WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.279 This morning we are in the book of Esther. 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:08.960 We continue the series that Pastor Josh started last week. 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:14.960 A fascinating book about a courageous woman. 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:20.399 And yet a woman that wasn't perfect. 00:00:21.039 --> 00:00:24.079 She had her flaws just like we have ours. 00:00:24.320 --> 00:00:26.000 And yet how God used her. 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:31.600 Only one of two Bible books named after a woman, the other one after Ruth. 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:37.679 But we see an amazing story and account in this book. 00:00:38.079 --> 00:00:43.119 And let me just do a little storytelling before we read the text that's printed this morning. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:49.039 Mordecai, Esther's cousin, perhaps uncle. 00:00:49.200 --> 00:00:52.399 Remember Esther's parents died. 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:54.479 She grew up an orphan. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:57.840 And Esther ends up in the harem. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:00:59.359 You heard me right. 00:00:59.520 --> 00:01:00.719 That's what it was. 00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:06.159 She ends up in the harem of one of the most powerful kings on the earth. 00:01:06.879 --> 00:01:09.920 Some of you know his name as Xerxes. 00:01:10.480 --> 00:01:13.439 A little bit easier to pronounce than Hesher with us. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:18.480 Xerxes and Xerxes, the king of Persia. 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:31.040 And to give you a little historical background, there were things that were going on throughout the time that some of you know you're familiar with, the book of Nehemiah, the book of Ezra. 00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:35.760 These were roughly the same time period or close to the same time period. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:54.879 We're going to talk about that a little bit more, the interrelationship between what was going on in Jerusalem with Ezra, Nehemiah, what was going on in Persia with Esther, because God was working out his story through all these people of his own choosing. 00:01:55.359 --> 00:02:10.800 But Mordecai, Esther's uncle, to pick up the story where we left off last week, discovers, because he's hanging around the palace, because Esther, his niece, is in the palace. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:12.960 She's in the king's harem. 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:24.560 And Mordecai is concerned about her well-being, so it seems that he has a habit of hanging out outside the palace gates as much as he can to know what's going on. 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:27.120 He's concerned about her well-being. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:37.120 And one day, when he's hanging out, he hears, overhears, a plot by two of the king's attendants, and they're plotting the king's death. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:43.199 And Mordecai hears it, he reports it, and the plot is averted. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:45.599 The king is spared. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:48.719 And that's part of the story. 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:53.759 Haman is another character in the story. 00:02:54.000 --> 00:03:06.000 Haman, who is a descendant of the Amalekites, and some of your ears are perking up because you may know that there was a long-standing feud between the Israelites and the Amalekites. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:11.599 The Amalekites were among Israel's most bitter enemies. 00:03:11.840 --> 00:03:16.719 They did everything they could to oppose the Israelites going into the promised land. 00:03:17.759 --> 00:03:21.439 They tried everything they could to destroy the Israelites. 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:23.599 They weren't able to do that. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:27.520 And now, centuries later, here's one of the Amalekites' descendants. 00:03:27.599 --> 00:03:28.960 His name is Haman. 00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:34.080 He's a bad guy, as we see from reading the story. 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:42.159 Haman and Mordecai's lives intersect because Haman is growing in power under the king. 00:03:42.560 --> 00:03:48.719 And Haman notices that Mordecai, this Jew, refuses to bow before him. 00:03:49.280 --> 00:03:52.560 And he really takes offense at that slight. 00:03:53.439 --> 00:03:59.360 He becomes furious that this Jew, Mordecai, won't bow before him. 00:04:00.159 --> 00:04:02.719 I mean, he was just an egomaniac. 00:04:03.680 --> 00:04:17.839 And so it gets under his skin so much that Haman, very close to the king, goes to the king and says, you know, King, you've got some really bad people in your kingdom. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:26.319 And as we learned last week in the sermon, there's 127 provinces that stretch from Pakistan to Sudan. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:31.040 A large area under the grip of the Persian king. 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:35.839 And the king doesn't know all these people. 00:04:36.160 --> 00:04:38.560 Frankly, the king doesn't probably care. 00:04:38.800 --> 00:04:41.360 All he knows is that he's gaining power. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:53.759 It comes to his attention from Haman that, well, King, these Jews, they're not good people, and they're really your enemy, and they're trying to be subversive to you. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:56.879 I think it would be best if you exterminate them. 00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:03.439 All because of one person in his life that he can't stand. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:20.240 And so the king, not really caring that much, says, fine, take my signet ring, the symbol of my authority, and go ahead and write the edict that you think is necessary. 00:05:21.279 --> 00:05:30.399 And so Haman, using the king's authority, writes the edict that goes out all over the provinces. 00:05:31.439 --> 00:05:34.879 How does he come about the date of their extermination? 00:05:35.680 --> 00:05:37.839 It's called the pure the purr. 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:43.759 It's really like the dice that they would cast, that they would roll the dice. 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:53.199 And he does it on the first month of the year, but it turns out the dice, random, so to speak, he thinks it's random, comes up 11 months later. 00:05:53.279 --> 00:05:56.720 They're going to exterminate all the Jews within the kingdom. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:06:00.800 By the roll of the dice, as far as Haman's concerned. 00:06:01.600 --> 00:06:04.480 And Haman's a shrewd guy. 00:06:05.199 --> 00:06:09.279 Haman knows that the king is also going to war with the Greeks. 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:12.240 Some of you may remember this from world history. 00:06:12.720 --> 00:06:16.160 At this point, the Greeks and the Persians were at war. 00:06:17.199 --> 00:06:26.879 And to go back to last week, remember that lavish party that the king had for all of his leaders in his kingdom? 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:30.560 Remember it was a 180-day party? 00:06:30.879 --> 00:06:32.879 Remember how lavish it was? 00:06:33.680 --> 00:06:37.360 Well, it wasn't just because of the opulence of the king. 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:53.120 Many scholars believe that what Haman was doing was using the king as a pawn because he says, if you go ahead and exterminate all the Jews, I will give you up to 10,000 talents of silver. 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:58.399 Some scholars think that that would have been half the royal revenue for the year. 00:06:59.600 --> 00:07:02.240 He didn't probably have that money. 00:07:03.680 --> 00:07:16.800 It would seem like from putting two and two together, it would seem like he thinks, okay, we will exterminate the Jews worldwide as much as we can, and we'll take their plunder. 00:07:18.319 --> 00:07:20.480 Likely that's what Haman was thinking. 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:23.439 We'll plunder the exterminated Jews. 00:07:23.920 --> 00:07:27.759 I'll gather the plunder, I'll give it to the king. 00:07:28.240 --> 00:07:30.639 And Haman thinks everybody wins. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:33.920 No. 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:41.040 But he takes the ring, he issues the edict with the king's authority. 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:48.160 And by the way, the banquet was probably by King Xerxes. 00:07:48.240 --> 00:07:55.279 The banquet was to secure the favor of the leaders of all these 127 provinces. 00:07:55.839 --> 00:08:03.600 He wants to wine and dine them, even though he doesn't probably have the revenue to pay for it. 00:08:05.839 --> 00:08:10.240 He wants to get them as allies against the Greeks. 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:14.160 Now let's just pause for a moment. 00:08:14.560 --> 00:08:22.639 All this plotting, all this scheming, does this sound a little familiar in our day and age? 00:08:24.560 --> 00:08:26.800 Sometimes it's political parties. 00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:31.040 Sometimes it's office politics. 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:33.679 Sometimes it's family. 00:08:34.720 --> 00:08:40.639 I think that's that's some of the most cruel ways I see it operate as a pastor. 00:08:40.879 --> 00:08:44.159 Some of you have been schemed against by your family. 00:08:44.799 --> 00:08:49.039 You've been harmed by your family, and it's like, what's going on here? 00:08:50.320 --> 00:08:59.120 The edict was delivered to all the provinces, and the Bible tells us in their own language, sent by couriers. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:10.000 Get the word out as quickly as possible, and in 11 months, every Jew within the kingdom is fair game to be exterminated. 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:15.840 Men, women, elderly, children. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:24.720 The king and Haman, it says the last verse before our text, sat down to drink. 00:09:25.279 --> 00:09:30.000 And the city, the capital city of Susa, was thrown into confusion. 00:09:30.720 --> 00:09:35.200 That's what's going on when we pick up the story. 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:48.399 When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes and he put on sackcloth and ashes, and he went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry. 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:55.279 He went up to the entrance of the king's gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth. 00:09:55.519 --> 00:10:10.639 And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them lay in sackcloth and ashes. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:17.039 When Esther's young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:23.759 She sent garments to clothe Mordecai so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:37.759 Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was. 00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:43.840 Hathach went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:54.000 And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews. 00:10:55.039 --> 00:11:11.200 Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her, and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of her people. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:17.919 And Hatach went and told Esther what Mordecai had said. 00:11:18.159 --> 00:11:41.679 Then Esther spoke to Hatach and commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter, so that he may live. 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:47.919 But as for me, I have not been called to come to the king these thirty days. 00:11:48.799 --> 00:11:51.519 And they told Mordecai what Esther had said. 00:11:51.840 --> 00:12:00.320 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, Do you not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews? 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:10.159 For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. 00:12:11.279 --> 00:12:16.559 And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this. 00:12:17.279 --> 00:12:29.360 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:33.120 I and my young women will also fast as you do. 00:12:34.080 --> 00:12:41.360 Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish. 00:12:42.000 --> 00:12:46.720 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. 00:12:48.080 --> 00:12:49.600 This is the reading of God's word. 00:12:49.840 --> 00:12:50.960 Let's pray. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:13:03.200 Oh King of kings, the only true king, we thank you that you have given us your edicts, not to harm but to bless. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:06.159 Not to crush, but to deliver. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:16.000 Oh, free us, Lord Jesus, this morning in new ways as we understand the real purpose of this story in our lives today. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:17.919 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:18.879 Amen. 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:26.559 Let me give you just a brief outline what this is about this morning. 00:13:27.039 --> 00:13:29.759 First of all, the plot to kill the king. 00:13:30.320 --> 00:13:33.279 Secondly, the plot to kill the Jews. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:37.039 And lastly, the plot to kill the king of the Jews. 00:13:37.279 --> 00:13:39.600 The plot to kill the king. 00:13:42.240 --> 00:13:44.639 We covered that briefly already. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:52.720 Mordecai discovers the plot by the two attendants of King Xerxes, reports it, the king's life is saved. 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:57.279 You see, the king had his own enemies within the palace. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:04.000 But that was averted by Mordecai the Jew. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:09.360 Secondly, the plot to kill the Jews we've already spoken of. 00:14:09.840 --> 00:14:12.080 We picked up in chapter four. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:17.440 And Mordecai is just greatly grieved. 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.360 How could this be? 00:14:19.759 --> 00:14:32.960 How could this king order the extermination of all the Jews because of Haman's offense, taking offense from me, but not bowing? 00:14:36.320 --> 00:14:43.679 Mordecai cried out with a loud and bitter cry when he heard of the edict. 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:48.960 The text tells us, and there was great mourning among the Jews in the city of Susa. 00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:54.559 It wasn't fair, it wasn't righteous, it wasn't just. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:08.080 Come on in here. 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:12.559 He was using her. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:15.200 And you remember what she said? 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:15.759 No. 00:16:16.879 --> 00:16:17.200 No. 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:21.120 I'm not gonna be your toy. 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:26.399 And what does she have to do because of that? 00:16:26.879 --> 00:16:28.399 What happened to her? 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:30.960 You're no longer the first lady. 00:16:31.519 --> 00:16:37.279 If you can't do as I command you to do, I'll find someone else who can. 00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:39.440 That's what happened to Vashti. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.759 That's how she lost her role. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:48.720 Because she wouldn't just submit herself to the whims of her husband. 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:53.360 And then you remember the king is now really insecure. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:54.480 Well, wait a minute. 00:16:54.559 --> 00:17:01.039 This can't be because, you know, if my own wife won't obey me like this, then what about all the other men in the kingdom? 00:17:01.200 --> 00:17:02.399 What were their wives do? 00:17:02.480 --> 00:17:05.440 And that's how he ended up getting Esther to come in. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:10.400 He found Esther exceedingly beautiful, charming. 00:17:11.039 --> 00:17:15.599 He wanted Esther to be the queen, this Jewish woman. 00:17:15.839 --> 00:17:18.640 But evidently he didn't know that she was Jewish. 