Nov 5, 2023 Pastor Harlow Esther 8:1-17

[Music] me [Music] is [Music] for all right well good morning church wo hey there we go hey it's good to see each and every one of you here on this beautiful Sunday morning it's a lot warmer than last week and so I'm so glad that you're here some of you I see that y'all remember that we keep it a little cooler in the sanctuary it gets really hot up here and I think this mic is really hot is it really hot yeah okay well good morning my name is Cody I'm the pastor here we are all about loving God loving each other and loving our community and World amen and today we got a whole bunch of things that are going on speaking of loving each other we've got our 115th celebration this afternoon that starts at 4M right here in the sanctuary we're GNA have some great music going to have some great preaching from Pastor Kirk Baker I'm really excited to see that guy aren't you I love doc Pastor Kirk he's he's still a friend and a mentor to me and I just thank the Lord for him and his ministry also we're going to have after that we're going to have ice cream and Pie and Heidi wanted me to tell you bring some pie okay and Amber she spent yesterday a little bit making some apple pie and so I call first dibs on that because it's amazing let's see here we got all sorts of things that are happening one quick thing today is family worship Sunday and so you'll see all sorts of little ones all throughout here parents if you can do me a huge favor because they got these little bitty bladders right and if you could during our meet and greet time that's going to be happening here in

Just a minute just be sure to maybe just take them on down squeeze that lemon let them go to use a restroom and that way during the worship and the preaching they're not having to move around a lot okay can y'all do that for me parents all right a couple of y'all are like I'm sorry I was wrestling my kid what so hey we got a lot of things that are happening one of the things that I want to update you on is Trunk or Treat Trunk or Treat we were absolutely slammed on that day we had to turn hundreds of people away because we had we just got so inundated with people and we didn't have enough candy and we actually ran out before the sun sat it was just it was nuts but I'm just thankful to the Lord For the Good Gospel conversation that we were able to have we actually had Gospel conversations that night because people didn't want to leave and so that was down in the gym lot of good conversations so if you're wondering is trun or treat valuable yes it is and it was very effective actually now let's see here I don't have my notes up here but are there any other things that I need to mention oh this is big next week we've got our business meeting that's going to take place after a carry in potluck okay so we got potluck next week and we've got that but before all of that in the morning at 815 we've got a candidate that we're bringing in as our director of Children and Family Ministries his name is Thomas gertson and if you want to read his testimony there are copies of that available down in the church office so if you're like who is this guy we you know that's that's available for you to look at if you want to see his resume because it has personal information on there please just come by the church office and pick one up because we don't want you know his address and all that

Kind of stuff going out to some of you weirdos out there so [Laughter] Amber but anyways so we got we got that going on we got our annual or big what's it called business meeting there we go we got a big business meeting next week we're going to present the ministry investment plan to you for your approval as well as have some nominations there is one amendment that I need to bring to your attention this morning which is under the proposed team members one of the things that was not included on there was to add Julie Danforth for the Weare team that was just an oversight my bad my apologies but that does need to be added in there I'm certain that none of you are strongly opposed to that but that does need to be added in there okay church I love you so much how about we just take a moment stand up and greet each other in the name of the Lord and take them babies to go use the restroom [Music] for [Music] Mar [Music] need [Music] for [Music] ch 3 2 1 when that shoe box is open they're Overjoyed you can see them shouting jumping look at how much they are excited this is the first time those children are receiving the shoe boxes they are so happy every box is important cuz every box is an opportunity to tell a child about God's love about his son Jesus Christ if you get the heart of the child you will reach the heart of the parents you will reach the heart of the family and then you will touch the community that gift box is the beginning into their hearts is it incredible how

These gifts touch the lives of these children every year we see tens of thousands of children discipled and we couldn't do this without you so thank you for packing the boxes thank you for praying for these children Around The World God bless you and keep packing those boxes and you are you are able to pick those boxes up in the old Fellowship Hall some of them are put together for you some of them are flat there are items for you to pick up and fill them with there there's also a bucket for you to put money in to help out with the postage I don't remember how much it is seven something 10 this year holy Cho $10 to send it so if you're not able to do the Box throw $40 in the bucket to help send four of them they need to be filled and returned by Monday November the 13th and vacation Bible school and women on Mission have already paid for 37 of those boxes so if you don't have the money to send your box make sure you pick up a label boy or girl or pick up two and do two boxes and do that after the service today fill it up different hat this year the women on Mission International Mission study is about Zambia I'm not going to do the five different languages like I did last week because someone thought I was having a stroke seriously all women women and men are invited to attend the study it's tomorrow at noon in the gym we always eat at our meetings so bring a dish or two of your choice to share plan on coming and enjoying an early afternoon learning about world missions with others and I'm going to end with one of the languages it's Laz Mula mu yada meaning Jesus loves [Applause] me well good morning it's good to be in the house of the Lord today amen at this time we like to just take a moment and prepare our hearts and our minds for worship so I'd invite

