Purim to Passover

I am standing in awe at the sequence of events that all seem to be converging with rapid-fire speed into the final weeks of this month.  The resignation of a living pope is certainly a greatly unusual event, and the selection of the 112th pope bears a close watch, to see what we can glean that may fulfill prophecy.  This event is timed closely with President Obama's scheduled first official visit to Israel, which also merits close scrutiny.  What is his agenda for this visit? We can be sure it is not going to be anything favorable in the eyes of the GOD of Israel!  If Obama has a "new" plan to facilitate the division of the land, God have mercy on the United States of America! Today I read an article from an Israeli newspaper, which stated that he intends to visit the Al Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount, entering from the Damascus Gate on the Arab side of the Old City. This brings chills down my spine, as I seek the Spirit for the meaning of such an act! Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet been able to form a government coalition, and so the government of Israel remains in turmoil. There is a flutter of excitement in my spirit as I wonder if we could be approaching the time when the God of Israel once again places Himself as King over the nation, defending her against all her enemies! What a thrilling time to be alive - and all these happenings occurring right between Purim and Passover!

It was during the week of the Fast and Feast of Purim that the Spirit gave me so much revelation about the book of Esther. I had been asked to speak at Beit Messiah congregation in Denver last Shabbat (a week ago) and give a Purim message.  All the deeper understandings that Holy Spirit gave to me from Esther chapter 2 really inspired me and I want to share some of them with you.

In Esther 2:3 we are told that all the virgins who were to be presented before the king were placed "under the care of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them. Then let the girl who pleases the king be queen." I began to understand that Hegai is actually a type of the Ruach (Holy Spirit), whose care we must come under before we are ready to meet our King! Just as Hegai intimately knew King Xerxes and what would please him, so the Ruach intimately knows Yeshua, our King, and knows just what would please Him! Whereas most of the world’s population is seeking to live for their own pleasure, we are to be like Esther and want to do ONLY what will please our King! We don’t really know how to obtain His favor, and so we must go to Ruach and ask for His counsel and advice.

We are told that Esther was first soaked in Myrrh oil for six months.  Myrrh is the oil that was used to anoint the dead for burial.  Do we have to be DEAD to meet the King?  Yes!

Gal 2:20: I have been crucified with Messiah; it is no longer I who live, but Messiah lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Romans 8:6, 10: To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. If Messiah is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

We are told in Esther 2:8-9 that she was given EXTRA BEAUTY PREPARATIONS BESIDES HER ALLOWANCE.  Did you ever think about that?  What does that mean? The Spirit took me to the story in Matt 25 of the 10 virgins – 5 HAD EXTRA OIL IN THEIR LAMPS! This was an overflow of the Ruach! It was an increase of the Word in their hearts! Esther had extra oil in her lamp and she was ready. We are also told that she was given SEVEN maidservants.  Who are these? I believe this is representative of the SEVEN SPIRTS OF GOD, which we find in John’s description of heaven, Revelation 4:5: “And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thundering, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the SEVEN SPIRITS OF GOD.” This pictures the FULLNESS OF THE RUACH IN HIS MANIFOLD AND PERFECT DYNAMIC ACTIVITY!  Go to Isa. 11:2 and find the list of the full, dynamic working of the Ruach, and glean understanding of the “Extra beauty preparations” Esther was given!

The young virgins went into the king, but could never appear before Him again unless he called them by name.  Will our King return one day and call you by name?

 Rev. 3:4: You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me for they are worthy.  He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

 Those who have gone through the mikveh of repentance, the purification of oil, and the refinement by fire, will be dressed as a Bride ready for her Bridegroom:

 

Gal. 3:27: For as many of you as were baptized into Messiah have been clothed with Messiah.

Rev. 3:18: I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed…

Esther took no thought for worldly wealth.  When she found favor with the King and became his queen, he offered her half his kingdom (Esther 5:3) - half the wealth and treasure of all that he owned – but she was not interested.  She wanted only to buy gold refined in the fire, which in this case was to save her people from being killed. She was far more concerned about all the people than about her own wealth or advancement.

Esther has caught the eye of the king; she is beautiful to Him because of her heart, her attitude, her humility and selflessness.  She and her SEVEN maidservants have been MOVED UP to the highest place in the house (as Yeshua tells us not to take the best seat, but let HIM promote us. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted!” Luke 14:11) Then, when Esther is promoted and made Queen, her King gives a great feast. Your King is preparing such a banquet for you too:  Rev 19:9: Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!

 Are you ready?

 

The days between Purim and Passover are days of great testing. We will be tried in many ways so that the motives of our hearts will be revealed. Here is my prayer for these days:

Ruach haKodesh, speak to each of us and give us your Godly wisdom to make us ready to meet our King.  Refine us in your fire that burns up our flesh and our selfish ambitions. Soak us in your oil that purifies and removes the stain of sin.  Keep us in the mikveh of repentance, that we would humble ourselves. Clothe us in the white linen of righteousness, that we would desire to keep the commands of our Messiah and not stray from His paths.  We need You, Holy Spirit.  We need your power and your counsel.  We will not be prepared if we try to do it in our own might.  We pray that with your help we will have the courage, boldness, and humility to come before the throne of our King and find grace and favor in His sight.  We don’t want to be dismissed! With all our hearts we pray that King Yeshua will know us and call us by name because we have spent time with you, Holy Spirit, and You have given us the white garments of salvation.  Amen.