Adversity to Celebration
Genesis 7:11- 11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month—on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened.
In the second month, the heavens opened. Let us take this prophetically. The rain of blessing will be released over His children.
Exodus 16:1-4- 6 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions.
In the second month, the Lord sent manna from heaven for the children. This started in the 2nd month and for 40 years Manna kept falling for the children of God.
- If the Lord starts certain things in your life, your life journey will move ahead supernaturally. The Lord will release blessings at your doorstep this month onwards.
- The Lord released manna that was covered in dew so that it would get dirty if it fell or got eaten by ants. The manna fell on the soil.
- The Lord gives everything in a package. God will release supernatural release and blessings that will aid you in your lifelong journey.
2 Chronicles 13:2-3- 2b The king, his princes, and the entire assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to celebrate the Passover during the second month. They could not celebrate it at the regular time because the priests had not sanctified themselves in sufficient numbers, and the people were not gathered at Jerusalem.
The second month is also the month of second chances. What you could not do in the first month, you will start doing in the second month.
- They had to come together in the first month but they could not and the Lord gave them one more chance in the second month. God will give you another grace encounter to stand by the resolutions you made before God and to receive spiritual direction.
- We make many resolutions in January. In the second month, God gives you a second chance. The strength and grace to abide by it will be released over your life.
1 Kings 6:1- 1 In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD.
In the second month, they started building the house of the Lord. God will start something in your life.
2 Chronicles 3:1- 1 So Solomon began to build the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David, his father. The Temple was built on the threshing floor of Araunah. the Jebusite, the site that David had selected.
Ezra 3:8 - 8 Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the ...
- Church get ready, The Lord will start something for the church, for His House and even for your families. If some of you want to build a house, God will start this month. Provisions, directions, ways, businesses, and family lives, will start to be built in the second month. An anointing and grace are being released to do this.
The works that has been lying stuck and blocked will be released in Jesus name. The heavens are going to open ways for you to finish.
- In John 2, we see that the Lord turned water into wine. This was the beginning of miracles in the wedding of Cana. There is something special about John 2.
- In Mark 2:1, Jesus was in Capernaum in a house and there was a man who was paralysed. Certain things that are lying paralysed in your life will rise and walk.
- The issues that you thought would never walk, will stand up and walk. If you value God’s Presence in your home and if you welcome God’s glory in your midst, you will see the heavens open doors for you and open fresh ways over your lives.
How can you turn your adversity into a celebration?
Esther 2:1- This is what happened during the time of Xerxes,[a] the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush[b]:
- The writing against you will not destroy you but heaven will destroy that writing and save you instead. Two books in the Bible don't use the word God at all- they are the Books of Esther and Song of Songs.
- In the first chapter and first verse speak of India and that shows God has a plan and purpose for India.
- Esther was an orphan girl. Her uncle raised her. She has no chance to grow and progress in her life. There was no possibility of success in her life. If heaven made her the queen over 127 provinces, then God can do that for you too!
This morning The Lord will lift some of you supernaturally. You will rise and soar high! You may be in an impossible situation. The invisible hand of God will come and work for you! Receive it in your spirit. You may be in an adverse situation, with nobody to help, nobody to lift you and build you. In a place where you have none to help, the heavens will act for you.
God will take up my case!
HOW DID ESTHER RISE UP?
- God’s favour as a sign upon her
Esther 2:15- 15 Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
- Everybody who looks at you will like you and will want to favour you. ALL of them who looked upon Esther wanted to show her favour. May that grace in the Word once upon your life. Everybody who looks at you may want to bless you. May God release that blessing upon you.
That was a sign of heaven upon her life placed by God. Grace and favour is the sign upon your life.
Genesis 4: 15- But the LORD said to him, 'Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.' Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him.
- God placed a sign on Cain that nobody would kill him. Though his walk and way of life were annoying and people would have many reasons to kill him or want to destroy him, God had placed a sign on him that nobody could kill him.
- No weapon that is fashioned against you will stand. God’s protection will surround you. Even if you are put in the lion’s den, their mouths will be shut. In the fiery furnace, you won’t be burnt, amid the waters you will not drown.
If God places a sign on you, no plans of the devil will prosper against you. • Lord, place a sign upon me. The sign of your Blood and your Name.
Hitler once asked a palm reader, when he would die. The palm reader mentioned that he would die on a holiday. The day Hitler died would be a holiday for the Jews!
- May God place His favour on you. The heaven’s sign upon your life is the sign of favour. All who saw her favoured her. God’s favour will lift you.
- She was submissive
Esther 2:20- Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
- Mordecai was only a watchman who sat at the gates of the king’s palace. And Esther was the queen of 127 provinces. Despite that, she followed Mordecai’s instruction. She was submissive. That is why the Word says that Mordecai charged her or commanded her. She was submissive. A submissive person will see a lifting up.
- Jesus in Nazareth, submitted 30 years to his parents and that’s why the Lord lifted Jesus. For 3 years of ministry, He had to submit to his parents for 30 years. He could make his claim rightfully that He was the Son of God, rightfully so. He could have commanded things to be for Him but He chose not to. He chose to submit.
Submission is strength under control.
