The Queen

Esther 4
Verse 14 "If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” there are things that we need to notice from this scripture. First we need to recognize that if we refuse to speak up, stand up and live up to the standard that God has for our lives, someone else will and not only will they do what we were supposed to do, but they will enjoy the spoils of the battle. The victory will be theirs and they will stand with Christ celebrating a victory that should have been yours. Second we need to recognize that our lives and circumstances have not been accidental, God orders the steps of the righteous, to position them in strategic places of authority for his Glory and the furtherance of the Kingdom of God. God doesn't position you as queen, just so you can enjoy the luxuries of the palace, he positions you as queen so that you can use your position and authority to save the lives of the helpless and fulfill his purpose on planet earth.

So ask yourself two questions:
Are you taking advantage of the opportunities that you have right where you are, to speak out and stand up for God?

Are you using your position and authority to fulfill the purposes of God for your life and world or have you settled into the throne forgetting those God has called you to serve?

Anger

Esther 2:1 "But after Xerxes’ anger had subsided, he began thinking..." in his anger he banished his wife from his presence forever and passed an irrevocable law. Anger unchecked by the Holy Spirit causes us to say and do things that we normally would not do. The Bible says that after his anger subsided, he began to think, this order for decision making is backward and dangerous. When we get angry we must allow ourselves time to cool down, we must allow ourselves time to think and pray through the issue that made us angry and then we are ready to make a decision. James 1:20 says "the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God" unchecked anger does not bring God glory, it dishonors his name and destroys our lives. I challenge you today to invite the Holy Spirit into your anger and allow him the time to defuse your emotions and refocus your thoughts before you make a decision that may have life long repercussions

The Spirit Behind The Sacrifice

1Corinthians 10:20 "I am saying that these sacrifices are offered to demons, not to God. And I don’t want you to participate with demons." The spirit behind the sacrifice matters to God and it should matter to us. Paul said that there was nothing wrong with the meat that they were wanting to eat, the problem has not the meat, the problem was that the meat had been offered to idols or demons. It was the spirit behind the sacrifice that made Paul say do not partake, because if you do you are participating with demons. Our world is full of things that are not, bad or sin, but the spirit behind them is demonic. When we made decisions about the music, movies, TV shows and entertainment that we partake in, we need to ask our selves. What is the spirit behind this? Is this music, movie or other form of entertainment being driven by the spirit of God or is it demonic in nature. Remember it is the spirit behind the sacrifice that matters, what are you partaking in?

Love Strengthens

1Corinthians 8:1 "But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church" Love is the key to a healthy church, love embraces, comforts and confronts. Love accepts people for who they are but refuses to leave them that way. Love creates an environment were people can be real, transparent and transformed by the grace and power of God. Religion celebrates knowledge, but God celebrates love; now abides faith, hope and love but the greatest of these is Love.

Distractions

Nehemiah 6:3 "Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” Demonic distractions are one of satan's greatest weapons, Satan will throw all sorts of things your way as a ploy to get you to stop working. Satan doesn't have to destroy the work of God that you are called to, all he has to do is distract you enough to make you stop working.

Satan doesn't care what it takes to distract you, for some it is tragedy and pain, for others it is prosperity and possessions either way the moment you stop working; doing what God has called to to do, the enemy has won. Guard your heart and life against demonic distractions and learn from Nehemiah, verse 9 says "So I continued the work with even greater determination."

Rubbish

Nehemiah 4:2 "Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap-and charred ones at that?” The world builds on the bright and the beautiful, but God builds on people who are charred and come from the rubbish heaps of sin and despair. The world may have disqualified you, but the fact that you're messed up qualifies you for the grace of God. Jesus came for the sick and not the well, where sin abounds grace does much more abound. God has chosen the foolish things to confound the wise and the weak things to conquer the mighty. Nobodies are the somebodies that God uses to change the world, ordinary people doing extraordinary things through the grace, love and power of God. The world may have counted you out, but God in counting on you to be the difference maker in your world.

Total Restoration

August 11, 2010
Nehemiah 1:6-9 “O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! 7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.
 8 “Please remember what you told your servant Moses: ‘If you are unfaithful to me, I will scatter you among the nations. 9 But if you return to me and obey my commands and live by them, then even if you are exiled to the ends of the earth, I will bring you back to the place I have chosen for my name to be honored.’

Three steps to total restoration:

Return to the Lord, which means turning away from the lifestyle of sin and running back to the one that loves you and died that you may have life.

Obey his commandments of confession, repentance, renouncing and receiving.

Live by the principles of God's word, walking out your freedom and positioning yourself to receive the restoration work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
No matter how far you have gotten away from God, if you are willing to do these three things, God Will Bring You Back To Place Of Total Restoration