Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. In life's defining moments, Humble yourself before God. That's what Hester did. In the kingdom of God, the way up is always done. Humble yourself, therefore, under the mighty hand of God.
So at the right time, God will exalt you. Welcome to the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe, senior pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Have you ever faced a moment that impacted the course of your life? Today, we continue our fascinating journey through the book of Esther. Esther must decide to risk her life or watch her people perish.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe with the first part of his message titled A Defining Moment. Last time we learned that when Mordecai discovered the plot to annihilate the Jewish nation, he challenged Esser. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this. That's a famous statement, no. for such a time as this.
Do you ever feel that God has put you in a particular situation for a particular reason? Here is the tremendous hatred of Haban. who wants to kill not only Mordecai but all of the Jews. But God with his invisible hand has orchestrated events and placed Esther in the palace of the king. Here is a defining moment for Esther.
What do you do in situations where you know the right thing to do? but it's very difficult to do it. Let's learn as we look at Esther chapter 5.
Well, we come to Esther chapter 5. And Esther is a book of high drama. And you say, well, at the moment, my life may be far from dramatic. your life might be downright boring. I don't know.
On the other hand, you may think you have too much drama. Uncertainty, surprises, and tensions and fears in your life, and you long for a life of tranquility, stability, and the routine. One of the vital lessons we've been learning in our study Of this fascinating book of Esther is that irrespective of our circumstances. I want you to grasp this. Irrespective of our circumstances, whether they're full of drama.
Or whether it's just the dull routine of life, God is in control. There are never any surprises to God. There are many surprises to us. God declares Isaiah 46, verse 10, the end from the beginning. Our life is a story.
God knows the end of it from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done. Then God doesn't know what's going to happen in the Middle East. Do you think? He doesn't know what's going to happen in your life. My council Shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purposes.
How wonderful. that God is the God of history. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows exactly what's going to happen. And nothing.
Can stand in his way. He is all-powerful and he's also all-knowing.
Now, his hand. Albeit to us sometimes invisible, sometimes silent, is always at work in our lives. And as we sang about this not walking alone, as we look back over our lives, it's much easier to see, isn't it, how God has been at work. Right now, sometimes it's difficult.
Sometimes we feel abandoned.
Sometimes we feel things in our lives are totally out of control. And yet if we've lived life As some of us have, we can look back and say yes. We did never walk alone and God was. with us.
Now at this time of high drama for this young woman Esther, she shows no sign of panic or impatience. But with grace and dignity, she's placing her trust in God. Ahaju Aris. Is the powerful king of Persia. I read this week.
That at the time of the Persian Empire, this is written by a secular historian, at the time of the Persian Empire, when King Ahasuerus. Was the king, 44% of the world's population lived in the Persian Empire. Think of that. Think how vast it was. This is the king, over 44% of the world's population.
King Ahasuerus.
Someone said to me, Isn't it King Xerxes? If you're reading the NIV, it says Xerxes. If you're with the King James, the International English Standard Version that we use, it's King Ahasuerus. King Xerxes was his Greek name. King Ahasuerus that we're using was his Persian name.
He's powerful, but he's not more powerful than God. And a wicked prime minister by the name of Haman, we're learning, cannot thwart the purposes of God. This evil man has manipulated circumstances to have this evil edict to annihilate all of God's ancient people, the Jews. But God can handle the most dramatic, the most unexpected, the most difficult, the most intimidating of circumstances. And when we're very fearful and when we don't know what's going to happen, Esther is teaching us our trust is to be in God.
So, whatever your circumstances today, whether you're facing some high drama in your life.
Something that may cause you some fear, some anxiety, or whether your life is just pretty boring and routine. I want you to be still and know God. I want you today. Deliberately, once again. to place your trust.
in God.
Now the fact that God is sovereign does not mean in action by us. Scripture tells us that faith without works is dead. It's true, God is at work. Remember Paul's letter to the Philippines? He says in chapter 2, yes, God is at work.
But we must also work out our salvation with fear and trembling. The Christian life is not just sitting back. And saying, well, let God do it all. I'll just sit here in a passive kind of way. Not at all.
God Often works in us and through us to accomplish his purposes.
So we must understand Now, while we believe strongly in the sovereignty of God, that does not negate human responsibility or choice. We're not fatalists. We're not robots, we're not machines, but we're human beings with a capacity of choice.
Sometimes We wait. In our lives, there's sometimes a time to wait. But there's also sometimes a time to act. A time To respond.
So let's learn from Esther, from Esther chapter 5: this young queen who's in the middle of the most dramatic, the most defining moment of her life. What's she going to do? First of all, Verses one and two. As we think of Esther's action. On the third day, What's the third day?
We saw last week, the end of chapter 4, that when Esther decides to go before the king. I'll go to the king, even though it's against the law, and if I perish, I perish, realizing that this was the time. This was her defining moment that she was raised for such a time as this. They have three days of fasting. And so during on the third day Esther puts on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace.
