90 00:19:37.005 --> 00:19:41.105 My name is Val Sumter. I started becoming to hope in 2012. 91 00:19:41.445 --> 00:19:46.305 I'm recently relocated to North Carolina from Baltimore and it was 92 00:19:46.306 --> 00:19:49.145 the main street, uh, that we used to drive up. 93 00:19:49.805 --> 00:19:51.825 And during the holiday seasons, 94 00:19:51.845 --> 00:19:56.465 the traffic was backed up and we saw the sign that it was a holiday, uh, 95 00:19:57.055 --> 00:19:57.888 service. 96 00:19:58.244 --> 00:20:02.945 And so I brought my kids and I attended and then I just started 97 00:20:02.946 --> 00:20:05.984 coming back every Sunday. So my son, um, 98 00:20:06.525 --> 00:20:10.545 was enrolled in the Kid City program and he meant an influential, uh, 99 00:20:10.546 --> 00:20:13.305 leader that is still currently with him to this day. 100 00:20:13.685 --> 00:20:17.785 He has stuck by him through thick and thin, through trial and error. 101 00:20:17.885 --> 00:20:22.865 He has supported him. He depends on him, he believes in him, he greets him. 102 00:20:23.285 --> 00:20:26.905 He has transformed some of the most pivotal moments in his life. 103 00:20:27.325 --> 00:20:31.585 He will come in, calm, collected, uh, and voice his opinion. 104 00:20:31.885 --> 00:20:36.425 And once he has expressed himself and they have a 105 00:20:36.426 --> 00:20:41.065 conversation, the situation, the views of the situation can change. The, 106 00:20:41.825 --> 00:20:46.545 uh, my son can look at it from a different view as a single parent, 107 00:20:46.565 --> 00:20:50.965 having this gentleman in our lives and his family, um, having that pouring, 108 00:20:50.966 --> 00:20:53.845 that guidance that uh, spiritual the prayers, 109 00:20:54.545 --> 00:20:59.205 it has meant more than I can even describe it has transformed 110 00:20:59.585 --> 00:21:02.244 my belief that there are still, you know, 111 00:21:02.355 --> 00:21:04.405 genuine people and good people in the world. 112 00:21:04.945 --> 00:21:09.885 And God led people in the world because he felt that on his heart to he saw 113 00:21:09.886 --> 00:21:13.484 the best in my son and he felt it on his heart to stick by him. Um, 114 00:21:14.225 --> 00:21:18.965 and it has just impacted us greatly. We need more men to show up. 115 00:21:18.966 --> 00:21:21.445 We need more men to, uh, give. 116 00:21:21.945 --> 00:21:24.885 We need more men to have kindness, patient. 117 00:21:25.105 --> 00:21:28.805 We need more men of character. And God led. 118 00:21:28.984 --> 00:21:33.885 If it is laid on your heart to volunteer for a kid that may need you, uh, 119 00:21:34.065 --> 00:21:35.565 please sign up today. 120 00:21:46.445 --> 00:21:48.885 I love that video. Uh, 121 00:21:48.925 --> 00:21:52.605 I love the idea of a man investing in a young man and man, 122 00:21:52.606 --> 00:21:54.725 we need more of that in the Kingdom of God. Uh, 123 00:21:54.805 --> 00:21:57.205 I was one of those kids who needed a mentor like that growing up. 124 00:21:57.345 --> 00:22:00.765 And so I'm thankful that men have always stepped up and been a part of my life. 125 00:22:01.225 --> 00:22:03.805 And if you are a man, man, we need you in the game. 126 00:22:04.025 --> 00:22:07.325 We need you to get into the fight and we would love to connect with you to talk 127 00:22:07.326 --> 00:22:10.325 about that. Now, I'm excited to spend this time with you today. 128 00:22:10.345 --> 00:22:12.445 I'm excited to continue this series. Uh, 129 00:22:12.446 --> 00:22:16.165 it's only a two week series and we've been calling it called quite creative, 130 00:22:16.166 --> 00:22:20.125 right? Um, now a few years back, my wife and I, 131 00:22:20.705 --> 00:22:22.484 we moved from living overseas. 132 00:22:22.505 --> 00:22:27.445 We lived abroad for a while back to her home state of North Carolina Hope 133 00:22:27.446 --> 00:22:30.685 Community Church is nestled right in the heartbeat of the Bible Belt. 134 00:22:31.265 --> 00:22:33.244 We are in the middle of the state of North Carolina. 135 00:22:33.305 --> 00:22:36.325 And if you have ever lived in the Bible Belt or in the South, 136 00:22:36.705 --> 00:22:40.725 you know that it has a vernacular, all of its own right? 137 00:22:40.935 --> 00:22:43.565 There is some language that you need to learn in order to cope, 138 00:22:43.566 --> 00:22:46.925 in order to be able to survive in the South. And so when you get here, 139 00:22:46.926 --> 00:22:50.725 you gotta kind of learn the language quick because things come at you fast. Now, 140 00:22:50.785 --> 00:22:54.125 one of the terms that I had to learn when I got here is something you're 141 00:22:54.285 --> 00:22:58.285 probably familiar with. Uh, it's the term, um, 142 00:22:59.025 --> 00:23:02.845 and you've probably heard it before, used in a couple different ways. 143 00:23:03.345 --> 00:23:06.725 And the term is bless your heart. Now, 144 00:23:06.726 --> 00:23:09.765 some of you are laughing already because you have seen this used in a couple 145 00:23:09.766 --> 00:23:10.385 different ways. 146 00:23:10.385 --> 00:23:13.805 You've seen it in a way that's used to praise people and to support them, 147 00:23:13.945 --> 00:23:18.605 but you also seen it used a different way. Uh, like for instance, uh, 148 00:23:18.606 --> 00:23:22.365 like if you do something good for a person and they like what you've done, 149 00:23:22.435 --> 00:23:25.605 they'll say, man, you are such a sweet person, bless your heart. 150 00:23:26.905 --> 00:23:28.244 And that's the good side of it. 151 00:23:28.625 --> 00:23:32.965 But then there are times when you don't do something great or you seem confused 152 00:23:33.305 --> 00:23:37.484 and you try to go to that same person and they say, oh, 153 00:23:38.865 --> 00:23:42.895 bless your heart, this person thinks you're an idiot. Right? 154 00:23:43.045 --> 00:23:45.805 They think that they're smart people and there's you, right? 155 00:23:45.806 --> 00:23:48.045 Because that term is used very different. 156 00:23:48.185 --> 00:23:51.005 And you gotta learn all these phrases in the south because again, 157 00:23:51.355 --> 00:23:54.805 life comes at you pretty quickly. And when those things type to show up, 158 00:23:55.025 --> 00:23:57.845 you gotta know exactly what the person is saying. Now, 159 00:23:57.865 --> 00:24:02.045 as I track down those phrases and where they come from and what they're all 160 00:24:02.046 --> 00:24:02.275 about, 161 00:24:02.275 --> 00:24:06.565 what I have found more often than not is the phrases that are used in the Bible 162 00:24:06.595 --> 00:24:10.845 belt, surprise, surprise, actually come from the Bible, right? 