For A Time Such As This

Introduction:

There is a time in history unfolding around us unlike any other. --- I suppose this is always the case and in every generation true enough...

However, it does seem that this time we are living is an unusual time.

We are in the midst of a terrible crisis.

Right now as we speak, many among our church family and might I say extended family are dealing with sickness.

Even in spite of this pestilence we are watching as the world quickly changes right before us.

I would like us to consider to do something a little different on this Sunday PM.

I know of a need that we must attend to, of which I will make apparent for us at the end of this short sermon.

With that being said let us read chapter Esther chapter 4.

Read Esther Chapter 4

Let’s Pray.

Here is Esther chapter 4, the Word of God gives us the back and forth discussion between one Esther--- the appointed Queen of Persia a Jewish woman and here Cousin Mordecai, who was a father to Esther, concerning the terrible news that the wicked Haman has succored by the kings authority an opportunity to destroy the Jews under the rule of the Persians and the Medes.

Without getting into all the details, I have no doubt that at the heart of this move to destroy the Jews is the Devil himself and his hatred for God’s people as well as yet another attempt to stop God’s plan of sending forth His Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The discussion then ensues in this particular chapter between Mordecai and Esther about what is to be done, as it seems all is lost.

And as I look at this world, as I look at our country, as I look even at our local church and as I see what is taking place in the life of our Pastor and his wife at this very moment, I cant help but believe that God led me to this very passage of Scripture; impressed it upon my heart and my mind.

I would like to write down three points, and close with us taking this opportunity to do something about it.

I. The Power of One

As we would look at this chapter and think about what is taking place, I would like for you to take note of the fact that this narrative shows us the importance of each and every individual among God’s people.

Esther is one person,

Mordecai is one person.

I would like to say this evening that God has blessed us to be a part of Sharon Baptist Church. We are a local New Testament church. This local church body is made up of saved people; individuals that God has brought together for the purpose of spreading His Gospel.

We are brought together for this purpose and yet we are still individuals… You see:

1. We have individual testimonies of how the Lord brought us unto Himself.

2. We have individual ideas and thoughts concerning our everyday lives.

3. We have the ability and privilege to spend time speaking with our God in prayer.

4. We individually can take our Bibles and read them.

In our text, we see that there is power based on the individuals response toward God.

You see, Esther had before her a great opportunity that God had given her.

Mordecai had before him a great opportunity that God had given him.

Mordecai makes really a profound statement toward Esther when he states in verse 14, “who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

I can state upon the written authority of the Word of God, that the Lord Jesus Christ does have you here tonight for a time such as this.

Charles Spurgeon stated it this way, “Thus you are brought to the kingdom; but why is it so? I want you to consider why the Lord has brought you where you are. Do you think that he has done it for your own sake? Does he intend all this merely that you may practise self-indulgence? Can this be the design of God? Do not think so. Has he done all this merely to give you pleasure? Not so: God’s work is like a net of many meshes, and these are all connected with each other. We are links of the same chain, and cannot move without moving others. We are members of one body, and God acts towards us with that fact in view. He does not bless the hand for the hand’s sake, but for the sake of the whole body.”

Spurgeon, C. H. (1884). Esther’s Exaltation; or, Who Knoweth? In The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons (Vol. 30, p. 235). Passmore & Alabaster.

The Bible says in I Corinthians 12:14-18 “14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? 18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.”

God hath set you here in this capacity

God hath set you here in this capacity

God hath set you here in this capacity.

Each one of us as individuals hath he set and given us two different avenues by which we are to serve Him specially.

The one avenue is your earthly talents.

Physical, temporal, earthly talents by which you may glorify God.

Because we understand that all we have has been given to us, even our very station in life has been afforded to us and we ourselves are responsible for this.

It was remarked this morning, how tremendous an affect our piano player has made upon this people and the influence she has made upon others in her servitude.

How hard she has worked and enlarged her playing skills and indeed what a tremendous answer to prayer and as the brother stated “Glory to God...”

You see this is an earthly talent being leveraged for the cause of Jesus Christ.

The right stewardship of such gifts one day will hear from the Lord of glory, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

But secondly, each one of us has been given spiritual gifts. These gifts are special gifts given to us “for such a time as this...” And are given in specific measure.

The Bible tell us such in I Corinthians chapter 12:4-7 “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.”

And so as we think about the power of one, our individual spiritual lives have a profound impact upon the life of this church as a whole.

Secondly, I would like you to notice in this passage,

II. The Power of Many

When Esther was presented with this dangerous task of going into the kings presence without being called, she understood that she could perish, unless God moved in a wonderful way.

The Bible states in verse 11 of our text “All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come unto the king into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that he may live: but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.”

There was only one opportunity for Esther to be spared her life.

If and only if the king would hold out the golden sceptre.

This was the reality of the situation.

And let us not deny what is going on all around us in our present day.

Christians are falling by the wayside.

Sickness and pestilence is taking the lives of people.

The weather seems to be getting more and more extreme.

Wickedness and waywardness is abounding.

Divisions among God’s people is running rampant.

Confusion and heretical false doctrine is spreading....

Al of these things are taking place even as our God has told us according to Matthew chapter 24, Mark chapter 13, II Timothy chapter 3, and II Peter chapter 3.

And what is to be done. Well notice in verse 15 and 16 the power of many,

“Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.”

She says, get everyone together.... fast and pray....

Call all of the family together… have them pray for me..

I am reminded of the many accounts in the book of Acts concerning the praying collectively of the local New Testament church...

But this one in particular where God wrought such marvelous deliverance in the life of Peter.

“Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church.And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”

I like that phrase the church of God.... We are God’s church…praise the Lord

And as we think about the direness of this situation and the power of the individual but also the power of many, I would like to state thirdly we see in this passage

III. The Power of Prayer

We all surely understand how the narrative ends in the book of Esther. Esther goes in before the king. The king raises his golden sceptre and after a number of banquets and events the Jewish people are saved, Haman is hung on his own gallows, and Mordecai is made the second ruler in the land.

Might I submit to you this night, that we gather here together in the front of this church to pray specifically for Our pastor, his dear wife and the pastors mother.

I believe there is nothing in our bylaws that would prohibit us from praying collectively more than once a week.

Further I believe it is good that we would do so…a break from our normal formality.

We have many that we can lift up tonight that need our prayers.... but I want us to specially and purposely pray for our pastor.

How i propose we do this is first have a couple verses of invitation where you and I get our hearts thoroughly right with God.

After that invitation if we could gather up towards the front here and in unity I will ask a couple of brothers to lead us in prayer.