In front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room. opposite the entrance to the palace. And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, She won favor in his sight. And he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached.
Untouch the tip. of the scepter, how dramatic this was.
So she makes the decision she's going to go b for the king. even though she's risking her life. And so they have these three days of fasting. No doubt she's waiting on the Lord. No doubt she's crying out to the Lord for wisdom, for the king to hear this request to save her people.
And so now, after these three days and nights of fasting, she puts on her royal robes. And she stands in the inner court. of the King's Palace, right in front of the King's quarters. By putting on her royal robes, she's reminding the king Uh that she's a queen.
Now is the time for action. But she's risking her life. From a human perspective, the odds of success are against Esther. Let me mention four reasons why. From a human perspective, It seemed a doomed enterprise.
First of all, to go before the king unsummoned will lead to death unless he extends his golden scepter. Secondly, The king looked on Esther as a Persian woman.
Now she'll have to disclose that she's Jewish. And there's an edict. That all of the Jews are going to be annihilated. How will the king respond? Third.
She's aware of the law. of the Medes and Persians which has been passed, that law cannot be revoked. And she's Jewish. Fourth, She's in direct opposition to him and the king's right-hand man, his prime minister. The second most powerful man in the Persian Empire, a man who's full of wicked hate against her people, the Jews.
Yet knowing all of this, This young woman precedes the stand in the court. Imagine how her heart must have been. Pounding. And she waits. And then to her great joy, he extends his golden scepter.
And she touches it. She's now able to come into the presence of the king. And you say this is dramatic. Yes, but think of who he is. He's king Ahasuerus.
He is a total despot. He can take anyone's life that he wants. And so risking her own life. She comes before the king. Verse three.
And the king said to her, What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you even to the half of my kingdom. And Esther said, if it please the king. Let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I prepared for the king.
Then the king said, Bring him in quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.
So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared. And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, What is your wish? It shall be granted you. What is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom it shall be fulfilled.
Then Esther answered, My wish and my request is: if I have found favor in the side of the king. And if it please the king to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king. has said Now the king knows. That before His queen would ever approach him in this highly unusual way, there must be something of great importance. He's very sympathetic to the Queen.
And he makes this tremendous statement: I'll give you whatever you want, up to half of my kingdom.
Now, rather than immediately telling the king that she's Jewish. and she wants her people to be delivered from the cruel edict, Esther merely asks the king and Haman to attend a private feast. later that day, which he's going to prepare, and that takes place. During the feast, the king again asks, understandably, what's all this about? What's your request?
I'll answer your request, up to half of my kingdom. And the king, this mighty king, King Ahasuerus, the grandson of Cyrus the Great. He continues to show kindness. and generosity toward Esther. who seems Very poised.
And then rushed. Look what she says. In uh Verse 8. Notice Notice her grace. Notice her skill.
Notice her good manners. She is A woman of grace, a woman of elegance. This is a demure woman who is coming before the king and notice her language. If I have found favour in the sight of the king, and if it please the Okay. Can I just stop there?
And say, know this. It's not the most important thing, but notice how she is speaking to her king. with grace. with good manners. We have in our society Our society is becoming harsher and harsher.
When I was a little boy, my mother bought a book for us, Manners Can Be Fun. She wanted to teach her sons who needed it badly. Manners. Manners at the table. Manners to interact with people, how to speak to people, what is mannerly.
To say thank you, to say please, to show your appreciation, and so on. Manners can be fun. And uh so My mother. felt her voice uh needed it, and we did. I think we've lost that, haven't we?
Don't you think Christians should have good manners? How how do you speak to people? How do you speak to a wait on a restaurant? How do you speak to your colleagues at work? How do you speak to your subordinates if you're an employer, if you're in business?
How do you speak to your wife, man? How do you speak to people? We've become very dumbed down in our language, haven't we? We've lost the skill of being graceful in our speech. of being nuanced in their speech.
So much, it's in your face, and we're demanding things, and it's all about me. and were shouting at people. And that's not the spirit of Christ, is it? And that wasn't the spirit of Esther.
Now, I know she's speaking the most powerful man in the world. But still we see this is a woman. of skill. And the fact that she believes it's the right thing to do. still shows deference.
To this Okay.
Now surprisingly, she doesn't immediately reveal her request. She simply says she wants the king and him to come to another feast which will be held the following day. We're wondering is you're buying time? Is she conscious of God's guidance? Is she carefully laying a uh a A trap, a plan to catch Haman.
After all, she wants Haman at the feast, and he is the originator of the wicked edict against the Jews. You can feel the tension. and the drama continuing to rise.
So that's Esther's actions. Think of Haman's reactions, verses 9 through 14. And Haman went out that day joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and his wife Zarish.
And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches. the number of his sons, all the promotions with which the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king. Then heaven said, Even the queen. Let no one but me come with the king to the feast he has prepared. And tomorrow also I'm invited by her together with the king.
Yet All of this is worth nothing to me.
