For Such a Time as This!

Good morning, Happy mothers day! We are thankful for all our moms and celebrate you all today. Mothers day is on a different day in the Uk and so it one those dates that is kind of easy for me to miss..

Thankfully, I remembered this year... and got speak my mom and tell her how much I love and appreciate her..

One of the blessing of my life is that I have been surrounded by godly woman who are real role models. I grew up in a Christian home and my mom has always been one of my cheer leaders in my life. Mom’s are amazing!!

This morning we are starting a New Series Entitled the The 80/20 Principle… and we are going to be talking about Incredible woman name Esther… who made a stand for the Lord when it counted..

But…first as as introduction to this sermons series — I want to explain the

20/80 Principle? The 20/80 Principle is also called the Pareto principle ..

The principle states that -

“For many events in life, 80 percent of the effects come from 20 percent of the causes” Pareto principle

……for example...

20% of the input creates 80% of the result

20% of the workers produce 80% of the results

20% of the customers create 80% of the revenue

20% of the bugs cause 80% of Computer crashes

and so on and so on..

In other words, if you can identify and address the 20 percent of the causes, 80 percent of the effects or issues can disappear…

The idea is to identify the 20% …

Over the next several weeks we are going to address the “20%” these are possible “troubled areas” in our lives — that we can get stuck… And by identifying and addressing these problem areas it can lead to greater out comes and joy in our lives..

The First issue that is in that 20% is the of discovering our LIFE PURPOSE.

We are going to be looking at the book of Esther and will Zero in CHAPTER 4 - When Esther discovers her life purpose....that… God had called her to be the queen of Persia for a purpose.. She had come to the kingdom for such a time as this.

T/s We learn from Esther that..

1. Our life Purpose is Connected to a Broader Context

What is interesting about the book of Esther is that there is no mention God in the whole narative. Even though we don't hear the name of God we can definitely see His involvement in the Story..

The book of Esther is the story of God’s sovereign hand in preserving His people.. Even though bad things happen God is working out his plan in the world..

Paul echoed the same sentiment in…Rom 8:28.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

The reason All Things work together for good is because we approach life from design… all things are moving towards His good...

That we have been made for a purpose… David in the psalms said that God knew him and knit him and put him together the womb— that his frame was not hidden from God...

There has been a lot of News on the Royal family lately....with all the drama and controversies … with the Prince Harry and Megan interview with Oprah… what they shared with the world rocked the boat…

The book of Esther is also a Royal drama … there is trouble in the Palace…

At the begining of Esther we are thrown into this world.... where king Ahusurus’s in the Monarch of Persia who is incredibly Powerful and Wealthy .. King Ahasurus’s Empire stretched from India to Africa.. with over a 127 provinces..

There was none like him in the world… He had absolute Authority and godlike power … There is nothing that He lacked anything he desired he could have... including all the choice maidens of the land...

The book of Esther beings with this elaborate celebration of the kings power and wealth... and for 180 days -- The people of Persia celebrate the Kings success and wealth.. At the end of the 180 days -there this lavish party that is thrown that lasted a week..

All the best linens, jewelry, wines were on display…It is a party like none other..

but it at this Party.. where we discover some deep seated insecurities in the kings life...

On one particular day of the feast, the king had one to many to drink ..we are told that He… got merry with wine

He thought that it would be a good idea to show off his wife’s….. and so he commands Queen Vashti to come with her royal crown and parade before the people.. But .. Vashti refused ..and this humiliated the king…

Not only was his ego is bruised, but Queen Vashti’s disobedience poised as a threat…to his kingdom..

He feared of loosing good faith with all the men in the kingdom because of her lack of obedience... And his adviser warned him is he didn’t act — It would cause this domino affect where every wife would stand up to their husbands..talk about mass insecurities...

—So the King… banished Queen Vashti from his sight…and she is demoted as queen…

The kinds treatment of queen Vashti Reminds us that at times life is not fair… that there are times where we are impacted by the action and sins of others..…

The book of Esther also reminds us that God story … is bigger than bruised Ego pf the king and the injustice shown to Vashti...

Esther is a story of reversals of fortunes... and how those who are mistreated are going to be restored honored.. We see God’s heart for those on the fringes of society...God’s heart has always been the broken hearted of our world…

Dennis and I had this great conversation last week.... We were talking about the verse in 1 peter 5 we are told to cast all our cares upon him because he cares for us. And Denny made the point that he had read in Rick Warrens purpose driven life -- where he says that God is not only with us... But God is also for us... There is a difference.. not only is God in your corner ,but he is fighting on your behalf... that is what we see in our text.. God is for us…

but things are going to get worse before they get better.. After this celebration we learn of another force of evil at work in Persia.. There is a man named Haman who has worked himself up the ranks in the kingdom all the way to top -- King Ahasuerus promotes him above all the officials in the Empire...

