Did you know sometime when you sleep, God is working it out? When you think nothing is happening, God is working it out? Dr. Tony Evans says, even when the Lord doesn't seem close by, His providence proves that He's as near as our next breath. That luck, if you want to, but I know it was the invisible hands of God working it out.
This is the alternative broadcast, featuring the timeless biblical teachings from the archives of Dr. Tony Evans. It seems like some people can't catch a break, while others have everything handed to them. But Dr. Evans says there's nothing random about who you are and what you have.
Today, we'll discover the part that God's providence plays in all of that. Let's listen. In most kitchens represented in this room, if not all, They are blenders. These blenders are designed to take Independent. Foods and integrate them, unite them.
to create something new. Bigger. And better. then any one item could be on its own. God is the consummate.
Blender. His ability to take Unrelated Things. To come up with something bigger, better, and more beautiful than what he started with. is absolutely amazing. No story in the Bible illustrates God's.
Ability To do that. Like the book of Esther. The book of Asta is unique. in all of the Bible. Because it is the only book in the Bible where God's name is not found.
But while the name of God is not present in the book of Esther. His fingerprints are everywhere. There is a word for this. In theology. The word is providence.
Providence is the hand of God in the glove of history. It is the work of God whereby he integrates, blends events. in the universe in order to fulfill his original design for which it was created. Providence refers to God's governance of all events.
so as to direct them toward an end.
So God takes a step back. In the book of Esther. Does not even allow his name to be used since its context. is the people living outside of God's will. in order to teach us something about God.
Through the life of a diva. Through the life of a young lady who's described in chapter 2, verse 7, this way. He was bringing up. Hadassah. That is Esther.
His uncle's daughter. For she had no father or mother.
Now, the young lady was beautiful of form and face. And when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. In the first three chapters, we got a pretty girl. Who catches the eye of a king? Because his first wife wouldn't do right.
It's it's just a A story of life. We've got Intrigue because we've got a man being promoted. A man who won't bow to the man being promoted. And the man who's been promoted wants to kill the whole race. of a man who won't bow.
The woman who catches the eye of the king is the cousin of a man who won't buy. Mordecai. Mordecai has raised her up because Esther's mother and father Have died.
So what you got is life. Situations. You've got life scenario. What you got is a soap opera. A law gets passed.
At the end of chapter three. And the law. By King Ahasuerus says, Kill the Jews. Hey, but want some dead. Get rid of them.
When Mordecai learned all that had been done, he tore his clothes. put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. and wailed loudly and bitterly. Mordecai sends a message to Esther. that the destruction of the Jews has been ordained.
And then he sends the message to Esther. Verse 11. of chapter four. All the king's servants And the people of the king's provinces know. That for any man or woman who comes to the king, to the inner court, who is not summoned, he has but one law, and that is to be put to death unless the king holds out to him the golden scepter so that he may live.
And I have not been summoned to come before the king these 30 days. They reported Esther's words. Tomorrow. Mordecai sends a message. To Asta.
Who's now living in the palace? With the king.
Now is the time to tell him who you are. I told you keep quiet before. This is not a keep quiet moment. The Jews? are up for genocide.
They're going to destroy us.
Now is the time to reveal. Who you are. That's the right bet. Monica. You don't understand how things work.
Up here. in the palace. Because up here in the palace You just can't go into the king like that. In fact, Me and the king haven't hooked up for 30 days. We're not even talking right now.
We got issues going on in the palace, and for 30 days. Me and the king haven't been and if you walk and the king's ticked off at you And you walk in and he doesn't hold out that scepter. They gonna kill again. You don't understand, Mordecai. I've come from rags to riches.
I'd have come from walking to a Mercedes chariot. I have come a long way. And what you're asking me to do is risk. My future. And my well-being for y'all.
I don't live with y'all no more. I live in the king's palace. My name is Esther. I'm a star. I'm big time now.
So I don't think I can facilitate y'all. I can't help y'all right now because it's too risky. She said, it's risky going before the king because I might lose everything I have, and I like my life. I like how I'm living. I like how I'm treated.
I had to wash stuff by myself.
Now I got maids to do stuff for me. I didn't have any money when I was living with you.
Now I got more money than I could ever spend. You don't understand, life is fire. for me.
Now I'm sorry for y'all and I wish y'all don't, you know, I hope y'all work it out, but. She says, because if I go before it and it doesn't hold up the scepter, I'm going to risk losing it all. Mordecai gets the note. And he has a note. His note is in verse 13.
Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther. Do not imagine. Let's put it this way. Don't think for a moment. that you living in the king's palace.
can escape any more than all the Jews. For if you remain silent at this time, Deliverance prize for the Jews from another place. And you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this? Yeah.
There it is right there. Yes. You do not understand. You think because you're not willing to act. God's not going to act.
He says, don't think you're going to escape by keeping quiet. One good-looking diva is not going to stop God's program. I don't care how good-looking you are, how rich you are, how up across you are. I just want you to know: if God can't use you, he will find somebody else. He makes a very powerful statement.
