4 Principles from Esther for New Year Resolutions

Shout out to 7th grade

Simon Says game for starbucks card

Introduction

Anybody have any New Years resolutions that they want to share?

New Years sermons and messages are all very similar. You’ve probably heard them over and over and many times they are very similar, and oftentimes they are not very memorable. In fact, I was trying to see if I could remember who did the New Years chapel here last year, and I had forgotten that I actually did it. And I tried for a few minutes to see if I could remember what I preached and I just couldn’t. So I went back and looked at my notes and it was 5 necessary prayers for the New Year.

The first one was from David in Psalm 139 when he said search me. Then Moses in Exodus 33 when he said show me. Samson in Judges 16 said strengthen me. Isaiah in Isaiah 6 said send me, and Peter in Matthew 14 said save me.

So odds are the majority of you don’t remember that. Some of you may remember me talking about prayer, and maybe just a few if any at all remembered any actual points and prayers that I talked about.

And I’ll be honest, this message probably wont be any different. It’s a similar message. Still has a New Years theme. There’s nothing going to be extravagant in this message, were just gonna pull some principles and applications from a particular book.

So what’s the point brother Zain, if I’m not gonna remember this message a year from now, a couple months from now, maybe even a couple days or even hours you’ll forget about it.

The point is is that you could remember this message if you wanted to. You could let this message from God’s Word speak to your heart and let it change you. You could choose to take notes and write some of these applications down. But I think most of the time that’s where we stop, or at least I’m very guilty of that. It doesn’t do us any good if we take notes but then never refer back to them.

I love to take notes. In college I was that guy who was still using a paper and pen when everyone was either using a laptop, or sometimes the professor would give you his notes for his lecture so you wouldn’t have to take any. I love to take notes in church services from sermons. Brother Andrew preached a great message on Sunday and I took notes, by the way, if you don’t have a church that you are a member of and involved in and serve in, then come visit our church were here on Sunday mornings at 10:30 and youth meets wednesday nights at 6:30.

But anyways here’s a couple notes I wrote down from his message from Luke 19. I have this cool wide margin Bible where I can just take notes on the side. #1 Jesus was intentional. He had a single minded determination for His mission, which was to seek and to save those who were lost. #2 Jesus was unconditional, He loves and extends His grace to everyone unconditionally, even a tax collector like Zaccheus. #3 Jesus was relational. He was personable. He was intentionally relational because of His unconditional love. Thats good stuff, good points that can be easily applied to my life. I need to be intentional, unconditional, and relational just like Jesus was.

But it does’t do me any good if I take all these notes but never refer back to them. When I was in the 8th grade, we had a history teacher named Sir Awtry. He had actually been to England and was knighted, so he had the title of sir. Sir Awtry. Sir was an older man, tall, a little on the heavier side, bald on top but short gray hair on the sides, he had the brown sun spots on his head, short gray beard, big round circle glasses, always wore khakis with suspender and a plaid button up short sleeve shirt. And Sir Awtry was notorious, notorious for his fast lectures. You had to write down everything he said because anything he said could be on a test. When you were done taking notes you had to turn them in for a grade and he would grade you on how much stuff you actually got down, then he’d give them back to you so that you could study. There were three kinds of people in that class. People who didn’t take notes, obviously they didn’t get a good grade in the class. People who took notes, but never studied them, they did better than the ones who didn’t take notes but still not that great. And then those who took notes, and referred back to them and studied them to prepare for a test. Obviously these people got the best grades in the class.

I think it is similar to listening to sermons. You can just listen to a sermon, and you’ll be helped, you can be encouraged or challenged if you listen to a sermon. If you take notes during a sermon or message, it will help you remember more and understand more. If you refer back to those notes it can help you grow even more in your walk with God, especially when the tests of life come. When trials or temptations come you can refer back to some of those notes to get wisdom and application for that situation. So I encourage you any time someone preaches to take some sort of notes and to refer back to them often so that you can pass the tests of life.

Take your Bibles and go to the book of Esther. Find the book of Psalms in the middle of your Bible, then flip behind it two books. Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job, Psalms.

