WHAT IS THE "FAITH" IN FAITHFULNESS?

Mike Blume
August 8, 2004 pm




Esther 3:8-9  And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.  If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.

Esther 3:13  And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.

Esther 4:8-16

(8)  Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.
(9)  And Hatach came and told Esther the words of Mordecai.
(10)  Again Esther spake unto Hatach, and gave him commandment unto Mordecai;
(11)  All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.
(12)  And they told to Mordecai Esther's words.
(13)  Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
(14)  For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?
(15)  Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,
(16)  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.



  Message:

 

There is a thought the Lord gave me in times past, concerning these scriptures concerning which I have seen more light.

I want to go further with this and speak it with more clarity.

•    It may seem odd to choose this text for the issue of faithfulness, but I believe the Lord showed me a key in what being faithful is all about.
•    And Esther’s story perfectly meets that thought.

The Lord stopped me up in prayer yesterday while I sought him for a breakthrough in our city.
•    He spoke to me that the same FAITH required in seeing needs met, such as miracles and healings, is the faith that is in “faithfulness”.
•    I will speak more about this as I continue.

It is interesting that the entire ordeal against the jews stemmed from Mordecai’s refusal to bow to Haman.
•    The bible shows instances where Israelite men and women bowed down before their kings many times.
•    So the bowing down to Haman must have been more than just reverence before a king.
•    Haman held a religious belief that he descended from gods and should be honoured as a god in that respect.
•    Persians believed their kings were incarnations of the god Oromasdes.
•    So bowing down before them was like bowing to a god, therefore the Jew Mordecai would not do it.

Haman clearly represents the devil in this story.
•    Lucifer longed to be held in esteem as the Most High.
•    Isaiah said he exalted his throne yearning to be like the Most High.
•    But a people exist in this world who know only One God.
•    And sinners may not consciously worship satan, but desiring his will in evil and sinfulness and enjoyment of pleasures of sins puts all sinners on their knees before this devil.
•    However, the church of the living God refuses.

You see, when you fall in line with the spirit of the enemy in a self-focused and self-centred way, you are in effect serving in the devil’s kingdom.
•    The devil is a me-first spirit.
•    Do your own will.
•    He related this to the woman in Genesis when he said she would be as the gods.
•    His influence is spread upon people so that his ideology rules.
•    And he actually rules wherever men and women want THEIR OWN WILL accomplished.
•    And when you get a world where everyone is out for themselves, the world falls apart.

God’s kingdom is a place where everyone gets blessed.
•    And this requires a change from our concern for ourselves to that of the greater overall concern of the entire church.
•    When everyone is concerned for everyone else, everyone gets ministered to.

There is a needs to concern ourselves with each other and the rest of the Body.

Ephesians 4:11-16 KJV
(11)  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
(12)  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
(13)  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
(14)  That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
(15)  But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
(16)  From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

If the ministry ministers for the purpose of the perfecting of saints for the work of the ministry, then that means the saints are intended to start MINISTERING!
  • If the ministry here only speaks of the preachers, then it is not making any sense, because the ministers are already ministering!
  • Paul said that the preachers must preach to get the saints to minister in ministry that is not yet occurring.
Unity requires a mind for others.

Paul said we must come to the place where EVERY MEMBER SUPPLIES.

It is a self-sacrifice.

There is no such thing as a joint in your body that does not supply to the rest of the body.
•    That requires a concern for others, in the spiritual sense of being a member of the body of Christ.
•    If my finger is cut off, my body will make up for it as best it can and continue on, but what will happen to the finger?
•    It will dry up and rot away.
•    That is the same as what will happen to a member of the church who cuts him/herself off from the body.

Romans 12:1-2 KJV
(1)  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
(2)  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Notice there are many BODIES (plural), but one SACRIFICE (singular) here.

That requires unity and greater concern for more than just ourselves.

