Are you in a position of influence?
Are you in a position of power?
Are you in any position?
If you are, understand that You have come to the kingdom for such a time as this (Esther 4:14) so that you can use that position of yours to fulfill the purposes of God's Kingdom here on earth. We can see this from the lives of Nehemiah and Esther.
Nehemiah
The Problem
Nehemiah heard that the Israelites were living in Great distress and shame and that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and her gates burned. (Nehemiah 1:3)
The Positioning
Nehemiah worked as the cupbearer (Nehemiah 1:11) for the king. This was an important position because it entailed tasting all the king's food before he ate it to ensure that it was not poisoned.
Nehemiah heard that the Israelites were living in Great distress and shame and that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and her gates burned. (Nehemiah 1:3)
The Positioning
Nehemiah worked as the cupbearer (Nehemiah 1:11) for the king. This was an important position because it entailed tasting all the king's food before he ate it to ensure that it was not poisoned.
The Purpose
Nehemiah came to the Kingdom of God for his time to fill the need of his time which was What God had placed in his heart to do in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:12) and it was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
The Preparation
Nehemiah came to the Kingdom of God for his time to fill the need of his time which was What God had placed in his heart to do in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 2:12) and it was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
The Preparation
Nehemiah prepared himself by fasting and praying. (Nehemiah 1:4)
The Project
After finishing his spiritual preparation, Nehemiah used his position as a cupbearer to ask the king for a Letter to be written to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest so that he would give Nehemiah timber to make the citadel’s gates, the city wall as well as the house that he would live in. (Nehemiah 2:8)
After finishing his spiritual preparation, Nehemiah used his position as a cupbearer to ask the king for a Letter to be written to Asaph the keeper of the king’s forest so that he would give Nehemiah timber to make the citadel’s gates, the city wall as well as the house that he would live in. (Nehemiah 2:8)
In addition to using his powerful position, Nehemiah also used his personal wealth since he says, “When I was appointed as Governor in Judah, from the 12th year to the 32nd year of King Artaxexes’ reign, neither I nor my brother ate the governor’s provisions.” (Nehemiah 5:14)
He did not require the people to pay him the governor’s salary because “The governors who were before me had put heavy burdens on the people and took from them bread and wine in addition to 40 shekels of silver. Yes, even their servants bore rule over the people, but I did not do so because I feared God.” (Nehemiah 5:15)
His fear of God stopped him from demanding a salary from the people because they were in dire financial straits for he says, I did not demand the governor’s provision, because the bondage was heavy on the people. (Nehemiah 5:18)
In addition to not demanding a salary from the people who were facing financial constraints, Nehemiah also used his personal resources to do the work of the Lord for he says, “All my servants were gathered there for the work of rebuilding the wall.” (Nehemiah 5:16)
Therefore emulate Nehemiah and use your position not just to amass wealth but to do something for the Kingdom of God because It is God who gives you the power to get wealth. (Deuteronomy 8:18)
Therefore emulate Nehemiah and use your position not just to amass wealth but to do something for the Kingdom of God because It is God who gives you the power to get wealth. (Deuteronomy 8:18)
Esther
The Problem
Esther was the one who was told, You have come to the kingdom for such a time as this (Esther 4:14) by her uncle Mordechai who had brought her up because she was an orphan. She was told this when the Jews were faced with the problem of annihilation after Haman convinced the king sign a decree that stated they would all be killed on a certain day.
The Positioning
Esther was the wife of King Ahaseurus.
Esther was the one who was told, You have come to the kingdom for such a time as this (Esther 4:14) by her uncle Mordechai who had brought her up because she was an orphan. She was told this when the Jews were faced with the problem of annihilation after Haman convinced the king sign a decree that stated they would all be killed on a certain day.
The Positioning
Esther was the wife of King Ahaseurus.
The Purpose
Esther came to the Kingdom of God for her time to fill the need of her time which was to save the Jews from annihilation.
The Preparation
Esther came to the Kingdom of God for her time to fill the need of her time which was to save the Jews from annihilation.
The Preparation
Esther prepared herself by fasting for 3 days. (Esther 4:15)
The Project
After finishing her spiritual preparation, Esther boldly went to see the king when the penalty for uninvited visitors was instant death if the king did not hold out his golden scepter.
After finishing her spiritual preparation, Esther boldly went to see the king when the penalty for uninvited visitors was instant death if the king did not hold out his golden scepter.
She then invited him and Haman to a banquet and then a second banquet in which she informed the king of Haman's plan to destroy her people.
As a result, Haman was hanged (Esther 7:10) on the gallows he had built to hang Mordechai because he would not bow down to him.
King Ahaseurus also gave Esther and her Mordechai authority to write a decree which annulled the one that had been written by Haman to annihilate the Jews. (Esther 8:3-10)
You
The Problem
What problems do you see that Christians face today?
The Positioning
What are your resources - job, money, social status, etc?
What problems do you see that Christians face today?
The Positioning
What are your resources - job, money, social status, etc?
The Purpose
You have come to the Kingdom of God for this time to fill the needs of the people you see around you.
The Preparation
You have come to the Kingdom of God for this time to fill the needs of the people you see around you.
The Preparation
Prepare yourself by praying and fasting to seek God's help.
The Project
After finishing your spiritual preparation, use your resources to fulfill your purpose by filling the needs of the people around you so that you can emulate David for David served the purposes of God for his generation. (Acts 13:36)
After finishing your spiritual preparation, use your resources to fulfill your purpose by filling the needs of the people around you so that you can emulate David for David served the purposes of God for his generation. (Acts 13:36)
This fulfilling of your purpose by filling needs can involve utilizing your financial resources to feed street children or clothe AIDS orphans or visit the sick in hospital. (Matthew 25:44-45)
It can also involve utilizing your talents to compose and sing Christian praise and worship music. It can also involve using your position to legislate pro-Christian laws in your city or country.
As you fill these needs, let the people you are helping know about Jesus and start their own relationship with Him by getting saved. To do this ask them to say, "Jesus is Lord" and believe in their hearts that when He died for our sins, God raised Him from the dead on the third day. (Romans 10:9)
