BECOMING A WOMAN OF INFLUENCE Text: Esther 4-5:8

Introduction “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

I. PREPARATION FOR THE POSITION (Esther 1:16-18) “Later when King Xerxes’ fury had subsided, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what he had decreed about her. 2 Then the king’s personal attendants proposed, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.” Esther 2:1-2 I. PREPARATION FOR THE POSITION (Esther 1:16-18)

I. PREPARATION FOR THE POSITION (Esther 1:16-18)  ”Let the king appoint commissioners in every province of his realm to bring all these beautiful young women into the harem at the citadel of Susa. Let them be placed under the care of Hegai, the king’s eunuch, who is in charge of the women; and let beauty treatments be given to them.” Esther 2:3 I. PREPARATION FOR THE POSITION (Esther 1:16-18)

I. PREPARATION FOR THE POSITION (Esther 1:16-18)  ”Then let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This advice appealed to the king, and he followed it.” Esther 2:4 I. PREPARATION FOR THE POSITION (Esther 1:16-18)

I. PREPARATION FOR THE POSITION (Esther 1:16-18) Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. I Peter 3:3,4 I. PREPARATION FOR THE POSITION (Esther 1:16-18)

I. PREPARATION FOR THE POSITION (Esther 1:16-18) “And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her . . . ”17. Now the king was attracted to Esther more than to any of the other women, and she won his favor and approval more than any of the other virgins. So he set a royal crown on her head and made her queen.” Esther 2:15,17 I. PREPARATION FOR THE POSITION (Esther 1:16-18)

II. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN (Esther 4:8) “And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and gone on the mission on which the Lord sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.” I Samuel 15:20 II. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN (Esther 4:8)

II. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN (Esther 4:8)  ”In the twelfth year of King Xerxes, in the first month, the month of Nisan, the pur (that is, the lot) was cast in the presence of Haman to select a day and month. And the lot fell on the twelfth month, the month of Adar.” Esther 3:7 II. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN (Esther 4:8)

II. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN (Esther 4:8) “Urge her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people.” Esther 4:8b II. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN (Esther 4:8) “The only exception to this is for the king to extend the gold scepter to him (or her) and spare his (or her) life.” Esther 4:11

II. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN (Esther 4:8) “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14 II. PURPOSE OF THE PLAN (Esther 4:8)

III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3) “When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.” Esther 5:2 III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3)

III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3) “And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:16 III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3)

III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3) “Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.” Esther 5:3 III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3)

III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3) “As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.” Esther 5:6 III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3)

III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3) “The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.” Esther 8:2 III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3)

III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3) “When Mordecai left the king’s presence, he was wearing royal garments of blue and white, a large crown of gold and a purple robe of fine linen. And the city of Susa held a joyous celebration”. Esther 8:15 III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3)

III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3) “Dispatches were sent by couriers to all the king’s provinces with the order to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews—young and old, women and children—on a single day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, and to plunder their goods.” Esther 3:13 III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3)

III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3) “This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy.” Esther 9:17 III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3)

III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3) “Mordecai the Jew was second in rank to King Xerxes, preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews.” Esther 10:3 III. PROCESS TOWARD THE PAGEANT (Esther 4:15-10:3)