So long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate. Then his wife Zarish and all his friends said to him, Let a gallows fifty cubits high be made. And in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully. with the king to the feast.
This idea pleased him and And he had the gallows. Mate. Fascinating, isn't it? Initially he's full of joy and pride. He's delighted.
He's attended a private feast just with the king and the queen. And now he's invited to another feast the next day. Persian kings were very protective of their lives, so it was an unusual honor for anyone to be invited to have a private feast with the king and his queen. Haman considers himself the ultimate insider. He's at the very top.
There he is. He and he alone is dining with the king and his queen. Uh but there's one bitter pill. which is sticking in his throat. And that makes them very angry and hateful.
His joy quickly turns to anger when he sees Mordecai at the king's gate. Mordecai still refuses to stand up and tremble before him. In spite of his powerful position, Mordecai is not intimidated by Haman. And so Haman is furious at Mordecai. He manages to control himself and he goes home, and he is no doubt.
Gratified by knowing that soon. Mordecai and all of the Jews. are going to be killed.
So he goes home, he brags of all his glory, his riches, his family, his possessions. But then he says, all of this is worth nothing to me. Verse thirteen. His joy and satisfaction in life are being spoiled by Mordecai the Jew. Notice how he refers to him.
Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king's gate, verse 13. This man has got so much and he's still not satisfied. Proud people are never satisfied. When pride distorts us, And pride, in a sense, shuts out other people. Who needs other people?
We're at the top. Hayman is at the top. And his wife Zarish and his friends have this brilliant plan to get rid of Mordecai. Why wait until the 13th day of the 12th month, which was the date when the edict to annihilate all of the Jews was going to take effect? Why wait till then?
Have a gallows constructed, 50 cubits. You know how high that is? 75 feet. That's huge, isn't it? Hang Mordecai on the gallows as a warning to all of the Jews and anyone else who would dare defy Haman.
On the pride. of Hayman. and his family are seen in the height of the gallows. They just don't want just to hang Mordecai, they want it to be a spectacle. They want to show their superiority.
over the Jews. Proverbs. 1618, pride goes before destruction. And a haughty spirit. before a fall.
Pride. Verse 14 is a crux in the da drama, isn't it? It's the point on which there's going to be this dramatic reversal. Because gallows are going to be built by Haman. In order to kill Mordecai, And if we can anticipate the story a little bit, hope you've read the story, Haman himself.
is going to end up hanged on it. Talk about irony. Talk about God. Reversing things dramatically. It's all going to happen within 24 hours.
We'll think of that next week. Come back next week for the next installment. Let me give three concluding lessons. Pretty obvious ones. But in your Christian life, when you stumble, It's usually on the basics.
It's usually on the obvious one. Here it is. In life's defining moments, Humble yourself before God. That's what Esther did. In the kingdom of God, The way up is always down.
Here's the second one. In life's defining moments, pray to God. for guidance, strength, courage and wisdom. In life's defining moments, pray to God for guidance, strength, courage. and wisdom.
Now here's the third one, the last one. In life's defining moments, trust God. And obey God. Esther doesn't know how things will turn out, but she knew that God was greater than the king. that God was greater than Haman.
that God was greater than the irrevocable edict Passed by the law of the Medes and the Persians. She knew God was greater. In life's defining moments, trust God for the impossible and obey God. As we learned last week, do the right thing. and leave the consequences to God.
This is the verdict with Pastor John Monroe and the first part of a message titled A Defining Moment. John will be back in a moment with closing remarks. But first, let me tell you about a special resource we're offering our listeners. We've created an insightful companion guide to our Esther series. The Esther Listening Guide helps you follow along as John explores the historical context of Persian exile, the courage of an unlikely heroine.
This guide will deepen your understanding of how God works behind the scenes, orchestrating circumstances for His glory and our good, just as He did for Esther and the Jewish people. Download your free copy today by visiting our website at theverdict.org. As a listener-supported ministry, your partnership makes it possible for these biblical messages to reach listeners searching for hope and direction in their own defining moments. When you support the verdict with your financial gift, you help expand this ministry to communities across the nation and around the world. Consider how your contribution, regardless of size, can make an eternal difference as God's Word reaches hearts open to His truth.
To make your donation online, go to theverdict.org or call us at 833-551-2231. For those in the Charlotte area, we'd love to welcome you to Sunday worship at Calvary Church, where John serves as senior pastor. or join us remotely through our live stream online. For more details, visit theverdict.org.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? Isn't it wonderful to know that we trust in an all-powerful, all-knowing God who knows the end from the beginning? Nothing can thwart his plans and purposes. And in His grace, He gives us an opportunity to serve Him for His glory. Think of it.
God uses us in our weakness. Inner fear, inner stumbling, to further His purposes in these defining moments. Isn't that humbling and encouraging? Don't forget to tune in next time. We're going to learn some important principles regarding life's defining moments.
Thanks for joining us today on The Verdict. I'm Michelle Davies. Today's program with Pastor John Monroe was produced and sponsored by Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina.
