A Bible story we read from the book of Esther, is more than a children’s story “They lived happily ever after” happy ending. Hard to understanding the culture of those days, we wonder why it had to be so. Reasoning the whys, we come to the understanding it was in the spiritual sphere, purposed by God Himself, for a reason or redemption of Israel as “For such a time as this.” Hadassah, Esther’s original name, was a young and beautiful maiden, who was chosen among many others to be Ahasuerus’ wife. This Persian king reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces (Esther 1:1). It all happened in a controversial and hard to understand way, when King Ahasuerus, being drunk, commanded his wife, Queen Vashti to be brought to him to show her off to the peoples there represented. But she refused to do so. For that, the king was enraged, embarrassed, and humiliated at that reaction, which lead him to divorce her. After a while, the king’s servants recommended to be sought beautiful virgins for him. That’s the background in which Hadassah- Esther came in this story of redemption of her people, Israel.
Category: Ears to Hear, Listen!
I Sought a Man Who Should Build the Wall and Stand in the Gap
From the time that God created man, He has not ceased to seek that special person who will build walls and stand in the gap on behalf of a country or people so that He would not destroy them; a man who will stand in the gap for righteousness and justice. The Word of the Lord that came to the prophet Ezekiel while he and the nation of Israel were captives in Babylon were words of judgment against the sins of that nation. Israel laid bare before her Lord and her sins were exposed before Him. God’s love and patience over Israel and all other nations are evident in the length of time He waits before He sends judgment. Meanwhile He seeks intercessors who will stand in the gap in His presence for the land and for its people. He told Ezekiel that He had sought a man among Israel who should build up the wall and stand in the gap before Him for the land, that he should not destroy it, but He found none. Therefore, He said, Have I poured out My indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath; their own way have I repaid upon their own heads, says the Lord God(Ezekiel 22: 30-31).
The Ultimate Gift
(Isaiah 53; Hebrews 10: 7,10)
Then YAHSHUA said, Behold, here I am, coming to do Your will, O God, what is written of Me in the volume of the Book; and in accordance with this will we have been made holy through the offering made once for all of the body of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10: 7, 10).
While He was carrying our grief and sorrow, while He was being wounded for our trespasses and transgressions, while He was being bruised for our guilt and iniquities, while He was taking our punishment and giving us His peace, we stood ignorant and considered Him to be under God’s judgment, rejecting Him to the point of hiding our faces from His appearance, which was marred beyond human form (Isaiah 52: 14). Why do think that was? The reason why, was that we could not stand to see our own sinful condition being put on Him. He didn’t fight back and we thought Him to be weak and marveled at His silence. He was taken away by oppression and falsehood and was led away to the slaughter with criminals, as if He were one of them. He was denied justice and a fair trial. We then, nailed His hands and feet to a tree for six hours when our guilt and iniquities were lighted on Him. With the intensity of His suffering, He cried, Eli, Eli, Lama Sabachthani? (My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me)? (Isaiah 53; Psalm 22)
Bruised, grieved and sickened, God made Him an offering for the sin of the world. Nailed to a tree, His face and body disfigured and poured out like water (in His blood), all His bones out of joint, His heart softened in anguish, no strength left in Him, thirst from dehydration, His tongue cleaved to His jaws, yet He endured the insults of men. “Come down from the tree, if You are the Son of God!” with many other insults they tormented Him. But again, they could never understand that the horror they had seen in YAHSHUA’S face body were indeed the reflection of their own sins He was taking upon Himself. They failed to accept that He was the perfect gift to them- the ultimate gift God was giving to the world– the gift of forgiveness.
Lord, Help My Weakness of Faith!
(Mark 9:21-24)
Faith, the vital and most important armor of defense, is often overlooked in our times of trouble. We look for the tangible to provide the solution for our physical and emotional problems, because we seem to think that in the touching and seeing, our faith is developed, as it is often said, “Seeing is believing”. Thomas, one of the disciples of YAHSHUA, seemed to have believed that way. When the disciples told and kept telling him of the resurrection of our Lord YAHSHUA, these were his words: “Unless I see in His hands the marks made by the nails and put my finger into the nail prints, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe [it]. Why was Thomas so contrary and so emphatic in his unbelief? What was there to gain? He expressively detailed the conditions he would believe: “Unless I see the marks of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the nail prints, and on His side, I will never believe”. The adverb never implies permanent condition of disbelief. The Lord rebuked him saying, Because you have seen Me, Thomas, do you now believe? Blessed are those who have never seen Me and yet have believed on Me (John 20:27, 29).
