Last night's Esther study explored the sentence: "It's Tough Being a Woman in the Tight Fist of Fear." I can't say enough how this study has spoken to me personally every week. Her words are no doubt inspired and anointed. If you have the chance to participate in this in depth look at the book of Esther, please do!
Beth Moore spoke from the passage where Esther goes from being terrified (for those who enter the presence of the King without being summoned the king has but one law, that they be put to death) to a state of being at total peace with what she must do (if I perish, I perish).
The three points she made were:
1. Esther had a choice.
You always have a choice. You must overcome yourself in order to do what God has created you and positioned you to do....
1 Corinthians 2:9: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him."
2. Esther face the fear.
Fill in this blank with your worst fear: If ___________, then _____________. No matter how many different things you think might happen "IF fill in the blank happened..." eventually you will get to the point where God is the only thing left.... so whatever happens, tiny fears, big fears, ...THEN GOD. He will be faithful. Not only to protect you from things that you fear, but to carry you when things you fear actually DO happen.
"DO NOT BE AFRAID" the NUMBER ONE most frequently mentioned command in the Bible.
She had so many awesome points on this one. Facing your fears....being courageous. GREAT stuff! Worth going to the website and paying $4 to watch even if you aren't doing this study! :)
In this part she also addressed the fear of death. I loved this verse she shared and the wording from The Message:
Hebrews 2:14-15 "By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil's hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death." Such great words. No need to fear death. We really have already been dead once and are now living our eternal lives. Our earthly death is just one small blip on the eternal timeline and it is a very intentional and vital part of our destinies.
Philippians 1:6 "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." It doesn't say "will carry it on to completion when you die."
How many times have people had incredible impact through their death? Impacting so many more and through the words people speak of them after death? Your destiny is not complete until "the day of Christ Jesus" so therefore death is not the "end." Fear not! Not that people should try to bring on death, but it shouldn't be something we live in fear of happening. From the workbook: "Walking in the shadow of death was as perilous as dying." If you live in constant fear of death, the psychological effects can be as if you are dead already.
3. Esther TOOK the courage she was offered.
God can provide all the courage we need...we just have to TAKE it. Take the courage of His presence.
He will be faithful.
1 John 4:18: "Perfect love drives out fear!"
Esther had two choices. One was to approach the king and die unless he spared her. The other choice was to not approach the king and her entire family and family line would die. Either way she was dead. Same thing with us. We can either face our fear and do something with our lives and destinies that will undoubtedly be awesome with God on our side...or we can be too fearful and be dead in life.
From Beth Moore...it is possible to protect and shelter yourself right out of your destiny.
Don't deny your fears. Deny their authority to control your life.
