Welcome to Connect with Skip Heitzig. We're so glad you've tuned in today. At Connect with Skip, our mission is to help people know God more deeply through clear, verse-by-verse Bible teaching that brings biblical truth to everyday life. And when you sign up for Pastor Skip's free weekly devotional, you'll receive biblical encouragement, ministry updates, and advance information about upcoming resources, all delivered right to your inbox. Signing up is quick, easy, and completely free.
Visit connectwithskip.com today. That's connectwithskip.com.
Now let's dive into today's teaching from Pastor Skip Heitzig. You need to know the Persian kings Kinda lived in la la land. They lived in an artificial paradise, a walled paradise. Carefully kept. They were sheltered from the realities, the harsh realities of life.
They were to be pampered. They were to enjoy life. No bad news was to reach their ears. If possible. I'm going to jog your memory a little bit.
Back in Nehemiah chapter 2, Nehemiah was serving a different Persian king, and one day he shows up for work, and the king notices that he is sad, and the king brings it up, and Nehemiah is petrified. Because he said, I had never before been sad in the king's presence. Wasn't allowed.
So, if you're in mourning, wearing sackcloth, you are certainly not allowed to come into the gate.
So, he can't just pop in and say, Esther, cousin, we got a problem. He can't go in. He is publicly mourning. He is grieving. Even though he works at the palace, he doesn't have access to the king, doesn't have access even to his cousin, Queen Esther.
So He gets a guy by the name of Hathach. I'm just telling you this because you're about to read his name. Half-hatch is a go-between, an emissary, probably a. A eunuch. that worked in the palace.
And Mordecai is going to give him a message. And he's going to give that message to Queen Esther. And then Queen Esther is going to give a reply back to Hathach who will take it to Mordecai. Mordecai will then, you see how it goes. They're going to use somebody as a go-between.
But they're going to communicate, and essentially, this takes us to scene three. And that is the speech that is given by Mordecai. Scene three is a strategic opportunity. It's the speech that saved the nation.
So this is what happens without reading all of this. Mordecai sends a copy of the death edict. Two Esther. Look at what the king just put into law. Sends a copy of the edict, tells her what's going on.
And says, please. Go to the king and make supplication. Plead with the king to change. His decision. Verse 10 of chapter 4.
We begin there. Then Esther spoke to Hathach, and gave him a command for Mordecai.
So she she's replying back. All the king's servants, she says, all the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that any man or woman who goes into the inner court. To the king. who has not been called. He has but one law.
Put all to death. except the one to whom the king holds out The golden Sceptre. The scepter was the symbol of authority for a king. An outstretched scepter means you are accepted into my presence. That he may live.
But notice she says, Yet I myself have not been called to go to the king these thirty days.
So they told Mordecai Esther's words. Mordecai told them to answer Esther. Very short speech, but look at it. Do not think in your heart that you will escape in the king's palace any more than all the other Jews. For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place.
but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows? Whether you have come to the kingdom For such a time. As this. That is a speech for the history books.
That is the pivotal moment of the entire book of Esther. It's a rallying call. It's the watershed moment. It's the turning point. This is like Patrick Henry's 1775 speech: Give me liberty or give me death.
or Ronald Reagan at the Brandenburg Gate or Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Or Churchill. I mentioned Winston Churchill at the beginning. I'm going to go back to that. In 1940, Winston Churchill entered a meeting with his war cabinet, addressed them in the parliament, France had just fallen to the Nazis.
England was next. It was England's darkest hour. He knew it, they knew it. But he said in his speech these words, Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will still say this was their finest hour. Darkest hour.
Finest hour. It's either one or the other. In our darkest hour, this could be our finest hour. This is Mordecai saying to Esther, Esther. This could be your finest hour.
This could be the whole reason you are where you are. Sweetheart, you're not here by accident. You're here by appointment. Divine appointment. But she brings up a problem.
She goes, I can't just waltz into the. Courtroom go, honey. Let me talk about something. She knew Persian protocol. She knew that the king is so protected that unless he invites you in, asks you to come, initiates a conversation, you could lose your head.
