"Hidden In The Book"

"On that night could not the king sleep; and he commanded to bring the book

of records of the chronicles, and they were read before the king. And it was

 found written, that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's

chamberlains, of those that kept the threshold, who had sought to lay hands

on the king Ahasuerus. And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been

 bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered

unto him, There is nothing done for him."

(Esther 6:1-3)

Esther waiting to go before the King

The Book of Esther in the Bible does not even mention God, but He's there  ...  between the lines, behind the scenes, hovering as a silent partner orchestrating the events from unseen hands.  Sometimes when God is silent, we must remember that He is always, ALWAYS, in control.  The Book starts with God wanting Esther, who was a Jew, to be queen.  It was a holy planned providence, because Queen Vashti refused to come before the King, when bidden to show off her beauty, so King Ahasuerus sought another queen among all the young virgins in the kingdom.  Esther was chosen to be queen in place of Vashti, and Mordeicai, who was Esther's relative and had raised her as his own daughter, encouraged her.  Mordecai urged Esther not to disclose to the King that she was a Jew; she obeyed and the crown was placed upon her head.  But two of the King's chamberlains, Bigthana and Teresh, were wroth and sought to lay hands on the King; Mordecai heard of it and told Esther who warned the King.  The two were found out and hanged upon a tree, with the incident written in the book of the chronicles before the King.

     

Haman was the highest in command under the King and he despised the Jews, plotting to kill them, not knowing that the new and beautiful Queen Esther was a Jew.  He especially abhored Mordecai, because he would not bow to him, as all in the kingdom did.  So, he brought the matter before the King that there were people in his kingdom who did not obey his decrees and that these people should be destroyed.  The King, not knowing that it would affect his own wife and Queen, Esther, sealed it with his ring and decreed it to be done, sending out letters to all the provinces that all Jews must be destroyed on a certain day in a certain month.  Mordecai heard the message and clothed himself in sackcloth and ashes, calling for all the Jews to fast and pray.  He told Esther and she proclaimed a fast with her maidens also.  It was a law that one could not go before the King unbidden, but she knew she must go before the King to stop Haman's evil plot that would ultimately destroy all of her people and her also.  So, she asked Mordecai and the Jews to fast with her for three days and she would go before the King.  Then, she said those words, that are some of the mightiest words in the Bible, "I will go unto the King, which is not according to the law, and if I perish, I perish." 

Esther went before the King, after three days of fasting, and the King held out his sceptre to her to come unto him  ...  she was spared.  He asked her what she wanted and told her he would give it to her unto the half of the kingdom.  She asked that he, and Haman, come to a banquet and she would tell him.  Haman left the meeting feeling very arrogant and proud that the Queen wanted "him" to come to a banquet, but then he saw Mordecai sitting in sackcloth in the King's gate, and he was reminded that this man would not bow to him, so he was filled with wrath once again.  He designed a gallows to hang Mordecai so that he would finally be rid of him.  

Now, we come to the point of this writing, and it's how our Holy God moves in silent triumph in our lives.  That very night, the King could not sleep, so he asked for the book of chronicles to be brought to him and he discovered that it was written that Mordecai had saved his life from the plot of Bigthana and Teresh.  The King then asked what had been done for this man who saved him from destruction, and he was told nothing had been done for him.  So, he called for Haman and asked him what should be done for one whom the King delighted to honor.  Haman, thinking that it surely had to be himself  whom the King would want to honor, said that he should be given the King's royal apparel, the King's horse, and the King's crown should be placed upon his head, and he should be paraded on horseback through the streets of the city. The King commanded it to be done  ...  TO MORDECAI!  Then, a horrified, and extremely angry, belligerent Haman is seen leading Mordecai, wearing the King's royal apparel, the King's crown, and riding the King's horse, through the streets of all the provinces, proclaiming honor to Mordecai.