You to Bow your heads close your eyes if you're with your family pray with and over them this morning and just ask God to prepare you for worship today maybe this morning has just been particularly stressful maybe you're just having hard time waking up ask God to help you remind yourself that he is our hope that he is our strength and so Lord we come before you together today to worship you together man woman or child Lord we know that you've made us to worship you God help us to respond to that in worship Lord help us to praise you for who you are and what you've done help us to be overwhelmed with our knowledge of you overwhelmed that you would stoop down to we who are sinners so that you might reconcile us to yourself it's in Jesus Jes name we pray amen I'd invite you now to stand and join us as we sing together of God's magnificent marvelous matchless [Music] love magnic marvelous matchless love to vast and astounding to tell forever existing in world above now offered and given to all whole Fountain of beauty Eternal the Father the spirit the son sufficient and endlessly generous magn marvelous magest love creation is bring with thankfulness the mountains exalted they stand the seasons rejoice in your faithfulness all life is sustained by your hand you Crown every meow with color you paint every shade in the sky each day the dawn wakes as an H for magnificent marvelous matchless love how great how

Sure how great how sure his love endures forever more magnificent marvelous matchless [Music] love what Grace that you entered our Brokenness you came in the fullness of time how far we had fallen from rightousness but not from the mer mercies of Christ your cross is our door to Redemption your death is our fullness of life that day how forgiveness flowed as magnificent marvelous matchless love how great how sure his love endures forever more like and marvous mat love United in your Resurrection you lift us to infin Heights could anything s or take us magnic marvous matchless [Music] love how great how sure his love endures forever more that Us in marvelous matchless love what a great and mighty God we serve this next song we're going to sing is a an old Hymn of the faith A Mighty Fortress Is Our God a bull workk never failing and in it we speak about the reality of spiritual warfare that there is an En enemy who seeks to devour there is an enemy prowling around but we have a greater God the word of the Lord is a strong tower the righteous run into it and they are [Music] saved a Mighty foress Is Our God of work never failing our helper he amid the flood of mortal Prevail for still our

Ancient do seek to work us W his craft and power are great and armed with cruel hate on Earth is not his [Music] equal did we in our own strength confine our strivings would we [Music] lose we're not the right men on our side the men of God's own choosing just ask who that may be Christ Jesus it is he the Lord of hosts his name from age to age the same and he must win the battle and though this world with Devils filed should threaten to undo us we will not fear for God ha wed his truth to Triumph through us the prince of Darkness GM we tremble not for him his rage we can Ure for low his Doom is sure one little word shall fail him a mighty foress a rock unveiling the king of glory Glory forever amen for Endless ages enthroned in praises the king of glory forever [Music] amen that word above all Earthly power no thanks to them abide the spirit and the gifts are ours to him who with us let goods and Kindred go this Mortal life also the body they may K God's truth are and still his King kingom is forever it's forever and ever a mighty foress a rock unveiling the king of glory forever amen for Endless ages enthroned in praises the king of glory forever

Amen a mighty foress a rock unveiling the king of glory forever amen for Endless AES and gred in praises the king of glory forever [Music] amen you can be seated as our ushers come forward dear Lord thank you for today Lord we thank you for this celebration we're having 115 years thank you for all the blessings during that time but also thank you for the challenges that helped us grow dear Lord please take this offering and use it to further your kingdom in Jesus name amen as our ushers are going around we're going to enter into our family worship time which is something that many of you have done a few times now and something that I think many of you are a little unfamiliar with so just as kind of an explanation we have yeah there it is just some a Scripture passage and some questions on the screen and this is designed kind of twofold one of the goals is to have families with children who are here to be able to do this little devotion discussion thing together but we also recognize that we are the family of God if we believe amen that we are brothers and sisters joint heirs with Christ that makes us family and so as part of our family worship time we encourage everyone here those of you who don't have children here or those of you who don't have children yet to join together and to discuss the great work of God who he is and what he's done we believe that he is glorified whenever we praise him for the things that he's done we believe he's glorified when we discuss his nature and his work so I'd invite you now to gather with the people around you even