- Nowadays, parents are scared to even say anything to their children. They are cautious. They need to consider the moods of their kids and then talk. But the Lord is raising a generation that will submit to parents, that will walk under grace and serve Jesus. Certain families and their children will be touched by the Lord today. The Lord is breaking and removing rebellion from some of their lives.
- The apostles commanded, and Paul commanded Timothy and Titus. They had a relationship. Today pastors cannot command but if you want to be lifted, you need to submit. Esther, amid her adversity, chose to submit to Mordecai despite being a queen.
- You may be the CEO of a company but I will submit to you, Pastor. You may be a big planter, you may have a triple PhD or maybe you are a rich person, but will you stay submitted to your parents and pastor? if you understand this give Glory to God; You can only command to the one who is submitted.
The pastor of any church is representing Christ. If you have that revelation, that will work well for you.
- She knew where God had brought her from
Esther 2:20- 20 Now Esther had not revealed her family and her people, just as Mordecai had charged her, for Esther obeyed the command of Mordecai as when she was brought up by him.
- She knew where she had come from. Though she was the queen of 127 provinces, she knew where she came from. That is a quality. Remember where God called you and brought you from. David says, “He picked me up from the miry clay and placed my feet upon the rock of Jesus Christ.”
- Some people do not want to reveal where they come from. They feel it is below their dignity. • God will always lift a heart that does not forget. Do not forget where God brought you from and in what manner He lifted you.
I still remember who taught me how to lead worship, how to preach, and how to cast out demons. I remember I was so reluctant to lay hands on people and Brother Victor would forcefully lift my hand and lay it on people. I was so afraid to preach and Jose Chachen would keep persisting and make sure I came out of that fear. He would have his team encircle me during my preaching so that I wouldn’t run away from the stage. When I was told to read a passage from the Bible, I would practice it the entire night and still be so fearful to read it the next day.
- Some people taught me how to fast, how to pray, and how to worship in the spirit. People taught me that. Don’t forget all this. and God will lift you high. Don’t forget the people who helped you start your business or those who helped you enter into family life. Somebody has helped you. There are people in the church who come from big families, and have lots of businesses and properties but still have no money to fill petrol in their car. C’mon, remember where you came from and thank the Lord for having kept you thus far. Never forget!
- She gave credit and honour where it was due
Esther 2:21-22- 21 In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, [a]Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King
Ahasuerus. 22 So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name.
- Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name. Today believers hesitate to give credit where it is due. Give the credit and honour to whom and where it is due. Esther ensured that she mentioned Mordecai’s name.
- God lifts people who give honour and credit by name to those to whom it is due. People who teach you the Word, give them double honour. Children honour their parents. The leaders who have been placed above you by the Lord, honour them. Do not forward the trolls about them. No matter which political party they belong to, give them honour.
- Pray for them, lift your hands and bless them. May God give them the wisdom and strength to govern this nation.
- She brought people closer to God
Esther 4:16- 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in [a]Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
- Fasting according to the Bible means getting closer to God. Esther says, me and my maids will all fast too. Though she was in the palace, she put together a collective of people who would fast with her. God will lift us based on how we draw people closer to Jesus.
Not getting people close to you but to the Lord Jesus. Whether it is through social media, in clubs, in your businesses, in your offices, wherever you are, if there is an effort, a commitment and an eagerness to bring people you are connected to, closer to Jesus, the Lord will lift you amid your adversity.
- Peter had that ability. He went to Cornelius’s house and the Holy Spirit fell there. Paul was in prison yet he was baptising people there. Reinhard Bonke had that character too. • Some people minister to show their spiritual gifts but then there are true servants of the Lord who stand in the gap, pray, fast, give gifts, walk in love and intercede to see people come to Jesus. The anointing will always move upon such servants of God.
- In the Old Testament, David had this. No matter who came to David, he spent time with them and the poor, maimed, and lonely became mighty men unto the Lord. Not, unto David.
Do you have a heart to make people mighty unto God? If yes, God is sending an anointing upon you.
Pray for the family members you want saved, pray for those in your circles who need God’s touch.
- She had faith in God
Esther 4:16- 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in [a]Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so, I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!”
- Esther had faith. She knew that confidence and faith would arise once she had prayed and that she could enter into God’s presence.
A person who spends time with God has this faith. Capacity, grace, confidence and courage will flow upon such people from God.
Daniel 4:17- 17 “‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’
The Most High is sovereign over all the earth.
- Faith came inside her. If you have faith, you will rise up and get out of all adversity. • Hebrews 11 talks about people of faith. Women who prayed in faith. The walls fell by faith, shut the mouths of lions by faith.
- I will rise by Faith. I will rise out of every adversity. I believe in a God who honours my faith and I will get out of every adversity. You need faith to get out of any adversity, from any disease. When Moses got out of God’s presence, he saw His glory and even at 120, his eyes were not dim.
- She stood for the children of GOD
Stand for the church. Stand for the people of God. Esther stood for the people of God. She took a risk for the people of God.
In the very place where they were meant to be annihilated, they were celebrated. 14th 15th dates, God turned it into a celebration for the Jews. Amid the adversity, I will celebrate. Whoever is standing against me, my family and my children, will not prosper.
I will rejoice. We will celebrate together. Victory is certain.