Leaders of Impact

Second Night Preaching

Esther 4:13–17 CSB

Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, “Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace. If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.” Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.” So Mordecai went and did everything Esther had commanded him.

Esther 4:13–17 NKJV

And Mordecai told them to answer Esther: “Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me; neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish!” So Mordecai went his way and did according to all that Esther commanded him.

Influence is the ability to affect people’s thoughts, attitudes, or decisions.

Key idea: You shape how people think or feel.

Impact is the actual result or outcome of that influence—what changes because of it.

Key idea: You produce visible results or change.

Si Gabriela Silang (Maria Josefa Gabriela Silang) ay ipinanganak noong Marso 19, 1731 sa Ilocos Sur. Una siyang ikinasal kay Don Tomas Millan, ngunit namatay ito, at kalaunan ay napangasawa niya si Diego Silang, isang lider na lumaban para sa kalayaan laban sa mga Espanyol. Noong 1762, sumama si Gabriela sa pag-aalsa ng kanyang asawa. Ngunit pinaslang si Diego noong 1763 dahil sa pagtataksil ng kapwa Pilipino na kumampi sa mga Espanyol.

Matapos ang pagkamatay ni Diego, ipinagpatuloy ni Gabriela ang laban. Kahit nawalan ng pag-asa ang marami, siya ang naglakas-loob na mamuno sa mga rebelde. Tinawag siyang “Henerala” dahil sa kanyang tapang at pamumuno. Pinangunahan niya ang ilang laban laban sa mga Espanyol, kabilang ang mga pag-atake sa Vigan.

Gayunpaman, kalaunan ay natalo ang kanyang hukbo, at siya ay nahuli sa Abra. Siya at ang kanyang mga kasama ay pinarusahan, at si Gabriela ay binitay noong Setyembre 20, 1763 sa edad na 32. Hanggang ngayon, kinikilala siya bilang isang bayani at simbolo ng katapangan at mahalagang papel ng kababaihan sa pakikibaka para sa kalayaan ng Pilipinas.

“Every day, you make decisions, speak words, and respond to situations—but have you ever stopped to ask: Is your life just influencing people… or is it actually changing lives?”

In the bible, there was also a woman who took courage to saved her tribe

Tonight, join me as we discover how the queen of Persia made an impact.

The Book of Esther does not explicitly name its author, so the writer is unknown.

Esther tells the story of how a Jewish woman delivers her people from destruction while living under Persian rule. Though the Jewish exiles had been permitted to return to their homeland after Babylonian captivity, many remained in Persia, having established roots there during their long displacement.

The narrative centers on Esther, who becomes queen to King Ahasuerus, and her cousin Mordecai, a palace official.

When Haman, (1 Samuel 15) the king’s chief advisor, feels disrespected by Mordecai’s refusal to honor him, he orchestrates a scheme to eliminate all Jews throughout the Persian kingdom by deceiving the king into issuing an execution order.

1 Samuel 15:2 “This is what the Lord of Armies says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt.” (cf. exodus 17)

Esther intervenes at Mordecai’s urging, using her influence with the king to expose Haman’s plot, resulting in Haman’s execution on the very gallows he had prepared for Mordecai, while Mordecai receives promotion. The book’s structure mirrors a dramatic narrative, with the first half escalating danger to the Jews and the second half depicting their deliverance.

The Jewish people gain permission to defend themselves against their enemies and achieve victory, which they commemorate through the Feast of Purim.1 Though God is never explicitly mentioned in the text, the narrative subtly suggests divine providence working through the unlikely chain of events to protect His people.2 The events are dated to approximately 485–465 B.C. during King Ahasuerus’s reign.

Observations on the life of queen Esther

How can you make an impact

Be principled — a woman of integrity (3:8)

Esther 3:8 “Then Haman informed King Ahasuerus, “There is one ethnic group, scattered throughout the peoples in every province of your kingdom, keeping themselves separate. Their laws are different from everyone else’s and they do not obey the king’s laws. It is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them.”

A principled woman stands firm in what is right, even when it is difficult.”

Expansion (optional): Integrity means your private life and public life match. You don’t change your values based on convenience—you live them consistently.

Practical application:

Sa Kaminyoon (Marriage)

Magpabiling respetado ug matinud-anon sa imong bana bisan naa moy conflict

Istoryahi ang problema nga adunay gugma ug respeto, dili kasuko

Pili-a ang pagpasaylo ug pag-ayo sa relasyon kaysa pride

Sa Pamilya (Family)

Magpakita og maayong panig-ingnan sa mga anak sa pulong ug binuhatan

Disiplina ang mga anak nga consistent ug makiangayon

Likayi ang tsismis ug negativity sulod sa balay—panalipdi ang kalinaw sa panimalay

Sa Espirituhanong Kinabuhi (Spiritual Life)

Magpabiling faithful sa pag-ampo ug pagbasa sa Pulong sa Ginoo

Tumanon ang kabubut-on sa Ginoo bisan lisod o dili popular

Mosalig sa Ginoo bisan sa kalisod, dili lang kung sayon ang sitwasyon

2. Be teachable — a woman willing to learn (4:13-14)

Esther 4:13–14 “Mordecai told the messenger to reply to Esther, “Don’t think that you will escape the fate of all the Jews because you are in the king’s palace. If you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will come to the Jewish people from another place, but you and your father’s family will be destroyed. Who knows, perhaps you have come to your royal position for such a time as this.””

A teachable woman is not just someone who speaks wisely— she is someone who knows when to be silent and receive.

You don’t stop learning just because you already know something. Humility keeps your heart ready to receive.

Practical application:

Kung gitambagan ka sa bana o leader: Ayaw dayon balibari—paminawa ug timbang-timbanga.

Sa marriage: Dili pirmi ikaw ang sakto—ang pagpaubos makapalig-on sa relasyon.

Sa fellowship: Open sa correction ug teaching—dili lang tigpaminaw, kundi tig-apply.

3. Be courageous — a woman willing to sacrifice (4:15-16)

Esther 4:15–16 “Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.””

“A courageous woman chooses what is right, even when it costs her something.”

Expansion (optional): Courage is not the absence of fear—it’s obedience despite fear. Sometimes doing what’s right requires sacrifice.

Practical application:

Kung kinahanglan ka mosulti sa kamatuoran: Bisan lisod, istoryahi imong bana o pamilya with love.

Kung naa kay kinahanglan i-correct sa balay: Buhata with wisdom ug courage.

Kung naa kay kahadlok (financial, parenting, future): Buhata gihapon ang sakto bisan nahadlok ka.

Esther 9:1–4 “The king’s command and law went into effect on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month Adar. On the day when the Jews’ enemies had hoped to overpower them, just the opposite happened. The Jews overpowered those who hated them. In each of King Ahasuerus’s provinces the Jews assembled in their cities to attack those who intended to harm them. Not a single person could withstand them; fear of them fell on every nationality. All the officials of the provinces, the satraps, the governors, and the royal civil administrators aided the Jews because they feared Mordecai. For Mordecai exercised great power in the palace, and his fame spread throughout the provinces as he became more and more powerful.”

In the end, a true leader is not defined by her position or power, but by her unwavering principles, teachable spirit, and courageous faith—like Esther, who chose to stand, speak, and sacrifice for a greater purpose “for such a time as this.”

Don’t just be a woman of influence—be a woman of impact.

Start today. Start where you are.

Let God use your life.