Women in Ministry Part 5

Esther - For Such a time as this

How often when we refer to Queen Esther do we hear the words you have been called to this moment for such a time as this?

Anyone believe in divine encounters?

God’s timing is always perfect and He places people in our lives at the perfect time.

Waiting for His perfect time is the thing we struggle with the most.

None of us enjoy waiting.

Especially a type A personality:

We like control

We like to get things done

We like things done in our timing

We like things done in our way

So to yield control is not easy.

This morning let’s take a look at Queen Esther’s life. She is probably one of the well known women in the word.

I know as a kid I really enjoyed learning abut her and how God used her.

I guess she reminded me of me, uncertain of herself, shy but loved God.

In the book of Esther you will notice that God is not mentioned at all. And yet, to any reader of the book who reads with understanding, God is the main character in the book. God is putting Himself on display in amazing ways even though He is unnamed

Esther 4:13–14 NLT

Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

We cannot always see the hand of God at work but we must believe that God is in control. This is certainly a true lesson for Esther.

The story of Queen Esther is well known and short but there is a lot of power and truth.

It records the faithfullness of a Jewish girl who was born into slavery. She was a slave to King Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), the son of King Darius.

Darius was the King who had Daniel thrown into the lions’ den. King Xerxes, troubled with distrust of his wife, Queen Vashti, had banished Vashti from Persia and then sought a new queen among the young women of his kingdom.

This is when Esther was forced to become the Queen of Media-Persia and wife of King Xerxes I.

Esther was quite comfortable with her ordinary life and did not like the idea of being cast into the light of public life as a queen. She would rather have stayed at home and been an ordinary girl, but God had a plan for her life that she was only beginning to follow.

Many of us want God to do something new in us but we are a little fearful of what that might mean. We may be uncomfortable with what that will mean for us. No one likes to be rooted out of their comfort zone.

We like comfort don’t we?

Esther was no different than we are.

Sometimes we need to be pushed, dragged, challenged, awakened to do something before it happens.

Is there a tug at your heart to do something different?

Is there a stirring in your heart that says something has to change?

The walk that we live as Christians is a walk by faith. It is a faith walk.

We have to trust in God fully and completely!

God doesn’t always reveal His perfect will and allow us to see the destiny that He has set in place for our lives. He asks us to trust Him and take a leap of faith, allowing Him to guide our every step until we come to the end. Often, it is not until we have reached a milestone or accomplished a major goal that we can look back and see that God has been leading us all along.

There are times when we don’t understand why bad things happen to good people. Why bad people get in places of power.

I have been asked why have God placed them in the position where they are right now.

Perhaps God has placed us in a job environment, or a school environment, or a family situation where we are overwhelmed by the powers of darkness all around us.

Perhaps you are questioning God, Why am I here?

Can’t I accomplish great things for your Kingdom at some other place?

Isn’t there an easier, more productive field where I can work and bring an increase of the harvest of souls into the Kingdom of God?

Esther felt that same pain in her life too! She could not understand why God would allow her to be forced to marry a pagan King and be taken from her family to live in a palace where she felt more like a prisoner than a Queen.

Esther was a woman of courage. She had to stand in the courage of God in order to accomplish what she needed to do. She walked in faith. She had to listen to and obey the plan that was revealed to her or else her people would perish.

Courage to Risk

According to the laws of Persia, she could not even go to her husband, the King, without prior approval. If Esther were to attempt to walk into the presence of the King, without permission, she would be instantly killed if he didn’t want to see her.

She needed to speak with the King to get the plan started to help her people. This was a risk she had to take.

She was placed in this moment for such a time as this. To be used by God.

Esther 5:1–3 NLT

On the third day of the fast, Esther put on her royal robes and entered the inner court of the palace, just across from the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing there in the inner court, he welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her. So Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter. Then the king asked her, “What do you want, Queen Esther? What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!”

One of the qualities which is shown by both Mordecai and Esther is courage. In this passage, we see them making a stand for what is right, and for God. God's name is not mentioned in the Book of Esther, but it appears obvious that Esther, Mordecai, and the Jews were making a stand for, and being helped by Him.

