EXAMPLE FOR PRAYER

“Now Esther spoke again to the king, fell down at his feet, and implored him with tears to counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme which he had devised against the Jews" (Esther 8:3 NKJV).

Esther’s pleading before the king gives us a good lesson about how to pray before the King of kings. There is persistency, posture, passion, and purity in her pleading with this earthly king. We need to apply Esther’s strategy in our prayer life in pleading with the Heavenly King.

Persistency – “Esther spoke again to the king.” Esther kept coming to the king regarding the problem of Haman. She was persistent and did not stop until she got action from the king. We too need to pray persistently before the King of kings. Throughout Scripture, we are enjoined to pray again and again to the Lord. If our prayer life is not productive, perhaps it is because we do not pray much.

Posture – “Fell down at his feet.” Although Esther was the queen, she still came humbly before the king. Esther always maintained proper respect for the king. In our praying to the King of kings, we must always maintain proper respect. We must bow before Him and acknowledge Him as Lord. Any other approach will hinder our prayer life.

Passion – “Implored him with tears.” Esther was so earnest was Esther in petitioning the king that she wept openly before him concerning her plea. We must be earnest before God if we are going to get anywhere in our prayer life. We cannot expect God to be earnest about answering our prayers if we are not earnest in praying our prayers. Earnestness may not always be tears, it may be simply the coming before Him again and again.

Purity – “Counteract the evil of Haman the Agagite, and the scheme that he had devised against the Jews.” Esther’s petition was for purity. Haman was an evil man, and she pleaded to stop his wickedness. We often pray for prosperity, physical health, and peace in the land. But we seldom pray for purity. Yet, purity is more important than prosperity or health; and it is the key to peace in the land.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Bending our knees in prayer keeps us from breaking under the load of care!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Devout

In Titus 1:7-8 we read, “For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled” (NASB).

Devout is the Greek word hosios (ὅσιος = hos'-ee-os). It means pious, holy, religiously right, sanctioned. In Classical Greek hosios is not restricted to a religious connotation but can be used for any moral imperative. Thus a man would be considered “devout” for following an ancient custom or a natural law.

In the Septuagint hosios is used to describe one who is faithful, devout; it consistently reflects a religious connotation. God is described as “just and right” and “holy” in all His works. In the New Testament hosios is not used to mean pious ones due to the perception that the content of hosios is more self-righteous than is in keeping with the New Testament community. However, Heb. 7:26 applies hosios to the Lord Jesus as the believers’ High Priest. Here the word is used absolutely in the way it is used elsewhere of God. As high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ is completely hosios, utterly without sin and utterly pure, so that his offering is sufficient once for all.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – Messiah’s side would be pierced (Zech. 12:10)

New Testament Fulfillment – John 19:34

Bible Facts

Beauty understood (Gen. 1:31; 2:9; Job 40:10; Ecc. 3:11). Beauty surrounds us: radiant sunsets, majestic mountains, brightly colored flowers, glowing gems, soothing foliage, brilliantly adorned birds, etc. Beauty is a mystery to the evolutionist. However, Scripture reveals that God creates beautiful things for our benefit and His glory.

Bible Quiz

What was God’s solution to the Israelites hunger problem in the wilderness?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: What was the name of the blind man who “sat by the road begging,” and who cried out to Jesus for mercy? Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-47).

That’s in the Bible

"Enlighten my darkness”

“For You are my lamp, O LORD; The LORD shall enlighten my darkness” (2 Sam. 22:29 NKJV).

“Enlighten my darkness” - The expression “enlighten my darkness” means to cheer up and encourage. The lamp speaks of prosperity, safety, protection, glory. It also speaks of comfort - light comforts whereas darkness brings fear. David’s life was constantly in danger, but the Lord kept him alive and provided all he needed. As the lamp, the Lord gave light to enlighten David’s understanding so that he knew what to do and which way to turn in order to be victorious in life. God still enlightens the darkness of all His people.

Did You Know - Christian History

Horatius Bonar was born December 19, 1808 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was a Scottish churchman and poet. He is principally remembered as an exceptional hymnodist. He was educated in Edinburgh and in 1853, earned an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the University of Aberdeen.

As a young pastor, he earnestly preached in villages and farmhouses throughout his district. He saw evangelization in a different light from his contemporaries. “We think if we can but get men converted, it does not much matter how. Our whole anxiety is, not ‘How shall we secure the glory of Jehovah?’ but ‘How shall we multiply conversions?’” To Bonar, Christ had to come first.

Bonar was a highly popular author who produced a vast amount of writings. He also served as the editor for The Quarterly Journal of Prophecy from 1848 to 1873 and for the Christian Treasury from 1859 to 1879. In addition to many books and tracts, Bonar was also a prolific hymnodist. Many of his hymns, e.g., I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say and Blessing and Honor and Glory and Power, became known all over the English-speaking world.

A man of prayer and song, Bonar was also a man of sorrow. Five of his children died young. But later, his widowed daughter and her five children had to move in with him. Many grandparents would groan at the added burden, but Bonar rejoiced. To him it was as if God had given him five children to replace those he had lost. Horatius Bonar died July 31, 1889. No biography was written of him; his wish was to point men to Christ. Today we just have a few memories and a short sketch of his life.

A Little Humor

A woman had been bitten by a mad dog and looked as if she was going to die. The doctor told her she had better make her will. Taking her pen and paper she began to write. In fact, she wrote and wrote and wrote. Finally, the doctor said, “This is surely a lengthy will you are making.” “Will, nothing,” she raved. “I am making a list of all the people I am going to bite.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Empty cross - empty tomb - full salvation!”