Christian Mission Outreach

In a previous online book about Ruth and Naomi returning and finding their kinsman redeemer, I spoke about how today was like those days, returning especially with the Catholic Charismatic Church to how things were in the time of the Book of Acts.

“The Lord had visited His people by giving them bread.” (Ruth 1:6) At our return, we found the Lord did that for us too – both spiritually and literally. I could “glean” spiritually in our Redeemer’s fields at conferences and laboring alongside His Protestant workers. I found myself lovingly caring for Catholic, Protestant and Jewish mothers with whom I had journeyed, sharing with them spiritual food as well as physical food our Kinsman Redeemer provided.

My house became a storehouse where from time to time I stored clothing and froze bread and soup which the Lord’s servants gave me to steward. A leftover to one can be a blessing to another. I distributed them as I believed the Lord would have me do it. So our households experienced the love and favour of Christ - our Beloved Provider. Spiritual grain too was distributed in good news-letters to Catholic missionaries and others far away. Glory be to God. “‘Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old.’” (Matt. 13:52)

A husband is his wife’s spiritual covering. I remember after my husband died that I cried out for Jesus to cover me and was overjoyed to find that He did. He desires a corporate bride and miraculously births His purposes in our lives. We have begun to appreciate Jesus more and more, especially His presence among us. He is our “shield, [our] exceedingly great reward.” (Gen. 15:1)

Years ago, the Lord magnified to me both the book of Ruth and of Esther. Many people are finding today that it just could be that they “have come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” (Est. 4:14)

Esther moved from being a village girl to being rounded up as a virgin who could become queen if the king of Persia chose her, delighting in her. After her year of preparation with oil of myrrh, perfumes and beautifying products, she would enter his presence. “She would not go into the king again unless the king delighted in her and called her by name.” (Est. 2:14)

I remember how years ago Holy Spirit would pipe to me the song, “Better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere.” How I loved to be in God’s courts at anointed prayer meetings and worship services! In the wilderness tabernacle and Solomon’s temple, people went through the gate into the outer court. Only priests who had sanctified themselves, washing their hands and feet, could go through the next door, and only the high priest entered the inner court of the tabernacle once a year to meet with God’s Presence.

Now today, Jesus has made a way where there was no way for believers, “a royal priesthood,” who sanctify themselves in God’s word, especially after a baptism of water, fire or the Holy Spirit. We, too, can enter His Presence spiritually, going into the inner court like Esther, even daily. But it is still good for us to prepare by following His word, putting love into action. We are perfumed and beautified by His word and Presence. Myrrh was also used for those who died, and we die to our old self and live to Christ.

“And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:3)

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved.” (2 Cor. 2:14-15)

I have found that true beauty does not come from outward ornamentation but from having Christ within. “Let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.” (1 Pet. 3:4-6) A wife is equal to her husband, but can submit her ideas to him as the captain of their relationship, under Christ. Jesus is our ultimate bridegroom King whom we get to love and obey. Yet like Esther who risked her life that lives could be saved, submitting her views and requests to the king, in some matters Jesus may extend authority to us using His name.

Having been born in captivity, at first Mordecai and Esther blended in, not knowing they needed a new normal. But when it came to choosing whether he should worship God alone or do like the Babylonians, Mordecai stood for what was right and refused to bow to Haman. When demonic backlash came and their enemy conspired to kill all Jewish people, openly now, he and Esther called for a fast for God’s intervention and she received holy boldness to approach the king.

As I relate in JESUS The Bridge, my people, my family in God, especially Roman Catholics, are in danger of spiritual or physical death if sin is not repented. Remembering her uncle’s words to Esther, “If you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish,” I went to King Jesus years ago in prayer. Had I “come to the kingdom for such a time as this”? (Est. 4:14)

At a prayer meeting around 2005 someone had a word that Jesus was extending the scepter for us to reach out and touch, so I asked Him to intervene because our enemy wants to kill us. Sin deserves punishment. Thanks be to God, Jesus has already shed His blood at the cross that believers might repent, be forgiven and saved. My book contains many Scriptural swords for my people to grasp, “the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.” (Eph. 6: 17) Just as Esther’s people were allowed to fight against their enemies, I believe that God has given weapons like praise, love and swords of the Spirit with which our foes can be defeated. Our battle is not “against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:12) As the Waymaker worked behind the scenes helping Esther’s people, He will turn our mourning into rejoicing today. “‘For the battle is the LORD’s.’” (1 Sam. 17:47)