It is reasonable for us to sacrifice ourselves.
•    And the spirit of this day is to DO YOUR OWN THING.
•    It’s actually antichrist!

I will be speaking this week later on about the spirit of antichrist.

This is how Haman’s story begins.
•    A satanic craving for self glory.
•    And those who resisted, garner his wrath.

Haman sets out to seek permission to demand a decree to slay all Jews.

And Esther comes along.
•    The amazing thing in all of this is that there is a contrast between two spirits.
•    There is Haman’s self-for-self spirit, and there are the words we hear Mordecai give to Esther.
•    SELFLESSNESS and concern for OTHERS.

Mordecai grieves terribly and fasts in sackcloth before the king’s very gate.
•    Esther finds out.
•    She sends clothing to him.

Esther 4:4 KJV
(4)  So Esther's maids and her chamberlains came and told it her. Then was the queen exceedingly grieved; and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai, and to take away his sackcloth from him: but he received it not.

Esther is then informed of the decree.

Esther 4:8 KJV
(8)  Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

She needs to go to the king and do something about it.

And she becomes tempted self-concerned!
•    The very thing that was predominating in Haman and Persia.

Esther 4:11 KJV
(11)  All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.

She was more concerned over herself when she heard the news of the Jews’ destruction.
•    She rehearsed to Mordecai the law regarding people unwanted in the King’s inner court.

But here we come into a great spiritual picture shown throughout the bible, and spiritually raised in the New testament regarding salvation.

 There is a strong allusion and similarity here between Esther entering the King’s INNER COURT, and the Old Testament MOST HOLY PLACE in the temple.
•    If one entered the most Holy Place, one would be smitten in death.
•    Leviticus 10 shows Nadab and Abihu smitten of God as they attempted to enter that place.

Leviticus 10:1-2  And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

Leviticus 16:1-2  And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died; And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.

Now, Esther was different than a commoner.
•    She was Queen.
•    Perhaps this is an error on her part to compare herself with a commoner, as so many of God’s people do.
•    She said man or woman not called by the King is put to death upon entrance into the inner chamber.

So many are not comfortable with the thought that they are in the BRIDE, and are QUEEN.
•    They FEEL like they are no different than anyone else and are not privileged for power and victory more than anyone else, saved or not.
•    They KNOW what the preacher has said to them, but by the way they actually live and think of themselves everyday, they really do not believe it.

Song 6:8  There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, and virgins without number.

Virgins denote the lowest of the levels of relationship.

Song 1:3  Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name is as ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

They love His name -- that is all they have, and granted it is a lot!

    * They love his anointing.
    * Ointment is the root word of anointing.
    * But they have no relationship with Him.
    * Virgins have no relationship and intimacy.
    * And there are virgins without number, 80 concubines and only 60 queens.
    * Less queens than anything.
    * Not many enjoy this depth of intimacy with the King, but you are supposed to!

Concubines have intimacy, but the queens enjoy something more than that.

But Queens have all the previous traits PLUS the fact that they rule with the King.

    * They not only share intimacy with Him but also RULE WITH HIM.

And there is an INFLUENCE OVER OTHERS THAT IS INVOLVED.

Royalty MUST be concerned for OTHERS!

Esther is called upon                
               
Esther 4:13-14 KJV
(13)  Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.
(14)  For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

Here is where the rubber meets the road, folks.
•    She thought of herself.
•    She was tempted with SELF-CONCERN.
•    She feared to go before the king.
•    Threat of death was over her head in such a thought.

He told her that she can fear and keep it all in and do nothing about it.
•    And God will work through someone else.
•    But the fact is that in the here and now God can move.
•    If he moves through someone else, it will be delayed.
•    The reason I know help form others would be delayed is because Mordecai told her that HER AND HER HOUSE WOULD BE DESTROYED.
•    It reminds me of the Israelites entering Canaan the first time.
•    Joshua and Caleb were ready in faith, but the rest of the people doubted and they would die and delay God’s will of entering in for 40 years!

