Esther Series – part 8

Pastor Eric A. Green

When virgins were gathered together a second time, Mordecai sat within the King's gate.  Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the
 command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.  Esther 2:19, 20

Esther had ascended to the throne of the greatest kingdom on earth, and one might say she'd arrived.  She was surrounded by luxury and pageantry, having become the apple of the king's eye and the envy of all others in the kingdom.  How easy it would have been to forget her humble beginnings and become susceptible to the pride dictated by her newfound status. 

Yet, the scripture says Esther obeyed the instructions of Mordecai just as she did when she was a child.  Understand that Esther's obedience was child-like not child-ish!  Remember, Jesus said we cannot enter the kingdom unless we come as children (Mark 10:15).   Childlikeness is an indispensible trait of a Spirit-filled life, and it takes much effort to maintain this attribute.

Children are trusting, obedient, joyful, open to direction and correction, innocent, and loving.  That is what the Lord looks for in us.  How do our lives stack up in relation to these traits? One of my greatest sorrows as a pastor is how few saints truly respect and obey spiritual authority as Esther did.  Can your pastors say you are a joy to shepherd, obedient, humble, and meek?  I'm not talking about being a subject or slave, but a yielded vessel of honor God can use, as He did Esther.

If we could see the importance of submitting to the "Mordecai" in our lives, God's power would be set free in us in ways untold.  Think about it.

Love and peace,

Pastor Eric

Esther Series – part 6

Pastor Eric A. Green

 

. . . she (Esther) did not request anything except what Hegai, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the king's women, advised.   And Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her.  Esther 2:15b

In Esther's story, God gave her immediate and effectual favor with Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the king's harem.  Hegai was best able to promote Esther, preparing her, advising her, positioning her, protecting her, and serving her.  Esther, to her credit, was humble and wise enough to listen and obey, and we know how things worked out in her favor against all odds.  

Eunuchs are among the most overlooked characters in the ancient world, but among the most influential and important.  Since "eunuch" is not a term we are very familiar with, let me give you the definition from Vine's Expository Dictionary:

" (a) An emasculated man; (b) one incapacitated for, or voluntarily abstaining from wedlock; (c) one such, in a position in high authority in a court, "a chamberlain."

Kings in biblical times required those who were exclusively dedicated to his welfare, safety, and interests.  Because a king was sovereign and every person in the kingdom was his subject, the job was overwhelming, requiring the assistance of a highly skilled and competent army of aides.  These aides were his first line of defense, his eyes and ears, his messengers, his representatives, his confidantes, his butlers and cooks, and anything else he might need of them.  As such, the lives and livelihood of these aides depended on their capability, loyalty, wisdom, and shrewdness.  Such was the lot of the king's eunuchs.

Being in the direct presence of kings who wielded absolute authority was an unfathomable honor and opportunity - but it was also a slippery and precarious slope of uncertainty.  Witness the predicament of Daniel, Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego, who were Nebuchudnezzar's Jewish eunuchs in the Book of Daniel.  Their position and excellence made them invaluable to the king, but also made them targets of Satan and those who were envious of their position.

I believe there are eunuchs available to us (the bride of Christ) even today.  They are called angels.  In so many ways angels do for the Lord and us what eunuchs did for kings and their families.  Hebrews 1:14 speaks of angels like this:

"Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation?"

Yes, like eunuchs, angels serve God's interests (the church) with a singular purpose, and they wage a holy war for us in the spiritual realm.  We don't always realize this, because it is invisible - but it is real, and we need to live in such a way that helps our heavenly eunuchs help us.  We do this by living and walking in the Spirit, obeying and following Jesus, engaging in His interest in others, and giving sacrifices of praise and worship from thankful hearts. 

Imagine how difficult we can make the angels' job by opening ourselves up to demonic powers through disobedience, stubbornness and waywardness (witness Israel's wandering in the desert).  I look at evil things I was once involved with and I deeply regret the doors I opened for Satan.  But I'm so grateful for the angels God placed around me who fought for me and did not let the plots of devil succeed. Now I often pray, "Lord, help me to live in a way that makes the angels' ministry in my life a pleasure, not a struggle."

