When Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer, "Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:12-14
Once we begin to experience success in the workplace, we naturally ask, "Do I need to share my success with others?"
Esther was presented with the opportunity of a lifetime - to become the queen. Many other ladies were considered but Esther found favor in the king's eyes. Most people desire success at some stage in their life. We daydream about the positive aspects of success. However, many of us fail to realize that success also comes with responsibility. Even in the midst of success, God has expectations for His people. What lessons can we learn about success?
1. Look beyond yourself and consider others - As we begin to experience success, it's very easy to become selfish. We ask ourselves, "What steps should I take to continue my journey to the top? How can I get there faster?" We must remember that God blesses us so that we can share those blessings with others. In verse 14, Mordecai wanted Esther to know that God blessed her with this royal position so that she could serve as a blessing to her people. Are you willing to use your influence to help others? Could it be that God wants to use your success to open doors for others? Fortunately, there's no need to wait until you receive a fancy title. God can use your current level of influence.
2. Don't mistreat people now that you're successful - Although Esther was the queen, she maintained contact with her family member - Mordecai. While Esther was granted special access to the king, her family members needed special permission to make it pass the front gate. Have you ever known anyone who "changed" after they experienced success? As we begin to network with our new circle of influence, we often have a tendency to forget about those people who supported us prior to our success.
3. Don't think that you're exempt from harsh treatment - In verse 13, Mordecai reminded Esther that she wasn't exempt from the harsh treatment planned for her people. It was as if he was saying, "I understand that you're the queen. However, don't forget that you are Jewish too. Don't think that you're off the hook." Success can quickly blind us to the harsh realities of life. Some female executives may assume that they're exempt from gender discrimination. Some minority executives may assume that they're exempt from racial discrimination. The enemy will not withhold his attacks just because we're experiencing success.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
Angels of God on Your Side
For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off. Exodus 23:23 (KJV)
Much of what God said He did it through the ministry of angels. When the children of Israel went into the Promised Land as recorded in the Book of Joshua, they went up against the very first nation or group of people they had to drive out, and it was Jericho. The city of Jericho was surrounded by a wall so wide that six chariots could race side by side on top of that wall.
God told Joshua, "I want you to march around that wall once every day for seven days. On the seventh day I want you to march around it seven times and then blow the trumpet, and the walls will fall down." (Joshua 6:3-5)
But how is it that the walls fell down flat? When the people obeyed God and did what He said to do, guess who knocked the walls down? The angel that took them into the land to drive out the Amorites, Hittites, and the other "-ites" who were there. That land didn't belong to those "-ites", and God sent an angel to fight the battle for the children of Israel.
The Bible tells us that those who were under the Old Covenant do not have a better covenant that we do under the New Covenant. Whatever they had in the Old Covenant, we have it in the New Covenant and more (Hebrews 8:6). And the angels that fought those battles for God's people in the Old Covenant and knocked down walls, will fight battles and knock down walls in our covenant, too.
Remember that God said, "I'll send that angel to go in front of you. I'll send that angel to be with you. And I'll send that angel to take you into the place that's prepared for you, and he will fight for you."
Angels were involved in helping the children of Israel get back what the devil had stolen, And they will do the same for us today.
Scripture References: Joshua 6:3-5; Hebrews 8:6
Much of what God said He did it through the ministry of angels. When the children of Israel went into the Promised Land as recorded in the Book of Joshua, they went up against the very first nation or group of people they had to drive out, and it was Jericho. The city of Jericho was surrounded by a wall so wide that six chariots could race side by side on top of that wall.
God told Joshua, "I want you to march around that wall once every day for seven days. On the seventh day I want you to march around it seven times and then blow the trumpet, and the walls will fall down." (Joshua 6:3-5)
But how is it that the walls fell down flat? When the people obeyed God and did what He said to do, guess who knocked the walls down? The angel that took them into the land to drive out the Amorites, Hittites, and the other "-ites" who were there. That land didn't belong to those "-ites", and God sent an angel to fight the battle for the children of Israel.
The Bible tells us that those who were under the Old Covenant do not have a better covenant that we do under the New Covenant. Whatever they had in the Old Covenant, we have it in the New Covenant and more (Hebrews 8:6). And the angels that fought those battles for God's people in the Old Covenant and knocked down walls, will fight battles and knock down walls in our covenant, too.
Remember that God said, "I'll send that angel to go in front of you. I'll send that angel to be with you. And I'll send that angel to take you into the place that's prepared for you, and he will fight for you."
Angels were involved in helping the children of Israel get back what the devil had stolen, And they will do the same for us today.
Scripture References: Joshua 6:3-5; Hebrews 8:6
« Moi, je suis la vraie vigne, et mon Père est le vigneron » (Jn 15,1)
Sais-tu ce que je fais lorsque mes serviteurs veulent suivre la doctrine du doux Verbe d'amour ? Je les taille pour qu'ils produisent beaucoup de fruit et pour que leurs fruits soient doux et ne redeviennent pas sauvages. Le vigneron taille les sarments de la vigne pour qu'ils produisent un meilleur vin ; n'est-ce pas ce que je fais, moi, le vrai vigneron ? (Jn 15,1) Mes serviteurs qui sont en moi, je les taille par beaucoup de tribulations pour qu'ils produisent des fruits plus abondants et meilleurs et pour que leur vertu soit éprouvée ; mais ceux qui demeurent stériles je les coupe et je les mets au feu (Jn 15,6).