Even as queen, Esther was not allowed into the king's presence unless she were summoned. To appear without being requested was to risk one's life. If the king did not extend his golden scepter, she would be executed. Esther took the risk because wicked Haman had passed a law that would have all Jews killed. The great thing to note is even in adversity God prevails. The king did extend the scepter and her life was spared.

Courage to follow

We do not know what human reason caused Esther to have two banquets for the king and Haman before telling the king about Haman's wickedness. We do know that God had a reason. In chapter 5, Haman is humbled and Mordecai is honored as a hero who saved the king's life. Esther obviously did things God's way and not her own.

Esther 5:4–8 NLT

And Esther replied, “If it please the king, let the king and Haman come today to a banquet I have prepared for the king.” The king turned to his attendants and said, “Tell Haman to come quickly to a banquet, as Esther has requested.” So the king and Haman went to Esther’s banquet. And while they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Now tell me what you really want. What is your request? I will give it to you, even if it is half the kingdom!” Esther replied, “This is my request and deepest wish. If I have found favor with the king, and if it pleases the king to grant my request and do what I ask, please come with Haman tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for you. Then I will explain what this is all about.”

God is not forcing you to do anything because this is a volunteer army.

At any time we desire, we can turn away from the place where God has us and do what we want to do.

But, there are consequences to our disobedience! And as we choose to disobey we must realize that we are the ones who are choosing. We have free will.

But if you choose to obey and follow His path for your life. Look out because you are in for a great adventure.

Courage to Honor God

As usual Mordecai would not bow down to Haman.

He did what was right, in spite of possible consequences.

Haman's plan was to execute Mordecai.

Do we do what was in right in spite of possible negative consequences?

Esther 5:9–14 NLT

Haman was a happy man as he left the banquet! But when he saw Mordecai sitting at the palace gate, not standing up or trembling nervously before him, Haman became furious. However, he restrained himself and went on home. Then Haman gathered together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, and boasted to them about his great wealth and his many children. He bragged about the honors the king had given him and how he had been promoted over all the other nobles and officials. Then Haman added, “And that’s not all! Queen Esther invited only me and the king himself to the banquet she prepared for us. And she has invited me to dine with her and the king again tomorrow!” Then he added, “But this is all worth nothing as long as I see Mordecai the Jew just sitting there at the palace gate.” So Haman’s wife, Zeresh, and all his friends suggested, “Set up a sharpened pole that stands seventy-five feet tall, and in the morning ask the king to impale Mordecai on it. When this is done, you can go on your merry way to the banquet with the king.” This pleased Haman, and he ordered the pole set up.

We must stop to realize that God never allows anything into our lives by accident but that every circumstance that we face is there for a greater purpose than we can see at the moment.

So, your job is negative, too time demanding, not exactly what you think that it ought to be – SO WHAT! There are no perfect jobs out there – NONE! Every one of us must learn to listen to God and make the best of whatever situation we find ourselves in.

How many times have people come to me and said I just have to find a better job. I just have to find a better church. I just have to find a happier life! Oh friend, when are we going to realize that it isn’t the job, the church, our spouse or our circumstances that determine our happiness? It is our attitude in the midst of the trials that determines our happiness!

Abraham Lincoln said, “A man is about as happy as he makes up his mind to be!”

You determine your own happiness by your own attitude.

Don’t allow you circumstances to steal your joy!

I know life is unfair!

I know that life is hard at times!

I know that we often can’t see the forest for the trees!

But we must learn to trust God to bring into our path those things that He wills for our life and then help us to be victorious in whatever circumstances come.

There are some of you who are living in unpleasant situations - my friend let your light shine so that others may see Jesus in yuo.

You have the message of hope that no one else may have so don’t join in with the rest of the grumbling and complaining.

Have faith in God, trust Him and let your life be a witness.

Some of you are bogged down in hopeless situations. Some of you are so burdened for unsaved family, friends and spouses - live for Jesus fully and completely!

He has promised to let all things work out to your good. That little phrase, “all things”, covers a lot of ground.

Your trust in God and commitment to Christ may be the only chance that your family will ever have to see what the Love of God is really all about. Let your light shine!

