For such a time as this - Identity
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 6 viewsNotes
Transcript
Get back to your roots!
Get back to your roots!
Re-establish your identity as a follower of Jesus - from falling away or never walking with God you are only steady when you know who you are.
For such a time as this! ESTHER
End of the Series, wrapping up - chapters 8/9/10
Over last few weeks our theme in this current co-vid environment - The book of Esther for Such a time as thi
What has this account (full of plot twists, heroes villans, romance, violence ) shown us /taught us?
If you’ve not been with us here is what you have missed:
OT Book of Esther -
The Account
Opens with great feasting, all officials from all over Persia invited by king Xerxes -to boast of his great wealth
Invites his then wife Vashti to show off her beauty to his friends.. she refuses
Ill advice from drunk friends gets rid of Vashti
Same friends advise later a beauty contest to get himself a new wife
Esther is a Jewess, living in Persia with her cousin Mordecai. She is very beautiful. wins beauty contest The king of Persia, Xerxes, falls in love with her and makes her his queen, not realizing that she is a Jew.
Meanwhile, Mordecai makes an enemy. This is Haman, who is one of the most powerful people in the land. Haman plans not only to kill Mordecai, but also to exterminate the Jews in every province of the empire. But Mordecai is in close touch with his cousin, the queen …
Encouraged by Mordecai, Esther risks her life. She goes into the king’s presence without being summoned. Mercifully, Xerxes spares her and asks her request. As an answer, Esther invites the king to dine with her, with Haman as their honoured guest.
After the meal, Haman returns home elated at his good fortune. He decides to build a monstrous gallows on which to hang Mordecai. Meanwhile the king passes a sleepless night reading the records of his reign—and is reminded that he owes Mordecai a favour.
When the king and Haman meet the next day, they are delightfully at cross purposes. The king asks Haman’s advice on how best to honour a man. Haman (thinking he is the one to be honoured) prescribes a procession fit for a prince—only to find himself having to arrange it all for Mordecai!
A second banquet - Esther asks king to spare her life and stop slaughter that has been decreed for the Jews
King furious - who planned it - Esther reveals da da daaaaahhh! Haman!
Haman pleads - King has him hanged on the gallows he had made for Mordicai -
Esther reveals how she is related to mordecai
king gives Esther Hamans estate and mordecai promoted
Not The end!
we now come to the final chapters Well done Esther Haman been found out! But the decree is still at large!!
How is the genocide to be averted?
here is how the account ends
The kings order must stand - but Esther and Mordecai persuade him to send out a further decree
The Jews can defend themselves - They have the right to kill anyone who attacks them
When the day arrives The Jews do indeed defend themselves to great success and avenge many scores with old enemies, the date becomes the feast of Purim for future generations - last feast of the Jewish year
So this chosen people, Gods chosen people not only survive but thrive with amazing victory.
lack of mention of God in this book does not negate His work and hand in the lives of Esther and Mordecai
So Far this series, Esther - For such a time as this, has helped us reflect on living a life of purpose, integrity, being transformed by prayer, being steady when the world around you and the situations you find yourself in are out of your control and as i round up this series today we are brought back to the foundations of where we find our purpose, integrity, transformation and steady, and that my friends is in your identiy
You are here/purpose/for this time covid/life what you make of it depends on where you find your identity.
Jewish people were living in exile - mordecai had been of the generation captured and carried off to persia -
The Bible Guide Living in a Pagan World
On a serious note, the story of Esther raises the question of how Jews should maintain their distinctive standards and way of life in a pagan world. The answer seems to be that they must seek the good of their ruler and their neighbours, and put their trust in God in times of persecution. Although the Jews kill many of their enemies at the end of the story of Esther, and see the sons of Haman hanged, there is a strong message in their refusal to take any plunder from their victims. They will defend themselves against injustice, but their welfare and hope is in God alone.
Living in a worldly culture the reestablish their identity as Gods chosen people.
You see ultmatley the bigger picture here is all about God’s pursuit to rescue His people, His creation
Way back after man turn away from God at the start of creation God made a promise with Abraham, God put his great rescue plan into action he wanted to bless His people and he was going to do t though a family - the Jewish people, they would show what God was like and eventually God himself would come though this family line -
but they were rubbish people - kept turning away - chronicles so frustrating - so quick to turn to other Gods even after victory - to blend in with other cultures...
mirrors us in this time our lives
This is the time that Esther was living
But God sent Jesus - God among us- Jesus the perfect image of God because he was God - sent to be the perfect sacrifice to be the ultimate final payment for turning away, living life in disobedience the only way to bring us back into relationship with God so we no longer have to be separated.
the threat of Genocide at the time of Esther, when many Jews had probably acclimatized to the new cultures around them, caused the people to stand up and fight, re-establish their identity as Children of the most High God
When Jesus Died and rose again He made a way for all of us to take on the identity as children of God, part of the family ....
it quite often takes a crisis, genocide or covid 19 to rock our identity -
Where do you find your identity? who are you
is your identity found in your job, relationships, money, power, image
maybe this season has meant you cant work - your job is different -
image - cant get nails done look different
family members - loss changed who you are?
identity can be found in so many things - the colour of our skin, sexual preference - looks -achievements - , relationships - single, married divorced, mother.....
when your world is rocked the things you found your identity in rocked what are you left with?
The Jewish people had to make a stand and re identify as Children of God - that is the only certainty they had, and in that was the victory - and blessing
Not only that but by re- establishing their identity caused those around them to come under Gods authority
And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.
Esther 3. Salvation for the Gentiles (17)
3. Salvation for the Gentiles (17)
a. Then many of the people of the land became Jews: As they saw God working on behalf of His people, they wanted the same relationship with God.
WE have heard it over and over “ cant wait for the normal “new Normal”
you know so many life incidents can change our normal - a death - an assult - a house/job/school move -a new friendship - a breakdown of a friendship - the list is endless but
each change affects our “normal”
Esther’s world turned upside down -living in a counter culture - plucked from her family - place in palace - what normal - her core - her identity - if not outward - inward - prayer - favour - steady - brave overcome fear -
Our choices are covid rocked your world - your identity
Let the Account of Esther bring you to this conclusion:
if you already have relationship with God -follow
How - in the word - reflect the father - family characteristics
through this other will see your steady and also be drawn into a relatioship with God - our creator - the source of our identity - family - purpose
If you have just been sitting on the sidelines - popping in -encourage you to re establish your identity your core n God your creator
above what you do your job , status, - open to change
I am the alpha and omega
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
For such a time as this - for such a place as this
where are you?
who are you
whose are you
time to rise up