July 29, 2018

Be Ready To Stand

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Series: Stand Up: Letting God Use You Scripture: Esther 2:5–18

Stand Up: Letting God Use You: Be Ready To Stand: Esther 2:5-18  

A Challenging Book With A Challenging Example:

  • God is not mentioned in this book
  • The treatment of women
  • Esther: Unwillingly victimized by an unbearable situation, by God’s grace, she stood up and made a difference!

Central Theme:

God’s Invisible Providence/Sovereignty

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Romans 11:33)

At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” (Daniel 4:34–35)

“He is there and He is not silent.”  Francis Schaeffer

The Story Begins

  • The King (1:1)
  • The Banquets (1:2-9)
  • The queen’s refusal and Banishment (1:10-22)
  • The Plan for a new queen (2:1-4)

God Moves In Mysterious Ways and

In Mundane Days

  1. God Places us in the right places, at the right times for His purposes (5-8)
  • God Knows right where you are
  • God’s Timing is rarely the same as our timing

 

  1. God Connects us with other people for His purposes (9-11, 15)
  • God can grant us Favor with people – Be Grateful
  • God can give us Opportunity through people – Be Open
  • God can Guide us through people – Be Teachable
  1. God may Entrust us with positions of power and influence for His purposes (15-18)
  • God is not Limited by the things that we think limit us
  • Power and influence are Tools to be used for God’s purposes

“Leadership is a stewardship.  It’s temporary and you’re accountable.”  Andy Stanley

Some Important Reminders

  1. Even in tumultuous Circumstances, God is at work
  1. God is at work whether I See It Or Not
  1. God is at work in the Ordinary as well as the Extraordinary

God Moves In Mysterious Ways and In Mundane Days

 

Making It Personal

  • Where am I struggling to really believe that God is in control and at work in my life right now?
  • Which of the truths above do I most need to focus on currently in my life?
  • What difference will it make in my attitude and approach to life when I truly believe that God is in control and at work?
  • Who can I share these truths with?

other sermons in this series

Aug 26

2018

Stand Boldly

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Esther 6–10 Series: Stand Up: Letting God Use You

Aug 19

2018

Wait to Stand

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Esther 5:1–14 Series: Stand Up: Letting God Use You

Aug 12

2018

Stand Down

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Esther 4:1–16 Series: Stand Up: Letting God Use You