Haman become this huge influence.... but he is one these characters that power went straight to his head… it is interesting that the king promotes someone just like himself… He is really reproducing same kind of leaders as himself… Haman wanted power and respect… and..

When Haman turned up at the town square -- he expected everyone to drop everything…and bow before him and pay him respect…

But there is another man who stands up to Haman in the town square at the city gates that is … Mordecia…(Esthers Uncle) …

Esther 3:2–4 ESV

2 And all the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. 3 Then the king’s servants who were at the king’s gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king’s command?” 4 And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai’s words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew.

You couldn’t find two different… men… and they are the contrasted through the narative..

c. Mordecai is God's Man---

Haman represents Evil in the world.. Mordecai represents a God consciousness that is the world… that brings people back to God and his word.

Mordecai is an elder who sits at the gates.. he was part of the wise councilors in Israel.. He doesn't just talk -- He walks his talk… he does sit back..

The famous quote of Edmund Burke..says..

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke

Mordecai can see right though Haman exterior mask and sees a man who is hungry for power, who had his sights on the Thrown… Mordecai refuses to fuel Haman's huge ego…

His resistance his power.. bruises Haman’s ego and he sets his sights on destroying Mordecai and the jewish people..

Haman approaches the King and gets and basically bribes the King with money to sign this Edict… that would annihilate the Jews… and plunder all their belongings.

When Mordecai sees what sees what Haman has done he puts on sack clothe and goes into mourning… Haman is not alone but the whole nation goes into mourning..

While this all Happening ...

Esther is in the palace disconnected from her family and people … she has no idea what happening on the ground… One of the reasons we can miss our purpose is simply that we can be disconnect...

When Esther heard that her uncle was ath city gate in rags… she is embarrassed an sends him clothes to Mordecai.. She really has no idea what is happening around her...

Mordecai Gives Esther the Big Picture… Haman can not be ignored… He tells Esther that Haman has his heart set on the Throne and destroying the Jewish nation…

The big picture is that there are two forces at work in the world… good and Evil.. Jesus said that...

John 10:10 ESV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Mordecai sends a message to the Esther with the decree of the King.. and pleads with Esther to go to the king and to beg his favor and plead with him on behalf of the people…

Esther is shaken… remember King Ahasurus was godlike figure... Esther didn’t jut go before the King she had appointed times.. if you approached the king at the wrong time it could mean certain death… Esther…says that she has not been called to the king for 30 days..

It is easy to get overwhelmed by the broader picture…

T/s What do we learn from Esther about living a life on Purpose?

1. Our life Purpose is Connected to a Broader Context (Big Plot)

2. Our life Purpose is Connected to Immediate Context.

There was a church in Zimbabwe… Graystone Community church… They have been Effective over the years of Reaching out and having a missional mindset as a church… What I remember is had a sign that you read every-time you left the church… You are read the words YOU ARE NOW ENTERING THE MISSION FIELD… I think often we thing that God’s purpose is found somewhere else… maybe at a different time… You don’t have go to seminary… you don’t have to go on a missions trip… Your and my purpose begins where we are..

The truth is that are to live out God’s purpose in our current context…

We need to be reminded of this on regular basis...

Richard Halverson former pastor and chaplain of the US Senate..used to end every service with the Benediction..

A Benediction Wherever you go, God is sending you. Wherever you are, God has put you there.God has a purpose in your being right where you are. Christ, who indwells you by the power of his Spirit, wants to do something in and through you. Believe this and go in his grace, his love, his power. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen

a. Esther Discovers God's Plan in the immediate context..Mordicia explains it clearly..

Esther 4:13–14 ESV

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. 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?”

Esther has been told of Haman plot.. and what is at stake for God’s people…

Mordecai reminds her that she has not been placed in her position in the palace by accident.. God has a plan..

Mordecai came to Esther and said,

You have been called for such a time as this....

“Because of where you are, you have to use what you have... You have to use your cultural and social capital to bring about a more just social order. You have to do something.”

Mordecai tells Esther that living in Palace is no excuse for not getting involved..

Sometimes we remove ourselves from the problem in the world..... That is not my problem.... When Tsunami hit Indonesia -- 100 000's of lives were lost... how does this affect us sitting in our American life, with our cities, suburbs and homes.’

Mordecai wants Esther to know that even though she is in the palace... she is not exempts from the impact...

b. Choosing God's Plan

But Esther has a choice.. God will never force us into his purposes…

God is not limited to us... we are not indispensable... God can raise up a new generation...of faith like he did under Moses.. You have disbelieving Israel -- who died in the wilderness.. and you have the Joshua generation.. that had this belief that God had something for them.. there were territories to take... new frontiers to be captured... Victories to be celebrated...

the thing when we get stuck... We get caught in what was... our past becomes more appealing than our future... This is what Mordecai is saying... If you remain silent... you will simple vanish without making any difference in the world..

