The “feasting” church vs. the fasting one

Welcome!


Today: The “feasting” church vs. the fasting one


Passage: Esther 1(NIV)


12 But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger. (Esther 1, NIV)


When King Xerxes decided to have a big celebration, queen Vashti also arranged one on her own. But when she was called by the king, she refused to come

So the king called his advisers on what action to be taken. As per their advice, queen Vashti was dismissed from her position

Later on, Esther comes to that position in a very unique way

The church is the queen of the King Jesus. It is the bride of that bridegroom

But just like queen Vashti, we are having a party of our own, and we make it look like the King is very much pleased with evrything we are doing, but He is not!

Christ is outside the church, knocking on the door (Rev 3:20)

When we have those “great” worship services where we declare “the aweseome presence of God”, be careful! May be we are lying. The “king” is outside, hearing all of that, and wondering, “what in the world is going on here!”

As I shared the other day, we can see two different faces of the church today:

the prosperous, “club-like” church, and the presecuted, committed church

Queen Esther represents the church that is committed

Later on in the book of Esther, we see the King raising his hand against the Jewish people, and queen Esther stands in the gap, even risking her life

She represents the “fasting” church, while queen Vashti represents the feasting one. In the end, the “feasting” one is out, but the fasting one is blessed!

One day, Jesus himself will judge the world and the church; He will say to one group, “I don’t know you”, when they say, “Lord, in your name we did so many miracles and ……”

All that we do, does not lead to any good, unless the Lord is pleased with it

Queen Vashti forgot that she was enjoying the privileges of the queen only because of the King. We also better remember that


11 They forgot what he had done, the wonders he had shown them. 12 He did miracles in the sight of their ancestors in the land of Egypt, in the region of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea and led them through;
he made the water stand up like a wall. 14 He guided them with the cloud by day and with light from the fire all night. 15 He split the rocks in the wilderness and gave them water as abundant as the seas; 16 he brought streams out of a rocky crag and made water flow down like rivers. (Ps 78, NIV)


The scripture above represents us, or someone close to us

Have we forgotten the miracles and wonders he did for us?

Are we boasting about ourselves?

Paul says, he would rather boast in the cross of Christ, which was an abomination to the people of his time, than in anything of his own

May God help us, our church to do that which pleases the Lord

Amen!

BG


Prayer: Lord Jesus, you are the one who sacrificed everything for me and for the church. Help me to make sure I am on the right track, pleasing you. Let me not offend anyone because of my life or lifestyle. Amen


We may fast here, but we will feast with the King of kings and the Lord of lords!