That everybody in this room needs to know, and that is, God don't need you. What he's saying is Esther had not made the connection. Here it is. Between her beauty. Her opportunity.
and the kingdom of God. She had not understood that how she looked. and the position she now holds. was tied to a kingdom purpose. It wasn't, she wasn't just to look good so she could dress up.
God had placed her in a position. of influence to deliver his people. It wasn't just about her car, her clothes, her furniture, her lifestyle, her bank account. Have you ever considered? That maybe God has you here in the kingdom for such.
A time as this. That everything that's happened till now was moving to this point. Dr. Evans will take us right to the turning point of this story when he continues our message in just a moment. First, though, I want to tell you about a helpful resource that provides added perspective to today's lesson.
It's Tony's popular book, Kingdom Heroes. And it takes a close look at the lives of ordinary people in Scripture who chose to trust God. and saw him do extraordinary things through them. If you've ever wondered whether your faith is strong enough, Or if your past has disqualified you from God's blessings, this book will help you see how God works through people who are willing to take Him at His Word. and right now, as our thank you gift for your support of this ministry, We're bundling the Kingdom Heroes book together with all eight full-length messages in Tony's current teaching series called It's Not Too Late.
This powerful collection reveals how God can step into your life. No matter how off-track it may seem, and rewrite your story with hope and purpose. This exclusive offer ends this week.
So be sure to request it when you visit tonyevans.org. or give us a call at 1-800-800-322. and one of our resource team members will be happy to help. That's one eight hundred eight hundred three two two two.
Well, Dr. Evans will return with more of today's message right after this. It was my first time meeting Jesus in the Bible. That's what one student is saying after studying bibliology through the Tony Evans Training Center, taught by renowned theologian, Dr. Tony Evans.
These online courses feature compelling and exclusive video and audio teaching, plus an interactive scripture-based curriculum you can access online or through the mobile app. Sign up now at TonyEvanstraining.org. Take a course with Dr. Evans and explore the kingdom anytime, anywhere. TonyEvanstraining.org.
The kingdom is the rule of God, the purposes of God, the agenda of God. In the kingdom, one thing matters, and that is this. You are blessed to be a blesser. You've been blessed with good light, good looks. You've been blessed with unique opportunity to be in the king's palace.
And now that you've been blessed, All you are thinking about is you. God never blesses you just for you. Let me say that again. God never, ever blesses you just for you. The quickest way.
to cut off your blessing. is to keep your blessing just for you. She was thinking in the mind of this diva, her mind was. I can't risk. where I am for y'all.
because she didn't make the connection. To the kingdom of God, and therefore was not taking the risk for the program of God. And so, what Mordecai wants her to know is: if God can't use you. You're not gonna stop God. I hope you understand this.
God can make it. Without you. He says you've attain royalty for something bigger than you.
So she sends back the word to Mordecai. Go assemble verse 16. All the Jews were found in Susan. Fast for me. Do not eat or drink.
Three days, three nights. I, my maidens, will fast. And then she utters those famous words. I'll take the risk. If I perish.
I perish. You take the risk for business. You take the risk for other things. Why not take a risk for God? Why not take a risk to be used of God and allow the opportunity and the occasion that He has given your life to have an eternal benefit?
She now goes in and is preparing. to go to her husband. While Heyman plots. The destruction of the Jews. Haman has decided he's building gallows now to hang Mordecai.
As a prelude to killing all the Jews. He wants to get rid of them. The book hinges on chapter 6, verse 1. During that night. The king is tossing and turning.
I can't believe it. I don't know why I can't go to sleep tonight. I need somebody to read me to sleep. The record keeper comes, he flips pages and decides to just Read a page to the king. Sh It was found written, verse two, what Mordecai had reported.
concerning Bigthani and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs who were doorkeepers, bodykeepers, bodyguards, that they had sought to lay hands on King Hasuerus. The king said, what honor or dignity has been bestowed on Mordecai for this? Then the king's servant who attended him said, nothing has been done for him.
well sure to mordecai saved my life i better do something for mordecai To make a long story short, He calls Haman in. Hold it! Let me ask you a question. Heyman, I want to know something. Uh If there was somebody great in the kingdom.
who had done a great thing. What should we do for somebody great? Bible says Haman thought That has your words when talking about him.
So He said everything he could think of. I'd buy him a house, I'd buy him a car, buy him a boat, I'd give him a big bank account. I hold a banquet, I'd hold a party.
Somebody who did all of that, I would throw the bank at him. He said, Good idea. Why don't you go set it up?
so that we can have him for Mordecai. Oh, wait a minute. All this happened. Because the king couldn't go to sleep. Let me tell you how great God is.
God works behind the scenes. Keeping folk awake. When they ought to be sleeping. When you decide to take a risk. to be used by him.
Haman now has to set up a party. After he'd been building a gallows. for the guy he's trying to kill. I believe the Bible says God will make your enemies Your footstool. I believe the Bible says that.
God has a way of doing things. I used to work at trailways, and I worked at trailway bus station, and they had this thing going on when I was going through seminary where they would. You punch out. In the middle of the night, I did the dead man shift. I worked all night.
