"A Call to Rise Up and Stand - For Such A Time As This"
A Surprising Encounter
Last spring, my family and I traveled to Iowa for a funeral. We needed a few things and stopped by the local Wal-mart to pick them up. On our way out of the parking lot, we drove past a man at the entrance who sat in a wheelchair holding a sign in his hands. This man was incredibly disfigured; with legs missing, hands mangled and his face had been terribly marred.
We took him for a homeless man asking for money. We could tell that this man had obviously served his country. Instantly, my husband pulled up alongside him and shoved a ten-dollar bill in my hand and said, "Roll down your window, Victoria!" I wasn't even sure the man could make it to my window, but before I could answer back, my son shoved a twenty in my hand for the man as well. They were adamant, and they were right.
Obediently, I handed the man the cash, but, even though he took the money, he did not seem grateful – as expected. No. This man seemed desperate. He was saying something to me. It was difficult to understand, but it was then I realized for the first time that his sign wasn't asking for money.
"Please Don't Believe the News!"
He pleaded with us – with his mangled hands and misshapen mouth, "Please don't believe the news!" Over and over, he said through speech impediments from his obvious injuries, "Please don't believe the news!"
Indeed, this man was on a mission. He was desperate to inform the public that the media was not telling the truth. He wanted us to know the truth as he had seen it first-hand fighting for his country. He was desperate for us to know what we were up against – the true war we're fighting. (Photo via Pixabay)
And he is right. There's a war going on right now for the soul of our nation; and a powerful and deadly agenda is being launched against us to sink its tentacles deep into our nation and many others.
A Call to Rise Up and Stand Up
Much like the nation of Israel in the book of Esther, the leaders were being controlled and manipulated by Haman's agenda and were attempting to destroy the Israelis. Indeed, it seemed completely possible that the Jews in Persia would be annihilated. But God saw their trouble before it even began and He'd created an answer to save them. God's answer was Esther. She was married to the king and she happened to be Jewish.
He'd put the beautiful, yet humble Esther into just the right position to redeem the people of Israel. Yet, Esther was afraid of what might happen to her if she obeyed the pleadings of her cousin, Mordecai, who'd asked her to intercede for her people with her husband, the king of Persia.
She said, "'All the king's officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.'
"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 your royal position for such a time as this?'" Esther 4:11-14.
A Risky Request
Much like Haman's agenda of hatred launched against the Jewish people, satan has garnered his supporters to implement his agenda against the earth. Those flaunting their power, trying to strip away the soul of our nation, really do believe they will get away with implementing their plan against us. But what they do not realize is their plan is NOT against us, but it is against GOD Himself.
Just as Haman was being used by satan, so too in our time, the dark powers of the prince of this world manipulate world leaders to do his bidding. Thinking for certain nothing will stand in their way, they are numbed by their seemingly easy route to power and yet, they are unaware the hunters have truly become the hunted. (Photo by Donna Smallenberg "For Such a Time as This" via Elijah List Shopper)
The Lord has set a trap for them, but they're blinded by mind-numbing pride. Yet God has launched His own agenda for our world, but it is as much a test for the Church as it is was for Esther.
You see, Esther was afraid because what she saw with her eyes did not add up to victory. It did not look like she thought it should. She wondered how she could persuade the king when it looked like she had lost his favor. Surely, if God wanted her to dissuade the king, wouldn't it look like she had influence with him? She didn't understand, and her trust in God was tested.
Things don't always look like we think they should and these discrepancies can offend us and keep us from trusting fully in God. Like Esther, the conditions of our miracle are not obvious until we walk in obedience.
For Such a Time as This
What Mordecai suggested to her was not an easy thing and it was incredibly difficult for her to step out and use her position to deliver the Jews. Courage and understanding led her through; for she realized that she had been brought to her royal position for such a time as this.
"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 your royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14
I read a story years ago about a woman who lay in a hospital, in a coma, dying from a severe infection. While in a coma, she could hear everything going on around her, but could not respond. On her sick bed, she pleaded with God to answer her prayers and restore her life to her even though she was in a coma.
An Answer to Prayer
She was terribly bothered by a man she disliked very much who came every day to pray for her, and felt frustrated and angry that she could do nothing to stop him from coming to her room because of her condition. This man was relentless, and as she felt her life slipping away, she continued to trust God to heal her.
Then one day, she died and went to Heaven. In Heaven, she realized the man who came every day to pray for her–whom she hated so much–was the answer to her prayers. Through her hatred and offense she did not receive him, and she died.
Through the miraculous grace of God, she came back to life a short while later completely healed of her infection. Amazingly, her self-righteous offense against the man who'd prayed for her in her hospital room was also gone. (Photo via Public Domain Pictures)
You see, the answer to the woman's prayers came in a form she did not like and was not expecting. She did not approve of this man and believed no miracle could come through him.Obviously, she did not think he was holy enough. Her prejudice kept her from seeing the answer to her prayers; but even in her pride, God was merciful and answered the man's prayers for her.
A Tipping Point for Our Nation
Our nation is at a tipping point and we need a miracle; there's no doubt about that. Like the wounded warrior who spoke in disfigured desperation to warn us of the agenda of death launched against us, we cannot believe the lies of the enemy. We need God to save us and we cannot afford to allow our prejudices and offenses to hinder our miracle from manifesting.
I've heard people say they will not vote in this coming election because they do not like either candidates. They're offended and they've believed the lies of the enemy. God wants to answer their prayers, but they've been offended by the way He wants to do it. It doesn't look as they expected it would. So, they assume their prejudices and offenses are God's as well, or determine in their minds that they know better. (Photo via Victoria Boyson)
However, when you ask for God's will to be done, you relinquish rights to your own understanding and have to accept God's will and trust it. It may not look like you would like it to, but it will save you. It will stop the enemy's agenda against you.
You don't have to vote in this election if you don't want to, but ask yourself if your religious stance of righteous perfection is real or a snare from the enemy. Is the enemy lying to you? (Photo via Victoria Boyson)
Remember Mordecai's warning to Esther, "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"(Esther 4:13-14).
Pray to Discern God's Will
Truly, we are in a season of testing and God is watching to see if we will trust Him or go our own way; follow our own understanding or acknowledge Him and His sovereignty and power (see Proverbs 3:5).
Ask God what He thinks and humbly accept His will. Don't take the bait of the enemy and allow him to manipulate you through offense and prejudice. For surely, God could raise up someone else to save us, but He wants to use you. Can you trust Him?
Obeying the Lord, even though it goes against all you think you know and understand, takes great courage but reaps rich rewards. Don't look back on this hour with regret. Seize the day and trust God. No matter what you think you know, you really don't know what tomorrow holds. This could be your finest hour! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List go here.)
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