God at Work Behind the Scenes: An Introduction to Esther
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This will function as the introduction to the Esther series. The series will be through selected text from Esther over the next ten weeks.
ETS: God provided for His people and remained faithful to His promise in Esther.
ESS: We should be encouraged through the story of Esther.
OSS: To establish relevancy; Cognitive: I want the hearers to know that God uses ordinary people for a divine purpose. Affective: I want the hearers to feel encouraged that God uses ordinary people like them. Psycho-motor: I want the hearers to commit to studying the book and letting God use them for His purposes.
The question this morning is this:
Why should I tune in for the next ten weeks?
UW: Reasons
The study is relevant.
The story of Esther is a lot like ours today.
Though we may not be able to “see” or “feel” God and sometimes doubt He is still present, He is always working behind the scenes.
Esther reminds us of this, and it should encourage us.
[God is never mentioned in the book; Prayer is never specifically mentioned in the book; Yet, God is evidently the One behind the scenes working to fulfill His promise and to provide for Esther and the Jewish people.]
God has a plan for you.
God still uses ordinary people like Esther- like you and like me- imperfect, flawed people.
Esther reminds us that God wants to use us- as ordinary and unimportant as we may feel- God wants to use us to do mighty things. [Esther 4:14]
God is faithful to you.
God is faithful to His promises, and He always provides.
The great irony in this story: plot twist; the King can’t sleep; man’s plan is trumped by God’s plan. [Esther 6:1; 9:1]
CONCLUSION:
[1] For each of us, God has a purpose and a plan- perhaps for such a time as this; Perhaps fro such a people as this.
[2] To each of us, God is faithful to provide and to fulfill His promise- perhaps to strengthen and uphold you; to enable and empower you; to call and to use you.
[3] The question is this: Are we ready? Do we trust that God is working even when we cannot feel or see Him?