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:22.640 Everything in the Bible suggests that she kept that hidden. 00:17:23.759 --> 00:17:26.000 Self-preservation, perhaps? 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:31.039 For whatever reason, she didn't think it was necessary to reveal that. 00:17:32.720 --> 00:17:35.759 And she's unaware of the edict. 00:17:36.400 --> 00:17:44.559 She just doesn't know what's going on until Mordecai finally communicates through a servant. 00:17:45.920 --> 00:17:50.640 Would you please let Esther know what's going on? 00:17:52.880 --> 00:18:03.759 And then she hears that Mordecai is out in the city gate outside the palace in his torn clothes, and that was that was against the law. 00:18:03.920 --> 00:18:13.440 You didn't wear your torn clothes and mourning and fasting in the king's presence on the king's grounds because he wanted everything to be happy. 00:18:14.000 --> 00:18:23.519 He was one of those people, maybe you know someone like that, that no matter what's going on, they just they have to keep everything on the upside. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:29.519 They just can't live with real trauma or drama. 00:18:32.480 --> 00:18:36.640 He gets word to Esther, Esther, you need to do something. 00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:44.319 You're in a position of authority, you're in a position of prominence, you've got the king's ear. 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:47.039 And what does she say? 00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:48.799 No, I don't. 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:54.480 I'm the queen, but he's got a lot of women in his harem. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:19:00.000 And as a matter of fact, he hasn't called for me in 30 days. 00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:03.839 And oh, by the way, there is the law of the Medes and the Persians. 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:10.000 If I go in unsolicited, I go to death. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:11.759 Because you just don't do that. 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:15.200 You don't go into the king's palace unless you're summoned. 00:19:16.000 --> 00:19:18.559 Esther says, I can't do anything. 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:25.440 Mordecai says, You're our best hope. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:29.039 If you don't do it, who will? 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:34.880 Although he actually doesn't believe in God's providence. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:42.079 He believes, apparently he believes that God has promised to protect the Jewish people and he will. 00:19:42.960 --> 00:19:54.960 And he says, Esther, if you don't step up, if you don't do this, God is going to deliver his people somehow, somehow, if not through you, but through somebody. 00:19:56.160 --> 00:19:57.359 Why not you? 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:03.519 And so we read in the text. 00:20:05.200 --> 00:20:06.799 Do you think you're safe? 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:07.680 Esther? 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:13.920 If you keep silent, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place. 00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:27.039 And then that famous line from the book of Esther that many people have heard, whether they've read the book or not, who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:44.720 What Mordecai is really saying to Esther, the queen, look, neither you nor I understand the providence of God and all the things that God is doing behind the scenes. 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:49.279 God is not mentioned once in this book. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:52.480 God's fingerprints are all over this book. 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:55.359 Prayer is not mentioned once in this book. 00:20:55.599 --> 00:20:59.440 Prayer is integral to the storyline. 00:21:01.039 --> 00:21:03.440 So just stop for a moment and think about that. 00:21:03.680 --> 00:21:06.559 Because there is application in your life as well. 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:12.720 Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:22.960 You have no idea of what God's purpose is for your life and all the details. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:25.680 I don't either. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:42.880 We don't know what God's purpose has been in our background, and that includes where you were born, that includes your education, that includes the gifts that God's given you, the positions God's granted you. 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:47.200 It is all part of his master purpose. 00:21:48.160 --> 00:21:53.039 But how easy it is for us to live is though, no, it's just kind of random. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:57.759 I see no reason why what's going on in my life right now is going on. 00:21:57.920 --> 00:21:59.039 It makes no sense to me. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:03.119 Or there must not make sense to God or anybody else. 00:22:03.279 --> 00:22:06.799 I've noticed as a pastor that's oftentimes when people check out. 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:10.720 That's oftentimes when people just step back. 00:22:11.200 --> 00:22:13.680 That's oftentimes when people lose their worship. 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:16.960 That's oftentimes when people stop going to church. 00:22:18.720 --> 00:22:30.799 There can't be anything good going on in my life when I look around and I see all the things that don't add up. 