He asked her to look beyond herself.

Is not this interesting in light of Haman’s initial reaction of a self-for-self spirit?
•    Do we not see one SPIRIT pitted against ANOTHER?
•    A self-for-self attitude and spirit that can only be defeated by a SELF-FOR -OTHERS spirit!!!

Haman’s self-concerning spirit was now to be challenged by someone who had a self-for-others spirit!

In fact that is the only way to break this self concerned spirit!
•    A church has to rise up with many members who are altogether concerned for each other and anybody else!
•    Without such a church, this self -for-self spirit will hinder healings that need to be accomplished for others.
•    Just because you are not sick or diseased, is no reason to have no concern over being used in the gifts of healing and miracles, because OTHERS NEED OTHERS WITH THESE GIFTS.
•    And CONCERN for OTHERS is what is so needed for such a church to rise up!

More about this later.

And here is another great truth.
•    Mordecai was a BENJAMITE.
•    (Esther 2:5).
•    BENJAMIN means SON OF THE RIGHT HAND.
•    And what is so wonderful is that the Apostle Paul, who was a BENJAMITE as well (Phil 3:5), taught so much about the RIGHT HAND OF GOD where Christ was seated after He rose again (Eph 1:20).
•    He taught how that Christ was raised from the dead to be set at God’s own right hand.
•    And he taught that in order to show where we are, since he said that IN CHRIST we have been seated in heavenly places WITH CHRIST (Eph 2:5-6)!
•    We are at the right hand, since we are IN CHRIST.

And this Benjamite tells Esther to GO TO THE INNER CHAMBER where the throne is.
•    SHE CAN GO.
•    THREAT OF DEATH OR NOT.
•    SHE CAN DO IT.

Mordecai told her that this is most likely the very reason SHE WAS MADE QUEEN BY GOD!
•    And church, there is a purpose as to why the church is the BRIDE.
•    WE ARE HERE SEATED WITH CHRIST IN ORDER TO ACT ON THE BEHALF OF THE OVERALL GREATER GOOD.

Here is the FAITH in faithfulness.
•    We must have FAITH that God can USE US to HELP OTHERS, so we can in turn have FAITH for the miracles and healings that OTHERS require!
•    THIS IS THE ENTIRE POINT TONIGHT!
•    The reason many are UNFAITHFUL is because they do not think they can be of any help and feel like they are nothing.
•    They hesitate because they look at themselves saying, “Who am I?”
•    They feel the church can get along without them.
•    But the fact is that EVERY JOINT HAS SOMETHING TO SUPPLY TO THE BODY IN SOME FORM.
•    And you have giftings and abilities and callings and friends and contacts that nobody else has.
•    If you do nothing, “Esther,” the works that YOU can do will never get done!
•    You are the only “Jesus” some people will ever see.
•    If you quit and are unfaithful, and have no concern for others, then there will be people that none of us will be able to reach, for YOU were the one to reach them!
           
Hebrews 6:18-20 KJV
(18)  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:
(19)  Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
(20)  Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The new testament speaks of the most holy place, like the king’s inner chamber, as a place WE NEED TO ENTER BY FAITH!

Paul is believed to have written Hebrews.
•    Go on in!!!

In the old testament only the high priest could go into the most holy place.
•    Others would die.
•    JUST AS ESTHER SAID ONE COULD DIE UPON ENTERING THE INNER CHAMBER OF THE KING.
•    BUT WE ARE TOLD IN HEBREWS THAT WE CAN ENTER IN AS WELL.
•    We are not like “commoners”,  representing those not in the BRIDE.
•    The reason so many feel uncomfortable with sitting on our thrones with Christ is because they are not taught these things that PAUL STRESSED IN ALL HIS EPISTLES.
•    If you do not feel like healing the sick, you need to know YOU BELONG IN THAT POSITION.
•    You  were given power for such a time as this when folks need healing.
•    Stop hesitating and realize YO CAN ENTER.

