Strategy 7: Your Purity

Esther 4:14 .....Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for 
just such a time as this?”

Is it today? You know, the day that “you were made queen for”. Is today the day? Is today the day that your disobedience could alter eternity? Are you in your very own garden of Gethsemane? Are you asking God to take this cup from you? Jesus knew what was on the other side of his obedience and he still did not want to die on the cross. But he did it anyway. He was made for such a time as this. He was made to alter eternity by saving the world and dying for our sins. I don’t know what’s on the other side of your obedience, but what if it was altering eternity by adding one soul to the kingdom of heaven.

Priscilla tells us in this chapter that when we obediently follow God’s plan we get in alignment with his divine blessing. Obedience puts the purpose in our purity and power in our prayers. God wants us to do things his way because he wants us in alignment with him. He knows the future and he tells us that it is good. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

He knows how you are going to get through this hard time. He knows when you are going to get that promotion. He knows. But you have a part to play. Priscilla tells us how the enemy knows that if he can get you to be disobedient then he can distance you from God and the things he has for you. So, you have to live righteous. Live within the boundaries that God has set up for you, not to limit you, but to bless you.

You can’t lie to get ahead and think that God will bless your deceit.

You can’t make a bad business deal and assume abundance is headed your way.

You can’t speak death and gossip all day and surmise that God is going to breathe life into your relationships.

We have to be pure. We have to be rooted in truth and we have to put on the full armor of God.

Take a moment to think about your kingdom, what you have been appointed over, what you have been given to steward, what you have been charged to take care of. We all have been given our body, our mind, and our relationships that we need to steward well, but what else? Perhaps you were made for such a time as this, but your disobedience is going to disqualify you.

Paul in 1 Corinthians 9: 27 tells us about how he disciplines his body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, he fears that after preaching to others he might be disqualified. Is there anything that is disqualifying you? What boundaries do you need to set up in order to not be disqualified and to be obedient to God? What boundaries do you need to sure up to get in alignment with the divine blessing that God has for you?

Maybe it’s canceling Netflix, so you can no longer Netflix and chill.

Maybe it’s ending that friendship, so you can have more time to serve.

Maybe it’s working through lunch, so you can’t sit and gossip with your co-workers.

Maybe it’s turning off the radio, so you can have more pure thoughts.

In Mark 14:38 Jesus says “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” This week think about steps you can take to discipline your flesh and bring it into obedience with God.

1. Now, go and read the chapter if you haven’t.
2. Pray that God reveals to you what struggles are keeping you from righteous living. Ask that the holy spirit would illuminate all sources of impurity in your life.
3. Read verses about obedience and purity. Get an understanding of what biblical obedience and purity look like.
4. Start crafting your prayer strategy. Get specific.
5. Pray, fervently. Adding and taking away from your prayer strategy as you see fit.
6. Last, type it up, print it out, and focus on disciplining your flesh.