But Thomas is not alone. We too turn faith into a dilemma in our challenging circumstances. When we fall ill, the first thought to come to mind is to see a doctor. Nothing wrong in that, humanely speaking ; but what does the Word say about that? Is anyone among you sick? He should call in the church elders. And they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Lord’s name; and the prayer of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Confess to one another therefore your faults, and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The earnest prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available (James 5:14-16). The Bible does not say, in sickness call in a doctor, but call in the church elders; it does not say, to give drugs, but it says, to pray over the sick, anointing him with oil in the Lord’s name. The results will be that the prayer of faith will save the sick person and the Lord will restore him. The first thing to do to experience restoration is to confess our sin to one another. In offending my brother or sister, I have offended God also and I have suffered the consequences. By admitting my sins to the one I offended, I have taken the first step to my healing, because that has opened heavens and called the attention of God to bless me with restoration and deliverance from that which has caused my illness. God will always do what He has promised in our obedience to His word.
A Manger, a Donkey, a Guestroom, a Cross and a Tomb
Because the blood of bulls and goats is powerless to take sins away, hence when He [Christ} entered into the world, He said, Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but instead You have made ready a body for Me…Then I said, Behold, here I am, coming to do Your will, O God what is written of Me in the volume of the Book (Heb. 10: 4-5,7). This is the most celebrated birth. The Son of God did not come according to the will of man, but of God. The place where God chose for His Son to be born was most significant and meaningful, although many are ignorant of this fact. The Son of God came to fulfill His Father’s will of salvation for humankind. He came representing a lamb for the purpose of being offered as a sacrifice to take the sins of the world. As such, He was given a manger for a crib in His birth. Not a regular manger, but a special one, where only the perfect chosen lambs laid their heads. These were raised for the temple sacrifice as an atonement for the sins of the nation of Israel. No one knew why there was no room for God’s Son to have a proper place to be born and a crib to lay His head. However, God does not need the things of the world to accomplish His intents and purposes. He has chosen the people from whom He was to bring His Son to the world and the exact place where He wanted to manifest His glory. His glory shone brighter in that humble place, where shepherds and lambs witnessed His glory and rejoiced, while the world slept through it, knowing nothing that was happening.
A Life’s Journey of Faith
It comes with determination, perseverance and endurance. All these are needed, in this earthly life, for it is a life of constant battles. Sorting things out that matter on our journey, is essentially important to achieve blamelessness and purity in the sight of God. The Patriarch Abraham leads us in his determination, perseverance and endurance, when he kept the faith in God’s promises, even though it took twenty-seven years for the first one to be fulfilled in his old life time. A life’s journey of faith is a slow and difficult journey, needed of much patience. Many are the giants, the mountains, the fires and many other obstacles we will face. The destination, however is beyond that which we can imagine. It is so wonderful, that all the pains we suffer here are not to be compared to the glorious experience at the end of our journey to that beautiful place, called heaven! The apostle Paul, on his journey of faith never gave up in all his sufferings, because he knew where he was going; he knew that he was not a citizen of this world, but of heaven, as are all who have trusted the Lord for their salvation. He went hungry, he went thirsty and cold, slandered and defamed, he was made rubbish and filth of the world and taken for dead. Paul looked beyond all and stayed the course of his destination. At the end of his life, he could well say, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (II Tim. 4:7).
The Supernatural Diet
(Daniel 1)
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it… and the king told Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring in some of the children of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility… Among these were of the children of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Dan. 1:1,3,6).
King Nebuchadnezzar offered these young men the opportunity to be educated in the Babylon’s culture and language for three years to serve in the king’s palace. Their diet was to be daily from the portion of the king’s own rich and dainty food and of the wine which he drank (vs. 4-5). That probably would have been very attractive and an adventurous experience to the eyes of some other young men who had been taken captive, considering the treatment they were going to have as slaves. But not in the eyes of these young men. Their determination to follow God and His laws in that strange land of cultural differences, stood firm before all. When approached by the chief eunuch with the idea, Daniel courageously spoke for the four of them expressing their heart’s determination not to defile themselves by eating the portion of the king’s rich foods. He requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might [be allowed] not to defile himself (Daniel 1:8). Meanwhile, God was working in the heart of the eunuch to show favor toward them. Although, he expressed fear in the outcome of Daniel’s decision, he gave him permission to try the diet of vegetables and water for ten days. At the end of that period of time, the chief of eunuchs perceived that they looked better and had taken more flesh than all the youths who ate of the king’s rich dainties (Vs. 15). The supernatural happened, because of their choice to obey God and not to depart from His laws. God then came to their aid and proved to all that He is the sustainer of life. It was not the vegetables and the water that sustained them, but it was God’s doing. The result was obvious and no one could deny the fact. Although their identities were lost in the change of their names, seemly their faith was challenged when brain washed in that period of three years, still they held on to the things they had learned back in their country and nothing would erase that from them.