163 00:24:10.845 --> 00:24:14.285 People are saying things that they've been impacted by through their whole lives 164 00:24:14.345 --> 00:24:17.125 as they spent time in church, as they spent time around Christians. 165 00:24:17.145 --> 00:24:19.405 And there's a lot of sayings like this. For instance, 166 00:24:19.744 --> 00:24:23.244 if you're out on the football field and your coach tells you, Hey, 167 00:24:23.445 --> 00:24:26.565 I need you to get in the game, I need you to go the extra mile. 168 00:24:27.705 --> 00:24:31.285 You might not know that comes from the Bible, but it does. 169 00:24:32.565 --> 00:24:36.365 And and it's a biblical saying, but it somehow crept its way into culture. 170 00:24:36.925 --> 00:24:37.126 I mean, 171 00:24:37.126 --> 00:24:41.165 you might be at a place where your coach says something to you or where a friend 172 00:24:41.166 --> 00:24:44.685 says something to you and maybe they say something like this, Hey, hey, hey, 173 00:24:44.705 --> 00:24:49.005 here's what I need you to do. I I need you, instead of going the extra mile, 174 00:24:49.006 --> 00:24:51.885 what I need you to do is fight the good fight. 175 00:24:53.945 --> 00:24:56.045 That's a Bible phrase too. 176 00:24:56.984 --> 00:25:00.535 You see a lot of the things that have become common language for us, 177 00:25:01.085 --> 00:25:04.494 they find their footing in the word scripture. 178 00:25:05.505 --> 00:25:10.165 And some of those things are actually things that Jesus himself said. 179 00:25:11.125 --> 00:25:14.165 I mean, you ever had that friend who's trying to give you great advice? 180 00:25:14.555 --> 00:25:15.765 He's like, dude, dude, 181 00:25:16.045 --> 00:25:19.605 let me just tell you like you get back what you put into the ground. 182 00:25:19.785 --> 00:25:23.565 And I'm like, dude, that's from the Bible. That's not from you. That's just, 183 00:25:23.566 --> 00:25:24.845 you reap what you sow, right? 184 00:25:26.635 --> 00:25:29.435 Because a lot of times we don't even know that these things come from the Bible, 185 00:25:29.615 --> 00:25:33.355 but there are so many of them stroll throughout the pages of scripture that have 186 00:25:33.356 --> 00:25:36.755 become a part of our current culture. You see, 187 00:25:36.756 --> 00:25:40.755 there's this one phrase that impacted me greatly growing up, 188 00:25:41.585 --> 00:25:43.805 and my prayer is that it'll impact you greatly too. 189 00:25:44.425 --> 00:25:47.285 And it's right from the pages of scripture as well. 190 00:25:47.984 --> 00:25:51.805 And the phrase is for such a time as this, 191 00:25:52.915 --> 00:25:53.775 you know, like those others, 192 00:25:54.115 --> 00:25:58.135 it originates in the Bible and it originates in one of the greatest stories ever 193 00:25:58.205 --> 00:26:00.375 told. It's right from the book of Esther. 194 00:26:00.555 --> 00:26:04.695 And that's where we're gonna spend our time together today. Now, 195 00:26:04.696 --> 00:26:06.575 if you have never read the book of Esther, 196 00:26:06.955 --> 00:26:11.775 can I just say that the story rivals everything that you have ever seen in the 197 00:26:11.776 --> 00:26:13.855 form of a story. It's better than Disney, 198 00:26:16.195 --> 00:26:19.595 it's better than that other one with the cheap knockoff cartoons. 199 00:26:20.545 --> 00:26:23.115 It's better than any of the Marvel universe. I mean, 200 00:26:23.116 --> 00:26:26.994 this story is wrought with stuff. It's got a king, it's got two queens, 201 00:26:27.185 --> 00:26:29.715 it's got villains. It is an amazing story. 202 00:26:30.565 --> 00:26:33.465 And so today we are gonna spend our time in the book of Vest. 203 00:26:33.885 --> 00:26:35.945 So if you have your Bibles, here's what I want you to do. 204 00:26:35.984 --> 00:26:38.665 I want you to go ahead and open them up to the book of Esther. 205 00:26:38.925 --> 00:26:41.984 And I want to tell you right from the beginning that we are gonna move around a 206 00:26:41.985 --> 00:26:45.325 little bit now we're gonna gonna begin at chapter one and verse four, 207 00:26:45.545 --> 00:26:48.925 and we're gonna bounce around on a little bit. Now, Esther is 10 chapters, 208 00:26:49.065 --> 00:26:49.965 and when you get some time, 209 00:26:50.045 --> 00:26:53.845 I want you to go back and read it all the way through. It is a phenomenal story. 210 00:26:54.025 --> 00:26:57.484 And today we are gonna hit the wave tops and the highlights and we're gonna 211 00:26:57.485 --> 00:27:02.285 bounce a little bit through the story. But man, it is such a good story. 212 00:27:02.585 --> 00:27:04.805 Now, while you're turning to chapter one verse four, 213 00:27:05.205 --> 00:27:07.845 let me just kinda lay out a little bit of the story for you. First, 214 00:27:08.925 --> 00:27:12.525 Esther is the last of the historical books of the Old Testament. 215 00:27:13.635 --> 00:27:14.965 Also in the book of Esther, 216 00:27:14.966 --> 00:27:18.205 there's this unique thing about the book that makes it really special. 217 00:27:18.825 --> 00:27:23.645 The name of God is not specifically mentioned anywhere in the 218 00:27:23.646 --> 00:27:28.635 book of Esther, but what is so beautiful about it is as you look at the book, 219 00:27:29.335 --> 00:27:32.915 you can see God's hands all over it. 220 00:27:34.115 --> 00:27:37.575 It helps us to look and see and track the move of God. I mean, 221 00:27:37.576 --> 00:27:40.335 you can see God's hand prints all throughout the life of Esther. 222 00:27:40.475 --> 00:27:42.815 And my goal is by the end of our time today, 223 00:27:42.885 --> 00:27:46.855 that not only would you see the hand prints of God and the life of Esther, 224 00:27:47.555 --> 00:27:51.185 but we would see the hand prints of God in our own lives 225 00:27:52.255 --> 00:27:53.945 because God is always at work. 226 00:27:55.225 --> 00:27:57.425 Let me give you a little bit of background on the story. 