Esther Chapter 4

Don’t just sit there – do something, seize the day, grasp the opportunity, step out in faith and take a risk. Make your life count for God and for all eternity! Esther Chapter 4

‘For I am convinced that nothing, absolutely nothing, we go through in life, no matter how painful, how upsetting and distressing, nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD.’ Romans 8:37 -39

1: All around us there are people in great trouble and distress. Don’t hide your head in the sand. Find out what is going on, be informed and get into God’s Presence and Pray. V1-8

God takes Esther and uses her in the most wonderful way. Esther has been Queen for 5 years. Haman has manipulated the king into sending out an irreversible command throughout the Empire that God’s people will be wiped out. Mordecai is absolutely broken and devastated by the crisis that God’s people are facing v3. What is he to do?

‘The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly going about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Saviour God wants us to live. He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we’ve learned.’ 1 Timothy 2:v1-4 – The Message

Q: Do you need to break out of your comfort zone and find out more about the situations where people are in great need and great pain, so that you can pray in a more informed and intelligent way?

Q: Do you know of the tremendous things that God is doing around us and in the world so that we can pray?

2: We cannot sit comfortably and let the world go by. We want to be followers of JESUS who are willing to step out in faith, risk all and do whatever it takes to see God move in our generation. V9-17

‘If you want what you haven’t yet got, then you’ve got to risk doing what you haven’t yet done.’

The challenge that Mordecai is putting before Esther is the challenge to be a RISK TAKER! Esther has never stood up for God before this, never RISKED anything for God before this. BUT there’s an urgency, there’s desperation, there’s a crisis. This is the hardest decision that Esther has ever had to make in her entire life. She must go before the king to save her people and there’s a RISK involved.

‘What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.’ James 2 v14 & 17.

Q: Are you someone who is trusting God, a risk taker?

Q: What was the last risk that you took to step out in faith and say / do something you felt God was asking you to say / do?

Q: Lord what is my / our next step of faith and risk that You are asking me / us to take to obey You?

3: By His death upon that Cross, Jesus is our Mediator with God and now He lives forever in the Father’s Presence to pray for us and all we are going through in our lives?

Esther is a little picture pointing us to JESUS! Esther is a Mediator – a bridge – going into the Presence of King Xerxes on behalf of her people. JESUS is the only Mediator between a pure and holy God and sinful people.

‘For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity – the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.’ 1 Timothy 2 v5-6.

‘Who would dare to accuse us, whom God has chosen? The judge himself has declared us free from sin. Who is in a position to condemn? Only Christ, and Christ died for us, Christ rose for us, Christ reigns in power for us, Christ prays for us! Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Romans 8 v 33-34

Esther is willing to die for her people if need be – BUT JESUS actually dies for His people, taking our sin and shame upon Him on that Cross.

Q: Is it not incredible to think that right now in Heaven, that Jesus is speaking to the Father for us, interceding for us, asking our Loving Heavenly Father to see our trouble, feel our pain and intervene on our behalf – because we are precious to Him?

Q: How does that make you feel? What can you do to respond to such love and grace?