Finally, let me submit to you another group of eunuchs sent by God to minister on our behalf - pastors.  Pastors are sent to prepare the children of God for the day they will be ushered directly into His presence, just like Esther was prepared to go before the king.  The sermons pastors preach, the lives of sacrifice they live, their praying and fasting for us, and their example to us will commend us to God, if we'll only humble ourselves and follow them as they follow Christ.   May our lives be a witness to God's determination to perfect us for Himself and eternity.

Pastor Eric

 Esther Series – part 5

Pastor Eric A. Green

 

So it was, when the king’s command and decree were heard, and when many young women were gathered at Shushan the citadel, under the custody of Hegai, that Esther also was taken to the king’s palace, into the care of Hegai the custodian of the women.

Now the young woman pleased him, and she obtained his favor; so he readily gave beauty preparations to her, besides her allowance. Then seven choice maidservants were provided for her from the king’s palace, and he moved her and her maidservants to the best place in the house of the women.

Now when the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his daughter, to go in to the king, she requested nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the custodian of the women, advised. And Esther obtained favor in the sight of all who saw her.  Esther 2:8, 9, &15

Have you ever witnessed a beauty pageant?  How do you choose one young lady out of a multitude of lovely, beautiful, and talented ladies?  Truly, it comes down to a matter of tastes and preferences - .the criteria is very subjective and the judges have a difficult decision to make. 

Now imagine the contest to become the next queen of the most powerful king in the world!  You talk about politics, maneuvering, treachery, dirty tricks. You can bet things behind the scenes were not very pretty.  This group of women included the rich, well connected, the best looking, and every Cinderella wannabe in the kingdom. 

And then there was Esther.  In the world's eyes, she was no one from nowhere.  In fact, Mordecai instructed her to keep nationality and family origin a secret, because if she were known to be a Jew in captivity it would be used against her!  Naturally speaking, Esther was the least likely to be chosen by the king . . . but God!!!!

There is a spiritual concept at work here that no one but God calculated, and it made all the difference in the world!  That concept is "favor”. 

        Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her.  Esther 2:15b

I define favor as the personalized, particular, gracious hand of God operating in the life of His child. 

God's hand on Esther was only factor that separated her from all the other lovelies, and this favor was poured out for a purpose.  In fact, God's favor is always connected to His purpose for our lives.  You see, Esther was God's tool to save His people from the genocidal plot soon to be hatched against them.  My point is this - Esther received this favor because she was obedient to God's leading in her life, and the favor remained as long as she kept that focus and fulfilled God's purpose.

The same is true of us in regard to favor.  We enjoy and recognize the marvelous favor of God in our lives when we remained focused on the life and role He has designed for us.  When we get outside those lines, He still loves us, but we lose the sense of His hand moving in all things on our behalf - we begin to work for things He would give us if we were obedient.  May we all allow God, who chose us out of this world, to place us where He gets the glory from the favor He bestows on us. Amen.

Pastor Eric

Esther Series – part 4 

Pastor Eric A. Green

 

In Shushan the citadel there was a certain Jew whose name was Mordecai the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite. Mordecai had brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman was lovely and beautiful. When her father and mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

Esther had not revealed her people or family, for Mordecai had charged her not to reveal it. And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her. Excerpts for Esther 2: 4, 7, 10, 11 (NASB) 

Mordecai is every bit as important to the Book of Esther as Esther herself.  She is a beautiful type of the church - plucked from obscurity, unknown, orphaned, and in need of care.  Mordecai, her older cousin, is a type of the Holy Spirit, who God used to care for, instruct, protect, and prepare Esther for her position as the bride of the king.  Because we are poor in spirit, like Esther, Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit to usher us in to the Kingdom of God as His very own bride.  Just as Esther would not have been able to do the will of God without Mordecai, neither can we without the Holy Spirit. 