227 00:27:58.285 --> 00:28:03.265 Now this book is set in the Persian empire and it's during the time of the 228 00:28:03.385 --> 00:28:06.225 reign of King Xerxes. Now, you may have heard that name before, 229 00:28:06.825 --> 00:28:11.505 probably if you saw the movie 300. He's this guy, he's two chains, uh, 230 00:28:11.865 --> 00:28:14.945 with the Mr. T starter kid on with all the gold on. That's who he is. 231 00:28:15.925 --> 00:28:18.425 And he is known as a conqueror. 232 00:28:18.605 --> 00:28:21.505 And at the time he had a ton of land. You see, 233 00:28:21.506 --> 00:28:25.225 he had inherited some land from the kingdom of the previous king and he had 234 00:28:25.226 --> 00:28:26.665 conquered some land for itself. 235 00:28:26.805 --> 00:28:31.225 And so he's in charge of 2.1 million square miles of land. 236 00:28:32.205 --> 00:28:34.105 The Persian empire is huge, 237 00:28:34.725 --> 00:28:39.705 and it would've included places like what our common day is Iraq and Turkey and 238 00:28:39.815 --> 00:28:44.425 Afghanistan and Pakistan and all of the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. 239 00:28:44.685 --> 00:28:48.665 You see, Xerxes was a conqueror and he had been involved in battle for many, 240 00:28:48.815 --> 00:28:52.145 many years. Now he was a conqueror, 241 00:28:52.725 --> 00:28:56.795 but he was also known as a partier. You see, 242 00:28:56.796 --> 00:28:59.795 he loved to spend money, he loved to have a good time, 243 00:29:00.135 --> 00:29:04.635 and that ultimately ended up being his demise. As he was beat, uh, in battle, 244 00:29:05.155 --> 00:29:07.075 uh, he was, he lost a battle, a great battle, 245 00:29:07.076 --> 00:29:11.275 and that ended up killing his kingdom. Now when we get to verse chapter one, 246 00:29:11.276 --> 00:29:12.109 verse four, 247 00:29:12.255 --> 00:29:16.435 here's what it says about a party that he throws for his leaders. 248 00:29:16.855 --> 00:29:20.275 For the people who are in great authority, he throws a big shindig for him. 249 00:29:20.276 --> 00:29:23.275 Here's what it says. It says, for a full 180 days, 250 00:29:23.895 --> 00:29:27.555 he talking about King Xerxes displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom 251 00:29:28.735 --> 00:29:33.515 and his splendor and the glory of his majesty. And when these days were over, 252 00:29:33.535 --> 00:29:38.515 the king gave a banquet lasting seven days long in the enclosed garden of the 253 00:29:38.516 --> 00:29:39.095 king's palace, 254 00:29:39.095 --> 00:29:42.885 for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of 255 00:29:43.485 --> 00:29:43.905 Susa. 256 00:29:43.905 --> 00:29:48.405 The garden had hangings of white and blue linen fastened with cords of white 257 00:29:48.455 --> 00:29:52.485 linen and purple material with silver rings or marble pillars. 258 00:29:52.655 --> 00:29:54.605 There were conscious, or excuse me, 259 00:29:54.606 --> 00:29:58.285 there were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic, pavement of porphyry. 260 00:29:58.415 --> 00:30:01.885 There was marble, mother of prayer, all other costly stones. 261 00:30:02.315 --> 00:30:04.645 Wine was served in goblets of gold, 262 00:30:05.915 --> 00:30:07.445 each one different from the other. 263 00:30:08.025 --> 00:30:12.235 And the royal wine was abundant in keeping with the king's liberality 264 00:30:12.975 --> 00:30:14.275 by the king's command. Listen, 265 00:30:14.625 --> 00:30:18.635 each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions for the king. 266 00:30:18.636 --> 00:30:22.315 Instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man, 267 00:30:23.435 --> 00:30:27.445 whatever he wished. I mean, this is quite the party. 268 00:30:28.515 --> 00:30:32.125 This is bacon field, all the wine you could drink. Uh, I mean, 269 00:30:32.285 --> 00:30:34.045 can I just say ain't no party like a Xerxes party? 270 00:30:34.285 --> 00:30:38.925 'cause the Xerxes party don't stop seven days of partying. 271 00:30:39.035 --> 00:30:42.685 This is like, uh, the biggest party you could ever think of. 272 00:30:44.285 --> 00:30:47.345 So he's having a party and while he's having one, 273 00:30:48.125 --> 00:30:51.385 his queen is introduced to us and her name is Vashti. 274 00:30:51.765 --> 00:30:55.345 And Vashti is having a party with all her friends at the same time. 275 00:30:55.725 --> 00:30:58.705 So he's in his party with all the guys, she's with her party, 276 00:30:58.706 --> 00:31:02.425 with all the girls, everybody seems to be having a good time in his party. 277 00:31:02.495 --> 00:31:04.265 It's pretty much a drunken soiree. 278 00:31:04.485 --> 00:31:08.065 And so he decides at some point that he wants to show off the queen. 279 00:31:08.245 --> 00:31:13.025 So he invites Vashti to join him in his party and tries to show her 280 00:31:13.045 --> 00:31:15.585 off in front of all his friends. Small caveat, 281 00:31:16.085 --> 00:31:18.625 he asked her to appear in front of them naked. 282 00:31:21.105 --> 00:31:25.285 And Vashti is a queen and she's a woman of virtue. 283 00:31:27.195 --> 00:31:28.955 And to her credit, she refuses, 284 00:31:30.165 --> 00:31:34.845 she refuses the king's command and refusing any king's 285 00:31:35.045 --> 00:31:37.045 command comes with great implications. 286 00:31:37.845 --> 00:31:40.085 And so the king is angered by all of this, 287 00:31:40.225 --> 00:31:44.725 and he decides to do something drastic. He replaces her as queen. 288 00:31:45.345 --> 00:31:47.525 And so he calls the guys who are in charge, 289 00:31:47.665 --> 00:31:50.005 he brings them into a conversation and he says, you know what? 290 00:31:50.006 --> 00:31:51.005 We gotta replace the queen. 291 00:31:51.145 --> 00:31:55.965 And so these guys devise a plan to go to all of the virgins 292 00:31:56.185 --> 00:31:57.285 of his empire, 293 00:31:57.505 --> 00:32:01.765 and they go far and wide and they find every young girl that they can find and 294 00:32:01.766 --> 00:32:03.365 they decide to put 'em in a contest, 295 00:32:04.085 --> 00:32:08.315 kind of like an audition for the king's favor. Now, to be a part of the contest, 296 00:32:09.415 --> 00:32:12.555 you had to have a year of beauty treatments. 