How You Handle the Present Setback May Determine Your Future

I still have not been able to get away from the book of Esther. Take a look with me at the difference in how three of the central characters in this story handled disappointments and setbacks - and how things turned out for them in the end.

First, let's take a look at the setback or disappointment and the response. Then we will take a look at the outcome it eventually brought.

Response to Setback or Disappointment
Mordecai

Let's start with Mordecai. Mordecai and Esther are both introduced into the story in chapter 2, verses 5-7.

Now there was at the citadel in Susa a Jew whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite,who had been taken into exile from Jerusalem with the captives who had been exiled with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had exiled. He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, his uncle's daughter, for she had no father or mother. Now the young lady was beautiful of form and face, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.

Jeconiah, King of Judah, and most of the Jewish people had been exiled somewhere around 597 B.C. Mordecai's ancestors had been part of that exile. Most scholars believe the King Ahasuerus who is central to the story in Esther began his reign around 485 B.C. Hence, Mordecai had been born and lived his entire life in the land of their captivity. Since more than a century has passed since the Jews were sent into exile, they have somewhat adapted to their land and culture. Yet, many, like Mordecai, have remained true to their God, Jehovah (or YHWH).

We do not know how or why, but Mordecai had apparently become somewhat well known within the capital city of Susa. He sat at the gate of the palace, which was a place of prominence in the city. We do not know what he did for a living, but he apparently was able to not only support himself but also his orphaned cousin, Hadassah. We can only assume that he no children of his own, perhaps not even a wife, since there is no mention of either in the story.

Mordecai could have carried anger and anomosity against the king and the people of the land. After all, this was not his homeland. Some would say he "had reason" to be bitter or resentful. He was born in this land because his ancestors had been forced to relocate there as subjects (slaves) of those who ruled the land. Second, there was still hostility against his people (ethic group) by some of the "ruling class."

But Mordecai does not allow the "setback" of being born in a foreign land to a minority ethnic group to cause bitterness. In fact, in chapter 2 we find that he intervened to protect the life of the king.

Mordecai could have also resented being "saddled" with having to take care of and provide for his cousin. Instead of expecting "someone else" to care for her, he "took for his own daughter." As the story unfolds, we find that "Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her." (Esther 2:11) Mordecai truly cared for her as he would have his own daughter. Instead of allowing resentment, Mordecai opened his heart to love.

In spite of the"setbacks" of difficulties and prejudices to overcome and of having a child to raise that was not his own, Mordecai simply went about his daily life, living it in a manner to please God and to follow Paul's later exhortation to us in Romans 12:18 to "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." In the midst of that, he obviously had prospered within that land and considered it his home.

Esther

Now, let's look at Esther. We already know that she was orphaned. We do not know how old she was when she lost her parents, or whether she lost them both at the same time or first one and then the other. All we know is that "she had no father or mother" and Mordecai had taken her into his home to raise as "his own daughter."

Like Mordecai, Esther is in a land to which her ancestors had been forced to come as subjects and where her ethnic group is still not welcomed by some. As a young woman, likely still a teenager, she has lost both of her parents. There is no indication that she had any sibblings, so she is left essentially alone - except for an older cousin, who, graciously takes her in. She is apparently being raised in a home with no female role model (no one to teach her the ways of ladyhood). Yet, it is obvious from the story that she loves and respects Mordecai and that she "was beautiful of form and face." Now, her life is about to take yet another setback.

Some time (we're not told how long) after having deposed Vashti, King Ahasuerus misses having a royal co-regent and begins to look for someone suitable to be his queen. The beginning of chapter 2 explains the process that will be used to select from among "all the fair young virgins" throughout "all the provinces of his kingdom" to find "the maiden which pleaseth the king" for him to make his queen. Verse 8 tells us:

So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.

Esther's life is once again interupted from its normal course. Having settled in with her cousin, she still have the hope of one day marrying and having a family of her own. Now, those hopes are dashed.

Esther is one of some (probably large) number of young women being "rounded up" for the king's harem. True, one of them would become queen. But that would be one and only one out of "all the fair young virgins" throughout "all the provinces of his kingdom." What were her chances of being that one? Especially since she was from a different ethnic group than the king. Though it was true that his kingdom included many ethnic groups since it contained 127 provinces extending from India to Ethiopia, her people group were those who had been brought to this region due to their captivity. They were not a natural people group within this land. And many in the land had not forgotten that.

Esther's hopes for a family and a "normal" life were over. Once she received her year's worth of beauty treatments and had her "one night with the king" she would become part of his harem. After that one night, whether or not she was ever in his presence again was entirely up to him. She might well spend the rest of her life living as part of his harem and dying without ever being able to be with "family" again.

Remember, too, that Esther is still likely a teenager. To say the least, she was still young enough to be considered a "maiden." Human nature has not changed. Teenage girls then were likely to have the same ability to be moody as teenage girls now. But Esther did not slip into that.

Esther had been trained well by her cousin. She did not allow bitterness and resentment to build in her heart. As she had submitted to and obeyed Mordecai, she now submitted to and obeyed Hegai., in whose care she found herself. And she continued to receive and abide by the counsel of her cousin, Mordecai.

Haman

Finally, let's take a look at Haman. His is a very different story. Unlike Mordecai and Esther, he is what we might consider "one of the ruling class." In Esther 3:1 we learn that he is above all the other princes of the land.

After these events King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him and established his authority over all the princes who were with him.

As the story unfolds, we realize that Haman has become essentially "the number two guy" in the kingdom. Most would consider themselves at the peak of their career and enjoy their honor, prestige, and all of the benefits it brings. But not Haman. In spite of everyone paying homage to Haman except for one person, Haman could not let the issues of that one person go. Esther 3:2 sets the stage.

All the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman; for so the king had commanded concerning him. But Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage.

Esther 3:5 reveals Haman's reaction.

When Haman saw that Mordecai neither bowed down nor paid homage to him, Haman was filled with rage.

Verse 6 goes on to tell us that Haman's wrath was not simply targeted at Mordecai as an individual, but at his entire ethnic group.

