Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Today's Chapters: Esther 4-7
Message Title: To Be Full And Hungry

As Christians, we should take pride in our work, regardless of what we do, we just have to be careful not to be so proud that we think of ourselves to be something when we are nothing. We are who we are because God made us that way, He gave us the gifts and will to succeed, if we gloat, and let our egos take over that is only a recipe for disaster. We can do and receive anything we set our minds to, but we must remember, Christ is in us, and He is our strength. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” - Philippians 4:11-13.

In the previous chapter we learned about Haman, king Ahasuerus' right hand man, Haman was a cunning man, eager to be recognized. Ahasuerus trusted him completely, he knew exactly what to say and do to get the kings favor and the very high ranking position he was in. Now, Haman devised a plan to have all the Jews killed, writing a decree and forging the kings seal upon it. When Mordecai found out, he urged Esther to tell the king, reminding her that she too was still a Jew.

“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. 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. Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people. All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.” - Esther 4:4,7,8,11.

This was a serious situation, even though Esther was married to the king, she couldn't just go up to him unless he called for her. We have a serious situation when we approach God, if we do not have the blood of Jesus Christ applied to our soul, He will not even acknowledge us. It's an instant death sentence if we reject Christ, but those who accept Him receive eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” - John 3:16,18.

After three days of prayer and fasting Esther approached the king, he not only welcomed her, he said he would give her anything he asked, and half of the kingdom. “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.

Amazingly, God is the same way with all of His people. He will not only bless anyone who humbly goes before Him with the things they ask for, He will give them well beyond that. God knows what we need, and while He is no respecter of persons, He does have favor for those who live in obedience to His Word. He will gladly grant the request to His faithful, and even unfaithful, if they just come to Him. “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” - James 4:8-10.

Haman, was in his glory, here he was having a feast with the king and queen, he just knew all his hard work was going to pay off. He got the surprise of his life when the king called for him to give honor to Mordecai, whom he despised and wanted to kill. “So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king's gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.” - Esther 6:6-10.

Imagine this man, so conceited that he thought the king was talking about him, suggesting all the things he would want to bring honor and glory to himself, having to go before Mordecai and give honor to him instead. No doubt he must have been angry, criticizing the king, and hating every moment as he watched Mordecai parading through the streets. If that was humiliating enough, something else was about to happen, all of his deception was about to be exposed to the king. Queen Esther tells the king of Haman's plan to have the Jews killed, the king not only sided with the queen, he had Haman hung.

“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 the 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 had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.” - Esther 7:7-10.

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 themselves. Those who live with Christ in their lives are some of the most faithful, honest workers an employer can ever have. Quite often that causes problems in their lives because other people, disloyal, dishonest workers want to prove our God to be a liar and deceive their way to the top instead of good old fashioned hard work. In the end, those who deceive their way to the top are the ones who will fall, while those who keep trusting God will arise. “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” - 2 Timothy 3:3-5.

Today's Prayer: God, No matter how many times I fall I know You will pick me back up, I do not need to fear what my enemies will do because You will bring me to glory in my time and it will be for Your glory. I trust You to lead me in Your will, help me to wait patiently and to continue by faith, knowing that one day I will succeed in what You have called me to do. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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