August 12, 2018

Stand Down

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

Stand Up: Letting God Use You:

Stand Down:

Esther 4:1-16 

At times, God presents us with an “unexpected calling”

The Background

  1. An Evil Plan (3:6-15)
  • Total Destruction (3:13)
  • Callous Indifference (3:15)
  1. The Timing (3:7,12)

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” (Proverbs 16:33)

These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the Lord’s Passover.” (Leviticus 23:4–5)

  • A Painful Contrast
  • A glimmer of Hope

The Story Continues

  1. A Crying Out to God (4:1-3)

Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;” (Joel 2:12)

It is too often the case that God’s people will have to experience suffering or deep trouble before they will Humble themselves and cry out to God.

  1. A Communication of the situation (4:4-8)
  • Ease and comfort can sometimes Blind us to reality
  •  Authentic faith Faces The Facts with a firm belief in God and a willingness to be part of the solution
  1. A Challenge issued (4:8-11)

“Sometimes we fear that fighting for what is right will kill us.  Then again, it occurs to us that to stand by and do nothing out of self-preservation is to be dead already.”  Beth Moore

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23–24)

  1. A powerful Reminder (4:12-14)

Mordecai Reminds Esther of 3 Important Facts:

  • Being in the royal palace does not protect you from this threat
  • Silence in this moment will not prevent God from delivering the Jewish people in another way
  • That Esther was in the palace at this time was not a Coincidence but Providence
  1. A Defining Decision (4:15-17)
  • Esther would go into the King alone, but she would not Prepare alone
  • Esther came to a Trustful Submission to the will of God

Surrendering To God Leads To Greater Things!

Four Truths To Stand Firm Upon

  1. God has divine Purposes that He is accomplishing in this world
  1. God has chosen to work Through People to accomplish His purposes
  1. God will accomplish His purposes even if we Refuse To Obey His will

When God isn’t permitted to rule, He Overrules

God’s plans are fulfilled in God’s Time

 

Am I Willing To Follow The Lord Jesus Christ Wherever He Leads Me?

 

Making It Personal

  • Has God placed an unexpected calling in my life?

 

  • When was the last time I rearranged parts of my life to desperately seek God?

 

  • Is there an area of my life where God is calling me to “face the facts”, deny myself and follow Him?

 

  • Which of the truths above do I most need to focus on in my life?

 

 

  • 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 5

2018

Stand with Conviction

Pastor: Jeff Bedwell Scripture: Esther 2:21– 3:15 Series: Stand Up: Letting God Use You