But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

While the account recorded for us does not say, my belief is that Haman did not target the Jews because Mordecai wouldn't bow to him - but rather Haman used his disgruntlement with Mordecai as the excuse to destroy a people group he already hated. (For more on that issue, see my previous post entitled "The Anti-Christ Spirit ...is against You!")

But, in this study I am looking at how people respond to setbacks, so let's get back to Haman's story. So far, he seems to be advancing in the kingdom nicely. He is even granted his petition to set aside a day throughout all of kingdom (all 127 provinces) to destroy all of the Jews within the kingdom. Even his personal vendetta against the Jews would be settled once and for all. Yet, all of that does not appease Haman. Esther 5:13 records Haman's feelings:

"Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate."

Haman's anger against Mordecai was so consuming he could not simply wait for the appointed day to come and Mordecai to be killed along with all his people group.

Wrath will drive you to do foolish things. Haman, following the counsel of his family and friends, decides to build a gallows especially for Mordecai. He orders it built that night and has it built 50 cubits high. That's roughly 75 feet (or nearly 23 meters). That's high! Why? This wasn't just about hanging Mordecai - it was about making a spectacle of him openly. Haman was waiting for morning to request permission to hang Mordecai publicly.

Haman's plan was to go the following morning to "suggest to the king that Mordecai be hanged on" the gallows he had constructed that night and "then go merrily with the king to the banquet" prepared for them - and only them - by Queen Esther. He would get that thorn, Mordecai, out of his side (or at least have permission to do so) and then go celebrate with the king and queen. Here's where Haman begins to encounter a setback.

As Haman entered the outer court of the king early the next morning in hopes of being able to make his request, his pride swells when the king asks what should be done for someone the king would like to honor. Assuming this had to be himself, Haman lays the plan out to his liking. Then he finds himself being forced to parade through the city square, leading one of the royal horses with Mordecai mounted upon it in royal robes, proclaiming to all that "'Thus it shall be done to the man whom the king desires to honor." (Esther 6:6-12) Talk about having to eat your own words! Haman's day is not starting well!

After being totally humiliated by having to show honor to Mordecai, Haman rushes home. Those who had so encouraged him to kill Mordecai the night before have suddenly changed their tune. Now their words to him are of dire warning:

"If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him." (Esther 6:13)

Warning aside, it is time for his banquet with the king and queen and he must be off. At least he is still enjoying that honor. He rushes off to eat and drink with the king and his beautiful queen.

After dinner the king again queries the queen about her petition. This time, Queen Esther lays out her plea.

"If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request; for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king." (Esther 7:3-4)

The king quickly asks, "Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?" to which Esther replies, "A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!" Haman's day that had already started out poorly has just taken a rapid decline! "Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen." (Esther 7:6b)

Haman realizes he better do some back-peddling - and fast! He had no idea that the queen was Jewish. Which also means he probably still has no idea of her relationship to his archenemy, Mordecai. (Sidebar: It pays to know all about your enemy before you try to take him down!) Talk about a setback!

When Haman comes to realize the people group he has targeted for annihilation include the much-loved Queen Esther, he knows he is in serious trouble. Instead of following the king out to the garden to repent and recant from what he has requested, he hopes to find mercy in Esther and stays in the banquet hall to "beg for his life from Queen Esther." However, just as he was "falling on the couch where Esther was" in his desperate plea, the king returns to the room. Seeing Haman lunging toward his queen was over the top for King Ahasuerus. He would tolerate no more from this man!

The Outcomes

So what happened to each of these? What was the result of their actions and they ways they lived their lives? We will take these in a reverse order, starting with Haman.

Haman

The warning Haman had been given just before the banquet turned out to be both accurate and swift.

"If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of Jewish origin, you will not overcome him, but will surely fall before him." (Esther 6:13)

Esther 7:8-10 records "the rest of the story" for Haman.

Now when the king returned from the palace garden into the place where they were drinking wine, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. Then the king said, "Will he even assault the queen with me in the house?" As the word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.

Then Harbonah, one of the eunuchs who were before the king said, "Behold indeed, the gallows standing at Haman's house fifty cubits high, which Haman made for Mordecai who spoke good on behalf of the king!" And the king said, "Hang him on it." So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai, and the king's anger subsided.

Be careful what traps you lay for someone in anger. They may well become a snare for your own feet - or, in this case, your own neck!

Anger and rage eat like a cancer. The person they consume is the one allowing them to eat away!

That ends the issue between Haman and Mordecai, personally, but the decree that has been issued to kill all the Jews in the land is still in force. This still has the lives of both Mordecai and Queen Esther in jeopardy, along with all of their ethnic group within the vast kingdom of King Ahasuerus. With that still in mind, let's turn our attention back to Esther.

Esther

Not only had Esther's continual, godly submission to those whom God placed over her (Mordecai and, for a season, Hegai) ended in her finding favor with King Ahasuerus and becoming his queen, but now she had favor with him that he continually promised her "even to half of the kingdom" should she ask for it. Yet, all she sought was her life and the lives of her people. The impending destruction is still looming. Esther goes, again, to the king to make a plea for her people.

Then Esther spoke again to the king, fell at his feet, wept and implored him to avert the evil scheme of Haman the Agagite and his plot which he had devised against the Jews. The king extended the golden scepter to Esther. So Esther arose and stood before the king. Then she said, "If it pleases the king and if I have found favor before him and the matter seems proper to the king and I am pleasing in his sight, let it be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the king's provinces. For how can I endure to see the calamity which will befall my people, and how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?" (Esther 8:3-6)

We know that the king granted Esther her petition. He allowed her to write a superseding decree and seal it with his signet ring that the Jews were able to assemble and defend themselves against any who would try to do them harm. The "curse was reversed" in that they were granted the same permission that had been previously granted to those who hated them - except that the Jews were defending themselves against their attackers instead of attacking an innocent, peaceful people group as the plot against them had been.

