When you don’t see God, what do you do? April 8, 2010

As we have been studying the book of Esther we noticed that nowhere in this book has God been mentioned. Yet, His fingerprints are all over it. So the question we want to ask is “When dark times come and you can’t see God, what do you do?”

In this week’s lecture Kay gave a list of things to remember in the dark, difficult days that we will encounter at some point in our lives. I want to share them in hopes that it will provide a life line in the “dark night of the soul”.

 Remember  these 8 things about God:

1. He is never absent – El Olam the everlasting God
2. He is omniscient – He knows what He is doing        Isaiah 14:24,27
3. He is omnipresent -  Jehovah Shammah – He is there!
4. He is omnipotent – Almighty God – He is all powerful
5. He is love – hessed   lovingkindness
6. He is a covenant keeping God – He never breaks His covenant
7. He sovereignly rules over all (God is in the shadows)  Isaiah 45:5-7, Genesis 2:1

             I am the Lord – there is no other     YHWH

             Beside Me there is no other God   Psalm 103:19

      8.   God is just and righteous in ALL of His ways

             (God was silent 400 years in Egypt)

              Everything is filtered thru His fingers of love

Remember  when God is in the shadows you are to walk by faith not by sight  (2 Cor 5:7)

                You are to live as if He is there because He is.  Example: Job

Remember you have the weapon of fasting

                Between chapters 4 and 5 Esther, her servants, her uncle and Jews in Susa fasted for 3 days seeking God

Remember – When faith is tested in the silence of God, He is still there!

                Be still and know that I am God

                Habakkuk 3:17-19 ….. yet will I trust in God

                In Esther 5 – Esther remained calm (after fasting and seeking God). What happened next was simply formality. She was calm, confident, composed, courageous, convinced

                In Esther 7 -  Esther knows who the enemy is but remains calm

Remember – Promotion comes in God’s time and always for His purpose, His glory not yours.

                Hebrews 6:10 – God will not forget        (Matthew 6:4, Rev 22:12)

Remember – You reap what you sow (Gal 6:7-10)

                Pride exalts a man above God

                God humbles the proud – God hates this most

Remember – Whatever happens to you will work together for you good and His glory (Rom 8:28-30)

Remember  -  God and Jesus are for you – not against you!

                Therefore – You are the conqueror!  (Rom 8:31)

                Vs 37 – hupernikao – overwhelmingly conquer

It is so easy to focus on our circumstances when we find ourselves in the midst of them. Especially when it seems as though God is not there. If you find yourself wondering where God is, pull out this list and Remember! By remembering you will move your focus out of the darkness and into the light, by doing so you will overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loves you!

Evil wins when good men do nothing! What about you? April 6, 2010

Esther L-2

As we look at chapter 3 we find that the king promoted Haman, an Agagite, to #2 man in the kingdom. Everything about Haman is hateful; you can’t find one redeeming quality in him! Proverbs 6:16-19 says, six things the Lord hates, yes seven are an abomination to Him. Read the rest of the passage to see what it is the Lord hates and keep them in mind as we watch Haman throughout the book.

All the king’s servants bowed down and paid homage to Haman, that is, all except for Mordecai. The servants reported this to Haman who saw that it was so and it made him angry. He decided not to simply harm Mordecai alone, because they had told him who his people were.  So, he sought to destroy all of the Jews, the people of Mordecai. Haman was not content to have a high office and use it, he wanted all the public recognition and honor he could get as well. Pride blinds people to what they really are and makes them insist on having what they really don’t deserve. Have you ever known anyone like this?

So Haman cast lots to decide which day to destroy the Jews and then went to the king to ask permission to do so. Permission was granted and the proclamation was sent out in every province, so that they could be ready for the day. The king and Haman sat down to drink and the city of Susa was in confusion.

Mordecai’s problem with Haman was not a personal one with a proud and difficult man. It was his declaration that he was on God’s side. What about you? Are you willing to be strong and courageous and take a difficult stand proclaiming you are on God’s side?

Before we condemn Haman We must examine our own hearts. What are you doing about all those who are lost and will be separated for eternity from God? Do you even think about getting the message out to them? What do you need to do to change that?

God’s plans cannot be stopped and this situation is not hopeless, God had two people prepared and in place. God was ready to act. Is it possible that God has you prepared and placed you to be a part of God’s bigger plan? Are you ready?

In chapter 4 we find Mordecai mourning the fate of his people. He tells Esther of Haman’s plot and reminds her she would not escape the fate of the Jews. He also lets her know that if she chooses to remain silent that relief and deliverance will come from another place and she and her father’s house would perish. Have you considered that? What is it that God has placed you in the middle of? Have you turned a blind eye toward it? Or are you willing to confront it? Do you realize if you ignore it God will send deliverance from somewhere else and possibly destroy you? Who knows whether you have obtained your position for such a time as this? Are you willing to stand before God and say as Esther “if I perish, I perish?” Having said that Esther then enlists Mordecai and all the Jews in Susa to fast and pray for 3 days for her. How do you respond when you are faced with a daunting task?

Even though God has not yet been mentioned in these chapters, do you see Him at work? Write down how you see God working on behalf of His chosen people? What have you seen so far that you can apply to your own life? Who is in control of your life and how will knowing that affect your behavior?

What are you living for? What would you lay down your life for?

The Queen Says No! March 24, 2010

Esther chapter 1

 Have you ever wondered if God knew what you were going through? Do you ever feel you are neither strong nor courageous, or educated or ____ (you fill in the blank) and are convinced it isn’t possible for God to use you? What difference would it make in your life if you totally embraced the fact that you are not in control of the outcome? More importantly than the previous questions is how you answer this question: Are you willing to be totally surrendered to God and allow him to do extraordinary things through ordinary you? Are you still a little unsure of yourself? Let’s take a look at the story of Esther for the answers to these questions.

 The book of Esther is an exciting book filled with drama and excitement, plots and subplots. But the most exciting thing of all is that it is a true story! Nowhere in the book is God mentioned, but again and again the story reveals God quietly working, behind the scenes, shaping events so that His good purpose for His people is achieved. God uses a young orphan girl and her uncle to deliver a nation!

 Many people make a lot out of the military matters in chapter 1 and although there is a lot to be learned there the author’s main purpose is to show how Esther became queen. It is an interesting read. At the end of a 7 day banquet a drunken Ahasuerus, ordered his queen to come so he could show her off to the people and the princes. But, the Queen said “No!” You can almost hear the clinking of the glasses stop and the air being sucked out of the room by the people gasping as they realize what is taking place. And then the whispers as the people ask each other “Did you hear what the Queen said? What is she thinking?”

 Ahasuerus is enraged that the Queen publicly humiliated him and turns to his advisors for counsel. Memucan exaggerates the incident and says her behavior will cause the women to rise up and be disrespectful, causing conflict throughout the kingdom and bringing dishonor to their husbands. He then advises the king to depose the Queen and make her a public example to the entire nation. Not only should he remove the Queen, but also to give her royal position to another who is more worthy than Vashti.

 Still motivated by anger and revenge the King agrees to Memucan’s advice and had the Queen deposed. An edict was issued concerning the matter and it was written into law so that it could not be repealed. It was then sent out to the entire kingdom so that the women will give honor to their husbands, great and small. (as though an edict could actually accomplish that!)

 Wow, a family disagreement has now become a national crisis! The King has regained control, or has he? The stage has been set to introduce a new character. We need to ask ourselves who is really in control here?

 Although it appears God is absent in the story so far, is that true? Do you ever feel as though God is not present in the circumstances you find yourself in? What is the truth? How would knowing that God is at work in places you might think He is absent, impact your life?