Topic: Only a Privilege [Sunday 4 October, 2015]
Memorise: The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. - Haggai 2:8
Read: Esther 4:10-14 (KJV)
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?
Bible in one Year: Numbers 1-2, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58
MESSAGE:
While the Lord Jesus Christ was on the surface of the earth, He plainly declared His intention to build His Church, irrespective of the opposition from the gates of hell (Matthew 16:18). The implication of this declaration is that even if you refuse to cooperate with God on His plans to build His kingdom, He will still definitely go ahead with those plans without you. Whether the Kingdom of God will be built or not is not a question that needs deliberation, it is a settled matter. If you choose to cooperate with God, He will use you; but if you refuse to be a part of His programme or vision, He will decide to do it without you. Psalm 24:1 says the earth and its fullness belongs to God, so He has all the raw materials He needs to do the job. Haggai 2:8 also says silver and gold belongs to God. Since He has all the resources and all the money, who or what can stand in His way? It therefore follows that if God decides to use you in building His house or kingdom, He is only doing you a favour.
When the children of Israel faced extinction in the days of Queen Esther, her uncle, Mordecai, asked her to present the matter before her husband the king. She responded that she could not go to the king except the called for her. If she went uninvited, she could lose her life. What was Mordecai’s response?
“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 of such a time as this?” - Esther 4:14
From this reply, it is obvious that God cannot be stranded. He always has someone waiting in the wings to do the assignment He has given you. If Esther had refused to take the risk, God would have used another person to do the job. Has God blessed you financially or materially and you are now dictating to Him how you will spend or not spend what He has given to you? Beware! Do not compel Him to use someone else! Mordecai told Esther that if she refused to do what God requested of her, she and her father’s house would become causalities of war. Do you know that when you fail to build the kingdom of God after He has given you the means, you will face certain punishment? Be wise today!
Key Point: The best way to spend the financial resources God gives to you is to use them to meet God’s needs.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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