Intro- Greeting- Explain the plan for this morning’s livestream.

A brief word about what is happening in our current events

Prayer

kids’ corner

a message from the Word of God.

Some may wonder why we are not meeting together at church this morning. And they may have a legitimate questions, even as we look to Scripture for guidance in making these types of decisions. For example, Hebrews 10:24,25 teaches that we should not forsake the assembly of ourselves together. And Ps 91 tells us in verse 3:

Psalm 91:3 ESV

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

But there is also further instruction in the Word of God, that sheds light on our current situation.

Romans 13 and other passages and examples in Scripture, help us to see that our civil government and authorities are God-ordained, for our protection and to bring order and safety to the general public. That is why, for example, we are not meeting together as a body of believers in the church auditorium/sanctuary. Though we fully trust that it is best for us to assemble together on a regular basis to worship God and to get together for fellowship, and we also fully believe that the Lord God is our protector and shield, some of the means that He uses to protect us, is through our government officials, who though not perfect by any means, I believe in this situation they are concerned about our safety and the safety of those who are already infected and require care from medical staff. We are also able to rely on professionals like doctors and nurses, who have also recommended that we avoid meeting together for the time being.

As of this morning, we have the freedom to meet, but feel it is a better choice to not do so. We have not been told to shelter in place, and so we are able to go out, enjoy the outdoors, and in cases of need, even visit and help one another, using recommended sanitization practices and social distancing guidelines, to reduce the risk of sharing this dreaded virus, that has seemingly turned the world on edge for the moment, and it is likely our lives will be significantly different than they were a week ago for months to come, in one way or another.

I’ll say this, we may find ourselves physically isolated, but we are not alone. As this social distancing recommendation continues, we as a church will need to find ways to creatively, but safely encourage one another and fellowship with one another. I believe that is vital to our spiritual, emotional, mental and physical health. Our spiritual health is of utmost importance, because it tends to be reflected in the other areas of our lives.

Please take care of yourselves. Just as the airlines recommend placing the oxygen mask on yourself, before you help someone else. Take care to spend time in the Word of God and in prayer, for your sake, and as you find encouragement there, then take the time to care for the people in your family and your friends, who may be struggling to find help and are grasping for hope at this difficult time.

Next, I would ask that each of you pray fervently for our nation, our government leaders on every level of government, our healthcare workers, who are in the front lines of fighting against a virus, that seems to be able to spread unknowingly. It is spread even when people are asymptomatic, which makes the job of stopping the spread extremely difficult and puts emergency responders and healthcare workers at risk each and every day. Please pray for the elderly and those with underlying health risks, that put them at a greater risk of suffering and even death from this virus. As much as possible reach out to elderly neighbors and family members, who you know that may need help getting food and other supplies.

I ask that you also pray for the people in our community and around the world who are finding themselves searching for answers to some of life’s most crucial questions. Please pray as Cathy and I have been praying that the Lord will reveal Himself to those who are struggling and searching, and that if it be His will, we can be a conduit wherein His hope and love is shared. I also ask you to pray for wisdom for each of us as to how we can bless one another and the people in our neighborhoods at this time. I would ask for your input and for you to share information with myself and the elders of this church as you see potential needs that we might be able to help with. I also ask for prayer as we consider how we ought to proceed in teaching, guiding, encouraging and shepherding our church family during this ever changing circumstance. As I mentioned just a minute ago, the Bible expressly commands us to fellowship with one another and to build one another up. We need wisdom to understand how we can do that, while seeking to comply with our governments recommendations and decrees.

Pray

Kids’ Corner- talking to the kids.

For Such a time as this

Two weeks ago we began a series in the Book of Esther. Little did I know how different our lives would be when I made the decision to preach from the book of Esther. The first week, we discussed chapter 1, which showed us the reality that God it at work, even in the midst of the immoral happenings around us and that we are to worship one God, the True and Living God, not human kings or rulers, based upon their power or wealth.

