We live in a fast-paced world.
Everything around seems to be ‘instant’. The world seems to be moving very
fast. This has been the prevailing pattern amongst us; it’s even rubbing off on
the Christians, such that we try to dictate to God, our time of manifestation.
However, God’s standard remains intact and He will always have His way. It’s best for us to move at God’s pace. Remember, His thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are His ways your ways… (Isaiah 55:8-9).
However, God’s standard remains intact and He will always have His way. It’s best for us to move at God’s pace. Remember, His thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are His ways your ways… (Isaiah 55:8-9).
God deliberately kept Mordecai at the
king’s gate, even after Esther had been enthroned, so that he could discover
and reveal the evil plots of the two men who sought to kill the king. In other
words, God actually used Mordecai to preserve the life of king Ahasuerus.
It may seem like you’ve been forgotten and forsaken by men, be rest-assured that God has not forgotten you, neither has He forsaken you…He will never leave you comfortless!
However, He might have kept you on that spot for a particular purpose or assignment, which will be a reference point for your greatness in the future.
It may seem like you’ve been forgotten and forsaken by men, be rest-assured that God has not forgotten you, neither has He forsaken you…He will never leave you comfortless!
However, He might have kept you on that spot for a particular purpose or assignment, which will be a reference point for your greatness in the future.
Even after Mordecai disclosed the evil
plot, he wasn’t rewarded instantly. His good deed was written in the book of
the chronicles before the king.
When the time came for promotion (in
Esther 3), instead of Mordecai, it was Haman that got promoted and celebrated.
Haman was an Agagite, probably a descendant of king of the Amalekites; furthermore, the Amalekites were descendants of Esau the first born of Isaac, so they were sworn enemies of the Jews.
Haman was an Agagite, probably a descendant of king of the Amalekites; furthermore, the Amalekites were descendants of Esau the first born of Isaac, so they were sworn enemies of the Jews.
Haman got promoted above all the
princes of the kingdom, while Mordecai was left at the gate. Because he had
never been subjected to divine process, he attributed all his success and
breakthroughs to himself, and eventually, pride took over his life. The king
had given a charge that all his servants at the gate should bow and pay homage
to Haman. All these got to his head…
But, Mordecai refused to bow… and this
marked the beginning of problems for himself and all the Jews in the kingdom.
Haman, a long-time adversary now had a golden opportunity to annihilate all the
Jews in the kingdom…
Haman here represents the devil, the
old serpent, the accuser of the brethren, and a sworn adversary of the saints
of God. His mission is to steal, kill and destroy!
Mordecai in this picture, is the
ambassador (true representative) of God’s kingdom, who has been deeply
entrenched in the culture and core values of the kingdom. Just like the three
Hebrews before king Nebuchadnezzar, he simply refused to bow!
Would you rather bow? Would you bow to the pressure of this economic meltdown amongst other things? Would you bow to peer group pressure? Would you bow to enticing opportunities that are not God’s provision for you? Would you bow to sexual temptations, pre-marital and extra-marital temptations? etc.
Would you rather bow? Would you bow to the pressure of this economic meltdown amongst other things? Would you bow to peer group pressure? Would you bow to enticing opportunities that are not God’s provision for you? Would you bow to sexual temptations, pre-marital and extra-marital temptations? etc.
Blessed is the man that walks not in
the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the congregation of sinners, nor sits
in the seat of the scornful…Psalm 1:1-3.
LESSONS
TO DRAW…
Don’t seek the reward of men! Don’t be title-driven! Don’t run ahead of God’s timing for your life. While you are running after the blessings, don’t ‘out-run’ God. Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord (Col. 3:23-24; Eph. 6:7).
Don’t seek the reward of men! Don’t be title-driven! Don’t run ahead of God’s timing for your life. While you are running after the blessings, don’t ‘out-run’ God. Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord (Col. 3:23-24; Eph. 6:7).
Let the Holy Spirit guide you. Let Him direct the course of your life (Romans 8:14). Let your life be ordered by God. The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord (Psalm 37:23).
Not every breakthrough is from God. However, some breakthroughs and open doors come from the Lord, but we still need to take a step further by asking the Lord whether they are meant for us (2 Cor. 2:12-14).
If your blessing manifests before the God-ordained time, your spiritual vulnerabilities will become more evident, character default becomes more visible and you are likely to get farther from God. This eventually leads to a shipwreck of one’s destiny (Prov. 14:12; 16:25).
PASTOR NATHANIEL SADELA
Resident Pastor
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