297 00:32:13.335 --> 00:32:14.915 And it's all the beauty treatments. I mean, 298 00:32:15.155 --> 00:32:18.075 it's the thing with the stones on your back and they got the thing with the 299 00:32:18.076 --> 00:32:20.595 thread and the eyebrows. They're doing all these beauty treatments, 300 00:32:20.596 --> 00:32:23.755 they get in the hair did like this is a big thing that they have to do. 301 00:32:23.975 --> 00:32:27.915 And for a year they need to do those beauty treatments and then they will get an 302 00:32:28.195 --> 00:32:30.755 audience with the king. I, 303 00:32:30.835 --> 00:32:34.755 I want you to think of it kind of like the Bachelor Persian Empire Edition. 304 00:32:36.885 --> 00:32:41.525 They hold a big contest and and they grab all of these ladies and bring them 305 00:32:41.526 --> 00:32:44.765 there. They pursue all of the beautiful women, 306 00:32:45.885 --> 00:32:49.165 specifically the virgin women, and bring them into the King's Harem. 307 00:32:49.885 --> 00:32:53.095 They have every woman spend time with the king. But in order to do that again, 308 00:32:53.096 --> 00:32:55.175 you had to have that year of treatment. 309 00:32:56.155 --> 00:33:00.455 And one of these women catches the king's attention, 310 00:33:01.945 --> 00:33:05.955 and her name is Esther. She's the namesake of this book. 311 00:33:07.075 --> 00:33:08.395 Now Esther is a special lady. 312 00:33:09.805 --> 00:33:12.705 She stood out because of her view, her beauty, 313 00:33:13.605 --> 00:33:15.605 but also because of her virtue. 314 00:33:16.715 --> 00:33:19.285 When she was given the option to have all the beauty treatments, 315 00:33:19.625 --> 00:33:22.845 she doesn't jump at the chance. As a matter of fact, she tells them, Hey, 316 00:33:23.165 --> 00:33:25.005 I only need the bare minimum. 317 00:33:26.935 --> 00:33:31.875 And she finds an audience with the king and she quickly wins him 318 00:33:31.876 --> 00:33:34.115 over. When we get to chapter two, verse 17, here's what it says. 319 00:33:34.295 --> 00:33:38.995 It says that the king was attracted to Esther more than any other 320 00:33:39.085 --> 00:33:39.918 woman. 321 00:33:40.765 --> 00:33:44.225 She won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. 322 00:33:44.405 --> 00:33:49.145 So he set a royal crown on her head and he made her queen instead of Vashti. 323 00:33:49.845 --> 00:33:54.425 And the king gave her a great banquet and Esther's banquet for all his 324 00:33:54.485 --> 00:33:55.585 nobles and officials. 325 00:33:55.845 --> 00:33:59.545 He proclaimed the holidays throughout the provinces and he distributed gifts 326 00:33:59.575 --> 00:34:02.465 with royal liberality. Remember, he's a big spender. 327 00:34:03.585 --> 00:34:08.415 And so Esther becomes the queen. And while King Esther, 328 00:34:08.775 --> 00:34:10.895 excuse me, while Queen Esther's rise to the throne that's happening, 329 00:34:11.145 --> 00:34:16.035 there is also a different situation developing. You see, 330 00:34:16.275 --> 00:34:21.235 Esther had been raised by her cousin and her cousin was Jewish 331 00:34:21.495 --> 00:34:25.035 and she is Jewish, and she leaves out the idea that she's Jewish. 332 00:34:25.225 --> 00:34:28.315 When she talks to the king, she doesn't tell him about her identity. 333 00:34:28.575 --> 00:34:32.555 Now her cousin is named Mordecai and he is introduced to the story 334 00:34:34.105 --> 00:34:34.905 and the Persian empire. 335 00:34:34.905 --> 00:34:39.145 Where Esther lives is a place where different ethnicities, different cultures, 336 00:34:39.375 --> 00:34:41.985 different backgrounds seem to get along, 337 00:34:43.285 --> 00:34:47.515 but there's this underlying tension and there are a lot of people who wanna wipe 338 00:34:47.516 --> 00:34:52.315 out the Jews completely. And so she doesn't share the fact that she's a Jew. 339 00:34:52.775 --> 00:34:56.755 Her cousin Mordecai though he kind of stands on business and he knows that he's 340 00:34:56.756 --> 00:35:00.275 a Jew and he stands strong in it. And in chapter two and three, 341 00:35:01.114 --> 00:35:04.875 this comes to a head. You see Mordecai in chapter three, 342 00:35:04.876 --> 00:35:08.515 verse two uncovers a plot to kill the king. 343 00:35:09.614 --> 00:35:14.275 It says verse 21. During the time Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, 344 00:35:15.515 --> 00:35:16.348 Beana and tar, 345 00:35:16.855 --> 00:35:21.475 two of the king's officers who guarded the doorway became angry and they 346 00:35:21.625 --> 00:35:23.955 conspired to assassinate King Xerxes. 347 00:35:24.995 --> 00:35:29.055 But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, his cousin, 348 00:35:29.155 --> 00:35:32.815 who he had raised, who in turn reported it to the king, 349 00:35:33.555 --> 00:35:35.775 giving credit to Mordecai. 350 00:35:36.035 --> 00:35:38.485 And when the report was investigated and found to be true, 351 00:35:38.705 --> 00:35:41.565 the two officials were impaled on polls. 352 00:35:42.725 --> 00:35:46.225 And all of this was recorded in the annal of the presence of the king. 353 00:35:46.485 --> 00:35:50.825 So Mordecai, this Jewish man saves the king's life, and because of it, 354 00:35:50.826 --> 00:35:51.705 he finds favor. 355 00:35:51.925 --> 00:35:56.705 And it's all because of his relationship with this girl named Esther 356 00:35:57.285 --> 00:36:00.895 who he raised. Can we take a timeout real quick? 357 00:36:01.685 --> 00:36:02.575 Just a quick pause 358 00:36:04.245 --> 00:36:08.614 for Mordecai to have been in the exact place 359 00:36:09.614 --> 00:36:14.205 where he was standing to hear the plot that was happening. 360 00:36:15.335 --> 00:36:18.575 I mean, this is, this is like an amazing coincidence. 361 00:36:20.165 --> 00:36:23.855 Like it feels like too much of a coincidence to be a coincidence. Like, 362 00:36:23.925 --> 00:36:25.655 like he's standing at the exact time, 363 00:36:25.656 --> 00:36:29.335 right time in the exact right place to hear this plot. I mean, 364 00:36:29.336 --> 00:36:31.135 this is too much to be a coincidence. I mean, 365 00:36:31.136 --> 00:36:35.655 have you ever found yourself in a moment in your life where it is too much to be 366 00:36:35.656 --> 00:36:38.855 a coincidence? You are where you are, or you overhear what you hear, 367 00:36:38.995 --> 00:36:43.495 or you experience what you experience and you know that this is too much to be a 368 00:36:43.775 --> 00:36:48.545 coincidence? You know that there's something more at play. 369 00:36:50.005 --> 00:36:52.285 You know, I believe some of those moments 370 00:36:54.145 --> 00:36:58.755 are not coincidences at all. They're the providence of God. 371 00:37:00.655 --> 00:37:04.475 You know, God is always at work and God works ahead of us. 372 00:37:05.655 --> 00:37:09.675 And so oftentimes we see God at work and we chalk it up as a coincidence. 