Move around the sanctuary do go where you need to go to be able to praise God in this way for e spe [Music] e for e [Music] let [Music] e [Music] deay Deliver us from evil Lord we so in a broken World though evil hands give rise to [Music] war remind us this is not our home we look to you we look to you Sovereign king of all the Earth we look to you we look to you in your strength we will endure in your strength we will [Music] endure deliver us from Lord our hearts so quickly run astray Temptation crouching at the door to turn us from the narrow way we look to you we look to you Christ the Conquering son of God we look to you we Look to You Lord complete what you began Lord complete what you [Music] beg Deliver Us from me oh Lord the devil seeking to div with trembling Hearts we hear his Roar but your strong arm will crush his power we look to you we look to you come and end his Earthly rain we look to you we Look to You Lord Deliver us we pray we look to you we look to you will come again to rain we look to you we look to you all the Earth will bow in

[Music] Praise Deliver us from evil Lord we soour in a broken World though evil hands give rise to war remind us this is not our home we look to you we look to you Sovereign king of all the Earth we look to you we look to you in your strength we will end in your strength we will end through all the trials of this life we have a Savior who cares for us we have a God who provides for us who loves us despite our sins are against him oh Soul are you wey and TR no light in the darkness you see there's light for a look at theor and life more abundant and [Music] Free Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus look full in his wonderful [Music] things and the K of Earth will grow [Music] strange in the light of his glory and [Music] grace Lord help us to take our eyes off of the things of this world help us to stop worrying about the minutia of life and Lord help us instead to look to you to fix our eyes Upon Our great Savior to rest in the God of the universe the one who created and sustains all things you Lord help us to remember that it's that this life isn't even about us but Lord it's about bringing glory to your name because you are worthy it's in Jesus name we pray amen all right I'm going to go ahead and have all the kids come up front and we're going to go talk about Esther

8 all right this is awesome cool so you guys know what these are Lifesavers ORS okay so we got Lifesavers and the reason I brought these today is because we're going to talk about how God is our Lifesaver and we can see in the story of Esther how God used Mori and Esther to save his people so I have a question for you guys all right so the first question I have I hope you guys have been paying attention to the story of Esther as we've been going through it but what was the what Wicked plan did hymon have for Esther's people Hunter death Okay Sophia to all of them yeah he did good answerers so hmon wanted to destroy all the Jews in the Kingdom who can tell me how Esther and morai became the LIF Savers of God's people Liam she Mor Mori tried tried to convince Esther to ask the king to spare them right pretty much yeah let's go with that let's see so can someone tell me how God's protection is a lifesaver Camden it saves us from Death In Hell absolutely absolutely so God's protection is a lifesaver because in times of trouble and danger God is there to guard and help us and much like how Esther and Mori were used by God to save their people God sent Jesus to save us from all of our sins and bring us to a life of Hope and peace through him and so that wraps up

This but I do have some Lifesavers for you guys and I think I have enough for you guys to take some back to your family too so let's I think that's that's it pass it off to Pastor [Applause] Cody all right well while they are collecting their LIF Savers if you have your Bible and I hope that you do please turn with me to Esther 8 Esther chapter 8 praise the Lord for little ones amen and I don't know if you guys know this but we are about to experience another baby apocalypse because we've got we've got several that are has suffer not the little ones to come to Jesus now we've got several others other babies that are on their way and we've got more that are about to enter into the nursery and it's just it's awesome we do have a big need though in our Nursery area and our Sunday school time our community group time we've got some established leaders that are in there in there week in and week out that's Beth and Clen fley and clim is in the ICU he will be there for at least another day and he will not get out until at least Friday and we have a couple of weeks where we need some folks to step in during that community group time and it doesn't need to all fall on Ivy and so Ivy just wave your hand real quick if you want to help out and you don't have like a background check or you haven't been trained and interviewed and stuff stuff like that we need to get that process done but please talk with Ivy and we'd love to get you squared away we have had a few people that said they can step up and help out but you know we'd like to maybe give them more than just a couple of weeks to recover after an extensive

Surgery also in case you guys didn't notice or you don't follow him on Facebook or you're not friends with him Nathan kelm his daughter Addison had a had a significant injury and she is up in mu right now she's got a fractured skull a brain bleed some swelling and things like that I didn't want to tell you guys that during announcement time because no one listens to my announcements but I wanted to tell you guys now because I know that y'all will be listening and you guys will be praying for Addie and the kelm family we love them and we want to see God do far and above more than what we could ever hope or ask and so please pray with me about them and during the prayer time after I read the Scripture today we'll be sure to pray for them as well now in our passage today we're going to be looking at Esther we're going to be looking at morai and the king of Meo Persia hazus and we're going to see a lot of truth about Christ today and today we are going to be talking about eight differences that God makes when we are his okay and you might say Cody I don't see that at all In this passage well hold on guys because we're going to see a lot of Jesus today and so if you have your Bible and I hope that you do turn with me to Esther chapter 8 Esther chapter 8 for those of you who may be a little bit newer to the series of Esther Esther is one of the very few books in the Bible that was very contested regarding Canon one of the reasons why it was it was so debated is that it's the only book in the entire Bible that doesn't mention God once not there not at all but instead what we see is the invisible hand of God working behind the scenes orchestrating everything for a tremendous Redemptive purpose and we also know that God he has a good purpose for us in Christ and

