LIKE HEGAI

READ: ROMANS 8:26-28

Hegai was the king’s chamberlain who was put in charge of the women who had gathered for the contest. He was a colleague of Mordecai, Esther’s uncle, since they both worked under king Ahasuerus. It is most likely there existed a good relationship between them, which made him to take particular interest in Esther. One thing we are certain of is that Esther pleased him and he took special care of her.
Hegai was close to the king. He knew his likes and dislikes and therefore led Esther to use the things that would please the king. Hegai is a type of the Holy Spirit, who prepares us for our husband, Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit will not force us, but operates within the limits we give to him. He is given to abide with us for ever (John 14:16). He provides basic information about Jesus (John 15:26). He also guides and gives advance information (John 16:14-15). How close are you to the Holy Spirit?
“Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit Itself makes intercession for us with groaning which cannot be uttered. And He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”(Romans 8:26-27).
The Holy Spirit is our go-between. He knows all the things Jesus requires of us and he begins to prepare, guide and lead us accordingly. He is our Helper. Most times when we pray in our understanding, we do not know how best to make our prayers receive immediate attention. Our prayers are full of, ‘Father give me this, give me that.’ But when we pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit prays on our behalf. He worships and praises God for most of the time. When he has completed his praises, anything he asks on our behalf is granted. Pray regularly in the Spirit. Pray at least one hour daily in the Spirit. Make the Holy Spirit happy, so that he can best prepare you for your husband.

MEMORIZE: ROMANS 8:27 –And He that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.     

ANYTHING FOR FAVOURITE!

READ: MATTHEW 14:22-33

A look at the story of Esther is truly remarkable. In Esther 5:1-3, we are struck with the tremendous power the king has over the lives of his subjects. Queen Esther went to see the king, her husband. Before she went, because she was not sent for by him, and it was against the law for her to approach him on her own, she had to fast, together with her servants and all the Jews for three days, to obtain favour in his sight.
Who says prayers do not work? “The effectual fervent prayer of the righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16). If the prayer of one righteous person can be so effective, how much more when several righteous people come together to request something of the Lord?
Queen Esther’s life was in her hands as she stood in the inner court of king Ahasuerus’ palace, awaiting death or life. When the king saw her, God gave her favour before him and he stretched his golden sceptre to her and she lived. This king was so powerful that just a movement of his hand saved life, while failure to move tat hand sent that life to early grave. This tells us of divine sovereignty which is exhibited only for the chosen ones.
When Almighty God is interested in someone, there is nothing he will not do for that person. In Acts 16:24-26, God shook the prison where Paul and Silas were locked up with an earthquake, just because his favourites were praising him there. He can shake the heavens, too! In Joshua 10:12-14, in response to Joshua, his favourite, God made the sun stand in the same position for almost a whole day. When the Lord is interested in you, he can suspend all the laws of nature and man just for your sake. In Matthew 14:22-33, he suspended the law of gravity by walking on water to meet his disciples, who were facing a storm. The Lord will do anything for you. But, first, you have to do everything to be his favourite!

MEMORIZE: JEREMIAH 33:3 –Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you know not.   

A SURRENDERED LIFE

READ: JOHN 3:25-31

God desires a surrendered life from all his children. This is a major characteristic of the chosen ones, as exemplified in the life of Esther. Jesus taught us in the model of the Lord’s Prayer to say: “Your will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10). All that the inhabitants of heaven do is making God happy. When Jesus came to earth, he demonstrated that our entire lives should be centred on glorifying our Heavenly Father.
“I can of My own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge...because I seek not My own will, but the will of the Father which has sent Me.” (John 5:30).
To be able to live a surrendered life, you have to willingly give up your own will. This means your will should be subordinated to God’s and completely lost in his. This is based upon the realisation that you are what you are today only by his grace. You were not involved in making certain fundamental decisions, such as who would be your parents, your birthplace, gender, colour, height, and so on. God chose these for you. You realise, therefore, that having brought you thus far through all the stormy weather of life, he will take you to a glorious end.
The one who is surrendered to the Lord believes that he who has begun a good work in his life will definitely perfect it (Philippians 1:6). Nothing else matters than to please him who has called us out of darkness, into his marvellous light. God’s favour and peace are upon the surrendered life. Are you surrendered to God? To what extent? The extent to which he can use you, the type of relationship that will exist between you and the Lord; the quality and quantity of blessings you will receive; and your place in heaven. How long will you keep struggling with Jesus? Yield completely today and let him truly be your Lord. From that moment you will know what true power and success are.