Esther chapter 2

Esther 2:1–9 KJV 1900

After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king: And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king’s chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them: And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so. Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite; Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter. So it came to pass, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king’s house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.

Keep your Bibles open cause we are going to be flipping all through this book.

Flip over to chapter 5.

Let’s get some facts about this book:

Setting: Persian capital of Susa, where King Ahasuerus was ruling over an empire from India to Ethiopia

Main Characters:

Esther- Main girl, jewish, pretty young woman, orphan

Mordecai- Esther’s cousin/uncle who lives here because of the Babylonian captivity. Godly man

King Ahasuerus- King of the empire

Haman- King Ahasuerus’ second hand man, wicked.

Summary:

King Ahasuerus throws a big party that lasts for months

Asks his wife, Queen Vashti to make an appearance, she declines.

He divorces her. (A little dramatic)

He asks his servants to search his empire for the most beautiful women so that he can choose a new queen.

Esther is one of these women and is eventually chosen as queen.

Around this same time Haman is chosen as the King’s second hand man.

Haman is going down the street one day and everyone is bowing to him, except for Mordecai. Mordecai says he can’t because he is a jew and only bows down to God.

Haman is furious and declares that not only should Mordecai be killed, but all Jews should be killed as well. He has gallows built for Mordecai to be killed on.

Esther then goes to the king without an invitation (which is against the rules and she could be killed for it) and asks for a banquet to speak with the king and Haman.

At that banquet she tells the King that Haman is wicked and is trying to kill her people. The King then puts Haman on his own gallows that were built for Mordecai and Haman is killed.

So number one this new year, for your new years resolutions

1. Connect being to doing (5:2)

Esther 5:2 KJV 1900

And it was so, when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, that she obtained favour in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that was in his hand. So Esther drew near, and touched the top of the sceptre.

So here in this passage Esther has come to the court of the King uninvited which could be punishable by death. Why was she there? Because of Haman’s decree to kill all the Jews. Esther did not just sit on the sidelines and hope that something miraculous would happen to save the Jews. She did not just have wishful thinking. She did not just send her prayers and good vibes, no she got up and she did something about the situation around her. She took the steps that were necessary to achieve the goal.

Good goals for the New Year have to be practical in some way ... it doesn't work for me to say "I want to be a more generous person" & just kinda hope it happens. Instead of saying I want to get better grades, I can say I want to devote more time to studying. or Instead of I want to be healthier, I can say I will run a mile every morning... or instead of I want to get closer to God, I can set aside 30 minutes each morning to pray and read the Bible. Don't lose the WHO you want to be for the WHAT you want to do.

So what are your New Years Resolutions? I don’t even really like phrasing it that way. What are your goals for this year?

You ought to have long term goals and short term goals. Short term goals help us accomplish long term goals. So if you want to see growth and improvement in any are of your life, you must set some sort of goals.

Then when you set goals, you must make a step by step plan to achieve that goal, then just take it one step at a time.

Proverbs 21:5- The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

2 Chronicles 15:7- But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.

Philippians 3:14 KJV 1900

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

It will take some work, but it will be worth it once you achieve that goal.

2. Connect doing to serving (4:8)

Esther 4:8 KJV 1900

Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

My goals this year kinda have to be about myself ... it isn't going to work to assign someone else a goal! But sometimes, my most growth-focused seasons can be my least others-aware seasons. Who am I helping by what I'm doing & who I'm becoming?

Esther did not have to do what she did. She could have just stayed in the palace being pampered and taken care of. She wouldn’t have had a worry in the world. But it was her love for others that caused her to have the courage to stand up for them.

There will come a time in your life when you have the opportunity to stand up for someone or to slouch back and not say anything. If you do not stand up for that person, it is because you have a lack of Christ-like love for them.

John 13:34 KJV 1900

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

1 John 4:19 KJV 1900

We love him, because he first loved us.

1 John 4:11 KJV 1900

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

1 Peter 4:8 KJV 1900

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 Corinthians 13:13 KJV 1900

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

1 Peter 4:10 KJV 1900

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

Don’t be selfish with your goals and resolutions.

