Our Fire-starter reading can be found in Esther 8. Our Fire-starter thought is the importance of the golden sceptre. 

Imagine if you will living in Bible timed and wanting to come before the king and ask for request. This sceptre as I mentioned before was a symbol of power and authority. If anyone wanted something to be done in the country or in a certain city they must stand before the king. The one with all the power and authority to get it done. The problem Esther had was she didn't know if the king would hold out the sceptre for her but believing that he would she went in to him and asked her request. 

There is a spiritual application here as we get started. The life of Esther can be compared to the life of the Christian. You may ask how is that? Esther went in believing that the king would answer her request. 

As Christians when we go to the throne with our request we must believe that they will be answered. 

We are living in a day where the golden sceptre if you will is not held out to us simply because of our unbelief. Let me state right here that unbelief is a sin. How many of sin in the presence of Almighty God? 

We pray that God will do certain things but the reason we do it is not because we believe he will answer our prayers but because someone has asked if we have prayed about it. 

Remember, unbelief is a sin!!!!

Notice Matthew 13:58 KJV

And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

The reason many mighty works were not done during the time that Christ was there was because of their unbelief. Just because you are apart of the family if the king doesn't mean that the King will hear you and answer you. There may be something standing in the way of you getting answered. 

Christ had come to his earthly hometown, we know his hone is in Heaven, and they didn't believe who he was and the unbelief was standing in their way of seeing things happen. 

Had Esther not believed that the king would not answer her she would have never went in. 

The golden sceptre was held out to her simply because she believed that the request would be answered. 

I would say secondly, not only because of her belief in the answer but her request for others. 

Think about this alot of her request in the past was not about her or even when she went in to the king she didn't come for herself she came to expose wicked Haman and tell about how her people were being treated. It was never about her. I think sometimes we go to God for ourselves way too often we must go to God on the behalf of others. 

The golden sceptre can be held back because of unbelief but it can also be held back because of pride. 

Do You know how to enter into the throne? 

According to Psalms 100 we must into into His presence with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. 

Something to think about, when was the last time you entered with thabksgiving and praise into his presence. 

Something to think about isn't it? How many times do we come to God for ourselves and what we have need of and that's all we go him for? 

Sometimes it is just good to stop and say how thankful we are to him for what he does for us. 

This golden sceptre was a representation of power and authority. Think about what Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 KJV

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Why was all power given to him because he is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS according to Revelation 19:16 KJV

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

If Christ has all the power and the authority to give us what we need then his sceptre can be held out to us at anytime. 

Notice what we he said in Hebrews 4 16. 

Hebrews 4:16 KJV

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

We can come boldly to the throne with confidence knowing that he will hear us as long as we do not have sin in our life. Psalm 66:18 reminds us that if we regard iniquity "sin" in our hearts that Christ will not hear us. 

Yes the golden sceptre has been held out for me and for you but if we have sin in our life he cannot hold the golden sceptre out. If the queen wasn't right with the king then he couldn't hold the golden sceptre out till he or she got right. Same thing fir us. As long as we have sin in our life Christ cannot hear us but we can ask forgiveness and be able to come into his presence as 1 John 1:9 states. 

God wants to hold the golden sceptre out for you today but he can't if there is known sin that you won't get rid of. 

I'm thankful that if it matters to me it matters to the master. 

Hope you have a great day!!!!

Esther 8:1-17 KJV

On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her. [2] And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman. [3] And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews. [4] Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king, [5] And said, If it please the king, and if I have found favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces: [6] For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? [7] Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. [8] Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse. [9] Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. [10] And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: [11] Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey, [12] Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar. [13] The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies. [14] So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace. [15] And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad. [16] The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour [17] And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.