He pointed out time and purpose in the scriptures below and how they correlate. What time are you in and what is your purpose in that time? Sometimes we get hung up in the purposes of others or miss the meaning of the purpose. At times we miss our time.
Ecclesiastes 3 KJV 1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose
under the heaven:
Mordecai speaking to Esther:
Esther 4:14 KJV 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 kin
gdom for such a time as this?
Your obedience could be the link to your children’s or children’s children destinies.
So how do you know that you aren’t here at this time for such a time as this?
What are some barriers that you have put in front of yourself, maybe ideas in your head, that block you from your destiny? (Write them down)
Sometimes we hesitate and we recoil from the challenge.
Think of Esther’s position…
What are some real challenges that you face in reaching your destiny?
Challenges Esther faced were, #1 she was a woman in a male dominated society, she was apart of a race of people that were historically looked down upon.
Vashti had been removed from her station for disobeying the kings order, so what
made her different ?
She had to humble herself and remember who she belonged to. God almighty was on her side. She knew if she humbled herself, fasted and prayed she would get the answers she needed in that difficult time.
Psalm 119:71 KJV 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
Don’t let your time pass you by. The time is now! Don’t be afraid to take hold of your futur
e and your God given gifts. God uses the time of pressing to pull out the best in you, now is your time.
If you think you don’t have the time or the voice, God bends time and he holds your voice in his hand.
I think of this scripture below:
Joshua 10:12-14 MSG [12] The day GOD gave the Amorites up to Israel,
Joshua spoke to GOD, with all Israel listening: “Stop, Sun, over Gibeon; Halt, Moon, over Aijalon Valley.” And Sun stopped, Moon stood stock still Until he defeated his enemies. [13-14] (You can find this written in the Book of Jashar.) The sun stopped in its tracks in mid sky; just sat there all day.
There’s never been a day like that before or since-GOD took orders from a human voice! Truly, GOD fought for Israel.
God gives you favor.
God revealed his purpose for Joshua and Joshua took hold of it. God promised to protect Joshua in his endeavors as he set out in following that purpose.
Habakkuk 2:3 KJV 3For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
Joshua 1:1-11 KJV 1Now after the death of Moses the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
2 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
6 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
7 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.
The promises and strategies that God gave to Joshua not only applied to him at the time, they also apply to us in current times. At times I think of God as a great military commander.
He is so strategic in his mind. He would not give you a goal and not give you instructions and protection to execute. You are not alone. He not only sent his Spirit, His word, his angels (psalm 91), but he sends people to come along side you to carry out the purpose. Sometimes these people have similar purposes and you are able to work alongside each other to carry out the greater purpose.
In the book of Esther; Mordecai stirred something in Esther and she was able to see her purpose in the palace more clearly. She wasn’t in her position for only herself, it was for her people.
Can you think of where you are today? Why are you where you are? Who can you think of in your immediate circle who can be helped from where you sit today? How is God
nudging you to move in your purpose, not only for yourself but for the greater community?
What strategy has the Lord given you to be a help? Have you humbled yourself to find that strategy?
What does it look like to humble yourself to gain the understanding on movi
ng forward in your God given destiny?
In many places in scripture, strategies consist of prayer time, spending time with God, fasting. Then following up with being obedient to the next steps whatever your particular steps might be.
Don’t get hung up with the details and what others are doing. Don’t get slowed down by wrong thinking. God holds the keys to your future and they are available to us if we step into our authority.
Matthew 16 KJV 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Isaiah 22:20-24 MSG [20-24] “On that Day I’ll replace Shebna [the royal steward/chamberlain of King Hezekiah of Judah because of his pride he was ejected and repla
ced with Eliakim]. I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I’ll dress him in your robe. I’ll put your belt on him. I’ll give him your authority. He’ll be a father-leader to Jerusalem and the government of Judah. I’ll give him the key of the Davidic heritage. He’ll have the run of the place-open any door and keep it open, lock any door and keep it locked. I’ll pound him like a nail into a solid wall. He’ll secure the Davidic tradition. Everything will hang on him-not only the fate of Davidic de
scendants but also the detailed daily operations of the house, including cups and cutlery.
Regarding Isaiah 22:22 in the passage of scripture above:
Chamberlain/Visiers- An officer who manages the household of a sover
eign or noble; a chief steward. They have access to everything. Their paramount duty was to supervise the running of the country, much like a prime minister. The viziers often acted as the seal bearer. They also would record trade. Additionally they were incharge of security, administration and judgement in the empire.
We are to be good stewards or chamberlains in God’s kingdom
1 Peter 4 KJV 10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold (many and various) grace of God.
11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles [a good conduit for the word of God] of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: tha
t God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Just as God used Esther or Eliakim in the book of Isaiah; he wants to use us as his visiers or chamberlains to release his power into the Earth realm to change out communities.
We are being used to over turn the mandates illegally released into the atmosphere and reclaim territory for the Kingdom of God.
Just as Esther functioned in her time and purpose to do the bidding of the Lord. We have the same call. To move Heaven’s will to Earth. To overcome evil with good.
Proverbs 3 KJV 27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
Matthew 6 KJV 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
James 4 KJV 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
God gives favor in the purpose.
I love how when Esther realized the severity of the issue and it hit her that her time had come, she humbled herself before the Lord.
She got her strategy and moved forward.
She wasn’t afraid of the future.
She knew that God was in control.
This lesson helps us to understand how important it is for us to follow through and understand our authority and place in the kingdom of God. When you talk down to yourself you partner with the enemies voice. Denounce, repent and turn. Take an active role and actively participate in partnering with God to help your sphere of influence and the world at large.
Knowing who you are is paramount and Satan seeks to kill the fiber of your identity. Find scriptures that say who God says you are and declare those over yourself. Make sure to do this out loud and often. Come into agreement with what God says about you and walk in your authority as God’s heir.
Lastly, what is in your hand? Make sure to release
it.
Matthew 25:41-46 MSG
[41-43] “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because- I was hungry and you gave me no meal, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was homeless and you gave me no bed, I was shivering and you gave me no clothes, Sick and in prison, and you never vi
sited.’ [44] “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’ [45] “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me-you failed to do it to me.’ [46] “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”