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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
work w ith God, to w itness for God, to deny one’s self for Him, to ,b a ttle in His behalf, to die for Him! L isten to th e words of P au l (Acts 20:24) “ B u t n o n e o f t h e se t h in g s m o v ne ither cou nt I my l i f e d e a r unto so t ha t I might f i n i s h ' m y course jo y, a n d the m in ist r y wh ich I ha ceiv ed o f the L o r d J e su s, t o t e s t i g o sp e l o f the gr ace o f G o d .” (4) THE PRODUCTIVENESS OF OP PORTUNITY. E sth er accomplished a m ighty work. The king’s sceptre was outstretched. The G reat King had heard her prayer and answered as she took th e sceptre and kissed its tip. She not only saved her people, b u t she was enriched by the estate of Haman. Mordecai was also rewarded. His faith and faithfulness were seen by God. The king was troubled and Mor decai exalted. The Jews were saved, and rejoiced (8 :16 , 17) Nothing shall fail th a t God purposes. No work done in H is name and for His glory bu t th a t shall bring results. No seed th a t falls upon the ground but th a t shall bear, friut. W hat a tim e is th is for seed-sowing and for harvest reaping! W hat a tim e for standing in defence of th e tru th , for w alking w ith God in separation, for sacrificing our lives in service! How far reaching was E sth e r’s service,«^untold blessings to a whole empire! Our service shall reach to e a rth ’s end and to endless ages. To everything th e re is a season, and a tim e for every purpose. “A rt th o u come to th e king dom for such a tim e as this, w ith an open Bible and ten thousand open doors?” PERTINENT QUESTIONS (1 ) Does God always have some one ready for an emergency? (Gen. 45:4-8). “ T h e J e w s h a d l i g h t a n d g la dn e jo y a n d h o n o r . A n d in ev ery p r a n d i n ev er y c it y whi thersoever the c o m m a n d m e n t a n d d e cr ee c a m e , t h a d joy a n d gladn es s, a f e a s t a n d d a y . A n d m an y o f th e p eo p le of th b e c a m e Jew s, for th e fear o f the f e l l i i l i o n th em .”
c h u r c h , a n d th e gate « of h e ll sh a ll n ot prevail a g a in s t it .”
There are always perils, real perils, in connection w ith service. We can not go forw ard w ithout incurring per ils. But th ere are also dangers in re fusing to go forward, when God sum mons by H is Word. Many have found th is tru e to th e ir cost. He has ta u g h t us to rejoice in th e testings th a t come to us (1 Pet. 1:6, 7) “Wh er ei n y e g r e a t ly rejoice There were dangers before Israel when they entered th e Prom ised Land. There were perils before Paul. But glory to follow. If we would be faith ful, we m ust ru n risks. (3) THE PRIVILEGES OF OPPOR TUNITY. E sth er was given the joy of under tak ing for her people. No other queen could accomplish what had been given her to do. No other opportunity would be hers, SOnly one chance in her life. Should she fail to improve it, God would raise up someone else. How solemn th e thought! Suppose she con sults her inclination, trifles w ith the privilege, delays to do— the opportunity will be gone. “There is a tide in the affairs of men, which, tak en a t the flood, leads on to fo rtun e.” Opportunity comes to all. To some it comes bu t once. How sad it would be to miss our opportunity! To-be weigh ed in the balance and found wanting! W hat an opportunity King Saul had! W hat an opportunity Moses had and lost! W hat an opportunity Demas had! And w hat an opportunity Jud as had—- and P eter and Jam es and John in the Garden! Over how many lives has it been w ritten, “Weighed in th e balance and found w anting.” Think of th e delight of service— to
th ough n ow , for a se aso n, I f nee d b e j y e a re in he av in e ss throu gh man ifold te mptations T h a t the tr ia l o f yo ur f a i t h being m u c h m o r e p rec io u s th an o f go ld t ha t p eri sh eth , though i t b e tr ie d w it h f i r e , m igh t b e fou n d u n to praise a n d h o n o r a n d glo r y a t th e app ear ing o f the L o r d J e su s C h r i s t .”
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