esther 4:3-7. Haman was determined to use his power against those who were different from him. There is always going to be some person out there who is prejudice toward Christians and thinks they have the power to control our beliefs, but we can never allow them to scare us into giving up our relationship with Christ.

Queen Esther was faced with a decision of whether or not to confront the king with this news as it was a law to execute any person who attempted to confront the king without invitation, which included the queen. Mordecai reminded Esther that it was not only her life at stake, but all the Jews. Esther then requested that all Jews fast and pray for three days while she went to see the king, she was willing to sacrifice her life for her people. “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. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.” - 4:16-17. Remember also, that no one knew Esther was a Jew because Mordecai had forbidden her to reveal her nationality. Esther knew that she could have lost her life by confronting the king, but she also knew that her life was not the only one that could be lost, all the Jews lives were threatened. There comes a time in all of our lives when we too will be faced with a decision to make a sacrifice for others, the test is are we willing to give up ourselves in order to help others.

After three days of fasting, 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 Esther requested was a second banquet, but this time with Haman, who was actually at the same time preparing to execute Mordecai. The king accepted and at the second banquet, he again asked Esther what her request might be. He was shocked to hear her pleading for her own life. “So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen. 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: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.” - Esther 7:1-6. Not only did the king accept her request, he also offered her half of the kingdom. Angrily, the king ordered Haman to be executed by the same gallows that he had built to execute Mordecai. We can never under estimate the power of God and of being a Christian. Yes, we may face persecution at times, but those who stand firm in their faith always prevail.

Esther is an example to us all, she gives us encouragement to use whatever talents, position, popularity, or wealth we have been blessed with to tell a lost world that our King gave His life to save them from the eternal torment of hell. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” - Mark 8:35.

Today's Psalm: 23:6
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”


Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
There is a place of quiet rest and spiritual uplifting when we draw near to You. So many activities, attractions, and affections rival for our attention. But when we prioritize by giving You first place we give opportunity for You to “show your love to a thousand generations of those who love you and keep your commandments.” We want to continually offer to You a sacrifice of praise through our lips that confess Your name and through our lives that reveal Your transforming power at work within us. In Jesus' Name........Amen