For Such a Time as This
Esther 4:14
INTRODUCTION
Text: Est. 4:14
~You’ve probably heard the adage, "behind every good man is a good woman."
~I prefer, "Behind every good man is a surprised mother-in-law."
~Today we will study a case in which it could be said, "Behind a great man
was a great woman who changed the course of history."
~The background: Our story begins with Ahashuerus - was King of Persia.
~It has been 103 years since Nebuchadnezzar took the Jews into captivity (2 Kings 25),
54 years after Zerubbabel led the first group of exiles back to Jerusalem (Ezra 1, 2) and
25 years before Ezra lead the second group to Jerusalem (Ezra 7).
~All but a few thousand of God’s people –(Israel) - were in the Persian provinces. The
King had the leaders of 127 provinces come to his impressive palace for a celebration to
lasted 187 days -- more than six months.
~It was a feast of drinking, of sin, etc. At the end of a week-long drunken feast, the King
sent for Vashti (his wife) to come and display her beauty. She refused. The King
accepted the suggestion to reject her and choose another to be queen in her stead.
~Esther was chosen. She was a young, beautiful Jewish girl. Her cousin Mordecai had
offended a vain official named Haman, who by trickery got a decree signed that all the
Jews should be put to death. The decree was unalterable.
~God stepped in and in a providential way delivered His people from the decree that
Christ might come of their seed as promised. (Genesis 12:1-3).
For Such a time as this:
#1 God sent forth His Son for such a time as this
Galatians 4:4-5
But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, (why) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
I Peter 1:18-19
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
God new the cost that was needed
Isaiah 53:4
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
And He still sent His Son
Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
#2 God has raised up Jesus from the dead for such a time as this
Philippians 3:9-10
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
~The resurrection give us for now and eternity.
~Mary and many that gathered that day had thought this day to be the worst defeat
imaginable, BUT remarkably it turned out to be the greatest victory of all.
Revelation 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
#3 God has declared His return for such a time as this
I Thessalonians 4:13-18
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
A In Testimony—Stand! B. In Trials---Stand!
--1. Before the World—Stand! --1. Of Adversity---Stand!
--2. Before the Father—Stand! --2. Of Compromise—Stand!
--3. Before the Church—Stand! --3. Of Danger---Stand!
C. In Temptations—Stand!
--1. Of the Flesh—Stand! --2. Of the Mind—Stand!
--3. Of the World—Stand! --4. Of the Devil—Stand!
The time to stand is now—the person to stand is you! —
Stand! —Stand! —Stand! —Stand!
For such a time as this!
