Kingdom of God – 3

Kingdom of God – 3

Esther 1:1 “Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces) ”

                In the above passage, we see the Lord God uses the emperor and the whole cabinet to fulfill his purpose. In order to save his children, the Lord’s kingdom works to bring in goodness in their lives. In  Proverbs 21:1 ‘The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.’  As recorded in this verse, the Lord will change the hearts of the people in authority to make our lives easier. Today, let us meditate on how the Lord dealt with Esther in the days of Ahasuerus  to fulfill his purpose.

God’s calling

Esther 2:8 “So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.”

Esther 2:2 “”Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:

                During the times, there was a law put in place where fair young virgins were wanted for the King.  We see Esther was also brought to the king’s house due to this law. Our Lord God prepares a law in order to call Esther to King’s place. The great calling comes in search of Esther and she accepts the calling. Esther did not ignore the calling from the Lord and submits herself for God’s will.  When Esther submits herself to the calling, the Lord makes a lot of changes in the kingdom. We see Esther replaces the queen Vashti according to the purpose of the Lord. In Esther 6:10 ‘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.’ We see Mordecai who stood along with Esther who had the calling was also exalted.  Esther was faithful in her calling and which is main reason she was crowned. As we read in I Thessalonians 5:24 ‘Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.’ When we remain truthful to him, our Lord will fulfill his purpose and will bless us.

Even in our lives, we must learn to accept the opportunities from the Lord. We the children of God should remain faithful to the divine calling of the Lord.

Consecration

Esther 2:9 “And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.”

                Over here we see Esther was purified as she was chosen by the King.  The people in the King’s house purified her by making her look the best to meet the King. The Lord prepares Esther to be sanctified to fulfill his purpose. As we read in I Peter 3:4 ‘But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.’ The inner attributes or nature is what defines us and that is counted as beauty according to the scripture.

Esther 2:20 ‘Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.’ Although Esther becomes the queen, she did not fail to obey Mordecai like in her old days. Despite of being exalted, Esther did not change her nature. The character remained the same as the consecration prepared her for the next big step. Even in our lives, the Lord will sanctify us to prepare for his calling. The church acts as a center to train ourselves to act according to the purpose of the Lord.

Castle

Esther 2:8 ‘So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.’

                We see Esther who was an orphan was exalted to reside at the Castle.  When she was assigned certain work at the Castle, she was quite contented with what was given to her.  This revealed her true character of being accepting to what was assigned on her. We read this in Esther 2:15 ‘Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.’ Her sheer nature elevated her in the king’s place to fulfill the purpose of the Lord.  

                Even in our lives, when we are exalted we must pray and analyze the hidden reason behind it. Only then we will fulfill the purpose of the Lord.

Charge

Esther 8:8 “Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.”

                In the above passage, we see Esther was given an authority by the Lord God.  Esther who remained faithful to her calling was finally put in charge for many countries. As we read in Daniel 4:17 ‘This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.’ We need to understand that God’s kingdom works on earth and shifts things according to his will. According to scripture, the Lord kingdom will give his children a divine power over certain things on earth. This we read in Mark 16:17-18 ‘And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.’ When we believe in word of God, nothing and no one can stop the establishment of the kingdom of God. We the children of God should have faith that Lord will put us in charge over many things.  By the authority of God’s kingdom, we will use it in this world like Esther to fulfill the purpose of the Lord. Amen.