The Favor of God
Use it or Lose it!
Part 1 of a Series
TEXT: Jeremiah 1:4-8 KJV, “Then the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. 8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.
Intro: Today I am beginning a series of messages dealing with the topic: The favor of God. I believe we all want to experience the favor of God. Some of us even want to experience the extreme favor of God.
The good news is that every one of us are eligible to live under the covering of God’s favor is. It is a place of tremendous blessing but also extreme responsibility. Nonetheless, the favor of God will radically and profoundly change your life and the life of everyone around you in ways you can only imagine.
According to Jeremiah, and I could also show you other biblical examples, each of us are divinely designed and individually created for a particular purpose and destiny.
The reality is that not everyone discovers their purpose and destiny. But for those who seek out their purpose, they find that their obedience to their purpose discover themselves completely blessed and highly favored of God in a way that can never be experienced otherwise.
So, as we begin this study, we must begin by understanding the “Kingdom Law of Usage.”
To understand this law and the Favor of God, we are going to base our teaching over the next few weeks on the Book of Ester and the biblical story of who she was, why and how she became queen and the things she had to overcome.
Now guys, I know some of you are going to say, this is like a “Chick Flick” or a woman’s bible story. But I am telling you that even though it is a story about a woman and from a woman’s perspective, we can absolutely relate to the principles of favor we will discover in this story.
The story begins with the king and his first wife Queen Vashti who lost her place in the Kingdom. It is a lengthy reading but we must read it all to get the picture.
Ester 1:1-22 (New Living Translation), “These events happened in the days of King Xerxes, who reigned over 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. 2 At that time Xerxes ruled his empire from his royal throne at the fortress of Susa. 3 In the third year of his reign, he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. He invited all the military officers of Persia and Media as well as the princes and nobles of the provinces. 4 The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty.
5 When it was all over, the king gave a banquet for all the people, from the greatest to the least, who were in the fortress of Susa. It lasted for seven days and was held in the courtyard of the palace garden. 6 The courtyard was beautifully decorated with white cotton curtains and blue hangings, which were fastened with white linen cords and purple ribbons to silver rings embedded in marble pillars. Gold and silver couches stood on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and other costly stones.
7 Drinks were served in gold goblets of many designs, and there was an abundance of royal wine, reflecting the king's generosity. 8 By edict of the king, no limits were placed on the drinking, for the king had instructed all his palace officials to serve each man as much as he wanted.
9 At the same time, Queen Vashti gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes. 10 On the seventh day of the feast, when King Xerxes was in high spirits because of the wine, he told the seven eunuchs who attended him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas— 11 to bring Queen Vashti to him with the royal crown on her head. He wanted the nobles and all the other men to gaze on her beauty, for she was a very beautiful woman. 12 But when they conveyed the king's order to Queen Vashti, she refused to come. This made the king furious, and he burned with anger.
13 He immediately consulted with his wise advisers, who knew all the Persian laws and customs, for he always asked their advice. 14 The names of these men were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan—seven nobles of Persia and Media. They met with the king regularly and held the highest positions in the empire.
15 "What must be done to Queen Vashti?" the king demanded. "What penalty does the law provide for a queen who refuses to obey the king's orders, properly sent through his eunuchs?"
16 Memucan answered the king and his nobles, "Queen Vashti has wronged not only the king but also every noble and citizen throughout your empire. 17 Women everywhere will begin to despise their husbands when they learn that Queen Vashti has refused to appear before the king. 18 Before this day is out, the wives of all the king's nobles throughout Persia and Media will hear what the queen did and will start treating their husbands the same way. There will be no end to their contempt and anger.
19 "So if it please the king, we suggest that you issue a written decree, a law of the Persians and Medes that cannot be revoked. It should order that Queen Vashti be forever banished from the presence of King Xerxes, and that the king should choose another queen more worthy than she. 20 When this decree is published throughout the king's vast empire, husbands everywhere, whatever their rank, will receive proper respect from their wives!"
21 The king and his nobles thought this made good sense, so he followed Memucan's counsel. 22 He sent letters to all parts of the empire, to each province in its own script and language, proclaiming that every man should be the ruler of his own home and should say whatever he pleases.
King Xerxes is known as one of the 4 greatest kings in the history of the entire ancient world. His kingdom extended over much of eastern Asia.
The king had a Great Feast in which he had invited the entire leadership who ruled 127 provinces throughout his kingdom. During this celebration, he called for his queen, Vashti to join him.
She chose to reject him at his greatest moment, a moment when all eyes were on the King and his queen.
