Sermons tagged #Xerxes

Preached at Shettleston Free Church (Continuing)

If you've been a human for any length of time you know we like to see ourselves in the extremes. We're either the best thing since sliced bread and God is lucky to have us on His side – or we (rightly) see the flaws in our character and desires and understand how truly broken we are. From that perspective, we can range from total amazement to that God would save us and use us for His glory, to doubt even God could us someone so messed up. But the story of Esther reminds us that God accomplishes His will in spite of our flaws and not because of them. He turns our disasters into examples of His grace. That should give us all hope.

God's extraordinary providence in the ordinary affairs of life may be even more amazing that His mightiest of miracles.

Understanding God's providence can really change our perspective on life. Instead of dreading the future and worrying about decisions, we can rest in the knowledge that God's will is going to prevail. We still need to make good decisions and live according to biblical principles, but no matter what besets us, we can trust God is at work in all circumstances. Last week we learned how God tames temperaments and alleviates anxiety. We'll discover two more aspects of God behind the scenes in human determination as we listen to the second half of today's message from Pastor Pierre.

Throughout this study of Esther, we've come to understand that God is not absent, God is not unaware, God is not distracted while we go through troubles and trials. God is, in fact, very much present and deeply involved in our situations – not just at the macro level, of kings and governments, but personally involved in our lives. Today we'll see again that our God is a tender God that both moves us to action, but also bothers to comfort us – all to accomplish His will. That gives us great assurance that we can rely on God's promises in His Word, as we'll discover as we listen to the first part of today's message from Pastor Pierre.

We left off last week talking about miracles. A lot of things get called miracles. And a lot of people demand miracles to solve their problems. But, other than salvation – where a spiritually dead person is miraculously brought to life by the Holy Spirit – miracles are very rare occurrences. Instead, God gives us simple rules and principles to live by. And those are often His preferred method to solving our problems. But regardless of what calamity befalls us, God wants to use these trials to build our spiritual muscles, as we'll learn in the second half of today's message from Pastor Pierre.

No one likes a crisis. They cause us stress, shake our confidence, and often bring heartache and suffering. But crises have been with us since the Fall in the Garden of Eden. Here's the good news: God uses crises to help us grow our spiritual muscles. God uses crises to equip us to help others when they encounter hardship. And God uses crises to remind us that we need Him and His help to survive in this broken world.

This is a Sunday morning sermon on Esther.

Tension builds as Esther comes to the King, even though she has not been called. And Haman contrives to kill Mordecai. It shouldn't be like this! Get windows on the world, your own heart, and the Kingdom of God through this fascinating message on Esther 5.

t's pretty clear to everyone, as a matter of conscience, that antisemitism isn't a good thing – or an acceptable position. Yet, antisemitism exists. The source of that bitterness and evil is ancient. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden. And the sponsor of that evil is also ancient – it's Satan himself. What foils every plot and wrecks every attempt to annihilate the Jews is one simple promise. That promise comes from the God of the universe, who never lies and never fails to keep His promises.

The story of Esther is short and simple, but it drives home the same message: God is in control – even if we can't see Him in action. We've already watched God behind the scenes in human conduct, and human culture. Today we'll see God behind the scenes in human corruption. At every step, the Bible uses irony to emphasize that people's small view of history is no match for God's view from the eternal present. God is not the author of evil, but He will not let evil thwart His will. In fact, He uses it to demonstrate His sovereignty.

The story of Esther worried the early church and even some more recent theologians. How could a book of the Bible not mention God by name? And also, how can a book of the Bible – God's holy Word – contain such spicy content and negative examples? God inspired this record of real events, and He also inspired the author to write it just as he did to remind us that a silent God is not an absent God. And more importantly, God is faithful at all times, even when we can't see the final outcome. Those fact make life today worth living too.

Introducing Mordedcai and Esther. Is there something special that even the world sees in God's people? You'll find out in this message.

To understand what God is doing in the story of Esther, there's a bit of prologue and a lot of history and setting that needs to be covered. God promised to protect and preserve His chosen people, but thanks to their disobedience, they are now in captivity. What God wants us to know from this story is that He is sovereign, and He keeps His promises. And what's important for us – even today – is to know that a silent God doesn't mean an absent God. His providence will prevail in spite of our circumstances.

We start a new book of the Bible today and we're in the first part of the Bible called the Old Testament. Pastor Pierre Rosa is beginning his preaching through the book of Esther. The story of Esther is filled with drama, but it's also filled with hope for believers, who will be reminded that God is sovereign – meaning nothing escapes His control and will. God's name isn't even mentioned in Esther, but we will see - from the very beginning - that He is at work, in the affairs of man and the affairs of state, to accomplish His purposes and prove His faithfulness. Today's message will be filled with context and details to help set the stage for the main story line, but even in the first 9 verses, we learn much about our great God.

Why is so much attention paid to the opulence of Persia in the first half of Esther chapter 1; and is there any message in that section for us today. You will be riveted on the story of Ahasuerus, and even more riveted by the REST of the story.

Esther is the only book of the Bible that does not use the name of God. In many other ways it is full of "moral ambiguities". But you can make the case that it is the most useful and encouraging book of the Old Testament. You will be captivated by this introduction to the Old Testament book that never even mentions the name of the main actor!

This is our new series on Esther called the Hidden Hand series. In this book the providence of God is manifested all through it. Even with the removal of Vashti, and the new Queen to come Esther. We consider our topic under these headings 1) A King and His Queen, 2) Preparation for a New Queen, and 3) The Way Opened for a New Queen. It was all worked out in God's providence. As always I claim no originality but will quote, cite, refer, etc to various sources including Cain, Duguid, Orlund, Carson, Baldwin, and Gregory.

Preached at Covenant Christian Fellowship (Galway RPC)

Wednesday night Bible study. Continuing in Daniel, we reach chapter 11 and the final prophecy given to Daniel. God's detailed prophecy of what was to come, given to His prophet Daniel.

Esther Chapter 2

The end of Esther teaches us that though a great deliverance had been wrought by the Lord for His people, yet it was a temporal deliverance. The Lord's people still live in a fallen world and feel the effects of sin. Yet we have an Advocate! Jesus Christ the Righteous has sought the good of His people.