Be Like Esther

The last holiday we celebrated prior to "the virus" was Purim.  America has gone through a tough time since then.  During Purim, we remember the courage of Queen Esther when she went before the King to save the Jewish people.  This passage has remained as a testament to her bravery, and a charge to believers ever since then:

"For if you fail to speak up now,

 relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from a different direction; 

but you and your father’s family will perish. 

Who knows whether you didn’t come into your royal position precisely 

for such a time as this.”

(Esther 4:14)

 

This phrase has echoed in my mind many, many times since Purim, and more insistently for the past month.  God has laid a heavy burden on my heart for my country and I know He wants me to share this post today.  One day, I was praying about this and received two confirmations from Him.  

One confirmation was seeing a YouTube video about the "mantle" of Esther.  That same day, I received this gift from a friend:

Like Esther, I am being called to go before the King on behalf of my people -- America.  We are in grave danger.  Complete destruction could be our fate.  I'll explain why.

First, I have to lay the groundwork of what has been happening in the world.  There is a plan called the New World Order.  I first heard this expression about thirty years ago in a book I read about the subject.  This plan is to have all countries unite as one, all with no borders. There will be one global government, and one supreme leader.  All will follow the same belief system and religion would be banned.  The United Nations plays a big part in this scenario.  The Book of Revelation in the New Testament of the Bible mentions it, too, and calls the supreme leader the Anti-Christ. 

 

I heard President George H. W. Bush mention it at the beginning of the Gulf War.  I remember watching a news feed of rockets being fired  and was dumbstruck when I heard him say these words:  

“Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective — a new world order — can emerge.” — President George H. W. Bush

 

Other presidents and U.S. officials have espoused their support of this new world order.  One is running for president right now:

 

 “The affirmative task we have now is to actually create a new world order.” — Vice President Joe Biden (2013)

 

  "I think that his [Obama’s] task will be to develop an overall strategy for America in this period, when really a ‘new world order’ can be created. It’s a great opportunity.” — Henry Kissinger

 

 All of that to say this:  if you've been paying attention for the last thirty years, you have seen our country make a big shift.  The years under the Obama presidency, especially, saw a complete upheaval of Biblical values with far-reaching destruction.  In example: late-term and live-birth abortion, homosexual and transgender lifestyles support and promotion,  disrespect and violence toward the police, and wanton lawlessness have proliferated from his efforts.  These things are totally against God's Word and Ways.   

 

Many Democrats are pushing globalism, socialism, open borders, and even a whole new constitution.  World leaders are heading in that direction.  Others, like the UK, however, have made the decision to back out of the EU, which is a very positive sign.

 

I sincerely believe we stand at a crossroads this very week, Gail-Friends.  America's decision about the presidency for the next four years is critical to either save or destroy America as we've known it.  A vote for Biden is a vote for the new world order.  A vote for Trump is a vote for the America based on The Constitution, and for the Biblical principles on which it was founded.

You and I, as believers in the One True God -- Adonai, and  in His Son, Yeshua the Messiah, are like Esther.  We were born for such a time as this.  But it's not only about voting.  It's about going before the King of the Universe.  We have to do what Esther did:

 

She believed in the One True God, the God of the Universe.  She knew about God, about His Word, His Ways, and His Holiness.  

 

She believed in prayer and fasting.  She fasted for three days before she had audience with the King.  

 

She prepared her spirit.  She took courage and strength from Adonai, seeking His face about when to go and what to say. 

 

She didn't just pray, she added feet to her prayers and followed His leading.   

 

I believe you and I are to be like Esther at this time in history -- for this election -- but also going forward.  I call you to:

 

Fast and pray from November 1 - 3.  

 

Meditate on 2 Chronicles  7:14 (TLV)

When My people, over whom My Name is called, 

humble themselves 

and pray and seek My face

 and turn from their evil ways, 

then I will hear from heaven 

and will forgive their sin 

and will heal their land.

I'm sure you're familiar with this verse, but please pay attention to this part:  "turn from your evil ways".  This means return to Torah.  If you will read the preceding verses of the chapter, you will see that the people had turned their backs on the Torah. Many believers have done the same.  They don't even know they're sinning because they've been told "not to be legalistic, or under the law".  

 

I challenge you, as you fast, to re-read the gospels of the New Testament and see what Yeshua said and did.  He obeyed the law and taught everyone to obey it.  He observed the seventh day Sabbath, kept the feasts and festivals, and attended the synagogue.  Research it yourself.  Most of all, He said,

 

 If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 

 (John 14:15 CJB)

 

He was speaking of the Torah.

 

So, I say to you -- read, study, and obey God's instructions to you in the Torah (the first five books of the Bible).  This is so very important because we're in a spiritual battle.  A war between evil and good.  That war can be won only with spiritual weapons.  Hear this very clear and important verse:  

 

 Those who abandon Torah praise the wicked,
    but those who keep Torah fight them.

(Proverbs 28:4 CJB)

 

I said earlier we have to be like Esther in this election AND in going forward because the battle will not be won when Trump is elected.  We have to stand up and be Esther every day.  We have to be obedient to God in every way in order to turn this country around.  We have to speak to people and tell them the truth.  We have to talk about sin.

 

Oh, you might be thinking but that's judgmental.  No, being judgemental is when you watch someone going over a cliff and do nothing to stop them.  God calls us to be righteous judges, living holy lives, and pointing others to a life of obedience.  

 

Oh, but you might be thinking where's the love?  Adonai is a loving God, but He is also the God of truth and justice.  This verse is important:  

 

Grace and truth have met together; 

justice and peace have kissed each other.

