For such a time as this.
We are living in unprecedented days of challenges, conflict and changes. The growing spiritual warfare is so apparent as the kingdoms of this world clash in direct conflict with the kingdom of God. The world stage is being set for the domination of a new world order—aligning a global political, religious and economic system that will be led by a world dictator. The church of Jesus Christ is being called to arise in prayer, power and presence as a witness to our world. Unprecedented times call for unprecedented prayer.
Our prayer theme for the month of September is “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14). As we move forward under the sovereign plans and purposes of God we need to understand our role. Like Esther, God has placed us in this moment of time, in the positions of His choosing, and right where He wants us to be. We need to wake up each morning realizing that each of us as believers have an essential role to play in the ongoing plan of God. We have a God-given circle of influence and opportunity. Whatever our circumstances, we can trust God as we live out our “for such a time as this” each moment of each day, right where we are.
To more fully understand this, we will be leading a Bible study through the book of Esther every Wednesday night on Pastor’s Chat throughout the month of September. We hope you will tune in and join us!
We will also be joining fellow churches and believers nationwide for three days of fasting and prayer (Rise Up Canada & Pray) from Sept 16-18 beginning on Yom Kippur (the day of atonement). We will have special times of prayer together and the opportunity to participate in several online services. You will hear more about it this coming Sunday.
You were born, saved and called of God “for such a time as this.” So let’s rise up and fulfill our destiny in God’s unfolding plan!
Scriptures
Esther 4:13-17 (NLT)
13 Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. 14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” 17 So Mordecai went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.
Exodus 3:1-15 (NLT)
1 One day Moses was tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock far into the wilderness and came to Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up. 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”
4 When the Lord saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.
5 “Do not come any closer,” the Lord warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground. 6 I am the God of your father—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.
7 Then the Lord told him, “I have certainly seen the oppression of my people in Egypt. I have heard their cries of distress because of their harsh slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the power of the Egyptians and lead them out of Egypt into their own fertile and spacious land. It is a land flowing with milk and honey—the land where the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites now live. 9 Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10 Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.”
11 But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?”
12 God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.”
13 But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?”
14 God replied to Moses, “I am who i am. Say this to the people of Israel: I am has sent me to you.” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my eternal name, my name to remember for all generations.
Deuteronomy 31:1-8 (NLT)
1 When Moses had finished giving these instructions to all the people of Israel, 2 he said, “I am now 120 years old, and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has told me, ‘You will not cross the Jordan River.’ 3 But the Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy the nations living there, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua will lead you across the river, just as the Lord promised.
4 “The Lord will destroy the nations living in the land, just as he destroyed Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites. 5 The Lord will hand over to you the people who live there, and you must deal with them as I have commanded you. 6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
7 Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. 8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Prayer Points
Thank God that you are alive to partake in this month’s fasting program.
1 John 1:9 - Confess any known and unknown sins.
Thank God for making it into the second half of the year.
Ask God to let His favour, goodness and mercy run after you and your household for the second half of the year.
Esther 4:14 – Father, I thank You that You have allowed me to live in this world for such a time as this.
Esther 4:14 – El-Elyon, I thank You that PPT and the church exist for such a time as this in our culture. (praise Him earnestly)
Esther 4:13 – Lord, let the Mordecai(s) of this generation arise and take their rightful place(s) in our homes, churches and communities in Jesus’ name.
God, let the spirit of Mordecai, rest upon us as a church in Jesus’ name.
Esther 4:14 – Jehovah, let my helpers for this season and space locate me in Jesus’ name. (pray fervently)
Almighty God, the great I AM, let the helpers of my household (mention them) and PPT shall locate them in this season and space.
In Jesus’ name I will advance the cause of God’s Kingdom for such a time as this.
Jehovah Nissi, release boldness into the church to advance the cause of the kingdom in this generation.
Exodus 3:4 – Father, like Moses, let me stand up and be counted in this time and season in Jesus’ name. (pray fervently)
In Jesus’ name let the church including PPT stand up and be counted in this time and season. (pray fervently)
Exodus 3: 8, 14 - The I AM God rescue, me from my enemies in and around my life. (pray fervently)
Deut 31:6,8 - Lord, go ahead of me in this time and season; Like David, do not fail me or abandon me because of my shortcomings. (pray fervently)
Lord, go ahead of the church including PPT in this time and season; Like David, do not fail us or abandon us because of our shortcomings. (pray fervently)
Jehovah, break the stronghold of COVID-19 in any form over communities, towns, cities and nations in Jesus’ name.
Pray for the persecuted church globally.
Declaration
(Say it aloud and repeat it three times.)
Father, I declare and decree that, like Esther, You have placed me in this moment of time, in the positions of Your choosing, and right where You want me to be. Destiny changer, change my destiny for Your glory. I have a God-given circle of influence and opportunity. Jesus, use me to change my circle of influence. Whatever my circumstances, I can trust that the I AM God will go ahead of me each moment of each day, right where I am. You will never fail or abandon me therefore, I am strong, I am courageous because my helper will always locate me, favour shall locate me in this time and space in Jesus’ name. So shall it be.
Upper Room Prayer Gathering at 8:00 pm Friday evening.
Conference Call
Dial: 647-977-2648 (Canada) / 202-602-1295 (USA)
Code: 827-220-552#