What we see towards the conclusion of this historical story is a bit shocking for us as redeemed Believers under the New Covenant of Grace in Christ because you see the Old Testament is all about Christ concealed and the New Testament is Christ revealed that's why we can look back on in the Old Testament we can say yes Jesus Christ is the Passover Lamb yes Jesus Christ is the rock upon which we stand yes Jesus Christ is the fourth person in the Flames with Shadrach Meshach and Abednego because all of Redemptive history is about Jesus and yet it's through the lens of hindsight that we have that benefit that we see the glory of Christ in the Old Testament my hope today is that you will see Jesus in Esther chapter 8 would you please stand with me in honor of God's word as we read Esther 8: 1 through 17 God's word says this on that day King azerus gave to Queen Esther The House of hmon the enemy of the Jews and Mori came before the king for Esther had told what he was to her and the King took off his Signet ring which he had taken from hymon and gave it to Mori and Esther set Mori over the house of hmon then Esther spoke again to the king she fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of hmon the agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews when the king held out the golden scepter to Esther Esther Rose and stood before the king and she said if it please the king and if I found favor in his sight and if the thing seems right before The King and I am pleasing in his eyes let an order be written to revoke the letters divide devised by hmon the agagite the son of hamadaa which he wrote to destroy the Jews who were in all the provinces of the king for how can I bear to see the Calamity that is coming to my people or how can I bear to see the destruction of my Kindred then King azus said to Queen

Esther and to Mori the Jews behold I have given Esther the house of hmon and they have hanged him on the Gallows because he intended to lay hands on the Jews but you may write as you please excuse me I'm so sorry as you please with regard to the Jews in the Name of the King and seal it with the king's ring for an edict Written In The Name of the King and sealed with the king's Ring cannot be revoked the king's scribes were summoned at that time in the third month which is the month of syon on the 23rd day and an edict was written according to all that morai commanded concerning the Jews excuse me didn't want that going in your ears according to all that in anic was written according to all that morai commanded concerning the Jews to the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces from India to Ethiopia 127 provinces to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language and also to the Jews in their script and their language and he wrote In The Name of the King azerus and sealed it with the king signant ring then he sent the letters by mounted couriers writing on Swift horses that were used in the King's Service bred from the royal stud saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives to destroy to kill and to annihilate any Armed Force of any people or province that might attack them children and Wom women included and to plunder their goods on one day throughout the provinces of King azerus on the 13th day of the 12th month which is the month of Adar a copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every Province being publicly displayed to All Peoples and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take Vengeance on their enemies so the couriers mounted on their Swift horses that were used in the King's Service wrote out hurriedly urged

By the King's Command and the decree was issued in Susa The Citadel then morai went out from the presence of the king in Royal Robes of blue and white with a great Golden Crown and a robe of fine linen and purple in the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced the Jews had light and gladness and joy and honor and in every Province and in every city wherever the King's Command and his edict reached there was gladness and joy among the Jews a feast and a holiday and many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews for fear of the Jews had fallen on them and so God we do thank you for your word we ask that you would just bless us today as we pay careful attention to us to it and help us see the glory of your son in it and God we do lift up to you the kelum family we pray for Addie and we pray for complete and Speedy healing we ask that according to your will and your grace you and so Lord we intercede for them God we pray that you would just continue to work in our church thank you for what you're doing in it we just give ourselves over to you in Jesus precious name amen well the same day that King azerus has impaled hmon is the same day that all of these type of all these events are taking place place you see King the king gave Esther Hon's estate and this was customary this was customary for anyone that offended the king anyone who committed treason against him the king would take his property his entire estate and would add it to the Royal treasury but since the king is not the one who was offended but Esther was the one that was offended he took all of Esther's of Hon's estate and gave it over to Esther and I want you to think about that for a moment because you know we might think of like a house you know in like our modern terms just this little place but think about how wealthy hmon

