The Great Role-Reversal

Cultural Conversations (Sexuality):

July 30 from to 4 to 5pm we are starting conversations around the things that are “in our face” on a regular basis and we are looking at how we as followers of Jesus are encouraged to think about these things based on the word of God.

As we approach our discussion on sexuality, we have to completely reframe the conversation. Many people, especially Christians, are approaching this conversation in the wrong way, and asking the wrong questions. And this is not new to our generation, we see this happening even in the time of Jesus.

When the disciples asked Jesus about marriage and singleness, when the pharisees tried to trap Jesus in a hypothetical question about marriage, and then again with the woman caught in adultery, asking him what the law said about her lifestyle and what should be done to her, every time Jesus answered them in ways no one was expecting. He showed them the error of their thinking, taking them back to what God intended for marriage, singleness, and what the spirit of the law is. Every time he reframed their questions, because they were asking the wrong ones. This is what we are attempting to do in this cultural conversation around sexuality.

In our generation, we want to know what is permissible, what are we free to do and what does the Bible say is off limits? We want to know so we can be obedient to God. And this is not wrong, but if that is the extent of what we know regarding what the Bible says about our sexuality and the act of sex, then we do not understand the larger story the bible tells that is critical for us in cultivating holiness in this area of our lives, and we are woefully inadequate to engage the world and our culture on this topic. But if we ask the deeper questions like, “what is sexuality for?” then we will begin to see the larger, beautiful story that God has designed it to tell, and we will be able to see ourselves in this story. Do you sometimes wonder where your place is in it? Do you sometimes wonder if you even have a place?

God has made us as sexual beings for a reason, and we are all meant to live fully in a God honoring way and thrive in this area of our lives – even if we are not having sex. This conversation is for all of us. If you are single, widowed, married, divorced, engaged, dating, experiencing same sex attraction – whatever your story is, God’s design and story speaks to you, and it is good news. God is not confusing on this topic, but historically, the church has been.

“When our sexuality is confusing, God becomes confusing. When the body of Christ is not willing to engage in these conversations, we allow the Enemy to build strongholds in people’s lives. Their most private temptations, struggles, pain, disappointments, and shame represent their doubts about, resentment toward, and mistrust of the character of God.” - Dr. Juli Slattery

What would it look like if the body of Christ, and specifically our body here at City Chapel, received this good news ourselves and allowed it to transform how we see ourselves and others? What if we were then able to engage friends, family, neighbors and co-workers - everyone within our sphere of relationships - on this divisive topic of sexuality from a place of personal testimony, as well as knowledge and authority on what the bible says, but spoken in the humble and loving way of Jesus? Grace filled truth that removes confusion, truth that binds wounds, truth that sets prisoners free. Jesus had a picture for this very thing when he met with the woman at the well and transformed her, and through her an entire community. She became a spring of living water.

“I know of no greater failure among Christians than in presenting a persuasive approach to sexuality.” – Philip Yancey

The format is an hour long… 20min of Bible, 15-20min of table conversation, and then 20-25min of Q&R

The topics are 1. Why is talking about sexuality so difficult? 2. What is sexuality for? 3. How does the Biblical view of sexuality help us? 4. What does God do to help us?

I hope you can join us.

Introduction

We are continuing our study in the book of Esther. We are going to be in chapters 5 and 6. If you have your Bibles or devices you can make your way there. For our text that we will read this morning we are going to read the 14 verses that are in Chapter 6.

So if you have your Bibles or on your devices, and please stand if you are willing/able to as I read God’s word this morning.

Esther 6 NIV

That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. “What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked. “Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered. The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him. His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.” “Bring him in,” the king ordered. When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?” Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’ ” “Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.” So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!” Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him. His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!” While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.

This is the word of the Lord. Let us pray. Amen.

Please be seated.

