World War Me #3

The Weapon of Self Denial

Esther 4:12–17 AV

12 And they told to Mordecai Esther’s words. 13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 14 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? 15 Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, 16 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. 17 So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him.

Esther is you! Esther is me!

She grew up in difficulties.

Her parents died when she was a little girl

She was raised by her Cousin/Uncle & they where poor

She entered a beauty pageant that became available because the former Queen decided not to honor the King..

Side Note: Most of us are where unseen unnoticed and somebody got it messed up with the King. & bamm we replaced them!!

So stay humble ( if we all have replaced someone then someone is on standby for us. )

Esther was placed in awkward position because as soon as she walked in her role so did her enemy.

Haman was a Agagite which was the first enemy the Israelites when they appointed there first king and he was instructed to utterly destroy them.

1 Samuel 15:3 AV

3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

But he didn’t...

1 Samuel 15:9 AV

9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

And Just like that!! When we disobey God we give our enemy opportunity to return to finish what he started in our blood line.

Esther 3:1–6 NLT

1 Some time later King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite over all the other nobles, making him the most powerful official in the empire. 2 All the king’s officials would bow down before Haman to show him respect whenever he passed by, for so the king had commanded. But Mordecai refused to bow down or show him respect. 3 Then the palace officials at the king’s gate asked Mordecai, “Why are you disobeying the king’s command?” 4 They spoke to him day after day, but still he refused to comply with the order. So they spoke to Haman about this to see if he would tolerate Mordecai’s conduct, since Mordecai had told them he was a Jew. 5 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down or show him respect, he was filled with rage. 6 He had learned of Mordecai’s nationality, so he decided it was not enough to lay hands on Mordecai alone. Instead, he looked for a way to destroy all the Jews throughout the entire empire of Xerxes.

The scripture goes on to tell us that the plan was in motion to destroy Gods people.

But God had another Plan..

Xerxes (Ahasuerus) King of Persia: 485 B.C. – 465 B.C. (Esther) Saul Reigns: 1095 B.C. – 1015 B.C. (1 Samuel 10:17-2:13)

Esther 4:13–14 AV

13 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews. 14 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?

Esther 4:16 AV

16 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 realized her placement in the Palace wasn’t for her but it was for a time such as this!!

The Weapon of Self Denial

Your intelligence

Your brilliance

Your way with words

Your writing skills

Your ability to make a dollar out of 15 cents

Your resources

Your wealth

Its all for the furtherance of the gospel

Philippians 1:12 AV

12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

Philippians 1:12 AMP

12 Now I want you to know and continue to rest assured, brethren, that what [has happened] to me [this imprisonment] has actually only served to advance and give a renewed impetus to the [spreading of the] good news (the Gospel).

Philippians 1:12 TPT

12 I want you to know, dear ones, what has happened to me has not hindered, but helped my ministry of preaching the gospel, causing it to expand and spread to many people.

Esther figured out God spared her, so she could deny herself for his people…