www.nextwaveonline.com
Leadership & Life
Such A Time As This
Mika Yrjola
Esther 4:13-14
There are two compelling forces motivating a new breed of Christian leaders to action: a burning sense of destiny and a renewed sense of urgency.
As leaders in the 21st century, we are facing the challenges of our time. But although the times have changed from the times of Queen Esther, our adversary, his goals and purposes are still the same, mankind is still struggling with all the same problems and thankfully, our Lord God Almighty is still the same!
Queen Esther was a Jew who had by divine appointment been chosen as the queen for the most powerful sovereign of her time. Her cousin Mordecai, who had raised Esther, found out about a plot to exterminate all the Jews in the kingdom. He sent a message to Esther to go and speak to the king on behalf of the Jews, to which Esther answers: "I'll be killed if I do it." Mordecai answered him with the message that presents us the same challenge that it did Esther thousands of years ago.
The Challenge: "If you remain silent at this time, relief & deliverance will arise from another place." God has decided to bring relief and deliverance to mankind. He has purposed to do it for Western Europe's 350 million people. Europe has not been forgotten in God's plans. And what he has decided to do, will happen. The challenge for us is: are we going to be a part of it? Will we fulfill God's purpose on the Earth, or will he have to find someone else to do the job? We face decisions and situations daily in which we have to make the decision: will we remain silent or will follow Nike's slogan and just do it! He's still asking: "Whom shall I send?"
The Calling: "You have come to royal position for such a time as this"
The challenge is inevitably followed by the calling. You are called, because you are in a royal position. Every Christian is in a royal position or in a place of influence. We have the power to change things and even to affect world situations, particularly in and through the spirit world. But also our responses and actions in schools, workplaces, homes and churches carry the weight of our response to our calling. Jesus said in John 15:16:"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."
The Commitment: "And Who Knows? – He Knows!"
When you get committed to facing the challenge and fulfilling His calling, He gets even more committed to you! When you face the struggles fulfilling the calling and paying the price, remember this: Mordecai said "Who knows?", but Jesus says: "I know!" When you have to face paying the price of fulfilling the calling, and you ask in your loneliness: "Who knows the struggle I'm facing? – He Knows! When the powers of Hell are released to steal, kill and destroy your joy and peace – He knows! When the burden seems too great to bear, remember – He Knows… And when God knows something, it is not a matter of Him having information, it is a matter of Him taking action.
The Cost: "Do not think that you will escape"
There is a price that is involved in following the calling. We will face situations in which we will have to count the cost again and again. Because we will face opposition, losses, grief – some even the loss of their lives. God paid the highest price in bringing salvation for the world – the loss of His only son. But remember, even as God's loss was turned into a Triumph, so will it be with your loss. The result of our war has already been determined- and we can't lose!
www.nextwaveonline.com