Was the man had given 10,000 talant of silver over to the king's treasury as a deposit as a guarantee hey if I do this then you will let me write whatever all La I wanted to that was the equivalent of over $26 million and so to be put to be given in state where he had just given away that kind of money was a big deal it was a huge deal but I want you to notice this the first difference that God makes when we are his is the course of our future the course of our future now that sounds really kind of you know ambiguous and so let me firm that up a bit because I want you to notice this contrast that hmon he sat out okay to destroy the house of Israel he wanted to destroy all of the Jewish people all of the descendants of Abraham he wanted them to pay he wanted to them to be annihilated from the oldest sweetest old lady to the most innocent tender young baby he wanted them slaughtered he wanted them gone but God got involved and God destroyed hmon and he W up giving his entire house to Esther what was once a course of Destruction God intervened and he made it a time of joy and when someone comes to Christ listen your Eternal destination changes from that point going on we may look at the ultra rich in our world and think man I wish that I had a couple million bucks that I could just toss around but I think that you should know this but I think that you should know this the poorest Christian is infinitely better off than the wealthiest sinner okay you and I you know we're we're people we're we're average folk but you know what we have we have the Eternal hope of Jesus Christ would any of us trade our lives

For that would we give up what we have and lose salvation if we were to be Wealthy on this side of Eternity I hope not I'm sorry guys I was fine I don't know what's going on this morning but when someone trusts in Jesus the entire course of their life changes from Eternal death in hell to eternal life in heaven with God do you know where your Eternal destination is are you certain that you know Christ a few months ago I was talking to some teens and I like to share the Gospel with people it's one of the things that I do and I asked them I said do you know if you were to die where you would spend all of eternity they said they laughed they said no I said doesn't that concern you at all and they laughed and they said no not really said what if what if you were to get in a car accident what if you were to have something strange happen What would happen to your soul he said I'd rather just live my life they think I've got all the time in the world I'll follow Christ later listen today is the day of salvation today is the day to follow Christ today is the day that you have the opportunity you're not you're not guaranteed an hour from now you're not guaranteed a month from now you're guaranteed right this moment right now to trust in Jesus Christ now more he was summoned oh thank you okay it's a breath Me Not a Cough Drop it might help we'll see she's telling me something else now Mori he was summoned to appear before the king now why would morai come before the king it was illegal for him to just appear unannounced before the king but you think about it how many times have mori's name come up that

Day you got to think who is this guy what is he doing the king he figured he wanted to figure out who is this man who is this man that was so loyal who saved my life and then Esther shares actually he's My adoptive Dad too you got to think that's just so serendipitous right and Esther she then at that point identifies herself with the people of God and she identifies specifically with more and this should maybe cause us to pause and consider mori's wisdom for keeping Esther's Heritage hidden see the reason why he kept it hidden was because it was all fear-based that's a that's the reason why he said don't tell anyone that you're a Jew just keep it to yourself why it was fear-based and almost everything that's fear-based is going to be displeasing to the Lord when Christians are motivated by fear we know that is not a God-honoring way of making decisions because fear is not of the Lord I mean if we look back at Esther chapter 2 in verses 21 at the end of the chapter through 3 chapter 1 it says in those days as morai was sitting at the king's gate ban and terish two of the Kings unic who guarded the threshold became angry and sought to lay hands on King azerus and this came to the knowledge of Mori pay attention real close and he told it to Queen Esther and Esther told it to the king in the name of Mori when the a when the affair was investigated and found to be so the men were both hanged on The Gallows and it was recorded in the book of Chronicles in the presence of the king okay now I want you to notice this at this point who should be the one that gets a reward it should be Mori but instead we read after these things king of hazus promoted hmon the agagite the son of ham and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him it's interesting that morai he kept

His relationship with Esther hidden he kept her jewishness hidden but how bizarre is it that morai an official Saves The King's life and Hon's the one that gets the promotion and yet here in Esther 8 it's all found out that Mori is a Jew Esther is a Jew that they're related and immediately he's promoted to prime minister of Meo Persia he's the Royal viir and so we may question the wisdom of morai but we also have to acknowledge that God had a plan that mori's fear may have unwittingly unwittingly opened the possibility or the door to this whole situation but God is good and God is faithful that in spite of all of that and in the midst of all of it we see God working even in the midst of fear so Christian believer if you struggle with fear firstly remember the command of the Lord do not be afraid do not make fear-based decisions but secondly take confidence in the fact that in spite of our shortcomings we still have a God that loves us a God that still protects us a God that still provides for us in spite of all of our shortcomings he loves us anyway now we see the second difference that God makes is eternal rewards Eternal rewards now let me explain this a bit because morai what he got as a result of all this was honor in the presence of his enemies now that was really satisfying to be let around on the king's horse dressed in the king's cloth clothes with your enemy talking about how wonderful you are that's really satisfying right but it didn't change his immediate circumstances I mean sure you know it made it to where hymon wasn't going to be able to kill him but there was also this massive law that was out there that made it to where you know you're you're you're going to die in just a few months morai received an intangible