She denied the king her beauty, her presence, her glory. (Can you see a parallel between her and the Bride of Christ?)
If we don’t USE God’s Gifts, we lose them. If we don’t fulfill our Kingdom Purpose , we lose
Example: My broken ankle / Muscles gone almost overnight
Don’t Use -- You Lose
The Story Begins…. The King has been having a Party
Ester 1:4 “The celebration lasted 180 days—a tremendous display of the opulent wealth of his empire and the pomp and splendor of his majesty.”
During this time…. Queen Vashti has been having her own Party, up the road from the Kings Party
King Xerxes or Ahasuerus = means… “The Mighty Ruler” or “The Lion King” He is a Type of Jesus Christ
His Throne was in Shushan = means… “Lily White” or “Righteousness”
At the Pinnacle of His Party, After viewing all the Kingdoms Wealth - Most important possession of his Kingdom = HIS WIFE
God loves the Grand Canyon, The Rocky Mountains, The Animal Kingdom,…
o His crowning achievement was… MAN
o Of all creation, nothing else was made in His Image
o The crowning achievement… MAN
The King calls for his Crowning achievement…. VASHTI
o Twice it says…. “She was beautiful”
o He wanted her to Represent him before ALL
o Her beauty had a Purpose
God has given you BEAUTY
o He has given you GIFTS, Talents, Anointings, abilities
o They are for USE in his Kingdom
Not wildly used, but at the Kings discretion
o Timing involved
o To serve the Kingdom/Purpose
Our Purpose is for USE in the Kingdom
o Your life was made to be a Valuable commodity in his Kingdom
o She had BEAUTY but NO PURPOSE
Anytime you don’t understand your PURPOSE…. You will WASTE your GIFT
o People waste they Lives because they don’t understand WHO THEY ARE
o They waste their lives doing OTHER things
ILLUS: This Microphone has a PURPOSE…. Not a TOY or BAT
o If you don’t know Purpose…. You will abuse it
YOU are not an ACCIDENT, You are a Divine Gift to the World
o You have a PURPOSE
o You are Put in the “Last Days” to be a Glorious, Shining Soldier in the Last Days move of God
VASHTI denies the King ACCESS to her Gifts
The ‘Law of Usage’ is simple…. Anything you don’t USE, you Lose
Don’t UNPLUG
Don’t ZONE-OUT
You may not be as Strong as you were… But USED muscles are healthy!
THE KINGDOM IS HAVING IT’S PARTY
But…Queen VASHTI is having HER OWN party….Disconnected from the KINGDOM
o It is Possible for the CHURCH to be DOING IT’S OWN THING
o Our Programs, Events, etc.
All the while…. Disconnected from GOD’S KINGDOM & what He is doing in the Region, City or Nation
It is Possible that… Godly People, Saved People... Never Connect to Kingdom
o Spend their Lives having Church Parties
o While the Kingdom is inviting them to Kingdom business
Jesus said…. “Seek First the Kingdom of God”
o We must not be distracted by our OWN AGENDA’S
o We must PARTICIPATE in God’s Kingdom
There is a FUTURE Kingdom, A Millennial Kingdom
o BUT…. There is a PRESENT KINGDOM…. Right now, in the earth
? It’s a Kingdom of… Righteousness, Peace & Joy
? It’s a Kingdom of… Miracles, Signs & Wonders
? It’s a Kingdom of… Healing & Deliverance
AND IT IS AVAILABLE… RIGHT NOW!
VASHTI did not commit her Distinctive Gifts to the Pleasure of the King
o SO… She was REMOVED
“The Gifts & Callings of God are without Repentance”
o They could NOT take the GIFT from her
o They took from her the PLACE OF USAGE
There may be a Fabulous Musician down the Street at some Club or Bar… In actuality… He is a Great Worship Leader
Just never found the PLACE for his GIFT
Some of the Best Worship Leaders are just leading Worship In the WRONG PLACES
REMEMBER THE STORY OF …. TALENTS
Matthew 25:21 NKJV “'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.'”
One man got 5 -- One got 2 -- One got 1
o Some got more, Made more
o HOW? By using what they Had
o Using it… Increases it
Real Joy of The Lord is…. God’s Pleasure upon someone Who has been Faithful with what they had.
What about the man with one talent?… He did not use it
o Because he didn’t USE, it was taken from Him
o Given to man with 10, who knew How to USE
Luke 16:10 NKJV “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
What IMPRESSES GOD?
