ESTHER & JOB

It is Thursday, and we had a great time at Church last night.  I called for an impromptu testimony time and twenty people quickly raised their hands to give a testimony.  I still was able to preach on God's Apps for a Better You.  The app last night was G.P.S.  (God's Positioning Spirit)  The Holy Spirit is better than any navigation program created by man.  The Holy Spirit can guide us to where God wants us in our lives.  We had a great time.  This morning, I read in Esther and Job.  Here are a few thoughts I came up with as I read God's Word: 1) ACCEPTED IN HIS SIGHT- In Esther 5:2, Esther went in unto the King unannounced and it could have cost her life, but "she obtained favour in his sight:  and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand."  How could sinful man gain audience with a Holy God?  Well, because of Jesus Christ and our faith in Him as our personal Savior, we are accepted in God's sight.  In fact, we are told to come boldly to the throne of Grace.  Wow!  We are accepted in His sight!! 2) HAMAN'S GALLOWS- Having been invited to the queen's banquet, you would have thought that Haman would be happy.  Well, he was, until he saw that the Jew, Mordecai, would not bow in his presence.  So, following his wife's advice in Esther 5:14, he caused a 75 foot gallows to be made in one day!  The height and speed of which Haman had this done, is only equal to the depth of his pride and hatred for Mordecai.  Now, we know that pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall; but Haman let's his hatred and pride go unbridled.  How do you hate so much?  How can pride blind one so much to all of the good around them?  Well, he built the gallows that he himself would be hung on.  (Esther 7:10)  And, on these same gallows, his ten sons would be hung on as well.  Haman's pride was so destructive, that because of him... not only did his family suffer, but others throughout the kingdom that felt the same way about the Jews and he did, suffered as well.  The book of Esther will record in chapter 9:12-16, that 75,811 people died because of Haman's actions!!  Oh how we ought to think before we act in pride and hatred.... it hurts everyone around us that we know and love.  Don't!! 3) GREATEST OF ALL- Not only was Job a well to do man, but the Bible says in Job 1:3- "... so that this man was the greatest of all men of the east."  So great and yet fell so hard; and like Jesus, he suffered not for his own sins, but as an example for us!  Jesus died for us, but Job suffered only for an example of suffering for us to learn from.  He was a great man and loved God dearly.  He would be restored to abundance before the book is over, but the suffering of Job is legionary!  In Job 2:12, when his friends came to comfort Job, it says:  "And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven."  They did not even recognize their friend, with the suffering, the boils, the misery that they found him in.  4) MUDDY MEN- Job 8:11, says:  "Can the rush grow up without mire?"  Rush grows up in the muddy banks of the water.  It cannot grow up without getting the mire (or mud) on them.  So are we.  We cannot go through life without getting mud on us.  We are made from mud to begin with.  (Dust of the earth)  We get mud on us as we live because we are not godly.  Job 15:14 "What is man, that he should be clean?  and he which is born of woman, tht he should be righteous."  verse 16 "How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?"  We are going to get some mud on us... praise the LORD, we are washed in the blood of the Lamb!  Our mud has been eternally cleansed and though we often wallow in life's mud, our Heavenly record shows us as having all of that mud of sin paid for by Christ.  Praise His holy name!!  LORD, thank you for today.  Thank you for the wonderful day we have to serve you!  Walk with me, talk with me, lead me, guide me oh thou Great Jehovah!  Let me hear your voice, sense your presence, obey your promptings.  I rejoice in my Salvation.  I humbly ask for your blessings.  I need thee, as the hart needs the cool waters.... I need thee!  Thank you Jesus... Amen. Have a blessed day!  Pastor Mike Mutchler