If we were describing the setting of Esther in 6 words: “Game of Thrones without the dragons” -- *this is about kings and queens, politics, elaborate wealth, hidden agendas, death (lots of impaling), trickery, good and evil; it involves sex, power, pride, tragedy and triumph == and God’s hand guiding and overseeing it all. It is set in the Persian Empire around 480 BC

Key Take-Away for series:
Hiddenness is a theme that shapes the whole book of Esther.
At times, God may seem silent, but He is never absent.

Week 1: God is always at work, even when it doesn’t look like he is there, and even when it appears he is not. He alone is sovereign over all things...

When you find yourself living in exile, (in a culture opposed to your beliefs) you are tempted in 2 directions: conformity and isolation.
But both ways lead to failures.

We must learn what Mordecai and Esther learn throughout this story: the call to live in the tension of the in-between.
To not drift toward assimilation - nor isolation!

To live a 3rd way, if you will. = “the Jesus way”

Week 2: we saw the difference between a WORLDLY sense of power (that’s based on control and domination) and a GODLY sense of power (anchored in vulnerability and advocating for others)


Week 3: Esther STEPS UP (chapter 5) (she hits pause) -- She PRAYS / She WAITS.

Prayer and Waiting on the Lord, are spiritual practices we’re to engage in as we seek God’s will in decisions of life. =they only happen when we intentionally PAUSE.

Week 4: last week we saw GOD STEP IN… and totally flip the script.
God can do more in one night of insomnia, then we can do in a lifetime

We challenged ourselves to guard our hearts like Mordecai did – through all that happened to him – feeling overlooked; but Mordecai never becomes a man of vengeance or one who seeks to get back at Haman or others. He doesn’t speak against those who may have slighted him. He maintains his integrity. Letting God be his defender. He keeps on keeping on

Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

FRIENDS: Be faithful to God – keep doing good works. When no one else notices, mark it down, God notices.

We were again reminded that throughout all the Scriptures we see a: tug-a-war tension between 2 key attributes: Pride and Humility.
The path and heart of humility is to be our pursuit as a follower of Jesus.
When pride tries to worm it’s way into our hearts, we must weed it out.
- every time and all the time. Diligently. We must ruthlessly eliminate pride from our hearts.

Now today we finish up this journey of Building Bravery – looking into this amazing story of Esther. You’d have to read ch 8-10 to see how this story finishes up. Esther is granted Haman’s estate per say – Mordecai is elevated into power under the King. But there’s still this edict that is in motion for the annihilation of the Jewish people. So Esther, once again, approaches the King (taking her life in her hands).

So Mordecai and Esther draft an edict that is sent out that the Jews can defend themselves on this day of vengeance that was ordered. It does seem kind of like a Holy War at first glance, some struggle with this – but the messiness of life is echoed within all the Scriptures describe.
This truth lends to the authenticity of the bible – the messy parts aren’t written out of the stories. Victory is secured - the Jewish people survive the plot to wipe them out.

Purim is a celebration that reminds us that no matter how dark things get, there is reason to hope. On an even more personal level, Purim is a call to reawakening. Esther and Mordecai were compromised, assimilated Persians who awoke to their Jewish identity and took bold steps on behalf of God’s people.
Their story rivals the Apostle Paul’s as a story of surprising redemption. It may be a cliché, but it is true: there is no one who has gone too far to be written out of God’s story. His redemption and grace can always reach further!

Esther is a story of a group of people finding their way back to God through a darkened world; finding their voice for faithful, vulnerable witness; and seeking to ensure that the generations after them don’t make the same mistake.

We also need help finding the courage to stand while the world around us bows to idols, the courage to give ourselves to a kingdom cause that is greater than us, to die if need be, rather than live an empty life of numbness.

This story, perhaps more then anything — describes God himself at work in a world gone mad. Because the darkness around us can often overwhelms us, and our own faith can fade all too often. But we remember: “if we are faithless, he remains faithful” (2 Timothy 2:13).

We may not see his hand or hear his name, but we can know he hasn’t left us. At times, God may seem silent, but He is never absent.

Leaning into this story begs this question of us: Is your personal & private faith in God - doing any public good for God? - Because as a follower of Jesus it is meant too!!

Whatever dark place you are in today, whether by hapless circumstance or by your own actions, God hasn’t forgotten you.

Esther’s story invites us to cling to hope, however small, and to have confidence that whatever evil is currently empowered, the story of God isn’t finished.

Cling to hope; God’s hope doesn’t need our heart to have tons of it, just a slice will do. Because real and godly HOPE is not based on our strength, but God’s sovereignty and power!

Quote:
“Esther’s story reveals a way forward in a culture where people of faith find themselves at the margins of society. She neither clutches for power nor seeks self-protection. Instead, she faces reality, embraces weakness, and finds faith, hope, and help from a world unseen. Her story is also an invitation to those whose faith, convictions, and morality are less than they wish they were.”

– Mike Cosper (book: Faith Among the Faithless) *great book on this story

The establishment of Purim was to help Remember – reminds me of what Jesus put into place to help us REMEMBER. And how for 2,000+ years His Church has gathered together at His table to re-anchor our faith, to never forget His sacrifice and to REMEMBER the grace that is ours through Jesus!

So tonight we come to the Lord’s Table – a table that welcomes all who have entrusted their lives to Christ. A table that is open to any and all who call on Jesus.

The ground at the Cross is level – there is no hierarchy at the cross, we’re ALL ARE IN NEED of a SAVIOR!

The Table of the Lord is a table that welcomes all who cling to this SAVIOR – to all who trust in what Jesus has done for them. It's meant to tether us to the ONE TRUTH of our Christian faith = it’s all about Jesus, what he’s done, not what we do; it’s centered on Jesus alone and anchored completely to Him!

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 & 28 (Apostle Paul)
For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.

We approach this table not to get forgiveness – we’ve already been given it. Jesus said “It is Finished”. We APPROACH THIS TABLE to REMEMBER that and keep ourselves in an unhindered relational connection with our SAVIOR.

NEED PRAYER?
....we've got some of our prayer team and pastors available following service to pray with you. You can also submit your prayer request via our app. We look forward to partnering with you in prayer.

IF YOU'RE NEW:
we throw a 10-minute party immediately following the service in the back corner of the room, if you're new, we'd love to meet you and welcome you! We invite you back next weekend as we conclude this series on Building Bravery (Esther's story).