You Have A Purpose
Notes
Transcript
Why do we exist? Why were you born? Think about that for a moment. Why was I born? If we believe that there is a God. If we believe that he created the world. And if we believe that he is in heaven now watching over all of his creation…then what is the purpose of your existence? Why was Dad born? Why was ________ born? Why were we all born?
There are 8 billion people in the world today. 8 billion. God has a purpose for each one.
There are 213 million people in Nigeria. God has a purpose for each one.
There are 847,000 people who live in Enugu State. God has a purpose for each one.
There are 444,000 people in the Nsukka Local Govt Area. God has a purpose for each one.
There are almost 50 people in this room. God has a purpose for each one.
We have been reading the book of Esther. A young Jewish girl who was living a normal life, now he has been appointed queen to the most powerful king of that time. But the reason she in queen isn’t because of her beauty. God had a purpose for Esther. Her life would be remembered thought history because of the purpose that was given to her.
This morning we continue to look at that purpose...
Let’s stand up this morning, raise our bibles and declare what we believe.
THE BIBLE IS THE WORD OF GOD
THE TRUTH OF THE BIBLE WILL CHANGE MY LIFE
LORD OPEN MY HEART AND AWKEN MY MIND
AND GIVE ME GRACE TO RESPOND
CHANGE ME FOR YOUR GLORY AND MY JOY AMEN.
When Chapter 4 ended, Haman, the kings must trusted servant and gone to the King and told him that he needed to kill all the Jews. He did this because of his own family background and Mordecai, Esthers Uncle would not bow down to him. Haman was angry. And he wanted all the Jews killed because of his anger for Mordecai. The King said yes, go ahead, make the law, and kill the Jews.
Mordecai heard about this and he sent word to Esther, the queen, who was also a Jew. And he wanted her to go to the King and tell him what Mordecai was doing.
Remember those words from Mordecai to Esther in verse 14?
Esther 4:14 (ESV)
14 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. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
He tells Esther…maybe this is the reason you have been made queen. How is it that this young, unknown, Jewish girl is now queen in the largest kingdom?
God has a purpose for everyone. And Mordecai says, maybe this is YOUR purpose.
Let’s see how God uses Esther this morning. Esther Chapter 5.
As you are turning there, we are going to see everything that happened in the story this morning which includes Chapter 5, 6, 7, and 8.
1 On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king’s palace, in front of the king’s quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace. 2 And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, she won favor in his sight, and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter. 3 And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even to the half of my kingdom.” 4 And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.” 5 Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared.
Last week we talked about taking a risk. That’s what Esther has now done. By going before the king without being asked to come, she took a risk, because it was not allowed. She could have been killed for going in without being asked, but God had a purpose for Esther, and she was welcomed before the king.
Esther wants to tell the King what Haman is trying to do, so she asks the King and Haman to a feast. They come and enjoy the feast, and then Esther ask them both to come back the next day for another feast.
Now go down to verse 9.
9 And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king’s gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zeresh. 11 And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. 12 Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king. 13 Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.”
Do you see the pride of Haman? He leaves the feast, goes back to his home and when he sees his wife and friends he begins to talk about all the things that he has, all the power that he has been given and each boasts that the Queen has invited him to a second feast for him and the king only. His wife knows all of these things, His friends know all of this things, yet he likes to talk about it and remind people how important he is. But is all the great things he has, in all teh power that has been given him, one thing makes him angry....Mordecai. Mordecai is not bowing down to him. And this anger for Mordecai leads to to make another plan. Verse 14 shows that he planned to hang Mordecai by a rope around his neck and kill him.
It’s now the night before the second feast. Look at Chapter 6, verse 1:
1 On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. 2 And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 3 And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”
If you remember back in Chapter 2, Mordecai had heard to of the Kings people planning to kill the King, so he told Esther to tell the King and the plot against him was discovered. It had been five years since this had happened.
Esther 2:23 (ESV)
23 When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.
This book of the chronicles was a book where history was written down. When something happened, it was written down for future generations to see. So when Mordecai discovered the plot to kill the King, Mordecai’s name was written down in the book. That night, 5 years later, as the king is reading the book he remembers what Mordecai did, as realizes that nothing was given to Mordecai for saving his life.
So in the remainder of Chapter 6, the King honors Mordecai. He gives him the best clothes and a fine horse and a parade through the city so that he can be honored with what he has done to save the life of the King.
Now it’s the next day, and it time for the 2nd feast with Esther. Look at Chapter 7, verse 1:
1 So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. 2 And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. 4 For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?” 6 And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.