Even if they never change and come to Christ, your duty is to live for God and love them anyway.

Conclusion:

Esther faced the possibility of death if she went to see King Xerxes unannounced. I want you to know that if you fail to carry out the will of God for your life, you may face the death penalty also.

If we fail to live for God, we are in rebellion against God, and rebellion is sin, and the penalty of sin is death!

We must be about our Father’s business!

We must work where we are and do the best we can under every circumstance and then trust God for the victory!

The day came when Esther’s circumstances were proven to be according to God’s plan.

Through under-handed methods and because of hatred for the Jews, some of Xerxes’ counselors had passed a decree that all of the Jews in the land of Persia were to be put to death because of a fear of rebellion against the king.

Understand that the Devil never stops trying to destroy God’s people!

John 10:10 NLT

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

Pharaoh of Egypt had tried to destroy the Jews and God stopped him at the Red Sea.

Haman of Persia in Queen Esther’s day was trying once again.

Adolph Hitler and the German Republic would attempt to annihilate the Jews in the death camps of WWII, but God would stop him.

The Antichrist in the last days will attempt to annihilate the Jews but Jesus Christ will stop him.

Just as Satan has attempted to destroy the Jews, he attempts to destroy those who are grafted into the family of God as Christians.

The enemy tries to steal, kill and detroy us and he never sleeps or quits trying to do so but he WILL NOT SUCCEED!!!

Isaiah 35:4 NIV

say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you.”

John 16:33 NLT

I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

1 Corinthians 15:57 NLT

But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Esther came to realize that God had placed her in the palace of the King of Persia for this specific time and purpose. All of the hours of loneliness, separation from family and friends, questioning why God had allowed this to happen, wondering why she was destined to carry such a heavy burden all of her life, were now answered by the fact that God could use her to save her people and herself.

Esther 4:14 NLT

If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?”

were the words of Mordecai to Esther.

He knew that she was afraid to speak.

Who wouldn’t be under the penalty of death?

Mordecai also knew that if Esther did not do her duty, that God would still deliver the Jews, but Esther would suffer for being disobedient.

God isn’t limited by whether we obey Him or not. To obey Him, step up and be courageous in the face of the devil’s schemes and live for him in every circumstance is not easy, but to fail in doing so means rebellion and defeat. God’s work will still be accomplished but we will suffer great loss.

Have we missed out on what God wanted to do for us because we couldn’t trust Him in our job and walked away only to face financial disaster?

Have we left our church for greener pastures only to find that the pastures weren’t any greener where we went?

Have we rebelled in our circumstances and found that we missed God’s best because we didn’t see it through to the end?

When we face difficulties, hardships and the unfairness of life, lets not miss God by running away.

Face your fears head on!

Take that leap of faith!

Trust in the Lord to guide your steps and He will see you through it all!

Has God placed you in your circumstances for a reason?

You can stake your life upon the fact that He has it all under His control. There is nothing happening to you right now that God doesn’t know about and that He hasn’t already worked it out for your good if you are living for Him!

Perhaps, like Queen Esther, you have been brought to this place in your life:

This place of loneliness,

This place of fear,

This place of uncertainty,

This place of doubt,

This place of indecision,

This place of questioning God – all for a purpose!

Esther experienced every one of those same feelings – yet God had her in His perfect will. Her obedience overcame every one of her fears, doubts and uncertainty.

In the end, it is not these same feelings that are wrong for you and I to have. Action, obedience to God cures the fears, removes the doubts, gets rid of uncertainty, cures indecision, removes loneliness and answers every question. Step out by faith and watch God perform His word through us.

For such a time as this God has brought us to where we are now!

For such a time as this - there are souls to be saved right here this morning if only you would be willing to replace fear with faith.

For such a time as this – there are many in our family who do not know God

For such a time as this – God is calling men, women, and young people, all of His people to work in the fields and harvest souls for the Kingdom of God

For such a time as this – God has prepared you to teach a class, minister to the lost and dying, and hurting people all around you.

God has a purpose in your life and in every circumstance of your life. Put your trust in Him and Let go and let God use you to bless others. He will see you through to the end and you will be victorious!

Let the Lord have His way!