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:34.480 Have you ever thought that? 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:36.400 Have you ever said that? 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:40.400 Did you come into the sanctuary this morning with that weight? 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:56.000 Who knows whether God has not placed you in this position for this time because God has a purpose that goes far deeper than your understanding? 00:22:57.599 --> 00:23:07.680 Ray Bachy, a urban missiologist, has a great book, A Theology as Big as the City I read years ago that I thought was so helpful. 00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:15.920 Ray suggests that we, again, we need to see Nehemiah, Ezra, and Esther all as part of God's work. 00:23:16.960 --> 00:23:33.119 Ezra, the priest, the clergyman, Nehemiah, the city planner, building the walls, Esther, Esther the politician, helping to make new laws. 00:23:35.839 --> 00:23:38.000 You want to get one with that story? 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.119 Esther? 00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:50.160 Esther, after three days of mourning and fasting and praying, and all the Jews who knew, they sought God. 00:23:50.720 --> 00:23:56.400 They said, God, you alone can rescue, you alone can deliver us? 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:59.599 God, would you please change the mind of the king? 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:04.640 Would you please change the heart of the king against all odds? 00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:07.680 And you know what God did? 00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:10.480 In response to the prayers of his people. 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:13.039 He did work. 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:16.079 In response to the prayers of the people. 00:24:17.119 --> 00:24:33.119 Esther mustered up her courage and she went in to the king uninvited, knowing very well, she says, if I perish, the king could have said easily, What are you doing here? 00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:35.279 I don't remember inviting you. 00:24:36.799 --> 00:24:41.119 Guards, take off her head. 00:24:41.359 --> 00:24:44.640 I mean, that's what was going on in those days in that kingdom. 00:24:47.680 --> 00:25:03.279 In response to the prayers of God's people, in response to the fasting in the mourning, in response to seeking God with all their hearts, God heard their prayer. 00:25:05.279 --> 00:25:07.759 Esther found courage. 00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:14.640 And she went to the palace and she said, I would like a word with the king. 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:18.240 And the king extended his scepter to her. 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:19.519 Come. 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:25.359 And she tells the king of this plot to exterminate. 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:33.039 I'm not going to tell the whole story this morning because we're not done with the book. 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.880 You got to come back. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:38.960 The story gets even better. 00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:42.799 But you can guess. 00:25:45.119 --> 00:25:47.440 God honors her courage. 00:25:50.880 --> 00:25:52.160 And you know what? 00:25:54.079 --> 00:25:58.960 God is still honoring Christians' courage today. 00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:05.359 When they see what's really going on in their world and they stand up against evil. 00:26:05.839 --> 00:26:10.799 When they see what's going on in the world, maybe you, I'm looking at you all, right? 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:13.359 We've got some Esther's in this room. 00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:19.279 You're an Esther if you are working for political justice. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:30.000 If you're working for good legislation, and here the city, the city in the world, known for that. 00:26:30.400 --> 00:26:36.400 If you're working to bring about justice and righteousness, you're an Esther. 00:26:38.000 --> 00:26:41.359 We have Ezra's preachers. 00:26:42.640 --> 00:26:44.799 We have city council people. 00:26:45.359 --> 00:26:47.039 We have Nehemiahs. 00:26:47.440 --> 00:26:49.279 Some of you are Nehemiah. 00:26:50.079 --> 00:26:55.359 You're working to rebuild broken cities. 00:26:56.559 --> 00:26:59.920 You're working to rebuild a broken world. 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:10.079 You see, building the kingdom of God is not simply about you doing evangelism. 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:14.640 And that might come as news, good news to some of you. 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:19.279 Building the kingdom of God is a holistic project. 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:22.480 It takes all of us in our roles. 00:27:23.759 --> 00:27:27.599 Using our gifts, finding our gospel courage. 00:27:28.400 --> 00:27:32.240 Some of you are going to do it tomorrow when you go up back to Capitol Hill. 00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:36.160 Some of you are going to do it tomorrow when you go to the executive branch. 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:42.640 Some of you are going to do it tomorrow when you work with other people, the Supreme Court. 00:27:44.480 --> 00:27:46.240 Do it in your neighborhoods. 00:27:55.359 --> 00:27:56.960 That's part of it. 00:27:57.759 --> 00:28:02.079 But building God's kingdom comes in different shapes and forms. 