March 21, 2024: OBEDIENCE IN TIMES OF TESTINGS
חג פורים שמח!
Chag Purim Sameach, Happy Purim
This year, Purim begins at sundown this Friday March 22nd, 2024.
As we approach this Chag (holiday), it's interesting to compare the similarities between what the Jews in Persia were facing, during the time of Queen Esther, and what we are facing in Israel, today!
Haman was from the Kingdom of Persia, which is Iran today. And today, the entity of Hamas (the same name and the same spirit, with only a change of one letter), comes from and is controlled by the same ideology of Iran to destroy Israel, kill Jews and Christians, according to the koran! The similarities are uncanny!
When Queen Esther was confronted with the annihilation of her Jewish people, she was already in the appointed position ADONAI had ordained for her, being married to King Xerxes, who ruled Persia.
Even though it would have been against the law to approach the King, under punishment of death. Mordecai (who was Esther's uncle and her father-figure), challenged her not to remain silent, even though she had not been summoned into the King's presence for more than 30 days!
"13 Mordecai sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions." Esther 4:13-17
We cannot, for one moment, think that if we are living outside of Israel, in the Diaspora (the Diaspora is considered anywhere else outside of Israel), that we are safe and will not be affected by antisemitism, terrorism, violence, etc...where we live! No! Like Esther, we need to do our part to SPEAK UP and STAND UP for what is right, standing up for what is TRUE, and standing up FOR ISRAEL, no matter what those risks may be!
Esther received a divine plan when she humbled herself and sought the LORD. Her response was courageous and obedient; "If I perish, I perish."
Favor from ADONAI was poured down into the heart of the King and he extended his scepter and accepted her request to approach the throne, as well as her invitation to attend the banquet she had prepared, with Haman!
Esther's identity as a Jew was revealed and the plot to kill the Jews and hang Mordechai on the gallows by the enemy Haman, was exposed.
What the enemy intends for evil, God turns it all around for good!
Haman and his sons ended up being hung on his own gallows and the Jewish people were allowed to defend themselves and come out victorious in the end! HalleluYah!
The same is true today! Our ADONAI has not changed! He's still the same yesterday, today and forevermore! What He promises He will accomplish, what He says He will do!
He gave His Word of promise to Abram:
"I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:3
RAMADAN
As Ramadan has officially begun, there have been calls from Sinwar in Gaza and from Iran for an uprising in Jerusalem, encouraging the people of East Jerusalem especially, to up rise from Judea and Samaria, and do October 7th type of activities again.
Therefore, it's very important to RISE UP IN PRAYER in order to silence the voices of incitement that is going forth, especially in Jerusalem where the noise levels from the mosques go up greatly in these times when they're trying to stir the people up. This is what's happening in Jerusalem right now!
Henceforth, we need to take our places of AUTHORITY, fighting the good fight of FAITH, in believing the LORD that these calls for incitement will NOT work, in YESHUA'S MIGHT NAME, and that there would be an amazing SHALOM upon Jerusalem, instead!
The faith and boldness of Mordecai to stand firm and to NOT bow down to Haman was rewarded by ADONAI, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces of Susa. Mordecai became great in the King's house!
"The Jews established and made a custom for themselves, their descendants, and for all those who allied themselves with them, so that they would not fail to celebrate these two days according to their regulation and according to their appointed time annually." Esther 9:27
OBEDIENCE ALWAYS BRINGS FAVOR AND BLESSINGS!
Isaiah 28:5-6 says,
"In that day the Lord of hosts will be for a crown of glory and a diadem of beauty to the remnant of His people, for a spirit of justice to him who sits in judgment, and for strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate." Isaiah 28:5-6
In other words, as the remnant priesthood here in the land arise, ADONAI TZ'VAOT will crown them with great authority! He will be a spirit of justice to the one who sits in Judgment and a source of strength to those who turn back the battle at the gate!
Turning back the battle would mean a besieging by an army, and it happens at the gate.
You see, many in Israel's history have tried to destroy the people God has blessed, but NONE of them have been successful, because ADONAI is a keeper of His Word:
"35Thus says the LORD, who gives the sun for light by day, who sets in order the moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar—the LORD of Hosts is His name:
36“Only if this fixed order departed from My presence, declares the LORD, would Israel’s descendants ever cease to be a nation before Me.” Jeremiah 31:35-36
ADONAI TZ'VAOT will anoint you to be part of turning back the battle at the gate of Jerusalem! That these calls for an October 7th type massacre will NOT HAPPEN EVER AGAIN! That the Muslims will realize that this is not for their benefit to rise up against Israel, and that Hamas will continue to be exposed for who they really are and what they really are about! Just like Haman's plans were exposed!
Your blessings are unleashed when you fulfill your mutual obligation in accordance to the Covenant of ADONAI with His people. And this is also for those who join themselves to Israel. The foreigners and sojourners have the same obligations and rights of the Covenant.
"The same law applies both to the native-born and to the foreigner residing among you.” Exodus 12:49
Our Obedience is Tested:
"Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." Deuteronomy 8:2
Our obedience is tested for the purpose of reward and deliverance. Through the obedience of Moses, the people of Israel were delivered from Egypt.
What does it take for us to enter the Promise Land that the LORD has given to each one of us? OBEDIENCE opens the way for the RUACH HA'KODESH (Holy Spirit) to empower us, giving us the endurance and perseverance we need to fulfill the calling of our destiny; His purpose for our lives!
"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 2 Peter 1:3
"I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you." Luke 10:19
As Queen Esther obeyed and did not compromise, we too must do our part to OBEY, exercising the AUTHORITY we have been given and execute judgement on these nations and peoples who are being controlled by demonic spirits of antisemitism, terrorism and radicalism, in accordance to Psalm 149:6-9, for SUCH A TIME AS THIS!
ADONAI TZ'VAOT (The LORD of Heaven's Armies) is not calling us to be on the defensive, no! He's calling us to be on the OFFENSIVE, taking ground for His Kingdom! He's calling us to advance and believe that He will give us the victory, as He goes before us and fights for us!
So as we prepare to celebrate Purim; The great turnaround, the LORD is giving us an opportunity to believe Him for an Esther type turnaround in this situation, not only here in Israel, but in all of the nations where our people have scattered to, during this month of Adar!
We prophecy that during Ramadan, instead of the up rise in violence and evil, there will be instead a manifestation of the RUACH HA'KODESH, the Holy Spirit of God rising up and working in response to our intercessory prayers, causing a SHIFT to take place, from decrees of death into decrees of life, in YESHUA'S MIGHTY NAME!
"A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His Name. 17 “On the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty, “they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not." Malachi 3:16B-18
Amen and Amen!
CHAG PURIM SAMEACH! HAPPY PURIM!
Here is a Special Purim song, to encourage you in this season!
"YOU HAVE CHOSEN ME, FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS"
A beautiful anointed PURIM MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF ESTHER that Dr. Hadassah & Elihana wrote for SUCH A TIME AS THIS!
I pray this song blesses you! Please make sure to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Channel, LIKE and SHARE with others! Receive notifications on MORE anointed powerful MUSIC that will be COMING SOON!!!
Thank you and God bless you!
Elihana Elia
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