Esther - The Great Awakening

"But a natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to know them, because they are spiritually discerned." [1Co 2:14]
"And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, one that worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened to give heed unto the things which were spoken by Paul." [Act 16:14]

The magnitude of the miracle that is the opening of the human heart to spiritual sight cannot be overstated. It is the seminal event in the existence of each individual. To begin the journey from darkness to light, from death to life marks the entry of the Spirit's direct influence in the life of a child of God. Without the Spirit, man is incapable of knowing Father and Jesus, of comprehending the meaning of his own existence or interpreting the events of his life. This then is Father's gift to man. That gift always precedes belief. Belief is the inevitable consequence of the gift of the Spirit. And each in his own time will receive that gift.

Now Esther has prepared herself and her people and she defies the law of the kingdom and approaches the king in his throne room. The king's response is immediate. He is enamoured of her beauty and extends his scepter, signaling welcome. So is the universal response of man when Father sends His Spirit to impart spiritual sight.

The first task of the Spirit is to provide eyes to perceive Father through the Son. The night following the king's acceptance of Esther and her invitation, he falls victim to insomnia. He causes the annals of the kingdom to be rehearsed to him and makes a startling discovery. No honor has been paid to Mordecai for saving the king's life. This the king must rectify speedily. So the Son becomes the vehicle of the revelation of the Father by the Spirit to the king. The magnitude of Mardecai's action is no longer lost on the king.

The response of all hearts enabled by the Spirit to perceive Father's Love is expressed in Isa 25:9,

"And one shall say in that day, Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is Jehovah; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."

This event marks a permanent change in the king. The Lover of our soul has made Himself known and all else pales. The work is not yet complete, but has begun for this one. So it will be true for all who have ever lived. The gift of the Spirit precipitates our belief in the One who made us. Once the Spirit is given the change is permanent. Where this one may have heard with the hearing of the ears, he has now seen with new eyes.

There remains however, one more revelation for the king.

To be continued ...