Today on the verdict with Pastor John Monroe. Esther has come to the kingdom. for such a time as this. She seeks a deliverance for her people from the satanic edict to annihilate the whole Jewish nation. This is her defining moment and she seizes it.
What courage, what faith from this young woman and what an example for us. Mm-hmm. Welcome to the verdict, featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor John Monroe, senior pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. We've been exploring the defining moment in Queen Esther's life when she learns of Haman's plot against the Jewish people. Today we'll witness her courageous decision to approach the king uninvited, an act that could cost her life, but might save her people.
Now, here's Pastor John Monroe with the conclusion of For Such a Time. The Old Testament book of Esther takes place in a culture very different from our own. Yet, there are unmistakable principles which are applicable to each one of us. Although the name of God is not mentioned in Esther, we see the evidence of his invisible hand, God is at work. God has plans and purposes.
evil Haman is plotting against Mordecai and the Jewish people. Yet God has placed in the palace this young Jewish woman, Esther. This is going to be the most important decision of our life. What will she do? Will she take the easy road and just look out for herself?
Or is she prepared to step out in faith for such a time as this? I trust you feel the challenge. as you listen to this message.
So let's turn in our Bibles now. As we continue this story, this dramatic story of Esther. And we come to Esther 4. Let's read first of all the first three verses. When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes.
put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city. And he cried with a loud voice and bitter cry. He went up to the entrance of the king's gate. for no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth. And in every province, Wherever the king's command and his decree reached, There was great mourning among the Jews.
with fasting and weeping and lamenting. and many of them lay in sackcloth. and ashes.
So, in hearing the edict to annihilate his people, we're not quite sure how Mordecai hears of that. He tears his clothes. He puts on sackcloth and ashes. He's in deep deep mourning. He wails loudly and bitterly.
And he goes as far as the entrance to the King's Gate. This was a public morning.
Now let's read Esther's initial response. First of all, She is informed verses 4 through 9. When Esther's young woman Told her. The Queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai so that they might take off his sackcloth, but he wouldn't accept them.
Then Esther called for Hathak, one of the king's eunuchs who had been appointed to attend to her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was. Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king's gate. And Mordecai told him all that had happened to him. And the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries. for the destruction of the Jews.
Mordecai also gave him a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction. That you might show it to Esther and explain to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and to plead with him on behalf of her people. And Hafek went. and told Esther what more to care. Headset.
Then Esther spoke to Hathak. And commanded him to go to Mordecai and say, 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 sceptre so that he may live. But as for me, I've not been called to come into the king these thirty days.
And he told Mordecai with Esther That's it.
Now we have Her defining moment. Verses thirteen and fourteen. Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther. Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place.
But you. and your father's house will perish. And who knows? It is. Who knows?
whether you have not come to the kingdom. For such A time Yeah. Mordecai reminds Esther, you're Jewish. You're not going to escape the king's edict, because the edict is that every single Jew throughout the Persian Empire is to be annihilated. You're not going to be.
Spared. But notice what Mordecai says to her. He knows the promises of God. And he says to Esther: if you remain silent, if you don't go to the king, I know, verse 14: relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place. We don't know what that other place is.
In spite of him and his hatred, In spite of the king's decree against the Jewish nation, Mordecai is confident that there will be a Jewish deliverance. that the Jewish nation will not be exterminated. Mordecai knows. That God is sovereign. Overall, of the nations.
And the festival keeps silent. God will raise up someone else. To fulfill his covenant promises and deliver his people. The juice. Let me just stop there.
God's asking you to do something. You don't do it. God's purposes are still carried out. God, in a sense, doesn't need any of us. But any sovereign purposes To fulfill his purposes, he graciously uses you and me.
And for Esther, this is her moment, her defining moment. Nothing can thwart the purposes of God, who controls the world politically and militarily.
However, Says Mordecai, if you don't do that, You And your father's house, you and your generations will not survive. And who knows? Verse fourteen. Whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this.
Now here's Esther's reply. Verses fifteen through seventeen. Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, Go. Gather all of the Jews to be found in Susa. And hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days.
Night. And they. I and my young woman Well also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king. though it is against the law.
And if I perish, I perish. Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had ordered him. Esther gives word to Mordecai to assemble all of the Jews in Susa for three days. The fasting demonstrates the seriousness of the situation. Surely, prayer is implied in the fasting.
And Esther Faced with this defining moment in her life, purpose is in her heart. Then I will go to the king. though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. She seizes the moment.
