The Power of One Encounter

10-21-10
Esther 1-2
Lesson 1
"The Power of One Encounter!"

Oh, what a story! A simple peasant Jewish girl, taken from her home, put within a palace, groomed for her one encounter before the king. We tend to look at this almost from a fairytale perspective, but if we are not careful, we will miss God within the pages of the story. I have often wished I could travel back in time and observe history as it unfolds. We need to put ourselves in Esther "high heels" and really think about what she might tell us about her "bath and body works" experience. Would she tell us how she felt God's favor in all of this? I can only speak from my viewpoint, but I do not believe we would find her jumping for joy in this circumstance. We need to remember, they were still captives in a foreign land; the Persians were still ruling a vast empire. Esther was taken from the only family she had; there was no carriage with horsemen nor any glass slippers to try on! Yet, as we step back and view this vignette as it fits into God's huge story, we can see God's favor, favor, favor! God's hesed - His lovingkindness, mercy, benefit, favor - just because He chooses to, not because He is obligated to!

This lesson so impacted me that I could not go to sleep Wednesday night, and then God awakened me at 4:30am. I know what you are thinking, that's not God, that's hormones! Oh no, dear one, I know the difference. I could not get this Hebrew word, hesed, off my mine. Remember, as we studied Nehemiah, how we saw God stir hearts and minds to do His will? I told you about Old man Hankins, and how I saw God's stirring of his heart, and how it impacted my life, receiving a full paid scholarship to attend Louisiana College. As God spoke to me in the early morning hours, I sensed His revealing more to my encounter with Mr Hankins. Years ago, as I sat in Mr. Hankins living room, God not only stirred Mr. Hankins heart to give, but I received God's hesed - His favor, His mercy, His grace, His lovingkindness. I asked Him, 'Lord, why would you do such a thing for a little girl from nowhere - without even a zipcode? He spoke and still speaks as I write this, "Because I can, because I choose to!" I can't even type this without tears of joy running down my face, as I reflect back at the power of one encounter.

Oh, dear one, don't you see it? Even in exile, even in captivity, even in a pit, even in a trial, even in "Podunkville," even in our utmost horrid circumstances, WE CAN RECEIVE HIS FAVOR! When you think about it, are we not all exiles? We were brought out of captivity when Jesus saved us, but we are still aliens on this earth? It says in Heb. 11:13, "All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth" If this is true, and were are simply sojourners in this world, what are we to be doing? It tells us in Jeremiah 29:1-11:

A Letter to the Exiles

1 This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) 3 He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:
4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." 8 Yes, this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: "Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them," declares the LORD.
10 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


In a nutshell - Pray for your country and government, submit to the authority that God has placed you under, get married, have children, LIVE LIFE! And as you do that, never underestimate the power of one encounter. Be prepared and know that favor happens when preparation meets opportunity. God is large and in charge, but you have to do your part. He has plans for you, plans for your future. He stirs the heart and He gives the favor, but you have to go to the interview to receive the scholarship!

All powerful, all knowing Elohim, thank you for Your favor, Your hesed on my life! Just because You can - just because You love me! Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot attain to it. Ps. 139:6


Laboring with you and through Him,

Phil 1:6

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

Surviver or Thriver?

9-16-10
Nehemiah 1-2
Lesson 1
"Survivor or Thriver?"

What do you do when the walls of life come crashing down? Do you just try to hold on; are you just getting by? You survived and that's it? There is a big difference in surviving something and thriving despite that something! The remnant of Israel had returned home and they were survivors, but they had not done anything about the rubble around them. Yes, they had rebuilt the temple and had tried once to rebuild the walls, but when opposition came, they stopped doing the work. So, they resided to just live in it. The walls were their defenses, and certainly, though physically destroyed, they were also representative of their destruction spiritually. Many of us simply accept mediocrity and step over and under the rubble of our lives each day. We have become use to it, though it is difficult, it is all we know. What does it take to restore ruins?

Today's lesson is the beginning of the answer to that question. As we look at Nehemiah, the man, and our great and awesome God, let's make a list and see what we can conclude.

Nehemiah
Lived in a pagan society - in Susa
High official, trustworthy
A man of prayer
Knew God
Knew His Word, promises
Had a plan based on prayer and God’s Word
Prayed when fearful
Inspected the problem
Called the people to build
Refuted the mockers
Depended on God for success

The Lord
God of heaven
Great and awesome
Preserves covenant, keeps His promises
Lovingkindness
Longsuffering
Hears and answers prayers
Scattered and gathers His people
Redeemed them
Great power
Strong hand
Gives success and compassion

As you look at the chart, let your eyes glean from left to right, as you think through the events of Nehemiah 1-2. We know it says in Pr. 21:1, "The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes." We know God stirs the hearts of kings, even the pagan ones, to do His will; BUT we also see in this narrative how Nehemiah was responsible to pray, request, and arise to challenge the people to do the work. Once again, our lesson narrows down to these two truths. Last week, Louie Gigleo also explained these seemingly opposite truths. He placed his fist in the air and said this is you in the world, and Jesus says you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world. John 16:33. Louie went on to explain the hugeness of our God and His ultimate purposes for us, and that all works together to bring Him glory, and that He is painting on a canvas that is bigger and better than anything we can see or imagine. Both truths absolutely true running side by side. The book of Nehemiah depicts this so beautifully as you walk through the pages and see how you must respond to "distressing news," and on the other hand, trust that God is at all times sovereign and in control of the situation.

Now, for the added "W" to the 5 W's and the H - So what? How does knowing how Nehemiah responded to the news help you? Because we live in a fallen world where there is trouble and conflict (remember, expect it), you can follow the example of Nehemiah as you too get a bad report.

Here is Kay's nine truths you need to know in order to become a "Nehemiah."
1. Be aware of and have knowledge of the conditions of the people.
2. Have a heart that is touched from the situation. Ministries come from mourning (weeping, trials, etc)
3. Confess the transgressions that brought on the situation
4. Believe that God will ever remain to be God during the situation. He is a covenant keeping God.
5. Assess the situation on your knees and face before God.
6. Be a woman or man of God that knows how to handle fear. Take it to your knees and stand on who God is!
7. Be a woman or man of God that knows when to share God's will to others. Nehemiah had already made a plan through prayer, and when given the right time and place, he made his requests known to the king. He did the same thing when he returned to Jerusalem; he waited until he had surveyed the ruins and then he challenged the people.
8. Learn to discern the wiles of others. Listen to the leaning of the Holy Spirit regarding your enemies.(remember to expect them)
9. Know that ONLY God can give success! Nehemiah constantly gave God the credit; he specifically prayed for success before the king, he refuted the enemies with the statement that God would bring them success. He at two different times stated that the good hand of God was upon him.

The power of one is far greater than we stop to consider. Nehemiah, Ezra, Esther, Haggai, and on and on. One person making a difference, leaving a legacy of FAITH! Will you? Have you just survived? What will your children or your grand children remember about you? Do you think they will look up and admire the fact that you survived struggles or that you thrived despite the struggles? Look around your life today? Can you even pass through your gates? Don't settle - arise and re-build, for the good hand of God is upon you!

Laboring with you and through Him,

Phil 1:6

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."