But, what of Queen Esther? In the process, she had been given Haman's estate - his house and all that was in it. And, having revealed her relationship to Mordecai, she was now able once again to have a full, open relationship with him. In fact, she placed him in charge of the estate which had belonged to Haman to manage it for her.

Which leads us back to Mordecai...

Mordecai

As mentioned above, Esther not only sets Mordecai over the estate she has been given, but she also brings him before the king and explains their relationship. When she does, we find that "The king took off his signet ring which he had taken away from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai." (Esther 8:2) Further,

Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a large crown of gold and a garment of fine linen and purple; and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced. (Esther 8:15)

In the end,

... Mordecai the Jew was second only to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews and in favor with his many kinsmen, one who sought the good of his people and one who spoke for the welfare of his whole nation. (Esther 10:3)

Mordecai had not sought self-promotion. He did not send word to Esther to plea for herself and him, which might have been "an easier sell" to the king. Both Queen Esther and Mordecai were concerned about the good of their people over their own personal well-being. (Remember that Esther risked her own life to enter the king's presence to make the plea.) It is obvious from this last verse recorded for us that the people knew Mordecai's heart of servant hood toward them.

Takeaway Points

• Selfishness and self-promoting leads to pride, which leads to a downfall or destruction.
• Anger eats like a cancer and consumes the one who allows it to seethe.
• Godly character produces favor.
• Those who chose to serve the people rather than be served by them cause the city (or nation) to rejoice.

May we always, in every realm - be that business, politics, the Church, or in personal relationships - seek to serve rather than to be served. Then and only then are we true leaders!

The Anti-Christ Spirit ... is against You!

[All scriptures quoted from NASB unless otherwise noted.]

For some time now, I have not been able to get away from studying the book of Esther. I have gone back to it time and time again. One of the things the Holy Spirit has highlighted to me in this passage of scripture is the working of the anti-Christ spirit - how it worked then and now.

Anti-Semitic Spirit at Work

From the events recorded for us in Esther, we know that Haman hated Mordecai. Haman's hatred seethed each time he would pass Mordecai and Mordecai would not bow to him as everyone else did. Haman also knew why Mordecai would not bow to him, which caused him to hate not only Mordecai but his people - the Jews. Esther 3:6 tells us:

But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone, for they had told him who the people of Mordecai were; therefore, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, who were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

It wasn't enough for Haman to get rid of Mordecai; he wanted to annihilate this whole people group!

Why this hatred for the Jews? Where and when did this start?

To answer those questions we have to go back to the beginning of this "race" of people. That takes us back to Genesis.

God established a covenant with one man, Abraham. God further made covenant with his descendants through Isaac, the son born to him by his covenant wife, Sarah. (Genesis 17:19-21) God promised Abraham that "in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 22:18) It would be through this linage that God would send His only begotten Son, Jesus, to redeem mankind.

From that time forward, Satan has hated the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - the Jewish people - and has sought to destroy them. Satan was driven to stop the plan of God from coming to pass, and anti-semitism was born. Since the reason for wanting to annihilate the seed of Abraham was to prevent Christ from being born, the anti-semitic spirit is simply a form or particular manifestation of the anti-Christ spirit.

We know that throughout history, both in Biblical times and up to our present day, leader after leader in nation after nation has tried to wipe out - totally annihilate - God's chosen race, the Jews, including their modern-day nation of Israel. One of the many Biblical examples is the one given in Esther when Haman convinces King Ahasuerus to issue a decree "to kill and to annihilate all the Jews, both young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of ... Adar, and to seize their possessions as plunder." (Esther 3:13)

While this particular edict in ancient times was overturned by Esther's plea followed by Ahasuerus' decree of reversal, Satan did not give up on his goal to destroy this people. In the 1940s, Hitler attempted to accomplish the task. He attempted to annihilate the entire Jewish race (among other groups he also targeted). Tragically, Hitler did kill nearly 6 million Jews, which was roughly two-thirds of the European Jewish population. About a quarter of those murdered were children under the age of 15 - he killed "both young and old, women and children." He also "[seized] their possessions as plunder." Yet, the Jewish race survived - as God has promised it will.

The most poignant current example of the impersonation of this spirit rests in the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who insists that Israel must cease to exist. The story of hatred against this people simply because of who they are and Who they believe is the same; the pawns used by Satan to attempt to destroy them change over time.

Yet, Satan knows "the end of the matter." God's covenant with Abraham was an everlasting covenant to his descendants. That means - it will never end! As part of that covenant, God promised them the land of Abraham's "sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession." (Genesis 17:7-8 & Genesis 15:7,18-21)

God also promised that Abraham's seed would "possess the gate of their enemies." (Genesis 22:17) Hence it is not wise for anyone - a person or a people group - to set themselves against Israel. According to God's promise to them, in the end, Israel will prevail!

We can see this demonstrated in the story of Haman. His hatred for Mordecai and the Jewish people cost him not only his position of authority but his life and the lives of his seed along with the lives of others who joined him in his hatred of the Jews. Rather than the decree he had issued being the end of the Jewish people, "the curse was reversed," and it was a day on which the Jews were allowed to annihilate their enemies. And so they did. With the help of government officials throughout the provinces, they killed 75,500 of their enemies in a single day and were given permission to continue into the next day in the capitol city of Susa, killing another 300. (Esther 8:11; 9:1-3, 12-16)

God turned Haman's plan to destroy them into a plan for deliverance from the oppression of those who hated them. They possessed the gates of their enemies!

Anti-Christ Spirit at Work

As previously noted, there is a close tie between the anti-semitic spirit and the anti-Christ spirit. One is specifically targeted against the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. The other is targeted more globally against Jesus Christ and His people, whether Jew or Gentile, in whatever earthly nation or geographic location they reside.

According to 1 Peter 2:9-10, we "who ... obey Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:1-2) and have been "born again to a living hope" through Him (1 Peter 1:3), are now "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's Own possession ... the people of God." The creation of this new "chosen race" and the "holy nation" it constitutes does not in any way nullify God's everlasting covenant with the Jewish race and their nation, Israel. However, those who accept Christ as the promised Messiah and Savior, whether Jew or Gentile, have "a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises." (Hebrews 8:6)

As with the anti-semitic spirit, to understand this hatred of God's people, we must return to the beginning. This time, let's go all they way back to Genesis 3.