Les vrais ouvriers travaillent bien leur âme ; ils en arrachent tout amour-propre et retournent la terre de leur amour pour moi. Ils fertilisent et accroissent ainsi la semence de la grâce qu'ils ont reçue dans le saint baptême. En cultivant leur vigne, ils cultivent aussi celle de leur prochain ; ils ne peuvent pas cultiver l'une sans l'autre. Souviens-toi que tout mal et tout bien se font par le moyen du prochain. C'est ainsi que vous êtes mes vignerons, issus de moi, l'éternel vigneron. C'est moi qui vous ai unis et greffés sur cette vigne grâce à l'union que j'ai établie avec vous... Tous ensemble vous ne formez qu'une seule vigne universelle...; vous êtes unis dans la vigne du corps mystique de la sainte Eglise dont vous tirez votre vie. Dans cette vigne est planté le cep de mon Fils unique sur lequel vous devez tous être greffés pour rester en vie.
Les vrais ouvriers travaillent bien leur âme ; ils en arrachent tout amour-propre et retournent la terre de leur amour pour moi. Ils fertilisent et accroissent ainsi la semence de la grâce qu'ils ont reçue dans le saint baptême. En cultivant leur vigne, ils cultivent aussi celle de leur prochain ; ils ne peuvent pas cultiver l'une sans l'autre. Souviens-toi que tout mal et tout bien se font par le moyen du prochain. C'est ainsi que vous êtes mes vignerons, issus de moi, l'éternel vigneron. C'est moi qui vous ai unis et greffés sur cette vigne grâce à l'union que j'ai établie avec vous... Tous ensemble vous ne formez qu'une seule vigne universelle...; vous êtes unis dans la vigne du corps mystique de la sainte Eglise dont vous tirez votre vie. Dans cette vigne est planté le cep de mon Fils unique sur lequel vous devez tous être greffés pour rester en vie.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
In the Secret Place of the Most High
Psalm 91:1-10 says,
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
This means sickness and disease will not come near your house, provided you dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
This passage goes on to say in verse 11: For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
You may be afraid of flying on an airplane, of going outside at night, or of any number of other things. Fear is a terrible thing; there is nothing worse than being afraid. But you do not need to be afraid because your Heavenly Father has given "His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways."
Every one of us has a guardian angel. That angel has been keeping you from getting your head blown off many times over. He will keep you alive when you are a sinner, so that you can be saved. Notice that verse 11 says you have angels, plural. Not only do you have angels, but the Bible says God will give His angels charge over you. This means He commissions them to mount guard over you.
However, the angels cannot do anything for you to the fullest extent possible unless you are willing to believe they are there, count on them and expect them to work for you. You have to dare to believe it, dare to take God at His Word, and dare to confess it. Once you do this, amazing things will happen.
Psalm 91:12-13 continues:
12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
These verses let us know that the devil and every demon are under our feet.
Psalm 91:14-16:
14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."
My advice to you, friend, is to get this Word in you. Then confess it, and dare to make it personal. Say out loud, "I dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and I abide under the shadow of the Almighty. A thousand can fall at my side, and 10,000 at my right hand, but no evil shall come near me, because I dwell in the secret place of the Most High."
It is this kind of faith confession that makes God's Word work and puts the power into operation in your life.
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust."
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
This means sickness and disease will not come near your house, provided you dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
This passage goes on to say in verse 11: For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
You may be afraid of flying on an airplane, of going outside at night, or of any number of other things. Fear is a terrible thing; there is nothing worse than being afraid. But you do not need to be afraid because your Heavenly Father has given "His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways."
Every one of us has a guardian angel. That angel has been keeping you from getting your head blown off many times over. He will keep you alive when you are a sinner, so that you can be saved. Notice that verse 11 says you have angels, plural. Not only do you have angels, but the Bible says God will give His angels charge over you. This means He commissions them to mount guard over you.
However, the angels cannot do anything for you to the fullest extent possible unless you are willing to believe they are there, count on them and expect them to work for you. You have to dare to believe it, dare to take God at His Word, and dare to confess it. Once you do this, amazing things will happen.
Psalm 91:12-13 continues:
12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
These verses let us know that the devil and every demon are under our feet.
Psalm 91:14-16:
14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."
My advice to you, friend, is to get this Word in you. Then confess it, and dare to make it personal. Say out loud, "I dwell in the secret place of the Most High, and I abide under the shadow of the Almighty. A thousand can fall at my side, and 10,000 at my right hand, but no evil shall come near me, because I dwell in the secret place of the Most High."
It is this kind of faith confession that makes God's Word work and puts the power into operation in your life.
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