MEMORIZE: JOHN 5:30 –I can of My own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge...because I seek not My own will, but the will of the Father which has sent Me.  

DISCPLESHIP

READ: LUKE 14:25-33

Who is disciple? A disciple is a disciplined follower, one whose life is controlled by the teachings of his Master. John 14:15 says: “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 15:14 states: “You are My friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.”
These two verses talk about two classes of Jesus’ followers. The first class are those who because they love Jesus, obey him when it is convenient. But when an issue goes against their personal desires, they find it difficult to obey him. The second class are those who have gone beyond the first class. They have demonstrated their love for Jesus to a point that they trust him absolutely and have become his friends. They obey any command that comes from the Master, any time and always, whether convenient or not. They are in total submission to his will. These are his true disciples.
Beyond doing what his Master says, a true disciple will obey his master even when he is convinced that the object of the assignment is wrong. Peter failed in this regard. In Acts 4:19-20, Peter said they could not but speak what they had heard. In Acts 5:29-32, Peter also said they would rather obey God than man. But in Acts 10:9-23, God asked Peter to kill and eat unclean animals.
Peter quickly responded, ‘No Lord, you taught me in your Word that these were unclean animals and they must never be eaten by a Jew.’ Then God said, ‘True Peter, but I am beginning a new and glorious dispensation. I have sanctified these so they are no longer unclean. You can take them.’ This happened thrice. Peter was sure this was his Lord speaking, yet he refused to obey. Although he later went to Cornelius’ house, he never became what he was destined to become. God wanted to promote him from a potential Apostle of the Jews to the Apostle of the Gentiles. Paul, who was ready to do anything for the Master, ended up declining that position. Do you really want to be a disciple of Christ? Then you must drop those issues where you are still struggling with the Lord. You must surrender fully to him and let your obedience be complete.  

MEMORIZE: JOHN 15:14 –You are My friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.

SPIRITUAL BIRTH

READ: JOHN 3:1-8

“That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6)
Nicodemus, a Jewish ruler, once met the Lord at night to ask about salvation. Jesus told him he must be born again. Nicodemus asked how it was possible for a full-grown man to ask his mother to stoop down for him to re-enter her womb and be born again. Jesus told him that even if it were possible , it would still be fleshy, physical or biological birth.
In verse 6, Jesus says there is another type of birth that every man who has been physically born into this earth needs to experience. This is a spiritual birth. You have to be born of the Spirit. That means you have to be conceived in the womb of the Spirit and be delivered in his kind – as spirit. It is this spiritual birth that makes it possible for you to live a spiritual life. By this special birth, you will inherit the character and spiritual likeness of the Holy Spirit, just as a child inherits certain things, like facial resemblance and behavioural patterns, from his parents.
Some people say they are born again just because it is in vogue. They claim to be born again because they want to belong. They fail to realise that this spiritual birth is not something you deceive yourself over. A goat is a goat any day. If you feed a goat salad, macaroni and the best of continental dishes, that does not change its goatness. It remains a goat. Do you claim to be born again, yet you still enjoy fornication, stealing, drunkenness, malice or gossiping? Then you have not undergone this new birth. When you do, these things will automatically drop away and you will carry the nature of the Holy Spirit, who will cause you to detest these evils. Check out your salvation today.

MEMORIZE: JOHN 3:6 –That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.