Patience through darkness

IF YOU HEAR NOTHING ELSE TODAY I NEED YOU TO HEAR THIS:

God has a great plan for our life, but we have to be patient enough to be able to step into his calling.

Pray

Patience is the fruit and proof of faith.

John Calvin (French Reformer)

Story of having to wait to use my subwoofer

Esther was patient in her calling process. Background leading up to Ch. 4

Read Scripture Esther 4:12-17

Esther 4:12–17 (NIV)

When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”

So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.

- Finish giving details on Esther

1. God is sovereign in your story.

Life doesn’t make sense a lot of the time and I don’t think it’s supposed to. God made us to rely on him.

Though he isn’t mentioned we see his sovereignty throughout Esther’s story.

Encourage - where has God been sovereign and faithful in your life?

2. This year you will need to say no. (Vashti)

God made us to be holy. He calls us to live differently - consume, speak, wear - “The Chosen” - Salmon swimming upstream

What happened with Vashti?

Be different

3. Stay dependent on God’s wisdom to navigate difficult decisions and circumstances.

Relationships break off - Loved ones die - we are asked if we want to go with the crowd - We are asked to be unethical at work - we are confronted with family drama that is difficult to navigate

All areas, and more require Gods wisdom

CLOSING - FEAR

Esther would've had a lot of fear, before doing what Mordecai called her to do.

365 times in the bible God says “DO NOT BE AFRAID”

Following God is scary - He asks us to do things we dont want to do

talk to those we dont deem worthy,

give up money to a cause when we want to use it ourselves

Love those we dont care to love - Forgive those we dont want to forgive

What happens when Esther did what God wanted her to do? She received more than she could ever imagine.

Fear not that your life shall come to an end, but rather fear that it shall never have a beginning.

Saint John Henry Newman

God will bless our faithfulness in ways we can never imagine, but we must be patient.

CLOSE IN PRAYER