Though king Ahasuerus’ Empire, The Persian Empire was the greatest in all the world, at the time, he made some serious errors. No man, however powerful should be placed in a position of awe and worship, and we have plenty of examples in Scripture, from world history and from the events of our own lives, to be able to observe how doing so, will inevitably lead to severe problems. In Esther chapter 1, the king was having an incredible party, displaying in grand fashion, all his wealth and power, but he got drunk, and made a poor decision, that lead to Queen Vashti being remove from her royal position, and ultimately, it lead to Esther becoming the Queen.

Last week, we looked at the 2nd chapter, which tells us of the lowly orphan adoptee, who became the Queen, and we considered, some of the questions Esther may have asked throughout her life, as a young Jew, living in Exile, experiencing the death of her parents, being adopted by her cousin, remaining in exile, even as other Jews were returning to Jerusalem, her ancestral home. And now she has been taken from her adoptive father, and placed into the kings Harem.

I encouraged us, that even as Esther likely faced questions about her past, we also should ask questions about the circumstances of our lives either past or present. Are we in these situations due to our own sin, or as a result of someone else’s sin and we are innocent victims as we experience? And then, how have we, or are we responding to those circumstances. That process of “Putting our Past in Its Place” which is the title of the book I mentioned last week, is a very healthy process for us, but it is only a healthy and helpful process, if we use the Scriptures to help us determine which box the circumstances of our lives should be placed in.

As we continue our look at the book of Esther, we will occasionally refer back to the idea of putting our past in its place, and as we do so, I hope you will come to see how doing so, would be beneficial for us to do, concerning our life circumstances.

This morning I would like to take some observations from the next few chapters in the book of Esther. I won’t take the time, as I did in the past to read the complete chapters, but if you have your Bibles, I would encourage you to turn to the book of Esther, and we will be looking at a number of verses.

We have already briefly reviewed the crazy soap opera like events that took place in Esther 1 & 2, The vastness of the king’s empire, his celebratory pride, which ruined his relationship with Queen Vashti, and the search for a new Queen, which results in a orphaned jewish girl, gaining his favor and the Queenly crown.

So let’s pick up the story in the closing verses of Esther 2

Esther 2:19–23 ESV

19 Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. 20 Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him. 21 In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. 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 Mordecai, is the kind family member who adopted the young orphan, who has now become the Queen of the Persian Empire. We are told that his concern for Esther, kept him in close proximity to the gate near the King’s palace, where he ends up hearing about this assassination attempt that is going to be made on the king’s life.

So Mordecai, sends word to Esther, ultimately saving the king from a secret plot to kill him, which is going to come in to play later on in the story, but for now let’s talk about what happens next.

Just like a soap opera, chapter 3 starts with a shocking twist. In reading the end of chapter 2, one would expect the opening scene of chapter 3 to be “And Mordecai, was brought before the king and rewarded handsomely, for his efforts in sparing the king’s life. He was possibly the original “Secret Service Agent”. But that is not so, Look at Esther 3:1

Esther 3:1 ESV

1 After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.

What, where did this guy come from. How is it that Mordecai, isn’t promoted? In fact, if you read along in chapter 3 & 4, we see that just the opposite takes place. Haman is honored, Mordecai refuses to bow to him, which makes Haman furious, and eventually leads to Haman coercing the king into giving him the authority to take care of a group of people that he suggests are subversive to the king and his kingdom. Look at Esther 3 picking up in verse 12.

Esther 3:12–15 ESV

12 Then the king’s scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king’s satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written in the name of King Ahasuerus and sealed with the king’s signet ring. 13 Letters were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with instruction to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods. 14 A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day. 15 The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.

How’s that for a thank you. You save the kings life, and now you and your people are all given a death sentence. Proclaimed by an order sealed with the king’s seal, which is an order that cannot be changed. That is how it worked back then. The proclamation of the king was binding.

Such a time as this . . .

Let’s practice “putting these circumstances in their place”- What did Mordecai do to deserve this? He refused to bow to Haman, as if he were a god. Now he and all the people of God, young and old, women and children are to be destroyed and their possessions plundered.