She knows that her life has been But a preparation for such a time as this. This is the reason she is queen. Mm-hmm. This is a time where she can either identify with her own people. And possibly be killed, or she can continue to pretend, as it were, to be a pagan Persian.
And doing what is right. She's risking her life. She knows that if I perish I perish. But she knows it's the right thing to do. She seeks a deliverance for her people from the satanic edict to annihilate the whole Jewish community.
Nation. This is her defining moment and she seizes it. What courage! What faith from this young woman and what an example for us. Esther has come to the kingdom.
For such At time as this. The sovereign God. has been silent lay invisibly working behind the scenes. We saw his invisible hand in deposing Queen Vashtai. In removing her from the palace, And we saw his guiding hand.
His invisible hand.
sovereignly superintending things that Queen Esther wins the beauty contest, as it were, and becomes the queen of this mighty. King, king has your errors. No. God has done that. But this is her defining moment.
The sovereignty of God does not negate personal choice, personal responsibility. God uses us. And she does the right thing. And notice, she leaves the consequences to God. I'm going to do the right thing.
If I perish, I perish. But this is her defining moment to do the right thing and to leave the consequences to God. Can I say, brothers and sisters, that's what God requires from you? And me. Do the right thing.
Leave the consequences to God. That's faith.
Well, you do that. Will you take the easy way out in life? Will you just blend into society? Or are you prepared? When that defining moment comes, to do the right thing and to leave the consequences to God.
Think of the examples in scripture. Think of Shadrach Mishach and Abednego. They are ordered by another great king, King Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the mighty king. and he erects. Read it in Daniel.
This huge image. of himself. When there is Jewish young men, captives. taken from their home Israel.
Now in Babylon. He commands them. To bow down and worship his image. Or he says, if you don't do that, you're going to be thrown into the fiery furnace. That's a defining moment for them.
What are they going to do? What would you do? Here's the response. God is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace. and He will deliver us.
But if not We still will not serve. and bow down to you. Or an answer. Yes, with confidence in God. Our faith in God is such.
That if you throw us into that fiery furnace, God Himself will deliver us. We believe that. But even if God chooses not to deliver us, we're still not going to burn down. We're prepared to give our lives. to do the right thing.
What courage? They believed in the power of God. But they were submissive. To the purposes of God. Our problem is, you only want to do the right thing if it's going to be good for you.
You want to orchestrate things in your own life. If you take this step, then God is obliged to you to bless you in a way that you're telling God. No, that's not the point. You do the right thing. and leave the consequences.
To God. That's what it means to live by faith. Having faith Is not just that initial act where we receive Christ as our Savior. Yes, that is faith. We're to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved, but our Christian life.
Is to be lived by faith day by day. Yes, in the dull, routine, repetitive things of life, we're still to trust God. But certainly, when these defining moments come. We're to trust him. And God uses.
individuals in the defining moments of their life. He uses David. to kill Goliath, what a defining moment for David. With all of the warriors there, with the King Saul. He steps forward.
Who are you, Goliath, to defy the armies of the living God? I'm going to cut off your head. His defining moment. Think of that little girl, we don't even know her name. Who tells?
Neyman. The Syrian commander. Who's a leopard? She steps up. and speaks of the prophet.
Alicia. He uses Daniel. who continue to pray. In spite of what happens. And he is thrown into the den of lions.
Daniel. takes the defining moment and leaves the consequences to God. He used Stephen. The first Christian martyr to declare the gospel to a very hostile crowd, and he left the consequences to God. And he was killed.
for his faith. Here in Astor, he uses more decay. Uses Aster. He uses you. And me.
Edmund Burke said, All that is required for evil to triumph is for good men to do Nothing. Don't do nothing. Do the right thing. And leave the consequences to God. This is a message that all of us must hear.
Take a stand for Jesus Christ. Boys, girls. Young men, young women, older men and women. Say I'm not ashamed of the gospel. For it's the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
Make a difference for Jesus Christ. You know what you should do in your situation, in your context, at your work, in your family, in your ministry. You know what you should do. Do it. Trust God.
Do the right thing and leave the consequences to God. Stand firm. for what you believe. Seize the moment, students. Take a stand in your college class.
Take a stand in your school. when Christianity and the Bible are belittled. Stand up and challenge it. Do the right thing. In these defining moments, singles.
And your lifestyle. Take a stand. For purity and righteousness. You may be laughed at, you may be mocked. But do the right thing.
Yes, you may lose your friends. Yes, people may ridicule you. But do the right thing. in these defining moments and leave the consequences to God. Those of you in business, Take a stand against unethical and unbiblical business practices.