Choose to have a Christ like love for others and serve them.

3. Disconnect doing from meaning (2:15)

Esther 2:15 KJV 1900

Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.

Esther didn’t succeed at this mission because she was the prettiest girl, or had the best outfit, or the best jewelry. In this verse it says that other ladies who were being considered for queen brought lots of other things for the king and wore extra beautiful things, but Esther didn’t. She just did what was required of her and she was the favorite among everybody.

My value isn't determined by if I lose some pounds or make good grades or whatever. My identity is found in God's undeserved goodness in my life. Neither arrogance nor apathy properly reflect the grace I've been given, & it's good to pursue good goals. But I'm not defined by my successes or failures at whatever goal.

Did you know the Bible has a lot to say about who you are? It has a lot to say about your identity. If you’re a Christian, this is what the Bible says about you:

And don’t tune me out, this is kind of a long list but you need to hear it:

Romans 8:1 you are not condemned

1 Corinthians 6:19 you are God’s temple

1 Peter 2:9 you are a part of a chosen generation

John 15:15 you are a friend of Jesus

Galatians 4:7 you are a son or a daughter of almighty God

John 1:12 you are a child of God

2 Corinthians 5:17 you are new creation

Philippians 3:20 you are a citizen of Heaven

Romans 8:17 you are a joint-heir with Christ

2 Corinthians 1:21 you are anointed

2 Corinthians 1:22 you are established and sealed

Ephesians 2:10 you are His workmanship and masterpiece

1 John 4:4 you are an overcomer

2 Peter 1:4 you are a partaker of the divine

2 Timothy 1:7 through the spirit you are powerful

Galatians 5:1 you are free

Romans 8:37 you are more than a conqueror

2 Corinthians 5:21 you are righteous

Colossians 3:12 you are holy and loved

Ephesians 1:7 you are redeemed

Ephesians 2:6 you are seated with Christ in heaven

Ephesians 1:3 you are blessed

2 Corinthians 2:15 you are a sweet savour

1 Corinthians 12:27 you are a member of Christ

Ephesians 3:12 you are bold

Matthew 5:13 you are salt

Matthew 5:16 you are light

and on and on the Bible goes. All of this is only possible because of Christ and who you are in Him.

Regardless of whether or not you achieve your goals you are still all of these wonderful things. God still loves you and still values you. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try or you should just do what you want. Because of Christ’s love for you and all these other things He says about you, that should be fuel to push and drive you to be the best Christian you can be and achieve the goals that you need to achieve.

4. Disconnect achieving from deserving (8:3)

Esther 8:3 KJV 1900

And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

At the end of the day, everything I have is a gift. I want to steward those things well, but just because I try to grow in my marriage doesn't mean I *deserve* Abbie to do XYZ for me... or just because I read a book on teaching doesn't mean I *deserve* my classes to end up perfect for me, etc. Stuff happens sometimes. I'm still blessed, & have every reason to be so grateful.

Here in this passage, Esther is already the queen yet she still falls at the feet of her king to ask him for something. She understands that just because shes the queen, that doesn’t necessarily mean she deserves or is entitled to whatever she wants. This is humility.

We must understand that anything, anything good that happens to us in this life is only by the grace of God. It is God’s gift to us.

James 1:17 KJV 1900

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

God does not owe you anything. It is by His grace that He gives you the blessings that He blesses you with. Humility is the first step to gratefulness.

Proverbs 22:4 KJV 1900

By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, and honour, and life.

Colossians 3:12 KJV 1900

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

1 Peter 5:5 KJV 1900

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

James 4:10 KJV 1900

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

James 4:6 KJV 1900

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Philippians 2:3 KJV 1900

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

Conclusion

Connect being to doing.

Choose to make some goals and practical steps to achieve those goals.

2. Connect doing to serving.

Don’t be selfish with your goals, choose to love and serve others.

3. Disconnect doing from meaning.

Your value comes from what God says about you and has done for you, not what others say or what you can do.

4. Disconnect achieving from deserving.

Understand that God does not owe you anything, but that you should always be humble and grateful.