So you punch out for breakfast. But then they would punch you in. an hour later when you're supposed to be in, but you would go sleep.
So you could go sleep for three or four hours, but you'd be punched in being paid.
Well, they came to me and said, this is the scam and everybody participates in it.
So they were just telling me, this is the way it works.
So I could go along with the program. Or I could take a risk.
Well, as a Christian and somebody preparing for the ministry, I said, I'm sorry, I can't do that. They said, but no, you understand, everybody does this. And if you don't do it. then you are hindering the whole program.
Well, I said as a Christian, I'm sorry, I can't do that as a follower of Jesus Christ.
Well, what they then did was set in motion. A series of things that make life rough for me, like when the buses came in and I was supposed to be unloading them with four of the guys, the four of the guys would sit down and let me unload them by myself as punishment for not going along with the program.
So I was under punishment. I was having to work double duty, double time, unloading buses because I wouldn't go along with the program. I took a risk. of not going along with the program because of kingdom values that had set in. I took a risk.
But the risk looked like it was working against me. If I perish, I perish, and I was perishing. Because it was killing me. doing this by myself and no other help. and it's at nighttime so nobody knows what's going on.
About a month after this had happened. I got a call to come to the office. of trailway bus station. I went to the office wondering when I got off at seven in the morning.
Well, what do they want me for? And they said, can we talk to you for a minute? I said, yes, sir. He says unbeknownst to the night shift. We have had one of our supervisors coming around at night.
We are aware of the scheme that they have been working. To punch folk in. even though they were not working while they were asleep. He says, and we also notice. You weren't participating.
We also noticed you weren't part of the plan.
So we have decided. to raise you up. and make you the night supervisor. Over everybody else. in the company.
God was working behind the scenes. I didn't know that was a night supervisor, but God had worked that thing out so that my enemies. became my employees. My enemies became my footstool. I'm telling you, God can work it out.
And he can work it out at nighttime. Did you know sometimes when you sleep, God is working it out? Did you notice sometimes when you think nothing is happening, God is turning all kinds of things and twisting all kinds of things? To work it out? when the when we were in a delta school and they told us we had to leave the school because because we could no longer stay in the school and we were there and we didn't have any place to go and so we pleaded with them to let us stay in the school a little while longer but there were some enemies on the school board who said we're not gonna let you stay in the school it was time for the meeting but the votes were against us we sat in the parking lot and prayed in the car and said lord only you can turn this thing around We went inside and we waited and we waited and we waited for the meeting to start, but the meeting didn't start.
They came out and told us that they had decided to let us in the school. How come? Because the people who were against us got stuck on the highway because there was a traffic accident that blocked them from getting from the meeting. No. You can call that luck if you want to.
You can call that chance if you want to. But I know it was the invisible hands of God working it out. I'm telling you, he can work it out, and he can do it in such a subtle way. Wait a minute, I ain't finished yet. Wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute.
So, God doesn't need a demon man. He doesn't need somebody too cute. to be used too sophisticated to be used.
So he makes a party, watch this now. Bible says that Haman went home and cried like a baby. He gotta make up a party for the man he was getting ready to hang. He goes and cries like a baby. And when he does, Aster says, I want you to preserve the Jews from someone who wants to kill them.
Ahazuah says who wants to kill the Jews? She says Haman wants to kill the Jews. He got kicked off at Haman, had to walk outside to think what he was gonna do. Haman comes over and grabs the queen to plead for his life. But Ahasuerus comes in and see his arms wrapped around his wife.
He said, oh no, you didn't. Oh no, you didn't. Oh no, you didn't. You mean to tell me I didn't think about whether I'm going to let you live or die and you're going to be groping on my woman? Oh, no.
The Bible says before he had a chance to utter a word, they came and put a cape over his head. And then it says, and they hung him on the gallows he had built for Mordecai. God is able to turn it around. He gave them the turn around. If he can lose you, he can turn the wild.
Dr. Tony Evans, talking about how God can turn around even the most desperate circumstances, in a message he's titled Esther, the Diva God Used. Today's message is part of Tony's current eight-part series, It's Not Too Late. You can get the full-length version of this lesson, along with all the others in the series, including content we won't have time to present on the air. Simply request the series called It's Not Too Late when you make a donation to support the ministry.
And as I mentioned earlier, through this week only, we'll also include a copy of Tony's popular book, Kingdom Heroes. Together, these resources will encourage you to trust God deeply. and remind you that no matter where you've been or what you've faced, He's still able to do something meaningful and significant in your life. Get all the details and make your request today at tonyevans.org. Again, that's tonyevans.org.
or call our 24-hour resource center at 1-800-800-3222. or someone is always available to assist. That number again, 1-800-800-3222. And a quick reminder that you can hear doctor Evans in a completely different setting. as he hosts in-depth conversations with special guests on his Unbound podcast.
Available anytime, wherever you get your podcasts. The recipe of faith has only one ingredient. God. Tomorrow, Dr. Evans talks about the trouble one biblical character got into when he tried adding some spice to the mix.
I hope you'll join us for that.