And she mentioned something here. She says um Look at the end of verse 11. Yet I myself have not been called to go into the king these 30 days. I haven't seen him for a month. I don't know why.
Doesn't tell us why. I don't know if she thinks I'm ugly now or what am I, chopped liver. But I haven't seen him for a month. For me to come in is so risky.
Now, she's also thinking the fact that the previous queen. Was excommunicated from her position simply because she didn't come when he called. Yeah. She comes in when he didn't call. Same thing could happen.
By the way. There were probably people in the court. Who were hoping that Queen Esther would go because they were loyalists to the previous queen. All that intrigue must have been happening.
Okay, I want you to look again at verse 13 and 14 because that really is the heart, in my opinion, the heart of the entire book of Esther and the speech that he gives. Mordecai. Told them to answer, Esther. Do not think. In your heart you will escape in the king's palace.
any more than all the other Jews. Stop there. Mordecai reminds his cousin of three important truths. Truth number one. Your position will not guarantee your protection.
Just because you're queen You're still a Jew. And Haman will not rest till every last Jew is dead.
So your position will not guarantee your protection. Second truth. Your silence won't prevent our deliverance. Look at the next phrase. For if you remain completely silent at this time, Release And deliverance, watch this, watch this, will arise for the Jews.
from another place. If you do nothing about this, God is still going to do something. The reason he said that is It tells me that's a very strong statement of faith. He believed in the Abrahamic covenant. I'll bless those who bless you.
I'll curse those who curse you. I'm going to preserve, God would say, I'm going to preserve the Jewish people. Because I have plans to do something through them. and with them.
So for him to say You may do nothing, but God is going to do something. That's that second point. Your silence won't prevent our deliverance. Just a personal note on that. You may never get around.
To surrendering your life to be used by God for whatever reason. You're busy, you've got a job, you've got a schedule, you never really get around to getting involved in.
Some kind of ministry work, some kind of way to contribute to the kingdom of God. It could be your schedule. It could be that you've just grown apathetic. It could be that you tried that in the past, but the group you were with or church you were with. failed to meet your expectations.
You've turned bitter. You're done. I'm going to show up. I'll listen, but I'm done. Here's what you need to know.
God will do his work with you or without you. You'll just lose out on the opportunity to be a part of it. He's going to do it. He'll just use somebody else who will say, Here I am, send me.
Well, you're over on the p Corner twiddling your thumbs, going, I'm not going to get involved.
Okay, he'll do his work. His kingdom will go on. I will build my church. But he could use you. Could use you.
So, your position won't guarantee your protection. Your silence won't prevent our deliverance. Here's the third truth that he reminds her of. Your prominence is God's providence. Your prominence as queen of this nation is providential.
Prominence is God's Providence. Esther, if you ever wondered why God would allow me, a Jewish girl, to be part of a pagan harem. You're about to find out why. God allowed this to happen. For a specific reason, all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose.
So, if you're looking for a purpose to be on the throne, to be queen of the nation, this is it. I've told you many times: the two most significant days of your life: number one, the day you were born, number two, the day you discover what you're born for. When you enter into purpose. It's a significant day. This is Connect with Skip Heitzig.
Your support helps reach people every day with biblical truth that brings hope, encouragement, and direction for real life. And this month we'd love to thank you with a special collection of resources designed to help you grow stronger in your faith. When you give today, you'll receive biblical wisdom for everyday living. You'll find biblical encouragement to help you deepen your prayer life, experience God's joy, embrace forgiveness, and stand firm in every season with four of Pastor Skiff's lifestyle booklets. Pray this way, technicolored joy, unforgiveness, forgiveness versus sweet revenge, and standing firm in unsettling times.
Your gift helps extend the reach of Connectless Gift-Heitzig, connecting more people to God's word around the world. Request your collection when you give $30 or more at connectwithskip.com slash offer or by calling 800-922-1888.
Now, here's how to pre-order an exciting resource from Pastor Skip that's coming this October. Many Christians want to spend more time in God's Word, but they're not always sure where to start. That's why Pastor Skip Heitzig wrote Soaring Above It All, a one-year devotional that helps you understand the big picture of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation through clear, engaging daily readings. Whether you're new to scripture or have studied it for years, this devotional will help deepen your understanding of God's Word. Pre-order your copy today, wherever books are sold.