Reward but after all of this God he made him the Roy of air and gave and received D the king's own signate ring guys God does not just reward us with intangible things okay he rewards us with the very gift of Salvation eternal life in all the joys of heaven with Christ Paul he writes this in Ephesians chap 2: 4-7 but God being rich in Mercy because of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead in our trespasses made us alive together with Christ by Grace you have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable Riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus you know what that means is that the best is yet to come so all of the joy all the hope all the peace all of the good things and all the riches of Christ that we have on this side of Eternity is just a foretaste of what we have to look forward to in the future when we are in heaven with God and we get to experience that for all of eternity and the Bible it teaches that Christ he is in heaven right now preparing a place for every single person that trusts in him the Bible says that we will receive rewards when we get there the Bible says that we will receive crowns when we get there and you know what we're going to do with those things we are going to cast them down at the feet of Jesus Christ and we're going to say holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and who is and who is to come and we are going to Delight in the presence of God and we're going to enjoy him for all of eternity why because of his great love for us God he demonstrates his own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us the Bible it teaches us those things also note this for all of Esther's life

She was dependent upon everyone she was dependent upon her parents before they passed she was dependent upon morai who was very willing to take her in but that was her cousin but she was very dependent upon him she followed his leadership she was dependent upon king of hazaras and then she receives this tremendous blessing this tremendous gift from her husband and so what does she do she turns around she sets her cousin Mori her adopted father her cousin over the entire estate and this teaches us something that I think that we should note which is a deep connection with church family why do I say that you know you might think you know I really don't see that here let me paint this picture for you okay how many times have you been dependent upon the kindness of others I mean per Perhaps Perhaps you're not like physically down okay but maybe you needed encouragement and just at that right time you received a card in the mail from someone that just said hey I'm praying for you I just wanted to encourage you I see God working in your life in this way or in this way and it just really lifts up your spirits or perhaps maybe maybe you were down and out physically and you needed a meal and here comes a church member that just drops off a meal and says God bless you I was thinking about you I love you here go you know being a part of a church family is a lot like marriage it's being devoted it's going through thick and thin it's being connected it means that whether death is lurking in a few months like it was for Esther and Mori or whether you have honor and power like they're experiencing in this chapter here that you were faithful to each other and for Esther this was appropriate to honor Mori because as we said this was her adopted father who guided her where she is

Today and it always breaks my heart when I see people that don't have a church family we know those folks when they're down when they're struggling when they're out when they don't have the Hope and the U relationship with Christ you know you kind of kind of feel bad for those people as they're suffering so much and that's where it becomes incumbent upon us as Believers to reach out to minister to them to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to them Esther she appears before the King again and what does she do she falls down before her husband and she weeps and she pleads and why is that I mean isn't like you know an estate that's worth millions of dollars enough isn't the fact that she's safe and that her family is safe isn't enough no it's not for Esther not anymore because the immediate plan to destroy morai has been foiled but the Jewish people are still in dire need for Esther the goal was not to deliver Mori because she had no clue that was even on the radar she didn't even know about the plot against him her entire goal has been to save her people from destruction and if she stops now she will fail and God's Redemptive purpose would be thwarted but no one can overcome God's plan what God has decreed will come to pass because he's God and he will have his way and so he uses Esther's Newfound passion for her Jewish identity to his advantage and so we learn this other difference that God makes is the perspective that we have about others remember that at one time Esther she was just concerned about herself she was concerned for her own safety if I go in before the king without being summoned then I could die that was what she was concerned about she was concerned about her own skin

But now through God's working she is concerned about other people who are doomed for Destruction and isn't that true for many people today especially in churches around our country not our church though right that people become complacent they think well I'm saved or my family is saved that's really all that matters let me tell you friend that's not all that matters matters complacency kills churches complacent Christians become complaining Christians and so we become divided Christians over dumb things organ or drums chairs or pews how about we make our hearts right with God we get that right we start to love others who are in danger we intercede on their behalf we go out we share the Gospel with them that's it if we're busy doing that then we won't bicker and complain about other things the worst sorts of Christians are the Christians that want to complain but won't take time to serve they're selfish and they don't have the right perspective towards others ouch listen to Esther's own words let an order be written do something my husband do something my king I don't have anywhere to go you are the only one that can take this situation to revoke this whole plan this letter devised by hmon the aite and listen to what she says skipping down for how can I bear to see the Calamity the destruction that is coming for her Kindred how can she bear to see that how can I be content with these riches while my people perish what good are all the blessings of all of America if our neighbors die and go to hell I mean do you have a good perspective about others there a simple