We need Courage...

Courage grows when we see that we are positioned to be part of God's "relief and deliverance" for others.

Remember, Esther wasn't born to royalty. She had no training in leadership. She was an orphan raised in an exile community. She was young and sheltered. But she knew that God was the Savior of Israel, and as Mordecai reminded her, God will never forsake his people.

Courage grows when we realize that our sovereign God has very likely quietly positioned us "for such a time as this."

The very reason you have that job, the very reason you've been given that friendship, the very reason you live in that neighborhood or attend your school, the very reason you lead this church or that ministry is so that God will have his operative "for such a time as this." Though you may have never thought of it before, God mapped your life so that you stand at this crossroads by his plan.

We need to remember that we are not on our own ... that God doesn't call the qualified but qualifies the called.

T/s What do we learn from Esther about living a life on Purpose?

1. Our life Purpose is Connected to a Broader Context (Big Plot)

2. Our life Purpose is Connected to Immediate Context.

3. Our Life Purpose is Connect to Divine Empowerment.

One of the things I love about the Story of Esther is how God works these great reversals through the Narative.... God know the beginning the middle and the end of the Story… God uses things in our past to bring breakthroughs in the present … no experience is wasted with God.. Mordecai was responsible for the foiling a plot do de-thrown the king… but this gets forgotten history books..… In the mean time… God through Esther is reversing the fortunes of Queen Vashti and all woman… By taking hold of her calling...

Esther starts with ..

a. Prayer and Fasting

Esther 4:16–17 ESV

16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.” 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him.

Esther turns to prayer and fasting... why? Because Esther knew she needed clarity and the mind of the Lord… she need divine power..

There are couple reason why we should pray and fast.. One is tied to repentance and restoration…In the book of 2 Chronicles we see this promise that If God’s people humble themselves and pray that he would heal their land…

2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV

14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Fasting is part of humbling ourselves with repentance and depending on God to heal.. Second purpose is that is clarity of purpose… It is a matter of getting focused on what is important.. and seeking for the mind of God.

Another is for Empowerment..

Every great movement has been has been started by a prayer movement.. It is no accident that the early church began in the upper room in a prayer meeting... waiting for the empowering of the Holy Spirit...

Esther was going to up her commitment..Esther willing to lay it all on the line.. all or nothing... She made the decision that if she perishes in approaching the King so be it…

What we need to ask ourselves..What are some non negotiable in our lives..

Are we able to say with Esther… I am going to put everything on the line and if I perish --- I perish so be it...

After this we see that Esther gets extreme favor.. from the Lord.. she goes before the King…All the things she worried about fade away....

The King offers to give her up to half the kingdom... God masters in the reversals...

c. God's Rescue and deliverance.

As Haman prepared the gallows outside his house...God is preparing the kings heart..

We see God's providence.. one evening the King is bored and starts going through the chronicles... the diary of events... and he is reminded of this man Mordecai who saved his life.. how he warned him of two men who planning to do harm to the King.. The King wants to reward Mordecai… So he call Haman to and asks him his opinion… How would he go about showing a man whom the king delights? Haman responded that person should be dressed in royal robes and a crown should be set on his head and tells him he is going honor Mordecai.... I would have loved have seen this..

In the mean time Esther cashes in on the Kings generious offer… she can have anything in the Kingdom … She asks for one thing and that a meeting with Haman... When Haman hears that the queen wants him at her dinner party --- He is flattered by the invite…tells all his friends...

He had no idea that his head was on the chopping block.. On the second night of the party… the King asks Esther what she wanted...

Esther 7:3–6 ESV

3 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. 4 For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” 5 Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?” 6 And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.

When the King heard what Haman had planned.. he has him hung on the very gallows he had built for Mordecai.... we learn from Haman the down fall of pride... be careful of the way we deal with others... the gallows that we build for others

The Book of Esther is full of reversals of fortune. Vashti goes from queen to outcast. Esther goes from orphan to queen. Mordecai is sentenced to death, then he's paraded through the streets in honor. Then there is Haman, who is feeling the ominous creak of the trapdoor. There is nothing more sure in all of life than the fact that, ultimately, God humbles the proud and raises up the humble.

Esther is challenging book — to live our lives on purpose...

1. Our life Purpose is Connected to a Broader Context (Big Plot)

2. Our life Purpose is Connected to Immediate Context

3. Our Life Purpose is Connect to Divine Empowerment.

John shed a philanthropists sad..

A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.

—Philanthropist John Shedd (1850–1926)

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