ME

The right thing is always right; it is not often comfortable

Literature: The Horse and His Boy, by C. S. Lewis. In this book, in Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series, we find a wonderful quote about this concept. The main character, Shasta, has just finished a heroic march to warn an unsuspecting king of an approaching enemy army. He believes he has finished his quest after delivering the message to a guardian hermit and collapsing on his doorstep. Instead of being given rest, he is told he must get up immediately and deliver the message to the king by running on foot. He is struck by the cruelty of the request and cannot fathom how he will have the strength to go on. The narrator explains, “He had not yet learned that if you do one good deed your reward usually is to be set to do another and harder and better one.” This is the way it is for us, as well—doing the right but uncomfortable thing often blesses us with a chance to do things that are even more right and even less comfortable! In the process, though, we please the Lord and receive fellowship with him as our reward.

Schmutzer, A. J. (2018). Esther. In M. L. Strauss & J. H. Walton (Eds.), Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther (pp. 261–262). Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group.

We can be brought to these crossroads where we continually have to choose the good to do or not to do. Even not making a choice is a choice.

If we are given more change at the register than we should get, do we let them know or just walk out?

If we here something in the work place that negatively affects our team, our boss, or our company do we say something or do we just keep our head down and allow things to play out?

When we do make the right and good choice, it can create good benefit for everyone involved. Or it can even make things more difficult before things get better.

Illus: Back Surgery. Had to put my body through trauma (surgery) to fix another trauma (ruptured disc from car accident). Then recovery, I had to get up and walk around (pain) in order to make sure it healed well and correctly… needed movement… the difficulty at first compounded but then progressively got better.

WE

Have you been in this situation? That there is a difficult situation and you’ve been confronted with choices where you know you have to say something, do something, get involved because its the right thing to do?

Do you regret doing the good and right thing? Like our friend Shasta in Lewis’ book, did one good thing lead to another hard thing? Have you in the process experienced God’s pleasure and seen it shape and mold your life… what we call in Biblical terms… sanctification… being made like Jesus?

We see this in our text today.

GOD

While we didn’t read chapter 5… Esther is enacting her plan, what she knows what to do in order to stave off the day of genocide for the Jewish people that has been marked on the calendar by Haman and the King. She is planning two feasts for just the King and Haman… the first one is here in chapter 5.

Esther’s actions embody Israel’s wisdom theology...

Prov. 13:15 “Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous never changes.”

Prov 16:22 “Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor, but the discipline of fools is folly.”

Prov 19:11 “A person’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.”

…while Haman portrays the quintessential fool of Proverbs

Prov. 11:2 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Prov. 12:16 “A fool’s displeasure is known at once, but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.”

Prov. 13:16 “Every sensible person acts knowledgeably, but a fool displays his stupidity.”

The wise person knows not only how to act, but when to speak. Similarly, Esther displays profound tact when working with rulers and powerful people . Esther also shows that wisdom can require a costly effort that reaches far beyond polite words (Prov. 15:28; 17:27). In the end, Esther integrates a deep commitment to God’s purposes with great skill in dealing with self-centered people.

Schmutzer, A. J. (2018). Esther. In M. L. Strauss & J. H. Walton (Eds.), Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther (p. 260). Baker Books: A Division of Baker Publishing Group.

Haman’s pride and narcissism is on full display in chapter 5 and in the beginning of Chapter 6.

As we read in Chapter 6, the King could not sleep… literally the sleep of the King fled from him. So he has someone read to him… have trouble falling asleep have someone read to you the book of Chronicles (ha!)

The account of Mordecai’s good work is brought to light.

Let’s remember that Mordecai doesn’t owe the king anything.

In fact he had his niece taken from him, trafficked for the King and his court.

He’s a pagan king with detestable practices who elevates wicked men to power and authority.

BUT, Mordecai heard of a plot to kill the king, and he did the right thing.

We start to see the tables turn… the dawn has broken… God uses this honorable and right thing that Mordecai did to bring about his will.

As we read, the King asks Haman what should be done to honor the one who honored the King. Haman thinks its him, cause who else could it be? Haman mentions what he wants done for him and then is told to do it for his sworn enemy, Mordecai.

While there is deep significance in doing the right thing, as I have mentioned up to this point. I think we would be missing the larger point if we didn’t see Jesus in this story.