From the very beginning of the human race, there has been a struggle between Satan and God as to whom man would believe and serve. In Genesis 3, we have the account of how the serpent came to Eve and enticed her to distrust what God had told them about the tree "in the middle of the garden." What we do not know is how long it took the serpent to entice Eve to disobey the commandment of the Lord. However, by verse 6, Eve is standing at the tree.

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.

Eve is no longer simply talking about "the tree which is in the middle of the garden" (Genesis 3:3), but she is standing there at it, beholding it and its fruit. James 1:14-15 warns us:

But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

This is where Eve found herself. She was "carried away and enticed by [her] own lust" for wisdom. Her lust gave birth to sin - disobedience of God's command; her sin brought forth death.

In verse 13 we learn:

The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this ... I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head and you shall bruise him on the heel."

There you have it - the enmity between Satan and the seed of woman began. Satan knew that, eventually, the seed of woman would bruise his head.

While we know that Jesus was The Seed that would bruise his head, we are also told in Romans 16:29 that "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under [our] feet." So we as redeemed mankind, born-again followers of Jesus Christ, are also part of the fulfillment of the word given in the garden. But, the fact that we will have our heel on Satan's head comes at a price.

Jesus clearly told us how the world would view us. The world, under the influence of the prince of this world, Satan, hated Jesus and it would hate those who belonged to him. In John 15:18-21, Jesus provides this warning:

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me."

So, why are we surprised when the world hates us? Why are we surprised that most of the media does not treat us "fairly" - or give equal (and respectful) time to our views and issues?

Christ, Himself, told us that if the world loved us, it would be because we were part of it - "its own." If we are "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a peculiar people" (1 Peter 2:9, KJV), then we are not "its own" - we are in the world, but not "of it."

Yet, as with the Jews, we have the promises of God that tell us "the end of the story." We know that Jesus will reign over the Jewish people forever. Among other places, this was promised to Mary in Luke 1:31-33.

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” [NKJV]

But what about us, particularly those of us who are non-Jewish followers of Jesus Christ? We also have promises! In fact, Romans 8:17 tells us that we will be "heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together." [NKJV]

Think of it. Jesus "will reign over the house of Jacob forever," but, as believers, we will be "joint heirs" with Him. That's the difference between being a subject in the kingdom and being co-regent! I would say that we have "a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises"!

But, did you catch that second phrase in the passage from Romans, "if indeed we suffer with Him"? Once again, there is the warning that the privilege of being a joint heir with Christ carries with it the condition that we share in His sufferings.

We should not expect that living a life committed to Christ will be "a cake walk." As soon as we are born again and set our hearts on living for Him and by His principles, we become targets for the Enemy. At that point, his fury against Christ is also directed against us.

In James 1:2-8 we are exhorted to:

... count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. [NKJV]

The Greek phrase translated here as "various trials" is "poikilos peirasmos" (poy-kee'-los pe-ras-mos'). A literal translation of this phrase would be to "to put to proof by various (different) means." The word translated as "fall into" is the word "peripipto" (per-ee-pip'-to). The connotation is that of falling into something that totally surrounds you or to be totally surrounded by something.

In other words, James is telling us that we are surrounded on every side by opportunities for our faith to be put to the test - to prove whether or not it will "hold up" under scrutiny. I think we can all agree he got that right!

But, why is that the case? Why does God not always give us immediate victory? Because "the testing of [our] faith produces patience." And we need for "patience [to] have its perfect work, that [we] may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

This reminds me of the issue of the children of Israel when they were finally freed from Pharaoh's rule and left Egypt.

Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, "The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt." (Exodus 13:17)

God knew that after spending their entire lives in slavery, He would have to retrain these people to think and act like the free men they now were as well. They also had to be trained to fight, both to defend themselves and to be able to conquer the enemies who had possessed their former homeland.

We are much the same when we become born again. Until that point, our thoughts have been controlled by Satan, the father of lies. God has to retrain us to think and act like His children, operating out His principles and faith in Him and His word. Ephesians 4:23-24 tells us that we need to "be renewed in the spirit of [our] mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth."

Yet, it is our very shift to begin to "put on the new self" that "flags" us for the anti-Christ spirit to being zeroing in on us. In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul tells us that "Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." We need not think this will improve over time. In fact, Paul warns in the next verse that "evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." (Emphasis added.) I don't think any of us will have a problem believing that this is happening!

Yet, in the next verse, Paul exhorts Timothy and us that we should "continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them." (2 Timothy 3;14, emphasis added.) If we have not truly "become convinced of" these truths, we will not be able to continue in them when the persecution comes and our faith is continually tried. If we have "become convinced," then we no choice but to "continue in" them!

Before pulling this to a close, let me emphasize that the anti-Christ spirit is after brining down the universal Church - the corporate body of believers wherever they live around the globe. He seeks to discredit it in any and every way possible and he seeks to annihilate its individual members.

The point is that the anti-Christ spirit attacks the Church as an entity - and its members as individuals. It particularly goes after key leaders, even as Satan sought to stop Jesus when He was here in the flesh. Satan first sought to stop Him through sin. When that failed, he killed Him. Fortunately for us, instead of stopping the plan of salvation, that led to its completion through Christ's death and resurrection. Hallelujah!

Satan's tactics through the anti-Christ spirit are the same for us. He will try to get us to turn from a life of righteousness and holiness to sin. When it become apparent to him that we are not "going there," he will try other means to "take us out" - either to discredit us before others in some way that will neutralize our effectiveness or even try to kill us.

In my own, personal experience, I have had two car wrecks that I firmly believe were both orchestrated by the enemy with the full intent of "taking me out" physically. One was in 1974; the other in 2004. In both cases, the situation causing the wreck was just too bizarre. In both cases, the car I was driving was "caved in" around the drivers seat. By all natural reasoning, the one in 1974 should have killed me. The one in 2004 should have, at a minimum, severely injured me. While I did sustain injuries in both, I also "walked away" from both. That was God's protection!

