SERVICES: SATURDAY 6PM | SUNDAY 9AM & 10:45AM. 

We Livestream at www.FaithFellowshipWeb.com/livestream, through the FFC App, and YouTube.

Reversal

Words of Faith Final

Reversal
Words of Faith 6-23-2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2008, 2021
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><<><

Esther 8
        [1] That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the King, for Esther had told how he was related to her. [2] The King took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman's estate.

      Chapter eight is all about reversal, that rare moment when everything is turned upside down-- the last are made first, the first are made last, and some justice is done.        Haman was now dead, hanged on gallows of his own making.  Hanged on the gallows of his own arrogance and pride.  Hanged on the gallows of his own wretched plans. Haman is a lesson that needs little commentary.
      Esther was granted the estate of Haman.  All the riches amassed by this second most powerful man in Persia were conveyed to Esther. She then entrusted them to the care of Mordecai, the specific enemy of Haman.  
      Mordecai received the King's signet ring, which had been on the hand of Haman‑‑ making him the new Prime Minister and second most powerful man in the kingdom.  The signet ring allowed unfettered access to the King.
       Such enormous reversals are rare in life, but sometimes they occur.  For us, it is more common to see smaller reversals.  The guy who was overlooked for years finally gets a promotion.  A starving writer finally gets a contract and a screenplay.  Or we may even see someone arrogant and prideful finally "get their own" as life crumbles around them.  
        Reversal begs at least a few questions.  How do we respond to even a moderate reversal of fortune?  How do you respond when the person who made themselves your enemy comes upon pain or hard times?   Do we gloat over the pain of our enemies?  Do we glory in the reversal?  Glory in our blessing and "good fortune"?  Do we secretly take pleasure at the downfall of others?  Do we gloat in our victories?
        Actually, Jesus had no place for such behavior.  No place for gloating or triumphalism even when the arrogant enemy was most evil.   Do you remember when the first missionary group of seventy-two returned to Jesus while bragging about the way that even the demons submitted to them?  Jesus replied that he had even seen the fall of Satan "like lightning" but that such things were not a reason for rejoicing.  
        There is grief for those who fall.  Jesus reminds us to rejoice only that your names are written in heaven (Luke 10:17‑20).  The Kingdom of God is not about winning.  It is not about coming out on top.  It is not about "one-upping" the world or destroying our enemies.  
         So how do we handle reversal?  Blessing from God.  The fall of the arrogant?  With great humility.  
        
         Lord, teach me to rejoice only in You.  Teach me to rejoice only in the knowledge that my name is written in heaven.  Nothing more.  In Jesus' name.

<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2008, 2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SUBSCRIPTIONS - To receive the Words of Faith devotion five days a week, send an E-mail message addressed to join-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org. To stop receiving Words of Faith, send an E-mail message addressed to unsubscribe-words-of-faith@hub.xc.org.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -      
The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2010 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.