Esther intercedes on behalf of the people. Jesus is God incarnate that intercedes for us, doing what we could not do for our salvation.

Mordecai does the right thing in revealing an assassination plot against the King, Jesus does only the will of the Father that life and is the light of men.

While the enemies of the Jews sought to kill them, the resilience of Mordecai and Esther staved off genocide. Jesus willingly when to the cross (as principalities and powers wanted to destroy him) dying, buried, and rising on the third day overcoming/conquering sin and death on our behalf.

Like Esther, Jesus confronts the one seeking our demise and overpowers him.

God was setting up Esther to be a vessel of deliverance for the people. Jesus is the perfect fulfilment of God’s provision against sin, sin that separates us from God for eternity.

YOU

So how does this impact you?

How has God set you up? What influences do you have? What is your sphere of influence (work, family, friends, neighborhood, following, platform)?

What has God made you aware of? What are needs that you see? What are the things that when you see them you heart breaks, you are frustrated, you are moved to do something about it?

Often times God gives us a glimpse of something so at the very least we can pray but at most so we can step in and be an instrument of His (Salt and Light).

How did Jesus interact with those that he came to seek and to save? How did Jesus step in and sow peace but at the same time do something about the brokenness that he saw?

What might God be stirring in you? What right and good thing can you do next for the glory of God?

The right and good things we do isn’t primarily about the people or the circumstance as much as it is to glorify God. To please Him. To walk and do the things that he did.

We were at odds with Him in sin… we were at war with Him… while we were at war with Him, He died for you and me that He might bring peace between us.

2 Cor. 5:21 “He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast.”

US

So because of what Christ has done for us, in us, what is He calling us to do that He might work through us?

What happens when a small body such as this goes out into our sphere’s of influence and we pray just as Jesus did Luke 22:42b “... not my will, but yours, be done.”

What happens when we find and look for Jesus in the mundane?

Our vocation as Christians is more than a career. God created his imagers to work in multiple spheres. Putting bread on the table is a noble task, but it is just one part of human vocation. Seeing all of life through the lens of vocation helps us see the significance of things we might otherwise consider mundane.

Our callings are our primary means to bring God glory, loving him and our neighbor, and the primary ways in which our lives intersect with various cultural arenas. If we are seeking to fulfill these callings faithfully and with excellence, we will find ourselves able to witness to Christ with the whole of our lives in every dimension of society and culture.

Ashford, B. R. (2015). Every Square Inch: An Introduction to Cultural Engagement for Christians (pp. 43–44). Lexham Press.

It’s the servants that see the miracles… those faithful in the mundane see the otherwise miraculous in the midst of faithfulness. (John 2: Wedding at Cana)

“The Christian life is not a quiet escape to a garden where we can walk and talk uninterruptedly with our Lord, not a fantasy trip to a heavenly city where we can compare our blue ribbons and gold medals with those of others who have made it to the winners’ circle. To suppose that, or to expect that, is to turn the nut the wrong way. The Christian life is going to God. In going to God Christians travel the same ground that everyone else walks on, breathe the same air, drink the same water, shop in the same stores, read the same newspapers, are citizens under the same governments, pay the same prices for groceries and gasoline, fear the same dangers, are subject to the same pressures, get the same distresses, are buried in the same ground. The difference is that each step we walk, each breath we breathe, we know we are preserved by God, we know we are accompanied by God, we know we are ruled by God; and therefore no matter what doubts we endure or what accidents we experience, the Lord will guard us from every evil, he guards our very life.”

Peterson, Eugene H.. A Long Obedience in the Same Direction: Discipleship in an Instant Society . IVP Books. Kindle Edition. End of chapter 3.

May we not only sense, but may we know that we are in the palm of our Savior’s hand. May that renew the way that we see the things about us. May we work and do all things to the glory of God… it is my prayer for you and I, that when we look back, may we see that even some of the most mundane things done for the glory of God turn out to be those very same things that have transformed and changed lives for an eternal good to the glory of God.

Would you stand… let us pray.