373 00:37:09.735 --> 00:37:11.594 But this is no coincidence. 374 00:37:11.595 --> 00:37:14.675 And if we were to define the idea of the providence of God, 375 00:37:14.695 --> 00:37:19.435 it would be God's caring provision for his people as he guides us on the journey 376 00:37:19.465 --> 00:37:22.835 that he has for us, the journey of faith through this life, 377 00:37:23.145 --> 00:37:26.715 accomplishing the purpose that God has. 378 00:37:28.555 --> 00:37:31.335 That's providence. You know, 379 00:37:31.336 --> 00:37:35.255 we talked about this for weeks in a series on Romans chapter eight, 380 00:37:36.585 --> 00:37:40.285 and the Bible says in Romans chapter eight that all things work to the good of 381 00:37:40.286 --> 00:37:43.445 those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. 382 00:37:43.715 --> 00:37:47.525 This is God's providence. It's God's hand at work. 383 00:37:49.515 --> 00:37:53.805 It's him guiding our steps. It's him closing and opening doors. You know, 384 00:37:53.844 --> 00:37:57.565 I love Revelation three. It says that God closes doors that no man can open, 385 00:37:57.705 --> 00:38:02.614 and he opens doors that no man can close. It's God's providence, 386 00:38:04.255 --> 00:38:06.725 time back in. Well, 387 00:38:06.726 --> 00:38:11.285 what happens to Mordecai here is clearly God's providence at work, right place, 388 00:38:11.286 --> 00:38:15.405 right time, right now, and the plot is discovered and the king is saved, 389 00:38:15.605 --> 00:38:19.005 and Mordecai finds favor with the king. Now he finds favor with the king. 390 00:38:19.006 --> 00:38:22.405 But how many of you know that just because you find favor with one person, 391 00:38:22.705 --> 00:38:26.895 it doesn't mean that you find favor with everybody. I mean, 392 00:38:26.896 --> 00:38:29.695 there's haters everywhere now. 393 00:38:29.696 --> 00:38:32.775 There's haters in every single room and in some room there's two. 394 00:38:34.795 --> 00:38:37.505 And so he quickly begins to attract the haters. 395 00:38:38.495 --> 00:38:41.915 You know what I used to tell my kids is that you can always find the haters. 396 00:38:41.915 --> 00:38:45.675 And it's not because of what they say. You gotta watch what they do. 397 00:38:47.405 --> 00:38:50.785 You can always tell who the people are who don't want you to succeed or don't 398 00:38:50.786 --> 00:38:54.705 want you to do well because they're not around when you're rising, 399 00:38:55.785 --> 00:38:57.635 because they're upset that you're rising. 400 00:38:58.344 --> 00:39:02.915 They're also not around when you're falling because they're not there to 401 00:39:02.916 --> 00:39:05.695 help you. They're there to help themselves. 402 00:39:07.114 --> 00:39:11.864 When Mordecai quickly attracts some haters and he runs into a man 403 00:39:11.955 --> 00:39:16.344 named Haman, and I affectionately, or I guess un affectionately call him Haman, 404 00:39:16.345 --> 00:39:19.805 the hater. Haman hates the Jews. 405 00:39:20.975 --> 00:39:25.635 And chapter three, we begin to see his hate hard at work. Here's what it says. 406 00:39:25.636 --> 00:39:29.955 It says, after these events, king Xerxes honored Haman, the son of Haha, 407 00:39:30.335 --> 00:39:35.235 the Aite elevating him and giving him a seed of honor higher than 408 00:39:35.236 --> 00:39:36.555 that of all the other nobles, 409 00:39:36.855 --> 00:39:41.395 all the royal officials at the King's gate knelt down and paid honor to 410 00:39:41.915 --> 00:39:46.485 Haman. So the royal officials see him, 411 00:39:46.715 --> 00:39:48.285 they kneel down, they pay him. 412 00:39:48.286 --> 00:39:51.645 Honor for the king had commanded him concerning Haman, 413 00:39:52.065 --> 00:39:55.765 but Mordecai would not kneel down or pay him honor. 414 00:39:56.275 --> 00:39:59.005 Then the royal officials at the King's gate asked Mordecai, 415 00:39:59.565 --> 00:40:03.805 why do you disobey the king's command? Day after day? They spoke to him, 416 00:40:04.025 --> 00:40:05.805 but he refused to comply. 417 00:40:06.685 --> 00:40:10.005 And therefore they told Haman about what had happened, 418 00:40:11.125 --> 00:40:12.635 about Mordecai's behavior, 419 00:40:14.045 --> 00:40:18.805 that it would not be tolerated because he had told them that he was a Jew 420 00:40:19.825 --> 00:40:24.395 and he refused to bow down. Now, Mordecai was Jewish, 421 00:40:25.255 --> 00:40:29.275 so he refused to bow down because doing so would've been a violation of his 422 00:40:29.515 --> 00:40:32.635 religious principles, right? He's Jewish. And then the Jewish tradition, 423 00:40:32.775 --> 00:40:37.114 if you bow down before anybody but God, it is a form of idolatry. 424 00:40:37.115 --> 00:40:40.515 Can I just say that in the Christian tradition, if you bow down before anybody, 425 00:40:40.575 --> 00:40:42.355 it is also a form of idolatry. 426 00:40:43.785 --> 00:40:46.445 And so he chooses not to do this. It's a, 427 00:40:46.446 --> 00:40:48.685 it's a compromise that he could not accept. 428 00:40:50.565 --> 00:40:53.685 And so he stands on his principles. 429 00:40:55.385 --> 00:40:58.655 Can I take another quick time out? You know, 430 00:40:58.695 --> 00:41:03.015 I believe that this is a fundamental thing that's problematic in our culture 431 00:41:03.145 --> 00:41:03.978 today. 432 00:41:05.245 --> 00:41:08.825 We have a lot of priorities and these are things that we believe are important 433 00:41:08.826 --> 00:41:09.645 to us. 434 00:41:09.645 --> 00:41:14.645 But can I just say that there are very few people who stand on 435 00:41:14.885 --> 00:41:18.375 biblical principles? You know, it's good to have priorities, 436 00:41:18.376 --> 00:41:21.495 but I prefer to have principles, things that are true today, 437 00:41:21.496 --> 00:41:25.215 that were true yesterday, that will be true tomorrow that I stand on. 438 00:41:28.035 --> 00:41:31.015 We have a hard time finding people in our culture. 