ESTHER’S WARRIORS MINISTRY
Blessings on this first Sunday in June! It is wonderful to see flowers and trees in bloom and all God’s creatures scurrying about enjoying the warmer weather. However, we continue to see unprecedented weather disasters across the globe. Please hold all affected in prayer for safety and restoration.
An Encouraging Word
Take a moment to read John 11:38-44 and be encouraged. It is the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. This has truly been one of my favorite Bible stories since childhood. Even as a young child, I reasoned that if Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead He could surely heal any disease and correct any out of balance situation. This is one story to hold on to when facing what seems impossible in the natural. Let’s break down what took place.
What Is In Your Tomb?
Jesus came to the tomb, the burial chamber, which was a cave. A cave is a hollow opening. Have you hollowed out a place in your heart that has become a tomb? Has this space become a burial chamber for something that the Lord wants to release you from? It is always a heart issue.
The Bible tells us over and over that God searches the heart and He knows the heart. It is very difficult to search our own hearts to uncover what may be hindering us. However, clearing our heart is the only way to move forward unencumbered.
We read about heart circumcision yet rarely think about how painful circumcision can be in the natural. It can be painful spiritually as well but, as with any artful surgery, once healed you go forth restored. Ask for Holy Spirit help to surgically remove any dead thing that may be causing a heart blockage. Ask Him to fill that space with His love and light and every new thing He has for you.
Who Is the Lord/lord Of
Your Life?
Jesus told them, “Take away the stone.” The stone was lying against the cave and sealing it shut. In the story, Martha, the sister of Lazarus, shares her feelings with Jesus. She says that as her brother has been dead four days already there would be the stench of death.
In our own lives, if we maintain a heart of stone we seal shut the opportunity to grow and heal. We block in our own little tomb a thing long dead that should be released. At times we think that our situation cannot change because it has gone on so long. We
may even doubt change is possible because science tells us change is not possible in many cases.
Like Martha, we tell the Lord the reasons that change cannot take place. We speak only what we see in the natural and what we know to be true in the natural. If we choose to be followers of Jesus Christ we must shift our awareness and operate in Kingdom wisdom and understanding not natural knowledge.
Jesus told Martha, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” As He says many times in Scripture to us, our responsibility is to believe. It is not to hope or wish for something. It is simply to believe, to know without a shadow of a doubt.
He is Lord and He is in control. He is faithful and He will perform His Word in His time. We are just to believe. This is certainly not easy but it is the only way to walk in Kingdom power and authority.
If Jesus Christ is the Lord of our life then we believe He is all He says He is and can do all He says He can do. He is God. He raised Lazarus from the dead to show us that nothing is impossible for Him.
If we do not believe this then we have not relinquished our own lordship over our life. If we do not believe this we have not really surrendered to Him as Lord. There is no part way-this is an all or nothing situation. Easy to say He is Lord-quite another thing to let Him take over.
It Begins With a
Thankful Heart
The next thing Jesus does is thank the Father that He has heard Him and raised Lazarus. He goes on to say, “And I know that you always hear Me….” Jesus sets the pattern for us here.
God always hears us and when we operate from a heart filled with thanksgiving we will experience blessing all around us. The more thankful we are the more we are blessed. All of this takes place in spite of whatever circumstance may be looming in the natural.
Our heart attitude (and it is always a heart issue) directly affects the fruit in our life. God will not be mocked. We may be able to fake people out but we cannot fake out God. If your heart is not where it should be, work on it.
We are human. We are not perfect. However, we are to strive for a more excellent way in our life. To walk in a true Kingdom walk we are to operate on earth as it is in heaven.
In a conversation yesterday, one of Esther’s Warriors shared that most of the world operates from a place of mediocrity. We are called to operate from a place of excellence. There is no place for mediocrity in heaven or in the life of a Kingdom believer. We are in the world but not of the world so the way we live our life should be noticeably different.
Believe and Come Forth
Finally, Jesus calls out, “Lazarus, come forth!” The man who had died came out in grave clothes with his face covered as was the custom. If you are coming out of a dead thing leave all that is connected to it behind.
Jesus tells them, “Loose him, and let him go.” Make sure to remove your grave clothes. Clothe yourself in the garment of salvation for it is the garment of deliverance. Also remove whatever may be covering your face so your vision will be clear to move forward. Sometimes God opens a door for us to walk forward but if we remain in the grave clothes of the past with our face covered we can miss it and stay entombed.
His desire is to have us loosed and let go. Our job is to believe and follow His lead. It is not to ruminate over ‘what if’s.’ Believe that He has a plan, a good plan, for you and your life. Do not wonder if, worry about, and try to figure out how the plan may unfold. Just believe in Him. He has you covered.
‘Pray the States’
Join us this week as we ‘pray the states’ toward the 2012 Presidential election. We are praying for each state in the order of admission to the Union. Please cover Illinois admitted to the Union December 3, 1818, in prayer. Pray for wisdom and discernment for the political leaders, pastors and church leaders, the people residing in Illinois and for all in our Nation. Each state is important in forming our United States of America. We commit to pray for a different state each week so we not only provide prayer cover but also to make us aware that our country is bigger than the space we personally occupy in it. These are our United States. Let us pray that we will arise united ‘for such a time as this!’ Please repost and share.
A Prayer Request and
Personal Blessing
Thank you for your continued faithfulness to pray. Please keep our servicemen and women and their families in prayer for salvation and safety. They are our frontline on the battlefield, let us be their frontline in the spirit. Also, let us cover all who have come home wounded that they and their families will receive the kindness, help and support they need to go forward in their lives. God bless all our military personnel and their families.
May God richly bless you this week and heal your heart to come forth in the fullness of His perfect plan for your life. Amen and amen!