Yes, you may get fired. Yes, you may lose that deal. Yes, your friends may think you're crazy. in the defining moments of life. Do the right thing.
and leave the consequences to God.
Some of you are in the PTA. The public schools.
Some of your teachers educators in the public school. Thank you for doing that. Thank you for being light. And salt. In our world, but there, do not compromise your biblical truth.
Politicians. Anyone in the political world here, politicians? Do the right thing. Be just. Be honourable.
Be fair. Forget about what you're party says, yes, you may lose the election. Your friends may separate from you, but do the right thing. Stop insulting people. Stand for justice.
Be honorable. Be fair. In the defining moments of life, do the right thing and leave the consequences to God. Be bold. Think of the boldness of Esther, this young woman.
Any of us ever face? If we're going to stand for God that we're going to be killed. I've never had that decision to make. I doubt if any of us have.
Some of our brothers and sisters throughout the world are persecuted. And if they stand for God, they could well be imprisoned. They could well be killed. None of us here live in such A society But you may be ostracized. Be steadfast.
Witness of the love of God. Tell people About the transforming power of the grace of God, who is our mediator. Not before King Hazuaris. But before our great God, Jesus is our advocate, He's our mediator, and through the blood of His cross, we are saved, we are forgiven. We are his people.
We're going to spend eternity with him. This is why we're here on earth. This is why God has placed you in that family, in that street, in that bank, in that school. in that situation. What do you think you're there for?
to make a comfortable life. To remain silent. and allow the forces of darkness And evil He did wisdom. You're going to take a stand. A stand.
For God. Will you trust them? As I say, I don't know your situation. But you do. You know what you must do.
B. And that's sir. You're here for such a time as this. Here is God's voice to you and me this morning. You get it?
In the defining moments of life. Do the right thing. In God's name. Do the right thing. and leave the consequences to God.
Don't think of the consequences. These are in the purposes of God. God may shower you and bless you in an amazing way. Or You may be ostracized. You may lose your job.
You may have a professor who makes life miserable for you, but you will have the assurance. That you're standing for Christ, this one who saved you, this one who blessed you, this one who is with you.
So, in the defining moments of life, do the right thing and leave the consequences. for God. I want this to be a challenge. to you And to me. Defining moments.
For some of you, this is a defining moment. You have never yet surrendered your life to Jesus Christ. You've never Trusted him. And committed your life to him. You've never repented of your sin.
You've never done that. Today is your defining moment. to receive Christ. I think of that moment in my life 12 years old. The Spirit convicted me.
For John Monroe, that was a defining moment. As I received Christ as my Savior and have never been the same since. This may be the day. You commit your life to Jesus Christ. I pray that you will do that.
For others of you. You need to repent. You need to obey Christ. That's is your defining moment. do the right thing.
and leave the consequences. To God, our Father and our God, we thank you. We thank you for your power. We thank you that you are in control of our lives. You watch over us every day.
And yet, you challenge us, you convict us through your spirit. And as we stand, Father, We know these defining moments I pray for souls to be saved. I pray that this will be a defining moment. A moment of decision when they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and are saved, for those of us who are following Christ. May we not compromise.
May we stand firm. in our faith. And be an aster. because you have called us for such a time as this. Strengthen us, Father.
Inspire us through your spirit. Forgive us when we're weak. Forgive us when we compromise. Help us. to be authentic followers of Jesus Christ, we ask it.
In his name. it. This is the verdict with Pastor John Monroe and the conclusion of his message titled, For Such a Time. Esther's willingness to trust God and risk everything offers a powerful example when we face our own defining moments. And to help you follow along and apply these timeless principles to your own life circumstances.
We'd like to send you a copy of the Esther Listening Guide from John. This free resource provides notes on the key points of our study of this remarkable book. Offering thoughtful questions and insights that illuminate God's invisible hand at work. even when circumstances seem hopeless. Download your copy today by visiting theverdict.org.
Esther's story reminds us that our position, talents, and opportunities may be given to us for such a time as this. Your partnership with the Verdict helps others discover God's purpose for their lives during challenging times. Through your financial support, you extend this message of hope and purpose to those who need it most. Would you consider investing in this important work with a gift today? whatever amount God leads you to give makes an eternal difference.
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Now, here's Pastor Jean Monroe.
Well, what's your verdict? Don't you admire Esther? The challenge is given. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this? This is Esther's defining moment.
God is orchestrating events to protect his people. Will you do the right thing? Do it, and leave the consequences to God. It may seem that evil is winning, Without God is always in control. Trust him.
Next time, we'll see how Esther acts as the plan of God continues to unfold. 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.