00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:03.759 Be encouraged. 00:28:04.319 --> 00:28:05.200 Encouraged. 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:06.480 You know what that word means. 00:28:06.720 --> 00:28:08.640 To put courage into you. 00:28:09.680 --> 00:28:16.559 Nothing puts courage into you like King Jesus when you understand that you're part of his kingdom building. 00:28:17.680 --> 00:28:19.200 That's going on here. 00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:22.240 This is all going on. 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:25.839 A theology. 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:29.759 As big as the city. 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:32.240 None of them were perfect. 00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:35.759 Esther had some serious flaws. 00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:39.200 She wasn't perfect, neither are we. 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:42.319 But she rose up to the occasion. 00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:44.640 She stepped up. 00:28:46.160 --> 00:28:48.480 And God used her in a mighty way. 00:28:48.799 --> 00:28:50.880 What did we sing a few minutes ago? 00:28:51.200 --> 00:28:59.680 Lord, would you give me such a kingdom perspective that I would be okay with you using me any way that you choose? 00:29:00.799 --> 00:29:06.960 Even if it's a little space, I'm okay with that, Lord. 00:29:07.599 --> 00:29:11.839 Or if it's a big space, I'm okay with that, Lord. 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:15.039 You do the appointments. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:20.319 Using our position for good. 00:29:22.000 --> 00:29:24.400 Are you learning to become a Mordecai? 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:26.240 Are you learning to become an Esther? 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:28.079 Are you finding courage? 00:29:28.400 --> 00:29:32.160 God's placements always have a purpose in life. 00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:34.799 Or are you stuck? 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:39.440 Are you stuck because of the haymans in your life? 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:45.200 Is there a Haman in your life? 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:58.559 Is there somebody that just got you all wound up tight and you're just kind of paralyzed in your anger or your grief or your despondency? 00:30:00.079 --> 00:30:03.279 I can't do anything because there's a Haman in my life. 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:05.440 A lot of Christians do. 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:07.519 Not you. 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:10.640 Not if you're looking to Jesus. 00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:19.599 God appoints the hamans in this world, just as he appoints the Esters and the Mordecaies. 00:30:19.839 --> 00:30:21.920 And you're part of this story. 00:30:23.039 --> 00:30:24.000 What are you going to do? 00:30:24.160 --> 00:30:26.319 How are you going to learn how to become a Mordecai? 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:29.599 How are you going to learn how to become an Esther against the Hamans in this world? 00:30:29.680 --> 00:30:32.079 And again, some of you are going to do it through legislation. 00:30:32.240 --> 00:30:35.759 Some of you are going to do it through fair and ethical practices in your business. 00:30:35.920 --> 00:30:40.960 Some of you are going to do it in raising your children to be Esters and Mordecaies. 00:30:41.039 --> 00:30:44.079 And there's a thousand ways that this gets worked out. 00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:48.240 God's placements always have a purpose. 00:30:48.319 --> 00:30:49.599 Don't be one of those Christians. 00:30:49.759 --> 00:30:57.039 It seems like there's a lot of them around today that throws your hands up and says, holy smokes, look what's going on in Washington. 00:30:57.599 --> 00:31:01.279 There's nothing I can do except complain. 00:31:03.599 --> 00:31:06.079 There's nothing I can do but gripe. 00:31:09.039 --> 00:31:10.640 Don't get stuck there. 00:31:11.519 --> 00:31:12.960 Don't get stuck there. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:15.119 Be part of the solution. 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:20.079 God's placements always have a purpose. 00:31:20.240 --> 00:31:22.160 God is orchestrating all things. 00:31:22.400 --> 00:31:26.000 God raises people up, and God deposes people. 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:32.319 He is the loving controller of not only your life, he is the loving controller of this world. 00:31:34.880 --> 00:31:40.319 But like Esther, sometimes we have to move out of the palace. 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:42.799 We have to be willing to move out of the palace. 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:53.119 If Esther, if it for Esther, it was all about her comfort, if it was all about her convenience, if it was all about her security, she would have never been used by God. 00:31:53.759 --> 00:31:56.400 Are you willing to move out of your palace? 00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:59.039 You think, well, maybe I don't have a palace. 00:31:59.200 --> 00:32:00.720 Well, actually, maybe you do. 00:32:01.599 --> 00:32:07.680 Maybe you have more blessings and maybe you have more creaturely comforts than most of the people in this world. 00:32:08.640 --> 00:32:10.640 Maybe you have more position than you realize. 00:32:10.799 --> 00:32:13.359 Maybe you have more spiritual authority than you know. 00:32:13.599 --> 00:32:16.319 Are you willing to move out of your palace? 