For Such a Time as This!

Notes: For Such a Time as This!
Greg Laurie
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Esther 1
Music: Harvest Worship Band

https://www.harvest.org/watch-and-listen/webcast/watch/for-such-a-time-as-this-022518

Esther can almost sound like a fairytale. It’s a rags to riches story.

The Book of Esther is the only book that the name of God is not mentioned. 

God is always at work in the believer at every hour of everyday.

His silence is not his absence.

God sees things ahead of time. The Bible says our life is like a story that has already been told.

Psalm 37:23 NKJV
[23] The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.

Favorite Bible Verses for Greg:
Philippians 3:1 NKJV
[1] Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

John 14:1 NKJV
[1] "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.

Romans 8:28 NKJV
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
[11] For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The Bible says Gods thoughts toward us are like the sands of the sea. That’s a lot of thoughts.

In Esther the king had a party that lasted for 6 months.

Esther 1:10-12 NKJV
[10] On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, [11] to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold. [12] But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him.

King Ahasuerus known as King Xerxes was trying to objectify his wife, she refused and he pushed her out. 

God was using this secular event to move in His time.

Exit Vashti. Enter Esther.
Esther 2:5-9 NLT
[5] At that time there was a Jewish man in the fortress of Susa whose name was Mordecai son of Jair. He was from the tribe of Benjamin and was a descendant of Kish and Shimei. [6] His family had been among those who, with King Jehoiachin of Judah, had been exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. [7] This man had a very beautiful and lovely young cousin, Hadassah, who was also called Esther. When her father and mother died, Mordecai adopted her into his family and raised her as his own daughter. 

[8] As a result of the king's decree, Esther, along with many other young women, was brought to the king's harem at the fortress of Susa and placed in Hegai's care. [9] Hegai was very impressed with Esther and treated her kindly. He quickly ordered a special menu for her and provided her with beauty treatments. He also assigned her seven maids specially chosen from the king's palace, and he moved her and her maids into the best place in the harem.

Esther had outer and inner beauty. Esther was a virtuous woman.

God has a plan for Esther.

Esther 4:14 NLT
[14] If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?"

Did it ever occur to you that God has put you where you are?

“...for just such a time as this?”

God is N - O - W - H - E - R - E 

What do you see when you read that?