POWER OVER CIRCUMSTANCES

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Text: ESTHER 4:14, LUKE 18:1

Esth. 4:14
14 For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Luke 18:1
Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

INTRODUCTION

Life can be very complex and challenging. The moment adverse circumstances enter our lives, we tend to become vulnerable and at times, we wonder why us? Or where can God be at such a time. The challenge the accompanying pain and disappointment may be fear as Christians should drive us to our closets turning to God. Here, we reaffirm our commitment to Him. if we remain focused on Him long enough and not on our circumstances, we often are led by His Spirit in the direction to go.
Using the story of Esther and the Jews at Shushan the palace, we will see the power of prayer and fasting in turning adverse circumstances into victory for us, God’s people and His name.

A. REVIEW THE STORY IN THE BOOK OF ESTHER.

I. Chapter 1- The king dethrones Queen Vashti.
II. Chapter 2- Esther becomes Queen.
III. Chapter 3 – Haman’s conspiracy against the Jews.
IV. Chapter 4- Esther agrees to help the Jews.
V. Chapter 5:1-8- First banquet.
VI. Chapter 5:9-14- Haman’s plot against Mordecai.
VII. Chapter 6- The king honours Mordecai.
VIII. Chapter 7- Haman hanged instead of Mordecai.
IX. Chapter 8- The Jews are saved and counter decree for self defense issued.
X. Chapter 9- What was to be a day of mourning was turned to celebration and joy for the Jews.

B. HOW WAS THE SITUATION CHANGED?
i. God- knowing the end from the beginning moved ahead of them to position His person in a place of influence and power.

ii. Mordecai- took his place in the life of Esther and spoke appropriately into her life to
a) 2:21- remind her who she was
b) 4:13-14- challenging her to rise up to fulfill her destiny
c) 2:21-23 & 4:17- supported her to succeed at every opportunity.

iii. Esther- a. I believe that being an orphan, her many troubles would have driven her to practice the discipline of fasting and prayer.

b. She must have got some encouraging results and seen the power of God. Compare 1Sam. 17:39-40.

c. So in the light of the present threat she knew what to do and turn things around. She declared a 3day absolute corporate fasting and prayers.

RESULTS
(i) The prayer and fasting created the needed opportunities and circumstances for actions that will favour the Jews to be taken. Esther 5:1-8. Boldness to approach the king inspite of the danger to her life.

(ii)It facilitated the Haman error of plotting to kill Mordecai. Esther 5:9-14.
(iii) It controlled the timing of events such that the king could not sleep. Esther 6:1.
· Made the king to desire to read- in fact he could have done any other thing.
· Of the many thousands /millions of government chronicles that could have been picked, it turned out to be that it was the one that painted Mordecai in good light and showed that the king was indebted to him that was picked.
· Made the king to decide to honour Mordecai.
· By this time, it probably was morning; Haman came to ask for permission to kill Mordecai.
· The God of perfect timing took over and the rest became history.
· The God of timing again took over in Esther 7. Haman’s cup became full; the king ordered his execution on the gallows Haman had raised for Mordecai- again the rest became history.
· By chapter 8- things had changed completely.
Please note, even long after a fast and prayer experience, you keep reaping the fruit or harvest of that effort.

C. SOME OTHER BENEFITS OF FASTING AND PRAYERS IN THE BIBLE.
(1) Fasting and prayers can cover the times of our errors and mistakes if done from a genuine and repentant heart.
CASE STUDY 1
DAVID/ BATHSHEBA 2 SAM. 12.
– Nathan confronted David V. 1-12.
– David acknowledged and confessed his sin-v13.
– David went to God with a sincere heart and fasted for 7days. The child died but God heard David- v-15b-20.
– Because of the fast, God decided to comfort David and when another son was born, God sent a name for the child –JEDIDIAH- because of the Lord or beloved of the Lord. This child succeeded David.

CASE STUDY 2

DAVID AND THE CENSUS 2 Sam 24 and 1Chro. 21
– The offence – David numbered Israel 2Sam24:1-10.
– The punishment- 2 Sam. 11-15.
– David’s respons-v16 happened because of what David did as recorded fully in

1 Chron. 21:16-17
16 Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.
17 And David said to God, “Was it not I who commanded the people to be numbered? I am the one who has sinned and done evil indeed; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, O Lord my God, be against me and my father’s house, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”
God’s response-1Chro.21:18-30; 2Sam 24:18-25. Gave David directives on what to do that did not only solve the problem at hand but also addressed a long term national riddle on the place of worship to be put up for the Lord as per Deut. 12.
This was a secret that had been concealed from the days of Moses. Such that out of an error, God gave a great revelation because a leader led the people to fast and pray.
1. Another lesson from the above is that fasting and prayers reverses the effect of bad Kama. Also an example from Jonah3, Jer.18:7-10.

2. Healing for the Land – economy, staff of bread, situation e.t.c.
2Chro7:14

– If you seek God sincerely in fasting and prayers especially cooperate fasting and prayers:
§ Hopeless situation can be turned around.
§ Lost opportunity, age and time can be restored.
§ Bad circumstances can be turned right.

3. Can take care of future issues even before they occur.
Jesus and Peter- Luke 22:31-32.
Please note, at this time Peter had not yet fallen, but his future could have been marred by this mistake but prayers covered it even before he committed the error, he was on his way to recovery. Such is the incredible power of fasting and prayer.
Think of what this can do to your future and that of your children!

Dr. Udoh
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