This, dear friends, is what is called "coming back to bite you!"  The end of the story is that Esther revealed to the King all of wicked Haman's plots to kill the Jews, informed him she was a Jew, and Haman was hanged on the very gallows he built to hang Mordecai.  The Jews were spared and allowed to defend themselves and   ...  a silent God spoke  ....

It's that way for all of us, you know.  What?  What have we done in this life for others, that no one knows about, that is tucked away and hidden in God's book of Good Samaritan virtues?  What have you done that has seemingly never been rewarded?  It's all written down, you know.  God sees, knows, and He records all!  Maybe even "you" have forgotten that deed and didn't think it was anything significant  ...  just a given meal, your own shoes, or a few dollars for a homeless person; a few years of tending to the needs of a handicapped blind lady; an anonymous donation to one in need; groceries and a card left on a doorstep without your name upon it; a blessing here and a blessing there to people in desperate need  ...  It's recorded and the King of Kings, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is asking, "What shall be done for this one who has done this?"  

What a God we serve!  How wonderful He IS!  Don't think your benevolence was ignored; don't think your kindnesses meant nothing; don't think the very heart of God in you that moved you to do that was overlooked; don't think you will escape  ...  Huh?  It's a law of God  ...  What you sow, you will reap; that's good and bad alike, but the 'good' is about to be revealed, 'and REWARDED',  that was recorded and "Hidden In The Book." 

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.)

Pastor Kenneth Phillips

(He has many many recordings; they're

about to be rewarded!)

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas

Services Sundays 10:30 am and Wednesdays 7:15 pm

~~~~~~~~~Live Streaming~~~~~~~~~

Please send your prayer needs, and if you would like

to sow a seed in ground that's about to explode in 

blessings to all who have sown, please give 

online at promiselandchurch.net!  

God Bless you, dear one, and I know He will!

Pastor Phillips and Karen Phillips

Thank you, Lord, for their Miracles!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{Special thanks to cooltext.com for the use of

graphic text generator}

"By The Light Of The Moon"

Shine bright, bold and strong, O moon, so high and

lofty, in your Holy dwelling place

You're the light of the black night, the glow of beauty

in the portals of reflective grace

We look to you in the time of darkness to guide our way,

as the symbol of God's Church

Your aura and mystery can be seen throughout the world,

without even an attempt to search

For you were created and positioned in the heavens, by 

the Master of all the universe

Your brilliance for earth to ponder, is in the wonder

of you, and we are immersed

We can stare at you for hours, deep in thoughts of beyond

our humble "dust" and earthly shore

You beckon and pull us to the heavens in your majesty; 

it's a call for mere mortals to explore

A radiant, majestic, and soft ambiance emanates from the

beautiful surface of your shining globe

And we're drawn to seek and know more about you, the 

power of the heavens, an enticing probe

Your reflection dances in the waters like silky garments,

blowing in wafts through the gentle winds

And your profound mystery is revealed in the light of the 

night, as the darkness covers and descends

You were designed to lead and guide the way, in the ebonies 

of this lonely, scary and fearful hour

As mankind endeavors to move along, feeling the way in 

terror, searching for Spirit and power

We stand the trials while in this earth; it's the polishing

of this vessel, for our heavenly abode

And, we traverse with care, this tapestry of routes to Your will,

as we endure this long and winding road

The beam of your glow that is now so rare, draws us to

conclude, that our Lord is coming soon

We must be ready, looking for the Bridegroom, and prepare 

our garments, "By The Light Of The Moon."

(Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.)

Pastor Kenneth Phillips

(He's bringing the unity of the body of Christ

throughout the world, making the Church shine bright)

PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas

Services Sundays 10:30 am and Wednesdays 7:15 pm

~~~~~~~~~Live Streaming~~~~~~~~~

"The wonderful Phillips family"

(We lift them up with our prayers and our love 

in this time of need.)

  

"Let your love enfold them, dear Lord, and 

hold them.  Bring them peace in the midst

of the storm, and bear them up in the hollow

of your hand.  Bring the Victory speedily, 

we pray.  You are the God of Miracles!"

Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

{Special thanks to cooltext.com.}