I am not pointing out the workings of the anti-Christ spirit against us to instill fear in anyone. Instead, I hope to offer encouragement to those who "feel the pressure" of the constant attacks and to exhort us all to be on our guard. Paul sums it up for us in Ephesians 6:12-18.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. [NKJV, emphasis added.]

Also, remember that James tells us that "If any of [us] lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:5, NKJV) May we learn to always seek His wisdom for how to handle these situations.

I will leave you with two more promises we have from God's Word.

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know over what they stumble.
(Proverbs 4:18-19)

Arise, shine; for your light has come,
And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness will cover the earth
And deep darkness the peoples;
But the LORD will rise upon you
And His glory will appear upon you.
Nations will come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.
(Isaiah 60:1-3)

Let us not worry about how dark it becomes around us or how much we are attacked. Instead, let us be sure we remain in Him so that our path continues to get brighter and brighter and we continue to radiate His glory to the nations!

Lessons from Vashti & How This Applies to Believers Today

Lessons from Vashti

I was recently drawn to study the book of Esther. There seem to be many drawn to this interesting story in the Old Testament in this season, mostly focusing on being alive at "such a time as this." However, as I began to read this story, I began "seeing" some things from it in a different light than what I have often heard taught. It is these insights I wish to share.

Chapter 1 sets the stage for Esther's entrance into the story. We do not really hear of her until chapter 2. In chapter 1, we learn a little about King Ahasuerus, "who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces." While boundaries have, of course, changed over time, these ancient nations are still in existence today. For those "geographically challenged," take a look at a map of the world. Ahasuerus apparently ruled over territory extending from India northwest through modern-day Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, likely Syria and the Saudi Arabian peninsula (including not only Saudi Arabia but Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen), then southwest through Egypt and Sudan to Ethiopia. Wow! Imagine all of that being one country, under one ruler today! He ruled his empire from Susa, which is in what is now southern Iraq - a good, central location for his empire.

He apparently was experiencing peace within his empire, since he was able to turn his attention to entertaining all of his nobles, princes, and army officers at a banquet in Susa. While the passage in Esther 1:4 is often interpreted as this event having been a 6-month party, this scripture actually says that "he displayed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor of his great majesty" for six months. Let me equate that to a display that might be on exhibit at a museum. Ahasuerus put his riches on display for those of his kingdom to see and enjoy. It was at the end of this 6-month period that the king threw a 7-day party - for all who were "in town" to enjoy.

"When these days were completed, the king gave a banquet lasting seven days for all people who were present at the citadel in Susa, from the greatest to the least, in the court of the garden of the king's palace." (Verse 1:5, emphasis added.)

To complete the stage for what unfolds in this chapter, it should be noted that "Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus." (1:9) Note that the queen was giving an "indoor" party for the women, within the king's house - his house, not hers. (Hold that thought.)

Where most people begin in their discourse of this story is with verses 10-12.

"On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded ... the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful. But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. Then the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him."

We can read over these three verses very quickly. The slant I have probably heard the most on this was that when the king became drunk, he sent to have his wife, who was beautiful, come and parade herself lewdly before his drunken guests - and she, in her righteousness, refused to do so. Then, in a fit of drunken rage, he, at the advice of his friends, dethroned her.

As I began to study this passage, that is not the story that is recorded.

Let's start taking a closer look at this passage, beginning in verse 10. "On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine ..."

This is the part that is often cited to indicate that the king was drunk. However, the original language does not say, nor even imply, that. The word for "merry" is the word towb (tobe). It means "good" or "a good or good thing." It can also mean "beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, fine, glad, good, graciously, joyfully, kindly, kindness, loving, merry, most pleasant," etc. The king wasn't drunk - he was in a good, gracious, kind-hearted mood!

Nor is there indication that his guests were drunk. In fact, some may not have been drinking at all. Verse 8 states that "The drinking was done according to the law, there was no compulsion, for so the king had given orders to each official of his household that he should do according to the desires of each person." The fact that this was recorded for us seems to imply that there were some who chose not to partake of the king's vast quantities of the best wines of the day.

Let's continue with the story. In his "merry" state, "he commanded" his eunuchs "to bring Queen Vashti before the king..."

The word that is translated "commanded" is the word amar (aw-mar'). It would have been more accurately translated as "bid" or "call." The Literal Translation of the Bible states, "he said." The initial word sent to Vashti by the king was not a demand, but rather an invitation.

Further, the word translated "to bring" is the word laqach (law-kakh'), which means "to take, bring, carry away, fetch, get, send for," etc. Putting the terms together, this passage is saying that Ahasuerus sent his eunuchs "to go get" his queen who, remember, was in the palace while he was out in the garden.

He wanted his beautiful wife to come to be seen by (and, might I venture, "greet") his guests on this final day of feasting ending the 6-month display of the things within his kingdom of which he was most proud or pleased. He was proud of his wife, as any husband should be. They had been celebrating in different areas and he wanted her to join him for this final day of celebration ending a 6-month season. Does that really seem to be an outrageous request?

Continuing this verse, they were "to bring Queen Vashti before the king with her royal crown in order to display her beauty to the people and the princes, for she was beautiful." (Emphasis added.)

The queen was to come "with her royal crown" - or, put another way, in her royal attire. There is no indication here that Ahasuerus wanted his beautiful wife to disrobe herself before the people. In fact, his request was that she adorn herself as royalty. If we read the story as it is written, he was wanting to present his queen, in all of her royal beauty, to their subjects. It seems to me that this should have been viewed as being honored rather than being dishonored or disgraced, as I have often heard it portrayed.

Yet, the queen, for whatever reason, "refused to come at the king's command." We can speculate about her reason or reasons, but scripture does not reveal them to us. (Which, to my way of thinking, means they were not a vital part of the story.)

