Positioning

For the past 8 or so months, God has been teaching me about positioning. This will be a mini-series as it is quite a big topic. There are two types of positioning.

One: Positions of Purpose/Assignment.

Throughout the book of Esther, I noticed how keen Mordecai’s position was.

He originally sat at the King’s gate. (Esther 2:19) While there, he heard two eunuchs planning to overthrow (or supposedly kill) the king. He alerted the authorities and the culprits were dealt with. It is this action, that one night when the king could not sleep, woke up and read about within some records called The Book of Remembrance. That’s when the King sought him out to reward him. (6:10)

Shockingly, even with that honor, Mordecai returned to the King’s gate!

Esther 6:12a Afterward Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. 

This, if I may take a detour, also teaches us humility. Some of us turn into different people once we taste a little success, or earn a larger amount. Heck, even when we earn a different level spiritually, we want to hire body guards; because we are a bit more anointed than the others around us. Then enters pride … And that too was Satan’s story.

How about we remain in the same house, with the same car, and same position even after all the success. How about we continue visiting the same people and picking up the same calls, because in all honesty, some people are not even as busy as they claim to be. They just pretend to be inaccessible.

I digress …

Mordecai’s position led to his hearing of the traitors’ plots, and that led to his honoring. If you are meant to be at the gate, but are inconsistent, you might not be present when the traitors come to plot. This is not about ‘returning to the gate’ but recognizing firstly where you are supposed to be. It took some time to be recognized for his deed by the king. But if he was AWOL, the king would have woken up to read the book of remembrance and his name would have not been mentioned anywhere.

It is possible to leave for a bathroom break. We see Mordecai leaving to talk to Esther earlier, instructing her on what to do, or encouraging her when she got cold feet. He wasn’t at the gate then. But maybe our prayer should be, for God to guide each of our steps discreetly, so that we are back from the bathroom break on time to catch the traitors plot. There is indeed such a thing as ‘right place at the wrong time.’

O may God ensure that you are there at the right time. Because even a bathroom break of ten minutes could cost you the key to your honor.

Later on, Mordecai was promoted. The king allocated him the signet ring (an emblem of authority which when appears on any document proves that it has the king’s consent and bears the qualities of irrevocableness and unalteration). The king never mentioned the words ‘I promote you.’ By default, ranks changed for Mordecai. That is when he never returned to the King’s gate. Same happened to Joseph. He never returned to the prison. When God Himself promotes you, there is nothing the east or west can do. No man can undo that! Haman schemed his own elevation, but God was not in it. He plummeted so quick; not just to the ground, but to his grave.

The book ends saying; King Xerxes imposed tribute throughout the empire, to its distant shores.  And all his acts of power and might, together with a full account of the greatness of Mordecai, whom the king had promoted, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Media and Persia? … (Esther 10:1-3)

Note the ‘promoted’. This emphasis goes back to your returning to the gate. Until God retrieves you Himself and promotes you transdimensionally, keep returning to your gate.

Yes, you have raised one dead man child of God, but can you stay humble after it. The president called for you, or took a photo with you … that doesn’t mean the president has dubbed you ‘vice president.’ You better watch how you talk to those around you. It was honor or privilege of great expanse, but not promotion! Even after the signet is given to you … Apostle Selman said, “Just because you wear the king’s ring, doesn’t mean you are king.” This is the indifference Vashti served. She forgot that there was one above her. And it led to her demotion and banishment. Speak of ‘from grace to grass!’ And speaking of grass, Nebuchadnezzar thought he was God, and God made him insane and literally eat grass for seven years, until he acknowledged that He was the Almighty, God alone, with power to appoint and elevate. He recognized that just because he wore the signet, didn’t mean he was God …

Just because you rode around on the King’s horse doesn’t mean you should go buy one? Do you have horsemen to feed it? Can you afford a stable in your home? Just because your boss lent you his or her mercedes for a week or a day or for that function … doesn’t mean that that should be your dream car, or the next car you must buy! I know your peers can as well instigate, or provoke the idea, but be guided! Don’t neglect your morals or goals just to impress. Find no shame in returning to your small car brand, or even using public means. You will afford better one day, but first … await the growth of your capacity.

Eventually, Mordecai had many horses, for his job description changed. Being second in rank after the King meant he’d buy the mercedes. The moral is to stick to authenticity and being true to ourselves. Bigger will come by this universe’s authorized promoter, but can you be patient and humble first…

May you not forsake your ‘King’s gate.’ May you not forsake that ‘side hustle’ when another opportunity blinks. Do not change your circle of friends when you have had 5 minutes of fame. Some people get married, and dissociate with their previous church ushering positions.

I pray for you! That regardless of life’s storms, you remain on course, and onto your purpose and assignment. Like Esther, may you be reminded, that you were chosen for such a time as this. May the fruit of long suffering embrace you as you wait, or receive mockery for returning to the gate. May God grant you vision of your end from the beginning. That like Jesus, you might fix your eyes to the glory to come, and endure the light afflictions.

May you keep humble, even after all the wonders God would have taken you through! If you do not know your ‘King’s gate’, may He reveal it to you, and open your eyes like He did Hagar to see the well in the wilderness; and may He reward you for continuing to seek Him, and for your faithfulness at that position of your assignment. And may you be at the right place at the right time. May your steps not slip, in this regard. Yes, may this Jesus keep you from falling, and present you blameless to Himself, and to the Father gloriously celebrating the fulfilment of your assignment.

Amen and Amen.

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1 Timothy 6:20a O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust …

(The next blog elucidating the other type of positioning is here)