439 00:41:33.105 --> 00:41:34.955 Instead of being led by conviction 440 00:41:36.555 --> 00:41:38.275 or led by convenience, 441 00:41:41.364 --> 00:41:43.745 we need more people who will stand on conviction. 442 00:41:45.225 --> 00:41:46.825 Mordecai is a man of conviction, 443 00:41:47.635 --> 00:41:50.885 so he refuses to bow down time back in. 444 00:41:51.785 --> 00:41:56.165 And this is an act of defiance and it sets off a chain of events. 445 00:41:57.145 --> 00:42:00.165 And man, it becomes really problematic, not just for Mordecai, 446 00:42:00.265 --> 00:42:01.725 but also for the Jews. Now remember, 447 00:42:01.895 --> 00:42:05.925 Haman is a hater and he's angered by what happens by Mordecai's response. 448 00:42:06.265 --> 00:42:08.285 And he wants to not just kill Mordecai, 449 00:42:08.344 --> 00:42:12.805 he wants to kill all of the Jewish people. I mean, when Haman sees this, 450 00:42:13.185 --> 00:42:15.605 he gets really, really angry. 451 00:42:16.995 --> 00:42:18.855 Here's what it says in chapter three, verse five. 452 00:42:19.445 --> 00:42:24.375 When Haman saw that Mordecai would not deal down or pay 453 00:42:24.376 --> 00:42:26.455 him honor, he was enraged. 454 00:42:27.235 --> 00:42:29.575 Yet having learned who mordecai's people were, 455 00:42:30.355 --> 00:42:34.695 he scorned the idea of just killing Mordecai. And instead, 456 00:42:34.825 --> 00:42:38.375 Haman looked away to destroy all of Mordecai's people, the Jews, 457 00:42:38.376 --> 00:42:40.415 throughout the whole kingdom of Xerxes. 458 00:42:40.575 --> 00:42:43.575 So he doesn't wanna just kill one person, he wants to kill all of the Jews. 459 00:42:43.594 --> 00:42:44.405 And at the time, 460 00:42:44.405 --> 00:42:47.855 this would've only counted the men and just counting the men would've been 461 00:42:47.856 --> 00:42:49.455 75,000 people 462 00:42:51.605 --> 00:42:56.205 dead because one person won't bow down to you. 463 00:42:58.445 --> 00:43:03.405 Haman brings a new definition to the word hater. He talks to the king, 464 00:43:04.655 --> 00:43:08.875 he talks to Xerxes and gets him convinced to issue an order, 465 00:43:09.315 --> 00:43:11.515 an edict to enact his plan. 466 00:43:12.495 --> 00:43:15.795 And the Jewish people are in grave danger. So Mordecai, 467 00:43:15.796 --> 00:43:20.555 having raised Esther takes these three steps that try to get back into the good 468 00:43:20.575 --> 00:43:22.594 graces of the king. The first thing that he does, 469 00:43:22.735 --> 00:43:26.594 he tears his clothes and he puts on sackcloth and ashes and he goes and walks 470 00:43:26.595 --> 00:43:29.635 around the kingdom so that people can see that he is hurting. 471 00:43:29.665 --> 00:43:32.235 This is a sign that you are outraged. 472 00:43:34.125 --> 00:43:35.265 So he tears his clothes, 473 00:43:35.895 --> 00:43:39.985 then he talks to the servants of the king and he tells them what has happened. 474 00:43:40.205 --> 00:43:43.185 And he says, I need to talk to Esther. And then lastly, 475 00:43:43.405 --> 00:43:48.265 he asks Esther to use her power to change their 476 00:43:48.266 --> 00:43:51.985 current circumstances. He asks for help. 477 00:43:54.195 --> 00:43:55.515 In verse 12, chapter four, 478 00:43:56.675 --> 00:44:00.545 it says that when Esther's words were reported to Mordecai, you see, 479 00:44:00.605 --> 00:44:03.035 she sends a message back, 480 00:44:05.165 --> 00:44:08.985 he sent back this answer, you know, Esther, I need your help. 481 00:44:10.575 --> 00:44:11.435 But do not think 482 00:44:13.245 --> 00:44:17.735 that because you are in the king's house that you're gonna be saved from this 483 00:44:17.745 --> 00:44:18.578 guy's reign. 484 00:44:19.635 --> 00:44:23.225 Don't think that you alone of the Jews will escape what this man is doing 485 00:44:25.145 --> 00:44:28.565 for if you remain silent at this time, God will find a way, right? 486 00:44:28.625 --> 00:44:32.165 Relief and deliverance for the Jews will still arise from another place, 487 00:44:32.665 --> 00:44:35.245 but you and your father's family will perish. 488 00:44:36.975 --> 00:44:41.705 And this is where we get the saying. He says, in who knows, 489 00:44:42.935 --> 00:44:46.835 but that you maybe have been called to your royal position 490 00:44:48.185 --> 00:44:52.655 for such a time as this, for such a time as this. 491 00:44:53.545 --> 00:44:55.085 You know, God's timing is perfect 492 00:44:56.585 --> 00:45:00.885 and he places individuals in specific positions for his purposes. 493 00:45:01.765 --> 00:45:05.445 And so Esther's rise to queenship is not a commit, and it's not a, 494 00:45:05.446 --> 00:45:07.685 it's not a coincidence. It is a divine appointment. 495 00:45:08.025 --> 00:45:12.805 God has placed her exactly where she needs to be for such a time as 496 00:45:12.806 --> 00:45:16.594 this. And I've been following the Lord for a long time. 497 00:45:18.755 --> 00:45:23.344 And what I have learned about God is that God has a way of putting us 498 00:45:23.345 --> 00:45:28.275 exactly where he wants us and exactly at the time that he needs us to be there 499 00:45:28.575 --> 00:45:30.635 for His glory to be shown through our lives. 500 00:45:30.825 --> 00:45:34.715 What I've learned is that God positions his people for his purpose. 501 00:45:36.745 --> 00:45:39.725 He has always gone about the business of positioning his people. 502 00:45:41.065 --> 00:45:44.185 And I get a chance to spend time with people at some of the worst moments in 503 00:45:44.186 --> 00:45:46.665 their lives and at some of the best moments in their lives. And as a pastor, 504 00:45:46.905 --> 00:45:49.265 I get the privilege of sitting with them through those moments. 505 00:45:49.545 --> 00:45:54.505 And what I know is that God oftentimes is positioning them for great purpose 506 00:45:54.575 --> 00:45:56.305 through difficult circumstances. 507 00:45:58.364 --> 00:46:01.325 And this is what he's doing in the life of Esther. I mean, 508 00:46:01.485 --> 00:46:02.645 lemme just give you a few examples. 509 00:46:03.785 --> 00:46:08.645 It is in that relationship where you're connected to a person and this person 510 00:46:08.646 --> 00:46:10.165 doesn't talk to anybody else, 511 00:46:10.425 --> 00:46:13.364 but for some reason they will share with you their deepest, 512 00:46:13.594 --> 00:46:15.685 darkest secrets and ask you to pray for them. 513 00:46:15.935 --> 00:46:20.565 Could this be that God has positioned you in their lives for his purpose? 