It is the word maen (maw-ane') that is translated "refused." It means to "refuse utterly." That's the first really strong word we find in this story. There is no evidence in what is recorded that Vashti in any way tried to appeal to the king that she did not want to come and ask if she might be excused from doing so. Rather, she "utterly refused" his invitation.

Another interesting note is that in this passage the word translated "command" is a different word than was used in verse 10. Here it is the word mitsvah (mits-vaw') which means "a command." Somewhere between verse 10 and verse 15, the king's request had turned into a demand. Perhaps when the queen failed to accept his initial invitation he had sent the eunuchs back with a more firm request. Maybe these messengers made several trips back and forth between the royal monarchs, carrying messages that began to escalate in tone. We do not know. What we do know is that by verse 10 Vashti had "utterly refused" the request of her husband. She refused the request of the king, at whose pleasure she had become queen, in whose palace she dwelt, and at whose expense she entertained.

It was only after receiving her "utter refusal" that "the king became very angry and his wrath burned within him."

This is the crowning event of a 6-month period of celebration of his accomplishments - and his wife "utterly refused" to join him in it. From this perspective, we can see that it is Vashti who is dishonoring her husband, the king, the one who sought her hand and placed her in her royal position, rather than Ahasuerus seeking to dishonor her. Can we blame him for being upset?

Yet, in his own integrity, he did not respond rashly. Rather he sought sound counsel from those who knew the law of the land, inquiring what was to be done to someone who failed to obey a command of the king.

"Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times - for it was the custom of the king so to speak before all who knew law and justice and were close to him ... who had access to the king's presence and sat in the first place in the kingdom - 'According to the law, what is to be done with Queen Vashti, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?'"(1:13-15)

We know that the recommendation to the king, which he accepted and implemented, was "that Vashti may no longer come into the presence of King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal position to another who is more worthy than she." (1:19)

In honest reflection, this seems a "just reward" for her behavior. She was not put to death. She wasn't even banished from the kingdom. She was, however, banished from his presence and stripped of her royal position.

There are a couple of interesting things to note here. "Royal position" is the translation used for the word malkuwth (mal-kooth'). Malkuwth means "a rule or a dominion." It can be translated "empire, kingdom, realm, reign," etc. Vashti was not queen "in name only." Though we do not know exactly what, she had some measure of rule within Ahasuerus' kingdom. This is not inconsistent with who Ahasuerus was as a person or monarch. In Esther 5:3 and 5:6, he offers Esther "even to half" of his kingdom. Perhaps it was the fact that she was co-monarch with him that caused Vashti to feel she "had the right" to disobey his command.

A second observation from this passage is that the word translated as "who is more worthy" is the same word "towb" used in verse 10 to describe the "merry" heart of the king. This re-enforces the fact that this word carried a connotation of being good - and not one of being drunk.

However, after breaking the whole story in this first chapter of Esther, I want to focus on why Vashti was deposed. It was Memucan, one of those "who knew law and justice" that clearly stated the heart of the issue:

"'For the queen's conduct will become known to all the women causing them to look with contempt on their husbands by saying, "King Ahasuerus ommanded ueen Vashti to be brought in to his presence, but she did not come." This day the ladies of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's conduct will speak in the same way to all the king's princes, and there will be plenty of contempt and anger.'" (1:18-19)

Within any nation and, particularly, any kingdom, there is proper protocol. We see this protocol carried out throughout the book of Esther where those summoned come to the king and those who are not summoned do not. This was a well-understood protocol for the empire. Yet, Vashti had somehow decided that she was "above the law" of the kingdom and displayed contempt for it and for the king.

The word translated as "contempt" in this passage is the word bazah (baw-zaw'). It means "to disesteem"or to "despise, disdain, [find] contemptible, to think to scorn." Memucan knew that in order to prevent this type of attitude from breeding within the kingdom, it had to be addressed fully and quickly.

Again, many have judged both Ahasuerus and his advisers as simply being "male chauvinists" who wanted "to keep their wives in their place." I disagree. There is a proper place for respect and proper protocol for approaching a king. Vashti clearly violated both. The fact that Memucan expanded this to the wives of others in the kingdom is not inconsistent with scripture. Consider Peter's admonition in 1 Peter 3:1.

"In the same way, you wives, be submissive to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior."

In fact, I submit that Esther is a wonderful case study for what Peter taught many centuries later.

How This Applies to Believers Today

When reading the book of Esther, we usually focus on how Esther risked her life to take a stand for her people. There are certainly lessons for us to learn from Esther and Mordacai, and I do not minimize those. However, I believe there are also some lessons in this first chapter that we often overlook.

Vashti had been selected by King Ahasuerus to be his Queen. As such, she apparently was a co-monarch with him, in that she had "a royal position" that granted her some level of dominion and rule.

Does that sound familiar? Christ, as King of kings, is looking for a Bride that will be a joint-heir and reign beside Him as the true Queen of Heaven throughout eternity. [Side note: No wonder Satan has tried so hard to empower a false Queen of Heaven to pervert what Jesus wants done in the earth!]

As His Bride & Queen, we are granted dominion and rule within His kingdom.

Yet, we must never take our position with Him for granted. We must never fail to "come when He calls" or do what He asks us to do - whether or not it was the thing "on our agenda" for that time or season. "Our agenda" must always stay submitted to His will.

No doubt, Vashti considered that she was busy "working for Ahasuerus" as she was entertaining the ladies of his kingdom. However, Ahasuerus wasn't interested in her busyness; he wanted her presence with him. We need to make sure we do not resist the invitation to come into the presence of our King by being too busy working - even when that means working in His Kingdom.

We must always approach Him rightly. While there is no longer a veil of separation and we can come freely before His throne, we must still remember that He is a sovereign God. While Father God is our "Abba, Father" [Daddy], He is still The One True God, Creator of the Universe. While Jesus is our Heavenly Bridegroom, The Lover of our Soul, He is also our Lord and Savior. While the Holy Spirit is our Counselor, Comforter, and The One Who Leads Us Into All Truth, He is also the Spirit of the Most High God and not to be grieved.

