TIME SUCH AS THIS
INTRO: WHY HAS GOD ALLOWED ME TO LIVE AT THIS PARTICULAR HOUR?
1: YOUNG QUEEN
A) HOW DID SHE COME INTO HER POSITION?
B) DID SHE INHERIT IT?
C) WAS IT HER BIRTHRIGHT?
D) WAS SHE OF ROYAL BLOOD?
E) NO. SHE WAS AN ORPHAN GIRL OF THE CAPTIVE AND CONQUERED JEWS.
POINT: THE BOOK OF ESTHER IS THE ONLY BOOK IN THE BIBLE THAT DOES NOT MENTION GOD’S NAME ANYWHERE IN IT. BUT THE SAME BOOK GOD CAN BE SEEN AT EVERY WORD AND EVERY SENTENCE; HE SHOWS US HIS DELIVERANCE AND DIVINE PLAN THROUGH A YOUNG WOMAN IN A TOUGH POSITION.
2: HISTORICAL FACTS
A) THE KING OF PERSIA MENTIONED IS KING AHASUERUS ( BETTER KNOW AS XERXES )
B) THE BOOK OPENS WITH A FEAST
C) THE PLAN IS BEING LAID OUT FOR THEIR ATTACK ON GREECE.
D) OF COURSE HISTORICAL STUDY IS NEEDED TO LEARN THIS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHY.
POINT: XERXES SPENT FOUR YEARS PLANNING THIS CONQUEST OF GREECE, ONLY TO FAIL MISREABLY.
BODY: TIME SUCH AS THIS
1: VASHTI REFUSAL
A) THE QUEEN IS A PROUD STRONG WOMAN
B) SHE IS A PERSIAN WOMAN
C) THEY TOOK PRIDE IN THEIR WOMANHOOD
POINT: WOMEN WHO HAVE A SELF RESPECT AND ASSURANCE OF THEMSELVES CAN BE A THREAT TO A MAN IN SOME CASES ESPECIALLY IN THIS ONE.
2: KING IS ANGRY
A) SHE DOES NOT COME WHEN SHE IS SUMMONED
B) THE KING IS EMBARRASSED AND UPSET AT HER REFUSAL
C) THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL MEN ON THE PLANET AT THE TIME
D) HE CAN’T GET HIS WIFE TO DO SOMETHING HE ASKS
POINT: HE HAD TO MAKE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF VASHTI. MAMA EVER MADE AN EXAMPLE OUT OF ANY OF YOU? MINE HAS SOMEWHAT THE SAME PRINCIPAL FAILURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCITONS FROM THE ONE IN POWER LEADS TO SOMETIMES HARSH ACTIONS. IN VASHTI CASE SHE WAS BASICALLY WROTE OFF AND HER ESTATE WAS GIVEN TO ANOTHER.
3: ESTHER ( STAR )
A) HID AWAY UNTIL GOD’S TIME WAS UPON HER
B) LIKE JOSEPH AND DAVID ESTHER WAS JUST ANOTHER FACE IN THE CROWD UNTIL GOD BROUGHT HER TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE LARGEST EMPIRE IN THE WORLD
C) WHAT WOULD BE HER PURPOSE
D) WHY HAD GOD DONE THIS.
POINT: WE ALL HAVE A PART IN GOD’S DIVINE PLAN, EACH ONE OF US HOLDS A TALENT LOCKED WITHIN US AND AT THE APPOINTED TIME BY GOD IT IS UNLOCKED AND GIVEN TO US TO USE FOR GOD’S WORK.
4: ESTHER’S THE PEOPLE’S ADVOCATE
A) SHE WAS GIVEN THE TASK OF GOING IN BEFORE THE KING AND SPEAKING FOR HER PEOPLE
B) THERE’S A CATCH THOUGH
C) THE TIME SHE HAS TO GO IN IS ONE THAT COULD BE DETREMENTAL TO HER
POINT: IF THE KING HER HUSBAND DID NOT RAISE HIS SCEPTRE TO HER SHE WOULD BE KILLED ON THE SPOT. SHE KNEW WHAT SHE HAD TO DO AND REALIZED WITH SOME HELP FROM MORDECAI SHE HAD TO SPEAK UP FOR HER PEOPLE.
CLOSING: TO THE LADIES
1: WOMEN
A) BEARERS OF CHILDREN
B) THOSE WHO PICKED US UP AS LITTLE CHILDREN WHEN WE FELL DOWN
C) KISSED OUR BOO BOO’S
D) MADE US FEEL SECURE AND SAFE WITH A SOFT WORD
E) PUT THE FEAR OF GOD IN US WHEN WE DID WRONG
POINT: WOMEN TODAY CAN LOOK AT THE ESTHER AND DRAW STRENGTH FOR THE EVERYDAY GRIND THEY FACE. WHETHER THEY ARE YOUNG MOTHER’S TO OLD NANNIES. TO SEE A WOMAN OF COURAGE AND DEVOTION TO GOD SPEAK UP AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT EVEN AT THE COST OF HER OWN LIFE IS EXTREMELY IMPRESSIONABLE.
2: TALK TO YOUR HUSBANDS LADIES
A) THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT ESTHER DID
B) SIT HIM DOWN AND TELL HIM WHAT IS ON YOUR HEART
C) WHAT CONCERNS YOU
D) WHAT COULD BE OF HELP TO YOU
POINT: A LOT OF WOMEN DON’T SPEAK UP UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE, BE WILLING TO FIGHT FOR WHAT GOD HAS BLESSED YOU WITH, BE LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE BUT ALSO BE A SYMBOL OF GOD’S LOVE AND MERCY IN YOUR HOME.
