Seize the Day

Have you ever asked yourself why you were born at this particular time in history, in this particular country, this specific part of the country, in your family? What is your purpose here? What is God seeking to do through you at such a time as this?

There are times in our lives when we come to a fork in the road There are times in our lives when we come to a fork in the road. The choices we make can alter our lives forever and set us on a course that may last a life time, and can determine the character, direction, destiny and eternity of our lives.

Esther in a nutshell.

Where do you draw the line in maintaining your integrity as a Christian? How have you taken a stand?

Esther in a nutshell.

Disobedience to God can continue to follow us, keep tripping us up, and even affect generations to come.

Esther in a nutshell.

Verse 11. “All the king’s servants and the people of the king’s provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside the inner court without being called, there is but one law—to be put to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter “that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”

4:13-14: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”

Mordecai is saying three things to Esther Mordecai is saying three things to Esther. * Don’t think you’ll escape the holocaust when it happens. You’ll be wiped out just like everyone else when it becomes clear that you are one of God’s chosen people. * If you don’t do something, God will send someone else. God could just as easily use another person to fulfill His purposes because He will accomplish all He intends, regardless of our involvement. You are important but not indispensable. * God has positioned you exactly where He wants you for such a time as this. Esther, this is your purpose in life! This is what God has made you to do!

15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go and gather together all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.”

Esther in a nutshell.

Esther in a nutshell.

4 When Mordecai learned about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on burlap and ashes, and went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail. 2 He went as far as the gate of the palace, for no one was allowed to enter the palace gate while wearing clothes of mourning.

According to Open Doors 2014 World Watch List, Christians are the most persecuted demographic on earth — and the trends are getting worse. In 2012, the group’s annual report documented the martyrdom of more than 1,200 Christians and in 2013--2,123 Christians were murdered for their faith. An estimated 100 million believers in Christ still suffer from ruthless persecution around the globe. These atrocities include: imprisonment, torture, rape, execution, expulsion, forced labor, and more. Christians are persecuted in more than 65 countries around the world, with the vast majority in Asia and Africa — and especially in the Middle East, where Islamist rulers often purport to make faith in Christ a crime.

1 Corinthians 12:26 (NLT) 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. An attack upon any part of the body of Christ is an attack upon every part of the body of Christ. We are called to take action. The words of martyred missionary Jim Elliott: "He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.“ So, how can we take action?

Empathize with them. Hebrews 13:3 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies. Pray for them. 1 Samuel 12: 22-23 22 The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people. 23 “As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you.

Communicate with them and affirm them Communicate with them and affirm them. • On their faithfulness 2 Thessalonians 1:4 4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. • On their injustice by their government. Proverbs 31:8 8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. “When I see something like this Christian persecution, my heart aches because the believers here don’t even know about it, don’t care. We’re not expressing moral outrage; we’re not indignant of the indifference of the United States government towards this. And we ought to be marching in the streets because our brethren are being persecuted, imprisoned, beaten, sold into slavery, and butchered and we don’t seem to care in this country.” Dr. James Dobson

Go to them. Acts 16:9 9 That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” If you can’t go to them then write to them or email them.

In Esther 4:14 we see two very important statements by Mordecai In Esther 4:14 we see two very important statements by Mordecai. First, “For if you keep silent at this time,” he tells Esther, “relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place.” Mordecai is basically saying this: “I don’t know how we’re going to get out of this. How we’re going to be saved and spared, I don’t know. Here’s what I do know: If you don’t do something, Esther, help’s going to come from somewhere.” “God always shows up for his people.” Here’s the truth: God will never leave us nor forsake us. Hebrews 13:5

And continuing in 4:14, “And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this.” Edward Hale has said: “I am only one…but I am still one…I cannot do everything…but still I can do something…and because I cannot do everything…I will not refuse to do the something that I can do!”

God never allows anything to come into our lives by accident God never allows anything to come into our lives by accident. Behind every circumstance we face is a greater purpose than we can’t see at that moment. What’s it going to take for us to see our position as a platform for God’s purposes?

References Jesus is a Better Mediator – Mark Driscoll For Such a Time as These – John Macarthur Living Out Your Purpose -- Brian Bill The Persecuted Church – Larry Thompson