JUST-A-THOUGHT No. 412 May 19th. 2014
Do you relate to VASHTI or ESTHER? … Part 3
PREPARATION for the kingdom ministry test is via full surrender.
(Esther 2:3-4) And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins (already in ‘kingdom surroundings!) unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain (type of Holy Spirit), keeper of the (the called-out) women; and let their things (each chose their own) for purification be given them: [a very personal and oftentimes lonely dealing]
(4) And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen (the called-out of the called-out) instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
Without faith it is impossible to please Him. One of the qualifications needed to be learned early-on is obedience without debate coupled with patience …. “How long Lord?” --- hasn’t that just been the cry in many of us? Yes! But first there is a time of preparation … six months for deep cleansing before a further six months of adding in faith, hope and love … what we thought we already had! One simply cannot rush into His calling unprepared. (12) Six months of being CLEANSED WITH MYRRH (of one’s natural thoughts [100%]) followed by six months of adding in delightful FRAGRANT OILS (equating with God’s thoughts [100%]). Now that is a test in itself. A true calling will certainly be tested many times … it will seem like ‘forever’ but in Esther’s case… just six months … for stage 1 and then on to the next stage! Remember, God has a plan and He cannot fail!
(Psalm 139:23) Search me, O God, and know my heart (stage 1): try me, and know my thoughts (stage 2): (24) And see if there be any wicked way in me … you’ll think you are in a monastery… but in your case, just a willingness to become a prisoner of the Lord (Eph.3:1). Prisoners no longer have free-will … for it was given to the Lord at your point of dedication (Did you not sing, “I surrender all …?” t.b.c.