"Icons of Intercession"

(Biblical Men and Women of Empowered Prayer #6)

No Greater Love

Ester 4:8-16:

8 He gave Hathach a copy of the proclamation that had been issued in Susa, ordering the destruction of the Jews. Mordecai asked him to take it to Esther, explain the situation to her, and have her go and plead with the king and beg him to have mercy on her people. 9 Hathach did this, 10 and Esther gave him this message to take back to Mordecai: 11 "If anyone, man or woman, goes to the inner courtyard and sees the king without being summoned, that person must die. That is the law; everyone, from the king's advisers to the people in the provinces, knows that. There is only one way to get around this law: if the king holds out his gold scepter to someone, then that person's life is spared. But it has been a month since the king sent for me." 12 When Mordecai received Esther's message, 13 he sent her this warning: "Don't imagine that you are safer than any other Jew just because you are in the royal palace. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, help will come from heaven to the Jews, and they will be saved, but you will die and your father's family will come to an end. Yet who knows - maybe it was for a time like this that you were made queen!" 15 Esther sent Mordecai this reply: 16 "Go and get all the Jews in Susa together; hold a fast and pray for me. Don't eat or drink anything for three days and nights. My servant women and I will be doing the same. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. If I must die for doing it, I will die."

Question: A martyr is a person who dies rather than renounce his/her religion. Are you willing to suffer martyrdom in relationships rather than deny your religious beliefs?

The Shield of Faith

"At all times carry faith as a shield: for with it you will be able to put out all the fiery darts of the enemy" (Ephesians 6:16)

2 Samuel 22/Psalm 18 "God, you are my protector and my shield" Psalm 18:6: "In my trouble I (David) called to the Lord; I called to my God for help. In His temple, He heard my voice, He listened to my cry for help."

Question: Do we pray each day for the Lord's protection for ourselves and others? Do we pray from a posture of expectant faith like King David did?