Discerning the Times and Signs of the End
(Matthew 24: 36-42; 25: 1-13; II Timothy 3:1-4)
We do live in a time frame of the beginning of the end of times- in the days of Noah. Evil has prevailed and taken that which is right to be wrong and vice-versa. The eyes see, but in disbelief. Many keep hoping for things to change, tomorrow will be better, they say, but the reality of the matter is tomorrow will reflect the closeness to the end. What will tomorrow bring for certain? According to Paul perilous times of great stress and trouble. (Hard to deal with and hard to bear.) People who are lovers of self, lovers of money, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters, abusive, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane (II Tim. 3:1-5). The list continues, as we have seen and experienced such behaviors in our time frame. This is the sign of the times. It was predicted before by our Lord, and others. We are witnessing prophecy being fulfilled right before our eyes. The word of the Lord says that without vision, people perish. Knowledge not understood or received, leads the people to nowhere. It is like blindness. We see, feel, but not perceive until too late, as in the days of Noah, when they finally understood, the waters were covering them.
The believer in YAHSHUA is without reason to perish in ignorance. The word of God has been given; It is everywhere without one looking for. The Lord’s command for us is to watch, to pray and to wait for Him. His coming is certain, but the time is uncertain. The important issue here is to be ready. Readiness will only happen if we are knowledgeable. Much is happening that is keeping our attention away from what is very important; in fear, we try to fight the Lord’s battle, when our position is to pray and give all our cares to Him. The Lord of hosts is powerful; He is in the business of making history. He calls us to pray, to arise to battle, and to arise to see His face. Never forgetting the mark we must aim at. It is time for preparedness, not time for fear. He told the disciples, Keep awake and watch at all times, praying that you may have the full strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man (Luke 21:36). Paul said, We belong to the day, therefore let us be sober and put on the breastplate of faith, love and a helmet the hope of salvation (I Thess. 5:8). In these evil days, it seems that there is no difference between a Christian and non-Christian in their reactions to the present storm taking the world and in particular, America. Fear has taken many by surprise, for not standing their ground. Ignorance, the mother of defeat, has controlled their minds. The grounds where they are standing at are quick sand. It won’t be long before they disappear in their unbelief of the truth. Our God has equipped us for these evil days with two important parts of the armor: the breastplate of faith and love- the protector of the heart, and the helmet the hope of salvation- the protector of the mind. Fear veils the spiritual eyes and causes us blindness, and the inability to see and experience the beauty of God’s goodness and faithfulness in joy and peace. The Bible assures us that we are citizens of the state which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await the Lord YAHSHUA the Savior ( Phil. 3:20). Our concern, then, should be on the heavenly things, our mind should be concentrating on readiness to meet our Savior, for it is the ultimate hope we have while in this earth.
Arise My Bride to Pray, to Battle, and to See My Face
I will put on God’s whole armor, that I may be able successfully to stand up against the strategies and the deceits of the devil,
FOR I AM NOT WRESTLING WITH FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST THE DESPOTISMS, AGAINST THE POWERS, AGAINST THE WORLD RULERS OF THIS PRESENT DARKNESS, AGAINST THE SPIRIT FORCES OF WICKEDNESS IN THE HEAVENLY SPHERE.
I DECLARE THAT
I will resist and stand my ground on these evil days, with God’s full armor on, I will stand with my belt of truth around my loins and the breastplate of integrity; I will stand in readiness to face the enemy with my feet shod; I will lift up the shield of saving faith, quenching all the flaming missiles of the wicked one, with faith that overcomes the world and its power; I will stand with my mind, my thoughts protected with the helmet of salvation, and no one can take it away from me; I will stand with the sword of the Spirit- the Word of God, which is alive and full of power, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life and spirit, and of joints and marrow- the deepest parts of nature, exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart; praying on every occasion, in every season in the Spirit with all manner of prayer and entreaty; to that end I will keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all the saints- my brothers and sisters in Christ, for my prayers avail much in the sight of God; it is my divine and powerful weapon to demolish strongholds.
I DECLARE THAT
God is my war club, my weapon for battle; with Him I will shatter nations, and destroy kingdoms; I have been given authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt me; I am the bride of Christ- His church built on the Rock that is YAHSHUA and the gates of hell shall not prevail against me. Therefore, I say, No weapon that is formed against me will prosper; and every tongue that accuses me in judgement, God will condemn; this is my heritage and vindication from the Lord; The Lord my God is the One Who fights for me, I will not fear the enemy; I will not fear, but will stand firm and confident to see the salvation of the Lord. I will lift my rod of confidence in the Lord and He will drown the plans of the enemy against my family, my president, and my country. I will wait for the Lord and He will renew my strength; I shall mount up with wings like eagles; I shall run and not be weary, I shall walk and not faint; If God is for me, who [can be] against me? Because I have made the Lord my refuge and the Most High my dwelling place, there shall be no evil befall me, nor any plague or calamity come near my tent, for God will give His angels charge over me to accompany and defend and preserve me in all my ways, they shall bear me up on their hands lest I dash my foot against a stone; I shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and serpent shall I trample underfoot. You, O God will push down our enemies and in your Name we shall tread them under who rise up against us.