Now, here's more from Pastor Skip. A lot of Christians just going, I don't know, I hate my job. I don't know. I'm in sales. I hate what I do.
Why would God let me be here? Hold that thought. Maybe that'll graduate you to another job. It might be that you'll find your purpose in that. Horrible place.
for such a time as this. I'm reminded of Joseph.
Sold as a slave by his brothers into Egypt, suffered at the hands of Potiphar, Potiphar's wife, thrown in Pharaoh's prison. But elevated to become Prime Minister, his brothers Find out Joseph is the prime minister second in charge of the earth.
Now he knows that we're his brothers. He's going to kill us. And that classic phrase in Genesis 50, but as for me, Joseph says to them, You meant evil against me. God meant it for good in order. to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
Esther is going to save many people alive because. of the speech That inspired By the way. I haven't even gotten to this part yet. Did you know the name of God is not mentioned even once in the book of Esther? There's no mention of God.
Which has absolutely aggravated Some Bible commentators. In fact, Martin Luther said that he wished the book of Esther had never been written. How can you have a book of the Bible that doesn't even mention God? To me, that's the beauty of the book. God isn't always overt.
He's not always miraculous. He's not always audible. He's oftentimes, most often, in the shadows. in the shadows. Jesus said, the kingdom of God does not come by outward observation.
It's a word. you need to know called Providence. Have you heard the term providence? You know what it literally means? It's two words put together, pro.
And video or video, pro video. Video is to see. Pro means before. It means literally to see beforehand. God sees all things beforehand, so he takes ordinary events and arranges ordinary events.
to affect an extraordinary outcome. That's Providence. That's Providence. Vashti was the queen. Esther is the next queen who happens to be a Jew.
Now we know why. She's in place. Ruth? Remember the book of Ruth, the story of Ruth? She comes to Bethlehem.
She needs a job. It just happened that Boaz was hiring. I just happened to go to a potluck one night and meet a girl named Lenya. I just happen to also, at the same time, have a friend who said, I'm moving to Albuquerque, and I'm thinking, Okay.
So I went and asked her to marry me and told him we'd like to come with you. Looking back. Providence. Providence. So we have three scenes: a national tragedy.
Scene two, an expected anxiety. Scene three. a strategic opportunity.
Now we come to the final scene. Scene 4. And that is an inspired bravery. Let's see what she does with this information. Verse 15.
Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, Go gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan. and fast for me. Neither eat. Nor drink.
Now it doesn't say they prayed and fasted, but If you knew you were going to die on a certain day, I'm going to guess you're going to pray. And fast. Neither eat nor drink for three days, day or night. My maids and I will fast likewise, and so I will go to the king, which is notice this, which is against the law. And if I perish...
I perish. What a great answer. She's willing to risk it all. Remember, Esther is in a pampered environment. And she had a Has been taught that she should focus on herself, focus on her beauty, take all these beauty treatments, which she did.
Before she could even see the king to begin with. But because of Mordecai's words, that short little speech. It inspires in her a kind of a bravery Where she's willing to lay her life down. If I perish, I perish. If I die, I die.
I'm going to go into the palace. It's against the law. That sentry might tackle me. That spearman might thrust me through. But if I die, I die.
It's a good way to live. Not carelessly. But knowing The truth. You are going to die, actually. But before that happens, what are you going to do?
Until you die.
So she goes for it, and she's thinking, this is going to be my finest hour. Esther believed it's better. To die for a conviction than to live with a compromise. I've told you before that during the Civil War, In fact, at the height of the Civil War, when Lincoln was most burdened by What was happening in his country? It was a Sunday morning.
President Lincoln walked from the White House with his aides to church. Listen to a sermon. Felt That the sermon was Good? His aides asked him, Did you think it was a good sermon? Lincoln was polite.
I think the preacher had many fine points. I thought it was very logically put. I thought it was. You know, all the boxes were checked.
