Wait to Stand

Stand Up: Letting God Use You:

Wait To Stand:

Esther 5:1-14  

“Timing is everything”

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

In this chapter we see the contrast between Esther’s Patient Dependence and Haman’s Prideful Independence

Esther Waits Before The Lord

1. Between chapters 4 & 5 Esther and others are Seeking the Lord through prayer and fasting

“but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

As We Wait Before The Lord:

• God renews our Strength
• God renews our Perspective
• God renews our Perseverance

2. As she waited, she Planned in God’s presence (1)

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.” (Psalm 32:8)

3. As she waited, she Prepared in anticipation of God’s activity (4)

“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” (Proverbs 21:1)

4. She acted with a Courageous Trust (2-5)

5. She walked in God’s Timing (6-8)

Waiting Before The Lord Enables Me To Stand Up As Never Before

Haman’s Pride

1. Pride needs to be Noticed (9-12)

2. Pride can rob us of the Capacity for enjoyment and happiness (13)

3. Pride can cause us to Resent others (9)

• When they don’t Give Us What We Want

• When they have what We Don’t Have

4. Pride can cause us to Attack Others (13-14)

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“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

Two Questions For Reflection

1. Where am I most like Haman?

2. Where do I most need to follow the model of Esther?

An Amazing Invitation

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

“Thou are coming to a King,

Large petitions with thee bring,

His grace and power are such,

None can ever ask too much.”   John Newton

Waiting Before The Lord Enables Me To Stand Up As Never Before

Making It Personal

• What will it look like for me to regularly “Wait Before The Lord”?

• Where am I most like Haman?

• Where do I most need to follow the model of Esther?

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

• Who can I share these truths with?