(Psalm 85:11 CJB)

 

For many, He is the god of anything goes.  This is not the one, true God of the Bible.  He is righteous and holy, and He wants us to be righteous and holy, too.  I pray believers will fast, pray, and repent, so that our prayers will not be hindered.

 

 

 

Purim and Intercession

An 18th century prayer book with the story of Esther (source Wikipedia.com)

                             
I read this on Jewish Jewels Facebook page today, and wanted to pass it on to you, dear Gail-Friends.

The Secrets of Esther the Intercessor

"Esther was an undercover agent. Esther wasn’t even her real name. She was really called Hadassah (the Hebrew name for the myrtle plant) originally by her Jewish parents. Who, by the way, we never get to hear much about. Nor does she disclose her Jewish identity while in the court of the Persian king Artaxerxes, until absolutely necessary. She was the opposite of showy and brash, just like her namesake, the lowly myrtle bush. She was humble and unassuming, modest and delicate. However, her codename totally suits her - Esther means “star”, like the tiny star shaped flowers of the myrtle, and sounds just like the Hebrew word “hesstair”, which appropriately means “secret”, or “hidden”. There are wonderful lessons to be learned from this Biblical woman of mystery!

IN THE SHADOWS...

A well-known fact about the book of Esther is that not only do we have an undercover agent in the hidden Hadassah, but also God himself does not make his presence obvious. He hides between the lines of the story, and his name is not even mentioned once. However, there are countless clues to indicate his activity behind the scenes.
1 Corinthians 10:11 explains that the stories of the first Testament were written down as examples or “types” for us to learn from. And there is much we can learn from this story in every way.

Think about the very set up of the story - an ornate palace with woven hangings, silver and golden vessels, furniture, poles and clasps, in “inner room” into which one must not go - or face death - unless they have met certain strict requirements… An all-powerful king enthroned inside who can grant requests, and royal robes are essential dress code to approach the king in his chamber… all these things are like shadows, types, of the tabernacle, the temple, and of the protocol of our meeting God himself in his throne room.

THE SCEPTRE...

Esther speaks up on behalf of her people, and the myrtle in Scripture is a picture of intercession. In the story, she asks the Jewish people to back her up with three days of prayer and fasting (three days and three nights - how about that) and then dares to go boldly into the throne room, hoping she will find grace. And the kind king does indeed hold out his sceptre to her, inviting her to approach with confidence. In that meeting, she finds favour in his eyes, and he encourages her to ask for whatever she likes, even up to half the kingdom. Which, if you have forgotten, included 127 provinces from India to Ethiopia.

This sceptre itself is very significant, and this symbol is mentioned in a few key places in Scripture. As usual, the very first mention holds the key to its meaning: “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples”. (Gen 49:10)

This prophecy that Jacob gives to his fourth son, Judah, is a messianic prophecy. The Messiah, as king, would come from the tribe Judah and rightfully hold the sceptre. In Psalm 60:7 and 108:8, God calls Judah his sceptre, and another key prophetic passage is in Numbers 24:17:

“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel…”

This prophecy was spoken by Balaam, unaware of the powerful truth of his words. Yeshua the Messiah did indeed arise out of Israel, out of Jacob, and only through Yeshua is it possible for us to approach the throne of God.

THE FATE OF ISRAEL'S ENEMIES

Balaam later prophesied the destruction of the Amalekites, Israel’s enemy who attacked them mercilessly as they straggled out of Egypt. Years after that, God commanded King Saul to finish them off, but Saul flunked. But then, oddly enough, some descendants of Saul (Mordecai and Esther) were given another chance to carry out God’s instruction, since the evil Haman was a descendant of the Amalekites, still bent on wiping out the people of Israel. It is almost as if the whole scenario had been planned and orchestrated from long ago.

There have been many attempts to destroy the people of Israel as the enemy of our souls plots to eradicate the apple of God’s eye from the earth. Pharaoh tried, the Amalekites tried, and Hitler was filled with the murderous spirit of Amalek, after the same old goal. The people of Israel have always been surrounded by enemies, hostility and death threats, and even today there are political leaders who speak openly of “wiping Israel off the map”. But just as God was covertly pulling the strings to create a supernaturally orchestrated series of events to save Israel in exile back in Esther’s day, so he will keep them today. The Protector of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.

God’s activity in the book of Esther may be only hinted at - a curious nocturnal desire to read the record books, a “chance” midnight meeting in the palace courtyard... but we also read that prayers were sent up from the Jewish people, which implies God was the recipient of those prayers. There is even awareness of God among Haman’s camp - his wife warned him that fighting against Israel is a pointless endeavour: “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.” (Esther 6:13). They understood that the Jewish people had an unassailable supernatural force on their side. As God promises in Zechariah 12, those who come against the Jewish people will only harm themselves in the end.

THE KING INVITES US TO COME...

God called Esther to stand up and intercede for the Jewish people, and thanks to her courage and wisdom, the people of Israel were saved. The line of Judah continued, and the Messiah arrived in Israel safe and well in the passage of time. As Mordecai warned Esther, if she did not take that stand, then God would surely just find another way to save his people that did not involve her. But what an invitation! What an incredible privilege Esther was given! And a similar invitation is before us today.

Jesus tells us that it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom (Luke 12:32). Thanks to our Messiah, the sceptre of God, we have the right and invitation to come boldly before the throne of God and ask whatever we wish.

Would you like to join in the legacy of Esther, and intercede for Israel before the King? Rabbis here in Israel are calling for a three day fast starting tomorrow, to petition God regarding the wave of terror we’ve been experiencing in Israel lately, and to ask for spiritual awakening. I think that's a prayer we can all join in with!"
(From oneforisrael.org March 20, 2016)

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