    * Paul's writings teach us what to do, and how we can go to the King.
    * He teaches us who we really are in Christ.

ENEMY CAN BE DEFEATED

    * Esther was there for more than enjoying Queendom!
    * She could remain silent and do nothing.

For Mordecai to say that God put her in the position, and then tell her that if she holds her peace, help may come from somewhere else, then IT WAS UP TO HER WHETHER OR NOT SHE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF THE POWER THAT GOD GAVE TO HER.

God put her there.

    * But she could remain silent.
    * There are too many silent Christians whom God has placed in a position of power in Jesus' name, who COULD step into the HOLIEST OF HOLIES BY FAITH-- the inner chamber, but do not walk in by faith.
•    They live by their carnal feelings and your flesh is never going to encourage you to go on in.

But there is the threat of death if you enter the inner chamber.

Leviticus 16:14  And he shall take of the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy seat eastward; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times.

God wants you to enter by one way and one way only.

    * By virtue of the blood of Jesus.

Hebrews 9:12  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

Jesus went in by his own blood.

And it is the same thing that will allow us entrance.

Hebrews 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,

How do we translate that into commonly understood terms for you?

    * You'd have to study the New Testament very closely to get this.
    * And that is why I am here.
    * I am like Mordecai tonight!

The BLOOD stands for something special.

    * God did not intend for you to find actual blood of Jesus and then see your needs met.
    * Blood stands for death.
    * And in this case its Jesus' death.

Jesus died, was buried and resurrected three days later.

In effect, He carried His own blood into the inner chamber.

    * And He sat down on the throne as King.

All those who identify His death with their lives -- that is, have faith and know that His death is something that can be shared in order to save us -- can enter the holiest with His blood, too.
•    The BRIDE ALONE is bone of His bones and flesh of His flesh.
•    Only the BRIDE can do this, so it is silly to compare the bride with commoners who are not one with Him.

And so she set out to prepare herself to enter.

Here is what you must do in order to prepare yourself with CONFIDENCE, and to finally conclude you will not die!

You need to REALIZE why YOU will not die while others would.

THREE DAYS/NIGHTS

Esther 4:16  Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

There is one thing that the mention of THREE DAYS AND NIGHTS represents in the Bible that everyone should never forget.

Luke 9:22  Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

Jesus' death, burial and resurrection occurred over a three day and night span of time.

    * The entire Bible points to this work of all God's works.

Before Esther would enter the inner chamber, she proclaimed a FAST for three days and nights.

Denying flesh is what fasting is all about, in order to hone your spirit and concentrate on things of the spirit with no worry over the needs of the flesh for a time.
•    And we need to forget the fleshly picture in our hearts, as well, and concentrate on what the THREE DAYS OF CHRIST did for us.

Identify ourselves with His three-day/night experience.
    * By faith, get it into your heart that His death was your death.
    * His burial and third day resurrection was your's.
    * And since BLOOD represents all of that, you are in effect carrying His blood as you prepare to enter the HOLIEST OF HOLIES.

You are saying THIS THREE DAY SPAN FROM HIS DEATH TO HIS RESURRECTION is FOR ME to enter with, SO I HAVE A RIGHT TO ENTER!

Since Christ died, rose again and ascended into the most holy place to be seated on the right hand, and I have been baptized into that death of His, then I am crucified, buried and risen again to likewise sit with Him in heavenly places!

So, going over those three days in my heart means that I realize I CAN GO IN, since I AM SUPPOSED TO BE IN THERE WITH HIM ANYWAY!

It is only with Jesus' blood that one can enter the holiest of holies.
•    In other words, ONLY WITH THE SAME EXPERIENCE HE HAD BY WHICH HE ENTERED IN CAN WE GO IN.
•    We claim that experience as our own,
•    For if it got Jesus in there, and if he went into this throne room and sat down after dying his death and resurrecting in his resurrection, then my co-death and co-resurrection with Him should award me CO-SEATING WITH HIM IN HEAVENLY PLACES!