Little did Esther know the role she would play in the history of God's people. In the same way, you and I don't always realize how crucial our service, obedience, and availability are in the plan of God to save the souls of those all around us. Let's keep our lives free from disobedience, sin, and selfishness that so easily trap us and makes us unfit for Kingdom enterprises.  The Holy Spirit has been given to you lead you into all truth.  As Esther obeyed Mordecai, please obey the promptings of the Spirit - God wants to use you!! 

Pastor Eric

Esther Series – part 3

Pastor Eric A. Green

 

Then the king's servant who attended him said: "Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king."  Esther 2:2

"Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti."  This thing pleased the king, and he did so.  Esther 2:4

. . . Esther was also taken to the king's palace.  Esther 2:8

In order to be considered a candidate for the king's bride, a woman had to be beautiful, young, and a virgin.  Physical beauty was necessary, because she was to be the object of his desire, a pleasure to behold, a source of personal pride, an example of his exquisite taste, and the pinnacle of his "possessions."  Her youth denotes health, vigor, and her relative inexperience in life, allowing her to be shaped, molded, and matured into her new marital, social, and political roles.  Virginity was the standard of unmarried women of Esther's day, and the wife of the king could not be compromised in any way by intimate sexual, romantic, or emotional relationships with any other man. 

When we take a deeper (spiritual) look at this passage, we are able to draw parallels to our relationship with Jesus, our heavenly king and husband.  The Bible calls the church of God the "Bride of Christ" (John 3:29), which He is preparing for Himself without spot or wrinkle, holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:22-33). 

Does your practical life make you eligible for the awesome privilege of enjoying an intimate love life with Jesus Christ?  As a pastor, I witness so many whose choices and lifestyles make it impossible for them to be credible witnesses for Christ.  But those of us who truly desire to be with Him are learning to turn away from the self and sin that once filled our days, and we are looking to Jesus for all we need and desire.  I encourage you to allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse, prepare, and lead you into the life of holiness you are called to - and when the Father looks for those to present to His Son, He'll find the youth, vigor, beauty, and purity in you that makes you fit to be with Him forever!

Let’s talk about it!

Pastor Eric

Esther Series – part 2

Pastor Eric A. Green

 

“What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?” And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: “Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. “For the queen’s behavior will become known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.’ “This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king’s officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath. “If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. “When the king’s decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives will honor their husbands, both great and small.” And the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan. Esther 1:15-21

Poor Queen Vashti.  She had no idea one rash display of temperament would cost her the crown.  Her decision not to honor the king proved to be a bigger deal than she anticipated, and there was no place left for repentance. 

Regardless of how we feel about the queen's behavior, she did not exercise her prerogative wisely; and her position of influence magnified her action, causing her to be perceived as a major threat in to the king's authority.   This was seen as more than an isolated incident, but a fire that would spread throughout the land.

I'm reminded how important it is that I conduct myself honorably and discreetly before those in authority over me - not only for my own good, but for those I influence.  If the exercise of my rights dishonors those I serve, work for, civic, governmental, or spiritual leaders, I dishonor the God who put all authority in place (Romans 13:1).  In a day when we are taught to promote our own rights at all costs, we saints must remember all our rights were surrendered to Jesus. Even when it's not pleasant, we must walk in humility; remembering that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).  Think about it.

Love and perfect peace,

Pastor Eric

Esther Series - Part 1

 Hello Everyone,

For the next several weeks I will share excerpts from a devotional I’m writing on the Book of Esther. Esther is filled with revelation about God, though the word “God” appears nowhere in the entire book. Its lessons on Christian character, courage, and faith are invaluable, and we do well to heed and apply them. So walk (and blog) with me through this marvelous book – and I’ll give you my thoughts, so give me yours.

Love and peace,

Pastor Eric
**********************************************
Esther Series – part 1
 Pastor Eric A. Green

"But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him."