The KIng had honored Mordecai, a Jew, for saving his life. His queen Esther, was a Jew. Maybe the King thought that the Jewish people were not out to get him like Haman said. So when Esther told the King that Haman was trying to kill them, look what happened in the last verse of chapter 7....the King ordered his men to hang Haman. They did. And the Jews were saved.
Look at Chapter 8, verse 5.
5 And she said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke the letters devised by Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king. 6 For how can I bear to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?” 7 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, because he intended to lay hands on the Jews. 8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.”
God had a purpose.
His purpose for Esther and Mordecai was to continue his plan for redemption. When sin came into the world through Adam and Eve, God’s plan was one day to send his Son Jesus Christ to cover the sins of man with his own blood. And because of the risk and obedience of Mordecai and Esther, God used them for his purpose to be fulfilled. The Jews would continue to live, they would not be erased, and 400 years later Jesus Christ, a baby in a manger would be born through a young Jewish girl named Mary. God’s purpose would be fulfilled. The hope of the world would come because of God’s purpose that was fulfilled from the life of Esther ad Mordecai.
I want you to see 3 things this morning as we try to understand that God has given us all a purpose.
God’s purpose for you can be fulfilled only in your own humility.
Look at the difference between the character of Haman and Esther. Haman says looks at me, see all the things I have done. Even the Queen wants me to come to a special banquet. But look at the life of Esther. She risks her life to save her people. She shows a life of humility.
God has a purpose for you, but you will never be able to achieve that purpose if you do not show humility.
There is a reason for the proverb that says....
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
That word haughty means arrogant. He thought he was better than everyone else. Pride means that you take your eyes off of God and place them on yourself. You are the important one, not the one that gave you life and wants a relationship with you.
The prophet Jeremiah spoke the words of the Lord...
Jeremiah 9:23–24 (ESV)
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
There can only be one master in your life. You will either make the Lord your master or yourself the master. This world will tell you that you control your destiny. Do what you want. Do what makes you happy. But listen to this…when you do what you want, what makes you happy…it will only make you satisfied until the moment you breath your last breath. Then, all of this life will be wasted because you will be separated from God. You can still be happy in this life and have humility. God loves a humble person that looks to him.
God has a purpose for your life, but you need to be humble.
2. God purpose for you will always give glory back to him.
When Esther stood up for her people and they were saved for being eliminated as a race, the ultimate reason wasn’t to save their lives, but it was so that Jesus would come, defeat the devil, and bring glory to God.
Why are you here on Earth? What is your purpose. You may experience may things in your life....family, friends, school, a job… but make no mistake, as a follower of Jesus Christ your life should point to Jesus and at the end of yoru life you should be able to look back and say “My life gave Him glory.” That was Pauls goal:
28 Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 29 For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
Are you looking for ways to bring him glory? Are you thinking i your mind, today, I want to tell someone about Jesus? I want to live my life so that no one questions…I LOVE JESUS. Give glory to him and you will be living out God’s purpose in your life.
3. God’s purpose for you will point others to salvation.
Look at what happened after Esther told the king about what Haman was trying to do.
8 But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, and seal it with the king’s ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king’s ring cannot be revoked.”
We can look at this story and see the humility and honor of Mordecai and Esther and think they were the ones who saved the Jews. But even though played a important part, it was God’s plan to ultimately bring salvation to man through his Son Jesus Christ.
But we should not overlook the importance of us being used by God. He uses people. People who are not perfect, people who don’t always get it right. People like me and you. Think about all of the people in the Bible.
Moses- killed a man, but he would be chose by God to brig his chose people of of Egypt ad move them towards the Promised Land.
Aaron, who made the golden calf for everyone to worship, the God used him as a High Priest
Rahab a prositite.
The women the well who had bee married 5 times
Matthew, a tax collector
Zachias, stole money from may people
Peter who denied he knew Jesus 3 times!
Paul- a killer of Christians
James, the brother of Jesus who at first didn’t believe he was God.
I could name more, but my point is this… God uses people like you…sinners. But sinners who believe, repent, and have been saved by grace.
Are you a sinner? I am. I don’t deserve God’s love and his mercy. But he gives it to me anyway. You know what that is called? Grace. Grace is receiving something that we something we don’t deserve. I don’t deserve his love, and neither do you. But he gives it to us anyway by what his Son, Jesus Christ did on the cross. Jesus, bled and died for you.
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I was was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.
Have you give your life to Christ. Have you said to him, I know you died for me. I believe you are God, ad I want you to save me. Make me whole, Jesus please give me your mercy and grace.
You see, God has a purpose for your life, and it begins when you turn your life over to him.