And sure enough, we find that is exactly the truth, just as BENJAMITE PAUL preached it!

Romans 6:5 KJV
(5)  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

Romans 6:9-11 KJV
(9)  Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
(10)  For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
(11)  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

He died to sin once and has no need to see sin dominate him ever again.
•    This is true of us if we died His death and resurrected in His resurrection!
•    That means we have power.
•    And as HE IS KING, the CHURCH IS QUEEN.
•    And this power of Haman did not have to continue with ESTHER BEING QUEEN SUITED FOR THE THRONE WITH HER HUSBAND KING!

    * If a man went into the presence of the holiest without blood it meant death.
    * If Ahasuerus was not pleased, his sceptre was not extended and one died upon entering his inner sanctum.

There is only one thing that pleases God.

    * WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE GOD.
    * And this faith is the greatest of all faiths.
    * Its the faith that will save a sinner and give him eternal life.
    * Its the faith that will aid you again and again in any attack the devil might bring against you.
    * Its the faith that moves the hand of God.
    * Its the faith that is represented by someone carrying the blood of Jesus.
    * Its the faith that is represented and proclaimed when someone goes forth in the name of Jesus Christ.
    * FAITH THAT HIS DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION CAN BE SHARED BY US.
    * And the blessings He obtained by His own blood, in ascending and being seated above all principalities and powers, IS SHARED BY US.

That means that if He is King, and the Church is saved by His blood, then the CHURCH IS HIS QUEEN.

    * We rule and reign with Him.
    * We are seated together with him in heavenly places.

The three days and nights represent that.


THIRD DAY FAITH

Esther 5:1  Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.

When you go through the three days and nights of Christ’s experience of the cross and resurrection, you will realize YOU CAN GO IN!
•    It’s like putting on an attitude that you belong in there when Esther put on her royal garments!


 You will go right on into the inner chamber BOLDLY.

Hebrews 4:16 KJV
(16)  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.



    * Esther put on her royal garments on the third day.
    * Its not three actual days of each of us, but rather by faith applying His three-day experience to your life as you own experience.
    * You will fully understand you belong in the inner chamber with Him on the throne to see things changed!


Hebr 10:19-23  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;  And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

The veil blocked the most holy place in the temple.
  • And Hebrews says that we can boldly go into the most holy place by HIs blood.
  • Just as Esther entered the inner chamber.
  • Boldness is required since the threat of death i s known to be there.
  • And we need FAITH knowing that WE shall not die as others might.
  • And that FAITH comes from learning the truths that the cross made the way for YOU to enter possible, if you are in the BRIDE, the CHURCH.

By the blood of Jesus.

    * That is what identifying with that three day work means.
    * Its His blood, but you can say its YOUR DEATH.

So if His death led to His throne for Jesus, and that death became your death when you were baptized into it, then you can enter in and sit with Him on the throne.

Esther 5:2  And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

The king saw it and was pleased.

    * Only FAITH pleases God.
    * Someone dared to boldly enter.
    * Someone took Paul's advice as Esther took Mordecai's.
    * Someone identified with those three days.


1st, KNOW THE THREE DAY TRUTH

Paul said we have to first of all KNOW some things.

    * In Romans 6, Paul asked "KNOW YE NOT?" several times.
    * And then he said the next step was to RECKON all that was part of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection to ourselves in 6:11.
    * And then He told us to YIELD OURSELVES TO GOD.
    * PRESENT YOURSELF TO HIM.
    * If you really reckoned it and identified yourself to Jesus' death, then GO ON INTO THE INNER CHAMBER.

Too many don't even KNOW it yet

    * When you really identify yourself with His death, you will put on your royal apparel, and know you have power in His name, since you understand what God did.
    * You grasp the truths of union to Jesus.
    * You did all the math.