Let us take a lesson from the way in which Ahasuerus dealt with Vashi in a manner consistent with the law of his kingdom and justice. While God is a personal God and in His grace takes us "where we are," He is also a just God who will not tolerate rebellion or contempt. If we show contempt [lack of full respect] for Him or His commandments, like Vashti with Ahasuerus, we will no longer "see His face." Remember, it is the pure in heart that shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)

God, in His graciousness (by His grace), may not "banish from His kingdom" those who do not truly honor Him as He should be. He may still allow them to live in heaven instead of being cast into outer darkness with those who have refused to be reconciled to Him. Yet, there is still a place reserved for those who are willing to fulfill the role of Bride, with all due respect for and obedience to her Husband and King. If we want that place of favor, we must abide by the laws of His Kingdom.

Let us Love and Honor our King of kings ... at all times and in all ways. May we always be swift to answer His summons to His presence. And may we never find ourselves banished from seeing His face.

God at Work in Haiti

Below is the content of an email I received. (Copied "as is" with only highlighting added.)

Yes, God is at work in Haiti!

One thing that should be noted is this statement: "What has been happening and is continuing to happen in Haiti did not happen because of the earthquake. It has been happening because the Haitian people know how to pray." God has been setting the stage for a massive move of His Spirit in Haiti.

The earthquake was not "an act of God" but rather the result of nature in a fallen world.

Yet God is always seeking to bring beauty from ashes & good from destruction and devastation. God is a Restorer ... starting with wanting to restore relationship with each individual.

John 3:16-17

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

=============================

For centuries, Haiti has been one of the darkest nations in the world - full of voodoo and witchcraft - even at the highest levels of government. But now - look at this!!

ARTICLE and YOUTUBE VIDEO BELOW-

AMAZING MIRACLE in HAITI

Jerry Miel is a good friend and radio engineer who served as a missionary in Haiti with World Team mission when we lived there. He worked with the Christian station, Radio Lumiere (Radio Light). He has gone back to Haiti to help in the aftermath of the earthquake and makes these important observations. -- Boxley

IN INCREDIBLE DAY in the HISTORY OF HAITI -by Jerry Miel (Feb 17).

I think that I will remember this day as one of the most significant in my life, not because of what I did, but for it's meaning...

Today was the one month anniversary of the great Haitian earthquake.

About 3 days ago the Haitian President announced that there would be 3 days of holiday from work for the purpose of fasting and prayer. This is absolutely historic. If you have ever been in Haiti as a visitor or missionary, could you ever have imagined such a pronouncement? Could you image such an announcement from the U.S. President? This morning I saw a young Haitian- American woman, the leader of a work team, crying because the Americans could not understand the incredible importance of this day and wanted to go about business as usual. Remember, it was only about 6 years ago that a former Haitian president called the nation to come together to rededicate the nation to Satan.

This was not "a minute of silence for the deceased" or something as equally insignificant. Whatever the President might have originally intended, this became a real commitment for the Haitian people. As I sit here this evening, I can hear the preaching coming from a nearby church. Services have been going on all day...

Let me tell you what I saw and felt today.

Peniel and I had planned an inspection trip up to the Artibonite Valley today. Right or wrong, I don't really know, but since it was the only opportunity, we went ahead with the trip. As we left the guest house about 7:30 am, we were met by throngs of well dressed people headed to various churches. The sounds of Christian music and worship filled the air everywhere. The next observation was that there was NO traffic. Port-au-Prince streets are always clogged and overflowing with bumper to bumper traffic.

This morning there were only a few vehicles on the roads, a few small buses (tap taps), some UN and military vehicles, and a few private cars. We had clear sailing through town. The same was true of foot traffic. Usually the streets are clogged also with people walking. Today there were only a few and many of them dressed for church. The only place that there were traffic blocks was in front of several churches where the congregations had overflowed the buildings and the yards and had moved out into the streets as well.

The next observation was that EVERYTHING was closed! We could not find even one business or gas station open. There were no intercity buses running. Whereas the sidewalks are usually overflowing with millions of street venders, we only saw a few here and there. The huge outdoor market near the wharf where thousands work each day and is spread out to cover most of the street, was EMPTY.

Where were all the people? They were in churches and makeshift meeting sites. Every church (except a JW church) had services going on, almost always overflowing into the streets. Beside broken down churches, services were taking place outside. In homeless camps, there were services. Everywhere the nation was gathered to worship and pray. No, I did not see any voodoo, Islamic, or Buddhist services. This scene was repeated in every town and hamlet that we passed during the day.

Tonight, Pastor Ignace, who is sharing the room with me, asked this question: "Can people still say that Haiti is a voodoo country?" What has been happening and is continuing to happen in Haiti did not happen because of the earthquake. It has been happening because the Haitian people know how to pray. This is a tremendous outpouring of God's power as the result of prayer. Twenty years ago I started praying for the Gospel to change the Haitian culture. I think that I am seeing God do that work.

The only sadness that I feel today is for our nation. While a nation that has long been under Satan's domination is turning to God with total commitment, our nation, founded on Godly values has rejected God and is rapidly trying to forget that his name even exists. Let us pray for revival.


4-MIN VIDEO of HAITI DAYS of PRAYER-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30rWm84z-zg

God bless you all!

--
YES! - You have permission to post these emails to friends or other
groups, boards, etc - unless there is something different written in
the Copyright notice above.
Andrew Strom

Make Sure Your Service is True Worship

The events recorded in 2 Kings 23 recently caught my attention. It is the story of what King Josiah did during his reign.

2 Kings 22:1-2 tells us:

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem; ... He did right in the sight of the Lord and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left.

From this we know that Josiah not only loved God, but he "did right" in God's sight. May we all have that same report recorded about our lives!

Let me summarize the story of his reign...

1. Josiah ordered that the house of the Lord be repaired and restored. During that process, "the book of the law" (Deuteronomy 28) was found. The high priest sent it with one of the scribes to be read to Josiah.