Mordecai, hears of this, and he puts on sackcloth and covers himself in ashes and begins to mourn and weep just outside the palace court. Esther gets word of this, which causes her to have a conversation with Mordecai.

In chapter 4 is the key verse of the book of Esther, and it is found in chapter 4:14. This verse as I said last week is central, in that it reveals to us the very reason the events of Esther’s life and the other characters’ lives are recorded for us in the Word of God.

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?”

These are the words of Mordecai, Queen Esther’s cousin, who adopted her as his own daughter, prior to her being taken into the king’s harem and being crowned as the Queen of the Persian Empire.

Notice, Mordecai’s faith and trust in the promise of God.

I know, God’s name isn’t even mentioned here, but God’s covenant with Abraham, is mentioned.

He says, “deliverance will rise for the Jews.” Now, we put that into the context of the rest of the verse.

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?”

God’s covenant will be kept, He will deliver His people. Whether Esther chooses to place her life on the line, to plead with the king to save her people, or not, Mordecai has faith that God is going to make deliverance for His people. This is the good news, that is central to the Word of God.

It is humbling to think that a few months ago, as I was preaching through the apostle John’s first epistle, and I began considering what book of the Bible to preach on next, the Lord brought this, the book of Esther to my mind.

I hope you will see by the end of the message this morning, how wonderful and blessed and encouraging that is. To know that God knew that we would need to hear the message of the promise of God, in the context of what took place twenty five hundred years ago. And He knew that we would be focused on this historical narrative, as we are facing the current health and economic crisis, whichI believe barring His divine intervention, will continue to get worse before it gets better, and we will see from the book of Esther, how God has proven Himself faithful to provide, despite what the circumstances appear to be, in our community, in our personal lives and in our world.

God’s message is a message of hope and a message of promise, For Such a time as this.

In comparison, very few of us are facing certain death. Some may be more susceptible than others to this virus, but the reality is that this virus has merely forced many of us to consider our own mortality. His promises are for such a time as this, just as they were for us, a month ago, 100 years ago, and 2500 years ago. We are all destined to die. Hebrews 9:27 speaks about that reality. But the very next verse, is the good news. Similar to the news Mordecai mentioned in Esther 4:14- He will bring deliverance! The Old Testament, even the story of Esther points forward to Christ, The Deliverer. The one who offers us Eternal Life.

Hebrews 9:27–28 ESV

27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

I want to encourage you this morning, that despite the uncertainty of what lies ahead of us. Even though we don’t know the extent of the effects this pandemic will have on us, physically, financially, and emotionally, with a faith and trust in Jesus Christ as our Savior, we can have Spiritual life and Freedom.

Romans 10:9–10 ESV

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

We have a problem, every one of us. We have sinned against God, and we are deserving of death and separation from God, yet He has made a way, If we confess our sins and believe in our hearts that Christ has died and that He rose again. We can be saved.

Romans 10:11–13 ESV

11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

I want you to ask yourself, if today is the day (in SUCH A TIME AS THIS) that you need to make this decision? Have you been putting off confessing Jesus as your Lord? Maybe you are simply giving Him lip service, or pretending to believe in Him. Don’t be found lacking. Looking back in the book of Esther, we can understand her desperate situation.

Esther 4:11 ESV

11 “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. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”

Esther was being challenged to make a life and death decision, with uncertainty about how the king would respond. He may not welcome her into his presence. It could very well cost Esther her life, to make a plea to the king.

I am asking you to make a life and death decision, knowing in advance, what the King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s answer will be. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved”

Next, for those who have made that decision. Would you please, take the time to share this GOOD NEWS? Will you offer this message of hope and assurance to your friends and neighbors, who are likely seeking answers to a lot of life’s most important questions?

Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame! Don’t worry about what people might think of you. Don’t worry about those who would doubt.

We have a unique opportunity to share the Love of Christ, the Hope of Eternal Life, and the Peace of God with many who are unloved, lacking hop and struggling to find peace. Such a time as we are facing, pales in comparison to the circumstances that one faces if they die without knowing Christ’s gift of grace.

Let’s pray.