~Esther 1:12

Queen Vashti’s refusal to obey the king's command led to her displacement and closed the door on her privilege, position, and prominence, which she had begun taking for granted.  How careful we must be to guard against the temperament Vashti displayed, that wars against the childlike obedience to God and His ordained authority!  Many opportunities to glorify God have been lost because of our unwillingness or reluctance to respond joyfully to the prompting of the Spirit and the leading of His shepherds. (Read Roman 13:1-7)

Perhaps the King’s behavior was boorish and immature, as some have asserted. Obviously, Vashti though so, and her refusal to obey his request was justified in her eyes – but was her response wise? And was it righteous? There are instance in our lives where we are “summoned” by authorities like Vashti, and our natural response could be the same as hers, if we judge those authorities unworthy of obedience. But if we make that judgment, are we being wise? Are we being righteous? Are we being biblical? When is it right to disobey those in authority? Pray about it.

May the Lord give us the simplicity and humility of heart to trust and obey, casting all our cares and the consequences of our obedience upon Him...for HE cares for us.

What say you?

God bless you,

Pastor Eric  

Dream With God

Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. (Genesis 15:5, 6)

Abraham was an old man, and Sarah was well past her childbearing prime. It was foolish to think he and his wife would ever have an heir of their own, but God uses foolishness for His own divine purposes (1 Corinthians 1:25). Just when Abraham’s faith was at its lowest point, the Lord challenged him, “Look now toward heaven . . .” Abraham and Sarah needed an attitude adjustment and a change of perspective if they were going to walk any farther with God. They were going to have to give God their hopes and dreams and trust Him with them. So it is with each of us who hope in the Lord.

God wants to free us from the trap of small and limited thinking. We limit God in our minds whenever we elevate our circumstances instead of seeking the opportunities to increase our faith. Our faith is only increased by the determination to cling to God and His Word, and to let Him have the final say in all things. The name of Jesus must truly become the “name above all names” in my thinking - and my best efforts get lost in the possibilities of His sovereign will, His grace and His remarkable kindness. Now is the time for me to look up and believe!

Love and perfect peace,
Pastor Eric

Discipleship: It Is Necessary!

Discipleship has become a hot topic at my church. I consider it a non-negotiable for the growth and maturity of a saint. I define “discipleship” as the personal relationship or network of relationships that makes the wisdom and experience of the more seasoned saints available to others. These relationships may be structured or free-flowing, but they must be intentional, mutually agreed upon, and pursued according to the biblical model and the pastor’s vision. The mentor/disciple relationship is best pursued in the local church and biblical context. The pastor is the final piece of the puzzle, as he or she is God’s agent for equipping His saints for life and ministry (Ephesians 4: 11-16). Thus, all such relationships should be open and submitted to pastoral authority and protection.

There are tremendous benefits for the teacher/mentor and the disciple.
The teacher/mentor receives:

• The opportunity to pour into the lives of others.
• The joy of seeing others gain the wisdom and insights necessary for productivity and maturity.
• Obedience to the Lord’s “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-20)
• The assurance of doing what Jesus did.

The disciple receives:

• The benefits of the knowledge of more seasoned saints.
• The benefits of accountability.
• The blessing of having hands laid on and being “sent”.
• The benefits of learning to serve, honor, and follow another.

I can fully understand the fear and reluctance some feel when approached with the subject of discipleship. There have been those who have misused the trust given them, and we all must be careful to whom we submit ourselves. The Lord never asks us turn off our brains and let someone think for us or control us.

Personally, I’ve never encountered a productive and healthy saint who had not been well pastored and discipled – nor do I believe the members of a local congregation will mature without the pastor’s devoted effort to establish the means for individuals to be engaged in healthy discipling relationships. Jesus is the true Disciple-Maker, and those of us who minister in His name will seek to do as He did. So let’s get busy making those disciples!

That’s my piece. What say you?

Suggested reading –
Jesus Christ, Disciple Maker and The Disciple Making Church - Both by Bill Hull.