Too many don't come to church to learn the truths of the Blood.

    * They never got an itch to know.
    * They come for the warm, fuzzy feeling or the singing.

Queens are for more than that, though.

The virgins love his name and anointing.
•    No relationship, though.
•    The concubines have relationship, but no concern and power for others.
•    THE CHURCH IS NOT HIS CONCUBINE!
•    It’s Not intended to have no relationship with Him as a virgin!
•    IT’S MEANT TO BE HIS QUEEN!

Present yourself as ONE ALIVE FROM THE DEAD!
 
Romans 6:11  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

That is the conclusion derived at when you realize you died with Him and came into union so as to resurrect with Him as well.



Romans 6:13  Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.

Reckon that you're resurrected, and present yourself as one resurrected!

Esther 5:3  Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom.

That means, "YOU HAVE ONE HALF AND I'LL HAVE THE OTHER... We'll rule and reign together!"

Esther 5:6  And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.

The banquet of WINE.

The wine speaks of Jesus' blood.

    * Have a banquet of wine with Jesus.
    * Enjoy the benefits of what His BLOOD DID FOR YOU.
    * We're at a banquet of wine!

When you really understand what entering his chamber boldly by His blood means, you'll drink the wine of this banquet of truth and be filled with the faith it takes to defeat Hell.
 

DEFEATING THE DEVIL AT HIS OWN GAME

The devil was going to hang Jesus and do away with the Son of God.

    * But Jesus beat the devil at his own game and defeated the devil through the cross.

And not only that, but that devil Haman tried to destroy Mordecai on the gallows.

Esther 6:4  And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. But at the banquet of wine, Esther made her petition.

Esther 7:2-6  And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom. Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request: For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage. Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so? And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.

Satan is always afraid of God.

    * But let's have him afraid of the QUEEN as well!
    * Church, Satan fears you when you banquet with the wine of the truths of the blood of Jesus and what it did for you.


Esther 7:9-10  And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows (TREE) fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows (TREE) that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.

7:9 -- THE HEBREW WORD FOR "GALLOWS" IS "TREE!"

    * The cross of Jesus Christ is the tree!
    * Satan tried to destroy Christ with the cross, But Jesus beat him at his own game!
    * The cross became the greatest victory!
    * The enemy was destroyed on his own "tree"!

Everytime the devil tries to defeat you , you need to apply the CROSS that he set out to destroy Jesus with, against him and defeat him with the same cross that Jesus defeated Him with.

APPLYING THE CROSS TO THE DEVIL is another way of saying you can defeat him at every turn IF YOU REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE POWER TO DO SO BECAUSE YOU WERE CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST.
•    What does that imply?
•    It means that if you died with Him, by baptism into His death, then you will therefore have his burial, resurrection and ascension and seating with him on the right hand throne as well.
•    And seating on the throne means you have power over him.
•    So since it all started with your death with Christ on the cross, then you can say you apply the work of the cross to the devil when you realize you have power to destroy his works.
                       
Take the FAITH that YOU CAN be used of God for others’ sakes, and go on in, and then let that SAME FAITH be used to see you DO what you have FAITH TO DO, and minister to others!

The faith in faithfulness is something that makes you dependable and committed, and that is the faith that GOD WANTS TO USE YOU.
•    That faith will make you faithful.
•    You will realize that if God CAN and WANTS to use you, then you will be there and available for Him to use!
•    You will become FAITHFUL!
•    And then your FAITH will also work miracles and wonders and help God’s people

Do not think selfishly as though you do not want to be depended upon.
•    This world has enough of that self-centred and self-concerned antichrist spirit.

I am afraid the church, little Esther, is being tempted with it today!

Come one, Esther, GO ON IN.

Esther needed FAITH she could go in, so she could be depended upon and FAITHFUL.
•    In turn, she would use her faith and see God perform of wonder.
•    AND SHE DID!