So they said, so you think it was a good sermon? He turned to his aide and very candidly said, No. I think the preacher failed. Because he did not ask of us.
Something great. Lincoln wanted to be inspired, to be asked to do something great. Mordecai is asking Esther. Do something great, would you? Do something great.
Stop spending your life Start investing your life.
Now, here's a closing thought. I began with this. I want to circle back. Who do you inspire? Who do you inspire?
I know my English teacher would say, no, Skip, it's whom do you inspire?
Okay. Whom do you inspire? Be an inspiration. To somebody.
Somebody. Take the energy that you would normally spend on yourself and use it to motivate someone else. Joyce Landorf called these people Great title. She called it. They call them balcony people.
We all need balcony people. People who cheer you on from the balcony. People who encourage you, people who inspire you. to do great things. You say inspiration to do what?
to make their life count for something. I'm going to say something that's going to sound almost... Too good to be true. But I want you to hear it. You Could be the catalyst that ignites the next spiritual movement.
I didn't say you have to start the movement, you could be the catalyst that sparks the movement.
Somebody sparked Every great past spiritual movement in history. The prayers of a grandmother, the prayers of a few, the words of one to another. You could be the catalyst that ignites a movement. You could be the person that brings change to one life. or several lives.
Never underestimate the power of one person. Igniting The fire in another person. Barnabas did that for Saul of Tarsus. Saul became Paul the Apostle. He did that for Timothy.
Paul told Timothy to do that for others. I'm going to close by describing to you a chain of events. That will just wrap this up, I think, nicely. In eighteen fifty five, There was a guy named Edward Kimball. He lived in Illinois.
Edward Kimball was a Sunday school teacher. Volunteer position. In his class, Several young men One of them He had the opportunity of leading. To Christ. That 17-year-old boy was a young shoe salesman by the name of Dwight Lyman Moody.
D.L. Moody came to faith in Christ. Because of Edward Kimball's Steadfast. Encouragement and testimony. That was 1855.
D.L. Moody gets saved. He becomes a pastor, an evangelist, started the Moody Church in Chicago. DL Moody one day is speaking, and a young man came forward afterwards who needed counseling and encouragement. by the name of Wilbur Chapman.
D.L. Moody encouraged Chapman. Chaplin eventually joins Moody's team as an evangelist. Wilbur Chapman decides to hire An ex-professional baseball player who had just become a Christian to join his team and get discipled, his name was Billy Sunday. Dilly Sunday became a very noted evangelist.
Yeah. Billy Sunday went to Charlotte, North Carolina, and spoke to a group of Christian businessmen to encourage them to sponsor a series of crusades. That could come through their town under the ministry of Mordecai Ham. That's the evangelist's name. Second.
They stepped up to the plate, they funded it. Mordecai Ham came to Charlotte, North Carolina, gave a series of meetings. One night at one of the altar calls, a young, tall, lanky man. Walk forward by the name of Billy Graham. And then to Put a bow on it.
In 1973, a young man was listening to Billy Graham on television named Skip Heitzig.
Okay. And that was the speech that saved my life. You're part of that chain. A speech that saved a nation. The inspiration that motivated the action.
Of a young lady to say, if I perish, I perish, I'm going to go for it. The world is yet to see what God can do through one person totally dedicated to Him. And it was young Moody who said, By God's grace, I will be. That man. Be that man, be that woman.
and inspire someone else too. Yeah. We're so glad you joined us today on Connect with Skip Heitzig. Before you go, here's a reminder. When you give $30 or more this month, we'll send you biblical wisdom for everyday living as our thanks.
This special collection of four lifestyle booklets from Pastor Skip Heitzig offers biblical encouragement for prayer, joy, forgiveness, and standing firm when life feels uncertain. Your support helps keep this Bible teaching ministry reaching people around the world with the life-changing truth of God's Word. Give today at connectwisgift.com slash offer or call 800-922-1888. See you next time. Make a connection, never fool.
Of the crossing. Castle burn. KonnectwiSkip Heitzig is a presentation of connection communications, connecting you to God's never-changing truth in ever-changing times.