Test really it's a really simple test do you share the Gospel with them do you share the Gospel with them that's the test it's not are you kind although you should be it's not are you praying for them although you should be the question is do they know about the coming judgment and are you willing to stand in the Gap to share the message of the Gospel with them a doctor that doesn't treat his patients isn't a good doctor a friend that doesn't have hard conversations isn't a good friend and a Christian that doesn't share the Gospel doesn't love lost now what king aazar says here is very important because it's very telling of his worldview you see he's he's a functional materialist he didn't care what happened as long as he and his stuff in his area is left alone as long as he gets his fair share he's not others minded and so listen to what he says behold look I just gave you hmon on a stick I just gave you his entire estate simply because he wanted to destroy the Jews isn't that enough but you got to think Esther face as she's down and he causes her to stand up and she's looking at him with tear filled eyes isn't that enough and he sees in her face no that's not enough why because her worldview is completely different than his he does not care about what happens to people she is solely concerned about the lost or for her people that are perishing this decree is recorded in verses 11- 12 it says the king allowed the Jews who were in every city to gather and defend their lives to destroy to kill and to annihilate any Armed Force of any people or province that might attack them children and women included and to plunder their goods on one day throughout all the provinces of

King azerus on the 13th day of the 12th month now this was a call to Holy self-defense the Jews they were facing Annihilation but you know what they were is that they were empowered to make war against their enemies as Believers we do not wage Holy Wars because Christ is the one who waged that war for us on the cross but you know what and we don't battle with guns we don't battle with bombs as Believers although there are times for self-defense which is what we see here but I think that's not it's important to note that the Jews they were powerless at one time but by the grace of God they were empowered and for you and I that's our next thing that we observe here is the power that we have in Christ as Christians we wage a spiritual war in this battle it rages on day after day after day and it's a it's a it's not a territory War it's a truth War that's exactly what a spiritual war is it's a war for truth and we learn this in 2 Corinthians chapter 10: 3-5 for though we walk in the flesh we are not Waging War according to the flesh that means not with not with guns not with bombs not with knives okay for the weapons of our Warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds we destroy arguments in every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ that's what we do when we wage our Warfare and without God setting us free by the Gospel and empowering us with his Holy Spirit we would have been at the mercies of our enemies of sin and death and hell but Christ who is our advocate he sets us free and he gave us Power by his grace the sixth difference that God makes is a change in our position look at Mori in verse 15 then morai went out from the presence of the king in Royal Robes of blue and white and a great Golden Crown and a robe of

Fine linen and purple in the city of Susa rejoiced and shouted you know the last time that we saw Mori he was back at the king's gate he was there with all the numerous Royal advisers and helpers and workers he didn't have a whole lot of power and Prestige he had he was one of thousands of people that helped the Empire to function but now he is he is robed in blue and white and purple and where have we seen those colors appear in the Book of Esther well it was very at the very beginning with that big banquet that king of hazus and vashi they threw there were there were royal colors that were displays of honor and of royalty and remember earlier in that day morai he was sitting before all of this he was dressed in sackcloth all over him and he had ashes on the top of his head he was filled with sorrow and now he is clothed with royal robes and a Golden Crown on his head and filled with Glory given to him not by a hazus but by the Lord the glory and the good things that God has given to us are Gifts of his grace you and I we were at one time dead in our trespasses and sins we were lost in the spiritual Wilderness we were children of darkness and we were haters of God but God he's the one who found us he's the one who took us out of the Grave by his grace we were no we are no longer lost but we are found according to the word and we are no longer Children Of Darkness but children of God listen to what the prophet Isaiah says in Isaiah 61 1-3 the spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has appointed me to bring good news to the poor he has sent me to bind up the broken hearted to Proclaim Liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor in the day of Vengeance of our God to comfort all who mourn to Grant to those who mourn in Zion to give them a