When you are Faithful with what you have
Where you currently find yourself
Esther 1:13-14 NKJV “Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times (for this was the king's manner toward all who knew law and justice, those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who had access to the king's presence, and who ranked highest in the kingdom):”
“Those closest to him” The 7 Princes
o They ranked the highest in the Kingdom
o Their names give us insight into the Anointings of the Last Days Church
1) CARSHENA means = Illustrious change, Beautiful, wonderful change
You can’t get Close to the King (God) until you have been Changed
o PORTRAIT = Washed in the Blood, Made a New Creature
2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Ephesians 2:10 NKJV “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Workmanship = poiema - Greek,= A work or product from an Artist
2) SHETHAR means = “Someone who searches out the Stars”
After I am Born-Again… there is an Awakening in my Spirit to….
o Find out --
o WHO I am,
o Who God is,
o What is Next
This is a powerful tool in Life’s Journey, our Hunger for God
o A stirred up appetite to search the heavens for…. WHO God is
o A Search for OUR Radiance
Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV
'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'
Matthew 5:6 NKJV Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
3) ADMATHA means = “Colorful or Godly Light”
THE PORTRAIT OF REVELATION
o One of the greatest gifts… Anointing of Revelation by the Holy Spirit
Paul prayed…. Ephesians 1:18 NKJV “May the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints”
If you ever see…. WHO you are & WHAT YOU CAN DO in Christ You will become a Powerhouse for God
REVELATION in Greek =apokalupsis (ap-ok-al'-oop-sis)
“To take the cover off of something that is Sealed”
There is a “Treasure Chest.” It has Good stuff on the inside
o I can’t see the Stuff until the lid is lifted
EXAMPLE: The Bible is the Greatest book ever written
Inspired by God -- Penned by Men Yet it is only a “Cool or Neat book” (Historical, Poetic) unless it is inspired by Revelation
The Holy Spirit has come to… Lift the Cover off the Treasure Box
o Every day I ask the Holy Spirit to give me the “Spirit of Revelation & Wisdom” That I may…. “Know His Ways”
4) TARSHISH means = “Breaking the Subjection of the Enemy!”
Note the Progression.... Washed (Saved)... Hunger, Revelation…
o Now you find out that you don’t have to take the Devils Garbage anymore
o Don’t have to live…. Sad/Oppressed, Sick/Poor
o Don’t have to live bound by Demonic Influences
Galatians 5:1 NKJV
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.”
o You’ve been called to live FREE, (Mentally, Emotionally, Spiritually)
Satan has 4 Levels of His Demonic Hierarchy
Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
1. Principalities
2. Powers
3. Rulers of the Darkness of this age
4. Spiritual Wickedness in high places
You have AUTHORITY over each Level
Matthew 10:1 NKJV
And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Mark 16:18 NKJV
“….They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Every Child of God has Authority
o Time to Break Subjection over your Life….
5) MERES means = “Defined Loftiness.”
THERE ARE BENEFITS & REWARDS OF A WORSHIPPER
There are consequences in the minds & hearts of People…
o Based on rather or NOT they are Worshippers
Some Characteristics of Worshippers... Humility, Holiness, Christ-likeness
Worship is one of the Healthiest things you could ever do
o It puts LIFE in order
o There is liberty in Worship
Jesus said… The Father Seeks Worshippers
John 4:23 NKJV “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”
6) MARSENA means = “Bitter is the Thorn Bush”
PORTRAIT OF CHRISTIAN MATURITY
When we are Grown Up enough to do the Hard things… in order to do the Right things
o Marsena is when you …. Take up your Cross
You don’t Run from God -- You don’t’ Leave the Game
o You Overcome the hard things…. In order to do the Right things
Matthew 16:24 NKJV
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
A Wooden Cross may actually be easier than enduring some of the issues in your Life
Galatians 2:20 NKJV
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ 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.
The CROSS is when… I’m Mature enough to NOT RUN from my ASSIGNMENT
? Even when it gets Tough
? Then… I’m pleasing to God
7) MEMUCAN means = “Confident Authority.”
Apex and Essence of Life’s Journey is when you….
Rise from the Ashes & Dirt of Life & Start Living in Kingdom Authority
? When you walk Confident of “Who you are”
? When you tell the Devil…“I’m not going to take it anymore”
Matthew 18:18 NKJV
"Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
Here is an interesting concept; The Lord says I will only loose things in heaven after you loose it here first. He says, “I won’t loose it there…. Until you loose it here.”
We are talking about the Favor of the Lord. And we have begun this teaching with Vashti and how she lost favor with the King and lost her place in the Kingdom.
In the next lesson, we will see how Ester was chosen to replace her; one who had even more favor with the Kingdom; one who had an even greater purpose than the first one.
