Friday, March 21, 2008

Turning the Tables! Part 2


Here's the deal.
Today is the day we honor the memory
of what Jesus suffered on our behalf.
He took the blame for something He didn't do.
He who knew no sin, became sin for us.
So that we might be made the righteousness of God,
through our faith in Him.
That's all that is required for us to have the fellowship of righteousness with our Father,
and our Savior. Only believe. Only believe that Christ died for our sins.
Once and for all.
He was betrayed by a trusted friend. He was then abandonded
by more of His closest friends,
and denied by one of them, not once, but three times.
These are the painful reasons we can rejoice.
Because He spoiled the plans of the enemy.
He conquored sin, death and the grave.
It is also the day of Purim.
The day Hebrew people celebrate the fact,
that the plans of the enemy to kill them, and take all they had,
were turned back around on the enemy.
Because of Queen Esther's bravery in going to the King and interceeding for her people,
the Hebrew people were given The Word from the King,
("Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman,
and him they have hanged upon the gallows,
cause he laid his hand upon the Jews.
Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse."
Esther 8:7-8)
that they may fight the enemy and defend themselves.
They did, and they lived to tell about it!
They lived to remember the victory that God gave them.
The favor the King had for them.
The story in Esther is rich in both historical fact,
and wonderful spiritual parallels. I hope to do some piece by piece follow-up posts to show you some kingdom principals portrayed by type in the story of Esther.
But, for today, I want us to understand that those Hebrew people,
back in the day, celebrated the fact that The King had given His Word,
that they may fight their enemy. They did, and God gave them the victory.
Today we remember that God gave us His Son, The Living Word,
that we may join Him in a spiritual battle.
The victory is ours for the taking, the battle is His.
We have been given life. Death has no hold on us.
We have been given spiritual renewal,
that sin may not keep us against our will.


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These two holidays do not always fall at the exact same time.
I just felt such a giddy joy when I discovered they do this year,
because it was right in the middle of the Lord teaching me about the fact
that God sits on His throne and laughs at the wicked,
because He KNOWS their day is coming.
I LOVE, love, love that He is THAT kind of God!
That's the only kind for me!
(what can I say, Ya'll? I have two sons, and a cave man for a husband!
I love football! I LIKE a He-Man God!)
"The wicked plotteth against the just,
and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming."
Psalms 37:12-13
"But we speak the wisdom of God...
which God ordained before the world
unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew:
for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."
1 Corinthians 2:7-8
I believe Purim is a based on a real, historical event.
I also believes it is a lovely "type" of a victory that would yet come,
that another enemy, a bigger threat,
would one day have his plans turned back on him.
Today we remember the victory
that caused the head of the enemy to be bruised.
"And the LORD God said unto the serpent,
Because thou hast done this... And I will put enmity between thee and the woman,
and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head,
and thou shalt bruise his heel."
Genesis 3:14-15
"Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us]
from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation]
by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures],
Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified);
To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus,
the blessing [promised] to Abraham
might come upon the Gentiles,
so that we through faith might [all]
receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit."
Galatians 3:13-14
"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us,
which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,
nailing it to his cross;
And having spoiled principalities and powers,
he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."
Colossians 2:13-15

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5 comments:

luvmy4sons said...

Amen sister. Nothing more to add to that wonderful post! Blessings to you and praises to our victorious wonderful "He" God and Savior!

ThreeGirlyGirls said...

Right there with you! Although, I cannot help but be a little sad today, just remembering all He went through for us. But come Sunday I will be praising up a storm!! I love your heart so much!!

Denise said...

Your heart shines with the precious light of Jesus, I love you my friend.

Unknown said...

Great Post Maria! I love it!
I sometimes just want to cry when I think of what he did for me.
I love Esther, it is one of my favorite books! (have you seen one night with the king? great movie!)

She Rose Up said...

Hi, Leslie! That's right! He IS the He-God for sure!

Nicki, I know, it is a time to think on and appreciate the cost, you are so right! This year I just couldn't escape racing ahead to think what He purchased that I might live like it!

Denise, that mean a lot, thank you so much! I believe the same of you, my friend!

Regina, I'm with you! And I DO love Esther, have studied it much, and get fresh things from it all the time! You know, I haven't seen that movie yet! But, I want to! I need to "get around to it!"

Happy Monday you all!
Maria

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What Does it Mean Anyway? "Free to Fly"...

Well, it's like this: Here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Free: a : having the legal and political rights of a citizen b : enjoying civil and political liberty c : enjoying political independence or freedom from outside domination d : enjoying personal freedom : not subject to the control or domination of another2 a : not determined by anything beyond its own nature or being : choosing or capable of choosing for itself...having a scope not restricted by qualification 7 a : not obstructed, restricted, or impeded ...Now, here are some of the Webster's Dictionary definitions of Fly:1 a : to move in or pass through the air with wings b : to move through the air or before the wind or through outer space c : to float, wave, or soar in the air ... a : to take flight ...6 : to work successfully ...Examples which apply from Websters: fly high : to be elated - fly in the face of or fly in the teeth of : to stand or act forthrightly or brazenly in defiance or contradiction of

What does this mean in my life? This means that in life we are meant to be free. While historically mankind has not always enjoyed the opportunity to fully appreciate what that means, we are so indescribably fortunate as to live in a time of the greatest spiritual, physical, financial and political freedom ever known. Freedom doesn't come cheap, nor does it come easy. But the best things in life don't come that way do they? As I write this I am struck by how this sounds like a political statement, and for me this is much more of a spiritual thing, but, same goes for that (political that is). Freedom doesn't come easy. And it's worth whatever fight you have to make to overcome in your life in order to live a life that succeeds. Now the questions is - what is success for you? What is your standard? In my mind what is needed is a definite target - because you can't hit and maintain a moving target. A stable, rock-solid, anchor with no variable, yet multi-faceted. Something pure, just and worthy. If you look at any web page of news you can see that our society is certainly lacking in this area. What a great time to live as a rebel! Nowadays to be a rebel, all you have to do is be willing to engage in the battle of life, while anchored to Christ!