Beautiful headdress instead of Ashes the oil of gladness instead of mourning the Garment of Praise instead of a faint spirit that they may be called Oaks of righteousness the planting of the Lord that he may be glorified that is what God does and the seventh difference that I want you to note here is rejoicing in society as the Gospel goes to the world Joy spreads and laws are fair in God glorifying Society we see God's word elevated to a place of honor and a place reverence I want you to look at the difference when hmon made his decree what happened there was conf confusion everywhere there was there was shock and awe in the streets people were wondering what in the world is going on and we might think that now in our world why it's because people don't have a high view of God's word it's because people don't know the Lord it's because people don't honor the Lord that word confusion it's the same word in the Hebrew to describe a sea that is rolling and churning a couple of years ago my family we were able to go on a cruise with my mother-in-law and she was down by the water and she's sitting there and it was right after Hurricane Harvey had passed right and so like the Caribbean Ocean was wild man let me tell you like those waves were crazy and so they were just crashing in and occasionally they'd come in really far and they'd go back out and you know it's just it was the Seas were angry well she's sitting there and she's she's maybe a little too close all of a sudden this big wave comes in and it kind of grabs her right and it starts pulling her in and like her hands are going wide and she doesn't she's completely confused she doesn't know exactly which way to go and then she's tumbling she looks like a like a starfish kind of rolling out to sea and I hope that she doesn't watch

This she was safe but she was also confused because she was she was one at One Moment In Time secure and safe and everything was fine but then it was shocking it was unexpected in our world that is so confused that is so in need of clarity Christians need to go and share the Gospel if we want rejoicing if we want gladness if we want stability if we want that in our society then we need Christians that are willing to share the Gospel to go to their neighbors to say this is the word of the Lord and this might bother some of you too but oh well affect God's glorifying legislation in every Arena that we can finally we see a complete change in perspective a complete change in perspective the Jews under Hon's rule were mourning were fasting were weeping and lamenting but now there is gladness there is Joy there is feasting and a holiday and that's everywhere that went in fact the proclamation it went and went and went and a lot of people they even declared themselves to be Jews guys this is huge and I don't want you to miss this that the Jews they were doomed to destruction can you imagine that for a moment imagine for a moment that there was just you know a weird law not that we don't have weird laws or anything like that in our country but imagine for a moment that there's a strange law that says all Christians are going to be put to death sometime in September okay and what would that do to your mental health what would that do to you when it comes to I don't know running a business going to work what would that do to you when it came to spending your money how would that cause you to function and know that on this date everyone that you know and that you love most people in this room take a look around look at them babies look at those

Children look at those senior adults and those people that are in their Middle Ages just look around and think that person's going to die in September that is the exact situation that the Jewish people were in there was no hope for them there was no way out it was a decree from the King and there was no hope whatsoever but God got involved he's the one that changed everything you know there is a decree of death that hangs upon every single one of us you and I we have a decree that is written that every single person will die and give an account of him or herself to God every single one of us we Face eternity and there is not one of us that will escape it but you know what God also issued a decree that whosoever comes to Christ will be saved you see that destruction of death that we all face there is a way to escape it and it is by trusting in Jesus Christ alone for our sins that's our hope we may look at this and go wow look at look at how wonderful all this turned out Jesus is better Jesus is the better plan he tells us to repent and be saved because Jesus is the great vanquisher of death and if you look to him you will be saved and you will gain eternal life by trusting in Him and so I ask you would you do that today head heart hand head I want you to know that God loves you okay I want you to know that above everything else just as God was faithful to his people God is faithful to his people now God loves you and that's why heartt I want you to believe that God he can change your life and your future when you trust in Jesus Christ that's it's as simple as that we don't have to make it hard we don't have to make it difficult but you need to repent of your sins and Trust in

Christ so would you do that and hand that is it I want you to come to Christ I want you know that you know that you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior you know you're not promised an hour you're not promised a month promised a day or another year but you are promised right now is the time and so if you want to talk about that I'll be down here you can talk to me at any point in time we can get that settled and just discuss about what God is doing in your life would you bow your heads and close your eyes and join me in prayer God we just we do trust in you we do ask that if there's anyone here that maybe they don't know you as their Lord and Savior that today would be that day that they come down and they say Cody I need to get that right Lord just continue to work we ask that today that you would continue to bless our congregation and Lord as we respond and worship may you be glorified in Jesus name [Music] amen Deliver us from evil Lord we so in a broken World though evil hands give rise to [Laughter] war remind us this is not our home we look to you we look to you Sovereign king of all the Earth Earth we look to you we look to you in your strength we will endure in your strength we will [Music] end de Deliver us from evil Lord our hearts so quickly run astray Temptation crouching at the door to turn us from the narrow way we look to you we look to you Christ the Conquering Son of God we look to you we Look to You Lord complete what you've begun Lord complete what you've [Music] begun so Lord we ask that you would help

Us to look to you Lord to look past the trials of this life and to know that you have a plan for us even when things seem their darkest Lord remind us that this is not our home that the best is yet to come because of the saving work of Jesus Christ it's in Jesus name we pray amen don't forget FBC game night this weekend game night this weekend and pictures on Tuesday and Wednesday this week you can pick up your directory pictures Tuesday and Wednesday get