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.759 Why would you? 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:26.880 Because he moved out of his palace. 00:32:27.279 --> 00:32:30.799 We're going to come to the table of the Lord in just a few moments. 00:32:31.119 --> 00:32:34.880 This is the only, this is the highest appeal I can give. 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:38.640 I'm not here today to tell you to be like Esther. 00:32:39.039 --> 00:32:41.759 I'm here today to tell you to look to Esther's God. 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:46.160 This table reminds us. 00:32:46.400 --> 00:32:51.680 This table teaches us that the king of glory left his palace. 00:32:51.920 --> 00:32:59.200 And he gave up all of his, all the things that he had that reminded him that he was king. 00:32:59.279 --> 00:33:10.640 And he came to this earth to deliver, to rescue, to save people who are actually deserving of the edict of extermination. 00:33:13.839 --> 00:33:17.920 Tom read earlier in the word in the service, Acts chapter 4. 00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:21.680 Those are amazing words. 00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:26.480 You know what happened when Jesus was crucified on the cross? 00:33:26.960 --> 00:33:35.920 God used the greatest evil that this world has ever known to bring about the greatest good that this world has ever known. 00:33:36.240 --> 00:33:38.480 Isn't that about the cross? 00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:47.519 Those people did whatever your hand, God, your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:52.720 What kind of God can use the greatest evil to bring about the greatest good? 00:33:53.440 --> 00:33:54.319 Your God. 00:33:55.680 --> 00:33:58.079 And he can do it in your life too. 00:33:58.400 --> 00:34:01.200 But he will do it in your life only as you look to the one. 00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:05.599 He will do it in your life only as you look up to what Jesus gave up. 00:34:07.039 --> 00:34:10.239 You look to him what he gave up. 00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:16.320 And you look at what he rescued you from, and you leave your palace. 00:34:20.639 --> 00:34:25.760 And you say, God, use my life as you choose. 00:34:26.079 --> 00:34:29.039 May this not be about me living for my comfort. 00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:34.079 May this not be about me living for my security. 00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:41.280 Are you learning how to be a gospel speaker? 00:34:42.239 --> 00:34:45.039 Are you learning how to speak into people's lives? 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:49.760 Listen, you can't be a speaker until you become a listener. 00:34:50.480 --> 00:35:00.559 Esther could have never gone into the king's palace if she had not met with God, if she had not fasted and prayed, if she had not laid herself before God, she would never have had the courage to do that, and neither will you. 00:35:01.920 --> 00:35:06.239 Are you learning how to sit with God so that God can speak? 00:35:06.480 --> 00:35:07.760 Are you learning how to hear? 00:35:07.840 --> 00:35:10.239 Is your antenna attuned to him? 00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:15.280 You're never going to get that courage if you don't. 00:35:16.000 --> 00:35:17.440 That's true for me. 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:19.360 It's true for you. 00:35:26.559 --> 00:35:37.199 The more I get to know this story, the more I want to be an Esther, the more I want to be a Mordecai. 00:35:37.679 --> 00:35:38.960 God use me. 00:35:41.920 --> 00:35:43.119 How about you? 00:35:46.639 --> 00:35:50.480 Take your hymn book and turn, if you will, to nine, hymn number 94. 00:35:56.480 --> 00:35:58.559 How firm a foundation. 00:35:59.119 --> 00:36:02.639 I'm not going to read all the verses, but we're going to sing this in a moment. 00:36:02.880 --> 00:36:09.360 When through the deep waters I call you to go, the rivers of sorrow will not overflow. 00:36:09.679 --> 00:36:18.400 I will be with you, your troubles to bless, and sanctify to you your deepest distress? 00:36:19.920 --> 00:36:27.039 I'm asking you, is it possible for God to sanctify to you your deepest distress? 00:36:28.159 --> 00:36:34.719 Do you believe that God can bring good out of the bad news of your life? 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:41.519 And some of you are going through really hard times right now, and you're wondering, Lord, why? 00:36:42.000 --> 00:36:43.519 You're saying, Lord, what? 00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:48.719 This is the God of Esther, this is the God of Mordecai, this is your God. 00:36:49.519 --> 00:36:51.039 Pray with me, please. 00:36:53.199 --> 00:36:57.280 Oh, Father, this morning we come and we thank you for the great deliverance. 00:36:57.440 --> 00:37:11.119 We thank you that this story was not only about the plot to kill the king, this story is not only about the plot to kill the king of the Jews, excuse me, to kill the Jews, this story is really about the plot to kill the king of the Jews. 00:37:12.639 --> 00:37:25.760 Thank you, Father, that the true king actually offered his body to be killed so that we could be freed. 00:37:27.280 --> 00:37:38.639 Thank you, Jesus, that you were willing to leave the palace and to offer your life that we might find true life, eternal life, abundant life. 00:37:39.119 --> 00:37:46.079 Oh, Jesus, give us faith to look to you this day, to give up whatever small things we must give up. 00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:49.679 But Lord, give us grace to stay in difficult situations as well. 00:37:50.400 --> 00:37:52.159 We pray in Christ's name. 00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:52.960 Amen.