http://bible.com/events/16764194

Esther 4:1-14NIV

1 When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly.  2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it.  3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes.  4 When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.  5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why.  6 So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate.  7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews.  8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.  9 Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said.  10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai,  11 “All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold scepter to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.”  12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai,  13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape.  14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” 

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YOU SEE

The story of Esther is not about the plans and purposes of God hinging on the decision of one girl. It is about the future of that girl hinging on her decision to choose to be a part of the plans and purposes of God.

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“FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS”

There is no assertion why Esther has been appointed queen, but it seems Mordecai is implying that it could be because God is in the details.

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Romans 8:28NIV

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

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Ephesians 2:10NIV

10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

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YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO MAKE

Will you say yes to the the call or will you try to avoid it and seek temporary comfort instead?

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Esther 4:15-17NIV

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai:  16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”  17 So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions. 

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Esther’s call to assemble and fast accompanies a similar cry for divine relief.

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Joel 2:12-16NIV

12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”  13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.  14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings for the Lord your God.  15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.  16 Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. 

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THE CALL OF GOD:

To trade transient comfort for a transformative cross.

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To choose to take up our cross and say YES to God’s call changes us:

-It gives us a purpose

-It gives us hope

-It transforms us

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In the end, Esther was obedient. Because she was, the Jews were saved!

What or who is on the other side of your choice today?

http://bible.com/events/15837262

Our most powerful stance is not wanting power. 

Mark 10:35-45

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.

37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”

38 “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

39 “We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

3 Observations About This Text 

1. We all want power
   1. Give James and John credit. They had the guts to say what some of us only think: “Lord, we want power! Do whatever we say.”
   2. Instead of power, we can insert the words “control” or “independence”
2. There is never enough power 
   1. Just like most everything else in our lives…we want more 
   2. Beneath it all, we are desperate for significance, influence, authority
3. For Jesus, power is inverted  
   1. Our view of power is centered on control, but the kingdom of God is centered around service (Mark 10:43-45)
   2. Greatness (power) was not reducing others to your service, but reducing yourself to their service 
   3. For Jesus, power is found in dependence, humility, and weakness 

Mark 8:34-35

“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.”

As we come to the end of this series…the question is the same 

-Is He enough for you? 

-Is His power enough for you?

-His way? 

-Can you trust Him enough to believe that you don’t have to scrape and claw for more?

Our most powerful stance is not wanting power. 

Other texts for further study:

2 Peter 1:3-4

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

Matthew 23:1-11

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them. 5 “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others. 8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.