2. Josiah listened to the word of the Lord concerning His covenant with the people of Israel - what they were and were not supposed to do. He realized they were doing the things that were forbidden and not doing the things they were supposed to do.

3. Josiah responds to the situation immediately with both repentance and action to correct the situation. He calls the people together, reads the book of the law to them, and publicly recommits to the conditions of the covenant; the people join him in that commitment.

4. Then Josiah sets out immediately "righting the wrongs." He removes all the places set up for worship to false gods and destroys things that have been made for or dedicated to them, including the horses and chariots dedicated to the sun god. He also got rid of at least some of the priests for these gods as well as the mediums and spiritists.

5. Then, he reinstituted the Passover celebration.

2 Kings 23:25 says this about King Josiah:

Before him there was no king like him who turned to the Lord with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; nor did any like him arise after him.

Josiah kept his commitment to live by the laws of the covenant that God had made with their forefathers at Gerizim.

But here's what caught my attention ...

In the long list of all that Josiah had destroyed (2 Kings 23:4-21), we find one rather interesting item. He torn down "the altar that was at Bethel and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, had made."To understand this, we have to look back at 1 Kings 12.

When Jeroboam came to power it was at the cost of splitting the nation of Israel into two nations - Judah, over which Rehoboam reigned as king, and Israel, over which Jeroboam reigned. [It might be noted that the door was opened for this split because of the excessively high taxes that Rehoboam was levying against the people. Unfair tax burdens placed on the people will always cause them to look for a change in leadership!] Since Jerusalem was in Judah, Jeroboam was concerned that if the people had to go to Jerusalem to keep the feasts, they may not remain loyal to him. So, he had two gold calves built and put one in Bethel and one in Dan. He instructed the people to come to those locations and offer their sacrifices on these false altars instead of going to the temple in Jerusalem and allowing the true priests to offer their sacrifices on the true altar of God. Hence, he "made Israel sin" by providing them false altars at these locations and instituting substitute days of celebration to worship and offer sacrifices in these locations rather than at the place required by God - all under the guise of "making it better for the people."

In the midst of tearing down the Asherahs and other places of sacrifice and worship to false gods and destroying anything dedicated to them, Josiah makes sure to also tear down the false altar erected by King Jeroboam for the people to make substitute sacrifice offerings to the true God.

Here's the point ...

We must not only deal with the altars and worship of false gods, we must also deal with the false altars and false worship of the true God.

What am I saying?

Those of us who are truly born-again Christians, believers in and followers of Jesus Christ, would not go and offer a sacrifice or worship at the altar of a false god. We would not offer incense to Baal; burn our babies in the arms of an image of Molech; or even worship the sun, moon, or stars.

Yet, I began to ponder how many false altars we have set up where we are offering substitute sacrifices of worship, believing that to be service to the true God that we claim to worship and serve.

What do I mean? I'm talking about any "act of worship" that we are doing out of ritual or out or pressure instead of truly out of our heart. You know, things like ...

· those Sunday mornings when we "sing the songs" but our spirit really never enters into a communion and worship of our Lord.

· those responsibilities we take on "at the church" or "for the pastor" or some other spiritual leader or authority in our lives "because someone needs to do them" and, after all, we have to "prove" our servanthood.

· the meetings we attend (be they regular, weekly meetings or special events) not because we have the heart (or maybe even the time!) to go, but because we know "how it will look" if we don't.

· molding ourselves into a form that is just not us - not our gifting, not our call, not what God has asked us to be or do - in order to meet the expectations of leadership or to try to "fit in" and "find our place."

Let me quickly bring the balance point. I am not against Sunday morning services or the worship time within our services. I am not against taking on responsibilities within a local congregation or other ministry. I am not against meeting together. Nor am I against becoming "all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some." (1 Corinthians 9:22) All of these have their rightful place. I am for all of them – in that rightful place.

What I am trying to point out is not the action as much as the attitude or motivation behind it. In Matthew 5:27-28, Jesus "ups the ante." Sin is no longer just about our action, but now it is a matter of our heart.

"You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY'; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Under the new covenant with Jesus as our sacrificial Lamb and grace and mercy abounding towards us, we no longer have to offer animal sacrifices for our sin. However, sin is also no longer judged simply by what we act out (our actions); it is now judged by our thoughts and attitudes.

When we go to a worship service out of some sense of duty or the fear of man (what they will say if we don't go) or we serve in a certain capacity or assignment for the same reason, we need to do a heart check. Are you doing this activity in true worship of our Lord - or to please (or appease) someone else.

I know there are times that all of us do things that are not the things that would be our first choice. There are times we teach a class or lead a group that is not our ultimate call or the thing at which we are most gifted, but it is part of training and service to the Lord as we grow. That is appropriate. But, the key is: “service to the Lord.”

Nor am I talking about refusing to help clean the ministry building. I've vacuumed, mopped and waxed the floors, cleaned the toilets (cleaned up from over-flowing toilets, even repaired the toilets), and more. I'm not talking about an excuse to be too holy to do anything practical.

What I am talking about is either bowing to fear of man and doing things because of "how it will look" if you say "no" or allowing ourselves to be manipulated into doing something that is not coming freely from our heart. Neither of those if proper motivation for doing anything - even if it is an act of service in some way.

We don't want to find ourselves like those Jesus rebuked in Matthew 15:7-9:

"You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.'"

Let's be careful that we do what we do out of a pure heart of worship - and that we know why we do it. Some leaders have done as Jeroboam did and provided a "place" for our "service to God" that is not the place God ordained for us. There were those in Jeroboam's day who recognized the substitute and would not succumb to the "convenience." They paid the price to do what was required by God. May we be as astute and as committed to serving God whole heartedly.

May we not be like Amaziah who “did right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart” (2 Chronicles 25:2). Instead, may we heed David’s admonition to his son and soon successor, Solomon, in 1 Chronicles 28:9 (emphasis added):

As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.

May we seek and find Him. And may always remember Paul’s admonition to us in Colossians 3:23-24.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Regardless of what you do, make sure you are doing it for Him!