Participating in Gods larger purposes Esther 2 Doug Brown audio, pdf, and power point karenvineyard.org

Gods activity as... Found in Places Demonstrated through People Expressed by His Presence

Place

In Persia – the ruling country In Susa – the winter headquarters of the kingdom At the kings gate – Mordechais location v.19

Place is Gods launching pad, the platform for His activity. Your physical location is only important in so far as you are aware of Gods activity around you and how He would have you participate in His work.

I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the L ORD given to Jeremiah the prophet, that the desolation of Jerusalem would last seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. Daniel 9.2-3

While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me... He instructed me and said to me, Daniel... as soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Daniel 9.21 & 23

Place provides the context for networking.

People

Xerxes History says he was easily influenced. Evidences of this are - Vashtis assertiveness 1.12 Consulting with experts 1.13ff Agreeing with personal attendants 2.4 Influence by Haman 3.8ff

Mordecai Ancestry is traced to first King of Israel, Saul and the tribe of Benjamin. Family of standing as was family had been deported to Babylon with King Jehoiachin (2 Ki. 24:14–16). Located at the Kings gate (v.19) - Jews kept in foreign capitals usually had a place in local government

Mordecai Raised Esther v.7 taken her as his own daughter v.10 forbade her to reveal her background v.11 Every day, walked back and forth... to find out how Esther was doing in the court. v.20 She continued to follow Mordecais instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up.

Paul and Timothy To Timothy my true son in the faith I Timothy 1.2 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. 1 Timothy 4.14 Watch your life and doctrine closely. 1 Timothy 4.16 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice... For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 2 Timothy 1.5-6

Tonya Harding & Nancy Kerrigan

1994 Olympics

Esther this girl – shes young (2.9) not to marry a pagan (Deut. 7:1-4) have sexual relations with a man who was not her husband (Ex. 20:14) Not to eat unclean food (Esther. 2:9).

Gods plans are not hindered by the secular events of this world. Gods purposes are not frustrated by moral failures. Gods people are not excluded from high places because of handicap or hardship.

Xerxes believes he will be selecting a new queen. God has selected a deliverer.

Intersections

Presence

Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before God when you heard what he spoke against this place and its people, and because you humbled yourself before me and tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the Lord. 2 Chronicles 34.27

What are some evidences of Gods presence at work in someones life?

Favor She pleased him and won his favor v.9 Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her. v.15 She won his favor and approval.... v.17

Teachable Mordecai forbade Esther to reveal her Jewish nationality, and she dutifully obeyed him. v.10 She asked for nothing other than what Hegai suggested. v.15 She continued to follow Mordecais instructions... v.20

Humble Anything she wanted was given to her 2.13, but verse 15 says that she required nothing. She continued to follow Mordecais instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up But Mordecai found out about the plot and told Queen Esther, who in turn reported it to the king, giving credit to Mordecai. 2.22

Adding Today for the sake of Tomorrow

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Luke 12.25

... make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self- control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1.5-8

Places and People are interwoven with Gods Presence.