514 00:46:22.405 --> 00:46:26.495 It's that nonprofit organization that you keep driving by that has caught your 515 00:46:26.675 --> 00:46:30.975 eye and you know they need help. You know they need help. You have been there, 516 00:46:31.195 --> 00:46:34.614 you have seen what they do. You know that they are fulfilling God's purpose, 517 00:46:34.755 --> 00:46:39.505 but you just keep on driving by and you know what they need. 518 00:46:39.685 --> 00:46:40.518 You have, 519 00:46:42.145 --> 00:46:45.375 could that be God positioning you for His purpose? 520 00:46:49.525 --> 00:46:53.475 Is that relationship that you have at the job 521 00:46:55.485 --> 00:46:59.565 where you are discipling a person and you're living out your faith 522 00:47:01.155 --> 00:47:04.575 and it takes everything. You got to get up in the morning and go to that job 523 00:47:06.125 --> 00:47:07.735 because you dislike it so much, 524 00:47:08.995 --> 00:47:13.364 but you know that God has a plan to use you in that place. 525 00:47:15.155 --> 00:47:19.225 Could it be that God has positioned you right where you are 526 00:47:20.855 --> 00:47:24.415 for his purpose? Well, this is where Esther is 527 00:47:26.195 --> 00:47:31.105 positioned on purpose. This is where she finds herself. 528 00:47:32.325 --> 00:47:32.645 You see, 529 00:47:32.645 --> 00:47:36.805 Mordecai had learned of this plot that killed the Jews and he urged Esther to 530 00:47:36.806 --> 00:47:40.525 intervene and surely God could use someone else. I mean, 531 00:47:40.526 --> 00:47:44.125 we talked about Abraham last week and his response to Isaac when he asked about 532 00:47:44.126 --> 00:47:46.925 the sacrifice and the word was that the Lord will provide, 533 00:47:47.145 --> 00:47:50.525 surely he will provide somebody else, but he wants to use you. 534 00:47:52.465 --> 00:47:57.215 He wants to use Esther. And this is her time of calling. 535 00:47:58.745 --> 00:48:02.114 She's called for such a time as this. 536 00:48:03.755 --> 00:48:05.255 And so she takes action. 537 00:48:06.905 --> 00:48:11.805 She invites King Xerxes and Haman to a banquet as she asks for one wish 538 00:48:12.035 --> 00:48:12.864 from the king. 539 00:48:12.864 --> 00:48:17.125 She asks for one wish to be granted and she has a banquet for the king. 540 00:48:17.485 --> 00:48:20.405 Apparently she knows that most men work better on a full stomach. 541 00:48:21.635 --> 00:48:26.135 And so she invites the king into this banquet and he agrees to grant her one 542 00:48:26.136 --> 00:48:30.175 wish on the next day. So it's all good with the king, 543 00:48:30.915 --> 00:48:34.895 and it seems to be all good with Haman because Haman gets invited to the to the 544 00:48:34.896 --> 00:48:35.729 luncheon as well. 545 00:48:36.855 --> 00:48:41.594 But then Haman sees Mordecai again right outside the 546 00:48:41.595 --> 00:48:44.275 temple, right outside the gates, 547 00:48:45.594 --> 00:48:50.245 refusing yet again to bow down. Haman is furious. 548 00:48:51.395 --> 00:48:55.475 And so he develops a plan to kill Haman again. 549 00:48:55.655 --> 00:48:59.635 And he prepares a device to have him killed. He wants him dead no matter what, 550 00:48:59.895 --> 00:49:03.395 and he would've succeeded with his plan. But there was this one small problem, 551 00:49:03.735 --> 00:49:04.275 you see, 552 00:49:04.275 --> 00:49:08.235 remember when I said God always is at work and sometimes he just goes before us. 553 00:49:08.505 --> 00:49:11.114 Well, at that night, for some reason, for whatever reason, 554 00:49:11.455 --> 00:49:14.755 the king cannot sleep. In chapter six verse one, 555 00:49:14.756 --> 00:49:17.635 it says that that night King couldn't sleep. 556 00:49:19.215 --> 00:49:24.114 He tried everything. He tried milk, he tried watching Jimmy Fallon, 557 00:49:25.015 --> 00:49:29.445 he couldn't sleep. And so he orders the book of Chronicles, 558 00:49:29.465 --> 00:49:33.364 the record of his reign to be brought into him and to have it read to him. 559 00:49:34.775 --> 00:49:37.255 And when you know it, he remembers. 560 00:49:38.635 --> 00:49:41.015 He remembers the name of this man, Mordecai, 561 00:49:42.285 --> 00:49:47.185 who has saved his life and how what had happened had been written in the Annals. 562 00:49:47.186 --> 00:49:51.545 He has some men read him a story. And in that story it reminds him of this guy, 563 00:49:51.665 --> 00:49:54.065 Mordecai. And then the next day, Esther says, 564 00:49:54.505 --> 00:49:58.385 can you spare the life of Mordecai? And the kink is like, 565 00:49:59.765 --> 00:50:01.145 who would kill Mordecai? 566 00:50:03.114 --> 00:50:05.015 Who would kill this man who has saved my life? 567 00:50:07.265 --> 00:50:10.965 And the death that Haman has planned for Mordecai 568 00:50:12.805 --> 00:50:17.585 actually ends up being the death that Hammond experiences 569 00:50:19.435 --> 00:50:22.325 he's put to death in the same way. You know, 570 00:50:22.385 --> 00:50:24.765 God has a way of just flipping that thing around, doesn't he? 571 00:50:25.265 --> 00:50:27.995 His providence is real. 572 00:50:29.215 --> 00:50:33.835 And as you read this story, you can see his hands all over it. 573 00:50:35.155 --> 00:50:38.995 And and I think about my own story, how God's hands have been all over that. 574 00:50:39.114 --> 00:50:39.355 I mean, 575 00:50:39.355 --> 00:50:42.915 I remind myself sometimes of God's story in my life and his providence has been 576 00:50:42.916 --> 00:50:45.955 amazing. He has showed up at exactly the right times, 577 00:50:46.515 --> 00:50:50.795 in exactly the right ways over and over and over and over again in my life. 578 00:50:50.935 --> 00:50:54.555 And he has showed me two truths that seem to resonate in my heart. 