PRAYER
O Lord, we and our nation have sinned and dealt perversely and done wickedly and have rebelled turning aside from Your commandments and ordinances. O Lord, to us and our nation belong confusion and shame of face, because we have rebelled against You. O Lord, according to all Your righteousness and justice, I beseech You, let Your anger and Your wrath be turned away from us, Your people; listen to and heed the prayer of Your servants and their supplications and for Your sake cause Your face to shine upon us; O my God, incline Your ear and hear, for we do not present our supplications before You, for our own righteousness and justice, but for Your great mercy and loving-kindness; O Lord hear! O Lord forgive! O Lord give heed and act! Do not delay, for Your own sake, O my God, because Your people are called by Your name. (Prayer of Daniel)
You are my King, O God; command victories and deliverance for Israel (America). Rise up, O Lord! Let your enemies be scattered. And let those who hate you flee before You. Oh, that You would rend the heavens and that You would come down, that the mountains might quake and flow down at Your presence! Will You restrain Yourself, O Lord? Will You keep silent and not command our deliverance but humble and afflict us exceedingly? Rise up O Lord! Let not man prevail; put your enemies in fear, that they may know that they are just men. Have mercy upon us and be gracious to us, O Lord; do not stand off, O Lord do not hide in times of trouble, for we are Your people. You are our King forever; spare your people from the hands of wicked people. Shine forth O King of all nations! Let Your glory flow on us, Your people. It is time O Lord, it is time to vindicate Your name, Your reputation, Your acts of righteousness. You command, and it will happen. Rend to our enemies a recompense, O Lord, according to the work of their hands; pursue them in anger and destroy them from under Your heavens. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on the earth, and in this nation, as it is done in heaven! Show us Your favor O Lord, and bless us with Your victory to the glory and honor of You, Father.
VICTORY AND PRAISES
I stand with my feet shod in the presence of my enemies, my head anointed with Oil, singing praises to my King, YAHSHUA my Messiah! Who is like You, O Lord? Who is like You? Amazing in all creation, eternity covers You outside of the frame of time. It is good and delightful thing to give thanks to You, O Lord, to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; to show forth Your loving-kindness in the morning and Your faithfulness by night; You have changed my weeping for Your joy! My morning has arrived. My sorrow You have turned into dancing; You have clothed me with joy of victory, and my soul sings praises to You my God; I will give thanks to you forever! You calmed the storm to a calm and to a gentle whisper, so that the waves of the sea are still; You saved my life from the schemes of the enemy; I sing a song of victory in Your presence, O Lord, for You have triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider you have thrown into the (Red) sea! Bless the Lord O my soul, bless His holy name; bless the Lord O my soul and forget none of all His benefits; bless the Lord O my soul!
MAY OUR LORD BE EXALTED FOREVER MORE! IN YAHSHUA’S NAME. AMEN!
A Blind Man Who Would Not Give Up
(Mark 10: 46-52)
Then they came to Jericho. And as He was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside (Mark 10:46). It was a regular day for Bartimaeus that day when he, as his daily routine, sat by the road side to beg. His physical dark world impaired him to be part of society.
When he would have a job to provide for his family; it would have supported his social life with friends and family. It was a lonely life for Bartimaeus in his world, lacking the most basic thing of life- his eyesight. His song echoed in the ears of people a monotonous melody, which many had closed their ears to. In a repetitious melody and words, he would ask help for the poor blind man, using the pronoun on the third person. But that day his ears perked up when he heard noises from a crowd coming toward him. For a moment he stops his song, instead, he asked, what was happening? When he heard that it was YAHSHUA of Nazareth, he began to shout, saying, YAHSHUA, Son of David, have pity and mercy on me (Mark 10:47). Remarkably, this poor blind man had knowledge of Whom YAHSHUA was, while Israel as a nation was left in the dark of their spiritual understanding concerning YAHSHUA, for their hearts were callous toward Him. Bartimaeus, from the depth of his soul proclaimed YAHSHUA to be the Messiah- coming from the line of David, as it was prophesized. He must have learned from others about YAHSHUA’S work of miracles, miracles that marked and determined Him to be the promised Messiah. He did not have to see YAHSHUA to believe Him. That was the faith he had, that sprung a belief in his own healing. Nothing would stop him from shouting the prophetic words, “You, Son of David, have pity and mercy on me!”
Light from the Word 