The King Awaits Our Answer
We may all have opinions about the Netanyahu speech which took place before the joint houses of Congress this week. I am not writing to debate about his strategy or content, however.
I am interested in exploring the “timing” of his speech.
What is the Feast of Purim?
For kingdom people intent on seeking first God’s Kingdom, it is hard to miss that today is beginning of the Feast of Purim, a two-day celebration of the Jews’ victory in Persia during the time of Queen Esther.
The story of Esther is filled with so many intricacies that I find it one of the most interesting books of the Bible.
- For one, the name of God is never mentioned but we find him hidden everywhere, working behind the scenes to destroy the works of the Prime Minister, Haman, who manipulated the king into decrees aimed at the annihilation of the entire Jewish diaspora (displaced people group) in Persia.
- The second is that the hero (Esther) is a young Jewish immigrant, who through heartbreaking circumstances, is taken into the palace to be trained to become “basically a palace prostitute” to please the king.
- Esther, instead, through laying down her life through a 3-day fast of food and water, goes boldly before the king uninvited to uncover the hidden plot. She ends up saving the entire Jewish race in Persia.
If we pursue the idea that the Old Testament is a training manual in the natural realm for how we are to live as kingdom people in the supernatural, we discover a complete plan for how we can uncover our enemy’s scheme in our lives and in the world to see victory take place for God’s kingdom.
What is the Significance of Purim to Christians
Today is the start of Purim.
It is our reminder that God is working behind the scenes to uncover the plot of the enemy against God’s people and his kingdom. It is our reminder that no matter what our background or present day circumstances, we are seated next to the King of the Universe.
Ephesians 1:20-22 tells us, “Christ was raised from the dead and seated at the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realm. He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else--not only in this world, but in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and made him head over all things for the benefit of God’s kingdom people."
Our royal positioning gives us the ability to answer the question the King asks Esther, “What can I do for you, my Queen, up to half my kingdom?”
Here’s the thing: the King doesn’t just ask Esther this question once or twice or even three times. Astoundingly, he asks the question of what portion of his kingdom he can give her five times!
She boldly answers the question by telling the King the very survival of the Jewish race is at risk.
The King trusts Esther so he tells her to write a decree, but reminds her that the decree their enemy, Haman (the Prime Minister), wrote cannot be overturned. She must find a way to counter his decree by going up higher with her decree, which brings Haman’s defeat.
Here’s our reality.
We have a very real enemy who has decreed against us, seeking our annihilation.
His intent is truly to destroy the entire world.
Jesus sounded the warning when he told us, “The thief has come to steal, kill and destroy.” (John 10:10)
Our response is not to fear, however, it is to act. It is to go before the king and answer his question, “What do you want, my Queen, up to half my kingdom?”
The King is so intent on us answering this question he gave us an entire book in the Old Testament to outline the process we can take to answer his plea for us to rise up and act.
A Call to Decree
Take a couple of minutes to ask the King, “Where are you calling me to decree?”
Commit to take a few minutes to decree out loud and even to take a next step to write a godly decree. My resource on how to do it is attached here.
I’d love to agree with your decree. Let me know how the King leads you.
We are in this together because God is at work Reclaiming our Identities, Lives and Destinies because He knows “We were Meant for More!”
Do you know it too?
PS. If you are interested in learning more about decree writing, plan to attend the upcoming Reposition Retreat in fall 2015! http://www.reclaimidentity.org/retreats.html