579 00:50:54.725 --> 00:50:59.475 Every time I think about the goodness of God is one that God is always at 580 00:50:59.585 --> 00:51:04.035 work, he is always working. So when you're asking, God, can you hear me, God, 581 00:51:04.094 --> 00:51:08.315 can you see me God, do you even care about what I'm going through? He hears you. 582 00:51:08.495 --> 00:51:13.094 He sees you, and he cares. He's always at work. 583 00:51:15.185 --> 00:51:16.018 The second thing 584 00:51:17.665 --> 00:51:20.245 is that you may not be able to trace the hand of God. 585 00:51:21.675 --> 00:51:23.775 You may not be able to trace the hand of God, 586 00:51:25.555 --> 00:51:30.205 but we should always be able to trust the hand of God. You know, 587 00:51:30.295 --> 00:51:32.725 God's proof is his past. 588 00:51:34.505 --> 00:51:37.255 And if he did it for Mordecai, 589 00:51:39.355 --> 00:51:40.375 he can do it for you too. 590 00:51:42.985 --> 00:51:47.815 God's faithfulness in the past gives us confidence for today 591 00:51:49.205 --> 00:51:52.655 that he has a plan for tomorrow. 592 00:51:55.035 --> 00:51:58.775 He's good. You know, there's so many times 593 00:52:00.815 --> 00:52:04.415 where we see God at work in our lives, and I think if we're honest, 594 00:52:04.445 --> 00:52:07.375 like we tend to chalk it up as a coincidence, right? 595 00:52:07.915 --> 00:52:11.375 We tend to act as if it's just something that maybe just happened out, 596 00:52:11.695 --> 00:52:12.535 happen happenstance. 597 00:52:12.805 --> 00:52:16.695 Like maybe even you're here today and you can't figure out how by the life of 598 00:52:16.696 --> 00:52:17.075 you, 599 00:52:17.075 --> 00:52:20.895 you ended up in a church because you've done everything you could to avoid the 600 00:52:20.896 --> 00:52:25.055 church. Perhaps it's God 601 00:52:26.655 --> 00:52:28.275 who has you exactly where you are, 602 00:52:29.745 --> 00:52:34.505 perhaps his hand still at work in your 603 00:52:34.535 --> 00:52:39.535 life. Perhaps God is positioning you for his purpose. 604 00:52:41.165 --> 00:52:45.485 And so I just wanna leave you with three questions to contemplate as you begin 605 00:52:45.486 --> 00:52:48.965 to trace the move of God in your own life. You can see it in Esther's life, 606 00:52:49.025 --> 00:52:51.045 but I'm hoping that we can recognize it in our own life. 607 00:52:51.145 --> 00:52:52.045 And here's the first one, 608 00:52:52.344 --> 00:52:57.085 how has God positioned you right now for his purpose? 609 00:52:59.235 --> 00:53:01.015 How has he positioned you for purpose? 610 00:53:03.155 --> 00:53:07.165 Because he is always at work. Here's a second question. 611 00:53:09.545 --> 00:53:14.015 Where do you see the move of God currently at work in your life? 612 00:53:16.085 --> 00:53:18.455 Because if God is always on the move, 613 00:53:20.094 --> 00:53:21.775 and that means he's working right now, 614 00:53:24.455 --> 00:53:27.025 and what we're supposed to do is recognize the move of God 615 00:53:28.905 --> 00:53:33.215 and join him there. So where is he moving in your life right now? 616 00:53:34.355 --> 00:53:36.265 Where is he doing heavy lifting in your heart? 617 00:53:38.965 --> 00:53:42.965 Let me ask this last question. Why are you here? 618 00:53:45.325 --> 00:53:46.344 Why are you here right now? 619 00:53:48.735 --> 00:53:52.195 Why have you been called to such a time as this? 620 00:53:55.415 --> 00:54:00.125 And I gotta believe that it's because God still has work for you to do. 621 00:54:01.594 --> 00:54:03.975 You know the fact that you have breath in your lungs, 622 00:54:04.935 --> 00:54:06.094 that you have a beating in your chest, 623 00:54:06.375 --> 00:54:09.495 that means that God still has work for you to do. 624 00:54:11.335 --> 00:54:14.255 And he is calling all of us into such a time as this. 625 00:54:16.555 --> 00:54:21.335 And every one of us gets the opportunity to respond both with our 626 00:54:21.336 --> 00:54:24.855 word and with how we live. 627 00:54:27.695 --> 00:54:29.375 And so maybe you're here and you're new to church, 628 00:54:31.605 --> 00:54:33.145 or maybe you've been coming for a little while, 629 00:54:33.146 --> 00:54:37.785 but you have never said yes to the free gift of salvation that God offers to 630 00:54:37.786 --> 00:54:38.619 you. 631 00:54:41.114 --> 00:54:43.435 I want you to know that you can change that today 632 00:54:46.105 --> 00:54:47.905 and you can become a part of God's family 633 00:54:50.195 --> 00:54:54.635 and you can begin to live for him and with him and to allow him to do the work 634 00:54:54.636 --> 00:54:56.594 in your life that he needs to do 635 00:54:58.885 --> 00:55:02.085 to position you for purpose. 636 00:55:04.255 --> 00:55:05.935 And so I wanna take a moment to simply pray. 637 00:55:07.614 --> 00:55:09.875 And if you or somebody who wants to follow Jesus, 638 00:55:10.055 --> 00:55:12.355 I'm gonna ask that you pray this prayer with me. 639 00:55:12.356 --> 00:55:13.995 There's nothing special about the prayer, 640 00:55:14.105 --> 00:55:17.515 it's just an outward confession of what God is doing on the inside of our 641 00:55:17.575 --> 00:55:18.408 hearts. 642 00:55:21.035 --> 00:55:25.605 So you can join me in this prayer and decide to follow Jesus right now. 643 00:55:26.855 --> 00:55:27.688 Let's pray together. 644 00:55:31.675 --> 00:55:34.495 If you wanna follow Jesus today, simply pray this prayer. 645 00:55:36.885 --> 00:55:41.665 Father God, I'm sorry, 646 00:55:46.005 --> 00:55:47.755 I see today 647 00:55:50.885 --> 00:55:55.065 that my actions have turned me away from you. 648 00:55:58.425 --> 00:56:03.225 But Father God, as I see how you moved in the life of Esther, 649 00:56:05.925 --> 00:56:07.805 I want you to move in my life that way. 650 00:56:10.905 --> 00:56:15.005 I want to be available to you in my heart 651 00:56:16.475 --> 00:56:21.055 and in the way that I live my life. So Father, 652 00:56:21.265 --> 00:56:24.825 today I turn away from sit 653 00:56:27.955 --> 00:56:29.055 and I turn towards you. 654 00:56:32.925 --> 00:56:37.895 Fill me with your spirit, renew my life 655 00:56:40.205 --> 00:56:41.465 and help me to follow you. 656 00:56:44.415 --> 00:56:48.905 I thank you in Jesus' name. Amen. 657 00:56:50.325 --> 00:56:52.344 Can I just say that if you made that decision today, 658 00:56:52.345 --> 00:56:54.105 you have made the greatest decision of your life. 659 00:56:56.205 --> 00:56:59.665 It's gonna change everything forever. You know, 660 00:56:59.685 --> 00:57:02.185 God is still in the business of calling his people 661 00:57:03.985 --> 00:57:04.905 into this time right now. 662 00:57:06.655 --> 00:57:11.425 So we give him glory and we give him praise and we choose to trust 663 00:57:11.445 --> 00:57:14.565 his plan. God bless you.