Esther: Influence Series

Did you know that everyone has influence? It doesn’t matter who you are or what your occupation is, you are an influencer. It doesn’t matter what your economic status is, what your race or age or level of education is – if your life in any way connects with other people, you are an influencer. Before we leave today, I want you to recognize what a tremendous impact Mordecai had on the life of Esther; how he influenced her to be the leader God intended for her to be, and more than all that, I want you to recognize that God gives to each one of you that same tremendous ability to influence the lives of those around you. Perhaps you have heard the little poem,

My life shall touch a dozen lives before this day is done,

Leave countless marks for good or ill ere sets the evening sun,

This is the wish I always wish, the prayer I always pray;

Lord may my life help other lives it touches by the way.

Mordecai was an influencer. Here is a man who has initiated one of the most dangerous threats against the Jewish people, and now he is in a position where he is helpless to do anything about it on his own, and I want to tell you that this is one of the greatest positions a child of God can find himself in. There are so many of us who are content to be Lone Ranger Christians. We think we can go in with our guns blazing and save the day, but the Lord never intended it be that way.

When Christ left this earth, He didn’t send out individuals, He commissioned a church – a body of believers who had a relationship with Christ in common, who had a common baptism and a common purpose – and told them to love one another, to edify one another, to forgive one another, to encourage one another, and so forth, because as Solomon wrote, “two are better than one…and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Left to ourselves, God knew that most of us would settle for less. Left to ourselves, most people will shrink back when challenged, but together, following the Lord, great things can be done and great stands for the truth can be made.

Let me share with you some things that you may not know about the people sitting around you.

Most people don’t have faith in themselves

Esther was unsure of herself. Mordecai carefully explained what was going on and the danger that the Jews were in, and Esther practically refused to do what was being asked of her. Her hesitancy was in no way an evidence of a lack of love for her people. Her answer had to do with the fact that she didn’t have faith in her ability to go before her husband the king without serious repercussions.

That’s the way most people feel today. Many of you have trouble believing in yourselves, or in your ability to do what needs to be done. Some of you say, “Oh, I could never do that.” “I could never get up in front of people.” “I just don’t think I could …” you fill in the blank. So many people have so little faith in themselves. I’m not just talking about church stuff, but about your life in general. Some of you are convinced that you’re going to fail before you even try. When you see light at the end of the tunnel, you just assume that it’s a train.