Esther week 3 be a weeble
Esther - For Such a time as this • Sermon • Submitted
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Esther - For such a time as this
Esther - For such a time as this
(Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down)
Pen paper notes to read get stuck in make it count… what else are you going to do??
Welcome - great so see so many of you log on First - good luck with the subtitles! talk faster than Stu
How are you all doing i know this season is bring all different kinds of challenges to you all
loss, parenting, boredom, isolation, silence, fitness, comparison, pressure, home school, work, no work ,too much work long hours and stress
Shout out St Nicks staff and kids, had a heads up on today if been in prayer meetings you will have too!!!
Week 3 of Esther
Book of incredible story - read it - good read - tricky to interpret - - drama - passion action -
over all theme the famous phrase
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?”
no mention of God in this book
Some times you want a sign, audible voice from Gd, the bible seems full of it, poinient moments, epic battles, plagues.... events and God speaks, guides gives some sign
most poignant moments - meeting stu - moving/directions God has seemed silent - what do we do when God seems silent - how do we act when there isn’t a God narrative in the back of your head
This book presents a world - a time in History - the type that require an epic film narrative
4 main characters - different positions/personalities/backgrounds/influences/power/opportunity/control but equally a very important role to play
King Xerses - Crazy lavish King - makes poor choices following the council of others, in fact all through the book he doesn't seem to be able to make a decision on is own,
Esther - introduced last week as she entered this drama, but will be looked at in more detail next week
Beautiful - great figure - orphan -niece to Mordecai - a jew, heritage kept a secret as she becomes queen
Mordecai -man who’s world was turned upside down - dragged off to persia - learned - position in the palace which allows i’m access to over hear things - find out in a bit.
A Jew part of Gods people. Devout? faith? connection to his heritage?
Caring for his niece uncle to Esther. -mentor - guide - advice giver and prompt
Bit of history to help explain what happens - motive for behaviour -often found in our identity or family line huh!
Mordecai is listed as a descendant of Kish of the tribe of Benjamin - Kish was the name of King Saul’s Father. The Talmud also lists Mordecai as a descendant of Saul the first King of Israel.
Haman -Villain of the story/account Heres the connection, to cause some friction n our story -
Haman is most likely a descendant of the Amalekite King Agag.
The Amalekites were enemies of the Jewish people for many years. God had ordered King Saul (Mordecai’s ancestor) to completely destroy the Amalekites hundreds of years before.
Saul had disobeyed God and spared the King, as well as object and animals.Saul allowed Haman’s family line, the Amalekites, to continue when he disobeyed God’s command to completely destroy them - this brought about Saul’s downfall - God rejected Him as king
They had History!
While i can focus on detail within the storyline, history and plot, i want to talk to you about our reaction, i want us to use this story Gods word to challenge / encourage us our action , reaction sense of purpose and importance in such a time as this
Now especially we find ourselves in strange times a clear significant shift in our control, how we live, interact and it is world wide, this is not perculiar to one individuals crisis - death, moving someting significant this is on a world wide scale
So we find that we too like the book of Esther approach this season from different roles, responsibilities, abilities, level of control, backgrounds, opportunities, ........
REMINDER Without a doubt i believe you were born for this time, you are NO ACCIDENTS God our creator does not make mistakes
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
on purpose he knows you intimately and planned you you to be born at this time.
NO ACCIDENT ON PURPOSE FOR PURPOSE UNIQUE
gladiator quote - Brothers what we do in life echos into eternity - King - Esther - Mordecai - Haman
Here is what happened - their echo in our situation
What will you do, how will we act when face with a decision - when our world is rocked
Get ready for it…this is the word of God… He has been speaking into my heart this week....
BE a Weeble!!!!
Whats a weeble!!!!
Weebles wobble but don’t fall down!
Difference between a weeble and an egg ? GROUNDED - INTERNAL STEADY -
NO MATTER WHAT GOES ON AROUND THEM, THE OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENT - INTERNALLY STEADY
Section of The Adventure of Esther we come to today is end of chapter 2 and all of chapter 3
Could readt it and go in depth but that would detract from the point i feel God is speaking to us right here right now..
So more about Esther next week
Esther made Queen
Mordecai is faced with 2 scenarios - in his world - what does He do? different outcomes and effect on on his future
1 over hears conversation between 2 of the kings guards plotting to kill him
Picture it- Eunuchs - angry
no one know he s there he could walk away - king dragged him there - not a good king -
does he keep quiet - does he tell
he warns now queen Esther - Esther in turn tells the king = guards hanged - recorded in the book of chronicles in the presence of the king - no reward - (not yet anyway keep watching this space) seemingly no benefit
INTEGRITY IN THE PRIVATE
Are you having lots of time alone? no one can see what you are doing, does our integrity slack? when no one is watching?
sat their in your pants - made an effort - picking your nose now no one can see you?
working from home?doing your best?
attitude behind closed doors different?
is it highlighting where your identity lies - is it in your own power or Gods?
In the quiet Mordecai remained integral....
Hang on next
Mordecai’s action seem forgotten - Haman is promoted - separate matter- he’s the villian boooooo
All bow before him - King is all about honour so this was expected behaviour for officials to be greeted this way - but no not Mordeci - whats his beef? family history !obedience? integrity
Who does he ultimately answer to
base weight weeble grounded-
Haman won’t bow - other servant challange - please - warn
SET OF CHAIN REACTION - honour and pride so great, retaliation is not just against Mordecai but all of His people!
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. 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. 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.
the king and Haman chill with a drink the world is like what??!!!!!!
Choices, actions reactions to situations we can control, and situations we cant - our world can only make sense when we put our trust in the one who made the world, our creator.
Having our focus and trust in Him gives us our weeble base weight, our steady -
you see you can act with integrity, out of hurt, panic, learned reaction habbit -
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
Bible of full of examples of people whose worlds have been turned upside down - totally out of their control, Joseph Gen 37, Daniel, mary, paul
all give same narrative to their relationship with God or an encounter with God, all speak of the individuals integrity - what do you do when you don’t hear the narrative ,
get to that core - weeble
no matter of surroundings it is well
example of another world shaken Boat in the storm - mt 8:23, Mark4:35, Luke 8:22
Boat / sea familiar normal world for jesus mates - they were seasoned fishermen
still the storm that entered their familiar rocked them completly
calling out to jesus asleep - fearful - Jesus response
why are you afraid - im with you little faith
peace be still
all around you is crazy
the weeble weight of God inside you keeps you grounded
See God is bigger than any storm
He is in Control
always in your boat
Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down - by putting your faith in God your creator no matter what your surroundings - no matter what is normal new old or ever changing
He promises to place His greatness in you - His helper, Holy spirit - means integrity when no one else is looking - keeping your head when everyone else is losing theirs
seeing the light in the dak times
however much you are wobbled He is able to bring you back to steadied in Him
the best bit is even if all is lost and you do fall
He is able to pick you back up /8